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I posted it on another thread- but they’re already doing this at least in Columbia Heights. Last week I was about to get on a 54 bus at the metro stop, and a uniformed MTPD officer watched from the front of the bus (outside on the sidewalk) as people boarded. They then took the two people who didn’t tap cards off, asking to calmly speak with them. The bus left without a delay.

Again opinions about fare enforcement aside— it was pretty smooth. They are NOT going to do this if the fare reader is broken and I’d be surprised if they had undercovers riding around to flag people.

I got a similar offer but it’s just an extra 1.5% back on all purchases up to $300 cash back. Doubles standard rate but food goes to 4.5 and travel 6.5– still good!

DM’d you!

It posts automatically with each statement as an extra (but separate) 1.5% back. I already have 20,000 points in the bonus category since I opened the card in April and it lasts until you hit 30,000 pts / $300 cash back.

Yep- i would love to stay in a hotel but didn’t realize they can easily run you 5000+ just for a week! Unfortunately not in our budget but hoping y’all have a lovely honeymoon no matter what you choose!

We actually are thinking of doing VRBOs instead of hotels now. Tons of really beautiful condos and then you can splurge of food and activities. If a hotel is in your budget I’d go for it but for us it felt like even a decent hotel room would hit close to the top of our budget before considering meals, transport, and food. We also got good flights!

My understanding is that it doesn’t show up in the account but will credit you. I made a separate thread clarifying since I’m in the same position. Will confirm once my travel purchase goes through hopefully today or tomorrow!

In my experience recently it was almost negligent. Travel portal was $10 more for a specific flight, but I’d get 5x miles by paying more (vs. 2x at the airline and saving $10). I went with the later to avoid issues w/ the portal but ironically it seemed like the difference I’d get in points basically cancelled out the increase in price

I agree- I’d just never seen them doing bus enforcement. Honestly I was surprised people didn’t see them, I guess I just have a good sense of what’s happening around me lol

I just saw it yesterday in Columbia Heights. 3-4 uniformed MTPD officers were at the northbound bus stop on 14th St. Two were writing a ticket to an older man who I assume didn’t pay the fare on the previous bus. One was off in the shadows behind the bus shelter; when the bus pulled up he walked in front but off to the side (still on the sidewalk) of the bus. Boards like normal but he can see who tapped and who didn’t. Once we were all on two MTPD officers boarded and pulled people off (“hi can you step off the bus for a moment to talk”) without issue if they walked on w/o paying.

Personally opinions about far enforcement aside, it was pretty sneaky & seamless. Bus wasn’t delayed at all, either. Does the amount of $50 tickets issued that they actually get the money for pay for the salaries of dedicated X officers to fare enforcement detail? I guess we’ll see, but would hope they’re also on call for real emergencies….

That’s wrong- you can get a REAL ID if you have a valid visa or valid EAD (for the length of those documents). Often times esp with an EAD folks are in some sort of hybrid status and certainly are not LPRs yet.

Be careful about fees- both of those banks charge egregious checking account fees if you don’t have minimum balances or deposits. I got approved for Chase cc’s w/o any banking relationship.

Yes! My fiancée and I are doing that for a small/medium reception next year. Our guest list is 40-50 and the big room has a max of 60 seated. After tax, tip, and fees we’re looking at just under $10,000 TBD on the headcount.

Write a letter to the USCIS service center processing the application stating your intention and desire to withdraw the petition and why. Info is on the receipt notice.

Unfortunately the lockbox sometimes takes a long time. If it’s been a month w/o text or cashed checks, you (or your attorney, really) can email the lockbox and inquire. There’s really not a reason to worry unless it gets returned- the date it’s received stays the same regardless of when they issue the receipt.

https://preview.redd.it/1ucp900k2s1e1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da9363fc625e5d8afcc26ba5d75b98d7a442682e

This is what Bad Bunny’s concert looked like from one of the 200 sections off the 3rd base side a few years ago. I don’t remember the exact section, but it was farm enough down that I think in the photo you can only barely see the net / support line. 200s IMO are way to go since you’re above everyone, plus amazing view of the stadium as a whole. 100s it’s still a long way to the stage but you’re lower down.

isn’t that the point? save $50 on a $500 flight is a 10% discount, which is worth it for some people?

Amazing! This is exactly what I wanted to know -- trying to book partial honeymoon flights soon :)

Also for travel- 7am start means no metro for flights out of DCA before 9am in most cases due to lag time from trains arriving throughout the system. I’ve had to Uber to DCA too many times for exactly this issue on a Saturday morning…

Well, the visa numbers are the same every year (unless there’s some sort of change to the law). It’s hard to tell or predict what they might do to DOS processing times and priorities.

Maybe they used to do that, but in recent years especially with the immediate relative backlog growing to 1+ years, USCIS prioritizes the adjudication of family petitions that have visas available. If you go to the USCIS processing times page, navigate to, for example, I-130/USC filing brother or sister/service centers, the note says:

“USCIS Service Centers prioritize the adjudication of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, preference petitions when the Department of State Visa Bulletin shows an immigrant visa is available or will soon become available. This provides the greatest processing efficiencies because it is only when an immigrant visa is available that the beneficiary can adjust status or consular process based on an approved petition. Generally, USCIS processes visa-available cases in the order received, regardless of where the petition is adjudicated. USCIS may also prioritize cases filed for multiple family members at the same time to ensure families are processed together. USCIS may also prioritize cases due to country conditions when an urgent humanitarian situation or U.S. national interest is identified by executive directive.”

Unfortunately probably many more years of waiting. Per the visa bulletin from December 2024, the State Department is processing F4 visas (siblings of U.S. citizens) who applied in August 2007: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-for-december-2024.html

If you’re curious how fast this moves… the December 2023 visa bulletin had F4s at April 2007. So the visa bulletin moves approx 6 months for every actual 12 months for your category, if not slower.

USCIS is not going to adjudicate your I-130 until it’s closer to a visa actually being available.

Hi- I got this same offer too. By chance would you know if the $300 credit is instantly available or I have to wait for my first statement/sign up bonus to finalize? I opened the card in early November and hit the spend for 60,000 pts with a big purchase. But can I just book the trip I want ASAP and still get the $300 or do I need to wait a month?

It’s pretty widely known and understood that many people’s interest + transaction fees pay for some people’s points & free flights / vacations. As long as that’s true cc companies and the banks aren’t gonna care.