KK_Shanks

I tried contacting through Emma yesterday and got put into a loop again. But then miraculously at 10:30 last night I got an email saying they received the application on March 3rd and I will be getting an I-797 for it in the mail. I am calling that a victory and things are moving along now. But I would love to know what happened to the package between the 17 Jan and the 3rd Mar then why it took 3 weeks for them to email me to let me know it arrived. I know I'll never find out but I expect its because they are probably swamped with applications more so than ever before for fairly obvious reasons. Just sucks for those of us who have been doing all the right things to get through the system legitimately. Thanks for all the help.

I didnt have much luck with that last time but I'll give it another go tomorrow. Thanks mate.

If I resend the application with a new check, will it be a struggle to get the money back from the USCIS if they miraculously find my first application and cash both checks.

Yup just checked and it was $260 and yes my eligibility is (C)(9)

I think it was $220 or $250 and filed it under K1 I think.

I sent my I-485 to the Chicago Lockbox mid Dec last year and my I-765 in mid Jan this year. I recieved an I-797 for the I-485 and have been through biometrics appointment and the case is in progress. However I never recieved an I-797 for the I-765 and they have also not cashed the check for the I-765. I sent an email query 19th Feb and got an automated response saying they would respond within 30 days but have not had a reply, still no I-797 and they still haven't cashed the check. I rung the USCIS help number, got stuck in a loop where they need the receipt number from the I-797 and no amount of asking the AI if I can speak to a representative would put me through, it would just continue the loop or hang up on me. I sent a follow up email on the 20th Mar, got the automated response again saying they would respond within 30 days. So I am stuck, I cannot talk to anyone without a receipt number, but I have not been given a receipt number. Anyone have any cool tricks up their sleeve that I could try to get this moving along? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for that, I'll calll them tomorrow

Applied for I-485 and I-765 simultaneously in December 2024 and recieved an NOA for the I-485 in early January. Had my biometrics appointment for the I-465 in late January, now I am waiting for a decision (estimated time according to the USCIS is end of 2025) So as far as I can tell, the I-485 application is going OK - 2 thumbs up. However while my I-485 was being processed in January, I recieved my entire I-765 back because I did not send the correct fee (I didn't realise there was a charge for I-765 after April 1st last year - my bad) So I re-sent the I-765 with a cheque for the correct fee in mid January, however I have not recieved any NOA for the I-765 and it has been a month since I sent the cheque and the cheque has not been cashed. My question is, should I recieve an NOA for the I-765 seperately from the I-485 NOA I have already recieved? Also is a month considered a long time to be waiting for any progress on the I-765? It looks like everyone else is getting theirs processed and returned within 2-4 weeks. Thanks in advance.

Thanks. Fingers crossed it stays that way...

Hi, I went for my biometrics appointment today which went as planned with zero problems. I got home tonight to see that my Biometrics Appointment has been marked as complete (as I expected) but also my Interview Appointment has ALSO been marked as complete (see attached screen grab). I know not everyone needs to attend an interview, but this was kind of unexpected. Am I one of the lucky ones who does not need an interview or am I misunderstanding what I am seeing? (I will be very glad if I can skip this step, but I just want to be sure I am seeing right) Anyone else have something similar? Also another question, with the recent changes to the Keeping Families Together process, will that potentially speed up the decision for my application? I see in the last week it has changed from 15 months to 13 months till a decision is made.

I would say, if it gives you the option to submit the DS160, then do it.

You should be able to get a COVID shot, a Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis shot (called a TDAP) and a Measles, Mumps and Rubella shot (called MMR) from your GP for free. If you have a community services card you might be eligible for some of the other immunisations for free too. You also may not need all the immunisations they list, depending on your age and risk profile. I found out that did not many at all once the doctor had asked their questions and they looked at what I had already had (they had to do a quick blood test for chickenpox immunity because I did not have a record of it but I definitely had chickenpox as a kid)

Have you checked your status tracker, it may tell you more information - you will need your ACK number. https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=NIV

I did mention it, but will have to see how it plays out, not being able to do anything for possibly up to a year might cut my desirability off at the knees.

Courier bag arrived at work on Monday morning (yesterday), had passport and papers in there. I gave him the bad news, he was pretty bummed, but he was happy for me.

Not so much of a job offer, more that my boss doesn't want me to go and has asked if I can keep doing what I am doing now but from another country. But it seems the answer is a resounding no, so I'll be delivering him the bad news on Monday. Thanks for the advice guys and gals, I'm glad I didn't go with my intuition and end up getting myself in trouble. But in good news, I checked the consulate for updates on my visa application today and WooHoo, I have an approval status, I checked my courier bag and that is on its way to me too. Very exciting, but also scary.

I will be entering on a K1 visa. Does that give me the EAD?

I have no intention of breaking the law so I would like the legal answer if it is known. All going well, I should have my visa approved in the next week or so and I am planning to move to the US in mid September. (yes it is within the 6 months of the medical) I talked to my boss about me moving to the US and he has asked if I would be interested in continuing working for him but remotely in the US. I would like to help them out if possible, but obviously I cannot get a green card until I have got married and completed AOS which I plan on doing ASAP. Does my lack of green card stop me from legally working US based jobs only or does it stop me from working ANY jobs when I live in the USA? If I cannot work ANY jobs then so be it, but I would like to help my boss out if I can, and if i can't, I'll probably help him out where I can for free to keep myself busy rather than be <DELETED> sitting around and playing video games all day (as fun as that does sound, it's not very productive) TIA

Give them a day or two to send an email.

If your visa was approved on the day of your interview you will receive an email once it has been printed and posted back to you.

Based on my experience in NZ, I would allow at least 2 weeks, if not 3 weeks between the medical and interview and surely, it would be far cheaper to fly twice QLD to Sydney than to stay in Sydney for over a week.

So I went to my interview at the consulate on Friday 5th April as planned, I believe the interview went well, I had all my paperwork checked and plenty of questions about our relationship, and I think they gave everything the tick, at least as far as I could tell (found it hilarious that they didn't check any of the evidence of relationship that me and my fiance painstakingly compiled - LoL) However, because they had not received my medical results from Citymed, they declined my application and on hearing this, my world imploded. After getting over the initial shock of being told I was declined, I did my best to understand what the next steps were but my brain was spinning and I don't think I took it all in. I think they said they will re-review my application once my medical results arrive. But they gave me back my passport (keeping all my other paperwork) and I was told I would need to return my passport when they re-review the application. But I'm not sure if I need to take the passport there in person or whether I can courier it to the consulate. Flying up to Auckland for another trip adds a significant cost to an already sizeable bill for flights, medical and application. I'll be honest, hearing my application was declined was probably one of the lowest points of my life in recent years. I would have much rather they worded it that the application was put on hold pending medical results because that would not have been so much of a shock to the system. If it is of any relevance I did receive notification from Citymed 3 days before my interview to say there was no issues with my medical and they would be forwarding the results to the consulate, so I had no reason to think they wouldn't be there already. I guess it would be good to know, has anyone else from out of Auckland have their application declined pending the medical results and what did you have to do with your passport when they got back to you and roughly how long did it take to finish the process?

Just had my K2 medical yesterday at Auckland Citymed at 1:30pm. Great experience. For a nervous time, they treat you with respect and are very professional and quick. Timeline (give or take a few minutes), appointment was at 1:30pm, I got to Citymed about 1:10pm I caught a flight from Wellington to Auckland, landing around 12pm. Went straight out the front of the airport to catch the Skydrive bus which got me to Skycity about 12:50pm. Walked from Skycity to Citymed in about 10-15 minutes at a casual stroll pace. It's all downhill. Reception checked my paperwork and the nurse called me in to put me through the paces of taking vitals and measurements. Doctor called me in and did a bunch of questions about my medical history, things like hospital stays, medications, family history, pysch issues, drug/alcohol dependencies, STD history etc Then a bit of a check for breathing, heart rate and reflexes. Nothing major or invasive. Back to the nurse for a couple vaccination updates and blood draws then off to radiology out the back of Citymed for a chest x-ray and I was done. 15-20 minute walk back to Skycity for the bus back which got me to the airport around 4pm. (Don't forget to hand over your paperwork to the front counter at Citymed when you leave) So I think that my timeline was pretty much as good as it could get at 4 hours from airport doors to airport doors. But I would definitely allow more time than 4 hours for bad traffic or flight delays or longer wait times at Citymed. All in all I 100% rate the Citymed experience. I thought it was going to be a bit clinical and stiff, but they were super nice.

Did you complete the application and pay the fee?

Show me a screen grab of what stage you have got to. (cover any personal details)