Expedited AP

[lisers76 1]

So I went for my Infopass appointment and the nice lady couldn't grant me emergency parole based on my situation but called the service center handling my case to request an expedite. Anyway, she told me today it was approved and that it would arrive in 7-10 days. I need it to be here in 9 days. So my question is, has anyone had their case expedited? If so, how quickly did you get your advance parole in the mail?

[TBoneTX 45,659]

*** Thread shifted from main AOS/Family-Based forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

[Villanelle 4,122]

We filed for AP through an infopass apt on Nov 6 and were 'approved' - told the same thing (7-10 days) and STILL do not have any paper work- (20 days later)

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/398476-obtaining-ap-through-infopass-appt/

Personally I would be really cautious about being told over the phone by a rep that your expedite request was 'approved' because they dont have the power to approve anything. Nor does the staff at the infopass location. The only place that can approve it is MSC.

If you read my thread, youll see all they do is 'tentatively approve it' and forward it to MSC who ultimately makes the decision.

So if you went to infopass and they said no, Im not sure what you said on the phone that got them to say yes, but from what you say, whatever it was it worked. So now your fate is in their hands. (if the phone rep truly did forward your expedite request- {did they send you a letter confirming they did?} because Im not even sure phone reps have the power to do that since you need to provide proof of your hardship and I dont know how you would do that over the phone) they say the processing time is 7-10 business days to process and 2-3 business days to mail it- so overall its more like 13 business days. But as with all immigration processes its not carved in stone. Its an estimated processing time.

Edited November 30, 2012 by capri

[lisers76 1]

We filed for AP through an infopass apt on Nov 6 and were 'approved' - told the same thing (7-10 days) and STILL do not have any paper work- (20 days later)

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/398476-obtaining-ap-through-infopass-appt/

Personally I would be really cautious about being told over the phone by a rep that your expedite request was 'approved' because they dont have the power to approve anything. Nor does the staff at the infopass location. The only place that can approve it is MSC.

If you read my thread, youll see all they do is 'tentatively approve it' and forward it to MSC who ultimately makes the decision.

So if you went to infopass and they said no, Im not sure what you said on the phone that got them to say yes, but from what you say, whatever it was it worked. So now your fate is in their hands. (if the phone rep truly did forward your expedite request- {did they send you a letter confirming they did?} because Im not even sure phone reps have the power to do that since you need to provide proof of your hardship and I dont know how you would do that over the phone) they say the processing time is 7-10 business days to process and 2-3 business days to mail it- so overall its more like 13 business days. But as with all immigration processes its not carved in stone. Its an estimated processing time.

Well, I didn't call to expedite it over the phone. I went to my info pass, they asked their supervisor for emergency parole and they said no, but the agent at info pass was awesome and called MSC to inquire and ask if they would expedite it. I have evidence that she took a copy of and she took my phone number to call me when she heard back. the person reviewing my case at MSC got back to her and told her he approved it and they were sending it to the expedite team and I should have it in 7-10 days. So i never had to deal with the 1-800 number. Fingers crossed that it comes in time.

[Villanelle 4,122]

Hmm thats very interesting.

I would appreciate it very much if you would keep me updated by posting back any news/information about the status.

I can tell you however I called today regarding our case and how it may effect how you applied-

I called today and spoke to a tier 2 rep because we have not received anything in the mail yet ( we called on monday and opened a service request and were told we would receive something by the end of the week) He pulled up the case and told me the following- They wanted additional documentation and he gave me a number to fax it in.

I questioned him on why I needed additional documentation when I provided everything at the infopass appt and was given a 'tentative approval' by the infopass location and he explained the following: Theres different procedures for getting it expedited through infopass vs getting it expedited over the phone/directly through the service center/via fax/through a service request.

He (the phone rep) could not see anything the infopass center did and had no knowledge of what the status of their expedite request was- if I needed help with that I have to return to the infopass location.

As for the 'service request' I opened on monday, they were asking for additional information for the expedite to be sent via fax. So I asked him, once I send it by fax what happens, is it the same 7-10 waiting period? He said no. I could expect around 5 days or so for them to 'review' to documents I submitted. Great, I replied. So then once they review it, they will send the documents? He laughed and said no, the processing time will be around ONE MONTH for expedited, where as normally it takes 2-3 months, the advantage is youre able to call up and track it rather then returning to the infopass location for information...

So I faxed in the documents and will be returning to the infopass on Monday to see what they say the status is on the request they sent on the 5th.

You may want to call the 800 number and see if they have any info on the status/where they are in processing it. I suspect the infopass employee simply faxed your documents to MSC on your behalf, which was very nice of her, but from what i was told on the phone its not going to get your papers in 7-10 days, more like a month.

[lisers76 1]

Well, I filed on October 1st, so I am really already at the two month mark for processing. I doubt it will take another month. The infopass lady spoke directly with the person working on my case at the MSC service center. They specifically told her they had approved it. I have read on here that people who have had a similar thing happen, had their papers in 5 days or so. I think our cases differ because I did not deal with the 1-800 number at all. I was lucky enough to have a caring lady at infopass who went above and beyond for me. I was persistent. She told me on Monday she would call me by the end of the day with news, and when I didn't hear by the middle of the day on Tuesday I was able to make another appointment (since they don't have a number I can call). I spoke with the same lady and she told me she would inquire again, but he has a lot of cases he is reviewing. She called me early Wednesday morning on my cell to let me know that he had called her back and approved my case and was sending it to the expediting team. I really can't see how it could take another month.

Hmm thats very interesting.

I would appreciate it very much if you would keep me updated by posting back any news/information about the status.

I can tell you however I called today regarding our case and how it may effect how you applied-

I called today and spoke to a tier 2 rep because we have not received anything in the mail yet ( we called on monday and opened a service request and were told we would receive something by the end of the week) He pulled up the case and told me the following- They wanted additional documentation and he gave me a number to fax it in.

I questioned him on why I needed additional documentation when I provided everything at the infopass appt and was given a 'tentative approval' by the infopass location and he explained the following: Theres different procedures for getting it expedited through infopass vs getting it expedited over the phone/directly through the service center/via fax/through a service request.

He (the phone rep) could not see anything the infopass center did and had no knowledge of what the status of their expedite request was- if I needed help with that I have to return to the infopass location.

As for the 'service request' I opened on monday, they were asking for additional information for the expedite to be sent via fax. So I asked him, once I send it by fax what happens, is it the same 7-10 waiting period? He said no. I could expect around 5 days or so for them to 'review' to documents I submitted. Great, I replied. So then once they review it, they will send the documents? He laughed and said no, the processing time will be around ONE MONTH for expedited, where as normally it takes 2-3 months, the advantage is youre able to call up and track it rather then returning to the infopass location for information...

So I faxed in the documents and will be returning to the infopass on Monday to see what they say the status is on the request they sent on the 5th.

You may want to call the 800 number and see if they have any info on the status/where they are in processing it. I suspect the infopass employee simply faxed your documents to MSC on your behalf, which was very nice of her, but from what i was told on the phone its not going to get your papers in 7-10 days, more like a month.

[Villanelle 4,122]

Well our original 131 was also sent Oct 4 so we are also around the 2 month mark.

I do understand what youre saying though, that you were told it was 'approved' and forwarded to the 'expediting team' for processing. Im just letting you know from what I was told that 'team' takes around a month to process rather then 2-3. Thats why I suggested you call up and see where the 'team' is on processing your application.

Its my understanding that the infopass locations send their expedite requests with supervisor approvals to a different 'team', which you say you didnt qualify for, so its doubtful that persistent or not, the infopass lady broke protocol and submitted your application with out her supervisors approval to that team. Which brings me back to paragraph above. Your application was most definitely submitted to the standard expediting team and you should be able to obtain info over the phone about the status if you choose to, or go back in person.

So again I was told the 'standard expediting team' takes around 1 month to process, and if you get approval through infopass supervisors its 7-10 days plus mail time (however I did that and still do not have it)

[lisers76 1]

I got my advance parole in the mail today. It was only the 2 page document of the advance parole, not the combo card. I applied on the 26th at Infopass, it was approved (based on the form) on the 27th and I got a call telling me so on the 28th and I received it today December 1st.

Well our original 131 was also sent Oct 4 so we are also around the 2 month mark.

I do understand what youre saying though, that you were told it was 'approved' and forwarded to the 'expediting team' for processing. Im just letting you know from what I was told that 'team' takes around a month to process rather then 2-3. Thats why I suggested you call up and see where the 'team' is on processing your application.

Its my understanding that the infopass locations send their expedite requests with supervisor approvals to a different 'team', which you say you didnt qualify for, so its doubtful that persistent or not, the infopass lady broke protocol and submitted your application with out her supervisors approval to that team. Which brings me back to paragraph above. Your application was most definitely submitted to the standard expediting team and you should be able to obtain info over the phone about the status if you choose to, or go back in person.

So again I was told the 'standard expediting team' takes around 1 month to process, and if you get approval through infopass supervisors its 7-10 days plus mail time (however I did that and still do not have it)