January 2016 Filers

[jigabodo 0]

Hello guys!

So I filed my 485 under F2b back in Jan 2016 along with my EAD and AP. At the time my priority date was not current but I was still able to file because of the new date for filing rule.

It's been over 3 months now and I still have not even gotten my biometrics appointment! I've called USCIS, flagged multiple service requests and nothing has been done! It's been weeks passed the expected response date for the service request and they still have not gotten back to me. It is indeed very frustrating!

Now it is already May and my priority date just got current and I still haven't gotten my biometrics appointment!

Is there anything I can do? Please let me know!

Thanks!

[Tammy1010 1]

My suggestion to you would be go make an infopass appt and go into your local field office. Ive always gotten more information there than over the phone.

[Javilasardar 10]

My Congressman's office informed me that my I-485 application has been ready for interview since April 5, 2016 and is waiting in queue, and that I will get an interview notice when an interview has been scheduled. The online status has not changed at all since RFE response was received in late March.

Does this mean that my file has moved from NBC to my field office in Boston?

[tsakchua 0]

To those that got their drivers license after getting their Social Security Card - how long did it take for it to come in the mail after you applied?

The lady told me 10 days, and its been 10 days and I haven't received it yet...

I got my Social Card. 10 days after application.

[Tammy1010 1]

jayess21. My application has been ready for interview since March 15th, I have to yet hear something about it.

Ive looked into this and I've been told that once the field office is ready to schedule your interview (based on your priority date for that centre), they request the file from the NBC and so you should call the customer service number to see where your file is.

If its at the Field office, chances are your interview will probably be coming in a few weeks. If its still at the NBC, theres still more waiting to be done.

My file has reached the field office recently so Ive been waiting patiently...but haven't received anything in the mail yet. Hopefully soon!

[Valor 131]

jayess21. My application has been ready for interview since March 15th, I have to yet hear something about it.

Ive looked into this and I've been told that once the field office is ready to schedule your interview (based on your priority date for that centre), they request the file from the NBC and so you should call the customer service number to see where your file is.

If its at the Field office, chances are your interview will probably be coming in a few weeks. If its still at the NBC, theres still more waiting to be done.

My file has reached the field office recently so Ive been waiting patiently...but haven't received anything in the mail yet. Hopefully soon!

Very helpful to know this. I called USCIS two weeks ago and they told me that my case was still pending at National Benefit Center. After I saw you post this morning, I called them again and the customer representative told me my case is now at my local office already. Finger crossed!

[Javilasardar 10]

jayess21. My application has been ready for interview since March 15th, I have to yet hear something about it.

Ive looked into this and I've been told that once the field office is ready to schedule your interview (based on your priority date for that centre), they request the file from the NBC and so you should call the customer service number to see where your file is.

If its at the Field office, chances are your interview will probably be coming in a few weeks. If its still at the NBC, theres still more waiting to be done.

My file has reached the field office recently so Ive been waiting patiently...but haven't received anything in the mail yet. Hopefully soon!

Thanks Tammy. I just called USCIS and the Tier 2 said that my case is 'probably' at the NBC or field. He was not sure. He made this big fuss about having i-130 approved first. Without which nothing is possible. Asked me to wait 8-10 months from priority date of Jan 20. So all in all, not much hope here.

[jigabodo 0]

Guys,

I just wanted to give an update on my case.

Essentially, USCIS received my I-485/765/131 for AOS in Jan. 2016. It took me over 4 months to get my biometrics appointment!

1. First I called USCIS, talked to tier 2 IO 45 days after the application received date. She confirmed that everything looked good. They put a service request in and I was told to call back later.

2. I did not get a response by the SR deadline so I called again some time after. I talked to another tier 2 officer and put another service request in. I confirmed again that the application is still good to go. At this point I also made an infopass appt. The IO at the local office told me my case is not there and therefore they cannot schedule biometrics. At this point I knew something screwed up.

3. After 3 months without biometrics I called the 3rd time. This time the IO told me USCIS had forgotten to put my address on the application so it has been on standstill this entire time without getting to local field office!

4. 2 weeks updating my address I finally received my biometrics. This is just crazy!

[Tammy1010 1]

Hi all,

I had my immigration appointment today at the Houston Field office and I thought I'd share what happened before I forget everything.
We got there 30 minutes early. Were called right at 9am.
We met with a senior officer who really knew her stuff.
We were asked to swear in that whatever we say is the truth
She proceeded to ask me and him some questions separately.

- got a timeline of our relationship - when we met, how we met, when did we tell family about each other, when was the engagement, who came to the engagement, when was the wedding, who came to the wedding.

- then she asked me if we live together, and I said yes. She asked me how much did my husband buy our current house for, what does it look like, what kind of AC unit it has, how many bedrooms it has, and the appraisal value (which I didn't know so I told her I didn't know and she was ok with that).
- then she went over all of our paperwork, she actually went through all of the forms we had submitted to USCIS first and reconfirmed all the information and then went through the stuff we took with us:

- our pictures - we made an album

- credit/debit card joint accounts

- house bills - utility

- joint car insurance

- joint title on our cars

- joint registration on our cars

- joint medical, dental and life insurance

I was starting a new job in July and she asked me about that.

Overall, it seemed like she asked a lot of questions but they were very easy. Our entire interview took about 30 minutes after which she told us our case had been approved. She stamped my passport and gave us two printouts.

What I'm wondering now is how long people waited to get their green card in the mail? And has anyone travelled with the stamped "green card". She told me legally it is the same as the physical card but I just want to make sure its safe for me to travel back to Canada if I choose to before my green card comes in the mail.

Thanks guys! Hope y'all receive what you need soon This journey hasn't been easy, but over on the other side, its definitely worth it.

[Ali&Oli 0]

Hi Tammy. Congratulations on reaching you finish line, I hope we all can get there soon.

I checked to see if you have a timeline but you didn't. Could you give us a rundown? Things like when did you send in your initial AOS packet, how long after did you receive your biometrics? EAD?interview notice? and so on.

Thank you.

[Tammy1010 1]

Sure!

Jan 6th 2016 - sent my application to the Chicago Location (overnight shipping)

Jan 7th 2016 - application received - this was my priority date

Jan 19th, 2016 - received receipt letters from MSC

Jan 29th, 2016 - Received letter for biometrics (for Feb 11th)

Feb 1st - did walk in Biometrics appointment (successfully)

March 15, 2016 - Application ready for interview from MSC

April 8th, 2016 - received EAD and travel document combination card (after going through my local congressman because I had already been 90+ days --- that really helped, I was approved on the same day I reached out to them)

April 25th, 2016 - application ready for interview, interview given for May 25th, 2016

May 25th, 2016 - Interview completed at Houston Field office and green card approved!

Awaiting Green Card in the mail.

Please note - I found it THE most helpful to make an infopass appointment to get information from them regarding where my file was. I don't think calling the customer service line was that helpful for me. My office was about 25 minutes away so I made a few and went in and talked to an officer. This is very helpful because they can always direct you to the supervisor etc, which is not possible over the phone.

I wish everyone the best of luck. Be patient. Very very patient - I know easier said than done lol, but try.

[HoustonIsSlow 0]

Hi Tammy,

How did you get scheduled so soon for an interview in Houston? a bunch of us have been waiting for almost a year now for a date...shm congrats too.

Sure!

Jan 6th 2016 - sent my application to the Chicago Location (overnight shipping)

Jan 7th 2016 - application received - this was my priority date

Jan 19th, 2016 - received receipt letters from MSC

Jan 29th, 2016 - Received letter for biometrics (for Feb 11th)

Feb 1st - did walk in Biometrics appointment (successfully)

March 15, 2016 - Application ready for interview from MSC

April 8th, 2016 - received EAD and travel document combination card (after going through my local congressman because I had already been 90+ days --- that really helped, I was approved on the same day I reached out to them)

April 25th, 2016 - application ready for interview, interview given for May 25th, 2016

May 25th, 2016 - Interview completed at Houston Field office and green card approved!

Awaiting Green Card in the mail.

Please note - I found it THE most helpful to make an infopass appointment to get information from them regarding where my file was. I don't think calling the customer service line was that helpful for me. My office was about 25 minutes away so I made a few and went in and talked to an officer. This is very helpful because they can always direct you to the supervisor etc, which is not possible over the phone.

I wish everyone the best of luck. Be patient. Very very patient - I know easier said than done lol, but try.

[Ali&Oli 0]

Hi Tammy,

Wow. That's just truly wonderful and right on actual processing time (4-6 months) to get an approval.

If you take a look at my timeline you will see that we had a hell of a time going through this process and yes patient is a very big part of this process. We too did have to get our congressman involved while I was awaiting my VISA APPROVAL. That helped a great deal.

Looks like we will have to do just that again when we come up on our 90 day deadline for EAD and AP. An info pass will be done as well. We live only 10 minutes away from our field office.

It's a bit sad to see that some cases are being held up for no reason (like ours did before we were able to marry and adjust) and some are going through just fine (like yours did.)

Again, congratulations to you and your family and thank you so much for your helpful info and timeline.

Edited May 26, 2016 by Ali&Oli

[Tammy1010 1]

Maybe it depends on the visa you are adjusting from? Not sure. Hopefully y'all get your turns soon.

[Javilasardar 10]

I received my interview notice in the mail for early August. There were no text updates, and the online status has not updated since the RFE response was received in March.

We are glad that we are hitting 6-7 month timeline for AOS, which is the norm for Boston applicants. :-)

Edited July 6, 2016 by jayess21