AOS March 2016 filers/Part 2

[Linyahui 103]

15 hours ago, newyorkaos said:

This sounds an interesting idea! You guys are from Minnesota, correct? We were there for the State Fair last Aug/Sept! Totally loved it!

 

keep us posted on your interview date, youre still within processing times so have faith. 

Yeah, we're living in MN at the moment but hoping to relocate once he gets his GC. I moved here in 2011 from Beijing for a job but haven't really connected with the place. Plus, it's SO DARN COLD!!! The winters here suck, haha. Though, to be fair, I grew up in Wisconsin....

 

Oh, yeah, the state fair is a good time, especially for people watching...let us know if you make it back this summer!

 

My husband's sister lives in Queens, so we get to NYC every so often. Maybe we could meet up next time we're there.

 

Got the text/email notifications last night for my husband's EAD/AP renewal and also still waiting for feedback from our congresswoman's office (entering week 8...). I'm keeping the faith that the combination of an inquiry from our congresswoman and the EAD/AP renewal will nudge USCIS to either give us an interview date or just send the GC. 

[Linyahui 103]

8 hours ago, Ninahi said:

Congresswoman's office confirmed that Louisiana office received my RFE response (thank whatever deities you believe in), and the Infopass SR response arrived and it states that the case is pending (no surprise) and that they anticipate a decision or other notice (interview?) within 45 days. I am cautiously optimistic to hear something in early March. EAD/AP renewal still hasn't come, tomorrow it's 90 days from filing. 

 Awesome to get that feedback!! Do you know how long it took for USCIS to respond to the inquiry from your congresswoman's office? 

[Linyahui 103]

4 hours ago, lntdenver said:

I signed up for the notifications through the app/website and never received any text or email about scheduled interview. 

 

The only thing was a letter in the mail with the interview date, time and address. 

My interview is tomorrow and the status online still says "case received" and "fingerprint fee received" as of march 2016. The status for EAD and AP had updated properly so I know my status updates work - sometimes.  

 

I have prepared a binder with all evidences, documents and forms. Yesterday we went through some questions that are out there on VJ and other websites, and we actually had fun talking about our first dates, families, about our routine and what we think about each other. 

 

I'll come back after our interview and let you guys know about our experience. Hopefully with good news! 

GOOD LUCK, YOU GUYS!!!!!

[Linyahui 103]

1 hour ago, sparkles_ said:

Get a new one. I would pay the money again just to avoid the wait that any potential RFE would cause. 

Does this mean that we're supposed to have another medical done even if one year hadn't passed by the time we submitted the AOS documents? My husband had his medical done in November 2015, so we're obviously beyond the one-year of validity...but we filed for AOS in March 2016, which was only four months afterwards...

[Linyahui 103]

1 hour ago, sparkles_ said:

Anyone else check the NBC processing times for EADs? That is where renewals are sent to, right? If so.....wow. Delays. 

According to the USCIS processing page, it looks like 4+ months...but according to VJ average data, it's just shy of 3 months. WHICH IS IT?!?!!??!?! 

[Ninahi 53]

1 hour ago, Linyahui said:

 Awesome to get that feedback!! Do you know how long it took for USCIS to respond to the inquiry from your congresswoman's office? 

One day. I got a call on Wednesday that they have contacted USCIS and another on Thursday to deliver the news. I don't know if they've been that helpful moving the case forwards though, so I'll probably get the ombudsman involved if the 45 day window closes without decision. Ombudsman is supposed to have the power to urge a decision on a delayed case.

 

Re: medical. I think USCIS starts counting the year from date received, as we only received RFE after it had been one year from applying, not one year from when the actual medical took place. But take my opinion with a grain of salt, I don't know for sure.

 

As per EAD delays: ughhh, this immigration business is such a mess and I have no doubt it's about to get even slower and even more convoluted with the new administration plans to gut the system.

[sparkles_ 456]

2 hours ago, Linyahui said:

Does this mean that we're supposed to have another medical done even if one year hadn't passed by the time we submitted the AOS documents? My husband had his medical done in November 2015, so we're obviously beyond the one-year of validity...but we filed for AOS in March 2016, which was only four months afterwards...

I would say if it's within 30 days of expiring to get it re done and just bring it with. I would rather leap out the window than be delayed for something I can pay to fix in advance esp this late in the game. 

 

Im not sure but I think for you guys coming off a k1, it is a little different than the medical stuff for AOS from other visas and you may only need an update versus a redo but I'm not certain. I'm not doing my husbands medical til feb/march or wen I get the interview notice, whichever hits first. Our lawyer had actually told us to wait so it didn't expire in process. 

[sparkles_ 456]

I suggest all of us who are renewing EADs, to begin educating ourselves on how to expedite based on hardship and financial loss. I'll be posting about this as we go into it. Start saving paystubs of our spouses because I heard these are proofs we may need to expedite. 

[sparkles_ 456]

2 hours ago, Linyahui said:

According to the USCIS processing page, it looks like 4+ months...but according to VJ average data, it's just shy of 3 months. WHICH IS IT?!?!!??!?! 

Well the uscis site is supposed to be at a 30-45 day delay anyway, right? Like all info reported is not current since it takes about a month to compile and release. Hence the little "as of" portion on the release. It could be right at the 90 day limit give or take. I would trust the next like 2-3 weeks of vj reports more than the process times for now. So within the last 30 days not total average 

 

You know, I thought I gave up math equations, plotting and statistics for good after graduating college.....sigh 

Edited January 23, 2017 by sparkles_

[Linyahui 103]

15 minutes ago, sparkles_ said:

Well the uscis site is supposed to be at a 30-45 day delay anyway, right? Like all info reported is not current since it takes about a month to compile and release. Hence the little "as of" portion on the release. It could be right at the 90 day limit give or take. I would trust the next like 2-3 weeks of vj reports more than the process times for now 

 

You know, I thought I gave up math equations, plotting and statistics for good after graduating college.....sigh 

Ahh, right you are. Thanks for the reminder!

[Linyahui 103]

1 hour ago, Ninahi said:

One day. I got a call on Wednesday that they have contacted USCIS and another on Thursday to deliver the news. I don't know if they've been that helpful moving the case forwards though, so I'll probably get the ombudsman involved if the 45 day window closes without decision. Ombudsman is supposed to have the power to urge a decision on a delayed case.

 

Re: medical. I think USCIS starts counting the year from date received, as we only received RFE after it had been one year from applying, not one year from when the actual medical took place. But take my opinion with a grain of salt, I don't know for sure.

 

As per EAD delays: ughhh, this immigration business is such a mess and I have no doubt it's about to get even slower and even more convoluted with the new administration plans to gut the system.

Thanks! I'm not sure what to do with my own congresswoman's office. We contacted her initially November 30 and they sent the inquiry to USCIS quite fast, on December 2. However, they/we haven't gotten a reply from USCIS since then...almost 8 weeks. The congresswoman's aides are careful to say it normally takes 6-8 weeks to get a response when they answer the phone, but I'm wondering whether I should ask them to close the inquiry and try my luck with our other senator? I guess I'll give it until mid-February, as we're *technically* not outside of normal processing times for St. Paul yet. 

 

Re: medical. As Sparkles said, it may be different with K1 cases. I remember reading that we wouldn't need to do another medical as long as it was valid at the time we submitted the AOS application.

 

Re: EAD. Le sigh. Ditto everything you said...

[Ninahi 53]

USCIS didn't seem to care I was K1 when they wanted me to redo my medical after a year from applying, despite the medical being current at the time of application. I wasn't in any mood to start arguing, so to save time and nerves I just forked over the $165 for a new medical. Again, I think it will all depend on how your adjudicator reads and interprets the rules. My understanding was that a new medical shouldn't be required from K1's since we already had to have one to even enter the country, but lo' and behold. 

 

I'm sorry your congress representative's office isn't getting a fast reply. Maybe they don't deal with immigrants as much and hence don't have an intimate relationship/tons of experience with the congressional liaison? I kid you not, my town is like 95% immigrants so I trust that our representatives have to talk to USCIS all the time.

 

Glad to have my March fam for support. I think I'd go utterly mad without VJ.

[sparkles_ 456]

I don't think you can close an inquiry. But I would start counting the 30 days til you can make a new one then move on to your senator. 

 

Random but has anyone heard of any changes coming to the immigration world yet? New administration could be making changes but I honestly don't turn on the news anymore....I'm wondering if the back ups are due to this? Esp the EAD times. It seems nuts. 

[Linyahui 103]

1 hour ago, sparkles_ said:

I don't think you can close an inquiry. But I would start counting the 30 days til you can make a new one then move on to your senator. 

 

Random but has anyone heard of any changes coming to the immigration world yet? New administration could be making changes but I honestly don't turn on the news anymore....I'm wondering if the back ups are due to this? Esp the EAD times. It seems nuts. 

When does the 30-day period start? We submitted the initial inquiry on November 30, 2016. 

 

I haven't heard of any immigration policy changes--yet. It sounds like the first piece of policy to be affected might be DACA, but I could be wrong. I think the backups are more related to increased applications for citizenship to vote in the election prior to Nov than upcoming changes in policy with the new administration.  

[sparkles_ 456]

36 minutes ago, Linyahui said:

When does the 30-day period start? We submitted the initial inquiry on November 30, 2016. 

 

I haven't heard of any immigration policy changes--yet. It sounds like the first piece of policy to be affected might be DACA, but I could be wrong. I think the backups are more related to increased applications for citizenship to vote in the election prior to Nov than upcoming changes in policy with the new administration.  

I believe it starts from the day the inquiry is submitted. You guys should be in the clear for another one.