Jump to content
ElGrandeDoodel

How bad is removal of conditions?

 Share

37 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

With the automatic extension of 4 years I'd say that it's a much more tolerable process. However it is still another step, another fee and another piece of paper to carry and explain to various people what it means.

 

Without such long extension letter I'd say 100% wait the best you can to enter with a 10 gc because ADIT stamps are sometimes hard to get (took me 4 months and I missed my own honeymoon). With the extension letters it's not so bad since you can travel and work for 6 years with no major hassle. So it's really up to you in the end.

event.png

 

N-400 3 year marriage based (IOE)

Jan 22, 2024 - Submitted online 

Jan 22, 2024 - Biometrics waived

Mar 6, 2024 - Interview scheduled for Apr 11 COMBO I-751/N-400

Apr 11, 2024 - Combo interview - approved N-400

May 1, 2024 - Approved ROC, received 10 GC on May 20.

May 7, 2024 - Oath scheduled for June 14 (requested later ceremony at interview)

June 14, 2024 - Special Flag Day Oath ceremony - I'm a citizen!!!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

One more thing.  The I-751 fee is going way up, if I remember correctly.  

Crikey you are not wrong - almost doubling to $1,195 apparently.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
2 minutes ago, jackiegringa said:

With the automatic extension of 4 years I'd say that it's a much more tolerable process. However it is still another step, another fee and another piece of paper to carry and explain to various people what it means.

 

Without such long extension letter I'd say 100% wait the best you can to enter with a 10 gc because ADIT stamps are sometimes hard to get (took me 4 months and I missed my own honeymoon). With the extension letters it's not so bad since you can travel and work for 6 years with no major hassle. So it's really up to you in the end.

Yep.  The 48 month extension letters will certainly help.  But Removal of Conditions still requires a lot of pre-planning, saving a lot of evidence, extra fees, and general stress....

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline

Want to hear something wild?  My wife entered the US via her Cr-1 visa 30 days short of our 2 year anniversary.  We made a BIG mistake!!

 

The CBP officer even mentioned it at POE. 

Edited by Crazy Cat

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline

I agree with everything said above. It's my least favorite stage, especially when you seem to luck out and have your case in the "fastest" USCIS office and then when it's finally your turn to get approved processing time starts increasing every few weeks. In your case 48 month extension letter will sweeten the deal (I still don't have mine) but this wait time is ridiculous regardless. It's also much more expensive now. I don't know which way is best for you but waiting extra 5 months sounds much better than this n-year-long eternity of uncertainty. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Thailand
Timeline

Waiting 3 maybe 4 months to save 44 months of anguish and problems seems like a no brainier to me. My wife's only took about 13-14 months to process her ROC, and it was still a nightmare trying to convince airlines that the letter is good to travel on. Filed the N400 and 19 days later approved I751 and 10 year green card in the mail. But I agree with waiting to enter a few days after the 2 year anniversary.

Edited by Loren Y

Here on a K1? Need married and a Certificate in hand within a few hours? I'm here to help. Come to Vegas and I'll marry you Vegas style!!   Visa Journey members are always FREE for my services. I know the costs involved in this whole game of immigration, and if I can save you some money I will!

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
1 hour ago, elgrandedoodel said:

Sounds like a whole lot of fun...

 

Thanks, good point to bear in mind.

 

This may be a London consulate specific question, but if at the consulate interview the visa is approved, would an effective delay tactic be to say I have immediate travel plans and so cannot surrender my passport at the interview, but instead send it in to the consulate, say, a month later? Or is the date of the visa the date of approval at the consulate, irrespective of when the visa is actually physically added to the passport?

 

Never thought I would be taking steps to slow the process down, but here we are...

Probably best to do the delay at the NVC stage (i.e. your USC spouse delays uploading the required documents).  That way you can maximize the visa validity period to work out entering the US after your 2nd wedding anniversary.

 

I agree with the others, best to avoid ROC/I751 if possible.

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

Want to hear something wild?  My wife entered the US via her Cr-1 visa 30 days short of our 2 year anniversary.  We made a BIG mistake!!

 

The CBP officer even mentioned it at POE. 

Live and learn!  At least you can impart that knowledge on others coming after.  :) 

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Argentina
Timeline

I filed for ROC a year ago and still no news after they reused my fingerprints in March. I just applied for citizenship and still crickets.

The fees are also going to up soon, and no, their processing won’t be faster in the short term, so do yourself a solid and wait 5 more months.

FROM F1 TO AOS

October 17, 2019 AOS receipt date 

December 09, 2019: Biometric appointment

January 15, 2020 RFE received

January 30, 2020  RFE response sent

Feb 7: EAD approved and interview scheduled

March 18, 2020 Interview cancelled

April 14th 2020: RFE received

April 29, 2020 Approved without interview

May 1, 2020 Card in hand

 

REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS

February 1, 2022 package sent

March 28, 2022 Fingerprints reused

July 18, 2023 approval

July 20, 2023 Card in hand

 

N400 

January 30,2023: Online filing

February 4th, 2023: Biometric appointment

June 15th, 2023: Case actively being reviewed

July 11th, 2023: Interview scheduled.

August 30th, 2023: Interview!

August 31st, 2023: Oath ceremony scheduled.

Sept 19th, 2023: Officially a US citizen!

 


 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Probably best to do the delay at the NVC stage (i.e. your USC spouse delays uploading the required documents).

Thanks - we've already completed NVC submissions, but in any event the medical will take place less than 6 months before our second anniversary so we should have a buffer of a few weeks at least.

 

What I'd like to understand, however, is whether I could travel to the US immediately as the consulate approves under an ESTA, but before the visa is added to my passport, i.e.:

  • I attend consulate interview
  • Consulate approves in person
  • I tell consulate that I have immediate travel plans, and that I will send in my passport for visa to be added once I have returned from that travel
  • I travel to the US after interview, and enter under an ESTA
  • On return from the US, I send my passport to consulate for visa to be added
  • I then return to the US after our second anniversary and enter under the visa

My thinking here is that by doing this I'll minimise the length of time we can't see each other between approval and 'final' entry after our second anniversary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
16 minutes ago, elgrandedoodel said:

Thanks - we've already completed NVC submissions, but in any event the medical will take place less than 6 months before our second anniversary so we should have a buffer of a few weeks at least.

 

What I'd like to understand, however, is whether I could travel to the US immediately as the consulate approves under an ESTA, but before the visa is added to my passport, i.e.:

  • I attend consulate interview
  • Consulate approves in person
  • I tell consulate that I have immediate travel plans, and that I will send in my passport for visa to be added once I have returned from that travel
  • I travel to the US after interview, and enter under an ESTA
  • On return from the US, I send my passport to consulate for visa to be added
  • I then return to the US after our second anniversary and enter under the visa

My thinking here is that by doing this I'll minimise the length of time we can't see each other between approval and 'final' entry after our second anniversary.

I guess you could do that, but you take a risk if you do.  Some consulates are known to just sit on passports....while the clock is ticking   I would travel to the US prior to the interview, then return for the interview, visa issuance, final departure.   Just my opinion.

Edited by Crazy Cat

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, elgrandedoodel said:

What I'd like to understand, however, is whether I could travel to the US immediately as the consulate approves under an ESTA, but before the visa is added to my passport, i.e.:

  • I attend consulate interview
  • Consulate approves in person
  • I tell consulate that I have immediate travel plans, and that I will send in my passport for visa to be added once I have returned from that travel
  • I travel to the US after interview, and enter under an ESTA
  • On return from the US, I send my passport to consulate for visa to be added
  • I then return to the US after our second anniversary and enter under the visa

My thinking here is that by doing this I'll minimise the length of time we can't see each other between approval and 'final' entry after our second anniversary.


Yes you can do that…but there is a better way, and that is to enter using the VWP/ESTA once you have the visa in your passport, if you explicitly tell them up front that  that you are entering as a a visitor on that entry and and not immigrating on that entry so the visa is to remain unendorsed. 
Before you use that visa you are not a permanent resident, and it would avoid any delays/complications having to send in the passport at a later date. It’s one less link in the chain to go wrong. 
The visa would then remain unendorsed and then you can use it when you are ready to, as long as that is a) still valid, and b) within six months of the medical.

This is permitted. 

You can also do fun things like get a second passport and have one at the embassy while you are travelling using the VWP/ESTA/another visa on the other (I did this as I had two passports at the time I did the CR-1 at the London embassy).

CR1 / DCF (London): 2012 / 2013 (4 months from I-130 petition to visa in hand)

I-751 #1- April 2015 [Denied]

 

April 2015 : I-751 Joint filing package sent fedex next day 09:00am from UK ($lots - thanks). 
Jan 2017: Notification that an interview has been scheduled at a local office. Bizarrely still no RFE... 
Jan 2017: 2hr wait, then interview terminated before it began, due to moving my ID to another state 2 wks prior. New interview 'in a few months...maybe.'   Informed them that divorce proceedings are underway, but not finalised at this time. 
March 2017: An Interview was scheduled - marked as no-show as they didn't actually send out a notification of interview. FML 
April  2017: Filed an official complaint with the ombudsman, and have requested Senator & Congressman assistance
August 2017: Interview - switched to a (finalised) divorce waiver. Told that decision will be made that afternoon, but no problems foreseen with my case. 
October 2017: Letter of Denial received - reason given as 'I-751 petition was not properly filed'. Discovered ex-spouse made false allegations to USCIS in 2015. No opportunity given to review & refute allegations  - contrary to USCIS policy.

I-751 #2 - Oct 2017 - Mar 2021[Denied] 

 

October 2017: Within 72hrs of receiving denial notice, a new waiver I-751, divorce decree & $680 cheque, sent to Vermont via FedEx overnight 9am priority.  
Dec 2019: Filed FOIA request for full A# file
Feb 2020: FOIA request completed - entire A# file received as a .PDF; 197 pages fully redacted, and 80 partially redacted. Don't waste your time!
March 2021: I-751 #2 denied for lack of evidence. No RFE, no interview, and evidence in previous I-751 not reviewed - contrary to policy. Huge errors in adjudication.

N-400 - Feb 2018 - Apr 2021 [Denied]

 

February 2018: N-400 filed online.  $725 paid to the USCIS paperwork wastage fund

February  2019: Interview - cancelled after a four hour wait due to 'missing paperwork' on their end. Promised Expedited reschedule.

March 2021: Interview letter received, strangely dated after I-751 denial. No I-751 interview conducted. N-400 interview and test passed, given 'cannot make a decision at this time' paper due to the ongoing I-751 nightmare...

April 2021: N-400 denial received citing recent I-751 denial as basis for ineligibility, even though it should have been a combo interview 🤯

I AM JACK'S COMPLETE LACK OF SURPRISE

Service Motion - March 2021 [Sent via FedEx & COMPLETELY IGNORED by USCIS]

 

March 2021: Service Motion request sent overnight addressed direectly to field office director, requesting urgent review and re-opening, based on errors in adjudication - citing USCIS policy, AFM and memorandums as basis for errors. This was completely ignored by USCIS.

 I-751 #3 - June 2021 - Jan 2024 [Denied]

 

IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY

June 2021: I-751 #3 (30+lbs/5000 pages of paperwork) & another $680 sent to USCIS via FedEx ($300+..thanks) .... 

June 2021: Receipt issued, card charged, biometrics waived, infopass scheduled for I-551 stamp number ten.....

Feb 2022: RFIE (no, not an RFE, a Request For Initial Evidence) received, for copies of the divorce paperwork that they already have 😑

July 2022: Infopass for I-551 stamp number eleven.....

August 2023: Infopass for I-551 stamp number twelve....

January 2024: Denial received, ignoring the overwhelming majority of the filing, abundance of evidence, and refutation of a provably false allegation. The denial also contradicts itself in multiple places, as if it was written by someone with an IQ <50.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

2024: FML. Seriously. I'm done. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
Timeline

For me personally, the wait times and money spent on ROC wasn't bad at all. It took a year and that was it, never needed an interview since I already had one for AOS (this won't be the case for you since you won't AOS inside the US, you're very likely to get an ROC interview). 

The pain was all the documents needed, all the saving of "evidence" for two full years, copying everything, putting the whole thing together etc. OMG it was so much work and took me a long while. THIS is the reason I would totally wait until my 2 year anniversary if I were you. Just to not have to deal with all the collecting of evidence, thinking of ways to get more/new evidence, worrying you don't have enough evidence etc. Not worth it. 

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...