Who exactly is making decisions regarding green cards?

[Lovelynyc 0]

Out of curiosity: how could the consulate of your country within the US help in dealing with USCIS?

I never got in touch with the consulate , it was just suggested by friends I met who said maybe they would have a direct way of dealing with USCIS cases or could recommend someone. I did contact the mayors office and two days later they called me back and said they don't deal with immigration but they gave me the contact information for my congressowman and said that office will be able to help and if not I should contact the mayors office again . I called Congressowmans office and they told me to immediately come in person same day to the office and bring all my documents, once I was there I filled out the privacy form and within 10 mins they were on the phone with USCIS locating my file. But to go back to your question, I don't know if the consulate would of helped but it was just a suggestion from friends

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

Filing a lawsuit will be a lengthy and very expensive process. I was told by several ppl don't go that route, because "you can't threaten the USCIS it will be you against the United States you will lose".

Even my lawyer discouraged me from doing that and said just continue to wait it out. Which I refused to do. I just kept making infopass appointments until it eventually got resolved. I had to pay for a lawyer I don't know if that helped exactly, but it did help when the congresswoman asked for a letter. My lawyer didn't take enough action for me, also told me infopass appointments will never resolve an issue like mine. But I ignored the feedback and kept optimistic and I succeeded. If I listened to my lawyer I would still be waiting for my case to be reviewed.

Also I don't know any other resources you could use other than those mentioned, but friends of mine encouraged me to reach out to the consulate of my country within the US, also the mayors office

Thanks. We went to info pass again today, we spoke to the supervisor. Apparently there are like a million supervisors. She said she will give our case to the supervisor of the officer who our case is with. I think we don't even need appointments anymore, apparently (if someone is in chicago) - this is what you can do, just go to the second floor and ask for the supervisor. That's all. You'll be waiting in the same room where people wait for interviews. Next time we won't make an appointment, we will just go back there, I asked if we could speak to this other supervisor, she said he is not here today. Well, we will go back in a few days and ask again. I am just so annoyed by all this.

Also asked if we could speak to the officer, she said no unless there is an interview. Seriously, i almost ask for a second interview, lol, and next time i will. At least it would be something.

What makes it even more ridiculous is that my husband heard all of this on May 25th. Still no news from the supervisor.

Edited July 12, 2016 by banana_princess

[NikLR 13,232]

Keep pushing. Being a squeaky wheel doesn't normally get your places with the US government but your case is unusual in it's length.

[Villanelle 4,122]

Hi! Im confused here. I tried to research on google but i need more clarification, if you don't mind.

Who specifically decides if the application is approved or not? Mostly interested in AOS applications (concurrent i-130/i-485).

For example, from Immigration officers on the phone (we spoke to tier 2 few times, in fact) and from Infopass i understood that the officer who we had interview with will be making a decision. For example, we were told that the officer (they even told us her last name) needs to review our case and make the decision.

But, we also went to senator's office for help (more in my signature), and they said that they will contact National Benefit Center.

So, who is making the final decision? The officer who we had interview with or National Benefit Center? Why are they contacting National Benefits Center then?

Thank you!

Ok so I read through your whole thread. Heres what I got for you.

Who decides if the AOS is approved or not? Technically I believe its the Officer (that interviewed you) but it can be more complex. Some Officers are new or on some type of probation period and they can not I repeat can not approve any file unless it goes to a supervisor first for a second review. Some have other criteria for needing a supervisor to review their work like just strange cases. You have no idea if this is the case but you do know it is waiting for supervisor review.

As you found out there are many people that work there. Groups with supervisors and either they cant or they just wont take each others files. So you are at the mercy of whomever is the supervisor on your file.

Another potential issue you just casually mentioned was incorrect spellings of the name. This can cause a HUGE delay in background checks. It is advised that in-depth checks can take 3-6 months. If they did one check and then had to go back and do it again with another well... time flies. Are they doing an indepth check. I personally think yes.

When they do deeper checks and you are waiting all you get back is that standard answer of please wait come back in 30-60-90 days. They do not tell you its a background check issue. Often the congressman or obuds can tell you that.

Whats odd is the following. An indication of it being background checks is the file being at NBC. You were told your file is in Chicago. Perhaps your file needs to go to NBC. Perhaps they are waiting on something back from NBC to approve you. What happens normally is NBC approves it after doing all the checks and what not and then it goes to local office for interview/approval. If theres an issue that warrants going back to NBC then it can. Sometimes people have had their files sent to local office before NBC is done with the background checks. They are told they are approved usually and its pending background checks. That couldve happened here as well...

All Im saying is dont jump the gun and assume its the supervisor slacking off. I mean thats a real possibility but there are others as well. You need to communicate this to the congressman and or obuds and ask them to specifically find out the case status deeper then supervisor review. Is the supervisor waiting on something specific to approve it or not. This is also what you should ask if you go back to infopass. And please be careful assuming you can get in to the office simply by saying its an emergency or need the supervisor. After seeing you a few times you may get scolded.

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

Damara, thank you, i appreciate that you wrote this to help me

All of you guys help a lot, in fact.

I do want to clarify however - senator office misspelled my name. All papers in USCIS are correct.

I find it very unfair that some people have to wait longer because officers are on probation. Not just a few weeks, but a year! May be even longer. And i don't really care what they think, i don't want to go there every two weeks either, i would much rather be planning a trip to see my family, but because of them - i can't.

I really really hope that my case does not need to be send to NBC at this point, they had 11 months after the interview to do that, it would be so ridiculous that i will file a lawsuit that same day. I have been waiting for way too long.

Edited July 13, 2016 by banana_princess

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

By the way, anyone from Chicago had their interview with officer Camacho? Hopefully one of you will see this question. How long did you wait? (is there a better thread on visajourney to ask this question?)