VAWA, Part 6

[Sandra G. 5,052]

Mpstory Congratulations!

[Mpostory 0]

Hey Mpostory,

Thanks for sharing your story. How did you know when your file was sent to Summit, MO and then to local office? Your AOS was pretty quick. People here are waiting for 5-6 months to get an interview.

I signed up for that text message alerts and e-mail alerts. Sometimes you actually receive US Postal mail informing you about the transferring of the cases before the electronic notifications. "This is a long process, and what is needed is a lot of patience", this is the advice I got from the officer who took my biometrics for this process. Patience Dodgetown, patience. Once you send your entire package you already in the process, just gotta hold on to your faith, and keep on researching on these forums. Trust me, your issue someone would have already asked and an answer would have been provided already. We have excellent contributors to this forum like Sandra, et all. Do your research, the answers are already here.

Good luck amigo!

[Mpostory 0]

Mpstory Congratulations!

Thank you Sandranj and always know that your contributions helped a lot in me preparing my package for the case. I believe many people also utilize your selfless assistance, just know that even if we might not reach out to you directly, we all appreciate what you do on this forum.

Mucho gracias muchacha!

[greenteacookie 1]

Hi everyone, haven't been on here for a while. Its been very depressing to be honest. So, a lot has happened since I filed back in march. He found out where I lived, I started panicking and anxiety got worse. Then out of the blue, DCF and two police officers showed up at my door. Not sure who called, probably a neighbour. Went through hell with them because DCF case worker assumed that just because my daughter looked "normal" that she was. Was only after her behavioural therapist, a disability advocate got involved and scalded the DCF case worker for not being sensitive and knowledgeable enough about a child on her books who suffered from a terminal metabolic disease. Cut a long story short, I complained to the DCF supervisor who closed my case. The next day my parents sent me money from England, I packed up my stuff, rented a uhaul and left Florida.

I got a new place, my daughter is in school and the only thing that would make life so much better is my damn EAD card and GC.

Got an update, may 13th saying card was produced. Another update June 3rd saying card was produced AGAIN. The today it says it was mailed. I changed my address online when I moved here, but I kept the same attorney for obvious reasons. Wondering when I'll get this magical card aka EAD and if it will be sent to me or to the attorney.

hi milania86, im so sorry to hear about your struggles, I hear you. I am also struggling with day to day life, It's been really frustrating not having a job and a home to stay. Im very thankful that there are kind spirits that are willing to help. Have you tried to get an infopass? when did you submit your paperwork? I just sent mine this tues (june 9). Hope our paperworks goes through quick! best of luck.

Btw, I also live in Florida. Orlando area. but you said just left the state. Hope everything will work out for you.Take care.

[milania86 0]

Greenteacookie: I found out today that because of the delay my attorney had already contacted them and believe it or not, she received my EAD in the mail this morning. So, hopefully she will send it today or tomorrow. Its been such a long wait! More than the 90 days they claim. I was just on the outskirts of Orlando/kissimmee area. I was hell living there though. Never again. I hope you having better luck than I did. To be honest they only good thing that happened there was the women's shelter that took us in and helped with getting an attorney.

[*Forever*Always* 9]

Completed my Biometrics! I am wondering how long it be before I get a new update and what it would be.... Does any one have an idea what's next and how long it be for each things?

Thanks

[greenteacookie 1]

Greenteacookie: I found out today that because of the delay my attorney had already contacted them and believe it or not, she received my EAD in the mail this morning. So, hopefully she will send it today or tomorrow. Its been such a long wait! More than the 90 days they claim. I was just on the outskirts of Orlando/kissimmee area. I was hell living there though. Never again. I hope you having better luck than I did. To be honest they only good thing that happened there was the women's shelter that took us in and helped with getting an attorney.

Sorry you don't have good experience in Florida. Fortunately for me I found good friends who helped me and offered me a home to stay.

Congratulations on your EAD! Finally, you can apply for a job now! I noticed that if you don't do follow-up on them, your case will be buried and forgotten.

Good luck on your new journey! Hope you get settled in very well in your new place.

[another_anxious_1 0]

Hello everyone,

I have read all of this (Part 6) thread and am halfway through Part 5 now. The stories the applicants share are more nail-bitingly captivating than those in the movies, and Sandra, you are a true superhero!

I am looking for some moral support and advice in the weeks to come. I have submitted my I-360, I-485 and I-765 in February of this year. They were receipted by USCIS on February 19th. With 5 weeks left until the 5 months of regular processing time is up, my nerves are finally giving in, and my PTSD is getting worse again after months of improvement.

It is hard to look at the USCIS website daily and see no change from "Fees were waived". Is that the "Initial review" everybody is talking about or should it say that to be in that stage?

The only communication I have had from Vermont in this time were the I-797Cs (including one for an I485 biometric appointment, which I had done on March 25th) and a Prima Facie (dated March 5th) expiring September 1st.

I have called USCIS this Friday the 12th and they created a Service Request for me as it has been almost 4 months since I applied for my EAD. It was a surprisingly efficient interaction. Would somebody please confirm that even though they cannot give information about VAWA-related cases over the phone they can provide it over the email regarding the Service Request? Is it a bad sign that some 116 days out USCIS still has not issued me with an EAD?

Sandra - if I am unlucky enough to be denied, what are the chances and the timeline with the appeal? I would at least like to complete my divorce before I would have to leave the country - and we haven't had our first hearing yet.

Also, thinking about the next steps, I have checked the Infopass website for available appointments and there is none at all listed in Miami. Is that normal? What does one do in this instance?

Is there anything else I can or should do at this point to find out something about my VAWA application itself? I am hoping they will drop a word or two in the service request, but I don't know how much I can trust that. I believe Sandra listed steps as phone->Infopass->e-request. Should I wait until 5 months is up (that would leave just over a month until my Prima Facie expires) to create an e-request?

Thank you!

[Dodgertown 27]

Dear Sandra,

Based on your experience, what is the current processing time for AOS based on approved vawa I-360? Has it been improved recently?

Also, I just read all 6 parts of vawa discussion on this forum and noticed that some (actually most) of people here do not get any online case status updates when their interview is scheduled. For instance a couple of people reported that after their case was shipped to NBC the online status never changed even after interview was scheduled already? The reason I am asking this is because I travel a lot and don't want to miss my interview letter.

[blest.but.strest 50]

Would somebody please confirm that even though they cannot give information about VAWA-related cases over the phone they can provide it over the email regarding the Service Request? Is it a bad sign that some 116 days out USCIS still has not issued me with an EAD?

Sandra - if I am unlucky enough to be denied, what are the chances and the timeline with the appeal? I would at least like to complete my divorce before I would have to leave the country - and we haven't had our first hearing yet.

Also, thinking about the next steps, I have checked the Infopass website for available appointments and there is none at all listed in Miami. Is that normal? What does one do in this instance?

Is there anything else I can or should do at this point to find out something about my VAWA application itself? I am hoping they will drop a word or two in the service request, but I don't know how much I can trust that. I believe Sandra listed steps as phone->Infopass->e-request. Should I wait until 5 months is up (that would leave just over a month until my Prima Facie expires) to create an e-request?

Thank you!

Normally EAD takes about 3 months to receive, lately I have seen a few people waiting 4 months. If you call the toll free number, you most probably won't get any info about your EAD. You can still try to call and give them your EAD receipt number without mentioning Vawa and see what they'll tell you. Some VJ members have had success getting information by not mentioning their pending I-360 to the customer service rep.

I've tried Service request and E-request before but USCIS they never gave me any info about any of my applications. I suggest you still file a service request and/or E-request anyway, some people also have had success with those, personally I didn't.

You should set up an infopass appointment, yes it's normal for you not to see any appointments at the Miami office, it's a VERY VERY busy office. The secret to get an appointment is to get on the infopass website at 3am, appointment seem to magically show up at that time, that's how I booked all my infopass appointments in the past.

The processing time of Vawa I-360 applications at VSC is 5 months right now, so you should wait until after the 5th month to inquire about your I-360 application.

If you get your Vawa denied, it's suggested for you to reapply for VAWA, since the success rate for appeals is very low and could take longer then simply reapplying with you new I-360.

[Sandra G. 5,052]

Another anxious1 Vawa takes 5/6 months, do not inquire about your Vawa yet. Write a letter to USCIS to expedite your work permit,mention that you filed almost 120 days ago and without the work permit you cant work, you have bills to pay, you do not have assets or savings (if it's the case) and you need the work permit as soon as possible.

The chance to have the appeal granted is 1% . USCIS always issue an RFE if they did not find enough proof of the abuse and/or bonafide marriage,that being said the alien has a chance to submit additional proof or explain better about the abuse/bonafide marriage.

Edited June 15, 2015 by sandranj

[Sandra G. 5,052]

Dodgetown USCIS web site is not reliable.

[another_anxious_1 0]

Thank you, Dodgertown and Sandra.

Dodgertown - I will be trying the 3am trick for sure! I am told that the appointment is likely to be a month out anyway, which would be 5 months. Maybe they have their servers or some such in Cali and they update at their midnight?

Sandra - thank you for letting me know that some EADs have been taking 4 months recently, as it is 4 months with mine this Thursday, and the processing time is still listed as only 3 months.

Would somebody please confirm that "Fees waived", I-797C and no other updates in the online system (people have been talking about case being "touched") mean that the case is actually in Initial Review? Or is it possible nobody even looked at my file again?

Thanks!

[Tink88_ 9]

another_anxious_1 My VAWA had a receipt notice for the 5th of December. My Prima Facie expiration date was the 9th of June. I had no RFE and my status was always fees waived. On the 2nd of June my case changed to approved.

For your EAD, send a request to Vermont like Sandra said. (regular Mail)

I spoke to an immigration officer at my Biometrics and asked about my Vawa as it had been about 5 months and he said he cannot give me any information, as it is taken care of by the VAWA unit... As long as you do not mention the VAWA on the hotline, you usually can inquire with them.

[another_anxious_1 0]

Thank you, Tink88. Congratulations on your approval! It was very smart of you to try to ask at biometrics, and the silence all these months must have driven you crazy. Did you ask for your Prima Facie to be extended?

Sandra - I was told that I shouldn't hustle the VAWA unit, because it might piss them of/make them more likely to do the easy thing - deny. Is there any truth to that? I would like to get a work permit to hopefully get a temporary job and buckle down to wait at least another 2 months. But the advice was to keep quiet unless I really cannot pull through for another couple of months.