August 2017 I-129F Filers

[rpwcaw 0]

Hey all!

 

Day 179 here, August 4th NOA1

 

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with all these July approvals! Had a few questions I was wondering if anyone had the answer to:

 

1. We went through a lawyer as we were lucky enough to have a previous work associate who runs an immigration law firm - Is it worth us signing up for informed delivery or will our letter from USCIS be going back to the lawyer's office from whence it was sent?

 

2. If that is the case, how is https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do this website for checking if we've been approved? Will it change as soon as we've been approved or does it update as slowly as USCIS' other webpages?

 

3. I had a look through July and noticed what seemed like a lot of RFEs in the scans (though I could be wrong). Does it seem like there's a lot of RFEs this time around or is this about normal?

 

LET'S GO AUGUST! Only a few weeks late if we all knock on wood!

[NICK & PAULA 1,097]

13 minutes ago, rpwcaw said:

Hey all!

 

Day 179 here, August 4th NOA1

 

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with all these July approvals! Had a few questions I was wondering if anyone had the answer to:

 

1. We went through a lawyer as we were lucky enough to have a previous work associate who runs an immigration law firm - Is it worth us signing up for informed delivery or will our letter from USCIS be going back to the lawyer's office from whence it was sent?

 

2. If that is the case, how is https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do this website for checking if we've been approved? Will it change as soon as we've been approved or does it update as slowly as USCIS' other webpages?

 

3. I had a look through July and noticed what seemed like a lot of RFEs in the scans (though I could be wrong). Does it seem like there's a lot of RFEs this time around or is this about normal?

 

LET'S GO AUGUST! Only a few weeks late if we all knock on wood!

@Naes - baby girl, maybe you can answer the inquiries? 

 

Edit: I am knocking so hard on wood right now. 

Edited January 30, 2018 by NICK & PAULA

[Naes 12,205]

16 minutes ago, rpwcaw said:

Hey all!

 

Day 179 here, August 4th NOA1

 

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with all these July approvals! Had a few questions I was wondering if anyone had the answer to:

 

1. We went through a lawyer as we were lucky enough to have a previous work associate who runs an immigration law firm - Is it worth us signing up for informed delivery or will our letter from USCIS be going back to the lawyer's office from whence it was sent?

 

2. If that is the case, how is https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do this website for checking if we've been approved? Will it change as soon as we've been approved or does it update as slowly as USCIS' other webpages?

 

3. I had a look through July and noticed what seemed like a lot of RFEs in the scans (though I could be wrong). Does it seem like there's a lot of RFEs this time around or is this about normal?

 

LET'S GO AUGUST! Only a few weeks late if we all knock on wood!

@NICK & PAULA thanks   

 

1) it doesn't cost you money so there's not really worth it or not; normally yes it worth it.  but if the notices won't come to you but to the lawyer then it may not have a meaning.

 

2)no. They don't update it properly. Most cases approved never get an online update. Or sometimes even rfes don't get update so tracking your normal mail is really important. If you got lucky with a good lawyer he/she should be proactive and let you know (sorry I just never hear good experiences about lawyers- k1 is too simple for a lawyer)

 

3) they are doing july so it's normal. Yes there are more rfes this year than previous years. And an rfe can happen at any time of the process but most rfe comes during initial adjudication. You only saw rfes because they're not updating approvals online.

 

good luck 

Edited January 30, 2018 by Naes

[rpwcaw 0]

5 minutes ago, Naes said:

@NICK & PAULA thanks   

 

1) it doesn't cost you money so there's not really worth it or not; normally yes it worth it.  but if the notices won't come to you but to the lawyer then it may not have a meaning.

 

2)no. They don't update it properly. Most cases approved never get an online update. Or sometimes even rfes don't get update so tracking your normal mail is really important. If you got lucky with a good lawyer he/she should be proactive and let you know (sorry I just never hear good experiences about lawyers- k1 is too simple for a lawyer)

 

3) they are doing july so it's normal. Yes there are more rfes this year than previous years. And an rfe can happen at any time of the process but most rfe comes during initial adjudication. You only saw rfes because they're not updating approvals online.

 

good luck 

Thanks for the responses, I guess the best way is to wait for Eoin (our lawyer, he really is very nice!) to get back to us, or check the scans once August rolls around? The number we're looking out for is the one that starts with WAC correct?

[Naes 12,205]

19 minutes ago, rpwcaw said:

Thanks for the responses, I guess the best way is to wait for Eoin (our lawyer, he really is very nice!) to get back to us, or check the scans once August rolls around? The number we're looking out for is the one that starts with WAC correct?

Then you are really lucky with the lawyer

 

yes thats your case number which you can use to check your case from uscis website. Nothing that doesn't appear there will appear in the scans  

 

good luck, hope August will start soon!

[TexasGuy0101 75]

169 days!

I hop you are all having a great day today.

[TexasGuy0101 75]

Are these the correct fees for AOS?

 

I–485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status New fee $1,140 | old fee $985
Biometric services fee $85.00

Total $1,225

Also do I need to add in the fees for I-131?

I-131/I-131A Application for Travel Document New fee $575 | Old fee $360

 

Total $1,800.

 

Sorry for my confusion, I am just updating my budget.

 

Thank you.

Edited January 30, 2018 by TexasGuy0101

[Naes 12,205]

2 minutes ago, TexasGuy0101 said:

Are these the correct fees for AOS?

 

I–485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status New fee $1,140 | old fee $985
Biometric services fee $85.00

Total $1,225

Yep looks like it.

[TexasGuy0101 75]

1 minute ago, Naes said:

Yep looks like it.

Also do I need to add in the fees for I-131?

I-131/I-131A Application for Travel Document New fee $575 | Old fee $360

 

Total $1,800.

 

Sorry for my confusion, I am just updating my budget.

[TexasGuy0101 75]

If my fiancé wants to work after we file AOS, will she need to also fill out and apply for I-765? Or will she be able to work after filing AOS?

 

I–765 Application for Employment Authorization New fee $410 | Old fee $380 

[Naes 12,205]

1 minute ago, TexasGuy0101 said:

If my fiancé wants to work after we file AOS, will she need to also fill out and apply for I-765? Or will she be able to work after filing AOS?

 

I–765 Application for Employment Authorization New fee $410 | Old fee $380 

When you file EAD with the AOS, you only pay for AOS.

No she needs to get employment authorization.

 

so you file AOS and EAD together, only pay for AOS+biometrics for that.

EAD processes too.

 

EAD comes back first, (4months+ right now) and then she can work.

[LLT 22]

7 hours ago, Naes said:

Exactly. Form wise those are it.

 

Other than that; some proof for ongoing relationship, like if you guys met after the petition any evidence of that and some recent chat history or call history.

 

i would also add a new-updated letter of intent signed with the recent date from the petitioner. 

 

And other than these it would depend on the embassy. 

Perfect, thanks!  sigh. I didn't realize we had to have continuing proof, and the updated letter is easy to do.  I have tons of proof (1 visit after petition) so good to know so i can start gathering pictures, chat history, etc and photocopying it and all that stuff.  

 

Also, guess what! USCIS updated their site today!  The date says June 27!  Still seems behind but that's to be expected.

[Naes 12,205]

4 minutes ago, LLT said:

Perfect, thanks!  sigh. I didn't realize we had to have continuing proof, and the updated letter is easy to do.  I have tons of proof (1 visit after petition) so good to know so i can start gathering pictures, chat history, etc and photocopying it and all that stuff.  

 

Also, guess what! USCIS updated their site today!  The date says June 27!  Still seems behind but that's to be expected.

Yep, pictures etc is good, just in case also keep some call or chat logs closer to the interview date.

 

And about the processing times.

When it was May it stuck in May for at least 2 months, so them improving this is a huge thing.

 

I believe they are trying to keep this showing about 5 months. which is normally their average goal.  

Hope it will help following months. At least if they can reduce the wait by 5-10 days per month...

[lilit829 368]

1 hour ago, Naes said:

Yep, pictures etc is good, just in case also keep some call or chat logs closer to the interview date.

 

And about the processing times.

When it was May it stuck in May for at least 2 months, so them improving this is a huge thing.

 

I believe they are trying to keep this showing about 5 months. which is normally their average goal.  

Hope it will help following months. At least if they can reduce the wait by 5-10 days per month...

So, sorry for derailing the convo, if they keep going at this rate does that mean people from December/January have a possibility of getting NOA2's in 5 months instead of ~7? 

[John & Rose 7,239]

9 minutes ago, lilit829 said:

So, sorry for derailing the convo, if they keep going at this rate does that mean people from December/January have a possibility of getting NOA2's in 5 months instead of ~7? 

It is possible but I would say 6 months just to be safer.  Things are looking better for the newer filers than they do for the old timers.