November 2018 Filers

[Teto00]

Also got an RFE for my I864 (dated 12/10, received 12/15). Even though I provided an IRS Tax Return transcript for last three years, which i864 instructions say can be submitted instead of 1040 + W2, the RFE asks for my 1040 and W2. I'm just sending them back absolutely everything: my tax return, W2, IRS Tax Return Transcript, IRS Wage & Income Transcript... also including a re-signed form and my paystubs and employment verification letter again, just in case.

Sending this all out today, should get there Friday, interesting to see how much this will delay us.

That's unfortunate.

Goodluck and hopefully this does not delay the process. We missed our bio metrics by 2 days, luckily that didn't seem to have impacted our process up to this point.

Keep us updated.

[spaceprice]

Also got an RFE for my I864 (dated 12/10, received 12/15). Even though I provided an IRS Tax Return transcript for last three years, which i864 instructions say can be submitted instead of 1040 + W2, the RFE asks for my 1040 and W2. I'm just sending them back absolutely everything: my tax return, W2, IRS Tax Return Transcript, IRS Wage & Income Transcript... also including a re-signed form and my paystubs and employment verification letter again, just in case.

Sending this all out today, should get there Friday, interesting to see how much this will delay us.

Sorry to hear that. I don't understand why the instructions don't align with their expectations. Also. I observed that are timelines are very similar - my bio is tomorrow as well.

Anyway, I also recommend adding a cover letter to listing all the contents.

[RUSNYC]

Sorry to hear that. I don't understand why the instructions don't align with their expectations. Also. I observed that are timelines are very similar - my bio is tomorrow as well.

Anyway, I also recommend adding a cover letter to listing all the contents.

Aye, we'll compare notes!

Not sure why their instructions say one thing, and say it very clearly, but then officers act another way. I will definitely have a cover letter, and am thinking of spelling out their own instructions in there to explain why I sent only the IRS transcripts the first time... but I don't want to piss the officer off.

Relevant instructions here:
"You must provide either an Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) transcript or a photocopy from your own records of your Federal individual income tax return for the most
recent tax year

If you provide a photocopy of your Federal individual income tax returns, you must include a copy of each and every
Form W-2 and Form 1099 that relates to your returns. Do not include copies of these forms if you provide an IRS
transcript of your Federal individual income tax returns rather than a photocopy unless you filed a joint income tax return
with your spouse and are qualifying using only your income."
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/...i-864instr.pdf - Page 8

[spaceprice]

Aye, we'll compare notes!

Not sure why their instructions say one thing, and say it very clearly, but then officers act another way. I will definitely have a cover letter, and am thinking of spelling out their own instructions in there to explain why I sent only the IRS transcripts the first time... but I don't want to piss the officer off.

Relevant instructions here:
"You must provide either an Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) transcript or a photocopy from your own records of your Federal individual income tax return for the most
recent tax year

If you provide a photocopy of your Federal individual income tax returns, you must include a copy of each and every
Form W-2 and Form 1099 that relates to your returns. Do not include copies of these forms if you provide an IRS
transcript of your Federal individual income tax returns rather than a photocopy unless you filed a joint income tax return
with your spouse and are qualifying using only your income."
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/...i-864instr.pdf - Page 8

Ha! definitely don't want to piss them off.

Out of curiosity, did you get a notification on egov or myaccount.uscis sites when you got an RFE? (or a SMS?) or was it just the postal mail?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

To clarify, the instructions do say this "If you provide a photocopy of your Federal individual income tax returns, you must include a copy of each and every
Form W-2 and Form 1099 that relates to your returns. Do not include copies of these forms if you provide an IRS transcript of your Federal individual income tax returns rather than a photocopy unless you filed a joint income tax return with your spouse and are qualifying using only your income."

No one should ever write a sentence using double negatives! It really should read:
"Include copies of these forms if all of the following apply:
1. you provide an original IRS transcript of your federal income tax return and not a photocopy
2. you filed a joint income tax return with your spouse and are qualifying using only your income

Note: If you filed a joint income tax with your spouse and you are qualifying using both incomes, you may provide either an original IRS transcript or a copy of your federal income tax return along with all W-2s and 1099s."

It is so poorly written, it blows my mind.

[RUSNYC]

Out of curiosity, did you get a notification on egov or myaccount.uscis sites when you got an RFE? (or a SMS?) or was it just the postal mail?

No SMS notification, USCIS website was updated, but we found out from the letter in the mail because we're not actively checking the site.

To clarify, the instructions do say this "If you provide a photocopy of your Federal individual income tax returns, you must include a copy of each and every
Form W-2 and Form 1099 that relates to your returns. Do not include copies of these forms if you provide an IRS transcript of your Federal individual income tax returns rather than a photocopy unless you filed a joint income tax return with your spouse and are qualifying using only your income."

No one should ever write a sentence using double negatives! It really should read:
"Include copies of these forms if all of the following apply:
1. you provide an original IRS transcript of your federal income tax return and not a photocopy
2. you filed a joint income tax return with your spouse and are qualifying using only your income

Note: If you filed a joint income tax with your spouse and you are qualifying using both incomes, you may provide either an original IRS transcript or a copy of your federal income tax return along with all W-2s and 1099s."

It is so poorly written, it blows my mind.

Yep, they really should get away from paragraphs and just do a simple "Option 1" "Option 2" chart, which says what you can provide for either option. Still, the way I'm interpreting it makes the W2 and 1040 optional in our case as we did not file jointly. Moot point, I'm just sending them absolutely everything. Not sure if I should do just one year or all three, and I hope they don't reject me for now including both IRS and my own photocopies.

[CTi485]

Also got an RFE for my I864 (dated 12/10, received 12/15). Even though I provided an IRS Tax Return transcript for last three years, which i864 instructions say can be submitted instead of 1040 + W2, the RFE asks for my 1040 and W2. I'm just sending them back absolutely everything: my tax return, W2, IRS Tax Return Transcript, IRS Wage & Income Transcript... also including a re-signed form and my paystubs and employment verification letter again, just in case.

Sending this all out today, should get there Friday, interesting to see how much this will delay us.

We seem to have had the exact same letter!!!

Will be sending the whole thing again, everything they have asked for was in the original application so all pretty confusing!

Keep us up to date with how it goes for you

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

No SMS notification, USCIS website was updated, but we found out from the letter in the mail because we're not actively checking the site.




Yep, they really should get away from paragraphs and just do a simple "Option 1" "Option 2" chart, which says what you can provide for either option. Still, the way I'm interpreting it makes the W2 and 1040 optional in our case as we did not file jointly. Moot point, I'm just sending them absolutely everything. Not sure if I should do just one year or all three, and I hope they don't reject me for now including both IRS and my own photocopies.

RIGHT??? I have read that paragragh many times, and to write that post, I had to decipher YET once again.

They won't reject it if you included transcripts AND w-2 forms/1099 and your own tax return. I think that's what we did actually. It was fine.

They also only require the most recent tax year. You may submit your 3 most recent years if you would like to show consistency, or maybe if your most recent income was just cutting it close. But really, the most recent tax year does the trick.

[RUSNYC]

RIGHT??? I have read that paragragh many times, and to write that post, I had to decipher YET once again.

They won't reject it if you included transcripts AND w-2 forms/1099 and your own tax return. I think that's what we did actually. It was fine.

They also only require the most recent tax year. You may submit your 3 most recent years if you would like to show consistency, or maybe if your most recent income was just cutting it close. But really, the most recent tax year does the trick.

Thanks! Took your advice and sent in just most recent tax year, outlined everything in cover letter. Btw, you have great posts on this forum, learned a lot from your explanations about table of contents, ISO officer expectations, etc, from the last few days of browsing and reading. Already prepping for the interview.

Unrelated, but something I ran into today:
When you purchase postage from USPS for the Flat Rate Priority Mail Envelope with tracking, the tracking doesn't seem to mean much. What I mean is: I purchased the postage 12/17, yesterday, but only sent the letter today, 12/18, at noon. Went in to check status using tracking number, and it says it has been in transit since yesterday!

"December 18, 2018
In Transit to Next Facility
Your package is moving within the USPS network and is on track to be delivered by the expected delivery date. It is currently in transit to the next facility.
December 17, 2018, 5:09 pm
Departed Post Office
NEW YORK, NY 10001
December 17, 2018
USPS expects item for mailing (SSK)
NEW YORK, NY 10001"

It "departed post office" before I had even mailed it... my faith in USPS tracking is shattered.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thanks! Took your advice and sent in just most recent tax year, outlined everything in cover letter. Btw, you have great posts on this forum, learned a lot from your explanations about table of contents, ISO officer expectations, etc, from the last few days of browsing and reading. Already prepping for the interview.

Unrelated, but something I ran into today:
When you purchase postage from USPS for the Flat Rate Priority Mail Envelope with tracking, the tracking doesn't seem to mean much. What I mean is: I purchased the postage 12/17, yesterday, but only sent the letter today, 12/18, at noon. Went in to check status using tracking number, and it says it has been in transit since yesterday!

"December 18, 2018
In Transit to Next Facility
Your package is moving within the USPS network and is on track to be delivered by the expected delivery date. It is currently in transit to the next facility.
December 17, 2018, 5:09 pm
Departed Post Office
NEW YORK, NY 10001
December 17, 2018
USPS expects item for mailing (SSK)
NEW YORK, NY 10001"

It "departed post office" before I had even mailed it... my faith in USPS tracking is shattered.

Awesome! I am glad to hear you have found the thread this thread useful https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...428#post590428

Thank you for sharing that tip on USPS. That confirms why you get an update "Card was mailed", which probably really means they put postage on it, and then you get "USPS picked up your new card". Good to know!

[ecrypto]

Update: Today my case status changed to "Case Ready to Be Scheduled for an Interview".

Does this mean I will not be receiving an RFE?

I am from NY, that means I still have a long wait ahead of me right?

[spaceprice]

Update: Today my case status changed to "Case Ready to Be Scheduled for an Interview".

Does this mean I will not be receiving an RFE?

I am from NY, that means I still have a long wait ahead of me right?

Yes to both your questions. Based on my understanding (others please feel free to correct me if I am wrong), NBC has completed all the checks, reviewed all the material and completed preparing your application for adjudication. You are now in queue along with all other NYC applicants waiting for a window of availability at your field office. After the NBC finds an open window for you, you will get a notification that an interview is scheduled and they ship your application to the local field office.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Make sure to read through the links on this hread to prepare for your interview. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...428#post590428

[CTi485]

Biometrics appointment was done today at Port Chester New York. In and out in 5mins. RFE request was sent back on Weds so hopefully will here about them receiving it soon!

[spaceprice]

Quick update - My case status changed to "Case Ready to Be Scheduled for an Interview" few minutes ago.