USCIS waiting

[JedNik 5]

So I have called USCIS 2x this week and so far I have gotten two very different answers for what i've asked.
I'll back up...

Filed I 485 (previously came here on a k1 visa and got married in may) JUNE 10 2013

Got an RFE July 26, responded and USCIS said I should hear something within 60 days....Sept26 comes. Have heard nothing

So I called. They sent a service request and told me I should hear something within 15 days. 15 days pass. So I call (Tuesday) and that lady tells me its actually 30 days and to call back. Called today and the lady said that they're all backed up and wanting us to be patient. But if we don't hear anything within 30 days that then they can send another service request. I asked if it's the 30 days starting when and she basically said today since we've talked or 30 days since they filed my request. (talk about not knowing your job)

And then she proceeds to give me more information. She asked what my zipcode is and tells me that the local office is Currently processing February 12th 2013 filers. I almost laugh because a) I live in Montana. Not a large state, population wise (not even 1 million) b) I have never ONCE seen a foreigner here, unless they're all Canadian/European/white. I have never yet come across someone on VJ who the US citizen was from Montana... Montana is one of the least populated states yet is currently working on Feb 12 applicants while San Franc CA is on april 29....go figure
Just for kicks I went onto the USCIS processing times. Helena's average is about 6.5 months. I looked at Buffalo NY and it was 5.2 months. Something doesn't add up here.........
And then the lady told me that It may take 4 months for me to get my greencard. (I nearly cried. I thought FOR SURE i'd be able to go back home (Just canada!) for xmas.) and then I asked about advanced parole since we hadn't filed.
I looked into it on their website...sounds like even if you file, you may not get it, and even if you get it you may have a huge amount of hassle being let back into the usa.
Does anybody have any input on this? Is there generally an 'average' amount of time it takes for GC approval? Is it typically quicker than the I-129f application?
I am so just sad that I likely won't be able to go home for xmas AP or not...don't know if I want to take the risk of getting AP and not being let back in the country.

So tempted to just head back to Canada! (Jokes, but if the US gov't/obamacare doesn't get their act together.............) haha !

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

You can file for AP, and the fee will still be waived. You just need to send a copy of your NOA receipt notice from filing the I-485 with your I-131 application. It takes 2-3 months to receive, so you should file as soon as you can and you might get it before Christmas. I cannot see why you would be hassled about using AP to re-enter the US after your holiday vacation.

Th green card approval can take awhile, especially if you are to be approved without an interview. This is one of the reasons it is stressed by many here on VJ to file for the EAD and AP because the fees for the forms are waived when filed with a pending I-485, and you never know if something might come up before you get the green card approval.

[Darnell 8,478]

The RFE letter contained an address. I'm betting it wasn't in Montana, and yer casefile is still there at that office.

Can tell us, what city was listed in the RFE letter address?

Also, are you talking to Tier 2 Humans, or just the first yahoo that answers the phone? Tier 2 folk can see more than Tier 1 (CSRs) always.

[rascalflatt 6]

So I have called USCIS 2x this week and so far I have gotten two very different answers for what i've asked.

I'll back up...

Filed I 485 (previously came here on a k1 visa and got married in may) JUNE 10 2013

Got an RFE July 26, responded and USCIS said I should hear something within 60 days....Sept26 comes. Have heard nothing

So I called. They sent a service request and told me I should hear something within 15 days. 15 days pass. So I call (Tuesday) and that lady tells me its actually 30 days and to call back. Called today and the lady said that they're all backed up and wanting us to be patient. But if we don't hear anything within 30 days that then they can send another service request. I asked if it's the 30 days starting when and she basically said today since we've talked or 30 days since they filed my request. (talk about not knowing your job)

And then she proceeds to give me more information. She asked what my zipcode is and tells me that the local office is Currently processing February 12th 2013 filers. I almost laugh because a) I live in Montana. Not a large state, population wise (not even 1 million) b) I have never ONCE seen a foreigner here, unless they're all Canadian/European/white. I have never yet come across someone on VJ who the US citizen was from Montana... Montana is one of the least populated states yet is currently working on Feb 12 applicants while San Franc CA is on april 29....go figure

Just for kicks I went onto the USCIS processing times. Helena's average is about 6.5 months. I looked at Buffalo NY and it was 5.2 months. Something doesn't add up here.........

And then the lady told me that It may take 4 months for me to get my greencard. (I nearly cried. I thought FOR SURE i'd be able to go back home (Just canada!) for xmas.) and then I asked about advanced parole since we hadn't filed.

I looked into it on their website...sounds like even if you file, you may not get it, and even if you get it you may have a huge amount of hassle being let back into the usa.

Does anybody have any input on this? Is there generally an 'average' amount of time it takes for GC approval? Is it typically quicker than the I-129f application?

I am so just sad that I likely won't be able to go home for xmas AP or not...don't know if I want to take the risk of getting AP and not being let back in the country.

So tempted to just head back to Canada! (Jokes, but if the US gov't/obamacare doesn't get their act together.............) haha !

Hey, I think it's really interesting that you bring this up about how different field offices offer different speeds of service....but not in the most logical way.

I originally filed for AOS at the San Francisco office and was issued an interview date within about 4 weeks - incredibly quickly. However we moved to North Carolina in between times and had to get the file transferred to Raleigh.

Raleigh tells me that "they are unable to offer me an interview date at this time", and my case has been sitting in their office for 2 months now with nothing happening.

Now, how is it that an office in a city like SF, with all its diversity of population and the sheer quantity of immigration interviews that must be required is able to issue me with an interview in record time but Raleigh, far far less diverse in population, makes me wait around for months.......as you say, just doesn't make sense at all....

[TBoneTX 45,273]

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

[JEC777 13]

Hi there, I'm waiting too. Filed April, Biometrics May, RFE May (sent response straight back) Got a letter in August telling me I'm one of the potential interview waiver cases....a positive thing if it saves me a 4 hour drive east to Helena, but a negative thing if I have to wait until at least February before I hear anything again. Looks like processing in Helena is about 5 months? And you are so right, why on earth is Helena processing so slowly compared to bigger cities. I did an early walk in for our Biometrics and there was no one there, they were super nice and it wasn't a problem at all. Who knows??? Hopefully the next few months will go quick, especially when the snow hits the ground and the mountains open up!!

Good luck!!

[HK12 273]

And then she proceeds to give me more information. She asked what my zipcode is and tells me that the local office is Currently processing February 12th 2013 filers. I almost laugh because a) I live in Montana. Not a large state, population wise (not even 1 million) b) I have never ONCE seen a foreigner here, unless they're all Canadian/European/white. I have never yet come across someone on VJ who the US citizen was from Montana... Montana is one of the least populated states yet is currently working on Feb 12 applicants while San Franc CA is on april 29....go figure

Just for kicks I went onto the USCIS processing times. Helena's average is about 6.5 months. I looked at Buffalo NY and it was 5.2 months. Something doesn't add up here.........

And then the lady told me that It may take 4 months for me to get my greencard.

I don't think it depends on the number of immigrants there are in a certain place... rather than how well equipped the local office is staff-wise. Where I live (Oklahoma), there are some immigrants, but by far not as many as in many other parts of the U.S. Yet, they are way behind many other offices (currently working on March 2, 2013). I am sure that big offices like NYC have much more qualified staff to handle cases, so they are faster. My problem now is that even though I have been waiting for more than seven months already, I'll have to wait until my local office is beyond my NOA date (which will hopefully happen next month) until I can put in a Service Request. And I don't even know if I can actually put in the Service Request because I received that infamous Notice of Potential Interview Waiver last month which stated that there is a delay of another six months ahead.

By the way, I read in one of the most recent AILA reports that the normal processing times for AOS Interview Waivers (which I assume you might qualify for) are eight months.

Other than that, I recommend applying for the AP. You really shouldn't have any problems whatsoever as long as you did not overstay in the past for more than 180 days.

Edited October 18, 2013 by HK12