Just to save OTHER people time and exasperation with USCIS, herewith our story from today. I called the 1-800-375-5283 number for help getting my wife her green card, which like my wife's period, is way past due.....but we are more concerned about the latter than the former. After dialing, we selected options 3,2,4.1,1,1,3,6,2,1 and I finally got to a live person (i might exaggerate, but there were a LOT of automated choices). She then transferred me to an immigration officer after I explained our situation. Spent 30 minutes talking to this officer who recommended we go back to our immigration officer who did the interview and have the request redone. No big deal, new thumb print, new picture, fill out the form and its done....we can do that!. Our immigration contact 3 -- an Officer Hebert from the AOS interview, had said to come back anytime. We called the number she left us, left her a brief message and showed up today (May 4th) to s"get things taken care of". We were to be disappointed in that venture. Two burly guards stopped us at the back door. "Do you have an appointment? "Well, no, not exactly, but Officer Hebert told us to come back and see her if we had any problems, we do, and I called yesterday, plus the national service center recommended we come back here to visit with officer Hebert so we can straighten out our problem." At this point he pulls out some list, checks it, frowns, turns around and says: "Officer Hebert has transferred." "Well do you think maybe someone should change her voice mail to indicate she has left and dial xxx-xxxx for assistance?" Blank stares from both guards. "Well, we need help, who can we talk to?" "No one without an appointment" "Well I came in before without an appointment" "Our policy has changed" At this point I looked back at the visitor parking lot. It was 2 pm and the lot was empty except for my car and one red Ford Escort. "Well, do you think maybe there is one immigration officer who could squeeze in 15 minutes to help us? Can we come in stand-by?" "Nope, not without an appointment" "You need an appointment to come in stand-by?" "No, but you need to be on the list" "What list" "This list" And the guard holds up a list of names of people who can come in without an appointment -- I think. "How do I get on that list?" "Your immigration officer puts you on it, its for return appointments" "Well, do you think that maybe since officer hebert is no longer here, her supervisor might be willing to help us?" "Not without an appointment" Worn down and not willing to trade intellectual barbs with Pithecanthrapus Erectus any longer, I asked, "OK, how do I get an appointment" "I dont know, maybe you could go over to the main CIS building it is 5 minutes away, they'll have the answers over there." I'm not exactly happy about that, but with no other choice, we go over to the CIS building which was about 5 minutes away. The hours are posted on the front door -- M-Th 8 am to 3:30 pm and something else for Friday. I check my watch, it is only 2 pm. Whew, made it. I pull on the door. Locked. I try another. Locked. A guard from inside walks out and says "We're closed." Feeling out of sorts I say "What is May 4th national CIS day or something? Because you see, I sure did miss it on my calendar." The guard did not enjoy my wit. I explained that my wife had an approved AOS some 90 days prior, and that we had not received her green card. I told the guard that I had called the national service center and they recommended I talk to an immigration officer to resubmit her request for the green card (Form I-89 according to the officer) and that we were here to do so as they did not show any receipt of the original request in whateversystemtheyusetomonitorthese things. "Well, you'll need to make an appointment, those national service center people don't know what goes on down here." I think to myself, shouldn't they so we don't waste all day wandering around? Long story, short lesson. In houston texas, no one will talk to you without an appointment. You have to do that on the web site through infopass -- www.infopass.uscis.gov As I left, the guard at CIS offered her opinion -- "It really is a good system". Yeah, right.