New York City AOS timeline & Interviews

[la2011 5]

We had our interview at Federal Plaza on July 20th. Interview appointment time was 9:45, we got there around 9:15 and were called in about 10:15. The woman who interviewed us was very nice and polite, but the first thing she said after she had sworn us in was that because they are very busy, she had been called in to do interviews at the last minute and she had not even looked at our file. She said that she won't be able to approve us on the spot, as she will need a few days to go over our paperwork, but that she is gonna ask us a few questions and then if they need anything additional, they would contact us.

She asked how we met, and once we told her we met in Kenya, she asked what we were doing there. Somehow it came out that my husband was raised in a military family and had moved around US and Europe all his childhood, and she chatted with my husband about that for a few minutes. Then she asked me what his DoB is, and him what mine is. She wanted to see both of our original birth certificates as well as the original marriage certificate, and asked if we had any additional evidence we wanted to give. We gave her recent bank statements and phone bills. We had sent some photos that were just printed on paper with our original AOS package, and she asked about a few of them (where they were taken, when, who were the other people in the pictures with us). I had prepared a small photo album with about 30 pics, and asked if she needed any of the original photos or wanted to see the album - she said it was not necessary.

At this point we were pretty much done. She said she would need 3-4 days to review our file and papers, and that we would hopefully have a decision by the end of this week / early next week. She did tell us about how long it takes for the GC to arrive once it has been issued, so I am feeling positive about that. However, it does suck to do all that preparation for the interview (not to mention that we flew in from Finland and India to be in NYC for less than 48 hours ONLY for the interview..) and then hear that no one has even looked at our file.

So, no stamp, no approval, as of now we are still pending for further review. I told her I was traveling back to Finland for our religious wedding ceremony and asked her if she knew about returning with my AP if my GC was approved while I was abroad, and according to her it should not be an issue as long as I had my AP and marriage certificate with me.

I will let you know about any developments. Let's see if they'll let me back in the country.

Oh, and also - I returned from Finland to NYC on July 19th with the new EAD/AP combo card. No problems whatsoever. The officer at CBP did take me to this back room where they stamp your passport with "paroled into U.S", but that was it. No questions, very polite, very fast. Came through JFK.

Thank you for explaining the procedure of returning to the US with the AP card! I might be using it soon and knowing in advance I might be sent to the back to get the stamp, takes away any anxiety

[EmmillJ 1]

Update: Green card is in production

Congrats!!

And congrats to all of you guys that finally got some updates in the few weeks that I didn't check this thread

[CrazyD 0]

This is crazy i am a New York December filer and up until i cant hear anything and person who filed afterward got thru and even got there green cards already... But i trust God that it will all be over soon and in his timing. for all those who are still waiting keep your heads up and don't lose hope its just apart of the testing period and we will come out victorious.

[BMW4me 12]

so maybe i should copy this from the march filers thread for any other new yorker on the same shoes

It was at 7:30am and we got there at 7:45am. We were called in around 8:30. Interview took around 10 minutes. It was with an asian guy (with accent). He didn't ask me any questions. He asked couple questions to my wife and that basically was it. I still remember the questions he asked my wife.

1. how did you two meet?

2. he finished school?

3. seen his family members?

4. has he seen your family?

and that's it.

He then asked me those classical questions on the 485 form, to see if I am a terrorist. He was really nice, he smiled often made jokes. He said he would've approve me right there if I didn't have my F1 status problem back in 2006 (a little background info for you guys... I lost my status once, was called in to federal plaza to give statement) so he said therefore he'll have to review the case and I should get a response soon.

It was a pleasant experience, I should receive the card production soon. I am sure.

I should mentioned that interview was extremely easy, as if you talking to your friend.

at the end He wrote something on my passport (like little_my's) with a pen lol that was funny. it reads 7/27/2011 I485 pending section 245 cr6 lol this is funny as anybody can write this.

edit(today is 28th) and nothing anybody the same way?

Edited July 28, 2011 by vkn & jsb

[visalkb 0]

Wanted to share my experience with y'all.

My interview was yesterday 7/28/11 for 9:45am at 26 Federal Plaza and we got there around 915 and waited till about 11am before we were called in. Just as above, we too had an asian officer. Walked us into the room and before we sat down, swore us in. He was kool, talkative and like to make jokes which was great. I am the applicant. He asked us for our ID, BC and Marriage Cert. and passport, which we gave him. Then he asked for joint documents. As I was going thru my bag to gather the docs, he was talking to my wife and would ask her questions pertaining to me, such as my previous address, and how many bro and sis I have, how we met, how long we dated and etc. SO then I gave him joint back accounts, cellphone bills, copy of health care cards, beneficiary designation confirmation letters and that was it. He continued to talk to my wife and asking her simple questions here and there. I dont think he asked me anything about my wife. Then he asked for pictures. My wife gave him a stack about an inch thick. We didnt have a photo album and so he just briefly went thru it and chose 2 to keep for filing. Then he ask all those 485 questions which i anwered NO to all. Then he said, THAT'S IT. You're GOOD. we were like, HUH??? DATS IT? which he responded, YES, YOU're APPROVED.

Overall, i think he was nice and interview was a little nerve wrecking but it really wasnt too bad. he didnt keep any of my cards and passport but he did STAMPED my applications. all in all, prob about 30 minutes in the office.

thank you all for all your inputs and insights and good luck to all of you.

WOOT WOOT!

[BMW4me 12]

just got and email and text. On July 29, 2011, we ordered production of your new card.

it took them two days to approve. man overall process was so easy.

me and my wife still think we didn't have an interview, what was that so easy....

[icaruslol 1]

Sorry to hear that...

It would be a good idea to keep on top of it, and make sure you call them every week.

My application is from November 2010, and I haven't received neither the work permit nor the travel document.

I have to admit they're not needed yet (I'm on an H1b), but... having said that, it's been 8 months and no interview yet.

I made an inquiry in April, but haven't heard anything from it. I've been calling them once a week ever since.

I made another inquiry on July 5, with no status update, the scheduled an infonotice and met with an officer on July 12. The officer said that the name check was fine, fingerprints (done in DEcember) were fine, and all paperwork was fine, I just need to be patient and wait.

Anyway, I received a letter from the USCIS 3 days ago, from the July 5 inquiry, saying that they sent me a notice request for an interview, but I never showed up

That's not true. I didn't receive any notice for interview, nor did my lawyer, and no text messages or email regarding that.

I called the USCIS to ask them for proof, or at least double check where and when they sent that notice, but the officer said that they don't have access to that information.

Also, since I've been calling them every week, none of the officer mentioned that a notice was sent to me.

Anyway, that doesn't sound efficient at all...

I just need to be patient.

my thoughts to you icaruslol... document everything and make sure to call them every week for a status update.

Good luck!

Thank you for your response! I am going to call them every week but this is still ridicilous. I have applied at the same time with most people who were in the same exact situation with me(F1 visa, got married here and live in NYC) and they have already gotten their greencards and whatnot. Just because I got an RFE, I'm going to have to wait for a few months now? I know there isn't much I can do but I just think that the system is really corrupted. At least in the meantime I have my work permit and I can work. Also I'm thinking of getting an infopass appointment to talk to someone face to face, because when I call the office, they just respond like robots UGH

[BMW4me 12]

no icaruslol kardes... calling uscis is useless, they will talk to you like a robot, i guess they have some kind of template in front of them which they read to us. i called them once and learned not to do so again.

just get an infopass it'd be more helpful.

[icaruslol 1]

The stupid thing about infopass is that the website to get an appointment doesn't work! it doesn't let me choose a date for some reason. I tried several different browsers and no dice. I guess I'll have to go there to get an appointment. This is really frustrating.

[siasimba 9]

Still didn't get any notice yet. My date is Nov 12th 2010 so I'm assuming next month I would be up.

Just a random question. My forms ID starts with MSC. When I go to look for my status on their website, it doesn't show up at all.

For the people who are waiting... are you also with MSC ??? If not, Does your status show up on USCIS website?

For people who already had their interview, did your form start with MSC ? and/or were you able to track your application status on USCIS website?

Thanks!

[Karisha 0]

Still didn't get any notice yet. My date is Nov 12th 2010 so I'm assuming next month I would be up.

Just a random question. My forms ID starts with MSC. When I go to look for my status on their website, it doesn't show up at all.

For the people who are waiting... are you also with MSC ??? If not, Does your status show up on USCIS website?

For people who already had their interview, did your form start with MSC ? and/or were you able to track your application status on USCIS website?

Thanks!

Hi!

We're also didn't get any notice yet! Our date is Nov 3rd 2010....Our Id starts with MSC too, and we're able to track our application status on USCIS website...

[VanHouten 0]

Just a random question. My forms ID starts with MSC. When I go to look for my status on their website, it doesn't show up at all.

For the people who are waiting... are you also with MSC ??? If not, Does your status show up on USCIS website?

We're still waiting, and our date is Nov. 15th. All four of our forms had MSC numbers, and all four can be tracked on the USCIS web site.

Are you using MSC number on the USCIS letter, or the number on the back of the check? that one in my case also started with MSC, but was off by a digit or two.

Edited August 1, 2011 by VanHouten

[VanHouten 0]

I know of two couples who just had their interview letters; one filed on Oct. 5th, 2010 received a letter on July 16th for an interview on Aug. 12.; the other couple filed in March, and got an interview date in late August.

[h4kim 0]

We're still waiting, and our date is Nov. 15th. All four of our forms had MSC numbers, and all four can be tracked on the USCIS web site.

Are you using MSC number on the USCIS letter, or the number on the back of the check? that one in my case also started with MSC, but was off by a digit or two.

Hello same thing here, I-130 and I-485 both with MSC #, nothing is showing up

I guess we have to wait until they touch the cases.

[girlisima 0]

I think that we November filers will start recieving notices by next week judging from the progress of October filers.

I can also track my case online with my MSC number.

We will all get there eventually, I am past the point of stressing out now seeing as there is some kind of chronological order. I guess it all depends on if you case ends up in the fast or slow track .