Yesterday was my biometrics appointment for my EAD at the New Orleans
office at 10am. My husband and I got there at 9:30, and the girl at the
front desk took my passport, my NOA, put stamps on the front and the
back of my NOA, and gave me the I-765 form to fill out (again). Then she
told me to go sit down next to the brown doors on the other side of the
room and that my name would be called. An hour and a half, and only ONE
name had been called. So much for thinking it was going to be in and
out, after what I had heard! My husband started to get impatient, and
asked a guy that was coming out of those doors why we had been there for
more than an hour and a half and nobody was getting called! He said he
didn't know, that it wasn't his field. So Josh left me waiting to try to
find somebody else to talk to, and he talked to a deportation officer,
who told him that he would go find out. BEFORE Josh even got back in the
room, an additional window had already been opened and a new name was
called from the brown doors. Half an hour later I was called inside the
doors. Two lady officers took a scan of my right index and a 3/4 profile
picture. They gave me my passport back (and a little comment card, that
we very dutifully filled out, trust me), and I left. Took 2 minutes at
most. I did ask them what took so long though, and they said "we were
just very busy this morning..." Ooooookay.

When Josh and I got back to
the car, I realized they hadn't given me back my NOA1! So I went back
inside (Josh stayed in the car because the 2-hour free parking was
already well over), and asked the rude front desk lady, who told me that
they don't give the NOA back! So I told her that now I didn't have any
proof of filing, and that I needed one in case I still haven't gotten my
EAD within 90 days. She said to go talk to "them". So I went back next
to the brown doors to wait some more. By that time, it was already
almost noon, and I guess a lot of the staff had left for lunch of
something, because half an hour later still nobody had come out of the
doors. So I left, thinking it was probably normal that they hadn't given
it back to me, since I didn't see any of the people with biometrics
appointment walk out with it (just their passport and their little
yellow comment card).

Has anybody ever walked out of their biometrics
appointment without their NOA1??? I have personally never heard about
that happen, and sort of wish I had! Any input appreciated =)


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Hi Carole,

I'll check w/ Khalid and see if they gave him his NOA1 back.


This is just the opposite of our/his experience. We were 10 minutes
early. He went into the office and registered at the desk. They called
him back up before he had time to find a seat. I had barely settled
down on a bench outside the office (they don't let anyone, except the
person with the appointment, in the actual waiting room). I had brought
a new book with me. I had only read two sentences of the forward, when
he came out and said, "Let's go." Plus, he said they were very nice and
sort of treated him like a movie star (I don't guess they get many
Moroccan's in that field office. lol). There were a lot of people there
that day but the woman he was dealing with made a point to tell him that
the appointments get priority.

Leslie

Originally posted by
JoshsCarole Yesterday was my biometrics appointment for my EAD at
the New Orleans office at 10am. My husband and I got there at 9:30, and
the girl at the front desk took my passport, my NOA, put stamps on the
front and the back of my NOA, and gave me the I-765 form to fill out
(again). Then she told me to go sit down next to the brown doors on the
other side of the room and that my name would be called. An hour and a
half, and only ONE name had been called. So much for thinking it was
going to be in and out, after what I had heard! My husband started to
get impatient, and asked a guy that was coming out of those doors why we
had been there for more than an hour and a half and nobody was getting
called! He said he didn't know, that it wasn't his field. So Josh left
me waiting to try to find somebody else to talk to, and he talked to a
deportation officer, who told him that he would go find out. BEFORE Josh
even got back in the room, an additional window had already been opened
and a new name was called from the brown doors. Half an hour later I was
called inside the doors. Two lady officers took a scan of my right index
and a 3/4 profile picture. They gave me my passport back (and a little
comment card, that we very dutifully filled out, trust me), and I left.
Took 2 minutes at most. I did ask them what took so long though, and
they said "we were just very busy this morning..." Ooooookay. When
Josh and I got back to the car, I realized they hadn't given me back my
NOA1! So I went back inside (Josh stayed in the car because the 2-hour
free parking was already well over), and asked the rude front desk lady,
who told me that they don't give the NOA back! So I told her that now I
didn't have any proof of filing, and that I needed one in case I still
haven't gotten my EAD within 90 days. She said to go talk to "them". So
I went back next to the brown doors to wait some more. By that time, it
was already almost noon, and I guess a lot of the staff had left for
lunch of something, because half an hour later still nobody had come out
of the doors. So I left, thinking it was probably normal that they
hadn't given it back to me, since I didn't see any of the people with
biometrics appointment walk out with it (just their passport and their
little yellow comment card).
Has anybody ever walked out of their
biometrics appointment without their NOA1??? I have personally never
heard about that happen, and sort of wish I had! Any input appreciated
=)


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

New Orleans does not sound like a pleasant office at all.

One has to
understand that all Local Offices have very different ways of doing
EAD's. In my case I went through the Des Moines, Iowa office and I did
not have to give them a NOA1 letter ( mainly because they never send out
NOA letters).

It is a simple case of sending then the I-765, check and
accompaning info and 1 month later you get an appointment letter to go
to the office and get a digit inked and a photo taken and 2 minutes
later you get your EAD.

I had to show nothing other than my appointment
letter and my Passport.

So I wouldnt be worried that you did not get
your NOA1 back - as I doubt you will ever need it again as you now have
your EAD.

Hope this helps..

~Sean





Originally posted by
JoshsCarole Yesterday was my biometrics appointment for my EAD at
the New Orleans office at 10am. My husband and I got there at 9:30, and
the girl at the front desk took my passport, my NOA, put stamps on the
front and the back of my NOA, and gave me the I-765 form to fill out
(again). Then she told me to go sit down next to the brown doors on the
other side of the room and that my name would be called. An hour and a
half, and only ONE name had been called. So much for thinking it was
going to be in and out, after what I had heard! My husband started to
get impatient, and asked a guy that was coming out of those doors why we
had been there for more than an hour and a half and nobody was getting
called! He said he didn't know, that it wasn't his field. So Josh left
me waiting to try to find somebody else to talk to, and he talked to a
deportation officer, who told him that he would go find out. BEFORE Josh
even got back in the room, an additional window had already been opened
and a new name was called from the brown doors. Half an hour later I was
called inside the doors. Two lady officers took a scan of my right index
and a 3/4 profile picture. They gave me my passport back (and a little
comment card, that we very dutifully filled out, trust me), and I left.
Took 2 minutes at most. I did ask them what took so long though, and
they said "we were just very busy this morning..." Ooooookay. When
Josh and I got back to the car, I realized they hadn't given me back my
NOA1! So I went back inside (Josh stayed in the car because the 2-hour
free parking was already well over), and asked the rude front desk lady,
who told me that they don't give the NOA back! So I told her that now I
didn't have any proof of filing, and that I needed one in case I still
haven't gotten my EAD within 90 days. She said to go talk to "them". So
I went back next to the brown doors to wait some more. By that time, it
was already almost noon, and I guess a lot of the staff had left for
lunch of something, because half an hour later still nobody had come out
of the doors. So I left, thinking it was probably normal that they
hadn't given it back to me, since I didn't see any of the people with
biometrics appointment walk out with it (just their passport and their
little yellow comment card).
Has anybody ever walked out of their
biometrics appointment without their NOA1??? I have personally never
heard about that happen, and sort of wish I had! Any input appreciated
=)


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by SeanHHH New Orleans does not sound
like a pleasant office at all. One has to understand that all Local
Offices have very different ways of doing EAD's. In my case I went
through the Des Moines, Iowa office and I did not have to give them a
NOA1 letter ( mainly because they never send out NOA letters). It
is a simple case of sending then the I-765, check and accompaning info
and 1 month later you get an appointment letter to go to the office and
get a digit inked and a photo taken and 2 minutes later you get your
EAD. I had to show nothing other than my appointment letter and my
Passport. So I wouldnt be worried that you did not get your NOA1
back - as I doubt you will ever need it again as you now have your EAD.
Hope this helps.. ~Sean

I unfortunately do NOT
have my EAD yet, as since I am a K-3, my EAD application is being
processed at Chicago, and THEY will send it to me once they approve it.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by JoshsCarole Yesterday was my
biometrics appointment for my EAD at the New Orleans office at 10am. My
husband and I got there at 9:30, and the girl at the front desk took my
passport, my NOA, put stamps on the front and the back of my NOA, and
gave me the I-765 form to fill out (again). Then she told me to go sit
down next to the brown doors on the other side of the room and that my
name would be called. An hour and a half, and only ONE name had been
called. So much for thinking it was going to be in and out, after what I
had heard! My husband started to get impatient, and asked a guy that was
coming out of those doors why we had been there for more than an hour
and a half and nobody was getting called! He said he didn't know, that
it wasn't his field. So Josh left me waiting to try to find somebody
else to talk to, and he talked to a deportation officer, who told him
that he would go find out. BEFORE Josh even got back in the room, an
additional window had already been opened and a new name was called from
the brown doors. Half an hour later I was called inside the doors. Two
lady officers took a scan of my right index and a 3/4 profile picture.
They gave me my passport back (and a little comment card, that we very
dutifully filled out, trust me), and I left. Took 2 minutes at most. I
did ask them what took so long though, and they said "we were just very
busy this morning..." Ooooookay. When Josh and I got back to the
car, I realized they hadn't given me back my NOA1! So I went back inside
(Josh stayed in the car because the 2-hour free parking was already well
over), and asked the rude front desk lady, who told me that they don't
give the NOA back! So I told her that now I didn't have any proof of
filing, and that I needed one in case I still haven't gotten my EAD
within 90 days. She said to go talk to "them". So I went back next to
the brown doors to wait some more. By that time, it was already almost
noon, and I guess a lot of the staff had left for lunch of something,
because half an hour later still nobody had come out of the doors. So I
left, thinking it was probably normal that they hadn't given it back to
me, since I didn't see any of the people with biometrics appointment
walk out with it (just their passport and their little yellow comment
card). Has anybody ever walked out of their biometrics appointment
without their NOA1??? I have personally never heard about that happen,
and sort of wish I had! Any input appreciated =)

Hi:

Sorry
to hear about your experience. I understand that all offices are
different. But, just to feel safe, if you have a copy of your NOTICE
wghat was received. My ASC was ATLANTA and the guys were very nice.


They actually just stamped the thing and gave it back which had the
date and proof that the BIOMETRICS was done.

But, don't worry, I got my
card in a week after my BIOMETRICS. I would guess, would be the same for
you.

Thanks


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by JoshsCarole I unfortunately do NOT
have my EAD yet, as since I am a K-3, my EAD application is being
processed at Chicago, and THEY will send it to me once they approve it.


Hi Carole,

It is important to clarify that you are K3 (so
are we), as it is a whole different ball game than K1.

And, no, we
don't have anything back yet either.

Leslie


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Leslie66 Hi Carole, It is
important to clarify that you are K3 (so are we), as it is a whole
different ball game than K1. And, no, we don't have anything
back yet either. Leslie

Yeah, sorry about the
confusion.

I do not have a copy of my receipt, as I didn't think it
would be taken away from me. However, I do have my receipt number saved
in my computer (thank God...), so I'm going to print the case status
page just in case.

Leslie, when did you go in for Khalid's biometrics?
Has your online status changed to something like "We have received your
biometrics" yet? Do you know if it's supposed to or not? If it is and
my status still hasn't changed in a little while, I guess that's when
I'll start to go nuts...


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by JoshsCarole Yeah, sorry about the
confusion. I do not have a copy of my receipt, as I didn't think it
would be taken away from me. However, I do have my receipt number saved
in my computer (thank God...), so I'm going to print the case status
page just in case. Leslie, when did you go in for Khalid's
biometrics? Has your online status changed to something like "We have
received your biometrics" yet? Do you know if it's supposed to or not?
If it is and my status still hasn't changed in a little while, I guess
that's when I'll start to go nuts...

We went March 17th. I
don't have anything with me to check the on-line status. No, I don't
know if the on-line status is supposed to change in the interim. I will
check these things out later and let you know what I find.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Leslie66 We went March 17th. I
don't have anything with me to check the on-line status. No, I don't
know if the on-line status is supposed to change in the interim. I will
check these things out later and let you know what I find.


Thank you very much, Leslie! =) Take care.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

What is your EAD timeline. The NSC encashed my check on 4 May and I
haven't received a receipt or NOA? I too am in Louisiana.



Originally posted by JoshsCarole Yesterday was my
biometrics appointment for my EAD at the New Orleans office at 10am. My
husband and I got there at 9:30, and the girl at the front desk took my
passport, my NOA, put stamps on the front and the back of my NOA, and
gave me the I-765 form to fill out (again). Then she told me to go sit
down next to the brown doors on the other side of the room and that my
name would be called. An hour and a half, and only ONE name had been
called. So much for thinking it was going to be in and out, after what I
had heard! My husband started to get impatient, and asked a guy that was
coming out of those doors why we had been there for more than an hour
and a half and nobody was getting called! He said he didn't know, that
it wasn't his field. So Josh left me waiting to try to find somebody
else to talk to, and he talked to a deportation officer, who told him
that he would go find out. BEFORE Josh even got back in the room, an
additional window had already been opened and a new name was called from
the brown doors. Half an hour later I was called inside the doors. Two
lady officers took a scan of my right index and a 3/4 profile picture.
They gave me my passport back (and a little comment card, that we very
dutifully filled out, trust me), and I left. Took 2 minutes at most. I
did ask them what took so long though, and they said "we were just very
busy this morning..." Ooooookay. When Josh and I got back to the
car, I realized they hadn't given me back my NOA1! So I went back inside
(Josh stayed in the car because the 2-hour free parking was already well
over), and asked the rude front desk lady, who told me that they don't
give the NOA back! So I told her that now I didn't have any proof of
filing, and that I needed one in case I still haven't gotten my EAD
within 90 days. She said to go talk to "them". So I went back next to
the brown doors to wait some more. By that time, it was already almost
noon, and I guess a lot of the staff had left for lunch of something,
because half an hour later still nobody had come out of the doors. So I
left, thinking it was probably normal that they hadn't given it back to
me, since I didn't see any of the people with biometrics appointment
walk out with it (just their passport and their little yellow comment
card).
Has anybody ever walked out of their biometrics appointment
without their NOA1??? I have personally never heard about that happen,
and sort of wish I had! Any input appreciated =)


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by lpdiver What is your EAD timeline.
The NSC encashed my check on 4 May and I haven't received a receipt or
NOA? I too am in Louisiana.

I sent off my I-765 to Chicago on
Feb 11
They got it on Feb 13
They cashed the check on Feb 19 (I think?)

and my receipt date is Feb 17
I think I got the NOA1 the following
week.

If your online banking can show you your check (like Bank of
America does), then you can try to read your receipt number that they
print on the back of your check.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by lpdiver What is your EAD timeline.
The NSC encashed my check on 4 May and I haven't received a receipt or
NOA? I too am in Louisiana.

Tony,

That seems too long. Did
you send it return receipt?

Leslie


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Leslie66 Tony, That seems
too long. Did you send it return receipt. Leslie


Leslie,
He must mean 4th of MARCH since it's not even April
yet......... :)

????

~SG


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Hi Carole,

This is the low-down. They did not keep his NOA1. They
stamped it in the lower right hand corner with a red fill-in-the-blank
stamp. This is my best rendition of the stamp.......


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BIOMETRICS PROCESSING STAMP


ASC SITE CODE_______________

BIOMETRICS QA REVIEW BY:


_________________ ON ________________

TENPRINTS QA REVIEW BY:


_________________ON _________________


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All of the blanks were filled
in except the last two. I am assuming that the TENPRINTS QA REVIEW is
something that will be done at a later date.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by SecretGarden Leslie, He must
mean 4th of MARCH since it's not even April yet......... :) ????
~SG

<snort> I didn't even catch that. My, it really has
been too long it.........

Maybe he should get his mother to write a
letter. ;)


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Leslie66 <snort> I didn't even
catch that. My, it really has been too long it......... Maybe he
should get his mother to write a letter. ;)

He must remember
to get it notarized. :D

Sorry, Carole, for hijacking your thread.
I'll bow out now, and good luck getting that NOA back! :)

~SG


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by SecretGarden He must remember to
get it notarized. :D Sorry, Carole, for hijacking your thread.
I'll bow out now, and good luck getting that NOA back! :) ~SG


I've heard that getting things notarized is very difficult.
Under no circumstances should he ever, ever, and I mean NEVER, read the
instructions first.

Hijack over.


Carole,

What do you think about
my red-stampy thing? Maybe they do it differently state to state???


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

My husband came on K-3 as well. They gave him his NOA back with the "red-
stampy thing" as well.

He's actually almost at the 91 day mark so we'll
be applying for the interim EAD shortly.

It's so frustrating that all
the local offices are not the same. It just doesn't seem fair. Not to
mention that fact that it really confuses people. It's hard to know if
things are on track or not. ARRRGGGHHHH!!

Oh well. Carole have you
talked with anyone else who went through New Orleans to see what their
experience was?



Originally posted by Leslie66 I've
heard that getting things notarized is very difficult. Under no
circumstances should he ever, ever, and I mean NEVER, read the
instructions first. Hijack over. Carole,
What do you
think about my red-stampy thing? Maybe they do it differently state to
state???


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Hey,

NKA418 or Carole,

Do you have the link to the page where you
check the status of your EAD?? I'm on the USCIS website but I can't
find that page......

Thanks.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Leslie66 Hey, NKA418 or
Carole, Do you have the link to the page where you check the
status of your EAD?? I'm on the USCIS website but I can't find that
page...... Thanks.

Leslie,

Go to this link. ]http-
s://egov.immigration.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/index.jsp?textFlag=N#[/url]


Edit....I realized that I've never checked the status of my EAD
online...I 've only looked at the processing date. I suppose that you
could still check online from this link. Let me know if I'm right.


Sorry about that.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by waitingforAOS Hi: Sorry to
hear about your experience. I understand that all offices are different.
But, just to feel safe, if you have a copy of your NOTICE wghat was
received. My ASC was ATLANTA and the guys were very nice. They
actually just stamped the thing and gave it back which had the date and
proof that the BIOMETRICS was done. But, don't worry, I got my card
in a week after my BIOMETRICS. I would guess, would be the same for you.
Thanks
I (K1) also got mine done in Atlanta and they
stamped it and gave it back to me.


waitingforAOS: when did you get
your biometrics done? Mine took over 90 days. That did include an RFE
(forgot to include husband's proof of US citizenship), but even so it
seemed to take a long time. Especially if yours came within a week! So
what's your timeline like?


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by NKA418 Leslie, Go to this
link. ]https://egov.immigration.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/index.jsp?t-
extFlag=N#[/url] Edit....I realized that I've never checked the
status of my EAD online...I 've only looked at the processing date. I
suppose that you could still check online from this link. Let me know
if I'm right. Sorry about that.

Thanks. It worked. You
can check it and you are right. :)


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Correct 4 MARCH. I didn't send it return receipt. I have the cancelled
check noting that it is for EAD. There is no receipt number on the
back. Still no receipt or NOA. I figure I'll just take the cancelled
check to the New Orleans office on the 91'st day.

Originally
posted by SecretGarden Leslie, He must mean 4th of MARCH since
it's not even April yet......... :) ????
~SG


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Alright guys, I'm back. I was in New Orleans all day yesterday, and one
of the things I did was to go back to the USCIS to try to sort things
out.

The girl at the front desk was different and was actually the same
person who took my biometrics. So that was cool, since she was much
nicer and she even remembered me. She told me that they do NOT give the
NOA1s back, that they do keep them. So I asked her what do I do if I
still don't have my EAD after 90 days. She said to come back and it
won't be a problem that I don't have my NOA1. So I asked her HOW they
would know that it's been 91 days if I don't have proof. And she said
she wasn't sure, but that she thought there was a way for them to check
with their computer.

So I guess that's that. I'll just wait and see.
The funny thing is that they DID put the red stamp on it that Leslie
described (actually drawed...;)). I printed my online status, and I
still have the envelope the NOA1 came in (with the sent date coinciding
with my receipt date), so that's SOME proof of filing I still have. It
just bothers me not to have proof that I did my biometrics. Except for
my appointment reference number, but that doesn't prove that I showed up
either.

Thanks everybody for helping! =) I really appreciate it.


Leslie, did your online status change to "We have received your
biometrics" or not? I'm not sure if it's supposed to or not, but I think
I've heard it was.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by Steffi I (K1) also got mine done
in Atlanta and they stamped it and gave it back to me.
waitingforAOS: when did you get your biometrics done? Mine took over 90
days. That did include an RFE (forgot to include husband's proof of US
citizenship), but even so it seemed to take a long time. Especially if
yours came within a week! So what's your timeline like?

Hi
Steffi:

My was not K1/K3. I was here on H1 and did my AOS.

My receipt
date is March 13 2002 for AOS. This was my EAD renewal (IIIrd). I guess
it depends on case-to-case basis. But, after a week of my BIOMETRICS
(March 11th '04, I got my card in the mail around the 18th.

Thanks


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Leslie, did your online status change to "We have received your biometrics" or not? I'm not sure if it's supposed to or not, but I think I've heard it was.


Hi Carole,

Haha. I checked the online status but forgot why I was checking.........

This is what it said:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Your I765 APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION was received on March 2, 2004. We mailed you a receipt with information about processing. It is taking between 30 and 90 days for us to process this kind of case. We will mail you a decision as soon as processing is complete."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, no it hasn't changed (yet?).

Leslie


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by lpdiver If leslie and secrete
don't quit picking on me I'm gonna tel my momee. Keep me posted on your
progress Leslie you application is right on top of mine...



Have you and Angela gone for her biometrics??

Mine:

03/02/04 - EAD
- MSC - 1ST NOA
03/17/04 - Biometrics - Fort Worth field office


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

No I have not gotten anything from CIS. I have checked my account ant
the check cleared but it does not had a number on the back.


Originally posted by Leslie66 Have you and Angela
gone for her biometrics?? Mine: 03/02/04 - EAD - MSC - 1ST NOA

03/17/04 - Biometrics - Fort Worth field office


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Originally posted by lpdiver No I have not gotten
anything from CIS. I have checked my account ant the check cleared but
it does not had a number on the back.

Yeah, that's what I
thought.

Read Cindyabs thread. It should ruin your day........

]-
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=190260[/url]


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com