Literally just a few minutes ago, I received a text message and email that my case status had been updated.
"On September 11, 2013, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283."
Yay! Finally!
I'm thinking that I can receive the new green card either by the end of this week or early next week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the case updates again with the tracking number (as it has with some folks). But, as always with USCIS, nothing is guaranteed, lol.
~Lindsay
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Approved!
A little over two hours ago, I checked my mail. Inside was a letter from USCIS!! It was a thin envelope and I was hoping it was an approval and not a RFE. My hands shaking, I opened the envelope. I didn't see anything blue (which was the color of the RFE letter), so I got hopeful. My hands shaking even more I read the letter. All I needed was to read the first word: Congratulations!
Definitely not as fancy as the NOA. It's not an I-797 notice like the others, but I read in the May filers group I'm in that someone else got something exactly like this, so I'm not worried. I'll definitely be glad to have the green card in my hand though!
Just a note: my case status on USCIS's website never updated throughout this entire process. The last update is that on May 2nd, they received my petition. And when I sign in, the "last updated" column is still 5/10/13. So, their site is definitely not reliable, lol.
Also, if you notice, the decision date of my approval is 8/29, which is the day before I even sent my second response. So it seems that USPS actually did deliver my initial police record search to them. Apparently it was just not scanned properly, thus the system never said it was delivered. Hopefully the second response won't cause any issues. I did note in the cover letter that if they did indeed receive the initial response to simply disregard that second copy. But, who knows with USCIS, lol.
I'll update again once I receive my green card. Hopefully it will be just in a few days!
~Lindsay
 |
| Approval letter |
Definitely not as fancy as the NOA. It's not an I-797 notice like the others, but I read in the May filers group I'm in that someone else got something exactly like this, so I'm not worried. I'll definitely be glad to have the green card in my hand though!
Just a note: my case status on USCIS's website never updated throughout this entire process. The last update is that on May 2nd, they received my petition. And when I sign in, the "last updated" column is still 5/10/13. So, their site is definitely not reliable, lol.
Also, if you notice, the decision date of my approval is 8/29, which is the day before I even sent my second response. So it seems that USPS actually did deliver my initial police record search to them. Apparently it was just not scanned properly, thus the system never said it was delivered. Hopefully the second response won't cause any issues. I did note in the cover letter that if they did indeed receive the initial response to simply disregard that second copy. But, who knows with USCIS, lol.
I'll update again once I receive my green card. Hopefully it will be just in a few days!
~Lindsay
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Delivered!
I've never been so happy to see the words 'delivered'!
I was anxious all weekend for this second package to be delivered. As soon as I woke up this morning, I checked my USPS tracking. The last update since yesterday was that it was in the same sort facility as where my last package got delayed/lost. Then it finally departed that sort facility, making it's final way to Laguna Niguel, where CSC is located.
I went out to get groceries, and once I came back, I of course checked the tracking again. It arrived at the local post office there! I was elated as this was one step further than my original package. Although, the delivery date changed to tomorrow, I was just happy it made it to Laguna Niguel.
Then, like, 5 minutes ago, I decided to check again for the heck of it. And lo and behold, it said it was delivered!!! I pretty much freaked out, lol! So, USCIS (finally) has my response, after a nearly 2 week delay thanks to USPS.
Hopefully, I'll be getting an approval soon. I'd say about half of May filers have already been approved. I'm hoping it's my turn soon! Keeping all fingers crossed now for a swift approval!
~Lindsay
I was anxious all weekend for this second package to be delivered. As soon as I woke up this morning, I checked my USPS tracking. The last update since yesterday was that it was in the same sort facility as where my last package got delayed/lost. Then it finally departed that sort facility, making it's final way to Laguna Niguel, where CSC is located.
I went out to get groceries, and once I came back, I of course checked the tracking again. It arrived at the local post office there! I was elated as this was one step further than my original package. Although, the delivery date changed to tomorrow, I was just happy it made it to Laguna Niguel.
Then, like, 5 minutes ago, I decided to check again for the heck of it. And lo and behold, it said it was delivered!!! I pretty much freaked out, lol! So, USCIS (finally) has my response, after a nearly 2 week delay thanks to USPS.
Hopefully, I'll be getting an approval soon. I'd say about half of May filers have already been approved. I'm hoping it's my turn soon! Keeping all fingers crossed now for a swift approval!
~Lindsay
Saturday, August 31, 2013
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...
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...
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
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
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
Monday, August 19, 2013
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
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
Sunday, August 18, 2013
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
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
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