Minneapolis-St. Paul MN Office AOS Filers

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

On 3/15/2018 at 6:56 PM, cool_beans said:

 

This is getting out of control. Is there any way to get them to step it up? I think they are the slowest office in the whole country now by 3 months!

That is a great question. I wonder if emailing each state's congress person would prompt them to do anything; even if it's just to get them talking about SD & ND getting their own field office, or WI opening a second one and sharing it with Minnesota. It's worth a shot.

I am almost disappointed to share that Minneapolis is NOT the slowest office in the US. 

 

Top 5 SLOWEST

VIRGIN ISLANDS, Charlotte Amalie	06/14/16
VIRGIN ISLANDS, Christiansted	06/14/16
NEW YORK, Queens	09/05/16
MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS	09/12/16
FLORIDA, Oakland Park	11/23/16

***Fun Fact: As of January 31st, 2018 - There are 17 field offices that were processing cases from 2016.***

 

Top 10 MOST EFFICIENT

MONTANA, Helena	10/01/17
VERMONT, Saint Albans	09/16/17
ALABAMA, Montgomery	08/12/17
KENTUCKY, Louisville	08/01/17
WASHINGTON, Yakima	07/29/17
CALIFORNIA, Imperial	07/20/17
MISSOURI, Kansas City	07/12/17
CALIFORNIA, San Bernardino	07/11/17
OHIO, Cleveland	07/04/17
ALASKA, Anchorage	06/27/17

 

So we can find solace in the fact that it could be worse?

 

 

 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

18 hours ago, itsdonealready said:

13 lbs! Wow you must have prepared well, good luck!

 

Although the processing time is showing something like a 16 months gap, I think the actually waiting time for an interview schedule is ~13 months. There are people who submitted last February who have already got their green cards.

 

Thanks! It was probably overkill. Since we'll probably hit our two year anniversary by the time the case is adjudicated, we figured we'd make it easy for the ISO to approve us. If we end up getting there before the two year mark and walk out with the conditional green card, that's fine, too. Sending them a 13lb baby now, will make it easier to build evidence off that package. We made two exact copies of it, of course. LOL, yeah, we probably went overboard. 

[itsdonealready 13]

7 hours ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

Thanks! It was probably overkill. Since we'll probably hit our two year anniversary by the time the case is adjudicated, we figured we'd make it easy for the ISO to approve us. If we end up getting there before the two year mark and walk out with the conditional green card, that's fine, too. Sending them a 13lb baby now, will make it easier to build evidence off that package. We made two exact copies of it, of course. LOL, yeah, we probably went overboard. 

That's an awesome strategy. I regret not doing this.

Based on current speed the day we finish our interview will be only 6 months from our 2-yr anniversary.

Yet we will have to go through that painful condition removal process (another 1 - 1.5 yrs of wait according to current processing rate).

Anyway...keep us update! Hope you receive NOAs soon

[MelandJason 60]

Hi guys!! We have new proccessing times!! I am in shock!! From 15 to 25.5 months!! 

[itsdonealready 13]

3 hours ago, MelandJason said:

Hi guys!! We have new proccessing times!! I am in shock!! From 15 to 25.5 months!! 

Thanks! Looks like they went through a big UI update. But now they no longer give the specific date for us, only the estimation of waiting period, which does not really help.

 

Estimated time range                      Form type                                                                       Case inquiry date

11.5 Months to 23 Months             Employment-based adjustment applications           May 12, 2016

14.5 Months to 23.5 Months          Family-based adjustment applications                      May 01, 2016

 

So according to the updated page, 'We have posted a Case Inquiry Date in the table below to show when you can inquire about your case. If your receipt date is before the Case Inquiry Date, you can submit an “outside normal processing time” service request online.'

Basically it is saying people who applied for green card in MN before May 2016 are allowed to complain if they have not received update yet...just wow.

[Mar_31 5]

Wow,  I can't believe it!

I'd better start filling for my AED renewal. 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

You didn't think I would not give you guys an updated list of the rankings. Well, sometimes you just have to trust your gut. 

The first two columns show you the new processing times and the third column, shows the last update from 01/31/18.

Field office Minimum Maximum I-485  as of 01/31/2018 TEXAS, El Paso 15.0 28.0 04/17/17 MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS 15.0 25.5 09/12/16 ARIZONA, Phoenix 14.0 22.5 03/13/17 COLORADO, Denver 14.0 30.0 12/31/16 FLORIDA, Oakland Park 14.0 21.5 11/23/16

 

And top 10 most efficient:

Field office	Minimum	Maximum	I-485 01/31/2018
OHIO, Cleveland	4.5	12.0	07/04/17
INDIANA, Indianapolis	5.0	16.0	06/10/17
KENTUCKY, Louisville	5.0	15.0	08/01/17
MAINE, Portland	5.5	17.0	06/06/17
CALIFORNIA, Chula Vista	6.0	19.0	04/10/17
PENNSYLVANIA, Pittsburgh	6.0	17.0	04/27/17
NEW HAMPSHIRE, Manchester	6.0	15.5	06/16/17
OHIO, Columbus	6.0	15.5	06/17/17
CALIFORNIA, San Diego	6.0	18.5	06/23/17
NEW YORK, Buffalo	6.0	18.0	06/26/17

 

Now former top 10 - (processing date)

Field office	Minimum	Maximum	I-485 01/31/2018
MONTANA, Helena	8.5	17.0	10/01/17
VERMONT, Saint Albans	11.5	27.0	09/16/17
ALABAMA, Montgomery	13.5	27.0	08/12/17
KENTUCKY, Louisville	5.0	15.0	08/01/17
WASHINGTON, Yakima	7.0	14.0	07/29/17
CALIFORNIA, Imperial	6.5	13.0	07/20/17
MISSOURI, Kansas City	6.0	16.5	07/12/17
CALIFORNIA, San Bernardino	6.5	16.0	07/11/17
OHIO, Cleveland	4.5	12.0	07/04/17
ARIZONA, Tucson	8.0	14.5	06/27/17

 

To give you a point of comparison, Helene, MT, is now on the #33 spot. Time frames are actually several data points whereas giving us a processing date is telling us just that; it does not tell us how long those cases are taking.

So now,  if you set aside your PD, and focus on processing time frames, and say your field office is taking 15 months at minimum from the day they receive the case to adjudication, then you can do your own math. If you've had no RFE's and have been waiting 6 months, well, you may just have 11 more months to go until your case is adjudicated.

I say we embrace this new way to present information. It eliminates the whole "I have an earlier PD and they already got their green card. why?"; when we all know every case is different. 

 

Happy Friday

[itsdonealready 13]

52 minutes ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

You didn't think I would not give you guys an updated list of the rankings. Well, sometimes you just have to trust your gut. 

The first two columns show you the new processing times and the third column, shows the last update from 01/31/18.

Field office Minimum Maximum I-485  as of 01/31/2018 TEXAS, El Paso 15.0 28.0 04/17/17 MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS 15.0 25.5 09/12/16 ARIZONA, Phoenix 14.0 22.5 03/13/17 COLORADO, Denver 14.0 30.0 12/31/16 FLORIDA, Oakland Park 14.0 21.5 11/23/16

 

And top 10 most efficient:

Field office	Minimum	Maximum	I-485 01/31/2018
OHIO, Cleveland	4.5	12.0	07/04/17
INDIANA, Indianapolis	5.0	16.0	06/10/17
KENTUCKY, Louisville	5.0	15.0	08/01/17
MAINE, Portland	5.5	17.0	06/06/17
CALIFORNIA, Chula Vista	6.0	19.0	04/10/17
PENNSYLVANIA, Pittsburgh	6.0	17.0	04/27/17
NEW HAMPSHIRE, Manchester	6.0	15.5	06/16/17
OHIO, Columbus	6.0	15.5	06/17/17
CALIFORNIA, San Diego	6.0	18.5	06/23/17
NEW YORK, Buffalo	6.0	18.0	06/26/17

 

Now former top 10 - (processing date)

Field office	Minimum	Maximum	I-485 01/31/2018
MONTANA, Helena	8.5	17.0	10/01/17
VERMONT, Saint Albans	11.5	27.0	09/16/17
ALABAMA, Montgomery	13.5	27.0	08/12/17
KENTUCKY, Louisville	5.0	15.0	08/01/17
WASHINGTON, Yakima	7.0	14.0	07/29/17
CALIFORNIA, Imperial	6.5	13.0	07/20/17
MISSOURI, Kansas City	6.0	16.5	07/12/17
CALIFORNIA, San Bernardino	6.5	16.0	07/11/17
OHIO, Cleveland	4.5	12.0	07/04/17
ARIZONA, Tucson	8.0	14.5	06/27/17

 

To give you a point of comparison, Helene, MT, is now on the #33 spot. Time frames are actually several data points whereas giving us a processing date is telling us just that; it does not tell us how long those cases are taking.

So now,  if you set aside your PD, and focus on processing time frames, and say your field office is taking 15 months at minimum from the day they receive the case to adjudication, then you can do your own math. If you've had no RFE's and have been waiting 6 months, well, you may just have 11 more months to go until your case is adjudicated.

I say we embrace this new way to present information. It eliminates the whole "I have an earlier PD and they already got their green card. why?"; when we all know every case is different. 

 

Happy Friday

Thank you very much for the summary! I was just wondering how to understand the new time frame.

Looking at those tables, you just wanna move to Cleveland OH....

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

Of course, my message is not endorsed by USCIS. That's just how it makes sense to me. And yes, It sounds like Cleveland is the place to go. And no wonder in other sites, people report getting their interview and green card before ever getting their EAD.

That's why it's key to send error free AOS packages. Share your knowledge with others. If they get RFEs, that delays everyone. To issue an RFE, the adjudicator has to review the entire contents. That delays their case and everyone's case. Ties up adjudicators. I guess I never thought of it that way. 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

I think it also helps to look at this table. It shows what each individual state is doing. Number of I-485 Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status by Category of Admission, Case Status, and USCIS Field Office or Service Center Location July 1 - September 30, 2017

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/Family-Based/I485_Performancedata_fy2017_qtr4.pdf

Family based I-485

MN, MSP-STP received 968; approved 418; denied 69; pending 5,179 (at the end of the reporting period)

OH, Cleveland received 402; approved 461; denied 44; pending     836. 

Yup, Cleveland it is...

[itsdonealready 13]

19 hours ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

I think it also helps to look at this table. It shows what each individual state is doing. Number of I-485 Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status by Category of Admission, Case Status, and USCIS Field Office or Service Center Location July 1 - September 30, 2017

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/Family-Based/I485_Performancedata_fy2017_qtr4.pdf

Family based I-485

MN, MSP-STP received 968; approved 418; denied 69; pending 5,179 (at the end of the reporting period)

OH, Cleveland received 402; approved 461; denied 44; pending     836. 

Yup, Cleveland it is...

Looks like the processing speed is similar for the two offices, but MSP-STP receives more than double new applications than Cleveland ...?

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

4 hours ago, itsdonealready said:

Looks like the processing speed is similar for the two offices, but MSP-STP receives more than double new applications than Cleveland ...?

Right. Good point. Now let's think through the processing time of 4.5 months listed for Cleveland, OH. It looks like Cleveland is able to approve or deny cases with the information they have in front of them. Are the I-485s getting pre-adjudicated at the service centers or sent to Cleveland straight away and they just get it over with? Minneapolis gets about the same number of applications as the entire state of Ohio. MSP 963 vs. OH 1,103. Yet, Ohio has 3 field offices. 

Yup, MSP could use some help with the backlog.

[itsdonealready 13]

19 hours ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

Right. Good point. Now let's think through the processing time of 4.5 months listed for Cleveland, OH. It looks like Cleveland is able to approve or deny cases with the information they have in front of them. Are the I-485s getting pre-adjudicated at the service centers or sent to Cleveland straight away and they just get it over with? Minneapolis gets about the same number of applications as the entire state of Ohio. MSP 963 vs. OH 1,103. Yet, Ohio has 3 field offices. 

Yup, MSP could use some help with the backlog.

I agree with you, the number of offices in the state definitely helps. We are comparing 1 office - 3.5 states with 3 offices - 1 state...No wonder MSP-STP is falling behind.

[Daithi182 0]

I had my AOS interview on the 7th of March 2018, over three weeks now. Went really quick, straight forward and was told that they couldn't make a decision on the day as they only got looking at my case. My status has been at 'Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed' ever since. I regret not asking how long I should be expected to wait, like an estimate or even ask if there is no update by x date when should I contact them. Anyone have an idea how long I should wait before contacting them? I'm probably just getting impatient at this stage, but my combo card expires this May and my extension/renewal I applied last February just says 'Case Was Received.' I don't want to get into the situation where I can't work or even drive... 

[MapleLeaf29 247]

Hi everyone.  Thought I would join this conversation after reading through it.  My husband immigrated from Canada in May of 2017 and we applied for AOS in June.  We got his EAD/AP combo card at the beginning of November.  Looking at the Minneapolis processing times, we are buckling in for a long wait for the green card.  :/

 

Do any of you have international travel plans?  I was awarded a grant to study in Europe for a month this summer and I would like my husband to come with me for half that time (so he would be out of the United States for 2 1/2 weeks).  We hadn't planned on doing any international travel until he received his green card, but my grant has to be used this summer, and we find it highly unlikely that my husband will have his green card by then.  I could go by myself, but we don't want to spend a month apart.  Thoughts/advice?