13-YEARS GREEN CARD RECEIVED for AntandD! (10 Months/291 Days Later!) (while in Canada)

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

First of all let me say:

Thank you everyone here on Visa Journey for your help, kindness, and support on my immigration journey!

So here ends my I-751 journey, after 10 months/291 days of frustration, stress, and everything else in between....

"AT LAST, I HAVE MY 10-YEAR (13-YEAR actually) GREEN CARD. WHAT A LONG JOURNEY, INDEED!!!".....

By the way, here is my "VJ Detailed I-751 Timeline" as follows:

Chapter 4 "Removed":

2008-08-18: Filed the I-751/Removal Of Conditions, jointly by Ant and D. Also enclosed 100+ pages of required joint evidence with the application.

2008-08-22: NOA Letter/1 year Extension Letter (received 2008-08-27).

2008-09-24: Walk-In Biometrics in Buffalo NY, which was a week earlier than the original scheduled appointment date, due to long-distance transportation and other medical issues.

2009-01-02 (Expedite/Inquiry Round #1): Tried to expedite case, by the USCIS mis-information phone line, but was rejected by e-mail (on 2009-01-03).

2009-02-26: Ant’s Canadian passport renewal, as it was expired and needed for travel purposes and I-751 case delays in which a valid passport would possibly be required.

2009-03-02: Case Transferred from the Vermont Service Center/VSC to the California Service Center/CSC on, with e-mail confirmations from CRIS (on 2009-03-03 and 2009-03-06). Hard-copy letter of transfer received by mail (on 2009-03-27, letter dated 2009-03-18) from Vermont.

2009-04-13 (Expedite/Inquiry Round #2): Congressional Expedite/Intervention requested due to “high-risk pregnancy and case being outside of standard six months I-751 processing timeframe”.

2009-04-18: I-751 APPROVED! Approval Letter from Vermont received by mail (letter dated 2009-04-15), 8 months after the date of the original application was filed.

2009-05-18 (Expedite/Inquiry Round #3): Called the USCIS mis-information phone line to inform that the actual physical 10yr green card wasn't received yet. Service inquiry requested.

2009-05-20 and 2009-05-28: Card production ordered (1st notice) e-mail from CRIS received (on 2009-05-20), 9 months after the date of the original application was filed. Card production ordered (2nd notice) hard-copy letter received by mail from California (on 2009-05-26, letter dated 2009-05-20). Card production ordered (3rd notice) e-mail from CRIS received (on 2009-05-28).

2009-05-29: USCIS online official press release about Permanent Resident Card Production Delays…for up to eight weeks, due to equipment upgrades…Decided to schedule Infopass appoint.

2009-06-03 (Expedite/Inquiry Round #4): Infopass Appointment in Buffalo NY, to “get to the bottom of the delays” and to get a Temporary I-551 Stamp. Stamp received in Ant’s new passport, valid for 1 year (2009-06-03 to 2010-06-02). Infopass officer was totally clueless about I-751 delays.

2009-06-03: Approval Notice e-mail confirmation from CRIS...duh, case was already approved two months ago...

2009-06-05 (Expedite/Inquiry Round #5): Congressional Expedite/Intervention requested due to “unreasonable delays, processing errors, mistakes, inconsistencies, and inefficient USCIS service”.

2009-06-05: 13-YEARS GREEN CARD RECEIVED! from California/CSC (notice date 2009-05-30, card date 2009-05-28), 10 months after the date of the original application was filed. Card was received just when Ant and D came back to the USA from a vacation in Canada.

Bonus/Compensation from the USCIS: Ant’s new Green Card is valid for 13 years (2006-11-14 to 2019-05-28) instead of the standard 10 years.

I-751/13yr Green Card= A waste of time and money! Ant will file for US Citizenship in August 2009.

Chapter 4 ROC Timeline:

10 Months/291 Days. (Aug 2008-June 2009)

Onwards to New Baby, New House, and US Citizenship...for Ant and D!.....

And to those of you still waiting for the USCIS, regardless of immigration journey and/or situation....

Don't give up!

Ant (13-YR GREEN CARD RECEIVED!...But the Journey Continues...)

P.S. As well, for humour and comparison sake, here are the "next chapters" of my immigration story....

Chapter 5 "Expected":

2008-11 to 2009-07: Ant's Pregnant! AntandD are hoping for a healthy Baby!

High-risk Pregnancy and Baby Boy Born (July ??, 2009).

Other: 3 prior miscarriages (2007-2008). New bigger House on 2 acres of rural private land in NYS (Apr-July 2009 purchase, July 2009 move-in date).

Chapter 5 Baby Timeline:

9 Months/280 Days. (Nov 2008-July 2009)

Chapter 6 "Naturalized": Comming Soon (August 2009 Onwards...)

Stay tunned for more details and updates here on VJ, as "AntandD's Immigration Story Continues..."...

[trailmix 77]

I can't possibly read all that

but congrats

[July09Bride 1]

Wow... you all have been through a lot!!! Glad to see that when needed, the Congressional expedites can work. Congratulations!!!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Congrats! What a long wait for you. The next big thread we'll see will be about your beautiful new baby right?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations - so the green card beat the baby's arrival! Actually, your card isn't valid for 13 years - it is valid for ten years - it expires in ten years, however, you have been a permanent resident for 13 years and the card is dated from when you became a permanent resident.

[scandal 951]

Congratulations Ant :dance:

[antda 13]

Lol...according to my "new 13-yr green card" it says:

Card Expires: 05/28/19

Resident Since: 11/14/06

So based on that, from a literal standpoint, yes, it is valid for 13 years (well, 12.5 years really).....

USCIS Error in my favour!:

Not that it matters anyways, since I will have to surrender/give up my new card when I have US Citizenship...

Therefore:

Actual Card Valid for 13 years....

Actual Use of Card (8 months..What a waste!).....

2 months (June 2009 and July 2009, prior to citizenship application)+ 6 months (August 2009-January 2010, assuming 6 months for the citizenship process, still using card before citizenship oath)

Humour Me, Again, USCIS!....

Ant

Actually, your card isn't valid for 13 years - it is valid for ten years - it expires in ten years, however, you have been a permanent resident for 13 years and the card is dated from when you became a permanent resident.

Edited June 7, 2009 by AntandD

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for all your congratulations and well-wishes, fellow VJers!

And yes, it certainly has been a long I-751 journey and a long wait, indeed!

Lessons that I learned during this I-751 process:

1) Don't give up!

2) Be persistent!

3) Expedites/Inquiries do help!

4) I-751= A Waste of Time and Money!

5) Most Importantly: Thank goodness for VJ! I couldn't have made it without the help from all of you here...

Alas, my immigration journey and other journeys are not over yet...

So stay tunned for more AntandD updates on VJ....

Ant (My I-751 Journey Ends, My Life Journey Continues....)

Edited June 7, 2009 by AntandD

[antda 13]

By the way......

Yes, the new Green Card arrived before the Baby, chronological-wise, based on the following....

Green Card arrival = 06/05/2009

Baby arrival= 07/??/2009

But....10/13 YR Green Card = 291 days for arrival

Baby = 280 days (give or take a few days/weeks) for arrival

Therefore, waiting and time-wise.....The Baby came/will come first!!!....

And yes, I have "more surprises" for evidence to the USCIS when I file for US Citizenship in August 2009!

Meanwhile, "I'm taking a VJ vacation until Citizenship!"....

See you all again later....Stay tuned for more AntandD updates here on VJ soon!.....

Good luck everyone, on the rest of your immigration journeys too!

Ant (VJ Vacationing with my 10/13 year green card....)

Edited June 7, 2009 by AntandD

[Carlawarla 1]

Wonderful news!