March 2017 AOS Filers

[antoineD 36]

47 minutes ago, Kalciaa said:

Right before I sent my application my husband lost his job, so according to what we wrote on the application he's unemployed and currently my income is the only one for our household. With me getting a promotion and everything going on I figured "severe financial situation" will apply in this case. Also, I am employed by non-profit organization, so I used that argument in my letter as well.

Fingers crossed everything will go smooth this time.

 

We do have a supporting sponsor.

 

 

USCIS may expedite a petition or application if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Severe financial loss to company or person;
• Emergency situation;
• Humanitarian reasons;
• Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States;
• Department of Defense or national interest situation (These particular expedite requests must come from an official U.S. government entity and state that delay will be detrimental to the government.);
• USCIS error; or
• Compelling interest of USCIS.

Just my two cents here: when I applied to expedite my EAD, 3 months into forced unemployed, I explained that this was causing:

1) me financial loss

2) my company logistical and financial losses

 

I was very distressed and kept on explaining to the lady on the hotline that I would really benefit from an expedite, and she said she created a ticket. She seemed very calm and caring.

 

I then called a few days later because I had a different logistical question for the USCIS, and thought, "hmm, why don't I check in on my expedite request too now that I have someone on the phone" and that representative said there's no ticket for me! So she recreated one.

 

From my other non-USC friends who had delays, I only know one person who did an expedite and he didn't succeed either.

 

I don't wanna be a pessimist, but I just want you to be prepared that expedites don't seem to work out - from my limited experience - but I really hope they do work for you!

[Kalciaa 31]

1 minute ago, antoineD said:

Just my two cents here: when I applied to expedite my EAD, 3 months into forced unemployed, I explained that this was causing:

1) me financial loss

2) my company logistical and financial losses

 

I was very distressed and kept on explaining to the lady on the hotline that I would really benefit from an expedite, and she said she created a ticket. She seemed very calm and caring.

 

I then called a few days later because I had a different logistical question for the USCIS, and thought, "hmm, why don't I check in on my expedite request too now that I have someone on the phone" and that representative said there's no ticket for me! So she recreated one.

 

From my other non-USC friends who had delays, I only know one person who did an expedite and he didn't succeed either.

 

I don't wanna be a pessimist, but I just want you to be prepared that expedites don't seem to work out - from my limited experience - but I really hope they do work for you!

Thanks for the answer. I am prepared to be sad and miserable and out of job for a month or so, but I'm really hoping they will indeed decide my case is "special". After all, they wouldn't want to make hungry kids wait for their meals while my boss is looking for my replacement, would they (I work for the food bank;)). I definitely made sure to explain that in my letter to them as well as ensure them it would cost my employer a lot of money to hire somebody else and train them, and it is just an evil, evil thing to make non-profits pay extra for something if thwre's a chance to avoid it. I don't know... At this point I'm willing to just try anything. I really like my job and what we're doing here and wouldn't want to loose it. Plus my husband is still looking for a new job... :/

[antoineD 36]

10 minutes ago, Kalciaa said:

Thanks for the answer. I am prepared to be sad and miserable and out of job for a month or so, but I'm really hoping they will indeed decide my case is "special". After all, they wouldn't want to make hungry kids wait for their meals while my boss is looking for my replacement, would they (I work for the food bank;)). I definitely made sure to explain that in my letter to them as well as ensure them it would cost my employer a lot of money to hire somebody else and train them, and it is just an evil, evil thing to make non-profits pay extra for something if thwre's a chance to avoid it. I don't know... At this point I'm willing to just try anything. I really like my job and what we're doing here and wouldn't want to loose it. Plus my husband is still looking for a new job... :/

IDK what work permit you had before, but do you know if this applies to you:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/automatic-employment-authorization-document-ead-extension

[Kalciaa 31]

5 minutes ago, antoineD said:

IDK what work permit you had before, but do you know if this applies to you:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/automatic-employment-authorization-document-ead-extension

Nope. I'm still on F-1, got my work permit for 12 months for the OPT after graduation. 

[Becci391 339]

5 hours ago, Californiansunset said:

Would you really feel comfortable giving someone your documents who has to transfer them to a national benefit center in another state (apart from the fact that I highly doubt that's possible)?! If those were immigration officers you were dealing with (the ones you talk to at an infopass appointment) I would understand it but the people at the biometrics appointment are from Homeland Security and are NOT immigration officers. They can barely answer any questions you might have (mine didn't even know what a I-765 form is and that it grants me permission to work... longer story). 

 

what you can do is: Make a copy of your NOA1 and send the documents to the benefit centers RFE adress immediately. That's what I did (although I didn't know that your I485 adress is not the same as the RFE adress so the USCIS hotline as always gave me wrong info so I'm sure I could've prevented the RFE entirely if I had submitted it to the right adress). So before I even received my paper RFE and had answered to the RFE  the status in the app had already changed to "We received your requested missing documents on March XY and continue working on your case..." because my other documents I had sent two weeks earlier had reached my application. Instead of losing weeks, I lost 4 days (maybe would've lost none if I have had the right adress but who knows). 

Although I think that you (if you get at an RFE at all) will get your RFE paper very soon, because the February and March Filers all got their RFE within their first six weeks so you might be better off to just wait now. I had sent my missing papers the same day that I got my NOA1, that's why I didn't really lose time. 

I sent out the missing documents today.

The NBC should receive them on Monday.

[Denis & San 72]

Just now, Becci391 said:

I sent out the missing documents today.

The NBC should receive them on Monday.

What docs were missing, if you don't mind me asking?

[Becci391 339]

8 minutes ago, Denis & San said:

What docs were missing, if you don't mind me asking?

I forgot to include a letter from my husband's employer as well as some of his pay stubs. We only submitted his 2015 tax return for the I-864.

 

[antoineD 36]

28 minutes ago, Kalciaa said:

Nope. I'm still on F-1, got my work permit for 12 months for the OPT after graduation. 

That was the boat I was in last year. I was like, "damn you, STEM extension people!" 

 

I was especially furious about environmental science majors. If they're a science, we economists are a science thankyouverymuch.

 

I feel ya.

[Pinkielicious 17]

20 minutes ago, Becci391 said:

I forgot to include a letter from my husband's employer as well as some of his pay stubs. We only submitted his 2015 tax return for the I-864.

 

Do we need to include the pay stubs and employment letter? I only sent my husband's 2016 W2 and Tax Return (along with my co-sponsor's Tax Returns for 2013, 2014, 2015). Is it sufficient enough? Or they will ask for RFIE?

 

Edited March 30, 2017 by Pinkielicious

[Abhi138 20]

2 minutes ago, antoineD said:

That was the boat I was in last year. I was like, "damn you, STEM extension people!" 

 

I was especially furious about environmental science majors. If they're a science, we economists are a science thankyouverymuch.

 

I feel ya.

How long did it take you to receive the letter for biometric after you received your NOA1 in mail.

[Pinkielicious 17]

On 3/29/2017 at 8:58 AM, Denis & San said:

Mine was sent on March 9th and received on March 13th.  It's been 16 days and I'm still waiting, so you're not the only one.  We just have to be patient.  I've seen some take around 21 days.  

Have you heard anything from them as of today? Mine was delivered on the 16th, and I still have nothing.

[Abhi138 20]

7 hours ago, Becci391 said:

Received my Biometrics Appointment Letter.

 

Questions: It looks like that my Service Center is the NBC. Does that mean that they will process my applications?

I have to go to the Application Support Center. Anyone who has been there? I thought I would have to go to the Field Office in Atlanta...

Is it possible to give someone my missing documents for the I-864?

Congratulations

[antoineD 36]

1 minute ago, Abhi138 said:

How long did it take you to receive the letter for biometric after you received your NOA1 in mail.

Hey there, fellow Bay Arean,

 

6 days.

[Abhi138 20]

Just now, antoineD said:

Hey there, fellow Bay Arean,

 

6 days.

Nice. Any special instructions to follow and is it close to the Bart.

[antoineD 36]

Just now, Abhi138 said:

Nice. Any special instructions to follow and is it close to the Bart.

No, it literally took me 5mn in an out of the door. I'm not exaggerating. 

 

Close enough to Montgomery or Embarcadero BART. Then walk/bike 20mn or take the 10/12 Muni buses north. 

 

If you drive, you can find metered parking around Jackson Sq. or a $20 flatrate lot at the foot of the hill.

 

Feel free to PM me with other specific questions. Not sure how helpful this is to the rest of our thread.