Posted by: skt December 23, 2016
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@girlboss
WARNING: VERY DETAILED POST!!
So, I called USCIS and asked two questions:
1) I mailed my TPS re-registration applications with the required documents on December 21st (Wed) using USPS Priority Express service which is an overnight service. The scheduled delivery time is December 22nd (Thursday) at 12:00 noon. The USPS hasn't updated my tracking information since it left my city. I was wondering if you can tell me if USCIS has received my package?
2) I just found out last night that there was a fee increase effective today (Dec 23, Friday). I wasn't aware of this. I checked the USCIS site and it says "Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23, 2016, must include these new fees." Since I mailed my applications on December 21st and the package is postmarked December 21,2016, will I be exempt from the new increased fee?
Kathy (the person helping me) said that I was right. Since my mail is postmarked December 21st, I'll be fine and the new fee wouldn't apply to me. I wanted to be 100% sure so I asked her if she could explain to me what postmark means. Of course I know what it means I wanted to make sure we were on the same page so I can be 100% sure that my application is safe. She replied that it was the date the post office receives the package from me and stamps/writes the date on it. She said she wasn't sure about the other question but told me that sometimes USPS is not very up-to-date with updating their tracking information, especially during the holiday season. She said she'll transfer me to another operator and may be they can help me with the first question.
The second operator who answered was a guy who sounded like he woke up late and had to rush to work and i was his first customer and he hadn't started to properly function for the day yet. I was talking very politely on the phone at a moderate pace, yet he kept saying "slow down, slow down". Kathy had no problem keeping up with what I was saying at that same pace. Throughout the conversation, his tone was very rude and he kept cutting me off as I was talking. After giving him my information, I asked him if there's a way he could determine if USCIS has picked up my package from the PO Box. He said there's no way to know right now. I'll find out in 10 days when I receive my notice. Duh! of course I know that. But I wanted to know whether my mail is at least in USCIS's hand, even if it hasn't been processed yet, so I know it's not lost or something since USPS tracking sucks. Of course, I asked this very kindly. Not in the tone I typed it. He said it's too early to tell. I understood that there's no way I would know this information immediately unless USPS updates their tracking info and hence there was no point in pursuing this question further, so I just thanked him for his help (or lack there of).
Although Kathy already helped me with the money order question I figured i'll just ask him too since its always good to get a confirmation/ second opinion. My question was worded exactly the same way it was worded when I asked Kathy the question. He said "Maam, in that case your application will be mailed back to you. I was shocked. I tried to explain to him that my package is postmarked Dec 21 but he kept interrupting me and cutting me off and even before I was done talking he gave me the the mandatory "Thanks for calling. Hope you have a great day" line. I couldn't believe it. The sense of relief I felt after talking to Kathy quickly went out the window.
I waited for like 15-20 minutes and then called USCIS again. The third operator was a female with name starting with S (I forgot). I asked, " I mailed my TPS re-registration applications with the required documents on December 21st (Wed) using USPS Priority Express service. The scheduled delivery time was December 22nd (Thursday) at 12:00 noon. I just found out last night that there was a fee increase effective today (Dec 23, Friday). I wasn't aware of this. I checked the USCIS site and it says "Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23, 2016, must include these new fees." Since I mailed my applications on December 21st and USCIS should have received it yesterday, if not then definitely by today, will I be exempt from the new increased fee?
She gave me the exact same reply as Kathy. I again asked her if postmark means when I went to the post office and the clerk who took my package wrote the date on the package slip. She said yes. I told her I have the carbon copy of the USPS package slip and the date accepted is listed 12/21/16. She said I would be fine and that my application would be accepted with the old amount ($465 instead of the new $495). I feel so much better now.
As for USPS I called them too but I can't get to a person. The automated system keeps repeating the same tracking info I see on my computer. I'm thinking of going to the post office later today to inquire about this.
WARNING: VERY DETAILED POST!!
So, I called USCIS and asked two questions:
1) I mailed my TPS re-registration applications with the required documents on December 21st (Wed) using USPS Priority Express service which is an overnight service. The scheduled delivery time is December 22nd (Thursday) at 12:00 noon. The USPS hasn't updated my tracking information since it left my city. I was wondering if you can tell me if USCIS has received my package?
2) I just found out last night that there was a fee increase effective today (Dec 23, Friday). I wasn't aware of this. I checked the USCIS site and it says "Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23, 2016, must include these new fees." Since I mailed my applications on December 21st and the package is postmarked December 21,2016, will I be exempt from the new increased fee?
Kathy (the person helping me) said that I was right. Since my mail is postmarked December 21st, I'll be fine and the new fee wouldn't apply to me. I wanted to be 100% sure so I asked her if she could explain to me what postmark means. Of course I know what it means I wanted to make sure we were on the same page so I can be 100% sure that my application is safe. She replied that it was the date the post office receives the package from me and stamps/writes the date on it. She said she wasn't sure about the other question but told me that sometimes USPS is not very up-to-date with updating their tracking information, especially during the holiday season. She said she'll transfer me to another operator and may be they can help me with the first question.
The second operator who answered was a guy who sounded like he woke up late and had to rush to work and i was his first customer and he hadn't started to properly function for the day yet. I was talking very politely on the phone at a moderate pace, yet he kept saying "slow down, slow down". Kathy had no problem keeping up with what I was saying at that same pace. Throughout the conversation, his tone was very rude and he kept cutting me off as I was talking. After giving him my information, I asked him if there's a way he could determine if USCIS has picked up my package from the PO Box. He said there's no way to know right now. I'll find out in 10 days when I receive my notice. Duh! of course I know that. But I wanted to know whether my mail is at least in USCIS's hand, even if it hasn't been processed yet, so I know it's not lost or something since USPS tracking sucks. Of course, I asked this very kindly. Not in the tone I typed it. He said it's too early to tell. I understood that there's no way I would know this information immediately unless USPS updates their tracking info and hence there was no point in pursuing this question further, so I just thanked him for his help (or lack there of).
Although Kathy already helped me with the money order question I figured i'll just ask him too since its always good to get a confirmation/ second opinion. My question was worded exactly the same way it was worded when I asked Kathy the question. He said "Maam, in that case your application will be mailed back to you. I was shocked. I tried to explain to him that my package is postmarked Dec 21 but he kept interrupting me and cutting me off and even before I was done talking he gave me the the mandatory "Thanks for calling. Hope you have a great day" line. I couldn't believe it. The sense of relief I felt after talking to Kathy quickly went out the window.
I waited for like 15-20 minutes and then called USCIS again. The third operator was a female with name starting with S (I forgot). I asked, " I mailed my TPS re-registration applications with the required documents on December 21st (Wed) using USPS Priority Express service. The scheduled delivery time was December 22nd (Thursday) at 12:00 noon. I just found out last night that there was a fee increase effective today (Dec 23, Friday). I wasn't aware of this. I checked the USCIS site and it says "Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23, 2016, must include these new fees." Since I mailed my applications on December 21st and USCIS should have received it yesterday, if not then definitely by today, will I be exempt from the new increased fee?
She gave me the exact same reply as Kathy. I again asked her if postmark means when I went to the post office and the clerk who took my package wrote the date on the package slip. She said yes. I told her I have the carbon copy of the USPS package slip and the date accepted is listed 12/21/16. She said I would be fine and that my application would be accepted with the old amount ($465 instead of the new $495). I feel so much better now.
As for USPS I called them too but I can't get to a person. The automated system keeps repeating the same tracking info I see on my computer. I'm thinking of going to the post office later today to inquire about this.