- My Father-in-law's surgery went well. The doctor said the surgery went as he planned and he might also have fixed the problem on his left arm.
- My long-awaited Green card arrived from Vermont !!! The husband is stuck with me for another 10 years (and vice versa)
Phew.. and Yayyy!!!
Showing posts with label INS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label INS. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
More Green Card news
If you recall, I submitted my papers to USCIS for removal of conditions on my Permanent Residency in May 9, 2007.
On Thursday Feb 7, nine months later, I received a letter from the USCIS informing me that they had transfered my application to the Vermont Center for processing due to backlog.
The USCIS website says they "received a significant increase in applications last year, an increase in nearly 1.4 million as compared to the previous year. They have hired approximately 1500 new employees to address this workload. Things should be back where they were before the application spike by 2010."
2010??! 2010??!!
Today I read this : "Citizenship on hold for many immigrants".
President Bush is asking Congress to spend money to help businesses root out illegal workers (damn you illegal workers!) but he did not request additional funds to help legal immigrants become American citizens more quickly.
It says "Right now they are taking resources from permanent residence to do citizenship".
I'm screwed.
On Thursday Feb 7, nine months later, I received a letter from the USCIS informing me that they had transfered my application to the Vermont Center for processing due to backlog.
The USCIS website says they "received a significant increase in applications last year, an increase in nearly 1.4 million as compared to the previous year. They have hired approximately 1500 new employees to address this workload. Things should be back where they were before the application spike by 2010."
2010??! 2010??!!
Today I read this : "Citizenship on hold for many immigrants".
President Bush is asking Congress to spend money to help businesses root out illegal workers (damn you illegal workers!) but he did not request additional funds to help legal immigrants become American citizens more quickly.
It says "Right now they are taking resources from permanent residence to do citizenship".
I'm screwed.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Biometrics
USCIS received my application and sent me an appointment notice to appear at the Application Support Center to have my biometrics taken this afternoon at 1pm. So I picked Jason up from work and as we were still super early (thanks to paranoid me), we stopped at Tin Tin Buffet to grab a quick lunch. I think we broke the record for fastest eating at a buffet restaurant. We knew what we wanted to eat, gobbled our foods and were on our way to the USCIS office.
There were already plenty of people in there, some standing in line or sitting and waiting for their numbers to be called. But I found out I was the first one for the 1pm appointment slot. I looked around and told Jason... hey, maybe these people have been here since 9am?
While waiting, I decided to entertain my brain by taking guesses at what nationalities these people in the room are. Too easy. Majority were Latinos. And one lady had a Honduras passport.
I was also wondering why people were standing so long infront of a monitor. Then my number was called and I found out why. Not only do they have to take a print of each finger on both hands but the machine that takes the prints was really sensitive. The smaller your fingers are, the harder it is to take a print. So since I have skinny fingers, the poor officer had to take my prints atleast 50 times. She was super nice and patient and was talking to me all the time. I thought I was going to be standing there forever. She also showed me all the prints and explained to me why some were rejected and had to be retaken. After that was accomplished, she made me sign on some magnetic thingy and took my picture. Then she said, "ok, you can go home now."
That's it !
And I thought I would be there till 5pm! And they did not even look at Jason.
There were already plenty of people in there, some standing in line or sitting and waiting for their numbers to be called. But I found out I was the first one for the 1pm appointment slot. I looked around and told Jason... hey, maybe these people have been here since 9am?
While waiting, I decided to entertain my brain by taking guesses at what nationalities these people in the room are. Too easy. Majority were Latinos. And one lady had a Honduras passport.
I was also wondering why people were standing so long infront of a monitor. Then my number was called and I found out why. Not only do they have to take a print of each finger on both hands but the machine that takes the prints was really sensitive. The smaller your fingers are, the harder it is to take a print. So since I have skinny fingers, the poor officer had to take my prints atleast 50 times. She was super nice and patient and was talking to me all the time. I thought I was going to be standing there forever. She also showed me all the prints and explained to me why some were rejected and had to be retaken. After that was accomplished, she made me sign on some magnetic thingy and took my picture. Then she said, "ok, you can go home now."
That's it !
And I thought I would be there till 5pm! And they did not even look at Jason.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Want to be a Permanent Resident? - Part II
Here's what the tracking status on USPS says on the delivery status of my package :
Status: Notice Left
We attempted to deliver your item at 10:57 AM on May 8, 2007 in MESQUITE, TX 75185 and a notice was left. A second delivery attempt will be made. If unsuccessful, we will hold it for five business days and then it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.
Wha????
I had to mail it to a P.O Box address for crying out loud. Ofcourse there won't be any person on hand to accept that mail. What on earth are they talking about ??
Update :
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 5:32 AM on May 9, 2007 in MESQUITE, TX 75185 to INS . The item was signed for by M S.
So are they saying someone actually works at the INS at 5.32AM ? But I mailed it to a P.O Box Address so how is it possible that someone actually signed for it ?
Errr... I don't get it.
Nevermind. I just hope it is in good hands.
Status: Notice Left
We attempted to deliver your item at 10:57 AM on May 8, 2007 in MESQUITE, TX 75185 and a notice was left. A second delivery attempt will be made. If unsuccessful, we will hold it for five business days and then it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.
Wha????
I had to mail it to a P.O Box address for crying out loud. Ofcourse there won't be any person on hand to accept that mail. What on earth are they talking about ??
Update :
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 5:32 AM on May 9, 2007 in MESQUITE, TX 75185 to INS . The item was signed for by M S.
So are they saying someone actually works at the INS at 5.32AM ? But I mailed it to a P.O Box Address so how is it possible that someone actually signed for it ?
Errr... I don't get it.
Nevermind. I just hope it is in good hands.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Want to be a Permanent Resident?
For the past several weeks, I have been putting together all the paperwork needed for submission to the USCIS. US laws state that if you’re married for less than two years when you file for permanent resident status, you will only be granted a conditional permanent resident status that expires in two years, assuming you’re approved.
So, I was granted a conditional resident status in 2005. Therefore, I need to submit a petition to the USCIS prior to the expiry date on my Conditional PR for the removal of those conditions, or risk deportation. This petition must be filed during the 90 days before the conditional residence expires. And it is strictly stated that 90 days does not necessarily mean three months. So you have to literally look on the dates on the calendar and COUNT to 90.
So why do they want this petition?
Simply put, the USCIS wants to ensure that you did not enter the country under false pretenses and that you are still married and they want to see evidence that the marriage was entered in good faith. The USCIS suggests you send in “supporting documents providing evidence of the relationship” as part of your application.
Here's what I mailed out yesterday (a total of 58 pages) (Yes, I actually counted)
We are truly fortunate to have Sophie, Brian, our neighbor Betty and my Father-in-law and Mother-in-law write us those affidavits. They wrote such wonderful words for us and I will definitely save them as keepsakes in my scrapbook. Thank you!
Based on various forums and experiences from different couples, some have been fortunate to receive their approval only two months after submission, and some had to wait for more than a year. I can only keep my fingers crossed and pray that it will come soon so that Jason and I can go to Malaysia in August to attend my cousin's wedding.
So, I was granted a conditional resident status in 2005. Therefore, I need to submit a petition to the USCIS prior to the expiry date on my Conditional PR for the removal of those conditions, or risk deportation. This petition must be filed during the 90 days before the conditional residence expires. And it is strictly stated that 90 days does not necessarily mean three months. So you have to literally look on the dates on the calendar and COUNT to 90.
So why do they want this petition?
Simply put, the USCIS wants to ensure that you did not enter the country under false pretenses and that you are still married and they want to see evidence that the marriage was entered in good faith. The USCIS suggests you send in “supporting documents providing evidence of the relationship” as part of your application.
Here's what I mailed out yesterday (a total of 58 pages) (Yes, I actually counted)
- Application fee - $275
- Form I-751
- Copy of Permanent Resident Card
- Copy of the title insurance of our house, showing joint ownership
- Copy of the Warranty Deed of our house, showing joint ownership
- Copy of the Deed of Trust of our house, showing joint ownership
- Copy of the Builder Application for Home Enrollment, showing joint ownership
- Joint bank account statements
- Federal tax returns filed jointly for the year 2006
- State tax returns filed jointly for the year 2006
- Copy of our health insurance card showing a joint policy
- Copy of credit cards showing our names using the same number
- Photographs of ourselves taken on trips and events during the conditional residency period (we submitted 20 prints)
- Sworn affidavit from Father-in-law and Mother-in-law
- Sworn affidavit from friends who have known us since we were married (3)
We are truly fortunate to have Sophie, Brian, our neighbor Betty and my Father-in-law and Mother-in-law write us those affidavits. They wrote such wonderful words for us and I will definitely save them as keepsakes in my scrapbook. Thank you!
Based on various forums and experiences from different couples, some have been fortunate to receive their approval only two months after submission, and some had to wait for more than a year. I can only keep my fingers crossed and pray that it will come soon so that Jason and I can go to Malaysia in August to attend my cousin's wedding.
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