March 2013- K1 AOS Filers

[Hannah B 16]

I put in a service request a few weeks ago for my AOS application. It may be a waste of time but since it has been more than 60 days since I returned my response to request for evidence the tier 2 officer allowed the service request and said I should have a response within 2 weeks. When that didn't happen I called again yesterday, Didn't make any progress and have been told totally conflicting things. A few times when I have called they said I should be basing the processing times on my local office which is Fort Smith Arkansas and at the time of the call about 6 weeks ago they were working on March 4th. When I put in the service request 2 weeks ago they were still working on March 4th. Yesterday the first time I called the tier 2 officer said that the times of the local office is irrelevant because my application will not be processed there, it will be done at NBC. I also had to notify him of my change of address because the person who I had talked to 2 weeks ago seemed to not have entered my new address. I was also told that the local officer had sent me a response to my service request that my application is within current processing times (even though on USCIS the processing time for Fort Smith was updated to 4 months in August). During the call the line went dead. I was concerned about the change of address not having been completed and so I had to call back. The first phone call took an hour. The second was an hour and 15 mins. Arhhhh!!! Anyway, the second time I called and spoke to a tier 2 officer she told me the opposite. She said I should base the processing time on my local officer and that Fort Smith was now working on March 2nd. So in about 2 months they have gone backwards by 2 days. She basically said there is noting I can do but wait. I know this is the case and putting in service requests is probably a waste of time but I thought I would try it. Just wanted to let everyone know my experience for your info.

On the bright side, I was extremely fortunate with finding a job. On the day I received an email I would receive my work card that day I dropped in my resume at a local law firm, had one interview that day, another 2 days later and started my job the next Monday. I am totally loving it, they are like my family and I couldn't be happier with my job.

I wanted to take a trip to visit my family in England a few weeks ago and my work were kind enough to let me have the time off (even though we are not meant to have vacation in the first 12 months). So anyways I spent 9 days in England and coming back through Chicago was my first time using my Advance Parole/Employment card to enter. I asked where I should line up, visitor or resident (as I am technically neither), and I was told to go to the visitor line. I had my AP card, AOS receipt, interview waiver letter (just as an example of recent correspondence), and my passport and original marriage certificate. My passport is still in my maiden name and so that was the name I used to buy the ticket. When I arrived at passport control desk I told them I was in the process of adjusting status and that I would like to enter using my AP. He reviewed my documents and asked why I hadn't changed the name in my passport. I said it was because I had only just got married a few months ago. He said I should send it off to the embassy asap. This was a little surprising to me as I had read that as long as you have your marriage certificate with you on entry then it isn't a problem to have passport still in maiden name. Anyway, I don't plan to travel for a while so I will get this taken care of.

After that discussion I was told I would need to go to secondary interview to be asked some more questions. I was taken to a waiting area and they took my documents away. I was getting nervous as there were about 10 or so people there before me and my next flight was boarding in 30 minutes and I still had to clear customs, change terminals and clear security again before finding my gate. I waited patiently for 10 mins as I really didn't want to ask them how long it would be in case they thought I was being rude but when that 10 minutes was up a lady called my name and gave me my documents and said I was good to go. So I didn't actually get called into a room and asked any further questions. I guess they just needed to check my status on their system.

Anyway, I thought I would share my experience of entering on AP for those of you who are planning on travelling before the residency card arrives.

Have a great day everyone.

[JerseyDomRep 4]

We just received a notice of potential interview waiver, guess that means we may or may not be interviewed, but the letter says for sure that our AOS won't be approved for another six months from the date of the letter due to workload delays.

I received the same letter dated August 6, 2013. I saw an April filer last week that updated his timeline last week and he also receivee that letter an already recieved his green card all he got was an email on the uscis websited and the green card he was also from my area.

VJ Member kokoy29: Profile thats their name check out their page. There is still hope to receive some news before the six months.

Edited September 23, 2013 by JerseyDomRep

[BharatBachani 1]

Well, well, Finally today got the AOS approved and got the notification for production of the CARD. it will be delivered within next 30 days from today. Good Luck to all the people here, who are eagerly waiting for their's. One more Hurdle ( Paperwork) Cleared.

[HK12 273]

Well, well, Finally today got the AOS approved and got the notification for production of the CARD. it will be delivered within next 30 days from today. Good Luck to all the people here, who are eagerly waiting for their's. One more Hurdle ( Paperwork) Cleared.

Congratulations! Gives me hope that I might not have to wait another 6 months, as the letter that I received two weeks ago had indicated. Enjoy your USCIS-free time!

[kobiams 2]

Well, well, Finally today got the AOS approved and got the notification for production of the CARD. it will be delivered within next 30 days from today. Good Luck to all the people here, who are eagerly waiting for their's. One more Hurdle ( Paperwork) Cleared.

Congratulations BharaBachani.

[BharatBachani 1]

Thanks HK12 & kobiams

[Skholls 2]

Congrats on your employment!!

and looks like we are all in the same boat, at least we are in good company.

Thank you and its going great...

Yeah we are all in the waiting game...but I guess it will come real soon

[Skholls 2]

Well, well, Finally today got the AOS approved and got the notification for production of the CARD. it will be delivered within next 30 days from today. Good Luck to all the people here, who are eagerly waiting for their's. One more Hurdle ( Paperwork) Cleared.

Congrats to both of you...your wait is over for a couple of years...enjoy

[Skholls 2]

I received the same letter dated August 6, 2013. I saw an April filer last week that updated his timeline last week and he also receivee that letter an already recieved his green card all he got was an email on the uscis websited and the green card he was also from my area.

VJ Member kokoy29: Profile thats their name check out their page. There is still hope to receive some news before the six mon

My letter was dated August 2nd 2013, so it would seem that they are fiddling about with March/April filers so we are all in that bundle...who will they pick next...

[Galla 1]

Hannah and Josh, thank you so much for sharing your AP experience. Im way too paranoid to travel and risk even the slightest option of being rejected upon re entry of US

After I receive the GC, i plan to go and visit my family and change the passport once in Croatia to my new last name. That way I will be all set for coming back

Congrats on the job!

[syntaxkid 0]

My wife's received the letter that her green card is approved, and has been sent to our home address!!!! No RFE's, no interview and we too received that letter sent to everyone about the 6 month delay on top of original processing time. But it was approved 6 months, pretty much exactly, from the date the AOS was filed! I have updated my timeline if anyone wants to check it! Thank you everyone for all your help, support, and generosity in offering your experiences, points of advice, etc over this past 17 months.

Edited September 27, 2013 by syntaxkid

[Kaaha 6]

Congratulations! That gives me some hope!

I came back from Poland yesterday. My re-entry was horrible! The line to the CBP was soo long but that's nothing. Of course they directed me to secondary control. The room was full of people but I figured that they just need to double check me becuase I only have the AP not a GC. However after one gentleman told me that he has been there for 3 hours I got worried. Mu husband was supposed to come pick me up and there was no reception or a pay phone in that room. I understand that they have to do their job but don't treat me with disrespect! The officers yelled "Put your luggage by the wall and sit down!" I didn't want to leave my bags unnatended so I kept standing next to it and one of the officers approached me and said "What part of 'sit down' you don't understand?" ... They even had a citizen there, an Army veteran who came back from a business trip. Go figure... Well, eventually they let me out after 3 hours, frustrated and exhausted But it feels good to be home with my husband and pur puppy

[syntaxkid 0]

a hubby and a puppy is all you really need !!! after we got that 6 month delay letter we were preparing to travel to Thailand to visit with my wife's family with the combo AP card...I'm glad we waited a few extra weeks to buy tix because I wasn't looking forward to a hassle like yours....But your back now so that's the important thing!!! I looked through the AOS stats for our month and looks like 17-20 people have been approved from our filing month...that doesn't include all those not on visajourney, so our month is officially moving....you may hear something very soon, i'll keep my fingers crossed for you, your hubby, and your puppy!!! Thanks for response

[kobiams 2]

My wife's received the letter that her green card is approved, and has been sent to our home address!!!! No RFE's, no interview and we too received that letter sent to everyone about the 6 month delay on top of original processing time. But it was approved 6 months, pretty much exactly, from the date the AOS was filed! I have updated my timeline if anyone wants to check it! Thank you everyone for all your help, support, and generosity in offering your experiences, points of advice, etc over this past 17 months.

Congratulations Syntankid.

It gives us hope something is actually moving there ...

[HK12 273]

Congratulations! That gives me some hope!

I came back from Poland yesterday. My re-entry was horrible! The line to the CBP was soo long but that's nothing. Of course they directed me to secondary control. The room was full of people but I figured that they just need to double check me becuase I only have the AP not a GC. However after one gentleman told me that he has been there for 3 hours I got worried. Mu husband was supposed to come pick me up and there was no reception or a pay phone in that room. I understand that they have to do their job but don't treat me with disrespect! The officers yelled "Put your luggage by the wall and sit down!" I didn't want to leave my bags unnatended so I kept standing next to it and one of the officers approached me and said "What part of 'sit down' you don't understand?" ... They even had a citizen there, an Army veteran who came back from a business trip. Go figure... Well, eventually they let me out after 3 hours, frustrated and exhausted But it feels good to be home with my husband and pur puppy

Oh Kaaha, I'm sorry to hear that. Just because we are foreigners and they are part of the US government, it doesn't mean that they can treat us disrespectfully. How awful! I am glad you have made it through there alright, and that you are back with your hubby and puppy! Enjoy your time with them, and welcome back!

... And congratulations syntaxkid on the AOS approval! I just checked my status and it still says "Case not Found", but at least it gives me hope that I might not have to wait another 6 months! When you look at the forum here, NBC's approvals seem to be all over the place and totally messed up. You see Interview Waiver Cases from April, June, and July 2013 getting approvals, but then again there are people from 2012 who are still waiting. I just don't get it. We all pay the same fees, so shouldn't it be a "First In First Out" system? I guess I should give up trying to understand how USCIS works.

Edited September 28, 2013 by HK12