How long should I be waiting for the Green Card after approval?

[noncompute 9]

It has been just over three weeks now. My MSC****** receipt number online still shows "Testing and Interview".

The interviewing Immigration Officer handed us a "Congratulations!" letter, with the date, etc etc. Nothing has changed on the uscis.gov status of the receipt number.

Wife called 1-800-375-5283 today to see what was up. They said it hasn't even been sent to production. Said the status showed the application in a "pending" state.

Why are we waiting in a state of suspended animation? We've been approved. Who can I talk to in order to get this resolved? I can't make an INFOPASS appointment because they're "full" and the website offers no alternative.

What to do? Seems like there's an issue.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Make infopass and get the IO to push the approved button. Either they forgot or you are in AP.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[noncompute 9]

Make infopass and get the IO to push the approved button. Either they forgot or you are in AP.

What's "in AP"? I can't make an INFOPASS appointment because it's "full". Any other way to push it along?

Edit: see attachment.

Edited April 30, 2014 by noncompute

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Just keep trying for an opening.

AP is administrative processing which means they are doing extra checks on your case. You could still have that even after being given a letter.

[noncompute 9]

Just keep trying for an opening.

AP is administrative processing which means they are doing extra checks on your case. You could still have that even after being given a letter.

Oh, sorry. I didn't mention that we're adjusting from a K-1 visa. Does AP even exist for this? Never heard of that.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, AP exists for AOS from a K-1 visa.

You did get a letter, so I am leaning more towards "forgot," but AP is not outside the realm of possibilities. You did get called for an interview in the first place.

[noncompute 9]

Yes, AP exists for AOS from a K-1 visa.

You did get a letter, so I am leaning more towards "forgot," but AP is not outside the realm of possibilities. You did get called for an interview in the first place.

Well, any tips to getting an INFOPASS appointment? As it is right now I don't have any way of resolving the situation as the robots on the phone line just say to wait a full 30 days.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Just keep checking the INFOPASS thing. Appointments will open up.

[noncompute 9]

Just keep checking the INFOPASS thing. Appointments will open up.

The "keep trying" approach doesn't seem to be bearing fruit. Every day for a week now I'm checking the INFOPASS site and wasting my time entering the information in multiple times only for it to tell me that it's not here.

My wife called now that it has been over a month. 1-800-375-5283. They have her some weird number "T#1exxxxxxxxxxMSC" where "x" is a number. What is this supposed to be?

[aussie_jason 195]

Likely that is a Service Request number, which should result in someone reviewing your case.

[khwaidee1 196]

FWIW, we had an InfoPass appointment last month (our second) for a replacement green card due to USCIS typo. The USCIS officer was super nice, she was Thai so she spoke to my wife in Thai. She said the USCIS GC production unit has a huge backlog and it would take us 9-12 months to get the replacement GC. Maybe the backlog is effecting the issuance too. I would try and make an InfoPass appointment too. Try using zip codes near you that you are willing to drive to (we initially had one in Imperial, a lovely 2.5 hour drive one way!)

[noncompute 9]

FWIW, we had an InfoPass appointment last month (our second) for a replacement green card due to USCIS typo. The USCIS officer was super nice, she was Thai so she spoke to my wife in Thai. She said the USCIS GC production unit has a huge backlog and it would take us 9-12 months to get the replacement GC. Maybe the backlog is effecting the issuance too. I would try and make an InfoPass appointment too. Try using zip codes near you that you are willing to drive to (we initially had one in Imperial, a lovely 2.5 hour drive one way!)

That's ridiculous. Are they able to give you anything at the INFOPASS appointment that can be used to, for example, get a driver's license? We need to get the green card or some sort of document so that she can get a Driver's License.

[aussie_jason 195]

Did she not apply for an EAD or Advance Parole?

I can't see how the "USCIS GC production unit" would be that backed up, many people have been getting approved and getting their green card in about a week recently, myself included. Sounds like the IO at the infopass appointment was spreading FUD.

[khwaidee1 196]

That's ridiculous. Are they able to give you anything at the INFOPASS appointment that can be used to, for example, get a driver's license? We need to get the green card or some sort of document so that she can get a Driver's License.

Yes, they are. I am assuming you either did not receive the EAD/AP yet or did not receive it yet. You can get an I-551 stamp in your passport at the InfoPass appointment. I gives the holder temporary status. The first officer gave us one for only 6 moths and the second officer gave us one for 9 months. I am assuming that you can use it for the diver's license but you will probably need a pretty savvy DMV employee as when we went through LAX on the 551 we were sent to secondary inspection and had to speak to 3 different CBP officers. Good luck.

[noncompute 9]

@aussie_jason, @khwaidee1: very helpful, thank you.