Approved Expedite of AP

[SophWeb 25]

Hello! I just had my request to expedite my AP approved and I wanted to share my experience in case anyone else was planning to do the same thing.

I had an InfoPass appointment yesterday (Nov. 4) to request an expedite because I am going to be attending College when the AP was due to be approved (around January 2011). I brought my passport, and my receipts from my AP, EAD, 1-485, my enrollment records and a printed letter explaining my situation. I went to the San Antonio field office, went through security, sat down and saw an Immigration Officer within 15 minutes. I explained my situation to him, and it turned out that there was a problem with my file. I had given them the wrong A# in my applications and so the officer made a call to another office to fix it. I'm assuming whoever he spoke to worked where they actually handle the physical files because he said that my file had been placed in a "Do Not Touch" area because of the number mixup. Turns out the number I gave them actually belonged to some other guy! The Immigration Officer said he couldn't believe that it happened! But he was VERY helpful and got the issue fixed with this other office. He said if I hadn't come in today then they wouldn't have realized the problem then I would never have received an interview for my Green Card and my application would have been sitting there indefinitely. So WHEW!

So I explained my situation and reasons for wanting to travel to him and offered to show him my enrollment records and a letter I had printed to send off to prove my case. But he said he didn't need to see it. He just explained my situation on the phone to this other guy and said that my request was going to be requested under "Humanitarian Reasons". He asked if my request my approved, did I want to have it overnighted, and I said yes and he gave my credit card number to the guy on the phone. He told my if I didn't have it overnighted it could take much longer because the mail had to go through a few different channels. He told me I will have to wait in the mail for my biometrics appointment letter and the approval letter.

So I checked my bank account online today and I had been charged by UPS. So I checked my AP case status online and it said that it had been approved today (Nov. 5) and they had sent out my letter! As it's Friday, I expect the letter to arrive on Monday. I can't believe it! It took them only 24 hours to approve my expedite!

Overall the experience was very easy and the Immigration Officer was VERY helpful. I would recommend an InfoPass to ANYONE who had any problems with their case. It was so easy talking in person about my case.

The Officer told me that I will have to get my biometrics before I can receive my document, so I'm hoping that they have instructions for that with the approval that they're sending me.

Also - I checked the case status of my 1-485 too and it said I had been sent a RFE yesterday, on the day I had the InfoPass appoitment. I'm not worried about the RFE, but I'm suprised that they've been looking at my case so soon. I only sent it in 2 weeks ago, on Oct. 20. I'm assuming that when they pulled my case for the AP and to fix the number issue that they decided to process it then and there while they had it out.

I hope this is helpful to anyone wanting to expedite an AP. I've heard that a lot of people haven't had much luck with them because of non-emergency situations, but I think since mine was approved because it was requested under "Humanitarian Reasons." According to the USCIS website, that's one of the reasons that they will expedite.

[SophWeb 25]

UPDATE - Today (Monday Nov.8), I received my package from UPS and it contained the actual AP document. I double checked it against example forms here at the community. The document also states it is a multi-entry AP.

They used the photo I provided for my green card application and I was not told to get my biometrics done.

[M.A.C 1]

and how long is this AP valid ... Is it for a year?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

thanks for this post but can I clarify... you're attending college in Jan 2011 where? In the US? Why did you need AP approved quicker?

and how long is this AP valid ... Is it for a year?

all AP's are valid for a year.

[SophWeb 25]

thanks for this post but can I clarify... you're attending college in Jan 2011 where? In the US? Why did you need AP approved quicker?

I'm attending Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. It's a small Community College. Based on my AOS filling date, I expected the AP to be approved in January, when I was due to be attending school. I explained to the Immigration Officer that I didn't want to/couldn't wait until the end of the semester to travel because I wanted to deal with some unfinished business such as dealing with bank accounts, visit my family and bring back more of my belongings. He said that because it was not an emergency, my AP would be requested under 'Humanitarian Reasons' and it was approved in 24 hours.

He never asked to see any proof of enrollment or anything. I could have been completely lying for all he knew.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I'm attending Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. It's a small Community College. Based on my AOS filling date, I expected the AP to be approved in January, when I was due to be attending school. I explained to the Immigration Officer that I didn't want to/couldn't wait until the end of the semester to travel because I wanted to deal with some unfinished business such as dealing with bank accounts, visit my family and bring back more of my belongings. He said that because it was not an emergency, my AP would be requested under 'Humanitarian Reasons' and it was approved in 24 hours.

He never asked to see any proof of enrollment or anything. I could have been completely lying for all he knew.

Ooooo okok. See your post made it look like you were attending school outside of the country and THAT'S why you needed the AP.

Well then that's good! You needed the AP approved early so that you could return to your home country to wind up your life there before returning to the US and starting school. Totally makes sense Congrats!