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KeoKeo

Lesson Learned and Tips to Share

By KeoKeo in Canada

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KeoKeo Contributor

KeoKeo   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I had a post earlier seeking for help on a denied I-485 on a family based immigration petition. I eventually have my I-485 refiled today by my attorney. I had a big lesson learned from my miss and I just want to share them with all of you who are petitioning for green card in the States.

Tip 1: Always consult with a lawyer before you file. You don't necessarily have to hire a lawyer to follow through your case, but it's always good to at least consult with them to understand the possible complexity of your situation

Tip 2: Never trust the online status check on the USCIS web site or the 1-800 National Customer Service Center for status info, they're WRONG and NEVER GET UPDATED!!!! If you believe you have been waited longer than you should, you should not hesitate to check your status. Don't call, WRITE! Write directly to the National Benefit Center and the real immigration personnle WILL RESPOND!! Even though it takes a little longer to get response through writing, but you'll get REAL status update. The customer representatives at the National Customer Service Center are all contractors and they don't really work for USCIS, they don't know nothing about your case besides giving you useless info.

Tip 3: Always provide more than the minimum requirements. For example, when they ask for minimum 1 year of tax return to show Affidavit of support, make sure you provide 3 years and so forth. Again, the best thing is to consult with the lawyer and they can provide some good advise. The more complete info and evidence you provide, the less chance they'll send RFE asking for clarification or additional evidence, and the quicker the process will be and also less chance of losing any RFE in the mail (like me :( )

And lastly, wish me luck in getting my EAD before my TN expires in December 2007 :)

Edited by KeoKeo

04/07/2007 - I-130, I-485, I-765 mailed to Chicago Lockbox

04/22/2007 - Notice of Receipt for I-130, I-485, I-765 received

05/05/2007 - Biometric Appointment

08/23/2007 - Request status update on I-765

09/10/2007 - Response of Service Request on I-765 received: I-485 and I-765 denied on 08/28/2007

09/12/2007 - Denial Notice Re-sent (original lost in the mail)

09/17/2007 - Denial Notice received. I-485 and I-765 are denied due to lack of response to RFE for medical exmination

09/24/2007 - 2nd RFE received to submit original birth certificate of US husband as I-130 evidence

09/25/2007 - Re-filed I-485 and I-765, along with I-131(with attorney involved)

09/27/2007 - 2nd RFE evidence sent

10/09/2007 - 2nd RFE response received by NBC, I-130 resumed (60 days estimate for a decision/update)

10/10/2007 - NOAs issued, check cashed

10/15/2007 - NOAs for I-485, I-765 and I-131 received

10/15/2007 - I-130 approved!! NOA on its way

10/18/2007 - NOA for Biometric received, appt on 11/1/2007

10/19/2007 - I-130 approval letter received!

11/01/2007 - Biometric Done

11/02/2007 - 3rd RFE received to submit W-2 for 2006; response sent the same day

11/08/2007 - 3rd RFE response received by NBC, I-485 resumed (60 days estimate for a decision/update)

12/06/2007 - EAD Card Production Ordered, I-131 Approved! (Day 72)

12/15/2007 - AP received in the mail (Day 81)

12/17/2007 - EAD Card received in the mail (Day 83)

12/31/2007 - Received Interview Letter (Day 97)

2/22/2008 - AOS Interview; received Welcoming email from USCIS on the 25th, green card on its way. yeah! :)

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PfcsBaby Collaborator

PfcsBaby   0

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Sounds like they really put you through the loop. Well, good luck and I hope things get moving for you.

Mary

Here's my K-1 Timeline:

October 2006 - I-129F sent

10/24/2007 - INTERVIEW DATE!!!!!....APPROVED!!

10/30/2007 - Visa in hand!

AOS Timeline:

1/30/08 - Sent AOS pkg Priority Mail with USPS

3/12/08 - Biometrics taken

3/29/08 - EAD and AP in hand for me and my son

5/21/08 - Email-GC on its way!...RFE for my son's application

5/27/08 - GC arrives!!!

7/02/08 - Sons GC arrives!!!

ROC TIMELINE

3/23/10 - ROC sent!

3/29/10 - NOA1

4/22/10 - Biometrics Appt for me and my son

6/30/10 - Email saying card production ordered for me and my son

7/6/10 - Letter in the mail saying cards will arrive within 60 days

7/10/10 - Both cards received!

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KeoKeo Contributor

KeoKeo   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
Yikes, this sort of scares me. We have a similar-ish filing time.

Well, I don't know what exact error did they make to your file. But if you have evidence to proof they're wrong, you may want to send in a copy of and put in writing to the office, so you'll make sure they correct it. It doesn't hurt to have it in writing in addition to your oral agreement with the office.

04/07/2007 - I-130, I-485, I-765 mailed to Chicago Lockbox

04/22/2007 - Notice of Receipt for I-130, I-485, I-765 received

05/05/2007 - Biometric Appointment

08/23/2007 - Request status update on I-765

09/10/2007 - Response of Service Request on I-765 received: I-485 and I-765 denied on 08/28/2007

09/12/2007 - Denial Notice Re-sent (original lost in the mail)

09/17/2007 - Denial Notice received. I-485 and I-765 are denied due to lack of response to RFE for medical exmination

09/24/2007 - 2nd RFE received to submit original birth certificate of US husband as I-130 evidence

09/25/2007 - Re-filed I-485 and I-765, along with I-131(with attorney involved)

09/27/2007 - 2nd RFE evidence sent

10/09/2007 - 2nd RFE response received by NBC, I-130 resumed (60 days estimate for a decision/update)

10/10/2007 - NOAs issued, check cashed

10/15/2007 - NOAs for I-485, I-765 and I-131 received

10/15/2007 - I-130 approved!! NOA on its way

10/18/2007 - NOA for Biometric received, appt on 11/1/2007

10/19/2007 - I-130 approval letter received!

11/01/2007 - Biometric Done

11/02/2007 - 3rd RFE received to submit W-2 for 2006; response sent the same day

11/08/2007 - 3rd RFE response received by NBC, I-485 resumed (60 days estimate for a decision/update)

12/06/2007 - EAD Card Production Ordered, I-131 Approved! (Day 72)

12/15/2007 - AP received in the mail (Day 81)

12/17/2007 - EAD Card received in the mail (Day 83)

12/31/2007 - Received Interview Letter (Day 97)

2/22/2008 - AOS Interview; received Welcoming email from USCIS on the 25th, green card on its way. yeah! :)

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vnoe Community Regular

vnoe   0

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I just had a RFE for W-2's for my hubby who is a self employed farmer. Sent it back yesterday, explaining he did not have any W-2's politely via registered mail. Gee....here is hoping I don't have any more RFE's.

Thanks for the warning and advice!!

(F)

Oct 1/09 - I-751 package sent

Oct 3 - package delivered

Oct 5 - NOA mailed

Oct 13 - 1st NOA received and additional letters for my daughters I filed with. NOAs stated Resident Status

has been extended for 1 year and that we will be receiving a letter for an ASC appointment for

fingerprints, photo, and signature.

Dec 2009 - Received 10 year permanent resident card.

Feb 2010 - My children received their 10 year permanent resident cards.

Oct 2010 - My children were legally adopted by my USA Citizen husband.

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misa Experienced

misa   2

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)
Always consult VJ :thumbs:

I concur.

Ditto!

I know there are some good immigration lawyers out there but I do think I did this much faster on my own than if I had hired a lawyer. If I had hired a lawyer I would never have known who to contact, how to transfer my K3 interview and when and what to stay on top of at each step of the way. Having said that if someone's case is complex, then definitely consult a lawyer.

KeoKeo, hope things start working in your favour soon!

Edited by misa

K3 Timeline - 2006-11-20 to 2007-03-19

See the comments section in my timeline for full details of my K3 dates, transfers and touches. Also see my Vancouver consulate review and my POE review.

AOS & EAD Timeline

2007-04-16: I-485 and I-765 sent to Chicago (My AOS/EAD checklist)

2007-04-17: Received at Chicago

2007-04-23: NOA1 date (both)

2007-05-10: Biometrics appointment (both - Biometrics review)

2007-06-05: AOS interview letter date

2007-06-13: AOS interview letter received in mail

2007-07-03: EAD card production ordered

2007-07-07: EAD card received! (yay!)

2007-08-23: AOS interview (Documents / Interview review)

2007-08-23: Green card production ordered!!!

2007-08-24: Welcome notice mailed!

2007-08-27: Green card production ordered again... ?

2007-08-28: Welcome notice received!

2007-09-01: Green card received!

Done with USCIS until May 23, 2009!

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  • 2 weeks later...
borealgirl Apprentice

borealgirl   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hi KeoKeo,

Wow, we were in really similar boats, but I am so sorry for ll the hassles you've gone through. Did you consult a lawyer yet? I hope so. I ended up receiving an RFE for my medical, despite that they told me on the phone not to. I have the following rules of thumb myself:

1) Always consult a lawyer

2) Be obsessive: Make sure you dot every i and cross every t. Act as though you were a lawyer and don;t gloss over a thing. Keep good records and read the fine details. Don;t rely on a lawyer to tell you everything. Find it all out for yourself before consulting the lawyer.

3) don't rely on USCIS for info! They give wrong info all the time!!!!

Really similar to your rules!

But you know, I think you will get your EAD soon. Mine only took 2 weeks after they got my medical, about a month after the biometrics.

Aug 2002

Entered US on TN work permit

2003 through 2007

Renewed TN Annually

March 2007

Eloped in Central Park on vernal equinox, then honeymooned in Paris.

April 2007

Early April: Renewed TN on return from Paris

June 2007

Sent in AOS/I-130/EAD package

July 2007

July 14: DOA1 - delay in processing because CIS told me to send package to the wrong center.

Late July: Received Biometrics notice

Aug 2007:

Aug 2: Biometrics Appointment

Aug 8: Received RFE for missing medical forms which CIS told me originally not to send in!!

Aug 16: Medical Forms Received at CIS

Aug 24: Received e-notice that EAD card was ordered (No more TN! yay!)

Aug 30: Last day of work on TN. Laid off from job. :(

September 2007

September 5: Received Card! Just in time. Started part-time grad school today.

October 2007

Oct 2: Received Interview Notice: Whoo-hoooo!

November 27 2007

Had GC interview, which went smooth as silk. Received passport stamp, too.

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KeoKeo Contributor

KeoKeo   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

borealgirl, we definitely had similar situation, except i'm worse because i never receive or know I need to submit the medical as a RFE until my case is denied. I really hope I'm as lucky as you. But you had your case resumed, and I had my case re-filed, there could be a difference. They may treat my case as a brand new one. And I did hire a attorney this time to do the re-filing for me. I definitely agreed on your tips for the lawyer part. I think my lawyer is pretty good :)

Question: do you know if you case ever get transferred to CSC? People mentioned sometimes a green card can be issued without an AOS interview at the CSC. Any clue?

Hi KeoKeo,

Wow, we were in really similar boats, but I am so sorry for ll the hassles you've gone through. Did you consult a lawyer yet? I hope so. I ended up receiving an RFE for my medical, despite that they told me on the phone not to. I have the following rules of thumb myself:

1) Always consult a lawyer

2) Be obsessive: Make sure you dot every i and cross every t. Act as though you were a lawyer and don;t gloss over a thing. Keep good records and read the fine details. Don;t rely on a lawyer to tell you everything. Find it all out for yourself before consulting the lawyer.

3) don't rely on USCIS for info! They give wrong info all the time!!!!

Really similar to your rules!

But you know, I think you will get your EAD soon. Mine only took 2 weeks after they got my medical, about a month after the biometrics.

04/07/2007 - I-130, I-485, I-765 mailed to Chicago Lockbox

04/22/2007 - Notice of Receipt for I-130, I-485, I-765 received

05/05/2007 - Biometric Appointment

08/23/2007 - Request status update on I-765

09/10/2007 - Response of Service Request on I-765 received: I-485 and I-765 denied on 08/28/2007

09/12/2007 - Denial Notice Re-sent (original lost in the mail)

09/17/2007 - Denial Notice received. I-485 and I-765 are denied due to lack of response to RFE for medical exmination

09/24/2007 - 2nd RFE received to submit original birth certificate of US husband as I-130 evidence

09/25/2007 - Re-filed I-485 and I-765, along with I-131(with attorney involved)

09/27/2007 - 2nd RFE evidence sent

10/09/2007 - 2nd RFE response received by NBC, I-130 resumed (60 days estimate for a decision/update)

10/10/2007 - NOAs issued, check cashed

10/15/2007 - NOAs for I-485, I-765 and I-131 received

10/15/2007 - I-130 approved!! NOA on its way

10/18/2007 - NOA for Biometric received, appt on 11/1/2007

10/19/2007 - I-130 approval letter received!

11/01/2007 - Biometric Done

11/02/2007 - 3rd RFE received to submit W-2 for 2006; response sent the same day

11/08/2007 - 3rd RFE response received by NBC, I-485 resumed (60 days estimate for a decision/update)

12/06/2007 - EAD Card Production Ordered, I-131 Approved! (Day 72)

12/15/2007 - AP received in the mail (Day 81)

12/17/2007 - EAD Card received in the mail (Day 83)

12/31/2007 - Received Interview Letter (Day 97)

2/22/2008 - AOS Interview; received Welcoming email from USCIS on the 25th, green card on its way. yeah! :)

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