Q: After submitting your immigration forms, you should have received a receipt number verifying that your forms were received. The receipt number is 13 characters long and begins with three capital letters, e.g., “EAC-11-010-50870.” The receipt number should appear on all application notices USCIS sends you. If you’ve lost your receipt number, schedule an InfoPass appointment through the USCIS website: https://my.uscis.gov/appointment. This is the only way to schedule an in-person meeting with USCIS. At the meeting, you can ask for your receipt number. Remember to take your passport or other valid ID so you can enter the building. Visit the myUSCIS website at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do.  Bookmark this page if you intend to visit it in the future. Omit dashes when entering the number, but include other characters, such as asterisks if they appear in your receipt number.  Click on “Check Status” after you enter your number. The website should pull up your application status. You'll see what steps your application or petition has already gone through and what steps it still has to go through before completion.
A: Find your receipt number. Go to the USCIS website. Enter your receipt number in the search box. Read about your status.

Q: Plan to arrive a little early so that you can help your kid get settled into the classroom. In some centers, the caregivers may have you stick around for the first hour or two so that your kid can adjust to the new environment with you there. If you’re unsure about what first-day protocol will be, call the daycare in advance and ask them how long you should anticipate being there to help your child adjust. Some children have a very tough time coping with being away from their parents. It can be heartbreaking to walk away from your child when they are crying and clinging to you. If this is happening, take a moment to tell them when you will be back and what you will be doing while you are gone. Then, say goodbye and calmly leave.  The staff should be trained in helping both you and your child through this challenge. It may seem challenging or invasive at first, but let them help if they offer. Sometimes, they have one of the staff members stay with your child until they are calm and ready to play and participate in the group activities. They might also set up a play buddy for your child so that they don’t feel alone. When it does come time for you to leave, let your child know that you love them, that you will be back in a few hours, and that they should have fun at daycare. Keep the goodbye sweet but short. A long goodbye could make your child worry because you are reassuring them too much, while sneaking out can be traumatic.  Try to make your goodbyes a routine. Go through the same doors, hang up their coat, go through their cubby, check any materials the caregivers may have, and say your goodbye. This will set the stage for what your child expects every day when they return. Even if your child isn’t old enough to understand your words during a goodbye, start the routine. This will make it easier for them as they grow. Make time your first day to arrive at your scheduled pickup time. If you can, arrange your schedule so that you have a consistent pickup time for the week. As your child adjusts, it can be comforting for them to know that they are going home at a certain point or after a certain activity like afternoon naps.  Try to make pick up as much of a routine as drop off. There may be days when your child is sick where you need to come get them early, and there may be times when work or other obligations make you a little late. As much as possible, though, keep pick up consistent. Designate an emergency contact, such as your partner or your child’s grandparents, who are approved to come pick up your kid if you are unable to make it for any reason. Once you and your child get home, take some extra time to talk to them about their day, play with them, or just spend some time together. This lets your child know that they still matter to you even when you’re not there for part of the day. If you have something you can’t avoid immediately after pick your child up, try to build in something special for them. If you need to get to the bank, for example, let your kid know you have to run an errand, but offer to get ice cream on the way home, too.
A: Plan to spend some time getting your child settled. Help your child with any separation anxiety they may have. Say a loving but short goodbye. Arrive on time for pick up. Make extra time to bond when you get home.

Q: Before you leave for work, enjoy some time with your canine friend, and expel some of their energy by taking a walk together. You will both enjoy the exercise, and your dog will be able to have some time outside before they are cooped up inside the house all day. A 20-minute walk daily is recommended for most breeds of dogs. Working dogs may need two 20-minute walks a day. Find a sturdy aluminum or plastic container and fill it with toys and treats for your dog to discover during the workday. Layer the treats and toys with old hand towels, so that your dog has to dig through to find treasures. To keep them entertained with the bucket from day to day, add new toys that your dog has never seen before every now and then. Technology has not only made our lives easier, it has helped make entertaining our pets easier too. Try iFetch, an automatic ball launcher which will allow your dog to play catch by themselves for hours! There are different sizes that launch full-size tennis balls or smaller balls to accommodate all sizes of dogs and living spaces. If you have tried everything, and your home is still being turned upside-down by your bored dog, consider hiring a dog walker. That way, your dog can get the exercise and stimulation they need without being cooped up all day indoors. Ask for recommendations from friends and other dog owners, and make sure that you find someone who your dog gets along with well.  Before hiring someone to walk your dog, ask the person to go on a test walk with you and your dog. You can see if the person is a good fit for your dog’s personality. Keep in mind that your dog walker will also require access to your house, so make sure to hire someone who you trust in your home. Dog daycare provides socialization, exercise, and plenty of stimulation for your dog. If you can afford to, consider sending your dog to daycare at least once or twice a week. Keep in mind that dog daycare is only a good option if your dog gets along well with other dogs and doesn’t have separation anxiety.
A:
Take a long, brisk walk first thing in the morning. Make a busy bucket for your dog. Try a self-fetching toy. Hire a dog walker. Send your dog to daycare.