New York City AOS timeline & Interviews

[Striker_Immig 1]

I am sorry to hear of your predicament. I feel your pain as it took me almost 4 months of being in the "Testing and Interview" phase before I got my interview date. With all the shenanigans I am hearing from all of you guys here, I don't feel terribly optimistic either that this will get resolved quickly.

Have you tried making an Infopass to at least ascertain what's holding things up? I have read of cases where some Interviewing Officers had to take an extended leave and all of his / her cases just sat there before they were either re-directed to someone else or idled until the return of the IO.

[nitehero 6]

I have no idea but I'm getting very fed up with it all now. We gave them an 8 inch wide file of very clear organized paperwork, proof, evidence and the interview went smoothly. I was kind of shocked at the end when the IO casually said 'ok well we'll just do some more background checks." For what? They have everything they requested, plus a lot more and my background is as clean as a whistle so surely that would not take all that long to figure out. I just don't get it. The you see some others who got the card mailed out after a week or two.

I tell you it's frustrating to hear others getting the cards a week after the interview, yet we have waited 30 days without hearing a word. That "pending background check" response the IO gave us that day still baffles us. They had 5 months prior to the interview to do whatever checks they wanted, so it makes no sense truly. Good thing I will begin working soon, so i'll be too busy to worrying about them.

[nitehero 6]

I am sorry to hear of your predicament. I feel your pain as it took me almost 4 months of being in the "Testing and Interview" phase before I got my interview date. With all the shenanigans I am hearing from all of you guys here, I don't feel terribly optimistic either that this will get resolved quickly.

Have you tried making an Infopass to at least ascertain what's holding things up? I have read of cases where some Interviewing Officers had to take an extended leave and all of his / her cases just sat there before they were either re-directed to someone else or idled until the return of the IO.

I hope you don't fall in the same shoes as us. I know it is frustrating to wait for the interview, but trust me nothing is more frustrating that waiting for a final decision on your case. Keep your fingers crossed and pray you get a swift approval.

[nitehero 6]

There are also a few NYC posters on different websites (trackitt.com and forums.immigraton.com) who had NYC interviews over the past month who are still waiting for a response. A fellow AOS'er from who had interview mid March 2013 just got his approval today.

Keep your chin up and hope for good news.

Wow thanks for the uplifting post.

[artist123 0]

I tell you it's frustrating to hear others getting the cards a week after the interview, yet we have waited 30 days without hearing a word. That "pending background check" response the IO gave us that day still baffles us. They had 5 months prior to the interview to do whatever checks they wanted, so it makes no sense truly. Good thing I will begin working soon, so i'll be too busy to worrying about them.

We waited nearly 6 months for an interview from the submittal of the paperwork and the interview came 4 months after I received my EAD combo card! I am working but to be honest that doesn't stop this worrying!

I see the processing times for the 1-30 in the Vermont center is over 13 months and the California center is almost 2 years!!! I'm not sure which one we are assigned to.

[FavoredOnes 4]

I am wondering if there's a difference between "background check" and "further review". We actually got the piece of paper that says something like they don't need anything from us at this time, we might be called for a second interview and to wait 120 days before contacting them. etc.

My issue is I move to a different state for work in 2 weeks and I wonder how that would look. I mean if living together we couldn't prove that we're a real couple, imagine now living apart. Yikes!!!

Also do any of you Federal plaza people remember who interviewed you? You can inbox me if you know their name. I remember the name of the person who interviewed me, just want to see if there's a pattern. Then we can pray over them lol!

[Striker_Immig 1]

To FavoredOne,

I have noticed the pattern of these cases being held up only at Federal Plaza recently. I had my hunch whether its the same person or small group of people who are holding things up. Maybe the supervisor got ticked off over a few bad apple cases that were approved inappropriately and they are now doing a more through review?

I have read that since the decision in 2009 to speed up FBI background checks, 99% of all cases clear background checks within 6 months. I think when they tell you "background check" nowadays its just a common excuse for further / extended review.

The fact that I have seen nearly 10 recent NYC Federal Plaza cases get held up leads me to believe that something administrative is going on there. Anyhow, nothing but speculation on my end. Here is wishing to speedy approval for all of us.

Edited May 31, 2013 by Striker_Immig

[FavoredOnes 4]

To FavoredOne,

I have noticed the pattern of these cases being held up only at Federal Plaza recently. I had my hunch whether its the same person or small group of people who are holding things up. Maybe the supervisor got ticked off over a few bad apple cases that were approved inappropriately and they are now doing a more through review?

I have read that since the decision in 2009 to speed up FBI background checks, 99% of all cases clear background checks within 6 months. I think when they tell you "background check" nowadays its just a common excuse for further / extended review.

The fact that I have seen nearly 10 recent NYC Federal Plaza cases get held up leads me to believe that something administrative is going on there. Anyhow, nothing but speculation on my end. Here is wishing to speedy approval for all of us.

Thanks Striker!

Hey at least you can learn from our experiences. While I was waiting for an interview, it was hard to find fellow NYC filers to even know how things were going, so consider yourself lucky.

Prepare as well as you can. We just assumed that the fact that we were a real couple would be so evident, lol! Don't make that mistake.

Make sure you have a lease. Take things like junk mail, magazines to show proof of address. Know each others' phone number (we messed this up cos really numbers are saved and some people aren't good at stuff like this), date of birth, how and where you met. If any of you have issues with nerves, work on those things now.

I know there are others who had mountain of evidence and are still waiting.

I think I kind of went off of the reviews of others in states where things aren't as difficult. This whole process is state-specific. Hindsight is so 20/20.

And, Striker, think positive. Don't think you'll have the same experience as we did. A positive outlook can go so far.

All the best!!!

Edited May 31, 2013 by FavoredOnes

[artist123 0]

I am sorry to hear of your predicament. I feel your pain as it took me almost 4 months of being in the "Testing and Interview" phase before I got my interview date. With all the shenanigans I am hearing from all of you guys here, I don't feel terribly optimistic either that this will get resolved quickly.

Have you tried making an Infopass to at least ascertain what's holding things up? I have read of cases where some Interviewing Officers had to take an extended leave and all of his / her cases just sat there before they were either re-directed to someone else or idled until the return of the IO.

Did you see the processing times for the I-30 on the USCIS site???? Ahhhh.....I want to cry "

[Striker_Immig 1]

Thanks guys for the feedback and tips. We are very actively preparing each day and hoping to get this process over with. But I concur with you guys concerning the positive thinking aspect. It is all we can do now.

And Artist, regarding I-130, I have witnessed two NYC cases case an I-130 approval a week or so after the interview. Out of those two cases, one got I-485 approved 2 months later and the other one is still pending.

[nitehero 6]

Did you see the processing times for the I-30 on the USCIS site???? Ahhhh.....I want to cry "

Really? I thought I-130 was processed at the local office and not a service center

[nitehero 6]

Thanks Striker!

Hey at least you can learn from our experiences. While I was waiting for an interview, it was hard to find fellow NYC filers to even know how things were going, so consider yourself lucky.

Prepare as well as you can. We just assumed that the fact that we were a real couple would be so evident, lol! Don't make that mistake.

Make sure you have a lease. Take things like junk mail, magazines to show proof of address. Know each others' phone number (we messed this up cos really numbers are saved and some people aren't good at stuff like this), date of birth, how and where you met. If any of you have issues with nerves, work on those things now.

I know there are others who had mountain of evidence and are still waiting.

I think I kind of went off of the reviews of others in states where things aren't as difficult. This whole process is state-specific. Hindsight is so 20/20.

And, Striker, think positive. Don't think you'll have the same experience as we did. A positive outlook can go so far.

All the best!!!

Well at least you got a letter, we got nothing, just a verbal "application pending background check, wait for a decision in the mail" that's all and off we went.

[artist123 0]

Really? I thought I-130 was processed at the local office and not a service center

So did I but I am totally confused and counfounded by their processing system. When I input our receipt number into the USCIS box to track our case and get to the bottom of the page to look at processing centers, it gives you the choice of only Vermont or California which led me to believe that it's in one or the other and not local. Am I incorrect?

[nitehero 6]

We waited nearly 6 months for an interview from the submittal of the paperwork and the interview came 4 months after I received my EAD combo card! I am working but to be honest that doesn't stop this worrying!

I see the processing times for the 1-30 in the Vermont center is over 13 months and the California center is almost 2 years!!! I'm not sure which one we are assigned to.

I just checked and I think all spouse based I-130 are assigned to the vermont center and it's 5.3 months, with the national average being 6.3 months

[FavoredOnes 4]

Well at least you got a letter, we got nothing, just a verbal "application pending background check, wait for a decision in the mail" that's all and off we went.

Here's hoping that one is not worse than the other and it works out for us all.