GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Affiliations: HHonors Diamond, BGS Honor Society
Posts: 5916
Given Kudos: 7
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2009
WE:Business Development (Consumer Products)
[#permalink]
20 Jan 2007, 09:53
I think I beat you all. I've filed my application in DC prior to going to college. When I moved for college, I tried to have the green card process moved to the local INS offices, but they informed me that doing so would require me to start over. This was after 12 months of waiting with no news, communications or anything. 16 months into the process, I was informed my paperwork had been "lost", and I would have to fill out a few forms again, and come in person to present Identification when providing the paperwork. I asked if I could do it locally, they said no. I flew to DC, handed a woman the paperwork, showed her my id and flew back.
Six months later, I got a call to get fingerprinted. Again, I asked if I could do it locally, again they denied the request. I flew to DC, walked up to an ELECTRONIC FINGERPRINTING DEVICE WHICH PRESUMABLY IS NETWORKED (SO WHY CANT I DO IT IN ANOTHER STATE!), and got fingerprinted. I flew back.
Roughly three months after that I got called for "an interview". Again, it couldn't be done locally. I flew to DC and showed up to the interview - and after waiting four hours past my scheduled time, I walked into the office. Some papers had been lost AGAIN, but fortunately I was able to prove it had been sent, and after another two hours of searching/debating/validating with whoever in other offices, they agreed they didn't need the paperwork.
Two or three months after that I got my green card.
It basically took me three years - and that was pre 9/11 !!
I cant imagine what its like now!