APRIL 2018 AOS FILERS

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

How are you guys going about job offers? Most applications have a question asking if you are able to work presently, and I would assume choosing "no" gets a rejection.

[AmbMar18 52]

1 hour ago, Tomalley said:

I called USCIS and within a week they asked me to fax proof. So you can just call USCIS and ask them.

Yes, next time we won't try to get the congressman to assist. Will go straight to USCIS! Just wanted others to hear that sometimes Congressman isn't best bet either. 

[themollusk79 18]

1 hour ago, Sarah&Facundo said:

How are you guys going about job offers? Most applications have a question asking if you are able to work presently, and I would assume choosing "no" gets a rejection.

I think it depends on what field you are in and the employer's needs.  My wife had several interviews and was upfront that her EAD was pending and still received offers. 

[Tomalley 160]

Hi, I just went to fax documents to expedite which is very expensive, one dollars for one page.

 

but the office is so busy so I never couldn’t get through. I left my paper documents copies in the shop so they can keep trying.. But no response today. 

It is weird that they want us to fax but their machines is always busy .. Yuck .. 

 

i kinda of hate to leave my personal documents in the shop but I did it ..

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

2 hours ago, themollusk79 said:

I think it depends on what field you are in and the employer's needs.  My wife had several interviews and was upfront that her EAD was pending and still received offers. 

Was she applying for jobs online (which so many places want you to do nowadays) or in person where she could explain herself? Even places we talked to in person so far have said we need to fill out an application online. :/

[AZSunshine78 437]

On 7/20/2018 at 7:30 AM, Martella&T said:

I don't think anyone got it yet. Waiting times are 4.5 to 6.5 months so even if somebody has priority date at the beginning of April the 4.5 months will be mid August.
 

Does anyone know the actual date we can inquire about being outside normal processing times? 

 

I see on the USCIS website for AOS (C9 category) it lists January 2018.

but it also says between 4.5 to 6.5 months.

 

Our application was received April 12th. and I’ve no clue what date of amount if days need to have passed before we can inquire.

 

Biometrics is done (May 10th) but everything still says case received and fingerprint fee received.

 

Im very anxious.

[AZSunshine78 437]

On 7/24/2018 at 6:36 AM, donsun said:

Update for us: Interview 7/23 at Raleigh

 

Arrived 30 mins before per interview invitation letter. Officer led us to sign in 15 mins prior to interview time, given a ticket with number. Looks like ~3-4 couples/interview slot. Unfortunately us being 3rd when we lined up had us waiting an extra 30 mins past our interview time. Once we got in to the interview room, typical yes/no background questions from I-485 along with a few questions asking when did we meet, how did we meet, when did we get married, each others' birthdays, SO's parents' names. The reviewing officer didn't ask for additional evidence stating that he thought our paperwork submitted was sufficient, and let us know that we'll hear back in 30-45 days.

 

About ~30 mins after we left the USCIS office, we got an automated update on both USCIS sites saying that 'New Card is being produced'!

 

Also, to note, we were slightly concerned about dress code but we went fairly casual with polo/jeans and a blouse/long skirt and didn't have any issues.

 

Timeline:

Filed 4/5/18

NOA1 4/12/18

Biometrics 5/4/18

Interview 7/23/18

Approved 7/23/18

Your dates are very similar to ours! Did your status online ever update?

 

Ours still says case received and fingerprint fee received:/

 

bio was may 10

[T_P 872]

19 hours ago, themollusk79 said:

I think it depends on what field you are in and the employer's needs.  My wife had several interviews and was upfront that her EAD was pending and still received offers. 

She received offers? interview offers or job offers? Two different things....

 

19 hours ago, themollusk79 said:

How are you guys going about job offers? Most applications have a question asking if you are able to work presently, and I would assume choosing "no" gets a rejection.

If you have an EAD the answer should be yes, companies need a work authorization to actually hire you. If you dont have EAD nor a GC answer should be no and to be quite honest and with a bit of hesitation you shouldnt even be applying for jobs. Will explain why.

 

There are tons of cases where people apply for jobs, schedule the interview, company likes them, they say they can expedite EAD with an job offer but here is the tricky part, USCIS takes WAY too much long to expedite or requires way to much documentations which after all ends up not expediting and the applicant gets frustrated. I went through the same thing and this is based not only in my experience but lots of people I have seen in this forum with the same/similar situation. 

 

Just sharing....

[themollusk79 18]

3 minutes ago, T_P said:

She received offers? interview offers or job offers? Two different things....

 

Job offers.  She is an architect, so she was not applying for jobs online and found out about positions by word of mouth.  She had several interviews and received job offers from several firms.  She was upfront about the EAD status, and the firm she ultimately chose is willing to be flexible on the start date and we are using that offer to expedite the EAD.

[T_P 872]

1 minute ago, themollusk79 said:

Job offers.  She is an architect, so she was not applying for jobs online and found out about positions by word of mouth.  She had several interviews and received job offers from several firms.  She was upfront about the EAD status, and the firm she ultimately chose is willing to be flexible on the start date and we are using that offer to expedite the EAD.

Yup, that is one way to get it "faster" which I expressed my concern above. Good luck to your you/wife.

[themollusk79 18]

1 minute ago, T_P said:

Yup, that is one way to get it "faster" which I expressed my concern above. Good luck to your you/wife.

Do you care to share your expedite experience?  It seems peoples' experiences are all over the map.  Some are quick and take about 2 weeks start to finish, and others much longer.

[T_P 872]

Just now, themollusk79 said:

Do you care to share your expedite experience?  It seems peoples' experiences are all over the map.  Some are quick and take about 2 weeks start to finish, and others much longer.

I did not expedite my EAD. Back then (December) processing times for EAD/AP were 90ish days, so when I got close to 90 day mark and had heard nothing I opened a ticket, which wasnt responded and engaged my congressman which did forward an inquiry to USCIS. Few weeks later I received an approval notice. Hard to really say what made it move but it worked. 

[NancyLyz 58]

56 minutes ago, AZSunshine78 said:

Does anyone know the actual date we can inquire about being outside normal processing times? 

 

I see on the USCIS website for AOS (C9 category) it lists January 2018.

but it also says between 4.5 to 6.5 months.

 

Our application was received April 12th. and I’ve no clue what date of amount if days need to have passed before we can inquire.

 

Biometrics is done (May 10th) but everything still says case received and fingerprint fee received.

 

Im very anxious.

You can inquire about your case 6.5 months from your PD if you don't have an RFE or RFIE.

Therefore since it's July now, people who have applied in January but haven't received their EAD card can start to inquire about their cases.

 

[themollusk79 18]

We just got a notification that my wife's EAD card is being produced.  To summarize our expedite process:

 

7/13/18 - wife received job offer

7/16/18 - contacted USCIS to request EAD expedite

7/23/18 - received letter from USCIS stating there were too many expedite requests and they wouldn't honor ours

7/23/18 - contacted Congressman and submitted privacy release and offer letter

7/25/18 - EAD card in production

 

It was less than a 2-day turnaround since contacting our Congressman.  I know this doesn't work for everyone and every case is different.  I think the important thing is to not give up and try multiple angles to get through to USCIS.  Now we wait for the GC.  Have been 'ready to schedule interview' since 5/21/18.

[Tomalley 160]

5 minutes ago, themollusk79 said:

We just got a notification that my wife's EAD card is being produced.  To summarize our expedite process:

 

7/13/18 - wife received job offer

7/16/18 - contacted USCIS to request EAD expedite

7/23/18 - received letter from USCIS stating there were too many expedite requests and they wouldn't honor ours

7/23/18 - contacted Congressman and submitted privacy release and offer letter

7/25/18 - EAD card in production

 

It was less than a 2-day turnaround since contacting our Congressman.  I know this doesn't work for everyone and every case is different.  I think the important thing is to not give up and try multiple angles to get through to USCIS.  Now we wait for the GC.  Have been 'ready to schedule interview' since 5/21/18.

How did you send them your proof? I just asked for expedite too