Moving during AOS?

[FelixTX 2]

Hi everyone,

I've a question... My wife and I filed for AOS for me (German Citizen from F1) begin to mid of April, everything went smooth, till now and faster than I expected. I have my Biometrics in less than two weeks at the local biometrics office here. But my I-485 will be processed in Dallas, TX.

I have never thought of anything when putting in the application, but we planned on moving to Florida to her family after I received my Associates Degree here, plans before would have been, that I transfer to a University here and get my Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. But since she has always lived in Florida and her parents moved back there, we thought of moving there with them when the AOS is through, which we thought would be fairly straight forward, we expected a processing time of 3 to 4 month and would then move after it in August. Needless to say, I would like to finish my Bachelor's Degree then in Florida after everything is worked out.

But now I read in another thread that the processing time for Dallas is extremly backed up and it looks as if the current time is about 9 months and really nothing keeps us here in Texas, we have already made our mind up and would like to move to Florida when I am done here... Im getting a little sick of the weather and always liked Florida and she of course would like to be able to see her parents and childhood friends more often, more so since her dad has a heart condition and traveling is getting harder for him in the future. Also we live in a smaller town, so there is not much going on, and I can't imagine sitting here at the end of the world without anything really to do, just the little apartment.

So now the question is... Will it be possible without problems to move as planned in August to Florida (Orlando Area) and just wait there to do the AOS? I heard of stories before, where USCIS lost the package or simply forgot to send the package when there was a change in address and local office.

Is this a good idea? Should we just stay put? Or are those reports just simply only the "bad" ones that people would like to solve and most of them go smoothly but unnoticed?

Thank you guys in advance, you were already a great help to us in filing

Edited May 1, 2014 by FelixTX

[Erica & L 50]

I don't personally have any advice but I'm subbing to your thread because I'd like to hear the responses as well. I'm in the same boat, the Atlanta office is extremely backed up and I think they've only started processing October 2013 filers, and I filed in February 2014. We are planning to move to Portland in 3ish months because the house we are living in is being sold and we want to move closer to Canada on the west coast because we both hate the south and I haven't seen my friends in almost a year.

I'd have to have my file transferred as well and many people on here have said that even though I'd still be waiting, I'd likely get my interview date still much faster than if I was waiting for the Atlanta office.

If you go through all the change of address procedures, follow up with the USCIS thoroughly, by phone and some people have even sent in requests by mail just to be extra cautious, I don't see it being an issue. Having to move during this process I'm sure is common for a lot of people, and the USCIS has to be somewhat competent to accommodate everyone.

With that being said, I don't know how long you'd have to wait while in Florida, depending on where you're moving to, some offices there are quite busy as well.

[ValerieA 350]

The last ones I could see for the Dallas office took 5 months, where did you see 9? Don't go by what's on the AOS from K-1 processing times; those typically take much longer than the ones that have a mandatory interview. Up until the ones approved in December, they were taking the typical 3 months; you might get fortunate and have them go back to normal.

I moved during my AOS and it didn't really go well. Not everyone has problems, but I filed everything you need to when you move AND phoned to make sure they had the right address. Then I confirmed the address at the interview. My card still got sent to the old address, and they put on the envelope that it is not to be delivered to a forwarding address.

That being said, it did get straightened out fairly quickly. If I remember correctly, they had a note in the system that my green card had been returned by USPS and so sent it out right away when I called about it. It took longer when I filed my ROC and then moved (I don't learn from experience well). They made me wait 30 days before they would even talk to me about a missing card.

[FelixTX 2]

@Erica and Lily

That is nice to hear that more people have plans like that Might be more common, I wish you both definitly good luck on your way and that everything goes smooth!

@ValerieA

Well that sucks, but it definitly is better than them losing your file completly or other horror stories

I found the processing time for Dallas here: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do

Which said for Dallas, TX under I-485, that they processed applications from the 26th of june 2013 on February 28th 2014

And now that I looked it up again it says As of March 31. that they process applications from July 27.

Edited May 1, 2014 by FelixTX

[ValerieA 350]

Yuck, that is bad. I checked out the timelines here on VJ (see menu at top), not sure why there is such a difference.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I would be afraid to move......but that's just me. So many horror stories I've read when USCIS somehow didn't register the new address and people wouldn't get their interview letter, missed their interview, and got denied. Not trying to scare you guys, but I would be afraid and unless it's like an emergency to move instead of wait out a couple more months I would not move...and yes, that's just me. I'm sure someone will yelp in that they would move whenever they wanted to know regardless of their application status. Good luck to you both whatever you decide to do!

[FelixTX 2]

I would be afraid to move......but that's just me. So many horror stories I've read when USCIS somehow didn't register the new address and people wouldn't get their interview letter, missed their interview, and got denied. Not trying to scare you guys, but I would be afraid and unless it's like an emergency to move instead of wait out a couple more months I would not move...and yes, that's just me. I'm sure someone will yelp in that they would move whenever they wanted to know regardless of their application status. Good luck to you both whatever you decide to do!

Yeah, thats what I have read about this, that is why I'm asking here if someone has experience with it. Because if it really is that bad, Ill rather not risk it... But if its just like, theyll accidentally send the Greencard out to the old address, Im not too worried. We have an awesome landlord, that would look at the mail and see that the new tenant wouldnt get the letter if I tell her that there could be an important letter fly in and she would immidiately inform me about it, so this is not the worry I have.

I just dont want to risk a huge delay of many months, or worst case, that they "lose" the files. Everything else is somewhat managable.

[FelixTX 2]

Well, so my wife and I talked, and we just want to get out of here, so we plan on moving end of June/first days of July. (Our Case was accepted in Chicago April 8th, and Biometrics is scheduled for May 12th (Our office as said before is Dallas))

Two questions:

What do we have to file and where do we have to file for the change of address, etc.? I know the AR-11 has to be filled out at least online, are there other formulars that have to be filled out specific to the AOS package? Do we have to file a I-865 and "should" we send hardcopies to the Dallas office, get an Infopass appointment once we moved or/and call to ask about if the address was changed for the case just to make sure?

What if (I really don't expect it, but if...) we are just happily dancing around our trailer and full of joy are filling our truck, etc. with boxes and beds, etc. and I go with a huge smile on my face to my mailbox, open it and of course find a notice that we have been scheduled for an appointment, lets say begin of august, in Dallas, TX... What should we do? What would we have to file? Would it still be okay to change the address and then just fly in for the interview? Should we then call and reschedule it for the new office after we moved?

Thanks in advance!

Edited May 6, 2014 by FelixTX

[Franciscus 32]

Well, so my wife and I talked, and we just want to get out of here, so we plan on moving end of June/first days of July. (Our Case was accepted in Chicago April 8th, and Biometrics is scheduled for May 12th (Our office as said before is Dallas))

Two questions:

What do we have to file and where do we have to file for the change of address, etc.? I know the AR-11 has to be filled out at least online, are there other formulars that have to be filled out specific to the AOS package? Do we have to file a I-865 and "should" we send hardcopies to the Dallas office, get an Infopass appointment once we moved or/and call to ask about if the address was changed for the case just to make sure?

What if (I really don't expect it, but if...) we are just happily dancing around our trailer and full of joy are filling our truck, etc. with boxes and beds, etc. and I go with a huge smile on my face to my mailbox, open it and of course find a notice that we have been scheduled for an appointment, lets say begin of august, in Dallas, TX... What should we do? What would we have to file? Would it still be okay to change the address and then just fly in for the interview? Should we then call and reschedule it for the new office after we moved?

Thanks in advance!

1) Each of you has to do 2 things:

intending immigrant: change of address for 485+765+131 + AR-11 (all of these online) www.uscis.gov/addresschange

sponsor: change of address for 130 (online) + 865 (snail mail, sent to wherever is indicated in the form)

2) I'm quite sure it would be ok to just fly in for the interview (though i can't confirm it). Assuming going back to Dallas is something you can't do, you can request a different appointment for the interview.

[FelixTX 2]

Thank you so much for your response I thought the AR11 would be sufficient, good that I asked

But if the I-130 would already be approved would we still have to send in something for the change of address for the I-130? Or do both I-130 and I-485 get approved at the same time at the interview or after?

Edited May 7, 2014 by FelixTX

[Franciscus 32]

Thank you so much for your response I thought the AR11 would be sufficient, good that I asked

But if the I-130 would already be approved would we still have to send in something for the change of address for the I-130? Or do both I-130 and I-485 get approved at the same time at the interview or after?

Until they show up as approved, they are pending, so you do the change of address.

[FelixTX 2]

Update from me!

My wife and I moved from Texas to Central Florida (Orlando Area). We filed the Online Address Change once for the I-130 and once for the I-485 and then her I-865 (Change of Address for Sponsor) and everything went smooth.

We got all the address change correspondence and are here since one month and just got our Interview Appointment Letter... Which is interessting given the fact, that the Dallas Office is extremely backed up (Read of other people here that started the process a week before us and all they got is an email saying it could be another 6 months ++ or something) and Orlando immediately scheduled us after they got the I-865

Oh and: Application sent was beginning of April and the initial interview is beginning of September.

Just wanted to let you guys know!

Edited August 8, 2014 by FelixTX

[meaganb 2]

Update from me!

My wife and I moved from Texas to Central Florida (Orlando Area). We filed the Online Address Change once for the I-130 and once for the I-485 and then her I-865 (Change of Address for Sponsor) and everything went smooth.

We got all the address change correspondence and are here since one month and just got our Interview Appointment Letter... Which is interessting given the fact, that the Dallas Office is extremely backed up (Read of other people here that started the process a week before us and all they got is an email saying it could be another 6 months ++ or something) and Orlando immediately scheduled us after they got the I-865

Oh and: Application sent was beginning of April and the initial interview is beginning of September.

Just wanted to let you guys know!

Hi Felix (and everyone else),

Can I clarify a question I have?

My husband and I are in the midst of AOS from J1 visa through marriage (he USC, me foreign spouse). We will be moving in December from Colorado to California.

My question is: When we file all the change of address forms, does everything transfer to the closest California office and they schedule the interview? And, how does that affect my "place in line"?

Thanks for the advice,

[FelixTX 2]

Hi Felix (and everyone else),

Can I clarify a question I have?

My husband and I are in the midst of AOS from J1 visa through marriage (he USC, me foreign spouse). We will be moving in December from Colorado to California.

My question is: When we file all the change of address forms, does everything transfer to the closest California office and they schedule the interview? And, how does that affect my "place in line"?

Thanks for the advice,

Hey,

yes, everything will transfer to the closest field office, you dont have to do anything. For us it was from the Dallas field office to the Orlando field office. We just sent in the two online "AR 11"'s one for the I-485 and one for the I-130 and then the I-865 per mail and everything was fine.

Yes, the move will most likely affect your place in line. For us it was very positive though. The Dallas office is backed up for many months and the Orlando office is working through the backlog very fast. The result was, someone that also applied at the Dallas office two weeks prior than us is still in line waiting for an interview appointment, whereas I already received my green card some days ago.

Hope this helps!

[meaganb 2]

Hey,

yes, everything will transfer to the closest field office, you dont have to do anything. For us it was from the Dallas field office to the Orlando field office. We just sent in the two online "AR 11"'s one for the I-485 and one for the I-130 and then the I-865 per mail and everything was fine.

Yes, the move will most likely affect your place in line. For us it was very positive though. The Dallas office is backed up for many months and the Orlando office is working through the backlog very fast. The result was, someone that also applied at the Dallas office two weeks prior than us is still in line waiting for an interview appointment, whereas I already received my green card some days ago.

Hope this helps!

That's helpful, yes. From the looks of things, it might be a positive for us too. Thanks so much and congratulations, Felix!