綠卡之路---Relink 綠寶書

背景介紹：
Timeline:

NIW @NSC:
1/07, RD, I-140
7/07, RD, I-485
8/07, ND, I-485
6/08, AD, I-140
10/09, I-485 RFE, asking for Employment Verification Letter (可能是那個時候
USCIS沒事幹，在pre-approve 485. 及時回了，然後沒動靜了，可以理解，那時排期未
到)

EB1b, TSC:
12/21/09, RD, I-140
2/12/10, AD, I-140, no PP

Relink舊485到新140:
2/23/10, Faxed Relink Request letter to NSC (402-219-6171)
2/23/10, Emailed Relink Request letter to NSC ([e-mail])
3/1/10, Emailed Relink Request letter to TSC ([e-mail])
3/8/10, I-485 RFE, “If you wish to transfer this I-485 to your newly
approved Form I-140, a request for conversion must be made in writing.”
3/12/10, I-485 RFE replied
3/16/10, USCIS received my RFE response
3/23/10, Received welcome letter email
3/24/10, Received card production ordered email
3/25/10, Received welcome letter in mail, saying GC would arrive in 3 weeks
3/29/10, Received GC in post mail



背景:
PhD from a U.S. University
Major: Civil Engineering
Publication: 15+, 90% first author
Presentation: 20+
Citation: 50+
Review: 30+ for four journals and five conferences
Award: Best student paper award, but didn’t claim
Membership: Sigma Xi  & three other professional associations (mentioned as
a support for original contribution, but didn’t claim separately)
Recommendation letter: 6 (two from Europe, one from Israel, and three from U
.S.). 多準備了三封，但律師說六封足夠了。

Claim:
Original contribution
Publication
Review

幾點總結（純屬個人意見）：
1．    我的case不強，希望能給大家帶來希望。畢竟不是Bio, EE, 或CS，專業麵比較
狹窄，發文章相對來說較難，Citation也不多。但我想IO也會照顧到這一點的；
2．    鑒於目前的排期，所以大家如果能申Eb1就申Eb1；Eb1類能申Eb1-b就申Eb1-b,
畢竟相對於Eb1-a來說Eb1-b容易一些；
3．    能E-file 就E-file。我的申請本屬NSC，但E-file就到了大家都比較喜歡的TSC
，而且沒有被轉到NSC；
4．    I-140審批看來很快，我的沒有用PP，前後一共用了大約53天；
5．    關於推薦信，並非越多越好。看到有許多大牛，動輒就10封或更多（很景仰）
，但個人覺得沒有必要。一來會慣壞IO (你叫後來人怎麽活？)，二來關鍵是推薦信的
質量而非數量。
6．    不管是NIW還是EB1b，最頭疼的就是推薦信。平時要廣結人脈，參加Conference
時多討論，多與各個國家的人接觸，關鍵時候或許能用上；
7．    Review這一項其實相對Paper/Contribution來說更容易搞定。Again, 廣結人脈
，還有就是一旦有Review的機會，慎重對待，花點時間好好Review。一般來說，
Journal 或Conference都有自己的Reviewer 數據庫，不僅有你的聯係方式，專長領域
，更重要的是你以前Review的優劣。如果Credit高的話，下次Editor還會找你的。很多
時候我們在找Review的機會，其實Editor有時找3+Reviewer何嚐就容易呢？


下麵談談如何Relink …
童鞋們也看到了，我需要把NIW 485 連到Eb1 140，於是在2/20收到140 Approval
Letter後，又開始了新的Relink征程……也許很多人會問，你EB1 140填了舊485的A#了
沒有？如果填了應該會自動Relink的呀。我填了的呀，在批了的EB1 140上也清清楚楚
地寫著我的正確的A#，但是沒有自動Relink呀！140和485 在同一個中心，有很多是自
動link的，但是不同中心目前好像還沒有自動link這一說。
“Relink” 這個詞值得商榷，這個詞好像是大家造的，電話中與USCIS交流，她們聽不
明白這是啥玩意兒。正確的用詞應該是”Transfer” 或者”Interfile,” 中文又叫”
重新掛靠”。PJIANG老師在他的Blog上也有介紹(http://blog.wenxuecity.com/blogview.php?date=200802&postID=19212#AAtransfer)
我首先想到了打電話，按照以前網友試過的如下辦法，打了個電話。
********************
Call Customer Service
1) Call Customer Service:  1 800 375 5283;
2) Continue in English, hit 1;
3) To check the status, hit 2;
4) Know your receipt number, hit 1;
5) Enter Receipt number;
6) Confirm Receipt Number, hit 1;
7) You will now hear the status of your case. At this point, hit 3 to "
Report a problem". You will hear 4 options. Option # 3 is "If your case is
outside the processing time..." and # 4 is for "If you have filed several
cases and haven’t received a decision on...." You may pick # 3. Previously
there was a trick to hit # 4 and you would be connected to an IO, but I didn
’t have such luck.
***************
接電話的明顯是個前台，啥也拎不清，說你這個情況怎麽能轉？這樣吧，我幫你做個
Service Request. 我又給他解釋，我隻是想Transfer 485到EB1的140上來. According
to the USCIS' policies on Transferring Adjustment Application, this is
doable. 他說你等會兒，我給你接到另外一個人那兒。我一聽，覺得好像有戲，說不定
能與IO說上話。片刻的等待，電話被接到另外一個人。很禮貌的跟她講了一下情況，很
明顯這位懂的比前台多的多。她說她明白我說的要求，同時劈裏啪啦地在敲鍵盤。問我
要了一些信息之後，告訴我說，她會給IO發封內部郵件, 你就安心等待吧。噢，原來她
也不是管審批IO啊。本來還想在解釋解釋，她說不用了，已經知道了。
打完電話後，仍不甘心，於是起草了如下一封信…現在想想是對的，光打電話還不行，
信是少不了的！
_________________________________
[Date]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Nebraska Service Center
PO Box 82521
Lincoln, NE 68501-2521
Re:    Mr. XYZ ([A#]) and Mrs. YXZ ([A#]) Request to Transfer Earlier
Priority Date to Pending I-485 Applications
Dear Sir or Madam:
My name is XYZ, and I am the beneficiary of an approved EB-1 Outstanding
Researcher Form I-140 (SRC-XX-XXX-XXXXX). This petition (SRC-XX-XXX-XXXXX)
was submitted on [Date] and has a priority date of [Date]. I, as well as my
wife, have pending I-485 applications with the Nebraska Service Center (see
LIN-XX-XXX-XXXXX and LIN-XX-XXX-XXXXX respectively) which were filed on [
Date], pursuant to a previously approved I-140 petition (see LIN-XX-XXX-
XXXXX enclosed).
The EB-1 China visa category is current for [Month Year] according to the U.
S. State Department’s Visa Bulletin. According to the USCIS' policies on
Transferring Adjustment Application, I request to have our pending I-485
applications with the Nebraska Service Center attached to my approved
Outstanding Researcher petition (SRC-XX-XXX-XXXXX) with this current
priority date of [Date]. Since EB-1 is current, I would like to request
adjudication of our I-485 applications.
Specifically, submitted in support of my request to transfer our pending I-
485 forms to my current priority date in which visas are available are as
follows:
•    Copy of Form I-797, Approval Notice for Form I-140 (SRC-XX-XXX-
XXXXX), Immigrant Visa Petition for Mr. XYZ, with priority date [Date] for
EB-1 outstanding Researcher Category;
•    Copy of For I-797, Approval Notice for Form I-140 (LIN-XX-XXX-
XXXXX), Immigrant Visa Petition for Mr. XYZ with priority date [Date] for EB
-2 [National Interest Waiver/or…];
•    Copy of my Form I-797C, Receipt Notices for Form I-485 (LIN-XX-
XXX-XXXXX), Applications for Adjustment of Status;
•    Copy of my wife’s Form I-797C, Receipt Notices for Form I-485 (
LIN-XX-XXX-XXXXX), Applications for Adjustment of Status;
On the basis of the foregoing, I have clearly shown that both my wife and I
qualify to have my now current EB-1 Outstanding Researcher priority date
transferred to our pending Adjustment of Status applications. Since EB-1 is
current, I would like to request adjudication of our I-485 applications.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or should
you require any additional information or documentation. I look forward to
hearing from you shortly.
Sincerely,
XYZ
[Address]
[Email]
[Telephone]
Attachment
_________________________________
我把這封信發到了NSC的follow-up email: [e-mail], 一天後收到回
信，說“This email address is not for checking the status of a case”。我 倒
。。。立馬有回了封信，說我不是checking the status of a case，而是Transfer
Priority Date, 然而這封回信從此石沉大海，直到18天後，才有回音。

同時，我發了傳真給NSC。我一共收集了三個傳真號碼，[phone];  (402)219-
6344; [phone]。我給(402) 219-6171發了一份，成功的傳過去了，但是沒有任
何回音，我想這份傳真是徹底地石沉大海了。
在這期間，大約在2/26收到USCIS NSC一封信，確認他們接到過我打的電話，說NSC”
has requested the I-140 from the Texas Service Center. The applications will
be reviewed by an officer. Please allow thirty to sixty days.” ??? 原來（
難道）他們以為我要把140轉到NSC給他們Review？140已經在TSC過了，我的USCIS大爺！
靈機一動，我在3/1把Relink Request letter Email了一份給TSC（tsc.ncscfollowup@
dhs.gov），兩天後，收到回信，而且很明顯是一IO寫的，還署了她的真實名字（不是
編號）。她說” Your request has been forwarded to an officer in our Nebraska
office for review and action.   We coordinate efforts with the Nebraka
office to process your request.  We will notify you when processing is
complete.”立刻回了封Email謝謝她，希望能盡快收到回音。
童鞋們還記得上文提到過我發Email到NSC吧？我被教訓道“This email address is
not for checking the status of a case”。我當時回了信說我不是checking the
status of a case，而是Transfer Priority Date, 然而這封回信從此石沉大海，直到
18天後，我收到這樣一份來信，“Please send a written request, with supporting
documentation, to Nebraska Service Center, PO Box 87485, Lincoln, NE 68501-
7485 providing the information about the petition you and your family wishes
to adjust under. Once we receive the written request and it is connected
with your files, your cases can be sent back to the officer for review.” 與
此同時，收到短信，上網查了一下，I-485 Request for Evidence! 啥??? RFE？要啥
東東？去年的時候485被他們RFE過，那時排期還沒到，但被要求出示Employment
Verification Letter,可能是那個時候USCIS沒事幹，在pre-approve 485.. 我及時回
了，然後沒動靜了，可以理解，那時排期未到。現在又整一RFE，會是什麽東東呢。。
。四天後，收到RFE letter, 你猜是要啥？無他，核心基本就一句話, “If you wish
to transfer this I-485 to your newly approved Form I-140,  a request for
conversion must be made in writing.” 我倒。。。 原來光打電話發傳真是不夠的
，還要寫信，physical 的信。為什麽需要這樣一封physical 的信呢，許多在同一中心
的不是自動連接的嘛，也沒聽說要寫信，不過，大爺就是大爺，人牛，得服從。可是我
明明也給你們寫過信，用特快寄過去的呀，看來他們沒收到，或者幹脆沒有好好看。於
是，又給他們按要求特快了一封要求Transfer Priority Date 的physical 的信。

一周後，我之前給NSC的Email又有人給我回信了，這次明顯是一個IO, 為什麽這麽說呢
？她提供了她的IO編號， EX####(具體編號略過)。她說: “…… I will have your
transfer request routed to your A-file. I have also notified an I-485
supervisor to let them know about the request. On XX/XX/XXXX [date] a
Request for Evidence was sent out for your case so we will need to receive a
response to that before we can continue processing your case. If I can be
of further assistance please let me know.” 這個IO，我檢查過了她的編號，不是
那個給我發485 RFE的IO。心想隻要有人理我，就是好事，說明她們至少知道動過我的
Case。 我於是回了份Email,首先謝謝她，其次告訴她那個RFE就是要個我的Written
Request。我已經照著做了，麻煩您再幫我看看。

快一周過去了，還沒有動靜，有點按捺不住，想到了那個Nice的TSC署了其名的IO, 給
她發了一封郵件，無它，就是告訴她我收到個485 RFE，就是要個我的Written Request
，我已經照著做了，但是還沒有回音。You know what? 當天傍晚，收到短信，上網檢
查Status, Welcome Notice sent。那個Nice的TSC IO在第二天還給我回了封信，說你
的申請已經批準了。〔讚一下TSC!）我想極有可能這個IO在審批中起了很大的推動作用
。再讚一下TSC！

第二天早晨，Card Production Ordered. 兩天後，收到Welcome Notice Letter in
post mail, 信中說GC三周內到達。

五天後，綠卡收到。


Relink小結：
•    再同一個中心的，恭喜您，您極有可能不用擔心Relink，因為你的Case極
有可能會自動Relink。
•    不再同一個中心的，要盡心Relink，否則他們不會主動上心去Relink。
•    要多管齊下，電話，fax, Email, 信件，樣樣用上。你不知道哪樣最終會
起作用。
•    不管怎樣，一定要把信件準備好。我上麵有魔板，可以借鑒使用 (但不推
薦全文照抄)。目前不同中心的Relink，需要你的”Request in WRITTING.”
•    要發Email去follow up, 要不然，Case有可能一直在那作咖啡墊。
•    發Email時，可以考慮兩個中心都發，你不知道那邊會起作用。就我的Case
而言，雖然485在NSC, 但我也發Email給TSC了，而且極有可能這個TSC IO在審批中起了
很大的推動作用。
•    不管如何多管齊下，要有禮貌，跟你聯係的有可能就是審批你Case的IO。
為了你著想（早批晚批在人手上掐著），也為日後的人著想，請禮貌待之。
•    真希望有一天，Relink這個詞從此作古。憑什麽要我們要求Relink呢？管
他NSC還是TSC， 明明在一個USCIS 係統下，不是多此一舉麽？難道他們用的是阿Sir開
發的數據庫係統，實在太爛？（開個玩笑，不必當真）


至此整個GC過程結束， 也算是做了點貢獻，減少了EB2的兩個排隊名額。從遞交EB1
140開始，到卡收到，全程一共用了三個月零八天，其中140 用了53天，485 Relink 用
了38天， 綠卡製作到收到用了僅5天。看來USCIS在卡的製作方麵還是挺有效率的。

說到中國EB排期，挺佩服未名上FA8, sfdg, IceIcer, Medson等人，自願做點事，不容易。大
家還是團結起來，不為別的，為了自己的權益，團結起來，如果我們自己都不為我們自
己去爭取，那麽誰又會care呢？

碼了這麽多，希望對各位申友有點幫助，尤其是Relink這一方麵。

最後真誠祝福各位XDJM們，人人都好運，早日變綠！