Hi Freedom1:

To answer your questions:

During the interview:

1) Make sure you are on time ( I got a very nice lady who was chatting with me the moment she called me to the door) Guess if they talk to you---continue that conversation.

2) Civics exam---not hard at all. When they send you the letter to tell you to come to the interview, there is a sheet with 100 questions and answers---MEMORIZE those. BUT.... there is ONE OR TWO questions there with a different answer than the ones given on the webiste. I don't remember exactly which one but what I did was laert the interviewer that "this *** is the answer given on the sheet: BUT "YYYY is the answer given on the webiste". Then I asked her which is the correct one.

3) Interviewer did tell me that passport can be stamped---but...I did not receive any letter/notice for that. I received a letter telling me that the card was sent and returned by post office. Now I am on the phone calling USCIS to make sure they resend with correct name and address ( I DID NOT MOVE in more than 10 yrs).

4) I think the waiting period for citizenship counts from the day you are approved---will need to ask an attorney or call USCIS. I will check on that. Also, it may be 30 or 36 consecutive months after you are approved for the LPR that you can file for citizenship.

Hope that answers your questions.

Thanks 108jam, your info was very helpful.

Freedom1.

To 108jam
Coagulation on your approval, I have a question for you, did your approval for I-687 came from Texas service center? What kind of document you have to prove your presence from 1982-88. how did you enter the country for the first and second time?

My questioner got approved and I sent my I687 to Texas and then they transfer it to my local office and I’m still waiting.

Zeid:

My original I687 application was sent to Texas. Then file got transfered to CA (Los Angeles). Did not have any interviews and was sent the Temporary card.

Proof presence--I had driver's license from 1981, school transcripts, employer's letter, old mails and some bills. Airline ticket from re-entry and also about 4 declarations from friends and relatives.

When I applied for the change to permanent status, then I had the ONE and ONLY interview.
Hope that helps.

Thank you 108jam for your previous reply.
Were you a LULAC or CSS class member? Also how did you enter the country for the first time and second time? Did you have a visa and what kind? Did you finish college?

How about LIFE Act Legalization did you try to apply for it or you didn’t since you got approved for a temporary resident card. I myself applied for LIFE I485 and my case still pending.

Zeid:

Mine was LULAC.
Entered both times with F1 student visa.
No did not actually filed for graduation because I ran out of money to file as full time student for graduation. But managed to take a lot of clases part time and ended up with a lot of excess units, enough to graduate with a master's degree.

Did not qualify under the LIFE Act--so never filed I 485. Solely ifled under the Legalization questionaire without an attorney. All attorneys I consulted with at that time said my case is impossible and to stop wasting money and their time. So I decided to research and did all the filing myself. I got a lot of help from The Center for Human Rights Org and also several paralegals who answer questions on this type of forums. Took all their suggestions, gave it my 110%---got approved with no problems.

It is to your benefit to know your casefile, know the law even if you pay an attorney. An attorney may know some of the law but they don't know it all. So if you have some knowledge yourself, you will be able to ask the right questions or at the very least have a better understanding of the situation.

To 108jam
1-If you entered the U.S on valid F-1 visa twice how did you violate your status or visa term?

2-You said Did not qualify under the LIFE Act!!! why are you not qualifeied under the LIFE Act , I though both LIFE legalization and CSS/LULAC are the same!!! Can you please tell me the difference? And why somebody might qualify under CSS/LULAC and not qualify under the LIFE act?


3-You said All attorneys I consulted with at that time said my case is impossible and to stop wasting money and their time.
What was the attorneys’ point of view or reasons why your case is impossible?

I agree with you a lot of lawyers does not know that much about immigration law especially CSS/LULAC…I talked to too many of them and they refuse to take my case that why I’m trying to find the fact myself. I called the center of human rights and they told me my case should be approved.

Thanks for you help.

Zeid:

Forgive me...but I don't think I like to discuss how I violated my status per your question #1.

Question #2: I don't remeber what is was exactly---but there was something within the constrains of the LIFE ACT that corssed me out. If you do a research and find the FULL LIFE ACT bill and compare that to the CSS/LULAC-- you will see the obvious difference. Its just been too long and I cannot rememebr the details of it since I know I don't qualify under the LIFE ACT---I did not care to remember it.

The provision for using the Legalization Questionaire was to cater to those who did not qualify under the LIFE ACT but were in the US before Jan 1, 1982, qualified under the 1986 amnesty but at which time were not given the opportunity to file or had their application rejected at the door.

Question #3: Like you said, most attorneys are not familiar with the CSS /LULAC cases. They mostly want those easy to file, easy to win cases---standard stuff you know??

If you follow Peter Shey's and The Center for Human Rights Org's suggestions and also do your own research---you can succeed. Another site that gave me a lot of help is---about dot com. Look on the left side, search under subject-- look for I, then immigration. When you get to that page, scroll down and on the left side, there is a button that says FORUM. Click on that and ENTER as GUEST or you can register. There are a lot of information there with a board specifically for AMNESTY, CSS and LULAC. Check it ou...you will learn a lot.

Hi, Freedom1

Did you already receive your appointment for biometrics?. I haven't received mine yet. I applied for permanent residency on April 2007.

HJV

I spoke to my attorney yesterday, he said a similar thing happened with another of his clients who had a similar case as mine. The officer made her fill out the EAD form. He sent the officer an email last week hasn't heard back yet, he said if not by next week he'll INFO pass and then go there himself to find out.

I have my fingers crossed, the wait is frustrating to say the least

quote:

Originally posted by hjv:
Hi, Freedom1

Did you already receive your appointment for biometrics?. I haven't received mine yet. I applied for permanent residency on April 2007.

HJV

Hi HJV,

No I have not. I applied on March 2007.

When did you became eligible to apply? (19 months since you were approved).

Freedom1.

Since I applied for temporary residence on April 2005, I became elegible to apply for permanent residence in October 2006, two months after my approval date, actually. However, I decided to wait for a few months and applied in March, 2007. My original application was rejected because I made a mistake and used an outdated form. I reapplied on April and received my I-797 a few days later. But no appointment for biometrics yet.

quote:

Originally posted by hjv:
Since I applied for temporary residence on April 2005, I became elegible to apply for permanent residence in October 2006, two months after my approval date, actually. However, I decided to wait for a few months and applied in March, 2007. My original application was rejected because I made a mistake and used an outdated form. I reapplied on April and received my I-797 a few days later. But no appointment for biometrics yet.

Same here. Waiting for the BIO appointment.
My lawyer say to wait at least 6 months. After this, he's going to do an Infopass to find out what's going on with my application.

Freedom1.

I don't know why I got this email today? I had applied for an advance parole back in 2003 but never heard anything from them.

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL *** The last processing action taken on your case Receipt Number: MSC0********* Application Type: I131 , APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT Current Status: We mailed you a decision. On March 24, 2004, we mailed you a decision on your I131, APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT. Please follow the instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, please contact 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)

I didn't put my real MSC number there when I pasted it here. Either these guys are just way too slow, or they're playing games.

quote:

Originally posted by Shabber:
I don't know why I got this email today? I had applied for an advance parole back in 2003 but never heard anything from them.

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL *** The last processing action taken on your case Receipt Number: MSC0********* Application Type: I131 , APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT Current Status: We mailed you a decision. On March 24, 2004, we mailed you a decision on your I131, APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT. Please follow the instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, please contact 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)

I didn't put my real MSC number there when I pasted it here. Either these guys are just way too slow, or they're playing games.

Sorry but I don't know what it means.

Why don't you call the 800 # or do an Infopass to find out what's going on?

Freedom1.

quote:

Folks:

Good NEWS!!!
I got a letter in the mail yesterday telling me that I was approved (from I687 to I 698) and a Green Card was ordered and mailed to me in October 2006. However that card was returned by the post office. They again, re-issued a card and sent if June 4th 2007 after I inquired about it.

I have not yet received that re-issued card--should be here in a couple of days hoepfully.

YIPPPE!!!! Oh, while I was waiting for the card/letter---my EAD expired so I renewed it. Finger printed etc...but guess I don't need that now HUH???

Good luck everyone. If I can answer any questions for you, let me know.....I will do my best.

Hi 108jam,

Have you received either card yet?

Freedom1.

Freedom 1:

I am currently out of town so can't tell what's in the mailbox. When I get back after the holidays, I will let yo know.

Have a wonderful 4th, stay save.

The following is the latest on LULAC/CSS:

"Plantiffs here provide notice of the renoting of their Motion for final relief. this motion was taken off calenda almost two years ago to allow settlement negotiations to proceed. In the interim, the parties reached agreement on all substantive terms and also concluded close to final language,but counsel for the govt defendant needed to obtain client approval. At a status conference on March 8, 2007 or a trial date would be set in the near term.

Despite the court's warning, defendants have been unable to obtain final approval from their clients. Defendants counsel states that they hope to have something very soon and have indicated that they need an additional 30days.
Plantiffs belive this case is appropriate for resolution on motion and therefore renew their motion for final relief, docket 470.

That means it going to take another 30 days or more to settle??

Freedom1,

I'm not as familiar with what INFOPASS is, I know you get an appointment and you go and speak to the officer there. From what I've heard its more or less an in-person status update on the case. I hope its not like the interview itself, where they can reopen your case and ask more questions?

Shabber