our case status update - no joy

[MaxxumUSA]

For anyone doing the K-1, the process is getting faster now.  They were running at 12 months but now under 8 months and heading back to 6 months.  I think they finally adjusted to the decrease in processing centers.  Plus the embassy in Ukraine is taking interviews within 2 weeks right now.

We did our K-1 about the time changes were made.  From NOA1 to visa issue was only 5 months and 20 days.  This included an RFE which cost about 5 weeks wasted time.

Doesn't seem like a long time looking back but it seemed like forever at the time.

One great thing about the delays that Jet and Bruce had is that at least they had their wife with them while they wait.  I know it is unfair and a pain in the A$$ - but she is in the country (legally) which is a great blessing.

We filed our AOS, AP, and EAD recently and to be honest we're not in a hurry for it.  God willing we will not have the horrendous delays Jet and Bruce have.

[Jet]

  Now I am putting my positive energy into Jet's wife's case.

Thanks Bud, we'll take all the help we can get! 

[MaxxumUSA]

Thanks Bud, we'll take all the help we can get! 

Jet,

Is that a little ship in your avatar?  Is it on a lake or on the sea?

- Maxxum

Edited to add:

Best of luck with the paperwork!

[acrzybear]

Jet,

Is that a little ship in your avatar? 

Ahhh Jet

 Your secret is out, we now know how you financed your endeavour

[Jet]

Is that a little ship in your avatar?  Is it on a lake or on the sea?

That's an Ocean 40 SuperSport fishing boat docked in a lagoon outside the IFGA (International Game Fish Association) Hall of Fame. I took Kolya there a few weekends ago, he took the photo I'm currently using as an avatar. Here's one of him next to the same boat:
 

...and one inside the building:

[Muckraker]

Revised name check policy.  See attached.

Muck

[viking]

Jet, wouldn't you like to catch a 900 pound sword on a 50 pound test??!! BTW. Good looking son you have there.

[Jet]

Revised name check policy.  See attached.

Muck

THANKS!

[Bruce]

Muckraker, how do you come up with those gems???

[Muckraker]

Bruce,

That is readily available from a public source - ILW.com. However, AILA members are privy to a certain amount of information that is not readily available.

Regards,

Muck

[Son of Clyde]

The SAVE program has a one letter tolerance rule. Is this true for all situations? USCIS can never spell my wife's last name correctly. Why is there always a problem with the letters N and M?

[Jet]

Time for another update, with some good news!

We attended another "information appointment" yesterday in the West Palm Beach office of USCIS.
Although the website has not been updated to reflect it, we found out that after 4 yr. 2 mo. the FBI concluded it's name checks and declared Liliya "cleared" on February 14, 2008 - a very nice valentine's day present 

The clerk (who was infinitely more helpful than anyone in Miami) told us the from what she could see of our case, the only thing remaining is for Miami to declare the petition "approved" and that we should expect that notice to arrive within the next two weeks. As a precaution we've made another appointment for Miami in the only slot available for Feb/Mar on March 6.

We're cautiously optimistic that the GC battle will soon be over...

[Bruce]

One bit of followup on our case.  We received a letter from the President's office inquiring about our situation.  Definitely no help from the White house.  Definitely no help from Clinton.  Definitely no help from the congressman.  The only thing that seems to have helped is the moment Mukasey replaced Gonzalez things started to work in the justice department. 

P.S.  Jet, good to hear that things are looking up for you too.

[Jet]

We're not there yet! Just got out of another infopass appt. in Miami where they reconfirmed that the name check had been completed in early Feb. and FBI released the result to them on Feb. 26. They suggested we ''just go ahead and wait another 30 to 60 days and see if something shows up in the mail''. At that point poor Lil just couldn't hold back anymore and burst int tears in front of the officer. Apparently, it got to the woman and she feverishly started going through her inter-office phone book and sending e-mails to all supervisors of those who might touch the case to try to get them to expedite it.

It sounded good, be we remain highly skeptical!

[catzenmouse]

We're not there yet! Just got out of another infopass appt. in Miami where they reconfirmed that the name check had been completed in early Feb. and FBI released the result to them on Feb. 26. They suggested we ''just go ahead and wait another 30 to 60 days and see if something shows up in the mail''. At that point poor Lil just couldn't hold back anymore and burst int tears in front of the officer. Apparently, it got to the woman and she feverishly started going through her inter-office phone book and sending e-mails to all supervisors of those who might touch the case to try to get them to expedite it.

It sounded good, be we remain highly skeptical!

Jet,

 Hopefully this bit of skepticism will end up being unfounded. Congratulation on FINALLY passing the name check! Our thoughts are with you and Lil for a complete resolution to this ridiculous situation!

Ken

P. S. Thinking good thought for you too Bruce!

[Simoni]

One bit of followup on our case.  We received a letter from the President's office inquiring about our situation.  Definitely no help from the White house.  Definitely no help from Clinton.  Definitely no help from the congressman.  The only thing that seems to have helped is the moment Mukasey replaced Gonzalez things started to work in the justice department. 

P.S.  Jet, good to hear that things are looking up for you too.

Your case is unbelievable, Bruce.  I hope it all gets resolved soon.

Yours too, Jet.

Our government NOT at work :-(

[Bruce]

Simoni, our case was unbelievable.  We did get our greencard earlier in the thread.  I was just commenting that writing the President and Hilliary was futile because they both sent inquiries to us after the greencard was in hand asking how they could help etc.  Jet is the last of the Mohicans out of we old timers.  For sure his wife will get her card any day.  It is miserable she had to cry one more time.  Hopefully, she will be that much happier when it does arrive.

[Simoni]

Thanks, and congrats!  I just read the tail end and missed that it was resolved.  The joke was that the White House and your senator were so slow!

And yes, let's hope Jet's wife gets her card right away.

[Jet]

Thanks for the well wishes guys 
Just hope this crap is over soon 

[BC]

Thanks, and congrats!  I just read the tail end and missed that it was resolved. The joke was that the White House and your senator were so slow!

And yes, let's hope Jet's wife gets her card right away.

pro crastinators..

[Simoni]

pro crastinators..

LOL  :-)

Yeah, those elected officials are pros at procrastination, no doubt about it.

Me?

Procrastination is what I am doing when I am here, not wanting to work on a real life project    This is much more interesting 

[Son of Clyde]

Best of luck Bruce & Jet. I hope you get through the CIS quagmire soon.

One thing I discovered was how to bypass the menu's and get to a real live person at USCIS. When asked to select English press 2, 6, 2 and 4. I was connected to a live person within 10 seconds. As far as them being knowledgable, that is another issue.

This will not help completely but it might save you save more time and headaches on the telephone.

[Jet]

Well, there has been some cautious excitement around our house today! Only 4 1/2 years after we applied, 3 1/2 years after our interview, 1 year after the fingerprint check was completed, & 5 months after all requirements pertaining to the application were satisfied; Miami has sent us, in their usual friendly, courteous, helpful, informative way, this letter:



Of course we don't want to get too excited just yet, as we've had false alarms before, but we're hopeful that it means what we think it means & of course the timing couldn't be better - the check just cleared for her 5th Advance Parole 

[Andrew]

Well, there has been some cautious excitement around our house today! Only 4 1/2 years after we applied, 3 1/2 years after our interview, 1 year after the fingerprint check was completed, & 5 months after all requirements pertaining to the application were satisfied; Miami has sent us, in their usual friendly, courteous, helpful, informative way, this letter:



Of course we don't want to get too excited just yet, as we've had false alarms before, but we're hopeful that it means what we think it means & of course the timing couldn't be better - the check just cleared for her 5th Advance Parole 

Best of luck. I really hope this is the end of all the beurocratic nonsense for you.
Fortunately or maybe unfortunately, in my country you just look at the official and blatantly ask " how much do you want?"
No wonder we now need a visa for any and every country we visit these days.

But once again, best of luck and I'll cross my fingers for you 

[KenC]

Best of luck to you Jim & Liliya