Randy W

It's good to see one go that smoothly. Congratulations.

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:m7lQsr...lient=firefox-a that's a google cached page of an article on msnbc i read several days ago. it says there were 6.3 applications last year compared with 7.7 this year. "The immigration agency's workload has nearly doubled, Aytes said, with 1.4 million naturalization applications arriving from October 2006 to September 2007, compared with 731,000 applications the year before. Between July and September of this year alone, USCIS received 560,000 applications, he said. The number of green-card-related applications surged to 876,000 in fiscal 2007, from 497,000 in fiscal 2006, he said. At one point this summer, USCIS had 1 million applications and checks waiting to be opened and acknowledged, Aytes said, a backlog that now stands at 235,000. Overall, USCIS received 7.7 million applications for all types of immigration benefits, up from 6.3 million." still, i don't believe 'em. i think the sum for the year probably wasn't much differen't like you suggest. Their fiscal year ends in September, so it would show the maximum increase in load over fiscal year 2006. It should even out fairly quickly after that. The only people who filed in July to beat the rate increase were people who would have applied anyway shortly AFTER the rate increase.

That's the one. If they don't let you get a learner's permit, go ahead and get the ID card. Then, when either it or the EAD comes, you should be able to get the learner's permit.

Did your wife have a Texas learner's permit during the period between the time she arrived in America and when her EAD arrived? Yes

Try her Social Security card and her foreign passport (two forms of supporting documentation). We got her TDL on the same day we got the EAD. edit: OK I'm confused, but we had gotten her a State of Texas ID card first. Maybe that was the secondary documentation. Go to the DPS office south of Chinatown (I think it's on south Gessner)

Congratulations, Maggie ! http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/wteach/bandwagon/usa17.gif

Now suppose that I had planned on filing in Aug., Sept., or Oct., and then heard about the fee increase coming on July 30. So I hurried up, got my act together and filed in July to beat the fee increase. What I'm getting at is that the increase in filings in July should be offset by a corresponding decrease in Aug., Sept., and Oct. So by Nov. 1 or thereabouts they should have had exactly the same number of filings for the year as they would have had without the fee increase. So by now, they should be back to normal, unless they just flat couldn't figure out what to do with the big pile of paper they received in July. THAT is what your fee increase is buying you.

You would either include the I-797 NOA1, or file the I-131 together with the I-485 AOS.

When we tried that they wouldn't tell us the number ... but who knows what will happen when you ask! Aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhh!!! They told us we could come back in 2 days to find out the number, but we didn't. Had you received the receipt letter at that point? Or was it when you applied? Yes - when we applied. They said it only took a day or 2 to generate the number, but that the card would take 2 weeks.

When we tried that they wouldn't tell us the number ... but who knows what will happen when you ask! Aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhh!!! They told us we could come back in 2 days to find out the number, but we didn't.

Yes - I would get it, even for children.

This is their renewal after 1 year, and yes, the EAD is extremely important for anyone who does not get their green card within 3 or 4 months.

For a while last year, they were asking for DNA tests in some cases

Actually not so, for most AOS takes less than 1 year but rarely more than 2. We filed for AOS this past may, and got away with the $295 fee for AOS only, but if was going to go long, then $295+$340 is still less than $1010. AOS I-485 fee used to be $325+$70 for fingerprints is $395. But $395 AOS fee + $170 for AP + $180 for EAD, and then $340 for EAD renewal comes to $1085 at the one year point. And then up from there the longer USCIS takes. There are plenty of us in that boat.

Just to make sure - did your wife attend the interview with him? We had one case where the children were denied because their parents "weren't there" - they had been denied access to the 5th floor by the guards. If this happens, make sure the child has the mother's passport.

Cruel - absolutely cruel.

They pretty much get either done within 60 to 90 days. Yes, your plan would work, and maybe save a little anxiety about whether it would come in in time. Just include a copy of the I-485 I-797 notice (NOA1) with your AP application

You can either not apply and wait for the green card, or you can apply now for free. Doesn't seem like a very difficult choice to me. It has only been a few months since they began the new policy, but the way I read the directions is that you can renew (as needed) each year for free.

If they both are awarded visas, they may pick them up the same day. There is no guarantee the K-2 will get the visa - it's just unheard of that they wouldn't

The cost will be very high, but in the long run (or even mid-term) a very viable alternative to burning up the carbon on Planet Earth. We had BETTER be on the ball with this, although there is plenty to go around. At 4 tons per year (for us), there is a half-million year supply up there; we could solve a lot of problems. A very interesting and cool idea. It would be of interest to know what form the helium takes - it obviously doesn't form an atmosphere. That could affect the commercial viability.

No - the receipt for the I-485 must be dated after July 30, 2007

The USCIS is a legal entity in its own right. They operate off of their own policies and procedures, which don't agree with the law in all cases. In the US, you have recourse in the courts if you can find the right lawyer and the right judge. In Guangzhou, you don't have this option. It's unfortunate, but in most cases, the lawyers and judges look to the USCIS' policies and interpretations as being the standard.

Thanks Jim. So do you think we can go to another office and say we haven't received the initial card and would like another one but with a different name? Or are we stuck with the original office and the original name? I think that changing to a married name is one of the "free" duplicates you can order. Even if we haven't technically gotten the first one yet? That's a duplicate. But if they don't have a number on file, that would mean that they never sent out the original. Either way, it should count as just one.

Thanks Jim. So do you think we can go to another office and say we haven't received the initial card and would like another one but with a different name? Or are we stuck with the original office and the original name? I think that changing to a married name is one of the "free" duplicates you can order.

Ah! I see. What is FTJ ??? Thanks again! This has been a day of learning. Follow-To-Join is a commonly used term to describe a K-2 who is issued the visa at a later time than the parent.