Fe.Ta

Not anymore! It could just be PTSD from all the years with USCIS. You are now free!

VJ is one of the places where TLC finds their cases - not lying.

Not me watching the drama.

Sadly, we are not over with ours. But, I feel you. It is addictive. My friend @Rocio0010 and I say immigration is like a toxic relationship. You fight, break up, then eventually get over it, but you come back. LOL

Having a degree could mean you get less assistance. But, I always tell people (citizen or LPR), FAFSA is worth applying. Even if you get NADA regarding scholarships/grants (money you do not have to pay back), you can get student loans. On the other hand, the college you are considering might offer you something when they see FAFSA is low or nothing, etc. The Financial Aid office at the college will be your best friend when it comes to seeking out other resources (like other organizations that offer scholarships, etc.) and payment plans.

@OldUser and @Bavarian91 Yes, I tell myself that all the time. There is no logic and pattern to USCIS. There are too many factors and they just do what they want. LOL Sometimes I just get bored and try to "figure it out".

There is no such thing as "applying through the college". The college is just going to provide you with the FAFSA website, which is managed by the government, and you will fill it out. What the college will provide is their specific code so FAFSA can send them the necessary information once your FAFSA is completed, which is how the Financial Aid Office will determine what FAFSA is offering you and then go on from there.

I am only speaking on the FAFSA and college application here… FAFSA only asks you your USCIS number and the date you became a resident when it comes to your LPR and GC. It appears the issue is only on the expiration date of your card. So, you can apply for the FAFSA using your USCIS number (which if it is correct, it won’t change) and the ISSUED date on your GC, which is the date you acquired your legal residency. If the issued date is correct, then you can apply and FAFSA will confirm your status. It doesn’t ask you for a picture or anything like that and the expiration on it is not asked. Make sure you fill out the one for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Also, you will need other personal information like SSN, DL, tax returns, etc. When it comes to your college application, it will depend on your college. Some colleges require more information than others. But, again, as long as you provide the accurate information and let them know the misprint or whatever, you should be fine. My husband just applied and started college a few weeks ago, so this is coming from a recent experience. We did not have an issue with a misprint on the GC. But, we did go through with everything using the expired GC + 48 extension letter. No issues, we were even lucky with FAFSA assistance. I hope that helps!

Yes, I am aware that other centers run faster. However, I have seen people from the same field office and at the same service center with similar timelines who have happen to get things moving sooner than others and I am seeing those were CR1s or IR1s. Hence, why I am looking if at Potomac this will hold true. For example, of those of us that are waiting at Potomac, I want to see if we start seeing those without AOS within the US see movement sooner than those within - regardless of when they filed. One thing is for sure that they are not processed in the order they are received. Regardless of the service center, they are all slower than 6 months. Thus, why is it that the ROCs that are being approved in 6 months or less than a year are either from the countries that are plastered on the USCIS website’s homepage OR they are CR1/IR1?

For those of us that are still waiting, could you please respond to this post indicating your original visa? Our was a K1. I am beginning to think that throughout the service centers, CR1s and cases that did not do AOS within the states are getting approved faster. I just saw people from August 2022 and September 2022 (falling within that 6-7 months goal USCIS had mentioned a few months earlier) that were approved from different service centers, BUT I believe all of them were CR1s/IR1s. Even the ones that are receiving movement around the same month (i.e. January 2022 filers), it appears the CR1s get interview and things prior to those of us that adjusted within the USA from a different visa (K1, F1, etc.).

Maybe if you just pay ONE MORE application. 😁 Paying those application fees "sooner" does "grease" those applications to suddenly be moved through the system. SMH.

We explained some of the background of our relationship in the how we met section - back in 2018 (the form has changed I believe). A brief paragraph on how we met and how it went from meeting, friends, to being together, and then finally deciding to become engaged, etc. We did do separate letters (his version and mine) for the intent to marry that were brief stating that we intended to fulfill the K1 visa requirement to marry within 90 days of my now husband entering USA. Additionally, we included letters from both of our moms on behalf of both sides of parents stating that they were aware of the relationship and fully supported the decision (I believe we included them in the K1 packets AND the AOS packet).

You won't need the stamp now that you have the extension letter. But, please do submit an inquiry in June if you do not hear from them. You have the right to do so at that point.

Yes, as others have said, it is better to get SSN ASAP and then submit AOS. My husband arrived late June, we were planning to get married in July but it didn't happen until the first week of August and our AOS was submitted the first week of September. We cut it closer than we wanted to or planned, but still filed on time and had everything - including SSN.

Could you please fill out your timeline? In which state are you located? My husband came in on a K1 visa and we went to the SSA office to get the SSN within a week of his arrival. We got the SSN in about 10 days. We were able then to get married and do the rest. Having the SSN allowed us to get the joint account, medical insurance, etc. while we waited on the AOS to be approved. We live in Florida, so we got to be able to do a lot of things with his SSN while we waited on the AOS/EAD/AP. Unlike other states, we were even able to get his DL as a regular one (10 year valid) and did not have to renew every year or when the GC transitioned, etc. However, this varies per state and some states are less familiar with immigration than others. My suggestion would be to just go to the local SSA office as soon as you can once you arrive to get the SSN. Then, get married, and submit the AOS with all the proper documentation and your assigned SSN. One thing to note: As soon as your AOS is approved and you get the 2-yr GC, please make sure you go back to the SSA office to get the restriction on the SSN card REVEMOED (a restriction will be printed on it when you first get it). Removing this off the SSN card after your AOS approval and BEFORE your GC expires will help with a lot of things once the waiting time comes between the expired GC and the approval of the ROC (this is going to be a few years from now).

Neither of you have your timelines filled out, so we do not know if your I-751s were approved already or not. If they have not been approved, you should bring everything you submitted in you I-751 and your N-400 - along with your USC spouse if you are applying under the 3-yr rule. If your I-751 were approved, then at least bring the approval notice and then all the evidence you submitted in the N-400. USCIS letters are not going to list out every single item you COULD bring to help your case because they would have to tailor them specifically to each individual and that would make things even slower. Now, from my experience with an AOS interview at a USCIS office with an about-to-retire officer, the more evidence you bring, the easier it will be for you to resolve the issue on that day and get the approval. Otherwise, you could be delaying your case for not being prepared. USCIS officers can and will ask for things you might not think you need. Our officer literally told us after our approval that she knew she was going to approve us as soon as we stood up and started walking towards her because of all the evidence we were carrying. The officer had been doing this for so long that sometimes she could tell which applicants were legit before they ever got to her desk. As others have said, tax transcripts and other things that show your good character and demonstrate you are being/will be a good citizen will be golden to take. Why take the chance of not getting approved and maybe even getting your oath the same day because you left something at home?

FYI, as of today (04/09/2023), Potomac Center (YSC) is at 28 months. Per the date on the snip you shared, you should be able to submit an inquiry in June 2023. HOWEVER, I would be hitting them up now just to see if the inquiry outside of processing time works (https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/displayONPTForm.do?entryPoint=init&sroPageType=onpt). Also, do what OldUser suggested and also call them to get the stamp on your passport for the sake of your travels. Your extension letter for 48 months should be coming up soon as well. But, I would be doing all the things just to be safe, plus you are close to hearing something on the 751.

I hear you. Mine wasn't the same FO, but someone from September 2022 got approved in 6-7 months. This is ridiculous. Some get approved so quick and others are left to die.

If you want to do that, I don't see an issue with it. I would send it with a receipt notice and a signature required card.

Our window opens in September 2023. We are in school right now, so we might wait for Spring 2024. Definitely not rushing into it, but unlikely we will wait the full presidential term of forever Potomac is taking. Haha

Yes, you can write. If you submitted the N400, it might be best to just upload it. I believe CrazyCat did that.

Overall, nothing under 10 days should be a concern (at least in my opinion), especially if you register for informed delivery and check your status across the platforms. I hear you. I am the same way. I definitely want to be cautious and aware. But, at the same time, I cannot just stay and never travel outside of the US for the long-ashhshs wait at Potomac. I swear I can have a child now and send it to pre-school before I see anything on the I-751. And, yes, people, we know we can apply for the N400 bla bla, but money-wise we rather "live our life" right now and education is a priority. Haha Congratulations! Thank you for the questions.

I hear you. Keep us posted. Wishing you safe travels and no issues while you wait for this mess!

I think the question is that OP is concerned that a letter for the appointment can arrive and the appointment be during a date in which they are currently traveling resulting in a missed appointment over 24 hours. As stated by some elders, it is a 50/50 chance of being able to re-schedule or re-do without issues. BUT, there are people that have gotten a denial over it.

We have done three service requests for the "missing notice" and about 10+ chats with a live representative. We get the same canned answer, which is that we have to wait because nothing has been scheduled and they can't issue it on the spot. So, chances are regardless of what you do, they will tell you the same thing, since nothing truly has been scheduled. I did not mean informed delivery. But, yes, we are also signed up for that just to be safe. I meant travel insurance if you are traveling internationally. This will depend on your personal preference and the airline's flexibility. If it were up to us, and we had to travel internationally for a long period of time while a biometrics is pending, we would probably either do a flexible airline that will do the changes without a massive pile of fees or pay for the travel insurance so that if we get a notice, then we can make it back without re-scheduling it. I have not traveled internationally. We had a planned trip to Canada back in October/November, which got re-scheduled and then cancelled. But, even if we had made it on the trip, it would have been 10 days, so we knew we would make it back on time if something were to be scheduled. There are other people traveling with the extension letters while an ROC is pending. However, I do not know how many of them are traveling while their biometrics are pending as well. I am sure there are a few, but there are even lesser ones that would take an extended international flight. As others have said, re-scheduling or potentially missing a biometrics appointment, especially in ROC, could be risky. But, it is up to you. You mentioned it was mid-April that your trip is planned. At this point, being that it is 04/04/2023, it is unlikely that it will be scheduled for the middle of the month. However, it could be scheduled for the 20th of April and beyond. Again, it depends on how long your trip is as well. All of these factors are things to consider and it is up to you.