Traveling out of US while waiting for AOS interview

[sunnydreamer 0]

Hi All

I am F1 student who married a USC. My timeline:

- July 2015 - Got married

- Aug 2015 - applied for AOS (I130/485)

- Sept 2015 - biometrics appointment

- Nov 2015 - received EAD/AP combo card

Current case status on USCIS site: As of September 30, 2015, we are ready to schedule your Form I-485 for an interview.

I am traveling out of the country for 3 weeks starting next week. I will be asking USPS to hold on my mail till Feb 5th.

- Does USCIS post the interview date online (as case status) along with sending interview letter in mail?

- On average how much time between receiving interview letter and actual interview date?

- In case interview falls during my travel period, how can i reschedule?

- Should I be expecting RFE as it has been like 5 months since I submitted my application?

- Does the online case status reflect RFE in case there is one?

Thanks in advance.

Happy Wednesday!!!

[theoleg 1]

Hi All

I am F1 student who married a USC. My timeline:

- July 2015 - Got married

- Aug 2015 - applied for AOS (I130/485)

- Sept 2015 - biometrics appointment

- Nov 2015 - received EAD/AP combo card

Current case status on USCIS site: As of September 30, 2015, we are ready to schedule your Form I-485 for an interview.

I am traveling out of the country for 3 weeks starting next week. I will be asking USPS to hold on my mail till Feb 5th.

- Does USCIS post the interview date online (as case status) along with sending interview letter in mail?

- On average how much time between receiving interview letter and actual interview date?

- In case interview falls during my travel period, how can i reschedule?

- Should I be expecting RFE as it has been like 5 months since I submitted my application?

- Does the online case status reflect RFE in case there is one?

Thanks in advance.

Happy Wednesday!!!

- Does USCIS post the interview date online (as case status) along with sending interview letter in mail?

Yes. The online status update should read something like "On [Date], we scheduled you for your interview and mailed you an interview notice for Receipt Number [Receipt #]. Your interview is on [Date]."

- On average how much time between receiving interview letter and actual interview date?

Provided your mail arrives on schedule and isn't delayed, usually about 3 weeks to 2 months in advance.

- In case interview falls during my travel period, how can i reschedule?

Instructions to reschedule are included on the mailed i-797 interview notice (not on the online update) - I believe these instructions have changed over time, so it is best to follow what you are provided.

It is strongly recommended that you don't reschedule unless absolutely necessary, as it's up to the case handler's discretion as to whether or not they will accept your reason to reschedule, and often takes a while to respond to the request to reschedule (it is not uncommon to hear of cases where they will respond with a "no", AFTER the interview date). In some cases, the rescheduling may push your application back a few months, forcing you to extend your EAD, submit a new I-693 for a medical (due to the 1 year expiration date), etc.

- Should I be expecting RFE as it has been like 5 months since I submitted my application?

Quite a few field offices around the country are experiencing delays - I'd do a search on this and other websites to see if anyone else whose application is being handled by the same field office as you is facing similar delays, to get a better indication of what the situation is.

- Does the online case status reflect RFE in case there is one?

Not that I'm aware of - though I've never received an RFE, so someone else might be able to answer this better.

Edited January 6, 2016 by theoleg

[RS_0812 12]

I would strongly recommend to call in every so often to check if an interview has been scheduled, since you are going to have the mail held. The online case status tool, site is not updated as promptly or frequently as it should be.

[sunnydreamer 0]

I would strongly recommend to call in every so often to check if an interview has been scheduled, since you are going to have the mail held. The online case status tool, site is not updated as promptly or frequently as it should be.

Call the local office? or the National Service Center?

[RS_0812 12]

Call the local office? or the National Service Center?

If you have a contact at the local office, I would believe that would be best, but normally you would need to call the main number for USCIS and be VERY PATIENT. If the first person is not very helpful ask for an ISO.

Here is a link, http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/293330-calling-uscis/, for another thread related to this. you could search through the site for more recent info on reaching someone that will really answer your questions, but PATIENCE is key.

Others with more knowledge, or more recent experience might answer, but to me the case status site is a joke, a waste of money.

Edited January 7, 2016 by RS_0812