Green Card W/O Interview

[catzenmouse]

Several weeks (maybe 6 or more) ago we got a notice that our case had been transfered to the California service center. Today we recieved notice that Elena will get her green card in about 3 weeks. The letter opened with "Welcome to the United States" then stated that her application for permanent residence had been approved. This is the first thing USCIS has done that made anything easier for us. They still do not have her address correct even though we got notice from the KY service center that handles address changes that they had this on file. I'll call tomorrow to notify them again about the new address. What a huge surprise for us!

Ken & Elena (the newest permanent resident!)

[dostogirl]

Congratulations!!
Is it a temporary card or a permanent one?

[catzenmouse]

Hi dostogirl,

 It's the 2 year conditional card.

Ken

[dostogirl]

Hi dostogirl,

It's the 2 year conditional card.

Ken

Wow, this is the first case I know of without any interview

[RacerX]

It's been happening alot lately, altho sadly, not for all :X
All part of the backlog reduction plan of the USCIS.  Many of us have talked about this before, i.e., there's no need for a 2-yr GC interview since everything they would ask has already been asked before.  Maybe someday this will become the norm.

But CONGRATS!

[catzenmouse]

Thanks RacerX. From what I've been hearing recently they are all coming from the California Service Center. We were worried when we got the letter a couple of months ago about the case being transfered to CA. No matter what the reason we're just happy with the outcome.

[Bruce]

Congratulations !

[Vaughn]

Ken & Elena,

  Congratulations! A guy here (the cop in the photo on
Doug's "nominated" thread) called us last week all excited - same deal happened to them, except that they
got the announcement letter from CA and the card that same day from Kentucky. I should mention there's a 7 year old K2 daughter involved - no card for her - they've scheduled a December interview for the little one. Go figure.

  Ken, the change of address has been a thorn for many applicants over the years. Just to CYA, why not contact your buyers just to watch the mail at the old homestead for you? You never know.

Vaughn

[catzenmouse]

Ken & Elena,

Congratulations! A guy here (the cop in the photo on
Doug's "nominated" thread) called us last week all excited - same deal happened to them, except that they
got the announcement letter from CA and the card that same day from Kentucky. I should mention there's a 7 year old K2 daughter involved - no card for her - they've scheduled a December interview for the little one. Go figure.

Ken, the change of address has been a thorn for many applicants over the years. Just to CYA, why not contact your buyers just to watch the mail at the old homestead for you? You never know.

Vaughn

Hey there Vaughn!

 Hope all is going well South of the border!  Thanks for the advice. We are friends with the postman and his wife where we lived before and he keeps an eye on anything coming to us from the government. When Elena would get a letter or package from Russia he would toot his horn (or often would stop his route to bring it to the door) to let her know there was, what she calls "good mail"! For me good mail is a day with no bills!!!

 Big Hello to Elvira from us!

Elena & Ken

[POConnor]

catzenmouse,

Where did you send your I-485 Adjust of Status to Chicago?? Over a period of time that have been changing all I-485s for fiancee to be sent to Chicago instead of your "local" Service Center. Maybe this is part of the new processing that the women get their GCs early without an interview. That would be a nice change.

Congradulations!

poconnor

[catzenmouse]

catzenmouse,

Where did you send your I-485 Adjust of Status to Chicago?? Over a period of time that have been changing all I-485s for fiancee to be sent to Chicago instead of your "local" Service Center. Maybe this is part of the new processing that the women get their GCs early without an interview. That would be a nice change.

Congradulations!

poconnor

Thanks poconnor,

 It was sent to Chicago originally then forwarded on to the California Service Center. We got the real GC a week after they sent us the letter that her application had been approved. About 8 weeks from the letter that our case had been transfered to the GC in hand!

Ken

[Son of Clyde]

catzenmouse,

Congratulations. My wife had her fingerprints taken today in Baltimore.

Any idea how long it took your wife for approval after biometrics?

[POConnor]

Son of Clyde,

My wife had finger prints in Aug. 04 with interview in March 05 and GC approval same day. She received card in two weeks. If your I-485 went to Chicago first, then maybe she will get it sooner without an interview as some people are experiencing.

[catzenmouse]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

catzenmouse,

Congratulations. My wife had her fingerprints taken today in Baltimore.

Any idea how long it took your wife for approval after biometrics?

SoC,

 We had biometrics on June 9 of this year and GC arrived in the mail last weekend. There was one delay where they sent a request for additional information on the medical exam. The wonderful Civil Surgeon had not filled out the form correctly (isn't that why we have to go to specific gov't approved doctors and pay out of pocket for this? They are SUPPOSED to know how to do this, yeah right) so that probably delayed it for a month or so. If all goes well for you there would probably be a GC arriving in February or March. Did you file the I-485 in Chicago? If so they may send a letter saying that the case has been transfered to the CA center. This was confusing at first to us but worked out for the best.

Good Luck!
 Ken

[Son of Clyde]

Maybe I will have the advantage of the Fallon Building (Federal Building USCIS) being 6 miles from my house and having filed at the Chicago lockbox. There should be no major delays with correspondence reaching me. I still have never received a letter for her 14 year old son to go for biometrics. Supposedly USCIS remailed the letter 2 weeks ago. I used a lawyer for the K1 and he said he could get the biometrics appointment scheduled if USCIS screws up again. I did the AOS paperwork myself and it went through without a hitch. It is nice to know a decent immigration lawyer just in case.