S*UK

8 minutes ago, cocobean said:

Okay a very odd occurance for me... I sent in all of our paperwork and got an NOA1 for the 485, but no NOA1 for the EAD I submitted. Has this happened to anyone else? When my husband called, he was advised to resubmit the EAD but we have already submitted it and I feel like they need to just actually look. Getting irritated already 😭

Hey, I'm in a similar situation. I sent AOS, AP and EAD together. I have the NOA1 for AOS and AP but not yet for EAD. The difference is, I signed up for the E-notifications. I actually received 3 E-notifications including one for the EAD. So I have the case number that way. When I track, it basically says 'on blah blah date we received your application for EAD..... if you don't receive the hard copy by March 25th call customer help line'. 

So basically I am currently waiting for that date and then I'll call and ask them to resend the hard copy. If you didn't sign up for the E-notification you won't have any way to know if a case number has been assigned or even if it has be received for that matter. But maybe hang on a few more days to see if the NOA1 turns up? 

4 minutes ago, Martella&T said:

You know I wonder if it could be something along those lines because our petition had loads of additional papers and even today when I went through a copy of the papers I get a slight headache at the amount. And we may have made a mistake of not clipping anything together. So we described what it is that we include on additional pages and those pages got taken out. My husband drives me up the wall because he contemplates sending everything back the way they stapled things without unstapling and putting things in order and I believe it's better to put papers in order and clip them. :-)

Yes, I would do what you have said here for sure. It's better to organise it in a way that makes sense - the next person who looks at your application is probably not the same one who sent it back. 

We sent our entire package in a very thin envelope with just 3 clips - one holding each of AOS, EAD and AP. We didn't use any staples but did use small paper clips to group the forms with multiple pages. 

I am actually beginning to wonder myself if people who apply only for AOS (no kids on application, no AP, no EAD etc) get processed slightly quicker. 

1 hour ago, Martella&T said:

Yes, everything seems correct... the amount, who was it to... I rechecked, we followed USCIS instructions on how to fill out the cheque...
We used US bank and there enough was money for it. I have no explanation right now.

The only thing I can suggest is when you return it make sure you put a very clear contents page on the front. 

I used a cover page clearly stating I was applying for 3 different things. Then I had a contents page listing everything. I also included a note that just clarified I didn't send a fee because I was applying in combination with AOS (I know this isn't needed). Make sure your AOS is on top followed by the AP and EAD so they can't possibly assume you are only applying for EAD and AP. 

And im sorry if you already did the things I mentioned. 

I wish you a speedy turn around time for this! 

Im sorry to hear that @Martella&T. That is very confusing, since you don't need to pay anything to submit AP and EAD with your AOS. Was everything on the check that you sent correct? The fee and who you made it payable to? I really can't think of any reason why they would have sent it all back unless there was something wrong with the AOS application. That is the only reason they would send the whole packet back to you. 

So my case tracker has been working perfectly from the day I got the text notifications (2/28). It has now stopped recognising my case number. Great. 

14 minutes ago, RaptureSongbird said:

We got our NOA1 hard copy on 2/20 and our Biometrics Letter on 2/24; I was kind of surprised with only a 4 day gap there.  Biometrics appointment is tomorrow!

 

I just checked the case tracker and for the I485 it says "Fingerprint Fee was Received" and for the EAD it says "Case was Received".

Wow! So quick. I received my hard copies on 3/3 so I'm praying for a biometrics letter soon. 

Approx how long after getting NOA1 hard copies are people getting the biometrics letter? Im assuming there is no update on the case tracker for bio letter being sent?

7 minutes ago, Gary2018 said:

Hello
I met my fiance a year ago and two months ago he tried to come to visit me in America by a B2 visa but the request was rejected 
Now I'm preparing i-129F for k1 visa , Do I write these details in  k1 Visa Form in a question how was the meeting ? 

Please Help

 

 

You can keep the answer to how you met your fiancé short but precise. For example, my fiancé wrote: ''I met my fiancee whilst I was on a study abroad program in the UK. We attended the same university and spent 6 months dating before I returned to the US.'' 

REMEMBER that IF you met online, you will need to attach evidence that the website is not an international marriage broker. 

3 minutes ago, Eve81 said:

Pfff, thanks. I thought something was wrong. I thought they started reviewing it all immediately and that those background checks and such just took really long...

 

This is the Intitial Review btw: http://www.uscisprocessingtimes.org/general/what-does-initial-review-mean/

The K1 visa is NOT an immigrant visa. It is a non-immigrant visa. 

I would also suggest getting that ordered now. It doesn't necessarily matter that you have no convictions. It still takes them time to get your certificate printed and send it in the post. You will need it for you medical and for the interview. And the process will speed up now that you are at NVC. Good luck!

1 minute ago, Eve81 said:

I read somewhere on this forum that every time someone handles your case, a code was scanned and it would be visible in the case status online. So it does worry me it still says the same thing in the "next steps". It's all very frustrating and not explained well. Shouldn't it say: "initial review" by this time?

Im not sure where you have read this but I don't believe thats true. Instead, take your information from people who have already been through this process.

I have never heard of this 'initial review'. The only thing I can think of is maybe when they first open your packet to check everything is in there. YOU HAVE your receipt notice already. Your packet was accepted. That is all you will get unless they need for information from you. Now all you can do is wait. 

16 minutes ago, Eve81 said:

Thank You Frenchval, misileman,

 

But why does it still say on our Case Status Online: "If we accept your case, you will receive a receipt notice.  If we reject your case, we will send you an explanation with instructions" Why is this still not a step further? They have gotten our application more than a month ago... And I guess we are accepted... We have a WAC number. Means they should be doing the background checks, no? I thought you could follow more or less all online. Every time someone handles your case, it should be visible and you know where you stand. But on our online status, their is totally nothing to see.

 

Eve

You have kind of answered your own question here.  "If we accept your case, you will receive a receipt notice. 

You said you have got that receipt notice. Unless they need more information from you, you will not hear anything now until your approval (or denial) in around 5/6 months time.

Its stressful to not have regular updates, I know, but this would take them far too long and trust me, you would rather they were sat working on your case than spending time updating everyone on their individual cases. 

18 hours ago, harhad said:

One can legally drive, buy a car and get Insurance on a foreign license. I have a UK license which I am using to drive as well. As far as how long you can drive depends totally state law. For example Texas allows 1 year on a foreign license and Illinois allows 3 months only

Yea, so the rules here aren't very clear cut. Basically, anyone residing in North Carolina has 60 days to get a NC DL. In those 60 days I used my UK license but now of course I can't get the NC license. Its all very complicated because this rule doesn't apply to military and their dependents. But I don't know if I can continue using my UK license or if that 'waiver' only applies to other US licenses. lol, confusing. 

12 hours ago, harhad said:

How long did it take to get your work permit after the AOS application

If you mean the EAD NOA1 hard copy, I still haven't got it yet. But then again we haven't checked the mail since Monday. We are in the middle of moving so we put our mailing address as a PO Box to prevent it from being sent to the wrong place. 

1 minute ago, Elena Ibrahim said:

As far as DMV I think it depends on the State.  Here in Georgia my husband was able to get his license with I-94 and passport.  The only thing that the license expired the day the I-94 did (2/9/18).  The good thing here also for one time they can extend anyone's license for 4 months.  So they asked us to bring Biometrics notice.  We did this over the weekend and sure enough they extended it for 4 months.  

Yea, it really does vary state to state. Thats good, I wish they did that here. We are going to go and talk to someone again. We are in a strange situation because as a military dependent I don't legally need to have an in state license even though my residence is here. But we don't know if that means I can continue using my UK license or if that only applies to other states licenses. When I first went to the DMV they offered me the same thing you describe. A license that would expire once my K1 expired. Pretty useless to me at the time unfortunately. Hopefully I will get the issue resolved somehow. Otherwise, more waiting. 

I sent mine on the 16th Feb. Just got the NOA1 on Sat March 3rd. Just be patient. No need to worry  

@Missabc Im glad it all went smoothly for you in the end!

It amazes me how a lot of these places can be so unorganised/uniformed. I've already experienced it a number of times. First of all the social security centre wrongly arguing with me about whether I was entitled to work or not (they assured me over and over that I can legally work in the US... SMH). Then the DMV telling me I couldn't get a license without a green card (essentially), despite their very own website saying I could use the NOA1 along with my visa/ I-94 as proof of legal presence. 

Anyway, I do have some good news.... I got my hard copies for AP and AOS on Saturday... still waiting on the EAD though  Not too worried because I got the 3 texts and emails.

Hope everyone is doing well and coping with the long wait. 

26 minutes ago, gtiorobertsf said:

Hoping for a March appointment for you. Im sure they would accommodate the two of you since your spouse is in the military.

Thanks, this process is so 'hit and miss'. I wish they just laid out the rules so everyone knew where they stood. 

21 hours ago, gtiorobertsf said:

Went to the uscis office yesterday  in Elizabeth NJ to do the biometrics. Our appointment is for the 6th of March.

The very kind and sweet supervisor declined to do a walk in. Stating its not an emergency. I think it all depends on who you get.

Sorry to hear this, at least its only a few days away now.

This is my worry too. My husband is on a military training course for the whole of April and the nearest biometrics centre is 3 hours away. Hoping and praying I get a March appt. date because I'm not sure how I would get there otherwise and would have to try and walk in before he left. 

35 minutes ago, Kevin&Kanyanat said:

No text, no email no congratulatory phone call saying they are going to just approve everything without all that silly waiting. 😉

I did sign up for Usps informed delivery and just got an email from them and I have three envelopes coming from USCIS national benefits center today!!!!

Sounds like good news to me! 

It's strange that you haven't got your text/email updates though if you applied using G-1145?

I would maybe check your spam in your email though as all 3 of my email updates were put into my spam 

3 hours ago, Martella&T said:

Wow, lucky you. Mine was delivered a week earlier than you and still nothing... From what I understand all the petitions go to NBC so totally normal!

Hmm that's strange. Did you send the E-notification application? We don't have hard copies yet. I hope you hear something soon. 

Our tracker says: 

AP and EAD received 02/21 (the day after it got to the lockbox)

AOS received 02/26

So at midnight ish we received 3 texts and 3 emails that our case has been received. Yay! 

Im worried though, it says it has gone to the national benefits centre? Is this normal? 

Sent: 16th 

Delivered: 20th 

E-Notice: 28th

6 minutes ago, simonvikih79 said:

Nope

Out of curiosity, is the NOA1 date before or after the date you received the E-notifications? 

Im just trying to figure out if we would get a Feb Noa1 date or a March Noa1 date. Thanks 

19 hours ago, missileman said:

and another thing.......Some K-1 people have had issues with Social Security numbers, Drivers licenses, etc.......With a CR-1, the immigrant is immediately a legal permanent resident upon entry into the US....

 

Just food for thought.

Couldn't agree more. Being in the US without a green card, driving license, work permit or advanced parole is not a life of freedom. Had we known how little I can actually do here without those pieces of paper we probably would have married and filed CR-1. 

quick question: for those of you who have NOA1, does the date on your hard copy match the date you received your email/text notifications?