Please explain to me: What is referral number for AOS/EAD?

[natasha/willem 1]

Hello. First of all, check out my timeline, and see.: ( I entered the country on a fiance visa, got married and I know all the expected timelines, but I am stubborn and I wanna know more. I applied for AOS/EAD after that:D)

December 26th 2010 - Applied for AOS/EAD

January 5 2011 - NOA1 paper, received in the mail for both EAD/AOS

January 10th or so (5th on the document) - Biometrics notice Received in mail

BIOMETRICS scheduled ( and done ) - January 26th

BUt...

Got an RFE for AOS- Sent Jan 20th, received January 24th

Called and called and cALLED the USCIS, till triple checking that the RFE is for the AOS only and DOES NOT affect my ead.

Send RFE response - Feb 26th

Called and called and called the USCIS on account that my EAD case hasn't been touched since Jan 5th, when my biometrics notice was sent, and today, one of the representatives, said they are gonna sent a REFERRAL NOTICE to the uscis about my case and gave me a case number, since it has almost been 60 days from when I got the last notification. They said the referral is to update my case.

I dont know what a referral number is? Can anyone tell me what will that do to my case. Ask for additional info from me I am glad to provide it. I am just frustrated of sitting on my butt every day for the last 5 months since I have been in the country, thats all. Thanks so much:D

[Nadiia and Eric 1]

If I remember right they assigned a case number to the request (referral) so that you if you don't hear something that you can call back and give them the referral number so that can retrieve information. I had the same type number but it did not cause any problem with the case. The RFE is the one that can cause a delay.

[natasha/willem 1]

Because the RFE needed some documents that we needed time to gather, (tax transcripts for 2010, employment verification letter) I was really worried about it, and thats why I called to make sure it does not effect my EAD, and they said it doesnt so I was pretty relaxed about that cause I already have my SSN, so I wasnt in a real hurry about the GCard, I just wanted to make everything right, you know. After how long did you received news, they said I should wait 15-30 days...FOr what? is this like an official notice to the case assigned officer to remind him/her to review and update my case? I just dont wanna find out that i have created problems for myself when I shouldnt have. Spasiba, for the info, Nadia.

[Nadiia and Eric 1]

Well if they told you 15 to 30 days that is good most of the time people usually hear 60 days for an answer, yes your AOS is different from the EAD so you should see a update soon on your EAD maybe they will have it completed and issued soon it took a total of 72 day from the date I sent petition to the day I received my EAD. Be patient and it will go by quickly. I got inpatient and almost made me sick .

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Well you didn't ask them the right question (i.e. "is the EAD paused?" rather than "is this about my EAD?") or they're idiots (which is most likely which is why it's called the MIS-information line)... BECAUSE it says right there at the bottom of the RFE notice that ALL cases are paused (might say suspended) while waiting for an RFE to be successfully returned.. EAP and AP are included in the words "all cases" because they're reliant on AOS.

Your EAD and AP are based on you being eligible for AOS. They found something missing in your file so you're not yet eligible for AOS so they will NOT process them until you return the RFE and get your case moving again. No point sending an EAD/AP to someone who might get their AOS case rejected so they'll wait. You've sent the reply to the RFE so processing will have resumed if you sent what they wanted. You should have received a notification that processing has resumed (on the USCIS website).

As for the referral number, no idea sorry.

[slangofoil 50]

You only sent the RFE response on Feb 26th right? That was less than a week ago. It can take a week or two for USCIS to receive the response and resume working on your case. No need to freak out yet.

Also the timeline for EAD is 90 days, so you're still within normal processing times.

Referral number might mean they placed a service request and you should receive a notice in the mail confirming this. Kinda surprised that they would make a service request though since you're not outside normal processing times.

[natasha/willem 1]

The agent said that its gonna do a service request because I have no info since NOA1 about my EAD. Its not paused they say, and its not being processed at all, its just at initial review , and in my file says its not on hold, so it is about time I hear anything. My Evidence were actually delivered on monday feb 28th, so I know they got them, but I have no confirmation, none so ever from the uscis yet.

[slangofoil 50]

The agent said that its gonna do a service request because I have no info since NOA1 about my EAD. Its not paused they say, and its not being processed at all, its just at initial review , and in my file says its not on hold, so it is about time I hear anything. My Evidence were actually delivered on monday feb 28th, so I know they got them, but I have no confirmation, none so ever from the uscis yet.

It's going to sit on "Initial Review" until it's approved. That's how most people's work. It's not like they are supposed to take a look at your file and do any "processing" on a daily basis. It takes 15 minutes. They just haven't gotten to yours yet. It's sitting in a pile.

And two months without word on the EAD is NORMAL. You can get worried once you pass 3 months.

And based on watching other people's experience, it will probably take a week or so after they've received your RFE response before you receive any "update" that your case has resumed "processing". Which will just mean you've been moved back into a pile waiting to be adjudicated.