Copy of Response Mailed

So, bad news. My original response never got delivered (according to USPS tracking). It was supposed to have been delivered Thursday, August 22nd, but the last update was that it left a sort facility in California, less than an hour away from the California Service Center. I figured there just might be a glitch and it didn't update.

By Monday, I was getting a little antsy. I looked on USPS's site and it said to wait to call after 5 days from mailing has passed. Which would make it Wednesday. So, I waited.

Wednesday came and the phone calls began. I first called USPS and explained the situation. The lady I spoke with said she'd contact a supervisor at a local office in California. I then received an email (from a previous online inquiry) that I should call a Consumer Affairs number in California. That lady said because it wasn't in her district (eh??) that she couldn't see any more information, so I was directed to a Consumer Affairs in South Dakota. Spoke to another lady and she said she'd contact some one at the last post office my package was at to see if they can locate it. She also suggested I call USCIS to see if they received it.

Upon calling USCIS, they had no information for me. Upon 3 different calls, they told me that they won't be able to see anything until after 30 days or once the review has finished. Dead end there.

After contacting the Consumer Affairs in South Dakota again on Friday, the same lady I spoke with told me she hadn't heard back, so she sent another email.

At this point, I wasn't sure what to do. Wait until they found it (if at all) or send another package. I made a scan of the RFE letter, so I had that available. And since the police record search was sent by email, I had an endless supply of that.

After some contemplation, I decided to send another copy. I decided to write up a cover letter and explained, in as little sentences as possible, what had happened with USPS and that this was a second response to the RFE that was sent out.

I'm keeping all fingers crossed this second package makes it to CSC this time. It should be delivered this coming Tuesday. Because of USPS, a little under 2 weeks have been wasted :( Who knows, I could have had my approval already...

~Lindsay

P.S. In other news, I got my hair dyed on Thursday. All blue :) Only positive thing that's happened this past week...

Response Mailed

When I woke up at 10am (yes, I slept in :P), I noticed that, about 2 hours previously, I received the record search in my email.

I was concerned about a few things, but after creating a thread on VJ about it, I was reassured that everything was most likely okay. So, I printed it out, included the USCIS letter on top, and stuffed it inside the provided envelope.

I then proceeded to the post office here in town. I of course wanted tracking, so the envelope was put into a clear Priority Mail envelope. Not only would I get tracking, but it'd shave off one day, compared to First Class mail. Cost me an extra $5, but I think it's worth it.

So, it should arrive on Thursday. Now, to just wait. I'll post again once it arrives at USCIS in California.

~Lindsay

Police Record Update

Just got back home from my little excursion.

I first went to the police department. Told the lady there that I needed a letter saying I had no criminal record. She asked for what purpose and I replied immigration. She went off to talk to someone and came back within a minute. She told me that I should go to the Clerk of Courts in the County Courthouse and get that done there.

Thankfully, the Courthouse isn't far from the police department; just a few blocks away. A kind gentleman (not sure if he worked there or not, lol) showed me where the Clerk of Courts was (I don't know the Courthouse at all with its maze of floors and offices, lol).

Once I got in, I explained to the lady there what I needed. Showed her the USCIS letter with the paragraph about needing a letter stating no criminal record. She produced a form I had to fill out. There were 3 searches I could choose: criminal, civil, or both. I wasn't sure if I needed criminal or civil, so I chose the 'both' option. Figured I'd cover all my bases that way.

There were 3 ways to receive the results: mail, email, or fax. Since I don't have a fax, that was out. I would have liked to get a hard copy in the mail, but it stated an envelope was needed, along with a stamp, which I did not have on me. So, I chose email. In the end, that'll probably be way faster to receive than snail mail anyways. Just hoping USCIS won't have issues with a printed email :/

As for the price, the lady told me I could check this box on the back of the form to waive the fee. I wasn't exactly sure WHY I was allowed to waive the fee, but if I didn't have to pay the $20 for the record search, that was fine by me, lol!

I asked how long it'd take to receive the results. She told me within 24-48 hours. I was hoping I'd be able to get it all done today, but alas, no such luck. So, hoping I'll get it back instead on the shorter end of that time frame since I want to mail this out ASAP, preferably tomorrow.

I'll post another update once I do receive the results and mail it out.

~Lindsay

Letter from USCIS

Got home from a mini-vacation earlier this afternoon and just got around now to checking the mail. Inside was a letter from USCIS. The entire way down the hall and back into my apartment I was praying it was an approval (despite nothing indicating this on USCIS's website, although this isn't uncommon). Sat down and ripped open the letter.

Apparently my second set of fingerprints was rejected, being illegible. I now have to go to a local police department and get a letter indicating I have no criminal record.

*sigh*

I'm planning on going to the police department tomorrow morning and hoping they'll be able to do this without a hassle (and for cheap). I'll then mail it off ASAP (after scanning everything, so I have a copy for my records).

Wish me luck!

~Lindsay