USCIS Call Representatives

[M.A.C 1]

Hey, I had the experience of calling USCIS twice or thrice this month .... What I observed from how they treat you is that it is your luck that which representative is talking to you .... If he/she's helpful or not, he's willing to understand your problem or even doesn't want to listen your story .... It totally depend on them ....

It's been almost 50 days that I've not heard anything about my biometrics for I-485 .... Though I received my EAD card yesterday .... To give you an example, I contacted USCIS and two different agents told me that biometrics is MUST for EAD and one lady told me EAD has nothing to do with my biometrics ... WOW ....

I spoke to a supervisor yesterday and she told me that no information is available regarding my case and biometrics .... I called again and spoke to another supervisor and she was kind enough to let me know that you're scheduled for Jan ** for your biometrics and you'll be receiving the letter soon .... Now, how's it possible that the information she gave me wasn't available by the other supervisor ??? Do they've dual standards ?? They do have information about your case but they do not want to share it ?? I'm so confused the way they behave ....

Anyone of you had the same experience ??

[xxtinaxx 14]

Hey, I had the experience of calling USCIS twice or thrice this month .... What I observed from how they treat you is that it is your luck that which representative is talking to you .... If he/she's helpful or not, he's willing to understand your problem or even doesn't want to listen your story .... It totally depend on them ....

It's been almost 50 days that I've not heard anything about my biometrics for I-485 .... Though I received my EAD card yesterday .... To give you an example, I contacted USCIS and two different agents told me that biometrics is MUST for EAD and one lady told me EAD has nothing to do with my biometrics ... WOW ....

I spoke to a supervisor yesterday and she told me that no information is available regarding my case and biometrics .... I called again and spoke to another supervisor and she was kind enough to let me know that you're scheduled for Jan ** for your biometrics and you'll be receiving the letter soon .... Now, how's it possible that the information she gave me wasn't available by the other supervisor ??? Do they've dual standards ?? They do have information about your case but they do not want to share it ?? I'm so confused the way they behave ....

Anyone of you had the same experience ??

Yeah I find it confusing too because I got my biometric letter stating that its for I-485 AND I-765

[Darkarma 2]

M.A.C there are few things to consider. CIS schedules atleast interviews only when the preliminary backgorund check is completed. How fast it completes is dependent on many factors. Again you are a I-360 petitioner, CIS needs time to verify the petition. You have to wait the processing time currently 120 days. My understanding is that the 'Biometrics' is scheduled when the name check is completed by CIS, which actually starts as soon as the petition is submitted. More so people from Pakistan are scrutinized more. Since yours is a genuine case, best would be to wait, What would a few weeks more cause you, since you have waited so long already. My 2 cents.

[M.A.C 1]

Yeah I find it confusing too because I got my biometric letter stating that its for I-485 AND I-765

.... but I got without biometrics ....

[M.A.C 1]

M.A.C there are few things to consider. CIS schedules atleast interviews only when the preliminary backgorund check is completed. How fast it completes is dependent on many factors. Again you are a I-360 petitioner, CIS needs time to verify the petition. You have to wait the processing time currently 120 days. My understanding is that the 'Biometrics' is scheduled when the name check is completed by CIS, which actually starts as soon as the petition is submitted. More so people from Pakistan are scrutinized more. Since yours is a genuine case, best would be to wait, What would a few weeks more cause you, since you have waited so long already. My 2 cents.

I understand that .... Being from Pakistan, makes the situation a little more tough for us too ... I agree with the process you've mentioned .... What I do not understand is that how is it possible that one supervisor told me that I've my biometrics in Jan, but the other supervisors deny that they've any update on my case .... ??

[Kathryn41 3,205]

When you say you spoke with a Supervisor what specifically do you mean? Do you mean you spoke to the person who answered the phone when you called or did he/she transfer your call to an Immigration official?

The people who answer the phone are not immigration employees - they work for a call center and have a script that they read off of. They are not able to access any more information about your status than you are able to access yourself through your online status update at the USCIS website. The Information line is also known as the 'Misinformation" line since it is notorious for giving not just wrong information, but sometimes dangerous misinformation.

If your call was transferred to someone else, it should not be to a supervisor but to an actual immigration officer. That only happens if they have questions that they can't answer and are not on their 'script'. In many cases they will not transfer you to an Immigration officer even then, but suggest you call back in XXX days. So, if you were not transferred to an actual immigration officer by the call center person you were probably not given accurate information. It is also possible that one of the immigration officers, if you were transferred to one, did not bother to look up your actual profile but only looked at the publicly available information which would not have any real details.

[M.A.C 1]

When you say you spoke with a Supervisor what specifically do you mean? Do you mean you spoke to the person who answered the phone when you called or did he/she transfer your call to an Immigration official?

The people who answer the phone are not immigration employees - they work for a call center and have a script that they read off of. They are not able to access any more information about your status than you are able to access yourself through your online status update at the USCIS website. The Information line is also known as the 'Misinformation" line since it is notorious for giving not just wrong information, but sometimes dangerous misinformation.

If your call was transferred to someone else, it should not be to a supervisor but to an actual immigration officer. That only happens if they have questions that they can't answer and are not on their 'script'. In many cases they will not transfer you to an Immigration officer even then, but suggest you call back in XXX days. So, if you were not transferred to an actual immigration officer by the call center person you were probably not given accurate information. It is also possible that one of the immigration officers, if you were transferred to one, did not bother to look up your actual profile but only looked at the publicly available information which would not have any real details.

By supervisor I mean the immigration officer ..... and as I mentioned one of the immigration officer told me the date and time for my biometrics and the others said WAIT FOR 30 DAYS AND CALL US BACK AGAIN IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE IT ..... And yesterday when I got my biometrics letter it had exactly the same date and time the lady mentioned to me ..... So, how's it possible that the inofrmation was reachable by one immigration officer and wasn't accessible by the other .... Does this mean a few of them understand your problem and the others just give you the advice to wait .... That behavior was kinda strange !

[Darkarma 2]

Well MAC you got your biometrics, congrajulations, walk into any ASC and you should be then in que for interview. Understand, after biometrics, interview is scheduled after the preliminary bakground check. CIS was taking a long time for background checks, which was revamped and directives were placed as to finish it fast. Thus CIS now has a time limit, before it used to take months now weeks. If they dont get any adverse reports they will schedule it fast. Still all depends on your namecheck. and local center's work load.

You can receive the EAD even without a biometrics, but that is not the case with interviews.

As to what the supervisor told you god only knows, if the supervisor you talked to was genuine. Sometimes they just say whatever comes in their minds. As Kathryn said the customer care number is called the misinformation line. Dont worry they have 120 days from the receipt date on the I-485 to issue any desicion. Or else you can always file a WOM. You have to be patient. Merry Xmas.

Edited December 25, 2010 by ravi_niu

[M.A.C 1]

Well MAC you got your biometrics, congrajulations, walk into any ASC and you should be then in que for interview. Understand, after biometrics, interview is scheduled after the preliminary bakground check. CIS was taking a long time for background checks, which was revamped and directives were placed as to finish it fast. Thus CIS now has a time limit, before it used to take months now weeks. If they dont get any adverse reports they will schedule it fast. Still all depends on your namecheck. and local center's work load.

You can receive the EAD even without a biometrics, but that is not the case with interviews.

As to what the supervisor told you god only knows, if the supervisor you talked to was genuine. Sometimes they just say whatever comes in their minds. As Kathryn said the customer care number is called the misinformation line. Dont worry they have 120 days from the receipt date on the I-485 to issue any desicion. Or else you can always file a WOM. You have to be patient. Merry Xmas.

Thanks for your reply Ravi ..... Are you sure I can walk into any ASC rather than the one I'm assigned ??

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Best to go into the ASC assigned as that is the one that has your appointment listed. If there is a valid reason why you are not able to make the assigned location you can try going to another ASC but they may not accept the appointment as they would have their own schedule and scheduling.

Regarding why you got two different stories, there is a possibility that when the first official looked up the information it hadn't been posted yet but in the time between your first call and the second call it was posted so the second official was able to see it when she looked it up. It is also a distinct possibility that one of the Immigration officials you talked to took her responsibilities seriously and looked up the information on your file, while the other one didn't bother and just gave you a 'line', that in this case, proved to be wrong.

Edited December 25, 2010 by Kathryn41