AOS March 2016 Filers

[sparkles_ 456]

I just signed into my account on the USCIS website to check the status. The official status remains the same at "Fingerprint fee was received on March 11..." However, under the case history it now states that the service request made by the Tier 2 officer with whom we spoke by phone on November 15 was assigned to an officer for processing yesterday, December 7. The service request was supposed to move our case to the local service center in St. Paul, MN to be ready for interview. The online update says that USCIS sent a response to me yesterday...but I haven't received anything by email or text (checked spam folder, too). My last service request from Nov. 8 arrived by email.

Any suggestions??

Call the 800 number, ask them to read the response to you! I did this last time, say you never got the email response I told them I needed to know it today, like now, so I could avoid transferring to a tier 2.

I managed to get an infopass finally!! Dec. 19....hoping we can get some answers somehow

Edited December 8, 2016 by sparkles_

[Linyahui 103]

Call the 800 number, ask them to read the response to you! I did this last time, say you never got the email response I told them I needed to know it today, like now, so I could avoid transferring to a tier 2.

I managed to get an infopass finally!! Dec. 19....hoping we can get some answers somehow

Do you know whether I, as the US citizen spouse, can call and get the response, or does my husband also have to be present for them to release the information? I'm the one who *technically* made the request, but the green card application is *technically* filled out by my husband.

Just before I waste a gazillion years on hold with them...

Congrats on getting the InfoPass!!!! Hope you can get some answers, too. Please post about your experience afterwards!!

[sparkles_ 456]

Do you know whether I, as the US citizen spouse, can call and get the response, or does my husband also have to be present for them to release the information? I'm the one who *technically* made the request, but the green card application is *technically* filled out by my husband.

Just before I waste a gazillion years on hold with them...

Congrats on getting the InfoPass!!!! Hope you can get some answers, too. Please post about your experience afterwards!!

He just has to be around to tell them you have permission to talk about the case and give the phone back to you, since the i485 is technically the immigrant's case. You don't have to ask a tier 2. The basic person you get can read it to you, no hold time needed

I will post as soon as we go, unless we get the interview letter before this!

Edited December 8, 2016 by sparkles_

[AmythS 2]

Congrats

We also filed on March 25 .... but nothing yet about interview... tired of waiting... I wish we could do it before Christmas, cause we are student and December is a good time for us , but seemingly it's not gonna happen...

Well I don't know at what stage of application you are at, make sure you call them. There is no common sense to justify on the processing timings for any place or any stage of the documentation process just that somehow it seems every time an applicant calls their application seems to gather pace. Ask to talk to Tier 2 and your process will seem to be going fine. I was on my F1 visa as well but I would call them regularly...had address changed twice and even an RFE and in spite of that my process was pretty much in the timeline.

[Linyahui 103]

He just has to be around to tell them you have permission to talk about the case and give the phone back to you, since the i485 is technically the immigrant's case. You don't have to ask a tier 2. The basic person you get can read it to you, no hold time needed

I will post as soon as we go, unless we get the interview letter before this!

I wish I'd read this before calling just now...spoke to a Tier 1 and she was very dismissive and rude to me, saying that my husband had to be present and I wasn't eligible to receive any information. Got our case history all mixed up and then told me to call back "when I figured out how the system worked." Wow, thanks for your professionalism. Excuse me while I go cry angry tears....

I think the vast majority of us on this forum DO understand how the system works, it's just the USCIS doesn't seem to follow their own policies and rules! I have gone through this entire process on my own (with my husband), but no lawyer, just relying on VJ and other blogs/immigration websites. SO FRUSTRATING when we know what should be happening and yet are talked down to by people who answer phones all day with no knowledge or empathy or real desire to help...

[sparkles_ 456]

I wish I'd read this before calling just now...spoke to a Tier 1 and she was very dismissive and rude to me, saying that my husband had to be present and I wasn't eligible to receive any information. Got our case history all mixed up and then told me to call back "when I figured out how the system worked." Wow, thanks for your professionalism. Excuse me while I go cry angry tears....

I think the vast majority of us on this forum DO understand how the system works, it's just the USCIS doesn't seem to follow their own policies and rules! I have gone through this entire process on my own (with my husband), but no lawyer, just relying on VJ and other blogs/immigration websites. SO FRUSTRATING when we know what should be happening and yet are talked down to by people who answer phones all day with no knowledge or empathy or real desire to help...

Awwww man, what a jerk. Call back with him, and let me tell you, I've called back within the same 5 minute window if I didn't get what I wanted from one.....another one will eventually tell me what I need to know or get me to someone who can. I do NOT care if I call 4 times in a row. When I call right back I straight up tell them I'm hoping they can help me because I just had a borderline unpleasant experience with someone else there and was told to call back. And now here I am again. That seems to make people kinder.

Just call back and say the above stuff. And say you have checked your spam, both emails inboxes as well and the reply isn't there and you need it.....can you please read me the response? Don't ask if they are able or willing or anything extra.

I've had to take over talking to the tier 1 people for my husband a few times because it seems if you are a really nice person (he is and he won't pin someone to the wall with questions), a lot of them will dump on you and give you the run around.

[Linyahui 103]

Awwww man, what a jerk. Call back with him, and let me tell you, I've called back within the same 5 minute window if I didn't get what I wanted from one.....another one will eventually tell me what I need to know or get me to someone who can. I do NOT care if I call 4 times in a row. When I call right back I straight up tell them I'm hoping they can help me because I just had a borderline unpleasant experience with someone else there and was told to call back. And now here I am again. That seems to make people kinder.

Just call back and say the above stuff. And say you have checked your spam, both emails inboxes as well and the reply isn't there and you need it.....can you please read me the response? Don't ask if they are able or willing or anything extra.

I've had to take over talking to the tier 1 people for my husband a few times because it seems if you are a really nice person (he is and he won't pin someone to the wall with questions), a lot of them will dump on you and give you the run around.

Yeah, she was kind of a jerk. I hesitate to lose my sh*t or be overly aggressive because I don't want anything to affect the pending application...do those Tier 1 officers have any power to add notes to the file or otherwise pass on a message, like "the USC spouse was a complete pill, make this case drag out as long as possible!!!!" I mean, I'm obviously exaggerating, but you get my point. Do we need to worry about this?

I ended up calling back a third time with my hubby and asked if the (nicer) Tier 1 could read the response to us. However, she said she didn't have access to that information. Was that a bald-faced lie????

[sparkles_ 456]

Yeah, she was kind of a jerk. I hesitate to lose my sh*t or be overly aggressive because I don't want anything to affect the pending application...do those Tier 1 officers have any power to add notes to the file or otherwise pass on a message, like "the USC spouse was a complete pill, make this case drag out as long as possible!!!!" I mean, I'm obviously exaggerating, but you get my point. Do we need to worry about this?

I ended up calling back a third time with my hubby and asked if the (nicer) Tier 1 could read the response to us. However, she said she didn't have access to that information. Was that a bald-faced lie????

Nah, the tier one and even tier two have zero power.....the only one who matters is whoever is processing your case and the one who interviews you guys at the local office. And you will never speak to the processing person at the service centers.

I don't get why they would read it to me, and not you guys.....that doesn't seem right and I know we aren't anything special, so they must have access. Only thing the tier one could not tell me was which email it went to, mine or my husband's. I would call again and say you never got it, need to know the response or you need a tier two who can tell you.

[Ninahi 53]

Called to speak with Tier 2.

Fat nothing.

Application is in Missouri. For some reason they told my congress representative it's in Florida. I received a RFE from Louisiana. My field office is in California. She couldn't tell me what is the last action taken on my application, or if they received my RFE response (it can take two months after submission), just that it's "still processing". It's been processing for 13 months, I don't understand what's taking so long on an extremely straightforward case. We've been together 11 years, applied for K1 when it became available to us, I interviewed for it, entered on a valid Visa, we married AND filed AOS within the 90 days. I have accrued no illegal presence, I have done absolutely nothing wrong, I responded to their RFE within a week of receiving it. She put in a useless SR for me that'll 100% bounce back to me with a "we're experiencing delays" letter. Told me to just wait.

I'm so frustrated I think I might cry. I'd feel better if she could tell me when my file was last touched, or when to expect something to happen, or that she'll put a SR to encourage scheduling an interview. Anything. But no. I'm absolutely 100% not any wiser than I was before calling.

[Linyahui 103]

Called to speak with Tier 2.

Fat nothing.

Application is in Missouri. For some reason they told my congress representative it's in Florida. I received a RFE from Louisiana. My field office is in California. She couldn't tell me what is the last action taken on my application, or if they received my RFE response (it can take two months after submission), just that it's "still processing". It's been processing for 13 months, I don't understand what's taking so long on an extremely straightforward case. We've been together 11 years, applied for K1 when it became available to us, I interviewed for it, entered on a valid Visa, we married AND filed AOS within the 90 days. I have accrued no illegal presence, I have done absolutely nothing wrong, I responded to their RFE within a week of receiving it. She put in a useless SR for me that'll 100% bounce back to me with a "we're experiencing delays" letter. Told me to just wait.

I'm so frustrated I think I might cry. I'd feel better if she could tell me when my file was last touched, or when to expect something to happen, or that she'll put a SR to encourage scheduling an interview. Anything. But no. I'm absolutely 100% not any wiser than I was before calling.

I wish I could give you a hug. I completely 100% understand how you are feeling right now. I was feeling the same way earlier today, although our case hasn't taken as long as yours (9 months as of yesterday). Our application is also, apparently, still in Missouri and hasn't been touched since April (that's what a Tier 2 told us). He put in a service request to encourage scheduling an interview and that was assigned and completed on 12/7. But I haven't received a response and no one at USCIS can or will tell me what's happening.

It's so very easy to feel hopeless and discouraged. My Polish mom is of the tough love variety and she knocked some sense into me today (lovingly but toughly). She said that my husband made the decision to leave his country and I have to be strong for him. She's right. I hope that your wife is able to do the same for you.

Although it feels impossible right now, we know that we will eventually get answers and will move on with our lives. We have to stay positive...because the alternative is to spend the interim dwelling in sadness and despair. I can't do that anymore, so I'm trying to retrain my brain to think positively. It's amazing how easy it is to teach ourselves to expect the worst.

Just know that the people on this forum know what you're going through because we're going through it, too. It helps to have a community that understands.

[sparkles_ 456]

Called to speak with Tier 2.

Fat nothing.

Application is in Missouri. For some reason they told my congress representative it's in Florida. I received a RFE from Louisiana. My field office is in California. She couldn't tell me what is the last action taken on my application, or if they received my RFE response (it can take two months after submission), just that it's "still processing". It's been processing for 13 months, I don't understand what's taking so long on an extremely straightforward case. We've been together 11 years, applied for K1 when it became available to us, I interviewed for it, entered on a valid Visa, we married AND filed AOS within the 90 days. I have accrued no illegal presence, I have done absolutely nothing wrong, I responded to their RFE within a week of receiving it. She put in a useless SR for me that'll 100% bounce back to me with a "we're experiencing delays" letter. Told me to just wait.

I'm so frustrated I think I might cry. I'd feel better if she could tell me when my file was last touched, or when to expect something to happen, or that she'll put a SR to encourage scheduling an interview. Anything. But no. I'm absolutely 100% not any wiser than I was before calling.

Is there a service center in Florida even? I do not think so.....I'm fairly certain that was misnformation and an oopsie on someone's part. I'm getting the vibe that things are getting backed up again like they were this time last year. It took our i130 11.5mo to be approved, and it was transferred all over to 'balance workloads' as they say. Have you ever done an infopass? If you haven't, it may be worth it.

Maybe you're going to get the interview waiver letter. I'm going to cross my fingers for you on that since you're a straight forward k1 to AOS. Big hugs to you, I know waiting sucks and being asked to wait with what seems like no end in sight or light at the end of the tunnel is even worse.

I am still sticking by the idea that we will all get interview letters shortly after the new year. Also, where is davyjoe!.....is he still waiting as well?

Edited December 9, 2016 by sparkles_

[sparkles_ 456]

I wish I could give you a hug. I completely 100% understand how you are feeling right now. I was feeling the same way earlier today, although our case hasn't taken as long as yours (9 months as of yesterday). Our application is also, apparently, still in Missouri and hasn't been touched since April (that's what a Tier 2 told us). He put in a service request to encourage scheduling an interview and that was assigned and completed on 12/7. But I haven't received a response and no one at USCIS can or will tell me what's happening.

It's so very easy to feel hopeless and discouraged. My Polish mom is of the tough love variety and she knocked some sense into me today (lovingly but toughly). She said that my husband made the decision to leave his country and I have to be strong for him. She's right. I hope that your wife is able to do the same for you.

Although it feels impossible right now, we know that we will eventually get answers and will move on with our lives. We have to stay positive...because the alternative is to spend the interim dwelling in sadness and despair. I can't do that anymore, so I'm trying to retrain my brain to think positively. It's amazing how easy it is to teach ourselves to expect the worst.

Just know that the people on this forum know what you're going through because we're going through it, too. It helps to have a community that understands.

I'm the same way. I assume the worst, like lately I have actually wondered if they lost our file somewhere, and I had to get that out of my mind ASAP or else it would worry me sick. We have done all we can, filed and responded to the RFE within 2wk, it was received and now we wait. Breathe in, breathe out....woosah

As hokey as it sounds, we are more fortunate than some. We get to see our spouses every day, the horrible distance part is over, it's all a mental wait game at this point.

[AmythS 2]

The last few days have just been a ride, I changed my address twice, got an RFE but persistence has been the key and being patient. Thanks to all the VJ people who have been helping and just been quick enough to questions asked. I was scheduled to receive my green card next week but for a change USPS worked faster than usual . Got an early delivery and received my card. I've just been very very lucky my status on the USCIS website has been so busy and ever changing got status even suggesting the USPS tracking ID for me to track my package. This is probably because of the officer who had my case assigned was very prompt on updating the status on regular basis. Thank you once again and keeping my fingers crossed for everyone see you in a year.

[Linyahui 103]

The last few days have just been a ride, I changed my address twice, got an RFE but persistence has been the key and being patient. Thanks to all the VJ people who have been helping and just been quick enough to questions asked. I was scheduled to receive my green card next week but for a change USPS worked faster than usual . Got an early delivery and received my card. I've just been very very lucky my status on the USCIS website has been so busy and ever changing got status even suggesting the USPS tracking ID for me to track my package. This is probably because of the officer who had my case assigned was very prompt on updating the status on regular basis. Thank you once again and keeping my fingers crossed for everyone see you in a year.

Congrats!! Hope your good luck will be extended to everyone else still waiting on the forum.

[Linyahui 103]

I'm the same way. I assume the worst, like lately I have actually wondered if they lost our file somewhere, and I had to get that out of my mind ASAP or else it would worry me sick. We have done all we can, filed and responded to the RFE within 2wk, it was received and now we wait. Breathe in, breathe out....woosah

As hokey as it sounds, we are more fortunate than some. We get to see our spouses every day, the horrible distance part is over, it's all a mental wait game at this point.

Yes, the mental waiting game is THE WORST. We received the paper response to our service request from 11/15 (that's why we didn't receive an email). It says the same thing as the service request we made in October, that our local service center is experiencing a high workload and our case processing will be delayed.

We're getting close to the holidays and my husband and I are going to visit his family in Taiwan. I'm going to try not to think about this until after we return in January. It's just not worth it, because it's going to take as long as it takes. I can't argue with USCIS anymore when they tell me that cases are processed in the order they are received and I have evidence from this very site that seven other couples in Minneapolis who filed after us have already received their GCs.

It's. Just. Not. Worth. It.

Also, I second your question--where is daveyjoe?? He's been absent for awhile; I need more of his dark humor!!