10/15/08

How could we forget this!

Very easily considering it involves the USCIS (United States Customs & Immigration Service) and any movement by them is barely discernible to the naked eye!

But it's our 6-month anniversary since sending in our application to Remove Conditions from my Permanent Residency. It's also been nearly five months since I was fingerprinted yet again, because of course we all know those change!

Do we have an update - hell no! It's just good to acknowledge we maybe about halfway through our interminable wait for it to be approved. I just checked and the Vermont Service Center is currently processing I-751 applications received on October 21st 2007! So that 1-year wait is still right on schedule.

On a positive note, I now only have to wait 9 months to apply for Citizenship, whether or not this has been approved.

Immigration - not a wise thing to undertake if you like instant results!

15 comments:

Winifred said...

Crumbs! That seems a really long time to wait.

I wondered what the situation is like here in the UK so I checked on the DirectGov website. Apparently the time you have to wait is increasing due to the larger number of applications now. However the average is 7 months. Stand back in amazement!

Also found out you have to take an online test about life in the UK. Wonder how many people born here would fail it? Mind you there is some support for it on how to use your mouse etc. Very funny, what if you just can't use a computer?

Doesn't Blogging increase your knowledge! Justifies the time I spend on it. Thanks Sarah you're keeping my brain going.

Its Just Me - Daring to Dream said...

A long process indeed compared to other questionable and swifty processes we have here in the states. But just wait, citizenship will be yours - you'll see.

BTW - welcome to the States in case I never told you. Its like you belong here now huh?

Daryl said...

the government is amazingly slow overall .. we just got our incentive check which was supposedly mailed to us in June .. when we didnt see it by end of July we contacted the IRS who then took 2.5 weeks to send us an affidavit to fill out and return and then it took another 2.5 months to actually get the check...

So good luck with the paper work ... and whatever you submit, keep a copy!

:-Daryl

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, I know all about dealing with immigration stuff. Aaargh!

Expat mum said...

Agh it makes my stomach heave just remembering the experience. My 10 year old green card came up for renewal (which I didn't even know happened) at the same time I was considering citizenship. To cut the story short, ended up having to hire a lawyer to navigate it all.

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

I have two friends who are in the same boat. One is still waiting and has been married for four years!

Bella Foxx said...

I work for a government agency and it took us 1 1/2 years to get our contract ratified so we could could get our raises.

Pam said...

Oh yes, it is all traumatic for sure. A guy in our office married a "lady from Spain" literally, they've been married for a year and already have a baby. Guess what. He had to go to Spain for the birth because she still can't get here!

dabrah said...

It all sounds very tedious and complicated.

Unknown said...

Only worth it for 'big' love let me tell y'all!

Almost American said...

I'm VERY glad I got US citizenship as soon as I could - it saves me any more hassle with the INS! It's a bit sad really that I didn't get citizenship for the 'right' reasons, just sheer practicality!

Unknown said...

AA - and I totally understand why!

Rhea said...

All that waiting and paperwork...what a pain!

Lisanne624 said...

We had a similar experience when my husband applied for U.S. citizenship. Over a year had passed with nary a word about his application, so we asked our U.S. Representative if he could hurry things along. Amazingly, within a few days of our request, we were summoned to Memphis (6 hours away) for the citizenship test. Imagine our joy when, after sitting in the waiting room for hours, we were told, "We can't find your application. You'll have to come back."

More letters to the congressman, but eventually, after another visit, we did get to attend the citizenship ceremony! Hope your path with go more smoothly!

Unknown said...

That's scary long time. My hubs needs to request a copy of his citizenship papers from many years ago and I bet they will take forever on it too! :(