Fingerprints - ALWAYS an Adventure

Our fingerprints with the US Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) expired this month. Oddly enough, Kevin's expired three days before mine, even though we had them taken on the same day in February of 2007. So we got up at 4:45 this morning to drive up to Naperville for our 8:00 am appointment. (I think with some States you can request a time for your appt. In Illilnois, you take what they give you.)

We were feeling good about not hitting any traffic and were about 10th in line outside the office before they even opened. That good feeling ended when the line started moving, and the couple in front of us handed the processor one appointment letter for the husband and one for the wife. We only had ONE letter. Since we only had one 171H form with both of our fingerprint expiration dates on the same letter, I didn't question that we had only received one letter for our appointment. Yikes. Sure enough when it was our turn, she said we were supposed to each have our own letter. She then put it aside in a tray for the supervisor to reivew, told us to have a seat, and then continued checking everyone else in line in, which was very long at this point. I told Kevin "we just need to pray".

After a few more people, there was someone else in line with an issue. His appointment wasn't scheduled until this Friday, but he was leaving for China on Thursday. They were not very nice to him (in fact I think you need special training to be this rude) and put his letter in the same pile as ours. Hmmm - pray more. After awhile I saw someone take our letter in to the supervisor's office. More waiting. Then the supervisor came out and had a rude argument with the man going to China. Not looking like they are in a good mood - pray harder.

Then the supervisor came out and called our name. She asked where our receipt was. I said we only got the letter. And she asked again where our receipt was. And then I told her I sent a money order, but we were eligible for one free update, so they returned the money order. She then asked why I had brought the 171H. I said to show that both of our fingerprints had expired. But we only got one letter? Yes that is correct. Have a seat. Back into her office. More praying!

While we were waiting they yelled at the China man somemore about NEVER being able to come in BEFORE your appointment date, but you could always reschedule AFTER your appointment date. After an hour, she finally called us again and said the reason I didn't get a letter was because my appointment wasn't until next Friday on August 1st, which is why they hadn't mailed my letter yet. Great - we're here BEFORE my appointment date. I made a comment (VERY nicely!) that it didn't make sense that they made our appointments on separate days. (I guess it related back to our original prints expiring on different days). She said "No it doesn't make sense, but it's not a problem. I printed your sheet so you can get your prints done today." Yeah, no second trip to make! Prayers answered! Exhale slowly ...

Prov 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk upright.