March 2017 AOS Filers

[PinkCandy 134]

1 minute ago, rose michigan said:

Wow.. Thank you so much.. That is such a relief.. Welcome to the USA.. Enjoy your life with your family and remember me in your prayers ..God bless you

I will pray for your guidance and confidence when you walk in to their office. God bless you!!!  

[nikaero 131]

13 minutes ago, PinkCandy said:

Thank you so much!! 
 

You know what, that's what my husband said after the interview about me having mental block in front of the IO, he said I was overthinking the whole thing. He was right because instead of just answering the IO, in my head I was also trying to filter what I say or what I will do instead of just making it like a regular polite conversation. Thank you for understanding. I really did not want to update when my heart was still heavy from the uncertainty of the situation.    

We will have a celebration for sure! You are right, this is such an important event for all of us!

As for your interview, I will definitely pray for you to give you guidance and clarity of mind. God bless!!!  Update us too afterwards when you are ready.   

Thank you and I will update for sure... and yeah, when you are in the midst of uncertainty you don't want to be posting your whole experience when you don't know if there were any complications or not, I totally understand...I am still not sure how long your actual interview took, from the moment you sat down with the IO till you walked out of there, asking coz most people include the time they were waiting to be called too but i just want to know how long the actual interview takes for most people...

[PinkCandy 134]

44 minutes ago, nikaero said:

Thank you and I will update for sure... and yeah, when you are in the midst of uncertainty you don't want to be posting your whole experience when you don't know if there were any complications or not, I totally understand...I am still not sure how long your actual interview took, from the moment you sat down with the IO till you walked out of there, asking coz most people include the time they were waiting to be called too but i just want to know how long the actual interview takes for most people...

oh, I'm sorry. I would say 25-30 minutes inside the IO office waiting time not included. 

[nikaero 131]

1 hour ago, PinkCandy said:

oh, I'm sorry. I would say 25-30 minutes inside the IO office waiting time not included. 

thanks that's good to know...

[Abhi138 20]

9 hours ago, PinkCandy said:

Hi, everyone 

I just want to let you know that my I-130 and I-485 have been approved. Our interview was last week, July 12th at the Raleigh Durham office. The approval notice for I-130 was delivered Monday and the I-485/Welcome Notice was received today.

Our interview was okay. Tbh, I cannot say that it was good because of two things: my anxiety and the mini-argument at the end between IO and our lawyer.

So, after we swore in, Immigration Officer explained to us that there will be two parts of that interview: first is going through the forms and verifying all the information and second will be our story. Everything was going well on the first part, we answered each question without any problem. When it was time for the second part, which was about our story, my nervousness got me, I froze!! I was only able to say 3 sentences and my mind stopped. It should have been very easy because I did not have a reason to be scared but my anxiety got the best of me. Good thing my husband was able to do it and I was able to redeem myself at the end but recalling it now still makes me want to punch myself :)))) 

Anyway, after all questions were asked IO told us that he is going to approve us. At this point I was already relieved,however, before the it actually finished,  IO and our lawyer had an argument about my married name so despite hearing earlier the word "approved", we left the office without anything in our hands, not even a paper that says " we will review your file", nothing. In short, we were left hanging. I think the IO got upset on the argument so he just told us to wait for the decision in the mail, that's it. Two days of agony and I did not hear anything from them until I received an email on the third day with a change of online status that says card is in production for my I-485 case, whew!!! Thank you very much dear God!

On Tuesday, my status changed to card was mailed to me and if the delivery period will be the same as my EAD's, I will get the greencard tomorrow. 

By the way, when I received the welcome notice today, I read it more than 10 times. In bold letters it said, "WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". 
It felt so good reading it again and again because I have been waiting for this moment for a long time and finally, it is here!!!

Good luck everyone!!! 
I am sending you the all the good vibes that you need!! 

(Hi @nikaero, my update above as promised

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My advice on those who will have interview soon:
--- STOP READING about interview horror stories. You will not benefit anything from it but anxiety. 

--- At least, 3 days before the interview, do not read anymore experiences of other people. Focus on calming your mind and spirit. 

--- Not all interviews about your relationship are on a Q&A format, some IO would want you to narrate your story. That's what happened to us.

--- Your relationship is real, you have nothing to hide so you got this!! 



 

Congratulations to you and to your family. I'm assuming you are adjusting from F1 or H1B Visa ,since you have filed for your I-130 too. i'm still waiting for my interview and the San Francisco office is processing applications from August of last year .It seems like a long wait for me but it gives me hope that you had your interview pretty fast compared to the processing time at your local office which is processing cases from November 2016. Well please keep in my prayers and good luck to you and your family.

[strider4 43]

19 hours ago, PinkCandy said:

Hi, everyone 

I just want to let you know that my I-130 and I-485 have been approved. Our interview was last week, July 12th at the Raleigh Durham office. The approval notice for I-130 was delivered Monday and the I-485/Welcome Notice was received today.

Our interview was okay. Tbh, I cannot say that it was good because of two things: my anxiety and the mini-argument at the end between IO and our lawyer.

So, after we swore in, Immigration Officer explained to us that there will be two parts of that interview: first is going through the forms and verifying all the information and second will be our story. Everything was going well on the first part, we answered each question without any problem. When it was time for the second part, which was about our story, my nervousness got me, I froze!! I was only able to say 3 sentences and my mind stopped. It should have been very easy because I did not have a reason to be scared but my anxiety got the best of me. Good thing my husband was able to do it and I was able to redeem myself at the end but recalling it now still makes me want to punch myself :)))) 

Anyway, after all questions were asked IO told us that he is going to approve us. At this point I was already relieved,however, before the it actually finished,  IO and our lawyer had an argument about my married name so despite hearing earlier the word "approved", we left the office without anything in our hands, not even a paper that says " we will review your file", nothing. In short, we were left hanging. I think the IO got upset on the argument so he just told us to wait for the decision in the mail, that's it. Two days of agony and I did not hear anything from them until I received an email on the third day with a change of online status that says card is in production for my I-485 case, whew!!! Thank you very much dear God!

On Tuesday, my status changed to card was mailed to me and if the delivery period will be the same as my EAD's, I will get the greencard tomorrow. 

By the way, when I received the welcome notice today, I read it more than 10 times. In bold letters it said, "WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". 
It felt so good reading it again and again because I have been waiting for this moment for a long time and finally, it is here!!!

Good luck everyone!!! 
I am sending you the all the good vibes that you need!! 

(Hi @nikaero, my update above as promised

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My advice on those who will have interview soon:
--- STOP READING about interview horror stories. You will not benefit anything from it but anxiety. 

--- At least, 3 days before the interview, do not read anymore experiences of other people. Focus on calming your mind and spirit. 

--- Not all interviews about your relationship are on a Q&A format, some IO would want you to narrate your story. That's what happened to us.

--- Your relationship is real, you have nothing to hide so you got this!! 



 

Congratulations!  I have been lurking silently in the March thread up until now (My packet was mailed on March 29 but my PD is April 03, so I post actively).

I had one question though:

Did your I-485 case status change directly from 'fingerprint fee received' to 'interview is scheduled' or did it transition to 'case ready to be scheduled for interview' first? Thanks and congratulations once again!  

[strider4 43]

9 hours ago, Abhi138 said:

Congratulations to you and to your family. I'm assuming you are adjusting from F1 or H1B Visa ,since you have filed for your I-130 too. i'm still waiting for my interview and the San Francisco office is processing applications from August of last year .It seems like a long wait for me but it gives me hope that you had your interview pretty fast compared to the processing time at your local office which is processing cases from November 2016. Well please keep in my prayers and good luck to you and your family.

Hey there! I'm also adjusting from a student visa (J-1) and SF is my field office as well.  From what I have heard it takes a loooooong time to get an interview at the bay area offices.  Let's hope we get it soon.

Did your I-485 status change to "case ready to be scheduled for interview' yet?

Thanks!

[PinkCandy 134]

3 minutes ago, strider4 said:

Congratulations!  I have been lurking silently in the March thread up until now (My packet was mailed on March 29 but my PD is April 03, so I post actively).

I had one question though:

Did your I-485 case status change directly from 'fingerprint fee received' to 'interview is scheduled' or did it transition to 'case ready to be scheduled for interview' first? Thanks and congratulations once again!  

Thank you very much!

My I-485 process was:

-- We accepted your fingerprint fee

-- We mailed a request for initial evidence

-- We received your response to our Request for Evidence

-- We scheduled you for your initial interview and mailed you an interview notice

-- We updated your name 

-- We ordered your new card

-- We mailed your new card

 

Good luck to you!!! 

[strider4 43]

Just now, PinkCandy said:

Thank you very much!

My I-485 process was:

-- We accepted your fingerprint fee

-- We mailed a request for initial evidence

-- We received your response to our Request for Evidence

-- We scheduled you for your initial interview and mailed you an interview notice

-- We updated your name 

-- We ordered your new card

-- We mailed your new card

 

Good luck to you!!! 

Thank you for the prompt response!

[Nin&Way 69]

21 minutes ago, PinkCandy said:

Thank you very much!

My I-485 process was:

-- We accepted your fingerprint fee

-- We mailed a request for initial evidence

-- We received your response to our Request for Evidence

-- We scheduled you for your initial interview and mailed you an interview notice

-- We updated your name 

-- We ordered your new card

-- We mailed your new card

 

Good luck to you!!! 

Aawww PinkCandy im so happy for you you have no idea! i love to read happy ending stories, it gives hope. hahah! Congrats again and good luck for the rest. Having a huge break dealing with uscis deserves a big sip of whatever you drink. Congrats!

[Abhi138 20]

3 hours ago, strider4 said:

Hey there! I'm also adjusting from a student visa (J-1) and SF is my field office as well.  From what I have heard it takes a loooooong time to get an interview at the bay area offices.  Let's hope we get it soon.

Did your I-485 status change to "case ready to be scheduled for interview' yet?

Thanks!

hey im adjusting from f1 too and mine says "case ready to be scheduled for interview' since april. i hope we get our interviews soon and also get approved.

[TripleJ 0]

RFIE I485 last June 30

RFIE I485 replied July 7 

Case ready to be scheduled for interview July 21 

 

still no updates on EAD. 

 

Thank you god it did not reset the days🙏

[nikaero 131]

1 hour ago, TripleJ said:

RFIE I485 last June 30

RFIE I485 replied July 7 

Case ready to be scheduled for interview July 21 

 

still no updates on EAD. 

 

Thank you god it did not reset the days🙏

hey... can you please explain what you mean by it did not reset the days?

[Californiansunset 336]

3 hours ago, TripleJ said:

RFIE I485 last June 30

RFIE I485 replied July 7 

Case ready to be scheduled for interview July 21 

 

still no updates on EAD. 

 

Thank you god it did not reset the days🙏

I got my update to Case ready to be scheduled for interview right after they received my RFIE documents as well... because that is when they have all documents ready and thus the case likely is complete and ready for the interview. It doesn't mean that it didn't reset your time. 

Oh and btw it did reset my time. 135 days until I got the EAD approved. 

[Californiansunset 336]

On 7/20/2017 at 6:07 PM, MsGee said:

@Californiansunset

In my opinion only i'm not sure how accurate the processing time posted In the website.  Our i 485 was ready to be schduled for interviewed last june and last july 8 we already had our interview. Based on the USCIS processing time in LA they are only processing i 485 Nov 2016. 

So if you based on the processing dates showing on the website its not accurate.

I hope you'll get your interviewed date sooner.

GoodLuck!

 

On 7/20/2017 at 5:07 PM, KimberleyVDB said:

I honestly don't know if you can really rely on those processing times. For Sacramento it's been on October 6th for months now why I called (for something else) and asked about the processing times the lady in the phone said they are working on it everyday so don't worry. Well if they are working on it daily I can't see how it after about 3 months it's still the same. I also have a trip coming up around Christmas and I rather have my greencard then my AP. 

 

I hope you'll be able to go.

Thanks for the replies!!!

 

I guess there's no way to find out what time frame I might be looking at. Looks like I'll book my flight with some sort of insurance that i get some money back if I have to cancel. I'm not too worried about using AP card though. 

Am I right though and i have the RFIE receive date as my priority date for AOS?