September 2017 AOS Filers

[RJandHamid 1,133]

15 minutes ago, JoJoJoJo said:

Sorry to hear that. Since Birth Certificate is not required according to the instructions of Forms I-131 or I-765. I would hope there is no impact on them...

 

Is this RFIE specifically related to I-485? My NOA1s of AOS/EAD/AP say something like "other cases you may have filed are communicated to you separately". So I have assumed that the cases are handled separately by different people so that those who handle EAD application would not get any document related to AOS application and therefore can proceed with your EAD/AP.

 

Sorry I only have speculation...

The letter says: "This office is unable to complete the processing of your Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, (Form I-485)..."

 

It doesn't say anything about the EAD/AP petitions. From what I've read here on VJ, they just seem to pause until the RFIE response is received, so I hope that is true for us as well. I think the timeline to submit a service request resets for all the petitions though. 

[JoJoJoJo 170]

50 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

Yes, I included the original Arabic birth certificate as well as the certified English copy he brought to his interview. It was done by a certified translator in Morocco, with an official stamp, seal and statement, but now I'm worried that USCIS doesn't see it as official, maybe due to it being translated in Morocco? I'm not really sure.

 

That was unclear and one has to take a guess! Mine was translated into English by the notary which produced my original Birth Certificate. Because USCIS's general instruction is that we should submit photocopies, so I made photocopies of the original and the translation and submitted them. Hopefully they would not give me an RFIE...

 

 

38 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

The letter says: "This office is unable to complete the processing of your Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, (Form I-485)..."

 

It doesn't say anything about the EAD/AP petitions. From what I've read here on VJ, they just seem to pause until the RFIE response is received, so I hope that is true for us as well. I think the timeline to submit a service request resets for all the petitions though. 

Dang, that is unfortunate! While we cannot make them to be faster, at least we can try to be fast on our side.

[Gemma 41]

On 10/9/2017 at 4:34 PM, Valex said:

Sorry to hear about your RFE. 

Did you get a case status update on the USCIS website about the RFE? 

Or was the RFE just sent in the mail?

 

-Val

Hi Val,

 

No, I did not get any update on the USCIS website. I just found it in the mail the day after my birthday. So thoughtful of USCIS to send me a birthday present  Just kidding.

 

The USCIS website state hasn't changed since September 14th when they acknowledge receiving the documents. It did not change either when they sent my biometrics appointment. In my case, it doesn't seem to be very reliable.

 

Gemma

[Gemma 41]

On 10/9/2017 at 6:02 PM, PR&PR said:

Yeah they normally require certified translation unfortunately...At least they did for the k1 fiancé visa ...I myself found a place that charge 0.12$/words ...so it cost me 12$ to have my certified translation ...Look for those businesses that do translation in large volume and make phone calls..I had to translate my police certificate from Germany as I lived there for over 6months ...Found a lady for about 30$ ...There are ways around the big prices because those are fairly easy translations.

Hi PR&PR,

 

In Spain they did not require a certified translation of the birth certificate during the K1 application. Thank you for the advice on the translations and the prices! That's very useful.

 

I decided to go with a local translator and got the document certified in the U.S. Not that it should be any problem doing it otherwise, but for me it's not worth risking another RFE. I think whoever the officer looking at my case, may be more willing to accept something certified in the U.S. 

 

I was on a J1 visa before, the U.S. embassy in Spain accepted my documents for the K1 visa, so it's not like there are many doubts about my identity. I think I just got a picky officer and I am trying to solve this in the most conservative way. The certified translation in North Carolina costs $75 (I checked around, that seem to be the most common price for those translators that offered certification).

[Gemma 41]

On 10/10/2017 at 9:59 AM, Alexia Taisson said:

Hi Gemma ! 

 

I'm very sorry you got a RFE. Luckily it's an easy fix  I'm sure it won't delay your process too much. 

 

I'm also in North Carolina, and it made my day knowing you already heard something back ! I sent my documents on September 5th and had my biometrics just one day after you. 

 

Best of luck to you!

Hi Alexia!

 

North Carolina buddies, yay!

 

I'm hoping it doesn't get delayed too much. I guess we will be able to compare with your case, as you did your biometrics one day after me.

 

Let us know how it works! I will follow your timeline 

 

Good luck!!!!

[Gemma 41]

14 hours ago, RJandHamid said:

We received an RFIE in the mail today (no change in case status online) 

 

They are asking for the certified translated birth certificate...I included the copy we used at his interview, which was fine. I'm not sure if I'm just going to resend the original (it has a stamp and seal of a certified translator) or if I should get a new translation to be safe. 

 

I know the clock restarts in terms of processing service requests, but does anyone know if they continue to process EAD/AP documents despite the RFIE for the I-485?

 

Our petition was sent September 8 and received by USCIS September 12, so at least they got the RFIE to us pretty quickly...

Hi RJ

 

Sorry to hear that. I also got an RFE for a certified translation. I decided to go with a local translator in the U.S. and I send the original translation with the stamp and original birth certificate (I have several copies, in Spain you're allowed to request more than one). Hope it works.

 

I hope it does not affect the EAD/AP as I'm already interviewing for jobs. In the RFE it only refers to the I-485 application, but I have no further information.

 

Hope you get it solved ASAP and it doesn't delay your case too much.

 

Best of luck!

[RJandHamid 1,133]

1 hour ago, Gemma said:

Hi Val,

 

No, I did not get any update on the USCIS website. I just found it in the mail the day after my birthday. So thoughtful of USCIS to send me a birthday present  Just kidding.

 

The USCIS website state hasn't changed since September 14th when they acknowledge receiving the documents. It did not change either when they sent my biometrics appointment. In my case, it doesn't seem to be very reliable.

 

Gemma

Just wanted to add that my online case status has not changed either (we received a request for initial evidence in the mail yesterday).

 

I'm hoping it updates once they receive my requested documents...

[eastcoastgroove 329]

On 2017-10-13 at 12:51 PM, bbf3562 said:

I just completed biometric  appointment. The appointment letter asked to bring this appointment letter and passport, id, or driver license. We drove about 2 and half hours to USCIS office. My wife gave the staff appointment letter and her passport. The staff couldn't accept her passport because her passport is her original name before she change her name to married name. She does't have her state id or driver license that have her marriage name and we left our marriage certificate at home. I was pretty upset but lucky the staff told us that my wife can use her original name for biometric and then when it time for interview she can request interviewer to put her marriage name on green card but she will need to bring her marriage certificate and ID next time for that. My wife is going to state office to get her state ID with her marriage name. So just giving you a head up if you have upcoming biometric appointment and your spouse use marriage name, make sure your spouse have id of marriage name or use marriage certificate.

Thanks for the heads up, I never would have thought to bring my marriage licence to the appt (and I have no ID in my "new" name yet since I am under the impression I have to wait for the  EAD to get my drivers license)

[natsusnowy1204 24]

the bio fingerprints notice is 10/20, but we tried to do it by walking in yesterday! And successes  praise the lord 

[natsusnowy1204 24]

Just curious can we back with a married named AP when we back , meanwhile the passport is original name .

i didn't change name this time . We supposed it would be troublesome by the first time to apply the green card 

 

[TriloByte 1,818]

I’m new to the AOS game like I assume most others here are too, but maybe I’m missing something when I see people upset about having to wait on USCIS for AOS. Maybe it’s the fact that my wife doesn’t plan on working or leaving the US that makes us not care how long USCIS takes?

 

I would like to know why people seem to be upset that AOS takes a long time? I cared how long the K1 process took because I was separated from my Love, but for AOS I don’t care at all how long AOS takes because we are together. Should I care? Is there something I am missing that would make me care? When I see people seemingly upset over the wait I get paranoid that I am missing something.

Edited October 15, 2017 by TriloByte

[RJandHamid 1,133]

28 minutes ago, TriloByte said:

I’m new to the AOS game like I assume most others here are too, but maybe I’m missing something when I see people upset about having to wait on USCIS for AOS. Maybe it’s the fact that my wife doesn’t plan on working or leaving the US that makes us not care how long USCIS takes?

 

I would like to know why people seem to be upset that AOS takes a long time? I cared how long the K1 process took because I was separated from my Love, but for AOS I don’t care at all how long AOS takes because we are together. Should I care? Is there something I am missing that would make me care? When I see people seemingly upset over the wait I get paranoid that I am missing something.

I think most are upset or maybe anxious because they want to be able to work and travel. Personally I don't care how long the green card takes, but my husband is bored and wants to work and we certainly could use the additional income. I knew there would be a waiting period for him to be able to start working as I researched the entire K1 process and next steps before filing, but it seems that many are taken by surprise that the K1 immigrant cannot work or travel right away. The fact that waiting times have gone up and there is some uncertainty regarding changes in how aos is processed adds to people's frustration as well. But like you said, at least we are waiting together with our loved ones this time.

[TriloByte 1,818]

1 minute ago, RJandHamid said:

I think most are upset or maybe anxious because they want to be able to work and travel. Personally I don't care how long the green card takes, but my husband is bored and wants to work and we certainly could use the additional income. I knew there would be a waiting period for him to be able to start working as I researched the entire K1 process and next steps before filing, but it seems that many are taken by surprise that the K1 immigrant cannot work or travel right away. The fact that waiting times have gone up and there is some uncertainty regarding changes in how aos is processed adds to people's frustration as well. But like you said, at least we are waiting together with our loved ones this time.

Thanks. What changes to the process? I hope nothing has changed since I filed last week 😁

[RJandHamid 1,133]

1 minute ago, TriloByte said:

Thanks. What changes to the process? I hope nothing has changed since I filed last week 😁

I don't think any kind of changes have actually been implemented, but people are saying (not sure how much truth there is to any of this!) that all aos applicants will now be required to interview for the green card, whereas before only about half of applicants were interviewed and many received the green card in the mail with no interview. If everyone must attend the interview, will it lead to even longer wait times? Also general changes to limiting ability to aos for those who adjust from a visitor or other visa (not K1).

[PR&PR 325]

4 hours ago, TriloByte said:

I’m new to the AOS game like I assume most others here are too, but maybe I’m missing something when I see people upset about having to wait on USCIS for AOS. Maybe it’s the fact that my wife doesn’t plan on working or leaving the US that makes us not care how long USCIS takes?

 

I would like to know why people seem to be upset that AOS takes a long time? I cared how long the K1 process took because I was separated from my Love, but for AOS I don’t care at all how long AOS takes because we are together. Should I care? Is there something I am missing that would make me care? When I see people seemingly upset over the wait I get paranoid that I am missing something.

Hey there fellow January K1 filer ,

I don't care about the AOS myself, I care about the EAD/AP, as I am eager to go visit my parents back home before a year and I would like to be able to cross to Mexico again (we are couple hours from the border)...And well I want a job haha! I am indeed getting bored at home and I just want to be able to start my career...It is not a huge deal, but I wish it  could be as fast as it can be indeed. Nothing you are missing and I am t totally with you on the AOS process and being with our loved one finally!