I-751 January 2018

[mrandmrsBRS 116]

40 minutes ago, MadMax101 said:

How many Cali filers are also still waiting for the 18 month letter?

We are still waiting

[Nele 11]

6 hours ago, Tom and SooGyeong said:

According to what I have read, the current drag on approvals in (2017 and the first half of 2018) is primarily being caused by the interview waiver rules being curtailed/enforced on employment I-485 adjustment of status petitions. Before 2017, USCIS was allowed to waive the required interview for employment based I-485 petitions in a majority of cases. Since the beginning of 2017. USCIS is required to include the interview portion of adjudication process for All employment based I-485 petitions. That workload is being handled by the local offices, and as reflected in the number of cases (approved and denied) as posted on the USCIS website. Since the beginning of 2017, the number of petitions adjudicated quarterly has dropped by about 35 - 40%. Consequently, the number of Pending petitions that have been 'rolled forward' has continued to rise as well. My understanding is that as time passes, all petitions submitted will be having that standard applied, and that all petitions will eventually require the interview to take place. Time will tell. But as indicated in the PDF attached here, the percentages of petitions both approved and denied from quarter to quarter has remained fairly consistent. They are just not able to adjudicate as many as before, because of the interview requirements. 

Keep in mind, that the interview requirement has Always been a part of the adjudication process, as required by law. But in the last decade or so, USCIS has been allowed to 'waive' more and more of them. USCIS is also in the process of making the petition submittal process digital, such that all fields must be properly filled in and all documents scanned and attached before electronic petition can be finalized and submitted. This will greatly reduce the adjudication time, eliminate 95% of RFEs, and make the interview the keystone of adjudicating the petition. It is therefore necessary to phase in the required interview portion, prior to launching the streamlined digital petition submittal format. 

At least, that is what the accumulated information that I have dug up indicates.

Case File Progress By Quarter and Year.pdf

Wow that’s SO insightful! Where did you get all this incredibly helpful info??

 

So you think this means that all I-751 filers might also have to go through the interview as a standard? I know you don’t know, I’m just curious to hear your thoughts. It could slow everything down even more so that worries me but same time I’m also glad to learn the logical explanation behind the back log. There’s so much incorrect info on the Internet, it’s just a mess...

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

20 minutes ago, Nele said:

Wow that’s SO insightful! Where did you get all this incredibly helpful info??

 

So you think this means that all I-751 filers might also have to go through the interview as a standard? I know you don’t know, I’m just curious to hear your thoughts. It could slow everything down even more so that worries me but same time I’m also glad to learn the logical explanation behind the back log. There’s so much incorrect info on the Internet, it’s just a mess...

Mostly, I have read paranoid inquiries posted by other VJ members, and tried to track down evidence to either prove or disprove their fears. In this case, what I found was that USCIS began increasing the number of pending I-485 Adjustment of status interviews last October, 2017. USCIS link to the announcement posted below.

Prior to that, perhaps 10% would be randomly selected to require an interview, regardless of how amazingly complete or perfect their submitted petition and data was. Any questionable or incomplete petitions were added to that pile. Since 10-1-17, the 10% has been growing, and will eventually reach 100%. After that, other petitions will be phased in for 100% interview requirements. For those of us who are petitioning with genuine legitimacy, this is not a problem. Butt it will probably take a few years to make the complete transformation. Our petitions will be long past adjudication before then. Additionally, once the digitized petition format is complete, I can envision a time in the future, maybe in 4 or 5 years, in which the petitioner fills in all of the blanks on the online form, scans and attaches the appropriate legal documents, and then has an interview in less than 90 days. They will likely be required to bring their original legal documents to their interview for verification, but computers will do the Lion's share of the screening, and the Field Office Immigration specialists will then verify all of the information and ask probing questions looking for false applicants and disqualifying answers from the petitioners.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-to-expand-in-person-interview-requirements-for-certain-permanent-residency-applicants

 

one key paragraph reads: 

'Previously, applicants in these categories did not require an in-person interview with USCIS officers in order for their application for permanent residency to be adjudicated. Beyond these categories, USCIS is planning an incremental expansion of interviews to other benefit types...'

 

As for now, only I-485 and I-730 petitions are ramping up towards 100% interview requirements. Those expanding interview numbers are what is causing the slow-down at the local offices, and the delay in our ROC adjudication process. Basically, we are already here, living, working, and paying taxes. We have in our possession everything we need to continue to do so, and an extension letter to travel around the world. . . . and when that expires, we get a pretty stamp to last a while longer. 8^D 

USCIS has no pressure or reason at all to worry about hurrying along our petitions, because they are currently falling further and further behind on their 'Other' paperwork. 

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

Here is a link to the USCIS current Paperless (online) applications. This list will expand in the near future.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/file-online

 

Here is a link to a USCIS announcement made this past June 4, 2018:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/save-goes-completely-paperless

 

one sentence in that announcement reads:

...'The SAVE paperless initiative is part of a larger effort by USCIS to eliminate paper-based forms, as the agency transitions to online submission of benefit requests...'

 

 

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

6 months ago, the Director of USCIS issued a new mission statement, and also took the time to explain it. It States:

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation’s lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values.

 

you can read his explanation here:

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-director-l-francis-cissna-new-agency-mission-statement

 

 

 

[Nele 11]

54 minutes ago, Tom and SooGyeong said:

6 months ago, the Director of USCIS issued a new mission statement, and also took the time to explain it. It States:

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation’s lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values.

 

you can read his explanation here:

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-director-l-francis-cissna-new-agency-mission-statement

 

 

 

Woah, you sir, are amazing. So much great and actual real info... Thanks so much for putting the work in to get this all together and help me do a learn! It's truly immensely appreciated!

Also: your English is amazing.  

 

- I always wondered why they didn't offer this digitally yet! 90 days! omg hahaha iMAGINE ❤️ ... What a glorious day that will be.

 

 

[CG&LGG 27]

January California Filer here, received 18 month extension on Friday, August 17. Sorry for the last post. Super busy weekend. 

[Palawan15 1]

We filed in CSC in January, we received his extension letter yesterday dated Aug. 11.

[MadMax101 32]

How long until you think we should call if we haven't gotten the extension? 

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

42 Years Ago . . .

https://www.nytimes.com/1976/07/28/archives/john-lennon-wins-his-residency-in-us.html

 

John Lennon of the Beatles had similar, if not worse, struggles waiting for his Green Card

[JulianaGigi 12]

On ‎8‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 11:36 AM, MadMax101 said:

Do you online accounts note the 2nd extension letter being sent?

 

We moved since filing which is what worries me with their address change system. Our notice about finger printing went to our new address so it should be fine but it’s hard not to be concerned.

If you don't receive the 2nd extension letter within reasonable amount of time (30 days) from when most received early-mid Aug CSC, call the USCIS and verify the address on file stating you have not received the 18 month extension letter (NOA). We had a similar thing happen to us where we moved and never received the first NOA. We waited about 30 days and called and soon after received it in the mail. We were having issues with our mail being redirected to our new address, so its very possible that this may have been the culprit. Also our other petitions had the old address and this new I-751contained the new address. If the application was not processed, then there would be no record of the new address, so this was our oversight. Looking back now, we should have notified the USCIS of our change of address despite the fact that it was noted on the I-751. Hang in there, you'll receive the extension letter. Please chime in when you do :-)

 

Sorry, I forgot...the online account has no record of the extension letter.

Edited August 21, 2018 by JulianaGigi

[swji89 41]

On 8/20/2018 at 2:35 PM, Tom and SooGyeong said:

According to what I have read, the current drag on approvals in (2017 and the first half of 2018) is primarily being caused by the interview waiver rules being curtailed/enforced on employment I-485 adjustment of status petitions. Before 2017, USCIS was allowed to waive the required interview for employment based I-485 petitions in a majority of cases. Since the beginning of 2017. USCIS is required to include the interview portion of adjudication process for All employment based I-485 petitions. That workload is being handled by the local offices, and as reflected in the number of cases (approved and denied) as posted on the USCIS website. Since the beginning of 2017, the number of petitions adjudicated quarterly has dropped by about 35 - 40%. Consequently, the number of Pending petitions that have been 'rolled forward' has continued to rise as well. My understanding is that as time passes, all petitions submitted will be having that standard applied, and that all petitions will eventually require the interview to take place. Time will tell. But as indicated in the PDF attached here, the percentages of petitions both approved and denied from quarter to quarter has remained fairly consistent. They are just not able to adjudicate as many as before, because of the interview requirements. 

Keep in mind, that the interview requirement has Always been a part of the adjudication process, as required by law. But in the last decade or so, USCIS has been allowed to 'waive' more and more of them. USCIS is also in the process of making the petition submittal process digital, such that all fields must be properly filled in and all documents scanned and attached before electronic petition can be finalized and submitted. This will greatly reduce the adjudication time, eliminate 95% of RFEs, and make the interview the keystone of adjudicating the petition. It is therefore necessary to phase in the required interview portion, prior to launching the streamlined digital petition submittal format. 

At least, that is what the accumulated information that I have dug up indicates.

Case File Progress By Quarter and Year.pdf

Fantastic work - everything makes a lot more sense reading that. 

 

Also, excellent to hear of the USCIS' move towards online applications. Surprised it's taken them this long.

[Simonbln 35]

Received the extension letter yesterday.  

[mrandmrsBRS 116]

Still waiting for our extension letter

[sidshwsito 4]

Received my 18 month extension letter today. Notice date 8/11/18. CSC filer.

Edited August 22, 2018 by sidshwsito