clayton2103

daniel, Congrats on the swiftness of USCIS's response on your cases. Your AOS receipt number will be added shortly to their online case status website as ours was added within 14 days or so. Our AP and EAD receipt numbers took much longer for them to be added to USCIS's computers. Clayton

Hi Michael, Yes, same site we used to track our I-129. Here is the link: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp Set up a customer portfolio account. If you already have one, add your recent three receipt numbers. They all begin with MSC. Or, you can just use the "online" prompt and enter your numbers there. Your I-485 receipt number should be listed by now, but the AP and EAD receipt numbers may take some time before they are entered in order to view them. Enjoy your partial day off as you travel to biometrics today. Clayton

benc, It is possible you did wind up in the American Citizen's Services office. When I attended ACH, I took a wrong turn, left, into an office similar to what you describe and near the entry to this room was the wording "American Citizen's Services" posted. This caused my confusion, but I was quickly redirected to the right by security personnel which led me to the room where American Citizen's Hour is held. At ACH we were not called by name. We were given a number after our passport was checked and our form turned in. When our number was called we were directed to a certain numbered window. There were numerous windows, yet I do not recall the exact number, but it was greater than 15 and there was perhaps 10+ rows of seats. All questions were one on one and not in a group setting at ACH. When I attended ACH, I was joined by 6 other CFL'ers that day, one being rogerinca. Hey Roger! Oh yes....and most important, GOOD LUCK!!! Clayton

Hey Michael (not Mark), Congrats! Good to know it went to CSC as ours did. Let us both hope that we can get our GC's without the interview. We would have to drive 5 hours to attend ours. Hoping your AP and EAD are soon to follow. Hopefully you have or will add all the receipt numbers to the online case status at USCIS's website in order to follow all applications. Congrats also on the timely biometrics appointment. We were late in receiving ours, but all is behind us now. Tell Fang we both say...Ni Hao! Clayton & Wen Li

....which shouldn't be long now. Ours arrived just three days after our check was cashed. Clayton

Gino, So sorry to keep learning that you have yet to take a step in the right direction. I don't know why your EAD receipt number shows on USCIS's website, yet your AOS receipt number does not. I would think your AOS receipt number would list on the site first. We received the same response of "retrieval failed" for some time on our AOS receipt number, but finally the response changed and has progressed well. The EAD and AP receipt numbers did not show for the longest time, but are now listed and being updated as they progress also. The ASC (Application Support Center) is a localized office of the USCIS where biometrics appointments are held. Here is a link to locate your local ASC office: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=of...office_type=ASC I like the approach Darnell took and if your local office is nearby your home, I would make the trip and attempt to do what is required, but I do feel you may not be allowed in without the appointment letter as it was the first item asked of all who entered. We wish you the best in receiving something very soon. Clayton & Wen Li

I few days??? YIKES! That's going to be one pricey airline ticket. My gal has to get the medical exam, not me. Correct? Thank you for the telephone number, Rob. You got your NOA-2 two months ahead of me and are predicting a May/June interview. I was hoping that our interview in GUZ would be June/July - but I guess that is overly optimistic. July/August or August/September are probably more likely. griz, Yes, that is correct. Your gal will get the medical exam. She can arrive a couple to three days ahead of the interview in GUZ at one of two specified hospitals or other hospitals prior to leaving to GUZ listed on this link: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/up...ons_May07_-.pdf You can pay a little extra for expedited results. If I recall, we paid this and it was ready the following day after the exam. The number to DOS is: 202-663-1225. Push the following numbers when prompted in this order to speak to a visa specialist: #1, #5 then #0. No need to listen to the banter. You will be put on hold until the next available specialist answers your call. Have your GUZ number ready along with your gal's birth date and full name. You should have 30 - 45 days prior notice to interview date if you are calling twice weekly. Waiting for the mailing via EMS of this interview date could result in far less of a notice like David states. Looks like perhaps in mid July would be a good assumption for your interview date....if all goes well! Clayton

Not sure this helps, but my wife "thinks" it may be a government business transaction. Clayton

Tony, Yes, include photos of yourself and your SO with her family and friends. Most important! Clayton

LOL...Sorry Michael...not Mark! Was half asleep last night when I responded and just finished PMing Mark of Shenzhen K-1. Reading this thread again this morning and realized my mistake. I make this a public apology. How embarassing. Clayton

Mark, Now that you're married, have Fang added to your home title. If she is not going to be used for financials on the mortgage, which I doubt now anyway at least put her name on the title. We did this Tuesday. Easy. Our power company and phone company added her name to both accounts, but the bills only arrive in mine as I am the one who will be solely responsible for payment. Open a joint checking/savings account together. We are waiting for 2 year GC since it will have her new name change on it prior to us opening the joint accounts. Did get a credit card in her new name through one of my credit card providers. No problem. Try this also. Added her to my insurance and got cards. You are on the right track. Glad to see you back posting once again. Congrats on your Bio appointment. We know you are both well. We are also. Please tell Fang Wen Li says hello! Clayton & Wen Li

Wow! This boats getting crowded. Congrats to all. Don't worry Gino (hi5pro), were saving room for you too! Clayton

Thanks Dan...Lol, but I find Dave's "could be" answer a bit more positive, although I know your response is more realistic. Just happy to see things are moving along quite smoothly at this time regardless. Only a bit of a delay in getting our biometrics scheduled. Fingers crossed. Clayton

Today we not only had our biometrics appointment, but we also returned home this early evening to learn via email that our I-765 EAD card production has been ordered. Could this mean that perhaps our 2 year GC may not be far behind without an interview? Clayton

Thanks again Randy. Biometrics in the AM and this is perhaps why we haven't received our EAD. I do recall that two photos each were required per instructions that I failed to follow for each application, making the total of 6 with our AOS/EAD/AP applications. Most important to us is the AOS and AP. Applied for the EAD because we could...for free! Mike, Much Congrats! A beautiful sight I'm sure. Now sit back and relax. We will hope our 2 yr. GC is a short wait this way we won't even need the AP's we received. NY, Thanks so much for the details. I will certainly check any countries requirements prior to travel. I would never forgive myself if I allowed my wife to find any type of complication on a wonderful chance to travel. Thanks for giving me the foresight to check not only returning, but departing to a country we wish to vacation in. Clayton

Thanks Randy, Rob, Dave and scooby. Feeling lucky that I didn't receive the RFE and if I recall, there are a couple of others that filed around the same time who also did not send the correct number of photos. I hope they are as lucky as us. We have yet to receive the EAD, but Wen Li is in no hurry to find work as her English is...um, should I say "our" English at this point. Dave...most likely Mexico, but we'll both have to learn how to hold a taco with chopsticks prior to departure! Clayton

Today, while waiting to receive an RFE for not sending the proper amount of photos with our I-485 application (only sent two photos for the AOS and none for AP or EAD), we received an envelope containing two I-512L's, Authorization for Parole from USCIS. Both have the "Approved" box checked and state they are good for one year of date of issue. Both have a photo of my wife in the bottom left hand corner with a raised seal and a signature. The box to the right on the bottom does not have anything in it, but above it reads National Benefits Center Parole Stamp. I assume this document will be stamped if we use it upon return to the U.S. ...correct? Now, are we able to travel to say...Mexico, Bahamas or elsewhere other than China as we stated on our application? Thanks, Clayton

CONGRATS!!! I remember each and every notification and the feelings that come with receiving them. I am so happy for you both! Your guestimate is fairly close. See my timeline below. Good luck, settle in for the wait and fit in a visit to make the time pass more quickly. Clayton

Thanks everyone. I was mostly worried that she may need to wear a black shirt as required for passports. The hair can be pulled back if needed. Clayton

As our biometrics appointment is scheduled for next week and the appointment letter does not state specifically...Is there a proper shirt color/style that needs worn or hair styled in a certain way similar to passport photo requirements? Thanks, Clayton

Dale, Not long after meeting my future wife, I had purchased both Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur's in order to learn Chinese and found Pimsleur to be the better choice for learning. We were lucky enough yesterday to find in our local library, (directly across the street from our home), Pimsleur for Mandarin speakers to learn English and also Living Language, English for the Real World for Chinese speakers. Both are free to check out and return dates of three weeks. I could have saved myself a bundle if I just ventured the long trek across the road since I found what I had purchased to learn Chinese there also. Check your local library first, prior to spending. Clayton

yuzhen, We did not receive an email or phone call. I do not think they notify you in any form. We learned our P-4 was sent out by calling DOS at: 1-202-663-1225 Once connected, push these numbers to speak with a visa specialist: Press 1 then 5 then 0. Have the beneficiary¡¯s case number, name and birth date handy as they will ask you for all. Hope this answers your question. Clayton

Dale, We included, in our "kitchen sink", two emails from each of us for each month we corresponded with each other since first meeting. We did not have any recorded chats to include. It is a good thought, but perhaps not needed, of the remaining on a cd. Although, I am not sure they would have the time in a short interview to load and view what is on the disc. Don't forget the phone call records. Clayton

kwn, Although the computer may read that the P-3 package has been sent, it can sit in an out-going box at the consulate several days or longer prior to being picked up by EMS for delivery. I have seen it take up to 2 - 3 weeks before it may arrive at your SO's home. As Rob writes, you can download the P-3 packet, complete the forms and send them to GUZ. We were prepared and had the forms completed long in advance and the day after it was logged into the computer that our P-3 packet had been sent, we overnighted our paperwork to GUZ. All went as planned. Perhaps advanced our interview date by several weeks, but I am not sure. We did not wait for EMS delivery of the packet. It arrived at my SO's home approx. one week after GUZ received our completed paperwork. Clayton

EMS Clayton