lacolinab13

Filed February 28 2019. NOA March 5th 2019. Fingerprints sometime in April of 2019. Last update was that fingerprints were applied to case on May 4 2019. Got the “new card being produced” yesterday, September 28 2019 after exactly 19 months! (California Service Center).

No interview (didn’t have one for adjustment of status from K1 either), no RFEs. Just a long wait.

We had been waiting to file citizenship so as not to delay the card so will try to do so ASAP before the fee increase. 

Filed February 28 2019. Fingerprints sometime in April of 2019. Last update was that fingerprints were applied to case on May 4 2019. Got the “new card being produced” yesterday, September 28 2019 after exactly 19 months! (California Service Center).

We had been waiting to file citizenship so as not to delay the card so will try to do so ASAP before the fee increase. 

13 hours ago, Scandi said:

It is odd how there are such huge differences in processing times between cases.

 

I too was at California, a April 2019 filer, and was approved just a few days short of a year (7 days before the 1 year filing anniversary, and 4 days before my N-400 eligible date).

This, while people who filed in freakin December 2018, January 2019 etc are still waiting. It makes zero sense, and I can see how it's irritating people. I think I would have filed the N-400 if I was in that situation and eligible to do so. Then at least I'd be in line for that very last process of the immigration journey. 

 

But I can also see why you'd want to have the ROC done and dusted before starting a completely new process. And not everyone is eligible or wants to file for citizenship either. 

We filed late February 2019. My husband is eligible for citizenship but so far we have held off on applying thinking that the ROC approval would come soon and not wanting to cause any delays as it does look like in some cases filing for citizenship just further delays the ROC. (Our local office has quite a long wait for citizenship, too). 

We are still waiting - case received 2/28/19. Hopefully soon!

Our package arrived in Phoenix on 2/28 . Received email and text notification this morning 3/5, check cashed this morning 3/5. We got California Service Center.

From what you wrote, it sounds like you were convicted and did six months in jail for certain political activities and you belonged to one of the three groups mentioned above? Hezbollah and Hamas are considered by the US State Department to be terrorist organizations, but Fatah, as far as I know, is not. Given the details you posted, I certainly wouldn't try claiming the exemption above. I'll defer to others on this forum who may have experience/specific knowledge on this subject to say how hurtful this could be to your application, but I fear for you that this may be a very big issue. 

It's true some doctors won't accept Medicaid - although the reimbursements aren't that bad - but for a normal pregnancy I doubt this woman needs the best OB in the state.  

I strongly agree with the recommendation to make an appointment planned parenthood who will know all about the resources available to you. Anecdotally I have heard of green card holders in Texas who got Medicaid for pregnancy and CHIP and did not have any issues as far as I-864. 

I've never heard of such a thing as waiting 10 months to see an obstetrician! Rather defeats the purpose doesn't it . I'm sure you will find a doctor who is seeing new patients. 

I think we all understand your frustration and disappointment. It would be helpful for you to stop thinking it's personal - it's really not, and I'm sure neither USCIS nor the embassy has any opinion on your worth as a person, nor any interest in judging you. The people working at the embassy are just doing their jobs, and unfortunately, you are in this position because of some red flags in your case, and also because of a history of people in your husband's country fraudulently seeking visas. 

Though I don't know much about the NOID/NOIR and reaffirmation process, it sounds like you have a good chance of getting your petition reaffirmed, given the long-term nature of your relationships and many visits you have had together, and ultimately a good chance of having your husband come to the US. It's normal to vent, but try to stay focused on building the best possible case for a rebuttal when you do get that NOID/NOIR letter. I am not sure whether it would be necessary or helpful, but you may want to see is hiring a lawyer could help you there.

I know you're upset, but it's a bit ironic that you're lashing out at others with "red flags" who got approved while asking that USCIS not hold any of your red flags against you. I am also one who needed a joint sponsor for my husband to come here, as I am a full-time grad student. I still like to think we're both contributing positively to the country! 

We got an RFIE for my husband's adjustment of status. We replied within a week - it delayed his EAD about 10-14 days compared to the timelines of others applying at the same time. We were able to submit a service request on the 75th day in spite of it only have been 30 or so days since they had received the RFIE response, and the EAD was approved the following day. (This was back in November 16 and the timelines are slower now). 

When my husband got his K-1 - he needed type 2, viajes al extranjero. 

It's very easy to get federal student loans - and credit score/history is not a big deal, unless you've defaulted on previous student loans - but for private loans credit score and history DO matter. You may be only offered options at very high rates, or will need someone to co-sign. Careful with that; some credit agencies are very unscrupulous and the co-signer may have to pay the loan if (heaven forbid) you die for example. Read paperwork carefully and only deal with reputable companies. 

If you do not get AOS in time to get federal loans, I would seriously consider deferring a year. Most schools will let you do this, and a year is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I'd be wary of taking out loans at high rates. The job market for lawyers is not great in this country and many struggle to find well-paying jobs after graduation. (This applies less to graduates of top tier schools, and if that's where you've been admitted, congrats!) You really don't want to be stuck unable to pay off your loans, with interest accumulating, which is why it may be worth it to wait until you can get reasonable loans (plus you could save money this year and pay a chunk of tuition out of pocket). 

I don't think you have much to lose by attempting an expedite request. I remember one person on here got their AP expedited to attend their own wedding ceremony that they had planned too close to filing for AOS- which seems crazy - so why not try.

Making a service request can help too. My husband's AOS got approved in responses to our service request. 

Some airports in Canada have US customs and border protection officers, so that people boarding flights to the US go through US immigration and customs before getting on the plane rather than after arriving in the US. This is probably what happened to your acquaintance. Her POE was in Canada, not in Philly. 

2 hours ago, KatMi said:

Hiiii guys !!! 

I just received an email from the embassy today saying that my visa has been approved and they're just printing it out and I should check the ais.us visa website after 5-7 business days to get the code to pick up my passport at the DHL OFFICE ! I'm so happy for that !! But the CEAC website shows my status last updated today and still in AP ! I don't know what to believe . Can someone help me please !? 

Believe the embassy. They're the ones who are in charge, after all! I'm sure your status will update soon on the website. Congratulations - I knew it would be quick! 

Sounds like a fine plan.

She should be honest with CBP and can bring proof of ties to home to present to the officer if they raise any issues. 

Anyone applying for a tourist visa is presumed to have immigrant intent, and it is up to the applicant to prove otherwise by convincing the CO that he/she has strong ties to his home country and intends to return. 

So, the reason that someone gets denied for a tourist visa is always that the CO was not convinced that they would use the tourist visa properly and return back to their country. If nothing has changed in your in-laws' situation since the last denial, the most likely result is that they will be denied again. 

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to help them get the visa. All they can do is answer the questions honestly and confidently. Based on my experience living in Peru and seeing people there apply for tourist visas, a big factor on the application is gainful, well-remunerated, long-term employment. The Peruvians I know who have been successful getting visas usually have good jobs with good incomes.

I have certainly heard of this very Peruvian document, but it was not required when my husband (then, fiance) had his interview in Lima. If I'm not mistaken, it's just a record of your entries/exits to/from the country. 

I know several people in real life, in addition to people on this forum, who have gotten visas through Lima. They generally move pretty quickly. I wouldn't worry about being stuck in AP for a long time - when that happens, it's usually because of security issues or doubts as to the validity of the relationship. In this case, the CO just wanted an extra document, so there's no reason why your visa wouldn't be quickly approved once they receive the document.

As far as calling the embassy, I believe the Lima embassy does not take phone inquiries for immigrant and K-1 visas. You can email them - it takes several days to get an answer. I would give them at least a week or two, and if you haven't had an update by then, try to immigrant visa unit email address. 

From OP's posts, it appears the petition was denied. They never got to the consular stage.

If it were me, I would probably list the hometown address, then the school address (for the 3 month date), then the hometown address again (for the roughly 2 years that include your shorter trips to Cambodia), and then the address in Cambodia where you are living now (for 10 months ago to present). 

I suppose it depends on whether you consider yourself as having been living in Cambodia during your mission trips, or simply vacationing/traveling. While you are traveling, you still reside at your home address. (Just think - if you go on a month-long honeymoon, does that mean you've been living at every hotel you stayed at? In my opinion, of course not). 

I've traveled several times for months, even a year, at a time, but considered myself to be residing at my home address during that time and simply temporarily absent. That's how I filled out my form and it didn't cause any issues. 

If you don't have room to list all addresses, you can attach a page listing them. 

Does the name on his passport not match the name on his green card? That's the only reason why you would need a marriage certificate (proof of name change). Otherwise, just passport and green card.

We traveled outside the country for the first time post-GC last month. I was a bit nervous but of course everything was fine. There's really nothing for you to worry about. Have a lovely time in Thailand!

Personally, I wouldn't list the address of a hotel where I stayed, or the address of any place where I was on vacation. The form asks for addresses of residences, and just staying at a hotel or even a rental home while on vacation does not make you a resident. 

I traveled for a full year in South America - on the I-129F, I put my address during that time as my permanent address in the US, from where I had left, where I was getting my mail, and where I was planning to return. 

If you took up residence somewhere, intending to stay for an extended period of time to live and work (and not just visit), then I would put that down. If you were just traveling, I wouldn't. 

14 hours ago, jesserz said:

I could completely trust my mother but is there ever a need to sign anything that comes in the mail? That's my only concern. Otherwise, my mom would love to help. 

No one would have to sign to receive a piece of mail from USCIS, if that's what you mean. 

Responding to an RFE from overseas could be tricky as you likely don't have access to many documents (if say, they need a copy of birth certificate, or marriage certificate, or criminal records, documents you may have at home that show proof of relationship like a lease, boarding passes, etc ...) and it can be difficult to print and assemble a package if you don't have easy access to an office/printer. Most of this can be made much easier if you have a person in the US with access to your documents who is willing to help you. If you filled out a page of the I-130 incorrectly and were asked to correct and resubmit and had to sign with an original signature, you could mail a response from overseas. 

Of course you will make things a lot smoother if you are extremely careful when filling out your paperwork on the first go around and can avoid an RFE (although sometimes USCIS just seems to lose documents or ask for paperwork that has already been submitted so it's not a guarantee). 

I think it could be tricky to be out of the country during the NVC stage as you likely won't be traveling with all of the documents required for the I-864 and it could be hard to obtain them overseas, but again I think this can be done with some planning and someone in the US helping you. Or you could go home and wait for the end of processing after your I-130 is approved and has reached NVC, since usually by then you're at least halfway through the process. 

I filed for my now husband's K-1 right before we left to go travel for 6 months. I wrote my address as being my parents' permanent address, where I also receive mail. That worked fine for us and would work fine as long as you trust your parents to open mail for you and be willing to help with a potential response to an RFE (in terms of physically mailing out a letter, etc).