AOS status changed back to "Initial Review" and trasferred after RFE

[Yana_P 0]

Hello,

Please please please help us answer this question(s). My husband and I sent our I-485 along with EAD paperwork back in the begining of November 2011. It was transferred to CSC at the begining of January, and then we got an RFE in the middle of June, 2012. After we sent all the requested information for the RFE the status said RFE review, or something along those lines on June 25, 2012. Yesterday, July 17, the status changed back to "Initial Review" and there was a message that said the following:

Initial Review

On July 17, 2012, we transferred this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS to another office for processing because they now have jurisdiction over the case. We sent you a notice of this transfer. Please follow any instructions on this notice. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

What does this mean? Does the 4 or 5 month clock start all over again even though we've been waiting since las November?? Will there be an interview coming up? Why is it being transferred AGAIN? I'm just so tire of being jerked around and not knowing what is going to happen with my and my husbands future...can anyone please give me some insight on what this might mean or what experience others have had?

[Anh map 2,098]

It sounds like the file was sent to your local office and an interview is coming.

[ceadsearc 516]

The clock doesn't start again. It's been sent to your local office and you will probably have an interview. Actually, local offices are mostly going faster than CSC so it may benefit you. Remember in calculating processing time that the clock stopped during the RFE phase.

[Yana_P 0]

Is this a bad thing, will it take much longer?

[Alex and Sofya 7]

Is this a bad thing, will it take much longer?

What local office are you in?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Is this a bad thing, will it take much longer?

Hard to say whether it's a bad thing. The adjudicator who looked over your documents at CSC apparently felt an interview was warranted in your case. How it goes from here depends on why the adjudicator did that. Sometimes they just feel it's better if an IO talks to the petitioner and beneficiary in person. You'll find out when you get to the interview.

How much longer it will take depends on the backlog at your local USCIS field office.

[Yana_P 0]

Thank you for all of your responses. Does anyone have any good links or tips for preparing for the interview? What sort of information do we need to bring?

[Yana_P 0]

I guess I'm not sure where my local office is...since we are in Minneapolis, MN...I'm assuming it's here...

[Caryh 5,206]

I guess I'm not sure where my local office is...since we are in Minneapolis, MN...I'm assuming it's here...

They call it the St Paul office but its in Bloomington. Must have one time been in ST Paul, then moved to the Minneapolis suburb, but they still call it the ST Paul office. Sounds like you're bounced back for an interview to me. When you get the letter saying its been transfered again or an interview letter, you'll know for sure.

https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.detail&office=SPM&OfficeLocator.office_type=LO&OfficeLocator.statecode=MN

[Yana_P 0]

Thank you all soo much for responding so quickly....it's nice to know that there are others in my shoes and can provide some insight on what I can expect. One other question....is there a good way to start preparing for this potential interview before we get the notice? Are there any official documents I should start obtaining?

[Caryh 5,206]

Thank you all soo much for responding so quickly....it's nice to know that there are others in my shoes and can provide some insight on what I can expect. One other question....is there a good way to start preparing for this potential interview before we get the notice? Are there any official documents I should start obtaining?

Bring all the documents you applied with, and sent on the RFE. If you have more pictures and evidence showing you live at the same address, bring them along. I've heard they may separate you and ask you both the exact same questions, then compare the answers. Which are assumed to be the same answers. My wife's green card came through without an interview, so I can't really speak from experience, but I'd be reading all the reviews on AOS interviews I could to have an idea what to expect. For most I've heard its not painful at all, except the waiting before hand of course.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Caryh

[MelandDavid 0]

Wow! You're course of events is almost exactly the same as ours! We filed in November, received an RFE in June, etc. etc. Exact same position here with the exact same date of the transfer to "another office" (7/17/12). We are waiting for the hard copy to arrive in the mail but nothing yet. We are assuming that we will have an interview but have no idea what they will ask us as we have provided everything imagineable! Does anyone know how backlogged the Atlanta field office is by chance?

[ceadsearc 516]

When you get your interview letter, it will include a list of documents to bring.

[Yana_P 0]

So as you all suggested I was REALLY hoping that this would be an interview letter....but another surprise was coming...PLEASE HELP. The letter came saying that the case was transferred to Missouri because our case is now under their jurisdiction. This is the second time it was transferred! They transferred it to CSC in January, then RFE, and now this. I feel like we've been getting jerked around. What does this mean? Does the clock start all over because this is a new processing center? We applied on November 3, transferred to CSC January 11, and July 17 transferred to Missouri...is it time to get a lawyer involved? Please we really need some answers, as we really feel helpless

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

So as you all suggested I was REALLY hoping that this would be an interview letter....but another surprise was coming...PLEASE HELP. The letter came saying that the case was transferred to Missouri because our case is now under their jurisdiction. This is the second time it was transferred! They transferred it to CSC in January, then RFE, and now this. I feel like we've been getting jerked around. What does this mean? Does the clock start all over because this is a new processing center? We applied on November 3, transferred to CSC January 11, and July 17 transferred to Missouri...is it time to get a lawyer involved? Please we really need some answers, as we really feel helpless

You do not need a lawyer. Missouri is where all AOS cases go. That is where the NBC(National Benefits Center) is located. It was transferred from Missouri(NBC) to CSC, and now it was transferred back to the NBC in Missouri. It will most likely be sent to your local office for interview, so expect the interview notice in the mail sometime soon.