congratulations can't wait to get mine 🍾🍾

Congratulations. which office handled your case?

what was the rfe for?

congratulation

pls could you pls share with me your experience. thanks

Congrats

Congratulations!!!!🎉🍾🎈🎊

Congratulations 👏

congratulations, share your experience please

anyone here applied for replacement green card and did biometrics

🎊🎊🎊🎊

Congratulations!

congrats! what was your field office? how long were you together?

congratulation. pls your experience with us

what documents did you take along to your interview?

Tha Biz: would like to hear the documents you took, and how long have you guys been together before getting married. would truly appreciate your feedback. thanks much!

@Tha Biz , congratulation. Amen in Jesus Christ name pls could you share your experience with me. waiting time , documents & Tips. I will appreciate your feedback

Thanks everyone! We really appreciate your messages and all the love. This community has been such a rock for us during these trying times of long wait. To not spam everyone I am not going to reply to each individual comment, instead I am going to answer, address all your questions in this long message below. Be blessed and have a wonderful week!

@Tha Biz: That would be greatly appreciated by everyone (speaking for all). Love this support and help that we all provide each other. Cheers and Godspeed!

Tha Biz Greencard Journey + Tips Background to give an idea of whole journey: My wife and I met back in 2015 at college here in the United States. I first came over to study at an American undergraduate college in 2013. I had no plans to stay, but love found me on a college campus. 2017 I graduated, 2018 I did OPT and once my OPT was completed, I returned to my home-country. December 2018 my wife and her mom came to visit me, and while there January of 2019, I asked her to marry me and she SAID YES. She left back for the States and we immediately started our K1 Fiancee Visa application (I-129). Around July or August of 2019, our K1 was approved, sent to NBC and then consulate, and I started scheduling visa interview date by completing (DS-160) and paying visa interview fee at local bank for US embassy. December 2019, I went to US embassy had my interview, visa approved and stamped in my passport within a week. Initially, we wanted to have our wedding in July of 2020, so the K1 visa I got in December, 2019 was set to expire sometime in April, 2020. So I was planning to come to the US on April 17, 2020 a week before visa expire so that I can marry my wife within 90 Days of entry to the US which would have been in July. BUT then COVID came! Resigned at my job in February, I had purchased a flight to the US for April, had to change to March as soon as possible and flew to the US when countries were starting to shut down airports (My wife hates thinking about the possibility of me not being able to enter the us due to Covid) So because I entered the US earlier than planned, 90 Days were going to expire before our planned date of July, 2020. So to respect the law of marrying within 90days, we had a small wedding in June, 2020 with just family and friends. and then in July, 2020, we had our big religious wedding as we had planned but again with less people and my family was not able to attend again because of COVID and US embassies shutting down all around the world. After July wedding we left for our honeymoon ( a week) and in the US. At this time my K1 visa has expired but thankfully I am married now, and within 90 Days of entering the US. For those travels I used my passport (birth country) and it worked fine. GREEN CARD APPLICATION & DOCUMENTS: (Self File, no lawyer) August 15, 2020 we sent our application to USCIS Chicago lockbox. Our field office was Milwaukee ASC since we were living in Milwaukee. (Forms I-485, Form I-765, Form I-864) August 25 or so: Application was rejected because we had forgotten to send Form I-130 and I-130A Sept 14: Application Sent to USCIS Chicago lockbox (Form I-130, Form I-130A, Form I-485, Form I-864, Form I-765, all supporting documents and a check for bio fees and I-485 all on one check) Sept 15, 2020: Application is Received by USCIS October 8, 2020: Form I-765 is rejected because it was filled on an old form (new form came out a day before I sent in mine I think and I did not check on the day I mailed the application if form had changed. Usually these forms dont change as often?) October 12, 2020: I resubmit my Form I-765 to USCIS October 21, 2020: Form I-765 received by USCIS (USCIS goes SILENT) February 10, 2021: We get RFE for two things 1. The Famous Form I-94. When we submitted our application in Sept the court had abolished the form and USCIS website said it is not necessary. Later that year form was brought back again, so in February they tell us, every pending application needs Form I-94 as it can impact decision. 2 thing: Was my birth certificate, they said I need to provide a certified translation copy in English. Here is my bad because I assumed since birth certificate had 3 languages on it, one of them being English that it should have been okay. And places filled were also written in English, but I guess USCIS wanted all English document. So went online and used (US Language Services LLC) online which was awkward because they were like I see English here do I translate from English to English hahaha and I was like no, lets do French to English since certificate also had French on it. February 25, 2021: We sent our RFE response ( Certified Translation of my birth certificate, and I-94 (This time I-94 had just been terminated again or about to but we chose to send it anyways) March 03, 2021: USCIS receives our RFE Responses (USCIS GOES SILENT AGAINNNN) May 25, 2021: We move out of Milwaukee since wifey had completed her masters. We move to Illinois State. So we change our address with USCIS and update USPS to have our mail forwarded to new address starting same day of moving out. June 2 or so: I call USCIS with my wife on the phone with me, they apologize that it had been more than 90 Days since the last update, and say case is out of normal processing time. So they put in a service request. YES, Calling them with my American wife on the phone HELPED A LOT. She did most of the talked and mind you I had tried to call them before. Two weeks after the Call around June 21, 2021 I received a biometrics letter to go in Chicago for bio appointment only July 17. July 18, 2021: Status updated to Biometrics (fingerprint and photo) were taken. A week after that status, I got an email notification that an action on my case was taken but there was no update on USCIS website. So I called (Technical difficulty, officer answered, immediately I said, I'd like to schedule a call back from a Tier 2 officer (they technically have more power) so the officer on the phone was like but I can help you, why do you want a Tier 2 when I can help you, so then I said, I received these notifications, it has been a week since my bio appt, but no update on the USCIS website what the action taken is, can you tell me what it is? And she said I cant see anything in the system, so I was like can I please then have a Tier 2 officer call back? She said okay I will schedule it, it may take 72 hours. I was like okay) He called the same day in the afternoon. Gave me recent status on our cases and basically said sorry that covid has been causing delays in cases. Then I complained asking why people who filed after us, could go through the process so quickly and I said this marriage based so there are no visa caps like other categories, if USCIS same it is first come, first serve, why are there approvals from 2021 even when 2020 has a lot of apps pending? He said issue is usually with how backlogged local ASC are, but then he said, we have put your info into the interview scheduler software, when your local ASC has a time for interview you will get a notice. So I had to wait. A day after that call I received a notification that our I-485 interview was scheduled. A week later a notification came in the mail and Interview was going to be on September 9. We were so happy to receive such a notification. September 9, 2021 we went to our interview local ASC Chicago since we are now Illinois residents (Milwaukee seemed very slow to me, but I know some other people who filed same time as us in Milwaukee and got their GC back in June and July) September 9, 2021 two hours after interview we get a notification that USCIS is ordering a new card for me (Form I-485) which means case is APPROVED September 10, 2021: We get notifications that case I-485 is Approved, Case I-130 is Approved September 14, 2021 we get notifications in the mail September 14, 2021 we get notification that card was picked up by USCIS September 17, 2021 GREEN CARD IN HANDDDDDD TIPS + DOCUMENTS + INTERVIEW INSIGHTS Tip 1: We recommend you use a case tracker app or website (Since you already here, this is no brainer). There are several options but we found out that Case Tracker for USCIS developed by Stephen Aldous is the fasted in terms of updating status from USCIS. About 10 to 15min or 30 min faster than Lawfully. Never buy any pro prediction service from any of them. Save your money for interview documents, and trips, and medicals if you need them. Most of these trackers also have a website version, like lawfully reading this reply of mine may be too long on a mobile phone, so you can use a web browser instead and it is easier that way. Tip 2: As you can see from our history, my wife and I have known each other for 6 years, so there are lost of memories we have built together that came in our favor. Usually if a couple is less then 2 years old USCIS immediately assumes that marriage fraud. So if you have known each other less than two years, put a heavy emphasis on supporting documents that show that your marriage is bona fide. 1st Documents: File taxes together if possible (VERY IMPORTANT) 2nd Documents: Get IRS Tax transcripts instead of sending 1040. If you have W-2 you can send those instead of 1040. Send 1040 if you cannot get IRS Tax Transcript or W-2. (Only for US citizen if beneficiary has not lived or worked in the US) if beneficiary has lived and worked in the US (and paid taxes), please send same documents as well. 3rd Documents: Proof that you live together! SO rental agreement with Both of yours names of the agreement. If you live with family ask them to write you a letter that you live with them. Include dates and if family owns the house, include a copy of house deed, or rental agreement in their name if they rent. Remember letter has to be dated and signed. 4th Documents: Joint Property (healthcare insurance is big, then car loan or title in both names, car insurance, uhaul storage in both of your names, cellphone bills, utility bills, medical bills, also any bank account you have together and separately. Make sure names on the accounts match your current names if anyone taking the name of the other person, update it before next statements come out) 5th Documents: If there is a name change for any of the partners, update driver license, bank account and most importantly social security card (For US Citizens since beneficiary cannot get Social until Adjustment of status is approved, unless they have one from previous visa) 6th Documents: Get friends and family to write you affidavits letters, stating that they know you both, attended your wedding or are familiar with your living situation. If they can, take letters to public notary and have letters notarized, if not, just sign the letters mail them to you and take those with you to the interview or submit them with your application if you haven't submitted it yet. It is not required to notarize letters but it adds value to it. Tip 3: On day of your interview wear your best clothes (Business casual to formal) Ladies, a very nice dress and dress shoes or suit pants and nice blazer. For men, a full suit, with or without a tie, or you can wear colored shirt - long sleeve, with nice dress pants and shoes. It makes the whole difference how presentable you are. Tip 4: During interview if they ask a question that you do not know, say I do not know. Please dont make up an answer as that could get you into more trouble. It is okay to say I dont know. Usually they dont separate couples but again if known each other less than two years, chances are they may separate you. Tip 5: Look up Youtube interview questions videos and practice with your partner. Remind each other of very important dates. And if you are doing an interview together in the same room, and your partner misses a question or answers incorrectly dont cut them off rudely but wait and when they finish speaking say, yeah what my wife or husbands means is that our engagement was late January instead of February. Talk with each other before entering that you wont be disapproving each other harshly and hopefully you two can already have a mature conversation with each other without bickering (and if it happens, one of you can lighten the mood by saying hahaha yeah that sounds like us) this helps the officer see that you are real. So please just be you, answer truthfully and what you dont know say I dont know. USCIS already has everything on you if you are called in for interview. They just wanna see your face and make sure that what they have matches you and what you say. This is not a time to make up stories. You just wanna show up and say, hey, yes IT IS ME. Get approved and continue your lives with the ability and freedom to dream and work anywhere in the US. Tip 6: Take two folders with you to interview. Folder 1 has all same copies of supporting evidences you submitted with your application. (Photos, bank staments, include newer statements and w-2, tax transcripts if not submitted previously, pictures, letters to each other, and such) Folder 2 must have originals of all those documents. Plan on giving them more evidences when you go in for your interview. Easy evidence to gather - PICTURES, with family, friends, trips you took together, flight tickets, hotel reservations, Airbnb travel document with names) if they ask do you have more evidence to submit, say yes and give them those. It shows you are confident and have more evidences to show marriage is bona fide. Depending on character of officer, it is okay to laugh a little, joke a bit or be serious and conduct business. In all, Be YOURSELVES and Bonne chance! That is all for now! And I wish you all the best. If any more questions, I more than happy to answer them and will be brief lol hahahah! Best of luck on your cases