ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHELP!!! My wife was denied.
Certified mail is secure but it is also one of the slowest delivery services that there are. File a motion to re-open including proof that you sent the requested information in well prior to the due date and that the postal service failed to deliver the item in a timely way. Good luck.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-07 18:01:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionDo I still have a chance with USCIS before X'mas
They are still working. USCIS and support offices are closed for December 25 and 26th only and open other days. While it doesn't say so yet I suspect they will also be closed January 1. I do know that they work December 31st as that is when we received our I-129f approval 5 years ago.
http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-22 22:20:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionRenewing Driver License Before 2 yr Green Card Expires in Missouri
Good luck in renewing your DL - here in Georgia it is only renewed to the length of time left on your immigration document - since mine expired after I filed for Removal of Conditions my renewal was only good until the date stamped on the I-551 in my passport - 10 1/2 months.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-12 16:48:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 filing and email address
Just to clarify, you will also need to wait until you have the case number from your biometrics letter in order to sign up for email updates. As soon as you have the biometrics letter, you can sign up with that case status number and also select email updates. You can check on the website itself as well. If you only have the NOA you won't be able to use that file number - it is an internal number only that can't be checked by the applicant. Good luck with your application.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-26 13:38:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFinally NOA came and check cashed
Congratulations. I suspect that the only real reason for the delay is that they were busy and possibly short on personnel off on holidays so it took then longer to get around to cashing the check. They don't look at your package at this stage of the game except to make sure the application form and the payment are present and the payment is correct. If there is a problem with the incorrect amount they send the application back, otherwise, they cash the cheque. For the next little while, your application will wait in line until an adjudicator has a chance to look at it. If there are any problems then you may receive an RFE for more evidence or different evidence, or be scheduled for an interview after an adjudicator looks at it, but that hasn't happened yet. So, be glad/relieved they have cashed your check because that means they have received the application and accepted it. It doesn't mean anything more than that at this stage in the game.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-27 15:31:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionSending I-751 in One Week - Final Questions
I have heard people sending in both notarized and non-notarized affidavits. As we didn't send in any I can't help you there.

Regarding the tabs on the bottom of the application - I just used the coloured plastic tabs you stick on the page or the page divider between each section of related documents. I think whatever works is fine as long as they are on the bottom and acco-fastened at top.

I interspersed the photographs where they fit in best with documentary evidence - for example, family Christmas trips I included the photograph portrait with the travel documentation, etc. I either acco fastened them into the package or attached them to a page and acco-fastened the page.

Edited by Kathryn41, 27 December 2008 - 05:29 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-27 17:26:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionJust pregnant: Is a good idea to submit this?
QUOTE (bryonm4 @ Dec 27 2008, 08:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (My Le @ Dec 27 2008, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My I-751 was sent out and the NOA just came in (though the waiting period was longer than usual), in between we've found out that she gets pregnant, should we submit proof of her pregancy as an additional evidence to be more supportive? Does this do any good?

Thanks.

Congradulations

My fiancee has told me it's easy to pass the interview part if you can provide proof of pregancy and that the baby is yours and she is in Ho Chi Minh one of the hardest places to get a visa. I have heard others tell me that it will only complicate things and its not automatic for proof of a bon a fide relationship. I personally would submitt it. Hope this helps


I just want to reiterate - yes, the pregnancy is great evidence of a valid marriage and it is wonderful news for the happy couple. There is a big difference, though, in obtaining a visa at Ho Chi Minh and applying to remove conditions. The application to remove conditions has already been submitted. There is a big backlog of applications waiting. The application is mailed in, then sits and waits in a big storage area until someone gets around to looking at it. If the adjudicator wants more evidence he sends a letter requesting this evidence that needs to be returned back to a different address and included with this evidence. The file - which is already been worked on - is set aside in a specific area while it waits for the new evidence to come and be matched up. If the file has not yet been opened up and worked on but is in the pile waiting and new evidence is sent in, it just joins the pile further back and waits as well. They really have no way to match it up until someone starts to work on the file. By the time they reach the secondary evidence they have probably already made a decision based upon the primary evidence. Whether the secondary evidence ever gets matched up with the application package is open to serious doubt.

While I can appreciate that you would want to send this lovely news along as further evidence, it is unlikely it would ever reach the adjudicator before he/she reviews your original document. If you don't have enough evidence already they will send you an RFE or request an interview. That is the time to present the evidence of your pregnancy - and if the file is at Vermont, you may even be presenting evidence of a live baby since the waiting time is so long. In all likelihood, the decision will be made on the primary material submitted and the secondary evidence not matched up to the application until after the decision is made.

I may be wrong on this but this is my understanding of how the process works. So, enjoy your pregnancy and the expectation of both the I-751 approval and your new son and daughter - each in their own good time.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-27 21:17:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionJust pregnant: Is a good idea to submit this?
Actually, while it would be nice to include it I doubt there is any way to match up the information with the application at this stage of the game. If you get an RFE then you could send it in at that time. The information is not going to speed up the processing one way or another and I strongly suspect two documents sent in at different times will never meet up at USCIS unless USCIS initiates the process. Congratulations on the pregnancy, and good luck with the I-751.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-27 15:08:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionA little rant...
yep - fingerprints are only valid for 15 months and if they expire while you are waiting for AOS then you need to get them redone- I had to do them twice for AOS, and twice for renewal of EADs. Of course, now I had to redo them for removal of conditions. My understanding is that when they expire in 15 months they are deleted from the database so need to be re-entered. That sounds extremely inefficient to me if it is indeed true as you would think they would want to keep a central repository of all immigrant fingerprints. I know that fingerprints can be altered and changed with surgery and stuff but come on now, is it likely I would change my fingerprints to someone who is going through the immigration process if I wanted to scam anybody? It really does seem to be redundant.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-26 20:42:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussioni called uscis
Ah, that makes sense.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-31 09:46:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussioni called uscis
Did the 16 character number she give you match the number on your Biometrics letter - 3 letters followed by 13 numbers?

You normally have 2 numbers on your file - the first is the receipt number on the NOA and the second is a case number on the Biometrics number. You can go to the http://www.uscis.gov website and check your case status on line by typing in the Biometrics number where it says 'Check Case Status". The Customer Service person may have given you that number so you could check on line for yourself. I didn't get a receipt number and when I phoned the Customer Service person gave me the Biometrics number even before I received the Biometrics appointment. That is the only thing I can think it might be.

Good luck, I hope you hear good news very soon.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-30 20:56:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionForgot This Question - Cover Letter
We figured that since it was a joint application and we both needed to sign it, we addressed the cover letter from both of us as well and both of us signed it. It seemed the logical thing to do for us.

Edited by Kathryn41, 27 December 2008 - 05:36 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-27 17:35:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHappy New Year 2009, Everyone!
Happy New Year as well!

May everyone's New Year be happy and safe, and may all your dreams come true in 2009.

Best Wishes to all!

Kathryn
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-31 09:44:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI751 Filing
You should receive the biometrics appointment letter about a month after the NOA. Yes, California is taking approximatley 6 months to approve I-751s. You can check the CSC status list in this forum for exact dates for those who have also applied and received their cards. (Just be glad you didn't have to file to VSC and its average 11 month wait!).

Don't worry if your green card expires before the 10 year card is approved. You will receive an NOA receipt letter that will extend the validity of your green card for one year. You carry the letter and the green card together.

I guess they thought it would only take 90 days to process the things when the legislation was enacted and they have never gone back to fix it.

Good luck.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-31 00:01:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFiling I-751 just little worried..
You have lots of good evidence. In a cover letter write that your husband purchased the house and set up the accounts before you met and married and since you don't work outside of the home it seemed the most sensible plan to leave things that way. You should be fine:-).
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-31 18:47:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHappy New year!!!
Congratulations! That is great news.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-31 19:00:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionBest way to send the I-751??
be careful with certified mail - it is the surest but also the slowest. I have had certified mail take over 1 month to arrive - they don't guarantee when it will arrive, only that it will arrive. You can track and get receipt confirmation for Priority mail and registered mail as well both of which are faster and cheaper and in reality, just as secure. There is one individual here who sent his RFE by certified mail and it took several weeks to arrive, making it late and making it not accepted and they denied his application. This was just within the last few weeks.

Edited by Kathryn41, 01 January 2009 - 03:16 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-01 15:15:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionBest way to send the I-751??
USPS Priority Mail with return receipt and delivery confirmation:-). That worked for us.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-12-31 23:44:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 Evidence List
You're good to go. That is an excellent list showing the co-mingling of finances and a shared home. Many are approved without nearly as much.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-01 19:52:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionmailing I751
You might want to read this thread about using certified mail first.

http://www.visajourn...howtopic=165894

I also had a problem where a document I sent elsewhere via certified mail got 'lost' for nearly a month. When I complained to the Post Office their response was that certified mail is the most guaranteed way to reach its destination but it can also be one of the slowest. Ten days seems to be the average for certified mail delivery in my personal experience. If I have anything now that would require certified mail I always use a courier instead - more secure, faster and I can track it almost hour by hour, which you can't with certified mail - especially if one of the way stations along the way forgets to record the receipt of the package. That is how mine got lost in the system for so long.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-02 12:19:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionIs this NOA?
This is the NOA receipt for your stepson extending his status. Your husband (he is the foreign partner and the boy's father, yes?) should receive one as well. I expect he will get it either tomorrow or next week.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-02 20:06:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionNEW RULES TO DEAL WITH i-751
Well, I think it was a given that extra fees was just an excuse to get more money and there was never much real possibility that they would increase service response times. They had to 'justify' the extra demands somehow and that one seemed easiest to say - except those of us who have already experienced their appalling service record knew it wouldn't happen. This is exactly what I predicted would happen last year when they announced the fee increases - that there would be no resultant increase in service, just cost. If anything, they've slowed down. I still would like to know how they can explain the extreme differences in processing times between California and Vermont for Removal of Conditions. California is also doing AOS and Citizenship applications but they sure seem able to process I-751s in a timely manner - in fact, sometimes within 2 to 3 months.

Kathryn
(who started this visa journey June 2003)

Edited by Kathryn41, 01 January 2009 - 10:52 AM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-01 10:51:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionOur approval letter sent, but...we never received it!
Definitely make an INFOPASS appointment and get this cleared up. To me it sounds like you were approved and you should have received your 10 year card. It may be that they didn't send your card or it got lost in the mail. Print out a copy of the online notification and bring it with you. Good luck in getting things sorted out soon. At the very least, your husband should be able to get the I-551 stamp in his passport so that he can travel. You may want to verify the address that they have on file for you. I would do this in person at the USCIS office rather than rely on the Misinformation Line which 9 times out of 10 gives you the wrong information. Good luck.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-03 11:41:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussiongeneral question after receiving the 10 yr GC
There is no difference. You are first eligible to apply for US citizenship 90 days prior to the third anniversary of your original greencard. You can apply anytime after that as long as you continue to meet the residency and non-criminality requirements - and if you are applying before 5 years, are still married to the same US citizen you were married to when you became a permanent resident. You can apply for Citizenship whenever you want after you first become eligible - or never, if you wish. It is your choice.

This question is better placed in the Citizenship forum so I hope an organizer or moderator will move it:-).
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-03 21:54:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionDrivers license during removing conditions phase
Depending on the State involved, you will probably get a one year license good for the same length of time as the NOA extension to your green card. If the office you go to doesn't recognize the NOA letter as a valid document and refuses to issue a license (has happened to some), try a different office - some do and some don't; it isn't consistent.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-04 11:32:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionEvidence and Sworn Affidavits
No, you don't need to send passport photographs - that is a requirement only if you are not currently in the US, ie. stationed in an overseas military post. You will receive a letter about a month or so after you submit your application called a Biometrics Appointment letter. It will tell you the time and place where you will go to get your fingerprints and photograph taken.

Yes, the middle strip of the Green Card will come out black - the material doesn't reflect light in a way that it can be copied on a copier so don't worry - that is normal and they expect that.

You'll be fine:-).
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-04 11:48:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionme again
QUOTE (ninzie @ Jan 4 2009, 12:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
But after i received this email, today the immigration people came to my house to look for me and my husband.. it was strange because if they already approved my GC, why would they come to our house and check up on us? is this a random pick to visit or should i worry?? im starting to worry..



Maybe because the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing?

Perhaps these visits were scheduled a while back and they only just got around to doing it, but in the meantime another adjudicator took a look at your file and decided that you had enough evidence after all and don't need to jump through any more hoops, so approved your file.

Based on your description in your other thread of what they did, I think you should be fine and have no need to worry. They talked with your Mom. She had no way to expect their visit yet she corroborated the fact that the two of you do indeed live there together and are married. If they can't trust your Mom in such circumstances, who could they trust?

I think you are fine and don't have anything to worry about. Strange? yes. I guess just remember this is USCIS we're dealing with and they don't even know what they're doing most of the time. How on earth can we begin to guess except they sure sound incredibly disorganized.

Hope you get your green card in the mail very soon so you can relax.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-04 11:43:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionme again
Yes, that is the approval notice. Congratulations.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-04 00:22:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 Relocated for Adjudication
They are scheduling you for an interview and that is why your file was sent to the local office. They schedule interviews for two reasons - the evidence isn't strong enough for them to decide on its own so they want to talk to you in person, or you were randomly selected for an interview. They need to conduct a certain number of interviews so even though there may be nothing amiss with your file and you have lots of evidence, you get selected for an interview.

In either case, don't worry. Bring along the originals of the copies that you selected and add to it any other evidence that you have that will show your marriage is a real marriage and not entered into for the purpose of getting a green card.

Good luck.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-04 00:27:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionsent pkg.....1 question
Deb, you will also need to wait until you get the Biometrics appointment letter before you can track your package. The NOA extension receipt number doesn't work for tracking. The biometrics letter - which you should receive about a month or so after you submitted your package - will have a different case number. Use that case number for tracking.

Good luck.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-02 12:21:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionnow what?
The current average wait time for Vermont is 11 months. Nothing else to do but wait.

You should have received a Notice of Action (NOA) receipt acknowledging that they received your package. This letter extends the validity of the conditional greencard for one year. If you do not receive one before the green card actually expires, make an Infopass appointment with your local USCIS office and get an I-551 stamp placed in your passport. That also extends your status for one year and is proof you are here legally. You shouldn't receive anything else until you either receive approval, an interview letter or possibly an RFE (Request for Evidence) when they start to review your application in about 11 months after filing. Good luck.

Edited by Kathryn41, 05 January 2009 - 05:57 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-05 17:54:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 filed a month ago but NOA not received yet
QUOTE (Venezolano74 @ Jan 4 2009, 10:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello, if you check was cleared then you can order a copy of the check with your Bank (in my case I can see it online on both sides) then in that copy you can see a printed lines with your CASE NUMBER (among other lines) then you can enter online in the uscis website and check the status of you application.

Hope works for you.


While the number from the back of the cheque works for all other visa situations, it doesn't for Removal of Conditions. The number that is on the back of the cheque is an internal number and does not work for accessing the information on the USCIS website. The same thing with the first NOA letter - the number will be the same one that is on the back of the cheque and doesn't work externally. You will need to wait for the Biometrics appointment letter. It will have a CR189 case number on it and that is the one that will work to set up and check an online status account at USCIS.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-05 22:53:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 filed a month ago but NOA not received yet
If you haven't received your NOA thirty days after sending your application (although the Misinformation Line will say 30 days after they received it!) call and ask them where the NOA is. They won't check before that time. I suspect that with Christmas holidays and year end work that they may just be a bit delayed in getting out the NOAs. If you haven't received anything and you are getting close to the temporary green card expiring, you can make an INFOPASS appointment and get the I-551 stamp placed into your passport. This acts like your green card and extends your status for work and travel and residing in the US for a year. At least you know they got it since they cashed the cheque. Hopefully you will receive the NOA very soon.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-02 12:27:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 Notification?
Wow -the regulations say they are supposed to send a reminder but yes, you are the first person I have ever heard of who actually received one. No, we received nothing from USCIS. Heck, I didn't even receive an acknowledgment that they even received my application!
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-02 20:03:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHave expired green card and waiting for new card in mail. Can I leave the US and come back to US with a expired green card and interview letter?
ok, when you sent off the form to renew her green card that was the removal of conditions - the I-751 application form. Since her first green card expired in October 2008, she should have received a 'receipt' - another 797C that says your application was received and her status is extended for one year. She needs to have that letter plus her expired green card if she wants to be allowed back into the US. Look for it. You should have received it before the Biometrics letter. If you never received one it is very important that you go to the USCIS office and get the I-551 stamp in her passport. Without either the stamp or the letter she may well have problems returning through the border. If you can't get an appointment tomorrow or the next day then go down and see if you can get a walk in - explain the immediacy of your situation and bring proof of your travel plans. The actual green card may not arrive until next August or September the way Vermont processes things. Good luck.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-05 00:06:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHave expired green card and waiting for new card in mail. Can I leave the US and come back to US with a expired green card and interview letter?
Just a clarification here . . . you are leaving for LA and want to know about going through customs in Ft. Lauderdale, FL? If LA means Los Angeles (or Louisiana), you don't go through customs for a domestic flight. While LA and Ft. Lauderdale are far apart they are still in the same country. You only need to have the immigration documents if you are going outside of the US and then will be returning from another country. Carry the expired green card and the NOA extension letter and the stamped interview letter together as proof of her status, if asked. There should be no need to show them, though on a domestic flight. If you are travelling outside of the US and don't have the NOA receipt, then go to the closest USCIS office and get the I-551 stamp in her passport. Bring proof of your travel arrangements with you. Don't leave the US without the green card or the expired greencard and the NOA/I-551 stamp.

A second clarification - the NOA you show is not an interview letter - it is the Biometrics letter. Are you sure she didn't have biometrics instead of an interview? She would have filed I-751 in Vermont but if her green card only expired in October she would not have had an interview already. Vermont is taking 11 months to process I-751s so the new green card won't arrive until next August or September. If this is the case, look for the first NOA you received - the receipt saying they received your application. That is the letter your wife needs to carry with her because it extends the validity of her green card for one year. Again, she should carry it at all times to prove her status but she doesn't have to show it on domestic travel flights, only when returning to the US from abroad.

If you would clarify when you applied for Removal of Conditions it would help us to give you the right advice.

Edited by Kathryn41, 04 January 2009 - 07:25 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-04 19:23:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionweird question but i need help
Wow, very strange. I have never heard of them doing that at this stage of the process. Please let us know when you receive your card - I am sure your mother gave a positive report!
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-04 00:21:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionGathering evidence for 1-751
Yes, do so. I included the obituary of my mother in our AOS package - she died shortly after we were submitted our K-1 package. The obituary lists my name and my fiance's (now husband) names as family survivors. It was published evidence of our relationship and I figured that had to count.

Edited by Kathryn41, 06 January 2009 - 05:07 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-06 17:05:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionneed
You are supposed to file within the 90 day window before the card expires. If you file after that date you need to include the reason for the late filing. It is up to the adjudicator to decide whether or not they will accept the reason. Filing a few days after the deadline is probably going to be alright but you certainly don't want to let it go much longer. Tell you friends to get on it asap even if they aren't able to include all of the evidence right now - include as much as they can. Better to get it to them in a timely way and get an RFE rather than have it denied outright for being too late. They do need to make sure it includes enough evidence to make sure it isn't denied for lack of evidence though as well.

Edited by Kathryn41, 06 January 2009 - 11:43 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-06 23:42:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionReceipt Number
QUOTE (Lappa @ Jan 7 2009, 03:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Kathryn41,
When are you coming to N-400 ( citizenship) forum? We need people like you in that forum to get answer for questions. You were helping me a lot when I was in this forum. I miss you a lot and want to see you there soon.


Aww, thank you!

Well, I will move to the Citizenship forum after I get the conditions removed on my green card. I hope it will be any day now - I filed last February. I am eligible to apply for citizenship the end of February so I expect you will see more of me in that forum around that time.

Edited by Kathryn41, 07 January 2009 - 05:34 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-01-07 17:34:00