AOS & EAD Feb. 2008 Filers

[darkhorse 0]

This is what I found today.

Cutoff date movement and AOS case approvals

One of the most common questions asked in the Immigration Information Discussion Forum is “If my priority date becomes current next month, how soon will the CIS approve my application?” That this question is being asked is the best evidence that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the circumstances responsible for Visa Bulletin cutoff dates moving forward so rapidly.

The CIS has a massive backlog of pending employment based adjustment of status applications. Estimates put it at somewhere between 500,000 and 600,000 cases. The entire annual quota for employment based immigration is just 140,000. If the CIS were to freeze adjustment of status filings, and the State Department were to stop processing consular immigrant visa applications, the CIS has enough applications in its backlog to exhaust almost four full years of annual quotas.

This is an important concept to understand. The CIS already has enough applications in its inventory to process visas for the next four years, exhausting the quota each year.

The problem is not the availability of visas; the problem is CIS productivity.

It is precisely because the CIS is failing to process enough cases each year that the backlogs have grown and Visa Bulletin cutoff dates are moving forward. The CIS has failed, repeatedly, to adjudicate enough AOS applications each year to use up the annual quota. When they fail to close enough cases, the left over visa numbers are “wasted.” If allocated visa numbers are not used during the year in which they are authorized, they simply go away and may not be used thereafter. When the CIS fails to close enough cases, they waste visa numbers. According to the CIS Ombudsman, the CIS has wasted close to 600,000 employment based visa numbers since 1995.

When the CIS fails to close enough AOS cases in a year, the Visa Office must advance Visa Bulletin cutoff dates faster than demand actually justifies in order to attract enough new applications to use up the quota and avoid wasting visas.

At first glance, it doesn’t make sense to deliberately encourage more people to file applications for adjustment of status when there is a four year backlog of existing cases. If the CIS were doing its job, this would not be necessary. Unfortunately, the CIS cannot or will not do their job. Historically, they fall short each year.

The difference is made up by overseas consular posts. By advancing cutoff dates, people with very recent priority dates who elected consular processing are able to have their cases closed out overseas. This allows the State Department to step in and make sure that all allocated visa numbers are used each year.

Pause for a moment and consider the effect of the CIS failure to do their job. Because they can’t close cases out, the Visa Office has to artificially advance Visa Bulletin cutoff dates. This, in turn, results in more applications being filed. Consequently, backlogs grow even larger. It also means that people who elect consular processing get their cases closed much faster than those who filed years earlier, but elected adjustment of status.

As long as cutoff dates are moving forward, applicants with pending AOS applications should not expect to see much done on their cases. Some will get approved because the CIS does adjudicate tens of thousands of cases each year. Cutoff date movement, however, means that the CIS is not processing cases at a rate sufficient to exhaust the quota and this means that more and more applications are going to get filed.

Finally, the CIS Ombudsman has criticized the CIS for not processing cases on the basis of date filed. Rather, they pick easy cases in preference to more complex cases as well as more recently filed cases in favor of those that have been pending longer.

[second stage 14]

Finally, the CIS Ombudsman has criticized the CIS for not processing cases on the basis of date filed. Rather, they pick easy cases in preference to more complex cases as well as more recently filed cases in favor of those that have been pending longer. [/size][/font]

This just makes me extremely mad ...I see folks who applied after me already get their AOS application approved and some of them have received their GC as well(congrats to them! ) but USCIS has to process cases First In First Out(FIFO)...If am stuck in a queue for other reasons(RFE, namecheck etc...) then that's understandable otherwise process FIFO....even a cave man can do it!!!

Edited May 28, 2008 by second stage

[MarkNAshley 0]

Got our interview letter today. Interview is July 24th, 2008!!!!!!

[Maintian 0]

Hello everyone, I just received this email from the USCIS saying my case has been transfered to California service center.....I am K3 holder, I thought K3 never get transferred to the California service center and K3 must have an interview ....Please guys is this normal?? I have never heard or seen a K3 holder getting transferred to California service center.....Is the USCIS making a mistake transferring my case, this could be a big trouble for me, I am so scared right....Below is the email :-

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Case Transfered to Another Office for Processing

On May 27, 2008, we transferred this case I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS to our CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER location for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action. Please follow the instructions provided on the notice. We will notify you by mail when a decision is made. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to update your address. You can use our processing dates to estimate when your case may be processed by following the link below. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case by registering in the link below.

[chipsahoy 3]

Congratulations MarkNAshley on your interview appointment. Goodluck! Maintain, I have no idea but let me say congratulations anyways..

Legend:

♣ Updates ♣ Upcoming ♣ Done! ♣ Waiting

For any correction, please let me know.

Username--------------FILED----RCVD-----NOA1-----BIO------TRNFR----INTRW----APRVL----EAD------AP

1. neel-------------- 01-17 __ 01-21 __ 02-04 __ 02-20 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-19 __ xx-xx

2. tom_g------------- 01-17 __ 01-21 __ 02-04 __ 02-22 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-18 __ 03-12

3. ssrose18---------- 01-21 __ 01-29 __ 02-04 __ 02-28 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-19 __ 03-14

4. JALOVE------------ 01-28 __ 01-29 __ 02-04 __ 02-27 __ 02-19 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 05-07 __ 05-07

5. feraina----------- 01-28 __ 01-29 __ 02-04 __ 02-27 __ xx-xx __ 05-20 __ 05-20 __ 03-21 __ xx-xx = APRVD!!

6. DERON------------- 01-29 __ xx-xx __ 02-04 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 05-27 __ 05-27 __ 03-20 __ 03-20 = APRVD!!

7. PfcsBaby---------- 01-30 __ 02-01 __ xx-xx __ 03-06 __ 03-21 __ xx-xx __ 05-20 __ 03-28 __ 03-29 = APRVD!!

8. skyblue06--------- 02-01 __ 02-03 __ 02-11 __ 02-23 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-21 __ 03-21

9. JaEnglishGirl----- 02-01 __ 02-04 __ 03-06 __ 03-21 __ 03-19 __ xx-xx __ 05-15 __ 03-28 __ 03-28 = APRVD!!

10.meowgirl---------- 02-01 __ 02-03 __ 02-07 __ 02-28 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-20 __ 03-20

11.roverdriver------- 02-01 __ 02-02 __ 02-15 __ 03-08 __ 03-03 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-29 __ 03-21

12.Anthony_Julie----- 02-02 __ 02-04 __ 02-08 __ 02-27 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-31 __ 04-01

13.Maintian---------- 02-02 __ 02-04 __ 02-12 __ 02-29 __ 05-27 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 05-21 __ xx-xx

14.Musicgirl0912----- 02-02 __ xx-xx __ 02-08 __ 02-29 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-18 __ 03-18

15.HumanRace--------- 02-02 __ xx-xx __ 02-06 __ 02-28 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-31 __ xx-xx

16.waitingincolo----- 02-02 __ xx-xx __ 02-14 __ 03-08 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-16 __ xx-xx

17.rudy-------------- 02-04 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx

18.lovelylili-------- 02-04 __ xx-xx __ 02-08 __ 02-29 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-02 __ 04-02

19.pannyzero--------- 02-04 __ 02-05 __ 02-15 __ 03-01 __ xx-xx __ 05-02 __ xx-xx __ 04-03 __ 04-03 = ???????

20.ashleyandjonoz---- 02-04 __ 02-05 __ 02-12 __ 03-05 __ 03-03 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-18 __ 04-10

21.radkri------------ 02-05 __ 02-06 __ 02-11 __ 02-28 __ 02-29 __ xx-xx __ 05-14 __ 04-17 __ 04-17 = APRVD!!

22.second_stage------ 02-06 __ 02-07 __ 02-13 __ 04-02 __ 03-03 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-09 __ 04-15

23.invirgina--------- 02-06 __ 02-07 __ xx-xx __ 02-29 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx

24.OskaryAndrea------ 02-07 __ 02-08 __ 02-14 __ 03-11 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-10 __ xx-xx

25.mdpo-------------- 02-07 __ 02-19 __ 02-25 __ 03-13 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 05-08 __ xx-xx

26.ahebl------------- 02-07 __ xx-xx __ 02-13 __ 02-28 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-14 __ 04-14

27.rambaldi---------- 02-08 __ 02-20 __ 02-26 __ 03-26 __ 03-14 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-23 __ 04-24

28.bluegreen--------- 02-08 __ 02-11 __ 02-15 __ 02-27 __ xx-xx __ 06-27 __ xx-xx __ 04-16 __ 04-16

29.carpe diem-------- 02-08 __ 02-11 __ 02-21 __ 03-14 __ xx-xx __ 06-03 __ xx-xx __ 04-18 __ xx-xx

30.silverfai--------- 02-08 __ 02-12 __ 02-19 __ 03-11 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-04 __ 04-03

31.Lili-------------- 02-09 __ 02-11 __ 02-15 __ 03-06 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-17 __ 04-17

32.soch-------------- 02-11 __ xx-xx __ 03-13 __ 04-04 __ 04-01 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-15 __ 04-15

33.americanenglish--- 02-13 __ 02-14 __ 02-21 __ 03-15 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-17 __ 04-26

34.liz legend 'n Ol-- 02-13 __ 02-14 __ 02-22 __ 03-15 __ 03-21 __ xx-xx __ 05-20 __ 04-17 __ 04-17 = APRVD!!

35.melip7------------ 02-13 __ 02-21 __ 02-27 __ 03-17 __ xx-xx __ 06-18 __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ xx-xx

36.js360------------- 02-13 __ 02-14 __ 02-27 __ 03-20 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-24 __ 04-24

37.SpiritAlight------ 02-14 __ 02-15 __ 02-21 __ 03-15 __ 03-12 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-23 __ 04-23

38.nad05zb----------- 02-14 __ 02-21 __ 02-27 __ 03-11 __ 04-23 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-18 __ 04-18

39.pburgoyne--------- 02-14 __ 02-15 __ 02-21 __ 02-29 __ xx-xx __ 06-05 __ xx-xx __ 04-18 __ 04-18

40.Mel and Daniel---- 02-15 __ 02-18 __ 02-25 __ 03-12 __ 03-11 __ xx-xx __ 05-13 __ 04-22 __ 04-22 = APRVD!!

41.Sen and Neil------ 02-15 __ 02-19 __ 02-25 __ 02-15 __ 03-13 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-28 __ xx-xx

42.MarkNAshley------- 02-15 __ 02-20 __ 02-26 __ 03-15 __ xx-xx __ 07-24 __ xx-xx __ 04-24 __ 04-24

43.klik4it----------- 02-15 __ xx-xx __ 02-27 __ 03-13 __ xx-xx __ 05-28 __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ xx-xx

44.PMAC-------------- 02-18 __ 02-20 __ 02-27 __ 03-20 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx

45.sweetpink--------- 02-18 __ xx-xx __ 02-25 __ 03-11 __ 03-12 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-21 __ 04-28

46.Stillness--------- 02-18 __ xx-xx __ 02-24 __ 03-22 __ xx-xx __ 05-21 __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ xx-xx = ???????

47.tucson chick------ 02-19 __ 02-21 __ 02-26 __ 03-15 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 05-06 __ 05-01

48.Blues Fairy------- 02-19 __ 02-21 __ 02-27 __ 03-25 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-23 __ 04-24

49.shadowYU---------- 02-19 __ 02-20 __ 02-26 __ 03-18 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ 05-01

50.JessiPooh--------- 02-19 __ 02-20 __ 02-26 __ 03-15 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx

51.Jen_s21----------- 02-19 __ 02-20 __ 02-26 __ 03-18 __ 03-14 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-24 __ 04-24

52.He_She------------ 02-19 __ xx-xx __ 02-27 __ 03-25 __ 03-14 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-23 __ xx-xx

53.Immigration Blues- 02-19 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-11 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-14 __ 04-14

54.mconfes----------- 02-20 __ 02-21 __ 02-29 __ 03-15 __ xx-xx __ 06-12 __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ xx-xx

55.Leafgal----------- 02-21 __ 02-27 __ 03-03 __ 03-20 __ 03-20 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-29 __ xx-xx

56.zukbang----------- 02-21 __ xx-xx __ 03-01 __ 03-21 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ 04-28

57.G&A--------------- 02-22 __ xx-xx __ 02-24 __ 03-19 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-29 __ xx-xx

58.phila------------- 02-23 __ xx-xx __ 02-29 __ 03-26 __ 04-11 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-29 __ 04-29

59.BamBam------------ 02-23 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-19 __ xx-xx __ 04-17 __ 04-17 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx = APRVD!!

60.shawna7----------- 02-25 __ 02-26 __ 03-03 __ 03-26 __ 05-04 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 05-02 __ 05-01

61.DeeZee------------ 02-25 __ 02-27 __ 03-05 __ 03-19 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ 04-28

62.darkhorse--------- 02-25 __ xx-xx __ 03-03 __ 03-24 __ 03-20 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx

63.lari_l------------ 02-26 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 03-20 __ 03-20 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ 04-30

64.carolinek--------- 02-26 __ 02-27 __ 04-05 __ 04-22 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ 04-25

65.maelim------------ 02-27 __ xx-xx __ 03-10 __ 03-21 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ 04-30 __ xx-xx

66.babycris---------- 02-27 __ xx-xx __ 04-05 __ 04-24 __ 04-25 __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx __ xx-xx

For any correction/updates, please let me know.

Don't forget to update your timelines everyone!

[Leafgal 3]

Congrats MarkNAshley on an interview date and Maintain on the transfer.

second_stage I do feel your pain but not much any of us can do except wait it out. I do wish that they would update the system to say where you are in the process so you know if you are being held up due to namecheck or etc.

[ashleyandjonoz 3]

No updates??

[zukbang 0]

so I guess it is possible to get transferred to CSC after EAD approval...

congrats Maintian..

[SpiritAlight 1]

Finally, the CIS Ombudsman has criticized the CIS for not processing cases on the basis of date filed. Rather, they pick easy cases in preference to more complex cases as well as more recently filed cases in favor of those that have been pending longer. [/size][/font]

This just makes me extremely mad ...I see folks who applied after me already get their AOS application approved and some of them have received their GC as well(congrats to them! ) but USCIS has to process cases First In First Out(FIFO)...If am stuck in a queue for other reasons(RFE, namecheck etc...) then that's understandable otherwise process FIFO....even a cave man can do it!!!

Pretty sad, huh?

There has not been one logical thing about any of the entire immigration process.

[Leafgal 3]

It really is so bizarre that none of us can establish any sort of regularity in this situation. I mean one would think for sure that the dates mean something, but clearly they don't if you look at others who have waited for years, I mean really why even if you had a hit would it take that long.

[ashleyandjonoz 3]

It really is so bizarre that none of us can establish any sort of regularity in this situation. I mean one would think for sure that the dates mean something, but clearly they don't if you look at others who have waited for years, I mean really why even if you had a hit would it take that long.

I have been trying for about a year now to figure out some sort of pattern, if any....no such luck though! They must have a special means of doing things, since none of us can make any sense of it!

[neel06 0]

:crying:

My husband's AOS hasn't been touched since they received our rfe. I am scared now.

Seriously, If i could go back in time I would have just stuck to CR-1.. K-3 visa has been nothing but a pain in the butt.

I don't know what they are even planning to do... what do you guys think.. will i just get an interview letter or could a transfer is still a possibility?

[soch 2]

:crying:

My husband's AOS hasn't been touched since they received our rfe. I am scared now.

Seriously, If i could go back in time I would have just stuck to CR-1.. K-3 visa has been nothing but a pain in the butt.

I don't know what they are even planning to do... what do you guys think.. will i just get an interview letter or could a transfer is still a possibility?

I think there is no way for any of us to understand the system. I would say, sit tight and know you have us to wait with you .... you are not alone. And dont worry.

[MarkNAshley 0]

:crying:

My husband's AOS hasn't been touched since they received our rfe. I am scared now.

Seriously, If i could go back in time I would have just stuck to CR-1.. K-3 visa has been nothing but a pain in the butt.

I don't know what they are even planning to do... what do you guys think.. will i just get an interview letter or could a transfer is still a possibility?

We hadn't had a touch on ours since they had received our RFE either (which was March 21 I think...) and then yesterday in the mail our interview letter just showed up. Still nothing saying there has been a touch since March.

Your RFE was received just a few days before ours so my advice is to sit tight. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing how it will all work out.

[second stage 14]

I got the following email tonight.

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On May 28, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

Most approvals emails so far state that they approved the application and will mail the card within 30 days..What's up with this new registration or ADIT processing...Has anyone got this email kinda before?