CountryBoy

on the left side of this post you will see ..

Filed For - AOS (approved)

Chicago Lockbox

and I need to change it to ..

Filed For Removing Conditions (NOA)

CSC

how do I do this?? I already updated my timeline and still can't figure it out .. thanks

Here is where I think this might be going .. I don't have first hand experience but I have read a few cases like this from beginning to end on VJ ..

If you try to throw together a few things that you think the USCIS wants and it doesn't amply prove what they need to establish then you may well be faced with an interview...

Realistically and historically it would seem that interviews are not a big deal for people in legitimate marriages, however, if you don't do well under stress then you may well want to take the advice of the individuals replying to this thread so that an interview can be avoided.

Get the affidavits notarized .. it doesn't take that long and most times there is a notary that will do it for free at any bank, or at the local government level (city hall, county clerk, etc.) and chances are that whoever you have write out the affidavits very well may have a notary where they work. It really isn't a big deal and it only takes a couple minutes to get it done.. A sample affidavit can be found HERE

You can go to your local office supply store and get rental / lease agreements .. Office Depot, etc.

I would also suggest that you read the other post referring to "insufficient evidence" HERE .. there is alot of good information there about what to send as well as the supporting documents found on the cover letter HERE

Good luck .. I understand vacation is important but please remember that if you don't comply to the RFE from the USCIS that a permanent vacatiion may be in order.

Good Luck

Still waiting for my NOA... sometimes I feel like I shouldn't have sent my paper the day before Labor Day weekend... kind of regretting it, you know, especially when I originally had planned of sending it on the 27th of August. That shoulda-woulda-coulda-thing is nagging at me now. And I'm also getting impatient more and more each day.

I send my wife's in the day before Labor Day weekend and I got the NOA today but I paid with a money order which in the past sped the process up at least a couple of days .. I'm sure you'll get yours very soon indeed ..

Good Luck !!!

Ok, this is just a guess ..

It seems to me that since the only BOLD words in the description of what they want is "date of marriage to the current date." then that is exacly what they want.

Ask family and friends if they have pictures of the two of you together over the past couple of years .. submit them and write the dates and circumstances under which the photos were taken on a label next to (or directly attached to) them.

Also, call the bank and get copies of your bank statements in specific intervals (every 4 months) for the past 2 years... highlight and notate the deposits that each of you made to the same account (ie. her paycheck, my paycheck)

In your affidavits .. get them from individuals that you see not less than every couple of weeks and when you see them you and your wife are together.

Make sure that a statement like, "I have known HIM for the past 20 years thru our LOCAL ORGANIZATION or CLUB or CHURCH or WORK and I see him every week. I met HER at their wedding and I see them together every week or so at XXX. We have had THEM over to our house for dinner and they have had me and my wife to their home. HE and SHE are very happily married and I believe that their marriage will last for their lifetime."

Have the affidavit signed in front of and stamped by a notary (otherwise it is just a letter). It is also a good idea to show supporting evidence that your relationship with the individual writing the affidavit is legitimate as well, thus if you have your best man writing it out provide a picture of the 3 of you together at your wedding. If it is a coworker writing it, provide a picture of you guys together at the company picnic, if it is a fellow member of a club that you belong to.. provide a copy of an article with both of your names in it .. you get the idea. I was told to refrain from using family members for the affidavits but am unsure if it will hurt anything.

And finally, if it is a case that you just didn't send in enough to establish that you have been living together the entire two years then you might consider a notarized statement from each of the people that you rented off of saying something like "He and She rented the property at 123 fourth street from me from Jan. 2007 thru Aug. 2007. I live in the adjoining apartment and saw them on a regular basis."

Just a couple of ideas thrown out there .. hope it all works out for you !!!

Got my wife's NOA (I-797C) today .. got my daughters Verification of Inclusion of a Dependant letter yesterday.

Case number is not working yet but the NOA says .. "Upon receipt of your ASC appointment notice, you can find the status of your case on-line at www.uscis.gov." so I'm not too worried just yet. Is it normal for the case number not to work after receipt of the NOA?

California Service Center - CSC

VJName.................Date of I-751........NOA1 Date............Biometrics.........Approved

E&K....................08/31/09.............09/02/09.............--/--/--...........--/--/--

David-and-Mae..........09/02/09.............--/--/--.............--/--/--...........--/--/--

CountryBoy.............09/04/09.............09/08/09.............--/--/--...........--/--/--

Coco&Kitten............09/05/09.............--/--/--.............--/--/--...........--/--/--

Chris_n_Veronica.......09/08/09.............--/--/--.............--/--/--...........--/--/--

payxibka...............09/09/09.............--/--/--.............--/--/--...........--/--/--

Vermont Service Center - VSC

VJName.................Date of I-751..........NOA1 Date...........Biometrics.........Approved

crysethu...............08/31/09...............09/02/09............--/--/--...........--/--/--

JamalNTam..............09/01/09...............09/04/09............--/--/--...........--/--/--

SM&LP..................09/04/09...............09/08/09............--/--/--...........--/--/--

cdngirl06..............09/04/09...............09/14/09............--/--/--...........--/--/--

MonicaMexico...........09/05/09...............--/--/--............--/--/--...........--/--/--

Lhedyjoe...............09/08/09...............--/--/--............--/--/--...........--/--/--

Agnar..................09/09/09...............--/--/--............--/--/--...........--/--/--

JelloShotGirl..........09/10/09...............--/--/--............--/--/--...........--/--/--

Dayna and Ali..........09/12/09...............--/--/--............--/--/--...........--/--/--

HOW TO ADD YOUR NAME

*Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

*Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and

scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

Leave only the list/table section and these instructions.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* It is helpful to copy the last line under either VSC or CSC. Paste it and change the name to yours and the date to yours.

Make sure your date is aligned with the date above.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

**When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly**

I received an email earlier from another individual asking about the St. Louis office.. Would anyone with experience at this specific office care to share?

I tried searching (VJ and Google) to find out what kind of experiences people had when they just showed up for an unscheduled biometrics appointment.. specifically in St. Louis, but I would like for anyone that has used this option to feel free to share their experience.

I don't intend to use this forum to advocate this action, I just want to know what the people that did choose to do so experienced when they did it. This being said, I would appreciate greatly if members refrained from making off topic posts such as .. “Wait your turn” and “There is a reason they make appointments.”.. etc., etc.

Thank you in advance,

CountryBoy

My wife and i have been married for a few years now and it is time for me to lift conditions on my greencard. our marriage has always been rocky from day 1. my interview is soon coming and she refuses to go with me. we have been separated on and off but we are not divorced. what shud i do?

thanks.

I personally feel that your marital problems "from day one" and "on and off" separations are definite indications that your marriage will not last. When you entered my country under a fiancée or spousal visa, you made a sworn statement that you were entering into the United States (and your relationship) in good faith, yada, yada.

I have to respectfully say that an honorable individual in your position would return to his home country and not attempt to deceive the DHS for the sole purpose of staying in the U.S. There are already way too many immigrants coming in to the United States that do not live up to the conditions of their agreement/visa and every one that files anything (AOS, lifting of conditions, goes to interviews, or whatever) slows the progress of the honest people that are truly in love with their fiancée, husband, or wife and are in OUR country for all the right reasons... those people deserve to be here.

my thoughts to you is this.. file for divorce (or annulment) and go back to your home country, if someday you are as blessed as I have been to find a kind, understanding, loving, and beautiful wife and she happens to live in the U.S. then enter for all the right reasons.

JMHO

CountryBoy

Thanks CountryBoy for your list. It gave me ideas of stuff I totally forgot about, like the DL for both of us with same address, and the sworn affidavits (did you get those notarized?).

Yes I got both notarized .. I used the exact same affidavit that is posted in the example forms at ..

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/USCIS_I751_Affidavit.doc

I had the two individuals write up in their words what they would say in covering our marriage, activities, family life, my relationship with her daughter, and if the person believed that our marriage would last .. I then typed it onto the form above and gave it back to them. One took it to their bank and signed it in front of a notary and the other went to the county clerks office and did the same ..

Good Luck

3inch packets? Yikes, I wasn't planning on that much at all.

Here's a list of what I was thinking of sending, would appreciate your feedback on what you guys think:

- last 2 yrs of taxes

- employer provided health insurance info (stating both names, and indicating "spousal coverage"

- beneficiary info for life insurance

- beneficiary info for 401k

- copies of car insurance cards stating both names, dates for the 2 yr period

- copy of joint checking acct statemements for 2yrs

- copy of savings account indicating joint acct

- copy of cell phone bill showing the same 2 lines from the time my spouse (then fiance) came to the US [although only my USC name shown on bill/address]

- copy of itinerary and boarding passes from trip to Europe this yr

- pictures from trip together

- copy of loan info for car we purchased this yr

- pictures, about 10-15 during the 2yr period

You guys think this is enough? I sure hope so! Hopefully I'll get this all together by the end of the week and send of next Monday and add myself to the list.

Here is a list of what I submitted ..

• Copies of my wife and daughter's passports, permanent resident cards, and social security cards.

• Originals of the USCIS reminder letters for both

• Copies of our drivers licenses showing the same home address.

• A brochure for the non-profit country music jam and dance that our family started in May 2008 and have hosted weekly on Fridays ever since.

• Copies of our Food Service Sanitation Certifications issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health which we use for preparing food at our weekly jam and dance.

• Two sworn affidavits by U.S. citizen friends, attesting to our relationship and marriage.

• Our 2007 and 2008 joint US tax returns.

• Our 2008 IRS Economic Stimulus Payment statement dated May 9, 2008.

• Bank statements from our joint account showing payroll deposits from both of our workplaces.

• 2 voided checks from our joint account with our family picture and both of our names on them.

• A copy of my wife's employers life insurance statements naming me as beneficiary.

• An original form establishing life insurance on my wife and daughter thru my work.

• A copy of health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage on all family members.

• Copies of health insurance statements for my wife and daughter’s doctor visits.

• Various vehicle insurance statements, cards, and declaration pages.

• Copies of our visa and master cards from joint accounts.

• Copy of our Sam's Club cards on a joint account.

• Copy of our family membership cards at a recreation center

• Copies of credit card transaction details for hotel room purchases for our 2008 and 2009 vacations.

• Copy of my leave of absence insurance paid for with my wife’s credit card.

• Various pictures of our family together over the past 2 years.

I tried to include more than what was required but not so much that the individual reviewing the packet would have a hard time finding the information that he/she considers relevant in establishing that our marriage is genuine and that we live as a happy family unit. My wife was pretty insistent that we also provide documentation that would show that she has never been a burden to society (welfare, etc.), and actually included documentation that proved that our volunteer efforts as a family have benefited our community overall.

I probably did overdo it a bit .. HOPEFULLY NOT TOO MUCH ..

Good luck,

CountryBoy

I ended up sending Mylene's packet off on Friday Sep. 4, 2009 .. she was actually within the 90 day window the third week of August but very much unlike me I procrastinated so that we could add a few extra goodies that we didn't think about in time to send when the window opened.

California Service Center - CSC

VJName.................Date of I-751........NOA1 Date............Biometrics.........Approved

David-and-Mae.........09/02/09...................--/--/--..................--/--/--................--/--/--

CountryBoy..............09/04/09...................--/--/--..................--/--/--................--/--/--

Coco&Kitten.............09/05/09....................-/--/--..................--/--/--................--/--/--

Vermont Service Center - VSC

VJName.................Date of I-751..........NOA1 Date...........Biometrics.........Approved

crysethu...................08/31/09..................--/--/--.................--/--/--.................--/--/--

JamalNTam...............09/01/09..................--/--/--.................--/--/--.................--/--/--

SM&LP......................09/04/09..................--/--/--.................--/--/--.................--/--/--

MonicaMexico............09/05/09..................--/--/--.................--/--/--.................--/--/--

Lhedyjoe...................09/08/09..................--/--/--.................--/--/--.................--/--/--

I am having a hard time finding a specific dietary supplement that my wife uses. It seems that she can only get from a chinese drug store (for a reasonable price) and I know that they have carried it in stock but getting phone numbers for chinese drug stores in the Manila area has been quite a hurdle.

If anyone knows of phone numbers for said places of business in or near Manila (makati, etc.) please post them here or email them to me at meds@fiddlers.us.

As well, if you know of any NAMES and SPECIFIC LOCATIONS of chinese drug stores please forward these to me as well and I will find out the phone numbers.

It would be better if these places are not in a mall, because EVERYTHING is more expensive in a mall, but I'll take whatever I can get.

Thanks,

CB

Update for Ashley (daughter)

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On December 21, 2007, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Case Status and Processing Dates.

*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.

Sincerely,

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

another thing that you might consider is the MSC #

The case number on the back of my checks (for my wife and step daughter) were different from the ones on the NOA-1 .. the ones on the NOA-1 was the one that finally showed up online.

CB

Mylene said that Ashley was made to sign her own biometrics paperwork so she thinks that maybe she should sign this as well .. hmmm .. now she tells me that they both signed the I-485 .. ugh ..

OP,

This is a very sad story and believe me I don't want to see you removed because of 2 minor marijuana violations.

My only recommendations are that you do hire a GOOD immigration attorney, attend the hearing with the immigration judge and plead your case as a long time, tax paying, law abiding visitor in this country, the husband of a US Citizen with 2 children that are US Citizens, that has a couple of legal infractions that occurred over a quarter of a century ago. Whatever you do, don't play the "pastor" card .. it is bad enough that the catholic church believes it is above the law with a large number of pedophile priests in their ranks, immigration law shouldn't be influenced by your choice of religion or occupation either. I truly believe that people are tired of hearing it and when they look at your case they will surely see that there are many good reasons to grant your request. If they don't because of your drug use history then you should get one of the really good attorney's that are recommended in the pages at VJ that specialize in cases like yours and proceed accordingly.

If you want God to help you, pray for his help.

Good luck with your situation and your hearing.

CB

Mylene was approved on November 21, 2007 and was never touched after being transferred to CSC on Oct. 25, 2007 .. Ashley (daughter) was touched on Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 but no change of status yet (Mylene's update on the uscis website happened within the past hour [Nov. 23, 2007] so Ashley's may be forthcoming as well .. fingers crossed)

Status message on USCIS website is as follows....

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On November 21, 2007, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

Mylene was approved on November 21, 2007 and was never touched after being transferred to CSC on Oct. 25, 2007 .. Ashley (daughter) was touched on Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 but no change of status yet (Mylene's update on the uscis website happened within the past hour [Nov. 23, 2007] so Ashley's may be forthcoming as well .. fingers crossed)

Status message on USCIS website is as follows....

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On November 21, 2007, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

Mylene was approved on November 21, 2007 and was never touched after being transferred to CSC on Oct. 25, 2007 .. Ashley (daughter) was touched on Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 but no change of status yet (Mylene's update on the uscis website happened within the past hour [Nov. 23, 2007] so Ashley's may be forthcoming as well .. fingers crossed)

Status message on USCIS website is as follows....

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On November 21, 2007, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

Wowwww, Congratulations !!!

Hi all;

we cant even see application status online as of yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! any other in the same boat? please list ur self. Thanks.

The NOA-1 numbers sent to us were different from the ones on the backs of the checks, make sure you are entering the numbers that came in the mail. (I made that mistake )

Mylene made some rice pudding for an early Thanksgiving party Sunday .. yummy ..

For thanksgiving day we will be at my sisters home, but Mylene is planning on making Bico (sweet rice) and Lumpiang Shanghai .. they have all had her lumpia before and absolutely love it, but I think that the bico will be another crowd pleaser.

CB

This really was an interesting read .. thanks for the post !!!!

I think it would be really interesting to put "BULLY" and "TROLL" buttons by every post .. if a members BULLY or TROLL button gets clicked by X number of members within a certain allotted time period then the forum software places a temporary ban on that members IP and profile.

The reported members posts can then be reviewed by a panel of members that can either rule the post as ...

Unfounded - full posting priveledges restored unconditionally

Minor Bullying - allowed to post freely under a "probation period", any single infraction during that period results in another temporary ban which must be again reviewed by the member panel.

Founded - a permanent IP and Profile ban from utilizing the forum

The bullies will surely flame me for this one .. have fun

CB

In theory this system sounds good, but it doesn't allow for the fact that it would be abused. If someone dislikes what someone else is saying (or dislikes them, period) and wants to get them this temporary suspension, they only need to PM a few of their "friends", ask them to click "troll" or "bully" once each, and then that person gets an automatic temporary ban. There are already groups here who PM one another if they need back up in a thread, so there is a certainty that this would happen to someone they didn't like or had issues with.

I thought about this as well after my post.

The one thing about my suggestion is that it is designed to be the starting blocks of an idea to be discussed upon before implementation.

Consider that if a member abuses the "BULLY" or "TROLL" button by making false accusations and/or is conspiring to temp ban another member without justifiable evidence then the reporting members are PM'ed by the member board that is reviewing the "bully" posts to inform them that their account has been temp banned for 24 hours, also inform them that if it happens again it will be banned for 72 hours, third strike you are out.

This will surely make the members that would make false accusations reconsider before doing it again.

We really do need Bully Police .. these people are one of the main reasons that my wife doesn't post.

CB

This really was an interesting read .. thanks for the post !!!!

I think it would be really interesting to put "BULLY" and "TROLL" buttons by every post .. if a members BULLY or TROLL button gets clicked by X number of members within a certain allotted time period then the forum software places a temporary ban on that members IP and profile.

The reported members posts can then be reviewed by a panel of members that can either rule the post as ...

Unfounded - full posting priveledges restored unconditionally

Minor Bullying - allowed to post freely under a "probation period", any single infraction during that period results in another temporary ban which must be again reviewed by the member panel.

Founded - a permanent IP and Profile ban from utilizing the forum

The bullies will surely flame me for this one .. have fun

CB