NY-Viking

Just received today - Yay!!! EDIT: Received the "email". Not the "letter" or the "card" yet .... But still happy! *** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL *** The last processing action taken on your case Receipt Number: EAC---------- Application Type: CRI89 , PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS RECEIVED Current Status: Approval notice sent. On January 22, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this CRI89 PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS RECEIVED. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service. If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283. *Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Case Status and Processing Dates. *** Please do not respond to this e-mail message. Sincerely, The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

This was our experience too. Still waiting on the 10 year card though ... rather frustrating. VT still only has the November 18 times posted (December 30, 2007), but I know people who filed around the same time we did have already received the 10 year card ...

Our timeline is below. Your order is basically correct. We're still waiting. Don't anticipate an interview, but you never know. You would think our daughter's birth certificate would be good enough evidence .... but we'll see when we have the permanent card on hand.

you need to apply for a Re-entry permit. We're in a similar situation and was given that instruction when we entered the US not that long ago. Continuous requests to renew Re-entry permits are generally frowned upon, but there is an exception for the residency requirement for citizenship (not for maintaining a green card) if the spouse of the greencard holder is a us citizen that is working overseas either for the us government or for a us business. So, if your wife is interested in US citizenship, you wouldn't have to worry about more the Re-Entry permits for long. This used to be a non-issue, but with heightened security and better technology, they seem to be checking up on it more lately.

Congrats .. my wife's was feb 2008 as well .. no news though yet. Was your status updated online before you got the congrats letter?

2 months??? Problems?? Nah--I sent mine to TX in April of 2007-they sent it to Vermont in December of 2007-I called yesterday and Vermont sent it to CA. I'm guessin' CA will send it to Nebraska and they will send it to ???????? It has now been a total of 16 months--did I mention that biometrics expire after 15 months??? Damn I love the USCIS!!!! They sent it to me last week, and I forwarded it to Guam for you. Seriously though, have you spoken to someone about the biometrics expiration issue?

I recently accepted a position with a US firm in Shanghai and we'll be moving soon. I was getting ready to do the change of address forms online (or send in the forms) and I came across some new questions. I've known for a while that when (if) my wife applies for citizenship, her being out of the country with me won't be an issue, since I'm working for a US firm furthering trade, and she plans to return to the US with me after my foreign posting ends. I now understand that my foreign employment for a US firm won't actually help her with residency requirements for the green card, but we plan to maintain a residence in the US, maintain bank accounts and other assets in the US, and visit the US 2-3 times a year while we're in China, and she'll probably be entering with me every time we arrive, so I don't anticipate this being a major issue for us, based on anecdotal experience from friends in similar situations. It may have been a good idea to apply for a re-entry permit, but it's a little too late to consider that now, and like I said, I don't anticipate being out of the US for more than 6 months at any time. OK, so now to my questions. 1. I know that if you move INSIDE the US, green card holders have to file (online or by paper) an AR-11. However, the form does not permit you to list a foreign address. So, is there nothing to file for my spouse's change of address for our change of address to overseas? I note that our permanent address in the US is remaining the same. 2. Second question, as you can see from our time line, we're still waiting on the 10-year permanent green card, and I don't expect it to arrive before we go (although, there's always hope I guess). Should I have the permanent card sent overseas, or just have it sent to our permanent address here in the US? My father will be around to receive it (or let us know if there is a letter requiring an interview, which, of course, we'd fly back for). It would be nice to have the card overseas but I know with the expired temporary card and the 1 year extension notice, she won't have any trouble traveling back into the US. So maybe it would make things less complicated if we just let the card come to our US address, and then we can get it when we come back here ... OR have my father fedex it to China? 3. Final question - I know that as my wife's "sponsor" I have to file a change of address form too, and that form allows you to list a foreign (non-US) address, so I'll go ahead and file that. But (see question 1) is there anything my wife needs to file?

Well, picked up the visas today - no problems. So a faxed invitation letter seems to work just fine.

I threw out the thing the Consulate gave me already, but it needs to include the things you'd figure - (1) name and full address of the inviter, (2) relationship to the invitee, (3) where the invitee will stay (full address) (4) approximate date the invitee will be arriving and how long the invitee will stay there, (5) some sort of itinerary if you're traveling to other places, and if so, where you'll be staying on your travels. Something like that. Also, it has to be mailed (and keep the envelope showing the return address), or faxed (best if there's a return fax number showing it came from China .. but ours didn't have that, and it seemed to be ok). Think about if someone was actually inviting you to stay at their house for a month (or whatever) and what they'd say. That's what they want to see. Of course, this is for personal invitations; if you're getting a business or student visa, there are different requirements for the invitation letter (like the legal information of the business/school rather than information on your friend/family member).

Yes. RFE is fairly commonly used on CFL. I'm surprised it's not listed.

Not that I'm planning on bringing anything that wouldn't be kosher ... but every hotel searched your luggage? For what? What kinds of hotels did you stay in? We'll be staying in a hotel for a few days ... just want to be prepared.

True ... it's the Olympics fault. But great games so far. Anyway, I've always just gone to the Consulate myself (or, actually once, had my father drop off my passport for me). The service recommended by my company was www.travisa.com. They have an office in NY; I called and they said to check their website for the requirements. I guess if I were still working and didn't have the time, I might go with them (or another agent), but it's easy enough to go to the Consulate myself right now. Anyway, if you check out travisa's requirements - they're stricter than the Consulates! Go figure. I guess they don't want you to be refused so have you give them EVERYTHING.

In December 2004 I traveled to China as a tourist. I filled out the form and paid my fee. That was it. No airline ticket. No invitation letter. No hotel reservations. Just the form and the fee.

Ah... that might explain the difference. I think different Consulates have different requirements, and actually the travel agent's website stated the NY Consulate was the only one that required bank statement information (which, was not required at all when we applied). So are you guys living in Texas now? Tell Rich I say hi.

Well, the athletes I'm sure will have special visas, but as for spectators, they'll need to show a hotel itinerary, or an invite letter from a friend living in China. It's all rather silly. We always included that info for the visitor visas my wife (then girlfriend) and her mother got, but that was more for "additional evidence" rather than a "basic requirement". I'm sure it will, and booking a hotel is probably a better way to go, provided you don't have any booking fees to deal with.

Did you have a hotel itinerary? I contacted a travel agent in NY recommended by my new firm. The travel agent's requirements were stricter than the Consulates! (E.g., information about income and assets , etc.) Went back today with an "invitation letter" from my wife's mother (at least in name ... nudge nudge, say no more) that was faxed from China. I was worried when the fax didn't show the number from which it was sent, but it seemed to satisfy the Consulate. We can pick up our visas on Wednesday. They didn't like my picture though, so I had to retake it at the Consulate. They claimed mine was not clear enough. Go figure.

Well, we went to apply for PRC visas today for tourist visas for my daughter and myself (my wife is a US permanent resident, still has her passport). We applied for multiple entry 1 year visas. We were asked for my daughters birth certificate, and a copy. No problem, we prepared them. Then we were asked for my wife's passport and a copy. Again, no problem, even gave them a copy of her green card. Then we were asked for a copy of our marriage license, and a copy. Again, no problem, we prepared that. Then we were asked for a copy of our flight tickets. We gave a copy of our itinerary, which apparently was good enough. Finally, however, we were then asked for our "invitation letter." I said we're staying at her (my wife's house). The girl said you still need an invitation letter since you're visiting friends/family (one of the two reasons listed on our applications - the other being "tourism"). I said well, I'm visiting her, can she write the letter? No. The letter has to come from China. Well we won't have enough time for the letter to get here. This is one of the basic requirements; if you don't have the letter, you don't have to go to China. Well, what if we just go for tourism, and not to visit friends. Then you have to give me your hotel bookings. But I'm staying in the house my wife owns. Then you need an invitation letter. But I'm going with her. No one is stopping her from going to China. She's a Chinese citizen. She can go without a problem. It's only the other two people that require an invitation letter. Can she write it now? No, it has to come from someone in China. We have to know the address. The address is written right there on the application. That's just something you wrote. It has to come from China for proof. (Note: The irony here is not lost on me, given China's problems with plagiarism and counterfeiting.) Can it be faxed? Yes. Here's an information sheet (listing the invitation letter requirement, which says it has to be an original or a faxed copy). How about email? No, only regular mail or fax. We then spoke to a "supervisor", who confirmed we needed the invitation letter, and that it could be faxed. I asked her when things became so difficult, and she said starting April of this year they put in new regulations, and that they weren't rejecting me, but that they needed the letter. You know, I understand sticking by the guidelines, but given that I'm traveling with my wife, this seemed a little crazy to me. Also, I do know that they've beefed up requirements because of the Olympics - wanting to make sure that people have places to stay and what not, and I did see some notices about that on here, but again, I'm going with my wife and staying in the place she owns. Anyway, we'll have an "invitation letter" written by my mother-in-law faxed to us tonight, so I can go back tomorrow. Good thing I didn't wait until the last, last minute (we're leaving the end of the month).

More background checks, I understand. Someone who didn't pop up on the radar previously might pop up now. More biometrics, I don't get. Finger prints don't change, and a person's appearance shouldn't change so drastically in the time they require a new picture, so seems to be a waste of time, money and resources. But then again, this is from the Department of Redundancy Dept.

Easy answer. Biometrics is just part of the process; it doesn't mean your file is complete. Up and until they issue the card they can always ask for more evidence if something is missing or more "proof" is needed (even if it's because they lost something).

Yes, they will be, but then in about two months, they'll be transferred back to Vermont again. It's a great process.

Wow - a huge jump ahead - the July 15 timeline says they're doing I-751 from September 23, 2007 now! https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/Processtim...eviceCenter=VSC We're departing in a little over a month ... kind of doubt we'll have it.

Well, moving right along I guess, the May 15 timeline says Vermont is now up to April 1, 2007 ... https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/Processtim...eviceCenter=VSC

Hmm... it says "A U.S. purchase is any purchase where the Diamond Product was delivered to you in the U.S. and includes purchases made from establishments in the U.S., as well as purchases from establishments abroad that were delivered to you in the U.S." So if you bought the diamond abroad but then took it to the US .... not sure if that qualifies ... but you can file anyway and try ...

There is no requirement that they be notarized, but IMHO it's a good idea to have your friends get their letters notarized. It adds an extra stamp to make it look more official. Plus, they should be able to do it at their bank for free. The description of the letters from the I-751 instructions is: However, based on your other evidence, you don't necessarily have to include two affidavits (although, IMHO it's a bad idea not to do so), and if they don't include some of the suggested details (like place and date of birth), it probably won't matter. It's just supposed to be a letter showing you've held yourself out to others as a real couple. You should be able to find some samples here if you need them.

I have no idea why you wouldn't want to get the "restriction" removed. Of course, once she has her green card that is valid for work authorization, so that, together with the social security card, should be fine for any employer, but why look for problems? It only takes a visit to the SS office, and they issue a new card, which is received within days, that just has the individual's name and ss number, just like the US citizen's card. It doesn't cost anything (except the time and travel to the ss office) and having the new card issued to remove the restriction statement doesn't count against the maximum lifetime cards the ss office will send you. So, while I wouldn't make going to the SS office for a new card my number one priority, I'd definitely recommend doing it at some point.