Minneapolis-St. Paul MN Office AOS Filers

[USpatial 21]

From what I've read from other MN filers, interviews are (almost) always separated. So, for a same number of applicants and a same number of USCIS staff, the MN office would take twice the time to process a single application. 

[itsdonealready 13]

On 12/31/2017 at 9:56 AM, USpatial said:

So it took them about 80 days to schedule an appointment of an application with a priority date one day apart...

This is tragic! Haha but I think the process they take is not linear (i.e. the updates we receive is not fully dependent on our PD) so it is possible that @sebastianshaw 's case took longer to process than his friend's, or they board with different visa types (K1 is still slightly faster)

[sebastianshaw 97]

On 12/31/2017 at 9:56 AM, USpatial said:

So it took them about 80 days to schedule an appointment of an application with a priority date one day apart...

as @itsdonealready pointed out, USCIS does not work in a linear fashion. Also it is not FIFO (First in first out), there are multiple factors because of which 2 similar seeming cases might not work out at the same rate. Country of origin, visa type the AOS is being done from, background checks, etc etc. 

 

One lawyer once told me that he filed for 2 twin sisters who married 2 twin american brothers. One of the sisters got interviewed 6 months before the other one   needless to say everything was same, location of field office, country of origin, even family backgrounds and similar names. Go figure 

Edited January 8, 2018 by sebastianshaw

[sebastianshaw 97]

On 12/31/2017 at 3:58 PM, USpatial said:

From what I've read from other MN filers, interviews are (almost) always separated. So, for a same number of applicants and a same number of USCIS staff, the MN office would take twice the time to process a single application. 

Apart from that you also have to consider that while some states have 4 interviewing field locations, MN is serving 3 full states (MN, ND, SD) and half of Wisconsin, at only ONE field office. I dont know what will take them to realize they need more offices 

Edited January 8, 2018 by sebastianshaw

[itsdonealready 13]

20 hours ago, sebastianshaw said:

Apart from that you also have to consider that while some states have 4 interviewing field locations, MN is serving 3 full states (MN, ND, SD) and half of Wisconsin, at only ONE field office. I dont know what will take them to realize they need more offices 

I second that @sebastianshaw or maybe they can consider hiring more employees

BTW I just received the approval notice of i-765 today, said the approval happened on 01/08/2018.

It should be a direct result of my attorney's service inquiry, although the status of that inquiry was still 'not assigned for processing'

 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

On 1/9/2018 at 10:36 AM, itsdonealready said:

I second that @sebastianshaw or maybe they can consider hiring more employees

BTW I just received the approval notice of i-765 today, said the approval happened on 01/08/2018.

It should be a direct result of my attorney's service inquiry, although the status of that inquiry was still 'not assigned for processing'

Congrats on your I-765 approval! By the way, they are hiring ONE Immigration Services Officer. LOL, I checked usajobs a few days ago. ONE! It seems like they need way more than that.

 

[itsdonealready 13]

On 1/12/2018 at 5:56 AM, USC4SPOUSE said:

Congrats on your I-765 approval! By the way, they are hiring ONE Immigration Services Officer. LOL, I checked usajobs a few days ago. ONE! It seems like they need way more than that.

 

That's adorable...maybe they don't have enough office space to host more employees? Anyway, we will wait...I got my EAD/AP card delivered yesterday. Kudos to USPS considering the weather

[USpatial 21]

In a post-Xmas miracle, we got our interview scheduled for February 28th, merely 6 days after the first anniversary of the i485's NOA date. 

 

Since the medical form is more than one year older, do we have to get a new one and take it with us to the interview?

[Daithi182 0]

So I'm close to sending off my combo card extension application, but I have a few concerns I hope someone could clarify for me. My card expires on May 15th 2018; am I right in thinking that if my renewal application doesn't get completed by the day of expiration does it automatically extend by 180 days? I have read that somewhere but wasn't sure if it applied to us? This is a worry as there is so many delays right now and I don't want to be in the situation where I can't work anymore. I'm also confused as to where to submit this application to. I've read that since I'm living in Minnesota I sent it to the Phoenix Lockbox, but I am pretty sure when I submitted for my original combo card along with my AOS it was to the Chicago Lockbox? Appreciate the help! 

[itsdonealready 13]

1 hour ago, USpatial said:

In a post-Xmas miracle, we got our interview scheduled for February 28th, merely 6 days after the first anniversary of the i485's NOA date. 

 

Since the medical form is more than one year older, do we have to get a new one and take it with us to the interview?

Congrats on the interview! I 'd suggest you bring a new medical form with you cuz I've heard of many people here being asked to get a new medical after interview if they didn't bring one during the interview. This will cause another round of delay.

[sebastianshaw 97]

23 hours ago, Daithi182 said:

So I'm close to sending off my combo card extension application, but I have a few concerns I hope someone could clarify for me. My card expires on May 15th 2018; am I right in thinking that if my renewal application doesn't get completed by the day of expiration does it automatically extend by 180 days? I have read that somewhere but wasn't sure if it applied to us? This is a worry as there is so many delays right now and I don't want to be in the situation where I can't work anymore. I'm also confused as to where to submit this application to. I've read that since I'm living in Minnesota I sent it to the Phoenix Lockbox, but I am pretty sure when I submitted for my original combo card along with my AOS it was to the Chicago Lockbox? Appreciate the help! 

You can apply up-to 6 months in advance to the expiry date on your EAD card. Also according to new policy if you are applying for renewal under the category C(9) when you get your I797 it will say that your EAD is automatically extended for 6 months. 

 

For minnesota you file in the same lockbox you did for earlier filing, which is Chicago in your case. 

[Mar_31 5]

Hi I am also waiting for my interview, AOS through marriage. 

Priority date : June 9/2017, so it seems like i still have a lot of months to wait.

I will be happy to share this journey with you guys.

 

[Nicole&Ryan 3]

Hey guys just thought I’d add my experience as I have the MN office too. I came to the U.S via K1 visa and I filed for AOS in December 2016. Received an email saying they had got my case and was processing it a few days after I sent it in. A year later I hadn’t heard anything at all so I thought I’d get in touch with USCIS through phone and they told me to fill out the “Case outside of normal processing time” form on their site. I did that a few days ago, so today I decided to check the case status on the USCIS app and it now says “Card was mailed to me”. I always thought I’d be having an interview and some communication but apparently not, I definitely don’t mind though now my green card is hopefully on its way   I hope everyone gets their cases processed soon! - Nicole

Edited January 27, 2018 by Nicole&Ryan

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

3 hours ago, Nicole&Ryan said:

Hey guys just thought I’d add my experience as I have the MN office too. I came to the U.S via K1 visa and I filed for AOS in December 2016. Received an email saying they had got my case and was processing it a few days after I sent it in. A year later I hadn’t heard anything at all so I thought I’d get in touch with USCIS through phone and they told me to fill out the “Case outside of normal processing time” form on their site. I did that a few days ago, so today I decided to check the case status on the USCIS app and it now says “Card was mailed to me”. I always thought I’d be having an interview and some communication but apparently not, I definitely don’t mind though now my green card is hopefully on its way   I hope everyone gets their cases processed soon! - Nicole

 

Congrats! Getting the interview waived is pretty standard for k-1 visas. They burden of proof for k-1 is that you two had met within the past two years and are intending to marry. Thus, you proved that on your initial interview.

 As long as you marry within the required 90 days and submit solid evidence with the AOS package, it’s smooth sailing from what I’ve seen.

The office does move at glacial pace. Had you also applied for Advance Parole and Employment Authorization?

I’m about to file for my spouse and how long it’s taking at this field office, is promising.

 

congrats!

[Nicole&Ryan 3]

5 hours ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

 

Congrats! Getting the interview waived is pretty standard for k-1 visas. They burden of proof for k-1 is that you two had met within the past two years and are intending to marry. Thus, you proved that on your initial interview.

 As long as you marry within the required 90 days and submit solid evidence with the AOS package, it’s smooth sailing from what I’ve seen.

The office does move at glacial pace. Had you also applied for Advance Parole and Employment Authorization?

I’m about to file for my spouse and how long it’s taking at this field office, is promising.

 

congrats!

Thank you  ah I didn’t know it was the norm to get it waived, I probably should have done more research on it. Yeah I applied for advance parole and employment authorization and they sent me that combo card 3 months after they recieved the case. It’s been a really easy process so far, hopefully yours is the same! Good luck 🍀