NorthByNorthwest

You can still get generic case info by plugging these numbers in here: https://egov.uscis.gov Only a USCIS account that has had the user identity verified can see detailed case info such as documents submitted, USCIS responses etc.

Usually a not-insignificant consideration would be insurance - do any of the quotes you've received include at least basic insurance (TVC - Total Value Cover) or coverage for individual items? Just as a data point I paid about $10k USD to move from Japan to US West coast 8 years ago with packing service on Japan side and only delivery on US side. I would absolutely not want to deal with the logistics myself for the container freight or customs clearance unless I was working in the freight industry. I can totally see costs adding up quickly for you to rent trucks on both ends, container storage space in port if you can't deliver/collect the container exactly when required etc.

The State Department page on returning resident visas has this paragraph that may be applicable to you, I have no personal experience though: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/returning-resident.html Spouse or Child of a Member of the U.S. Armed Forces or Civilian Employee of the U.S. Government Stationed Abroad - If you are the spouse or child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or of a civilian employee of the U.S. government stationed abroad on official orders, you may use your Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, to enter the United States even if it has expired. Therefore, you would not need a Returning Resident (SB-1) immigrant visa, as long as you: Have not abandoned your LPR status; and Your spouse or parent is returning to the United States.

Should be no issue, I had a trip to the US on ESTA the week before my K-1 interview. That one was for work, but getting back to the interview was a very compelling reason for me to leave on time, CBP officer didn't even ask about it.

Passport timelines are much better now than a year ago, I'm hearing you can get one in two weeks or less with a standard priority filing. If not you can always get it faster if you live close to a passport agency and have proof of travel within two weeks - then you can get it in a day or two. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies.html

As Lil bear noted there is no such requirement, when filing under the 5-year rule you don't need any birth certificate even for a current spouse. You just need all documents pertaining to your divorce, that's all.

To add to this, if your wife wants to be able to track detailed progress in the account she must have verified her identity in the system. Without that she can file the application but won't be able to see biometrics or interview notices until they arrive by postal mail.

Bummer, in that case your best bet is probably to call USCIS and see if there’s another way to verify her identity for the account. You can still see the latest update on the case status page using the receipt number, you just won’t be able to see the contents of notices like you can with a verified account.

I don't recall being asked about that when I created the account, but it was a while ago. Just to confirm - is the account in your wife's name? In case you were using an account created by you perhaps making a new one in her name from scratch will work depending on what verification steps they use these days. For naturalization she is the petitioner and beneficiary and you're not really involved.

Interesting, my account doesn't look like that and does not ask for an OAC to add a case. Have you gone through the Verify your identity step? That might be what's missing, it won't show secure case info without that step. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/uscis-immigrant-fee/identity-verification-and-the-uscis-immigrant-fee

To add to my previous comment, if you are in the correct online system where you did the actual N-400 filing there's no need to add the case manually, it will be listed under "My Cases" automatically as soon as you submit the form.

Are you actually looking in the myUSCIS account at my.uscis.gov where you presumably submitted the N-400 and not the old system at egov.uscis.gov? Those are two completely separate systems with different login credentials if you ever used the old one.

I'll also point out a standard reminder - don't get so caught up in interview prep that you forget planning for getting a US passport if you have international travel coming up later in the spring/summer. Keep in mind that you will hand in your green card when you take the oath and you have to leave/reenter with a US passport from there on.

Since your I-751 is already approved you can expect a decision (and possibly oath ceremony) the same day if there are no question marks. The timing is in line with what I saw a year ago for myself, about 4 months from application to interview.

You probably ticked the box on the I-485 that the person does not have a SSN and you wanted them to issue a card? All that does is generate a request to the SSA as soon as the form is received, it has nothing to do with the AOS or EAD approval process. It's pretty common that people need an SSN even before they are allowed to work in order to open a bank account etc - that's all the restricted card is useful for until you have the EAD.

Yep. The restricted SS card is what you get before your I-485 is approved, the EAD is the required authorization mentioned on the card. Once your I-485 is approved and you get your green card you can take that to the SSA office to update your record and get a new card without the restriction wording. As far as passing I-9 verification for work, the EAD card is sufficient.

Then there's nothing strange - that still requires the EAD card to qualify for work. I had an SS card like that months before my EAD was approved.

Is it an unrestricted SS card or one that still has the "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" wording?

Everyone has different circumstances - if everything is in order she could have the visa the next day or weeks later if something is missing. Keep in mind that changeable tickets might not charge you a fee for changing, but you would still be on the hook for fare differences. If that's not of any concern, by all means go ahead and book a ticket, if not waiting until she has the visa in hand is obviously the safe option.

If she’s had an American Express in another country they offer a global transfer program that gets you a card based on your history with them rather than credit score. If that is not an option, she can always apply for a secured credit card where she deposits money as collateral for the credit.

I wouldn't worry too much about when the petition gets approved, at this time you have at least 8 more years wait before a visa is available for your child and if he/she gets married before then, it will be 10 years more. Some people don't see movement on the petition until 2-3 years before the priority date becomes current so you are well within normal timelines.

ATIP is the Canadian equivalent of FOIA - start here: https://atip-aiprp.tbs-sct.gc.ca/en/Request/Subject When it asks for institution search for CBSA and from there it's pretty similar to a FOIA request. Ask for entry/exit records, time period and list all your documents used as mentioned above, at least passport number(s) and A-number from GC, NEXUS info if you have it.

I had the same issue, in essence the US FOIA info is a bit hit or miss, especially when it comes to land crossings. It is also not consistent which document number is used, so unless you list all possible travel documents in the request you might not get everything. For example I got back results with the following for document number: * Foreign passport # * A-number without the A * NEXUS card number (not the PASSID, even though I only listed the PASSID in the request) * I-485 petition number In 2022 my CBP FOIA request took about 60 days. In an earlier 2020 request (was going to do a 3-year N400 but skipped it due to the pandemic) I got results with different level of detail and I didn't list all document numbers for that one. Again - seems pretty much hit-or-miss depending on who handles your FOIA request. For land crossings into Canada I got much better results from an ATIP request from Canada's CBSA in less than 30 days - I recommend that option.

Unless things have changed, your A-number is printed on your visa sticker, that won't help with the missing NOA2 though. One would think a photocopy of the visa itself would be sufficient since the visa would not have been issued without an approved petition, but since there are multiple branches of government involved that might be too much of an assumption... If it were me and the 90-day limit was approaching I'd consider filing without the NOA2, but then there's certainly a risk that the I-485 would be returned outright, or be delayed for an RFE later, so definitely a sticky situation.

See this page for info on how to submit documents through CEAC or by postal mail: https://jp.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/family-immigration/case-status/