did any one have received official receipt from USCIS CHICAGO TPS application centre who has already send the TPS application in USCIS CHICAGO ?

Well then, you'll need to prove you were in the states through the 24th of June 2015, and you need to show "You had an application for change of status, adjustment of status, asylum, voluntary departure, or any relief from removal which was pending or subject to further review or appeal." Show them proof that your asylum case is pending. You must have some sort of document to prove it.

@GirlBoss Thank you

No problem. Are you also applying for the EAD? If you are, keep in mind that the EAD fee increases to 410 from 380 from tomorrow (23rd) onwards. So your money order should be for a total of 85(biometrics)+50(TPS)+410(EAD)= 545.

Yes .Thank you .Really Appreciate the help

yeah u have to prove why u qualify for late initial filling

@girlboss aka @sexyinsari ????

No 😳

Ok, no problem.
Its snowing over here, JTLUK

and there is a really nice momo takeout place around the corner.

In Houston? Which corner? 😂

@girlboss

I wasn't aware of the EAD fee increase. I mailed my TPS-registration applications yesterday (December 21, Wednesday) with a money order of $465 ($380 for EAD and $85 for biometrics). Now I'm really worried that my entire application will be rejected because of the wrong amount on the money order. I used USPS Priority Express flat rate envelope. The Priority Express is an overnight service and my package should have been delivered today before noon (December 22, Thursday), although my USPS tracking information page hasn't been updated at all since leaving my city.

What do I do? Do you guys think my application will be rejected because of this reason? I'm freaking out right now!!!

I've no idea. If you used USPS Priority Express, it should have been a guaranteed delivery. However, since it's Christmas time, anything goes with USPS. I really can't say. I've known of cases where USPS didn't update that a package has already been delivered. Didn't you see, "Please note, Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed between Dec. 22 and Dec. 25." at the PO. Because they know there could be screw-ups.

Even if USCIS had received your package today, there's no guaranteed that they would have processed it today itself because it really depends on how fast they work. They process it by the order they received the packages.

As for whether they'll reject your package, I don't know. 😨 Just wait and see... 

@girlboss
Thanks a lot for your reply. I did some quick google search and found this:
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/our-fees

On the very top of that link, this is what it says: "This chart lists USCIS' fees effective December 23, 2016. Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23, 2016, must include these new fees or USCIS will reject your submission. "

Since my package is postmarked December 21, 2016 I hope that my application and my money order of $465 will be accepted even if its only filed on the 23rd or the 27th.

"... or filed on ..." which means they've to have received it by then and an employee has to scan the documents into the system. I'm not trying to give you a heart attack. But that's how I understand it. If we are going to argue about semantics, only one of them has to be true for the then statement to be true, i.e., the new fee rule will go into effect. So, if they process it on the 23rd, they'll expect $495, not $465. ;S

I was helping someone else look into this matter. That's what I found out. I can't find any sajha post about a similar situation because this is the first time in six years that they have raised their fees, and TPS was granted to Nepal on in 2015. 

@girlboss
It says "...postmarked or filed on...." which i took to mean as if either one of those things is done by dec 23rd then the new fee doesnt apply. I thought if they meant that the application had to be filed before dec 23rd for the new fee to not apply then it would have been worded as "postmarked AND filed". Thats how i understood it when i read it. I'm gonna give USCIS a call first thing tomorrow morning. fingered crossed.

How can it be postmarked AND filed on the same day. I don't think USPS has a same day delivery service. If you saw what I said about what "filed on" implies, you'd understand.

The USCIS customer service reps know rat's ass (moderator, please pardon my choice of words but there isn't a better replacement for this one) about these things... unless you know a different number to call other than the one they have on their website.

@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.

@skt, thanks for the update. 😅 I like the fact that it's detailed. It's certainly a huge relief that they assured you that the new fees don't apply in your case. I told you there are incompetent USCIS reps. I've chatted with some really helpful and nice ones in the past myself. During that initial registration period, they had already sent out an approval notice but to the wrong address, because I'd mistyped 1200 instead of 1208 in the address field. Lol. The dude who helped me was really nice. He faxed me a copy of the notice. There were no further complications.

The other day when I called about something else, a dude sounded like he was high on drugs, slurred voice and everything. Of course, he was no help when it came to answering my questions.

Anyway, you could have sent an e-notification form along with your other forms for a peace of mind. That way, you wouldn't have been fretting this very moment. 😅

what is the number to call USCIS and speak with representative i am trying but it is giving different option on 800-375-5283.

any one know what is the meaning of "case is pending in local office". Does it mean the case is residing in zip code where i live?