March 2014 filers

[burmagirl 0]

Yayyyy!!! My case status changed to Testing and Interview today!

I know a few of you are also on the Testing and Interview stage. How long did it take for you to receive you interview date after your case status changed?

USCIS is doing alright by me because all of their processing time for each step took two weeks or less (even with an RFE)! This makes me very happy! My case is progressing nicely and I hope all of yours will be the same too!

Best of luck everyone!

[dsc83 0]

Were you able to do a walk -in? Just curious

Aww that sucks! Sorry to hear you weren't successful. I am also in TX, makes me nervous about not being able to do a walk-in either. My husband and I were planning on going next week since he'll be free during the week but will be working on the day of the appt. Hopefully it'll work but I guess no harm in trying even if they say no

[burmagirl 0]

It seems there's no logic to their timings! Apparently Boston is still processing August or September dates yet a few recent filers already have interview dates! I can't figure out if early walk ins for biometrics help or not. Sometimes they do but then I've seen cases which have still taken 2 more months to get an interview date. I'm hoping my case goes fast, I've managed to get my biometrics done within a month of filing. Hopefully I'll get my EAD in a month and my interview a month after that. A 3 month time frame would be awesome and seems reasonable compared to other peoples experiences lately.

I agree! In my case, I didn't do a walk in since I had no good excuse for one. However, my case went to interview within 2 weeks after my biometrics appointment. I am currently 1 1/2 months into the whole process and am already on interview/testing stage, even with an RFE! So i'm very hopeful that 3 month time frame will be a possibility. However, my employment authorization has not progressed ever since they have received my packaged. It seems to be stuck on Initial Review stage. Have you any progress for your I-765?

Hi March filers!

So I haven't received my biometrics appointment yet - my PD was 3/13. Anyone else in a similar situation? I've seen people here who have files around the same time as myself, completed the biometrics and even been scheduled an interview. So I think my wait time seems abnormal compared to everyone else. Any thoughts?

I've sent an online service request - which seems useless as I got an automated response saying they will reply by May 6th. Anything else I can do in the meantime?

Thanks!

That is a bit odd. You are definitely overdue for some updates. You should call the USCIS whether you are petitioner or beneficiary just to get information. And if they say it must be your spouse, you can always call back later. They're definitely a lot easier to reach when you call early. From my experience, everyone has been very helpful each time I've called with questions. Best of luck to you!

[LeslieandGarrett 0]

Were you able to do a walk -in? Just curious

We haven't gone yet, will try tomorrow. Hopefully they will say yes. Everyone else seems to be successful except people in TX. Where in TX are you?

[Uhoh 10]

I agree! In my case, I didn't do a walk in since I had no good excuse for one. However, my case went to interview within 2 weeks after my biometrics appointment. I am currently 1 1/2 months into the whole process and am already on interview/testing stage, even with an RFE! So i'm very hopeful that 3 month time frame will be a possibility. However, my employment authorization has not progressed ever since they have received my packaged. It seems to be stuck on Initial Review stage. Have you any progress for your I-765?

Nope no progress on that or anything else. Everything is still on Initial Review. I just did my bio 3 weeks early on Friday so I'm hoping I'll get some kind of progress soon!

[misasale 1]

Definitely there is no logic in their timings. 22 days since my walk-in biometrics and still no update on my status. I'm getting anxious

Congrats to you all who got some updates recently!!

[misasale 1]

Definitely there is no logic in their timings. 22 days since my walk-in biometrics and still no update on my status. I'm getting anxious

Congrats to you all who got some updates recently!!

OMG! There must be something about this website. Exactly 34 minutes after I posted this I received a text and email saying my status is now updated. TESTING AND INTERVIEW finally!!

[mirian&john 1]

OMG! There must be something about this website. Exactly 34 minutes after I posted this I received a text and email saying my status is now updated. TESTING AND INTERVIEW finally!!

lol great! congrats!

[MnMJourney 28]

So I called USCIS today regarding my case. My first time calling, so I learned a few things - that many people here already know (so please excuse me as I may be preaching to the choir for some).

The first and foremost thing was that the first level of customer service is completely useless, i.e. they cannot see anything more or do anything more than you yourself can online.

I called promptly at 8AM and got access to an agent almost instantaneously after navigating the prompts. The agent asked for the receipt number and why I was calling. I gave him my I-485 number and told him that it has been 30 days and I have not received my biometrics appointment yet. So this guys solution to my issue was to look up New York processing times for I-485s and came back to tell me that they are still processing from June 2013. I told him - yes, but those are adjudicating timelines, biometrics are usually done within a few weeks. I asked if I knew if an appointment letter was mailed out and if it could be possibly lost. He then responded by assuring me how reliable the US postal service is (really guy?). His solution was that I give it another week before calling back - and I have no idea how he came up with that extra week as its been 30 days already (not within protocol). Anyway I quit after that.

After I got off, I was a bit angry at myself for not asking the right questions. So I called back again, and got to an agent almost instantaneously again. I told her the situation and she started to create a service request. In the process she saw there was already a service request I had made about this online a few days ago. So she said I'd have to wait till May 6th before calling back and proceeded to say thanks and was going to hang up. Not wanting to take no for an answer this time, I asked if she could look into the EAD app since there was not a service request on it. She said yes and took the relevant info. Then she essentially comes back with another service request number and says I need to wait till May 2nd. So I ask her - I could have done this online, and she says yes. I ask her if she has anymore info than I have available online, and she says no. So frustrated at this point, I ask if I can speak with a level 2 person (something I learned here). She says yes and takes info to "escalate" and transfer me.

It's about 8:30AM by this time and the wait is only 11 minutes. I get to a level 2 officer, from who's voice I can tell is just more adept than the schlubbs I just spoke to. After getting the relevant data, says my appointment has already passed in NYC, can't tell me the date it did, but put in a service request to NYC ASC to reschedule the appointment. I should receive a notice by May 2nd, if not call back - and I cannot go in earlier without the notice. So that's the resolution for now.

Thought I'd share. I know most of the veterans here already know how useless level one support is, but hopefully the newbies and junior members can take a tip. To me it was just mind boggling as to the fact that their only real use is for people who don't have access to or can't use the website. No added value other than that.

Moral of the story for March filers - if you haven't received a biometrics appointment yet, call and speak to a level 2 person now to reschedule!

Hoping to get mine back on track.

Good luck to all!

[Uhoh 10]

Congrats to everyone who's moved onto Testing and Interview ? things seem pretty swift generally, which is great!

I'm still waiting on a change after my bio walk in last week. Hoping posting on here will stimulate my status change!

[mirian&john 1]

So I called USCIS today regarding my case. My first time calling, so I learned a few things - that many people here already know (so please excuse me as I may be preaching to the choir for some).

The first and foremost thing was that the first level of customer service is completely useless, i.e. they cannot see anything more or do anything more than you yourself can online.

I called promptly at 8AM and got access to an agent almost instantaneously after navigating the prompts. The agent asked for the receipt number and why I was calling. I gave him my I-485 number and told him that it has been 30 days and I have not received my biometrics appointment yet. So this guys solution to my issue was to look up New York processing times for I-485s and came back to tell me that they are still processing from June 2013. I told him - yes, but those are adjudicating timelines, biometrics are usually done within a few weeks. I asked if I knew if an appointment letter was mailed out and if it could be possibly lost. He then responded by assuring me how reliable the US postal service is (really guy?). His solution was that I give it another week before calling back - and I have no idea how he came up with that extra week as its been 30 days already (not within protocol). Anyway I quit after that.

After I got off, I was a bit angry at myself for not asking the right questions. So I called back again, and got to an agent almost instantaneously again. I told her the situation and she started to create a service request. In the process she saw there was already a service request I had made about this online a few days ago. So she said I'd have to wait till May 6th before calling back and proceeded to say thanks and was going to hang up. Not wanting to take no for an answer this time, I asked if she could look into the EAD app since there was not a service request on it. She said yes and took the relevant info. Then she essentially comes back with another service request number and says I need to wait till May 2nd. So I ask her - I could have done this online, and she says yes. I ask her if she has anymore info than I have available online, and she says no. So frustrated at this point, I ask if I can speak with a level 2 person (something I learned here). She says yes and takes info to "escalate" and transfer me.

It's about 8:30AM by this time and the wait is only 11 minutes. I get to a level 2 officer, from who's voice I can tell is just more adept than the schlubbs I just spoke to. After getting the relevant data, says my appointment has already passed in NYC, can't tell me the date it did, but put in a service request to NYC ASC to reschedule the appointment. I should receive a notice by May 2nd, if not call back - and I cannot go in earlier without the notice. So that's the resolution for now.

Thought I'd share. I know most of the veterans here already know how useless level one support is, but hopefully the newbies and junior members can take a tip. To me it was just mind boggling as to the fact that their only real use is for people who don't have access to or can't use the website. No added value other than that.

Moral of the story for March filers - if you haven't received a biometrics appointment yet, call and speak to a level 2 person now to reschedule!

Hoping to get mine back on track.

Good luck to all!

hopefully you are gonna get you appointment after this

finger crossed!

[lil2be 11]

So I called USCIS today regarding my case. My first time calling, so I learned a few things - that many people here already know (so please excuse me as I may be preaching to the choir for some).

The first and foremost thing was that the first level of customer service is completely useless, i.e. they cannot see anything more or do anything more than you yourself can online.

I called promptly at 8AM and got access to an agent almost instantaneously after navigating the prompts. The agent asked for the receipt number and why I was calling. I gave him my I-485 number and told him that it has been 30 days and I have not received my biometrics appointment yet. So this guys solution to my issue was to look up New York processing times for I-485s and came back to tell me that they are still processing from June 2013. I told him - yes, but those are adjud

icating timelines, biometrics are usually done within a few weeks. I asked if I knew if an appointment letter was mailed out and if it could be possibly lost. He then responded by assuring me how reliable the US postal service is (really guy?). His solution was that I give it another week before calling back - and I have no idea how he came up with that extra week as its been 30 days already (not within protocol). Anyway I quit after that.

After I got off, I was a bit angry at myself for not asking the right questions. So I called back again, and got to an agent almost instantaneously again. I told her the situation and she started to create a service request. In the process she saw there was already a service request I had made about this online a few days ago. So she said I'd have to wait till May 6th before calling back and proceeded to say thanks and was going to hang up. Not wanting to take no for an answer this time, I asked if she could look into the EAD app since there was not a service request on it. She said yes and took the relevant info. Then she essentially comes back with another service request number and says I need to wait till May 2nd. So I ask her - I could have done this online, and she says yes. I ask her if she has anymore info than I have available online, and she says no. So frustrated at this point, I ask if I can speak with a level 2 person (something I learned here). She says yes and takes info to "escalate" and transfer me.

It's about 8:30AM by this time and the wait is only 11 minutes. I get to a level 2 officer, from who's voice I can tell is just more adept than the schlubbs I just spoke to. After getting the relevant data, says my appointment has already passed in NYC, can't tell me the date it did, but put in a service request to NYC ASC to reschedule the appointment. I should receive a notice by May 2nd, if not call back - and I cannot go in earlier without the notice. So that's the resolution for now.

Thought I'd share. I know most of the veterans here already know how useless level one support is, but hopefully the newbies and junior members can take a tip. To me it was just mind boggling as to the fact that their only real use is for people who don't have access to or can't use the website. No added value other than that.

Moral of the story for March filers - if you haven't received a biometrics appointment yet, call and speak to a level 2 person now to reschedule!

Hoping to get mine back on track.

Good luck to all!

Sorry to hear that. Hope you will hear anything from them soon. Like I said, level 2 can give you more details and better time to call is early in the AM.

[MnMJourney 28]

Thanks guys...appreciate the support!

[dsc83 0]

Soooo... Since I had a job interview in Austin today, I decided to try a walk-in for biometrics at that office. It was successful! I had to talk to the supervisor but after explaining I was in Austin for an interview and that wanted to do an early appointment he authorized it.

Hopefully this will actually speed up the process:

AOS timeline - adjusting from F1 with approved I-130
March 18th, 2014: Overnight delivery by Fedex
March 19th, 2014: Delivered at Chicago Lockbox.
March 19th, 2014 : I-131 & I-765 received & moved to Initial Review.

March 29th, 2014 (day 10) : Fingerprint fee accepted for I-485.
March 31st, 2014: Received NOA1 via email/text (11:45pm)

April 5th 2014: NOA1 by mail

April 7th 2014 (day 19)- received Biometrics appointment for April 25th in Houston TX

April 9th 2014 - Unsuccessful walk-in fingerprints in Houston TX

April 17th 2014 (day 29) - Successful walk-in fingerprints in Austin TX

Edited April 17, 2014 by dsc83

[virji1988 4]

Just got an email/ text notification with a date for my interview- May 20th!

We filed on the same day.. Still waiting

It for sure depends on the location