Minneapolis-St. Paul MN Office AOS Filers

[October20 8]

Actually, the USCIS has sent a RFE for me on 12/17 to support for my I 485. When I respond for a RFE on 2/18, I receive my EAD card a week later. From 2/13/18 until 10/18, my case has not changed and just updated “ case is ready to be scheduled for an interview” a week ago. Because I keep going calling them to ask about my case. I just wonder when will I receive the notice of interview? I heard many people said that it can take at least 7 days to several months to receive the interview notice.

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

1 minute ago, October20 said:

Actually, the USCIS has sent a RFE for me on 12/17 to support for my I 485. When I respond for a RFE on 2/18, I receive my EAD card a week later. From 2/13/18 until 10/18, my case has not changed and just updated “ case is ready to be scheduled for an interview” a week ago. Because I keep going calling them to ask about my case. I just wonder when will I receive the notice of interview? I heard many people said that it can take at least 7 days to several months to receive the interview notice.

It's interesting that your case took so long to reach the "Case is ready to be scheduled for an Interview" stage. It will be interesting to see how your case progresses from this point on. 

 

[Chelleyandaaron 528]

21 hours ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume1-PartA-Chapter12.html

You may still include it or mention financial loss. Just make sure that you state your case in a clear and concise manner. Alternatively, sometimes people mention financial loss to the Senator and not to USCIS. That approach has worked for many. The key is to submit a request that is logical and not cluttered with statements that do not fully support your claim. 

 

 

Thank you. I will do that.

[MapleLeaf29 247]

We had our interview at the beginning of October and are waiting to hear any updates on our case. When we log into the new MyAccount system, it's stuck at "we are waiting to schedule your interview". We called for an update, but it looks like in the computer, we are still at "your interview notice was mailed". We were approved on the spot at our interview, but it doesn't sound like they have passed our information to the green card processing center (the officer who interviewed us told us that all green cards are processed at a center in Tennessee). At our interview, the officer said that our green card would arrive in 3-8 weeks, so we went ahead and booked flights to visit my husband's family at Christmas, but with the lack of updates in the computer system, I am wondering if my husband's card will arrive in time. Does anyone else know how long it takes to get a green card after the interview?

[natsusnowy1204 24]

On 11/1/2018 at 3:58 PM, MapleLeaf29 said:

We had our interview at the beginning of October and are waiting to hear any updates on our case. When we log into the new MyAccount system, it's stuck at "we are waiting to schedule your interview". We called for an update, but it looks like in the computer, we are still at "your interview notice was mailed". We were approved on the spot at our interview, but it doesn't sound like they have passed our information to the green card processing center (the officer who interviewed us told us that all green cards are processed at a center in Tennessee). At our interview, the officer said that our green card would arrive in 3-8 weeks, so we went ahead and booked flights to visit my husband's family at Christmas, but with the lack of updates in the computer system, I am wondering if my husband's card will arrive in time. Does anyone else know how long it takes to get a green card after the interview?

It only took me 2days to get the approval notice online , but I a also heard it took couple weeks to get the approval e-notice on some people 

On 11/1/2018 at 3:58 PM, MapleLeaf29 said:

We had our interview at the beginning of October and are waiting to hear any updates on our case. When we log into the new MyAccount system, it's stuck at "we are waiting to schedule your interview". We called for an update, but it looks like in the computer, we are still at "your interview notice was mailed". We were approved on the spot at our interview, but it doesn't sound like they have passed our information to the green card processing center (the officer who interviewed us told us that all green cards are processed at a center in Tennessee). At our interview, the officer said that our green card would arrive in 3-8 weeks, so we went ahead and booked flights to visit my husband's family at Christmas, but with the lack of updates in the computer system, I am wondering if my husband's card will arrive in time. Does anyone else know how long it takes to get a green card after the interview?

After received my E- notice , it took one week to receive my green card

[MapleLeaf29 247]

15 minutes ago, natsusnowy1204 said:

It only took me 2days to get the approval notice online , but I a also heard it took couple weeks to get the approval e-notice on some people 

After received my E- notice , it took one week to receive my green card

Thanks so much for this information!  My husband called USCIS a few days ago and this is what they said: 

 

Husband: My interview was a month ago and I was approved.  I was wondering how long it might take to get my green card.

USCIS Employee: You weren't approved.  You were recommended for approval.  Your case was passed to someone else's desk; they will look over it and decide whether or not you are approved.

Husband: Do you know how long that will take?  My wife and I bought tickets to visit my family in Canada for Christmas and I need the green card so I can travel outside the country.

USCIS Employee: You are still in the 15-20 month processing window for interviews.

Husband: I think you might be misunderstanding me.  I have already had the interview.  When can I expect the green card?

USCIS Employee: You are still in the 15-20 month processing window.  We have five months to make a decision about your approval.  If you do not have your approval notice in five months, you may contact us because you will be outside of normal processing times.

Husband: WHAT?????

USCIS Employee: 15-20 months is normal processing time.  When we make a decision about your case, we will send you an approval letter.  After that, it will be an additional 2-8 weeks to process your green card and mail it to you.

 

We have never heard that it could take up to the 20-month mark to make a decision about an interview.  The officer told us he was recommending us for approval and even printed out an approval letter for us.  As far as we know, everything is in order and we are not under review.  Everything we have read online says that USCIS has 120 days to make a decision from the date of the interview, not five months.  We are completely and totally perplexed.

 

My husband made an InfoPass appointment.  He is going in this week, so we'll see what they say.

Edited November 3, 2018 by MapleLeaf29

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

6 hours ago, MapleLeaf29 said:

Thanks so much for this information!  My husband called USCIS a few days ago and this is what they said: 

 

Husband: My interview was a month ago and I was approved.  I was wondering how long it might take to get my green card.

USCIS Employee: You weren't approved.  You were recommended for approval.  Your case was passed to someone else's desk; they will look over it and decide whether or not you are approved.

Husband: Do you know how long that will take?  My wife and I bought tickets to visit my family in Canada for Christmas and I need the green card so I can travel outside the country.

USCIS Employee: You are still in the 15-20 month processing window for interviews.

Husband: I think you might be misunderstanding me.  I have already had the interview.  When can I expect the green card?

USCIS Employee: You are still in the 15-20 month processing window.  We have five months to make a decision about your approval.  If you do not have your approval notice in five months, you may contact us because you will be outside of normal processing times.

Husband: WHAT?????

USCIS Employee: 15-20 months is normal processing time.  When we make a decision about your case, we will send you an approval letter.  After that, it will be an additional 2-8 weeks to process your green card and mail it to you.

 

We have never heard that it could take up to the 20-month mark to make a decision about an interview.  The officer told us he was recommending us for approval and even printed out an approval letter for us.  As far as we know, everything is in order and we are not under review.  Everything we have read online says that USCIS has 120 days to make a decision from the date of the interview, not five months.  We are completely and totally perplexed.

 

My husband made an InfoPass appointment.  He is going in this week, so we'll see what they say.

It sounds like your husband spoke to a tier 1 rep. Tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 or 4. None of them are Immigration Services Officers. Tier 2 reps do have more access to your file but that's about it. If you want to speak to an Immigration Services officer, then Infopass is your best bet. 

 

You're adjusting from k-1. The AOS interview is supposed to be more of a formality. The Embassy vetted you already AND you held up your end of the deal by getting married within 90 days of entering the US.

 

According to what I have found online, there is no time limit to AOS. This link might be old BUT according to it, there is no time limit to adjudicate AOS. There is a time limit -more of a goal- of 180 days to adjudicate N-400s but not I-485s. https://www.uscis.gov/archive/blog/2012/05/three-myths-adjustment-of-status

[natsusnowy1204 24]

On 11/3/2018 at 3:09 PM, MapleLeaf29 said:

Thanks so much for this information!  My husband called USCIS a few days ago and this is what they said: 

 

Husband: My interview was a month ago and I was approved.  I was wondering how long it might take to get my green card.

USCIS Employee: You weren't approved.  You were recommended for approval.  Your case was passed to someone else's desk; they will look over it and decide whether or not you are approved.

Husband: Do you know how long that will take?  My wife and I bought tickets to visit my family in Canada for Christmas and I need the green card so I can travel outside the country.

USCIS Employee: You are still in the 15-20 month processing window for interviews.

Husband: I think you might be misunderstanding me.  I have already had the interview.  When can I expect the green card?

USCIS Employee: You are still in the 15-20 month processing window.  We have five months to make a decision about your approval.  If you do not have your approval notice in five months, you may contact us because you will be outside of normal processing times.

Husband: WHAT?????

USCIS Employee: 15-20 months is normal processing time.  When we make a decision about your case, we will send you an approval letter.  After that, it will be an additional 2-8 weeks to process your green card and mail it to you.

 

We have never heard that it could take up to the 20-month mark to make a decision about an interview.  The officer told us he was recommending us for approval and even printed out an approval letter for us.  As far as we know, everything is in order and we are not under review.  Everything we have read online says that USCIS has 120 days to make a decision from the date of the interview, not five months.  We are completely and totally perplexed.

 

My husband made an InfoPass appointment.  He is going in this week, so we'll see what they say.

Sorry for that:( Do you still have combo card? Maybe you two could go traveling by that card, I used it twice for traveling before I received my green card.

[MapleLeaf29 247]

19 hours ago, natsusnowy1204 said:

Sorry for that:( Do you still have combo card? Maybe you two could go traveling by that card, I used it twice for traveling before I received my green card.

Our combo card expired this week.  

[MapleLeaf29 247]

On 11/3/2018 at 9:24 PM, USC4SPOUSE said:

It sounds like your husband spoke to a tier 1 rep. Tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 or 4. None of them are Immigration Services Officers. Tier 2 reps do have more access to your file but that's about it. If you want to speak to an Immigration Services officer, then Infopass is your best bet. 

 

You're adjusting from k-1. The AOS interview is supposed to be more of a formality. The Embassy vetted you already AND you held up your end of the deal by getting married within 90 days of entering the US.

 

According to what I have found online, there is no time limit to AOS. This link might be old BUT according to it, there is no time limit to adjudicate AOS. There is a time limit -more of a goal- of 180 days to adjudicate N-400s but not I-485s. https://www.uscis.gov/archive/blog/2012/05/three-myths-adjustment-of-status

Thank you!  That is helpful.  We have made an InfoPass appointment for this week, so we'll see what they say.

[TC_person 0]

Hello! I filed for I-485 (employment based ) in july 2017. My case has been reedy for interview since beginning of August 2018 sitting at NBC. No interview notice yet. Infopass appointments and calls to L2 officers seem useless. At infopass, they said they have more help but they simply asked me to wait for interview. Any idea what is causing this significant delay? People who applied way later than me got interviews. So, what's up with this random delay? Whats is my recourse? I have been waiting for a total of 14 months now since I applied. 

Edited November 8, 2018 by TC_person

[TC_person 0]

On 10/22/2018 at 5:01 PM, USC4SPOUSE said:

Most cases move at about the same speed up until they reach the "case is ready to be scheduled" stage. Once you get to that point, you are at the mercy of your field office. 

Remember that the k-1/CR-1 process is the path that USCIS prefers you take to immigrate to the US. Those applicants have already been vetted by a consular officer at a US Embassy. Hence, it makes sense that they move a little faster than other AOS petitions. Interviews for k-1 applicants used to be waived. They're really only required to submit a marriage certificate as evidence of bona fide marriage with their AOS petitions. Again, it makes sense that those applications may be processed faster. 

Even though k-1 AOS applications now require an in-person interview, these interviews are a formality for the most part. 

 

I would say hang in there. While the Minneapolis Field office has hired additional staff and has been moving more quickly, it may still be a while before they're able to interview folks within 6 months of filing for AOS. That used to be the case before the Minneapolis Field office started serving North Dakota, South Dakota, and part of Wisconsin. 

 

 

That's good news that they have additional staff. I have been waiting for 16 months now since I filed AOS employment based.  Ready for interview status since August 2018. Any idea when the wait will end? 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

10 minutes ago, TC_person said:

That's good news that they have additional staff. I have been waiting for 16 months now since I filed AOS employment based.  Ready for interview status since August 2018. Any idea when the wait will end? 

A trusted source recently learned from an Immigration Services officer at Infopass that being selected for interview is pretty much luck of the draw. They select cases from the "Ready to interview" pool. The system does not prompt them to check priority dates. Therefore, PDs become irrelevant if you are in the "ready to interview" pool.

[TC_person 0]

23 minutes ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

A trusted source recently learned from an Immigration Services officer at Infopass that being selected for interview is pretty much luck of the draw. They select cases from the "Ready to interview" pool. The system does not prompt them to check priority dates. Therefore, PDs become irrelevant if you are in the "ready to interview" pool.

So, the officer at NBC sends the interview ready list to the officers at the local FO. The officer at local FO randomly picks candidates from this list. I thought a bit more effort goes into interview co-ordination between officers at NBC and local FO. I guess I was wrong. 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

2 hours ago, TC_person said:

So, the officer at NBC sends the interview ready list to the officers at the local FO. The officer at local FO randomly picks candidates from this list. I thought a bit more effort goes into interview co-ordination between officers at NBC and local FO. I guess I was wrong. 

You make it sound way more streamlined than it is. It's choppy and very manual. It's all very disjointed. 

They just updated the processing times. It's now 16 months to 33.5 months. I mean... seriously...

We're happy to get the interview on or after our 2 year anniversary. That way we won't have to deal with filing the I-751. 

Edited November 8, 2018 by USC4SPOUSE