January 2018 AOS Filers

[cpthk 1]

3 hours ago, twoDs said:

Another quick update -- the I-797 for our EAD filing showed up in today's mail, and a second I-797 for the AP was with it!

 

So clearly AP isn't updating on either of the tracking sites, just EAD. Hopefully the card will arrive this week since it

was approved on the 17th. So -- NOA1 was 1/2/2018, EAD/AP notice date 5/17/2018. Finally getting there.

Do you mean the EAD approval letter?

[LabOz 915]

On 5/17/2018 at 8:05 AM, 11111 said:

Hi everybody,

I just received my greencard and wanted to share my experience as it might be useful for some of you!

Filed from K1 on January 8th

AOS interview May 5th

Greencard received May 16th

 

Interview went well but officer said that my K1 medical exam was expired and I needed a new one. I told her it was supposed to be good for 1 year (I had the exam in October 2017 and it expired 6 months after in April 2018, right before my interview). She insisted that the medical exam for K1 and AOS are different and I would need to take another one. She was going to double check with her supervisor but it was likely that I will receive an RFE. I told her I saw that 1 year rule on a form and she asked what form, but at the time I didn't remember.

We left the interview and my husband was a bit mad because I should have known better and I should have done the medical! I argued that if I didn't think I had to do another medical exam, it was for a reason (as I did a lot of research on this entire process)! So I dug around, remembered, and found the official instructions on form I-693 stating that K1 visa holders with a medical exam less than 1 year old do NOT need to take it again. (see page 7 on official instructions: 3. What if I am a K nonimmigrant visa holder and already had a medical examination overseas?).

I showed it to my husband and he told me to go back, find the officer and show her that document (we were already back home at that point!). I didn't think arguing with the officer would be a good idea, but I also didn't want to wait another 2 months without working and spend another $400 on a medical exam I didn't need. So I printed the forms, went back to the building ready to wait and catch the officer between 2 interviews. I got lucky as she was finishing up an interview right when I stepped into the room! She saw me and asked what I was doing back here, so I asked her if she would take 2 minutes to talk to me when she got a chance. She told me to wait a moment, she finished with the couple and was ready to see me. She said her supervisor confirmed that I needed another medical exam, so I showed her the official instructions explaining why I didn't take another one and that I was a bit confused. She read it and said that she agreed with me but she would have to double check with her supervisor and that he would be the one deciding. I left feeling like at least I tried everything! She was also very nice and understanding.

Few days later my case was approved with no RFE and I received my greencard yesterday!

 

It does seem like USCIS officers AND supervisors are not aware of all the rules, so don't be afraid to have backup documents with you and (nicely) argue your case! It saved me 2 months of waiting and $400!

 

Hope this helps! Good luck to you all!

Wonderful post. Glad you stood your ground.

Lesson for all

Thanks

Steven

[cpthk 1]

19 minutes ago, LabOz said:

Wonderful post. Glad you stood your ground.

Lesson for all

Thanks

Steven

Congrats. May I know your priority date? I am also at Seattle, WA, so I guess my interview date should be relative to your timeline. Thanks.

[DanielTan 21]

Just got a notice today saying my EAD card is being produced!!!!!

 

NOA1 - Jan 11st

No RFE

Approval Notice - May 22nd

 

I filed with the AP but they havent given me any updates on that. Im hoping it is coming with the EAD. Ill let everyone know once I receive it physically. 

 

On a side note, on the USCIS website it says that my AOS application was last updated on March but I havent gotten an interview date or letter or anything. 

 

Good luck to everyone! You are almost there. 

[Joselio 196]

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Edited May 22, 2018 by Joselio

[Joselio 196]

Hi everyone, I have seen some people have been receiving their GC in 4/5 months? Is this the current time taking to get the GC?

 

 

Thanks,,

[Nouchigang 200]

3 hours ago, Joselio said:

Hi everyone, I have seen some people have been receiving their GC in 4/5 months? Is this the current time taking to get the GC?

 

 

Thanks,,

Hello I wouldnt take it as a general rule, those are isolated cases that dont make the majority. If you go back and look at timelines for 2017 there are still people waiting for EADs and interviews while a few 2018 filers are already approved.

While EAD/AP are processed at the National Benefits Center, interviews and the rest of the processing for green cards are handled by local offices so it really depends on their processing times and luck and I have a little theory according to the expiration date of their I94

[Nouchigang 200]

Hello guys, quick update:

 

Yesterday I got an email letting me know that my EAD is being produced. Yayyyy thanks God, I was jumping up and down like a kid. When I checked online, only the egov case status website updated, nothing on the DHS website. PD Jan8th, it seems they are going thru January at a decent pace seeing updates for other Jan filers.

 

Then today afternoon around the same time I got another email and text messages that there was an update on my AOS, I checked and my interview has been scheduled, Alleluya! Now time to get ready for it, while waiting for the letter.  Same here, no update on the DHS but the egov case status did update.

 

To other January filers, yours is coming soon, from the way they work, in the next few weeks I think.

[Elena Ibrahim 59]

On 4/20/2018 at 10:38 AM, Kristina K said:

Thanks! Honestly, the updates have been so intermittent - its hard to get your hopes up. The online USCIS case status site never even updated after I responded to the RFIE, but i signed up for an account on the DHS site which said they had received my reply, so it's a bit all over the place! It never changed to ready for interview! I'll update once I get my notice - fingers crossed its in the mail as we speak!

Hello! Is the USCIS case status site, https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do, different then the DHS site? If so can you please provide me with the site?

[Nouchigang 200]

3 minutes ago, Elena Ibrahim said:

Hello! Is the USCIS case status site, https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do, different then the DHS site? If so can you please provide me with the site?

Yes there are 2 different sites, the DHS site sends you an unique code every time you try to log in.

Here it is: https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/

[Elena Ibrahim 59]

2 minutes ago, Nouchigang said:

Yes there are 2 different sites, the DHS site sends you an unique code every time you try to log in.

Here it is: https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/

Thank you very much! I will go ahead and try it.

[DanielTan 21]

21 minutes ago, Nouchigang said:

Hello guys, quick update:

 

Yesterday I got an email letting me know that my EAD is being produced. Yayyyy thanks God, I was jumping up and down like a kid. When I checked online, only the egov case status website updated, nothing on the DHS website. PD Jan8th, it seems they are going thru January at a decent pace seeing updates for other Jan filers.

 

Then today afternoon around the same time I got another email and text messages that there was an update on my AOS, I checked and my interview has been scheduled, Alleluya! Now time to get ready for it, while waiting for the letter.  Same here, no update on the DHS but the egov case status did update.

 

To other January filers, yours is coming soon, from the way they work, in the next few weeks I think.

Thanks for the info!

 

For your interview, what date did they give you? 

[Nouchigang 200]

Just now, DanielTan said:

Thanks for the info!

 

For your interview, what date did they give you? 

I dont know yet, the email did not give the date, I have to wait for the actual letter.

[twoDs 590]

20 hours ago, Marion said:

Did you expedite your case? Just wondering... I am a Feb 3rd filer. Trying to feel the vibe in this group and see if I can expect something sooner than later...

 

No. No expedite, just lots of waiting. They got the package with 485/765/131 on 12/28, NOA1 was 1/2, biometrics was 1/31, and the notice we got yesterday was the only contact since biometrics.

 

19 hours ago, cpthk said:

Do you mean the EAD approval letter?

Yes, the I-797 showing EAD is appoved. We got a second I-797 for the AP as well.

[cpthk 1]

15 minutes ago, twoDs said:

 

No. No expedite, just lots of waiting. They got the package with 485/765/131 on 12/28, NOA1 was 1/2, biometrics was 1/31, and the notice we got yesterday was the only contact since biometrics.

 

Yes, the I-797 showing EAD is appoved. We got a second I-797 for the AP as well.

Looks like USCIS is processing EADs on January filers. Few people are getting approvals now.