Confused about biometrics for EAD (K1 visa adjustment of status)

[Loki_Go 126]

Looks like an RFE to me. They won't call or email you; you have to wait for the letter.

[Aly_1 0]

Oh my God! I am also January applicants, my NOA is January 25, 2016 and I was also fighting over my biometric appointment letter. Thank you for explanation about problem with January applicants - Mad & J and recommendations to ask to be transferred to tier-2 officers - AnnoyedAtTSC.

This "30 day to wait" was regular explanation to my request. Only when my EAD was over 90 days, and I filed request for EAD again they send me appointment letter with outdated date for me. I received letter on 25 of April while they appointed it for me for April 21 at 9 am, sending it on April 21. Just in case, if somebody has this problem - go anyway to biometric appointment and explain situation, they accepted me. So I did biometrics on this Monday and now afraid how long should I wait until my EAD, any ideas?

Good luck, AnnoyedAtTSC and keep us updated about your status!!!

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

Aly - sorry for your pain. If you have not done so already ring the 1-800 USCIS number and ask them to expedite your case based on it being outside of normal processing.

No idea if it actually helps but it can't do any harm. Keep us posted

[StephanieC 43]

This wasn't just a January thing. I'm Feb 4th and the same thing happened to us, only they chose to notify us a month later that we missed our appointment. Now we've completely been circled around. We were approved on April 11th but hadn't even done a biometrics yet. I got an update on my 485 that said the USPS "returned" a notice, but when I but in an inquiry I never got a response.

So here we are - approved EAD 8 days before we did biometrics that was rescheduled for us after we missed it in February. Nothing on our case since - no indication of card being processed or produced oh and a tier 2 rep who told is it could take another 60 days to see a card.

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

Ridiculous they can be this disorganised.

I just got a call back from a tier 2. He said that they didn't send me a biometrics appointment on Feb 17th like I was previously told.

He suggested i mailed my biometrics confirmation back to the local USCIS office so they don't reschedule me another appointment. Why they'd do that when my biometrics are in the system i have no idea, he really didn't make any sense on that regardless of how i worded my question.

He said my service request for expedition had a target date for a response for yesterday (pretty sure they don't work sunday so no idea why they'd have a sunday target date). Said i should expect some sort of communication by email either today or tomorrow (not holding my breath).

He said there was no indication that any correspondence had been sent out on the 27th and no RFE or anything was on the case. So i still have no clue what this means:

On April 27, 2016, we requested information on your case to best respond to your inquiry about the status of your Employment Authorization application, referral number T1DXXXXXXXXXXMSC

Edited May 2, 2016 by AnnoyedAtTSC

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

So an update...

Really went to town this week with hassling people. Daily calls/e-mails to the 1-800 number (always demanding tier 2), senators, governors,any USCIS person we could find and also the CIS ombudsman.

Eventually one replied saying I had been approved. Case status still not updated so I was a bit hesitant to believe it.

Then, despite saying it would take 45 working days to respond, the ombudsman replied. They also said that it had already been approved and card produced on 5/5/16. Having a second person from outside USCIS say that makes me more hopeful. I do wish the status would update though, what is the point in having it if the data isn't correct?

All I can say to others also over processing time is to hassle hassle hassle. Make yourself a real pain in the butt.

Fingers still crossed!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Just notice to all: if you have not received a biometrics appointment in 30 days, you can call and tell them. They expect you to have one in 30 days, so if it is more, they do consider this a problem and will be responsive.

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

Just notice to all: if you have not received a biometrics appointment in 30 days, you can call and tell them. They expect you to have one in 30 days, so if it is more, they do consider this a problem and will be responsive.

Should be responsive ;-)

I hadn't got one after 75 days and the first 2 times I rang about it i was told i might not need biometrics and nothing whatsoever was done.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Should be responsive ;-)

I hadn't got one after 75 days and the first 2 times I rang about it i was told i might not need biometrics and nothing whatsoever was done.

Oh dear You definitely need biometrics for the whole application. It's possible to get EAD without it, but you will need them at some point, and they tend to send them out almost immediately.

Edit: It used to say, at least, on the NOA1 that you will receive a biometrics notice in 30 days and if you do not, give a call.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Harpa Timsah

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

Oh dear You definitely need biometrics for the whole application. It's possible to get EAD without it, but you will need them at some point, and they tend to send them out almost immediately.

Edit: It used to say, at least, on the NOA1 that you will receive a biometrics notice in 30 days and if you do not, give a call.

Luckily I kept pestering and the 3rd time I got that info and a service request created to get biometrics. I'm still not sure whether biometrics are required for EAD, first 2 times I rang they said no and the 3rd they said yes.

The NOA1 for AOS says they will schedule biometrics but doesn't say when to expect, just not to turn up before you have a letter.

The EAD NOA1 just basically says to wait.

USCIS gives out very little information and the stuff you do get often contradicts. That must be the cause of so many issues. People would be more at ease if they knew they were on schedule and not missing anything.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Luckily I kept pestering and the 3rd time I got that info and a service request created to get biometrics. I'm still not sure whether biometrics are required for EAD, first 2 times I rang they said no and the 3rd they said yes.

The NOA1 for AOS says they will schedule biometrics but doesn't say when to expect, just not to turn up before you have a letter.

The EAD NOA1 just basically says to wait.

USCIS gives out very little information and the stuff you do get often contradicts. That must be the cause of so many issues. People would be more at ease if they knew they were on schedule and not missing anything.

It doesn't matter after the fact now, but biometrics are not strictly required for EAD (you can have an EAD approved without them), but are mandatory for the I-485. I wonder if you had pestered about the I-485 and not mentioned the EAD, if that would have clicked.

But yes, the fact that you can miss letters and get denied and all that is nerve wracking. A better system would be good but it also would be more expensive. But when something goes tits up like in your case, they should act to help you.

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

So, i've been approved! Yippee. I still don't have a card and my case status is still at 'Case was received'.

I've been told by 3 different people that it was approved on 5/5: Congressman's office via USCIS, USCIS tier 2 who i spoke to today and also the CIS ombudsman who i contacted for help.

The tier 2 i spoke to today basically told me the NBC are so busy they're not updating the online statuses! She also suggested i ring back daily to ask for a tier 2 until i can get a tracking number for my card because "a lot get lost in the post". Couldn't make it up.

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

5/12 - Email at approx 5am saying my case status had been updated to approved. Status now confirms it was approved on 5/9 which was the date i was told it was sent to the printers. So online status caught up with internal USCIS status after 1 week.

About 2 hours later i got another mail saying the card had been mailed.

I'm now awaiting a tier 2 callback in order to get the tracking number for it.

[StephanieC 43]

Glad you finally heard something. Looks like they are trying to play catch up. I got a status update last night that they "ordered" our "new card" on May 2nd. LOL. We never got the "old" card. Perhaps that is just the language they use. But nothing since then. So, great they ordered it. Will it be another 30 day day wait to get it?

[AnnoyedAtTSC 2]

Glad you finally heard something. Looks like they are trying to play catch up. I got a status update last night that they "ordered" our "new card" on May 2nd. LOL. We never got the "old" card. Perhaps that is just the language they use. But nothing since then. So, great they ordered it. Will it be another 30 day day wait to get it?

I was actually told mine went to the printers twice because they forgot the biometrics the first time. Maybe something similar happened with you but they just chose a different status for you willy-nilly.

Tier 2 says no tracking number for my card yet. They have to wait for that from USPS. So i'm guessing that USPS haven't actually picked it up yet, or whatever system they have going on.

The guy said it was coming from Kentucky so fingers crossed it will only be a day or 2 for delivery after it goes (i'm in TN)