May 2017 AOS Filers

[Hawksquill 151]

Our interview is this Thursday and we can't wait!  We've been collecting evidence and making photocopies for weeks now, and we now have two neat folders stuffed full of evidence and documents.  Now we just have to sit and wait.   We're both very nervous but also excited.  

 

Best of luck to everyone still waiting!  I hope you all hear good news soon.

[Hawksquill 151]

Interview update!  It went pretty well.  Our appointment was at 1:00 and we arrived about 25 minutes early and there was about a 5 minute wait to get through security and metal detectors, so we were about 20 minutes early when we arrived in the waiting room.  We checked in and the receptionist asked us for any new evidence we had; so we gave her our updated affidavit of support, new pictures, proof of vacations we've taken together, life insurance and health insurance docs, etc.  She took them and the interview notice and didn't give them back.

We waited until about 1:05 or 1:10 until we were called by our IO.  He didn't ask for any documents other than our ID's and he didn't seem to have any of the new evidence with him.  After he swore us in he immediately said that he didn't really have any questions for me, and "all of the bona fide proof is out of the way," which set us at ease because it seems he didn't think we were a case at high risk of being fraudulent.  He then asked my husband some very basic questions about our address, previous addresses, full names and birth dates of both of us and his parents, when we got married, how long we've lived in Connecticut, and his new job.  He seemed familiar with our city so asked us a bit about the area we live in and where we work.  We were both nervous, which I think showed, but we answered all the questions and had a bit of a chat about the area we live in, so it seemed pretty laid back.

 

He then had my husband sign a couple forms declaring what he said was true and promising to sign up for the draft.  Then he gave us a piece of paper that read the following:

 

"You have just completed your interview.  USCIS is unable to complete your case at this time.  Your case is being continued until a final decision can be made.  Your case is being held for review.  At this time, USCIS does not require any further any further information or documents from you.  Should further information or documents be required, you will receive a notice in the mail.  We may also schedule you for another interview, and you will receive another notice in the mail.  Otherwise, a final decision will be mailed once your case is completed.  Please allow no less than 120 days before making a status inquiry on your case."

 

This threw us for a loop because we had heard stories of people getting approved on the spot, and he seemed very laid back and not worried about our case during the interview.  We asked him if there was a timeframe for when a decision would be made, and he said they can't officially give a timeline but it should be "soon."

We're not sure how to feel.  It seems like it went well, but most of the stories I've read on here, the IOs have unofficially told applicants that they've been approved before they left.  So we feel a bit disheartened and hope it won't be several months or require another interview.

 

Did anyone else get the notice about the case being held for review after the interview? We weren't expecting it but when we looked it up, it seems to be pretty common at certain offices.  Apparently sometimes they give them out to everyone if they're backlogged or require more time to review the additional evidence we gave them (which we didn't even see the IO look at.)  Apparently some people are approved within a few days after receiving the notice, and for some people it's months.  Does anyone have insight?

 

Either way, we're glad it's over! 

[Back2Reality 55]

Got my Case Approved today:

 

PD May 02, 2017

Biometrics May 18, 2017

EAD: August 20, 2017

Interview: September 24, 2017 - Got two RFEs in the interview

RFE Received November 1st

Case Approved: December 14, 2017

 

FYI for those got, might get RFE, they didn't even change the status of case online after their received my response. As of today, My case is still pending.  

[Wiz_Fit 26]

Nice! Glad things are moving for everyone!

[Alan&Rachelle 18]

On 12/14/2017 at 4:59 PM, Hawksquill said:

Interview update!  It went pretty well.  Our appointment was at 1:00 and we arrived about 25 minutes early and there was about a 5 minute wait to get through security and metal detectors, so we were about 20 minutes early when we arrived in the waiting room.  We checked in and the receptionist asked us for any new evidence we had; so we gave her our updated affidavit of support, new pictures, proof of vacations we've taken together, life insurance and health insurance docs, etc.  She took them and the interview notice and didn't give them back.

We waited until about 1:05 or 1:10 until we were called by our IO.  He didn't ask for any documents other than our ID's and he didn't seem to have any of the new evidence with him.  After he swore us in he immediately said that he didn't really have any questions for me, and "all of the bona fide proof is out of the way," which set us at ease because it seems he didn't think we were a case at high risk of being fraudulent.  He then asked my husband some very basic questions about our address, previous addresses, full names and birth dates of both of us and his parents, when we got married, how long we've lived in Connecticut, and his new job.  He seemed familiar with our city so asked us a bit about the area we live in and where we work.  We were both nervous, which I think showed, but we answered all the questions and had a bit of a chat about the area we live in, so it seemed pretty laid back.

 

He then had my husband sign a couple forms declaring what he said was true and promising to sign up for the draft.  Then he gave us a piece of paper that read the following:

 

"You have just completed your interview.  USCIS is unable to complete your case at this time.  Your case is being continued until a final decision can be made.  Your case is being held for review.  At this time, USCIS does not require any further any further information or documents from you.  Should further information or documents be required, you will receive a notice in the mail.  We may also schedule you for another interview, and you will receive another notice in the mail.  Otherwise, a final decision will be mailed once your case is completed.  Please allow no less than 120 days before making a status inquiry on your case."

 

This threw us for a loop because we had heard stories of people getting approved on the spot, and he seemed very laid back and not worried about our case during the interview.  We asked him if there was a timeframe for when a decision would be made, and he said they can't officially give a timeline but it should be "soon."

We're not sure how to feel.  It seems like it went well, but most of the stories I've read on here, the IOs have unofficially told applicants that they've been approved before they left.  So we feel a bit disheartened and hope it won't be several months or require another interview.

 

Did anyone else get the notice about the case being held for review after the interview? We weren't expecting it but when we looked it up, it seems to be pretty common at certain offices.  Apparently sometimes they give them out to everyone if they're backlogged or require more time to review the additional evidence we gave them (which we didn't even see the IO look at.)  Apparently some people are approved within a few days after receiving the notice, and for some people it's months.  Does anyone have insight?

 

Either way, we're glad it's over! 

 

My husband and I had our interview back in September and received the same verdict of USCIS being unable to make a decision on the spot. Our online status updated a few hours later to it being approved so I wouldn't worry about it.  

[Deeplove11111 18]

Interview notice received ,,,interview in January 

[KiTu 38]

Yay congrats! Good luck for your interview!

Where is your case at the moment, do you know? Ours is at Lee’s Summit MO as far as I know - at least that’s where it was when the EAD was done!

 

Did you get a status update online? (Ready to be scheduled/interview scheduled etc.) we haven’t had any online update but we sent ours in around the same date as you so I am hoping that we will hear something soon...

[Apfel 46]

For those of you who, like me, wonder why the processing times haven't updated since September 30 - they post all the data every 3 months in a very detailed spreadsheet, so we should expect an update after December 31:

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/data-set-form-i-485-application-adjustment-status

 

If you click the first link, you can see how many applications each field office received, approved, denied, and still has pending. It makes me feel like I know a bit more about the reason it's been so slow for us.

[Hawksquill 151]

Green card approval notice received in the mail today!  It was dated December 14, the day of our interview, which was a Thursday afternoon and we received it Monday...they must have really moved quickly to get it in the mail that quickly! 

 

Hoping against hope that he might get the card in the mail before Christmas, but if not, what a great way to start 2018! 

[Lupigirl 67]

2 hours ago, Hawksquill said:

Green card approval notice received in the mail today!  It was dated December 14, the day of our interview, which was a Thursday afternoon and we received it Monday...they must have really moved quickly to get it in the mail that quickly! 

 

Hoping against hope that he might get the card in the mail before Christmas, but if not, what a great way to start 2018! 

So, so happy for you!  I’ve been waiting to hear this news.  Living vicariously through you for now!

[Back2Reality 55]

GC Received in the mail today. PD: May, 02 - Approval, December, 09. 

 

Fun Fact, my application status is still RFE was sent, since September 27, 2017, but who cares. 

[KiTu 38]

Was yours an approval without an interview?

[Troy P 34]

Still patiently waiting for my wife to receive her interview date...

[Asakelove 72]

Congratulations to everyone that has had their cases approved. And to the rest of us still waiting, I hope we get great news soon too.

 

I'm patiently waiting and since I got a job it has kinda take my mind off it so not thinking about the interview too much and also since my field office is taking longer than most others ( judging from other people's timeline it takes about 12-13 months) so that means I take my patience to another level.

 

[IMDASTYLE 31]

I'm still waiting for my green card. The status is stuck on RFE received since June 16, but I just filed a service request. Hopefully, I would hear something soon and Congrats to anyone who was approved!

 

Thank you for your request:

USCIS will review and process the request

Expect a reply by January 14, 2018