After filling I-485, changed address with AR-11 but a month later scheduled for interview at old location

[KPea 0]

Hi all!

Any advice greatly appreciated. I filed I-485, I-765 and I-131 on July 14th while we were staying with my sister-in-law's in Michigan. I did my biometrics there the day before we moved. We moved to New York (upstate) on August 8th, so I went online and changed address using online form AR-11. I got the automated email saying to expect an email by August 24th.

When I called USCIS, the person advised me that my husband (as petitioner) also needed to change his too, so I submitted a AR-11 for him using my I-485 case number. However no automated email was received, instead we got a letter address to him saying that someone had tried to submit a change of address under his name with a case number that was not his..confusing.

It has been well past the August 24th date and I have not received confirmation for my own change of address. I've called two occassions and they only keep telling me all I can wait for change of address to be changed, and theres nothing I can do.

My sister in law received a letter (addressed to me) back in Michigan saying that I have my I-485 interview in Detroit on October 16th.

What should I do??! Can I call and have them reschedule to a NY location despite my change of address not having been confirmed by USCIS? Or will I have to bite the bullet and travel with my husband to Detroit (which would be less than ideal..seeing as we are having our official wedding a few days prior, so we have all our friends and family staying with us in NY, would not be very nice to leave them to fly to Detroit).

Has anyone had any experience with the AR-11/change of address not being confirmed, and/or having to change the I-485 interview office location?

Thanks so much!

[Hypnos 6,576]

Each USCIS office only has jurisdiction over a certain geographical area. If you attend this interview in Detroit, as soon as they find out you no longer live within their jurisdiction (it will probably be one of their first questions) then they will terminate the interview and send your case file to NY, where you will be rescheduled for another interview. Detroit cannot approve you.

You also cannot change your husband's address using your I-485 application number, as you found out. I'm unsure as to whether your husband is required to change the address on his already-approved I-129F; somehow I doubt it, but USCIS are collectively not the brightest of federal agencies.

I would suggest calling the USCIS misinformation line, asking to speak to a tier 2 representative (i.e. someone who is actually an IO) and informing them that you no longer live in Detroit and need to have your case filed moved to your new local office, which will be in NY.

Edited September 14, 2014 by Hypnos

[KPea 0]

I would suggest calling the USCIS misinformation line, asking to speak to a tier 2 representative (i.e. someone who is actually an IO) and informing them that you no longer live in Detroit and need to have your case filed moved to your new local office, which will be in NY.

Thanks so much! I plan on calling them first thing Monday. What's the misinformation line, I googled it but nothing came up...Also..silly question...what does IO stand for?

Also, I got a text/email that my I-765 and I-131 has been approved (the I-765 said it the order for production was sent today and the I-131 said it was approved) so looking at the timelines, most people seem to receive their EAD/AP combo card within a week after approval...I imagine it is going ot be sent to my sister-in-laws address in Michigan. But if I call on Monday and get my address confirmed as NY, will that mess up the ordering and sending of the combo card to me? I'm scared that it might be ready to be shipped to Michigan (which is fine, my sister in law can just send it to me), but when I confirm the change of address, that there might be further complications and it gets lost in the mail, or delayed or something.

[Hypnos 6,576]

The misinformation line is what USCIS' tier 1 support is colloquially known as here. It's 1-800-375-5283, and ask for a tier 2 officer. It will be a wait to get one, maybe even an hour or two, but once you do you will be speaking to a proper USCIS immigration officer (IO), not a contractor reading from a script like the tier 1 support.

Unsure as to where your AP and EAD combo card will go. They don't always process address changes correctly, particularly for applications in process like this, and this is unfortunately just the latest example.

Edited September 14, 2014 by Hypnos