"Ready to be scheduled for interview" - any insight to what this means?

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

"Ready to be scheduled for an interview", to my understanding, means for the most part, everything's in order. However, I don't think there is a specific or consistent, rather, timeframe between it changing to that, and changing to actually Scheduled. Some people have continued to wait several more months afterwards, some just a few weeks or couple of months. Does it mean you won't get an RFE? Seems to be the typical scenario, but I suppose anything is possible.

 

I noticed Charleston being mentioned - SC in general seems to be relatively quick. We were sent to Greer, but my husband's interview was scheduled in August for September (just had the interview on Tuesday), and his status changed to "ready to be scheduled" after his biometrics in July. So pretty fast. I would keep in mind that the Charleston office was closed for a bit with the hurricane, so not sure if that impacted their workload or production at all. I hope you weathered that storm alright, if you are near Charleston at all. Heard it got pretty nasty out that way.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,417]

It kind of means settle in for the wait. As you can see from my signature it took almost 4 months (with my N-400) from "in-line for interview" to actually get the interview letter.

Edited September 20, 2018 by EM_Vandaveer

[eckoin 211]

1 hour ago, Paul & Mallory said:

"Ready to be scheduled for an interview", to my understanding, means for the most part, everything's in order. However, I don't think there is a specific or consistent, rather, timeframe between it changing to that, and changing to actually Scheduled. Some people have continued to wait several more months afterwards, some just a few weeks or couple of months. Does it mean you won't get an RFE? Seems to be the typical scenario, but I suppose anything is possible.

 

I noticed Charleston being mentioned - SC in general seems to be relatively quick. We were sent to Greer, but my husband's interview was scheduled in August for September (just had the interview on Tuesday), and his status changed to "ready to be scheduled" after his biometrics in July. So pretty fast. I would keep in mind that the Charleston office was closed for a bit with the hurricane, so not sure if that impacted their workload or production at all. I hope you weathered that storm alright, if you are near Charleston at all. Heard it got pretty nasty out that way.

Wow, your case went insanely quick!  I submitted a couple of days before, had my biometrics on the same day, but have had zero updates (I did successfully expedite my EAD at least).  As I mentioned before in this thread, I would prefer to have the interview after June 2019 so I don't have to worry about removing conditions, so I'm not mad or anything, but damn, that timeline

 

I'm guessing my case is still at NBC, since I'm not "ready to be scheduled for an interview", so I don't know if the Charleston office closures affected me.  Charleston didn't get any more damage than a regular rainstorm would do, it actually weathered the hurricane really well.  We did evacuate just in case because I'm a worrywart, but in hindsight, we should've just stayed put.  We lost power for one minute based on the stove clock.  I think you guys up in NC got the brunt of it, so hope everything is OK up there!

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

1 hour ago, eckoin said:

Wow, your case went insanely quick!  I submitted a couple of days before, had my biometrics on the same day, but have had zero updates (I did successfully expedite my EAD at least).  As I mentioned before in this thread, I would prefer to have the interview after June 2019 so I don't have to worry about removing conditions, so I'm not mad or anything, but damn, that timeline

 

I'm guessing my case is still at NBC, since I'm not "ready to be scheduled for an interview", so I don't know if the Charleston office closures affected me.  Charleston didn't get any more damage than a regular rainstorm would do, it actually weathered the hurricane really well.  We did evacuate just in case because I'm a worrywart, but in hindsight, we should've just stayed put.  We lost power for one minute based on the stove clock.  I think you guys up in NC got the brunt of it, so hope everything is OK up there!

Right! It was unexpected and we had to quick pull some final things together for sure. We're in SC, right at the stateline though; when it changed trajectory to move westward right across the top of the state, we got worried. But all we got was a lot of rain, some mild wind. Our power went out but not for very long. I think the worst part was some trees and limbs coming down because of the wind. Wilmington definitely pulled the short stick with this one, and New Bern area. I know some folks out there who lost a lot. We were worried pre-hurricane if we'd be able to make it to the interview, but then we ended up barely getting hit with it - fortunately!

 

Glad to hear it's not so bad over your way!

[eckoin 211]

15 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

Right! It was unexpected and we had to quick pull some final things together for sure. We're in SC, right at the stateline though; when it changed trajectory to move westward right across the top of the state, we got worried. But all we got was a lot of rain, some mild wind. Our power went out but not for very long. I think the worst part was some trees and limbs coming down because of the wind. Wilmington definitely pulled the short stick with this one, and New Bern area. I know some folks out there who lost a lot. We were worried pre-hurricane if we'd be able to make it to the interview, but then we ended up barely getting hit with it - fortunately!

 

Glad to hear it's not so bad over your way!

I gotcha, I noticed the SC marriage license after I posted.  Glad you guys fared well, sorry about the friends up on the NC coast.  Hope they're able to recoup

 

I get really nervous with flood + wind combinations, because we have really old water oaks surrounding the house.  Water oaks don't live very long, so these guys are seniors, and unfortunately, they die from inside out, so you won't know a tree is dead until it cracks and topples over.  I know the house won't survive a 60ft tree falling through the roof, so I don't take chances with a 1 year old in the trajectory path.  But I always feel a little dumb for spending $1k on hotels when literally nothing happens back at the house.  Oh well.  Listening to the story of the poor family in NC where a tree fell through their house, killing the mom and the 8-month old and putting the dad in the hospital - I'd rather not be that horrible statistic.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

8 minutes ago, eckoin said:

I gotcha, I noticed the SC marriage license after I posted.  Glad you guys fared well, sorry about the friends up on the NC coast.  Hope they're able to recoup

 

I get really nervous with flood + wind combinations, because we have really old water oaks surrounding the house.  Water oaks don't live very long, so these guys are seniors, and unfortunately, they die from inside out, so you won't know a tree is dead until it cracks and topples over.  I know the house won't survive a 60ft tree falling through the roof, so I don't take chances with a 1 year old in the trajectory path.  But I always feel a little dumb for spending $1k on hotels when literally nothing happens back at the house.  Oh well.  Listening to the story of the poor family in NC where a tree fell through their house, killing the mom and the 8-month old and putting the dad in the hospital - I'd rather not be that horrible statistic.

Ugh, we have those here, too. Fortunately none right by our house, but enough of them. My mom has one that we know is already dead on the inside and that thing had me so worried over the weekend. And nope - don't feel stupid about that at ALL. Better to be safe than sorry!

[A&H2018 148]

I can tell you as a Canadian, unless you spent a lot of time in another country and on top you have a NAFTA work visa. Your background checks will be done very fast. The initial background checks are the ones completed and sometimes you get the update "fingerprint review complete, we working..." that basically will follow to be "ready to schedule" for Candaians since they do not need to go through extensive name checks etc...

 

Based on my many infopasses this year. These days the i485 is driving everything and all the intial work is done at the NBC, they work first on the i485 then other petitions once in their mind all the background checks are done or basically on track they will move it to the "ready pile". Field offices book interviews 2-3 months out, then select cases from the "ready" pile everytime they need to re-fill it, it has been known as geowrian added cult sacrifices to see whos case gets selected when. In reality USCIS will tell you its a bit of lucky draw, cause its not all first come, first serve no one can explain why they do it this way...why some people get chosen in 3 months and others 15 months..no one knows.

 

As to how you can check where the magic process is. The best way seems to be once you are near "ready to schedule interview" to fill out a service request online every 30days (they max it out once per 30 days) and ask "no interview letter yet, whats going on?". I can tell you that the SR will responded by NBC till your file is chosen by the field office, then SR should be responded by the field office address and it will be something like your case is in line stfu and wait a year. Once you know your field office has taken over your case, they start to electrontically transfer it all to your field office, then comes lottery 2...to get scheduled for an interview in the next 45 days. But truly lottery 2 must be easier, you know cause they can only pick so many files. But that is the basic workline it seems, file-->NBC-->lottery1-->lottery2.

 

As for the Charlestown office. Seems you got 905 cases (end mar31), and average pace is 405 cases per 3 months. That is super efficient, you have nothing to worry your field office seems very good. Only strange thing is the denail rate is somewhat higher than other offices....but that data point is so ambigous for sure.

 

 

Edited September 20, 2018 by A&H2018

[eckoin 211]

@A&H2018 you're so informative, I'm not sure if you're an AI or a real person.  In a good way.

 

12 minutes ago, A&H2018 said:

I can tell you as a Canadian, unless you spent a lot of time in another country and on top you have a NAFTA work visa. Your background checks will be done very fast. The initial background checks are the ones completed and sometimes you get the update "fingerprint review complete, we working..." that basically will follow to be "ready to schedule" for Candaians since they do not need to go through extensive name checks etc...

I have NEXUS, too, so my background check is already basically up to date.  No news though.  Fingerprint review complete since July 25th, a day after the actual biometrics appointment.

 

14 minutes ago, A&H2018 said:

As to how you can check where the magic process is. The best way seems to be once you are near "ready to schedule interview" to fill out a service request online every 30days (they max it out once per 30 days) and ask "no interview letter yet, whats going on?". I can tell you that the SR will responded by NBC till your file is chosen by the field office, then SR should be responded by the field office address and it will be something like your case is in line stfu and wait a year. Once you know your field office has taken over your case, they start to electrontically transfer it all to your field office, then comes lottery 2...to get scheduled for an interview in the next 45 days. But truly lottery 2 must be easier, you know cause they can only pick so many files. But that is the basic workline it seems, file-->NBC-->lottery1-->lottery2.

I might submit an SR.  I would like to have our interview either after June 12, 2019, or well before.  Either I get a conditional GC but soon, or let it drag on until I'm eligible for a 10-year card.  I hope SRs don't accidentally speed up your case, but at the same time, I would be mighty upset if I got a GC on June 5th, 2019, a week before our two-year anniversary.  So might as well get it over with quicker.  Who knows.

 

16 minutes ago, A&H2018 said:

As for the Charlestown office. Seems you got 905 cases (end mar31), and average pace is 405 cases per 3 months. That is super efficient, you have nothing to worry your field office seems very good. Only strange thing is the denail rate is somewhat higher than other offices....but that data point is so ambigous for sure.

Where do you find this information?  I only saw the current timelines (i.e. 7.5-13 months or whatever it was), but I've never seen this part.

[A&H2018 148]

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/data-set-form-i-485-application-adjustment-status

 

Again think its very doubtful your case takes over a year or so, I think you will be stuck doing ROC like many of us. Yup you can see from the update your biometrics review was very simple US government has it all only thing that is taking time is your field office to finish their part.

 

Thanks for the comment, geowrian is 1000x more knowledgeable on all things about USCIS. I just have some more recent experience/infopass-info, as some processes have changed. The national timeline for average i485 has gone from 5.7 months to like 11 months I think since 2014. https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/historic-pt .

Edited September 20, 2018 by A&H2018

[eckoin 211]

23 hours ago, A&H2018 said:

Again think its very doubtful your case takes over a year or so, I think you will be stuck doing ROC like many of us.

I have a question on ROC.  

 

Our second anniversary is June 12, 2019.

 

It's my understanding that the conditional green card is issued such that it is valid up until your second anniversary; and within 90 days of your second anniversary, you need to apply to remove the conditions.

 

What happens if my interview is May 12, 2019, and I get approved on the spot?  Will they issue me a green card valid for one month, and I have to immediately apply to remove conditions?  And what if I'm approved on June 10?  Is there some discretion used for cases like this?

 

I always thought it was 2 years since applying/2 years since being approved.  Didn't realize for a while it was tied to the actual anniversary date...

[geowrian 22,338]

1 minute ago, eckoin said:

It's my understanding that the conditional green card is issued such that it is valid up until your second anniversary; and within 90 days of your second anniversary, you need to apply to remove the conditions.

Your understanding is incorrect. The green card will be valid for 2 years from the date issued. You must apply for ROC within 90 days of its expiration.

 

1 minute ago, eckoin said:

What happens if my interview is May 12, 2019, and I get approved on the spot?  Will they issue me a green card valid for one month, and I have to immediately apply to remove conditions?  And what if I'm approved on June 10?  Is there some discretion used for cases like this?

See above. It would be valid until May 11, 2021.

 

If approved on June 10th, you would still get 2 years. This is mandated by law, not discretionary.

 

[eckoin 211]

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Your understanding is incorrect. The green card will be valid for 2 years from the date issued. You must apply for ROC within 90 days of its expiration.

 

See above. It would be valid until May 11, 2021.

 

If approved on June 10th, you would still get 2 years. This is mandated by law, not discretionary.

 

Oh OK.  That makes more sense to me.  I just read this on the USCIS website:

 

Quote

You should apply during the 90 days before your second anniversary as a conditional resident. The expiration date on your green card is also the date of your second anniversary as a conditional resident.

And wasn't sure anymore...

[geowrian 22,338]

19 minutes ago, eckoin said:

Oh OK.  That makes more sense to me.  I just read this on the USCIS website:

 

And wasn't sure anymore...

Correct..." second anniversary as a conditional resident" = 2 years since you received the green card. You don't get permanent residency on the day you marry

[eckoin 211]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

Correct..." second anniversary as a conditional resident" = 2 years since you received the green card. You don't get permanent residency on the day you marry

Oh wow, not that you mention, that's super obvious.  Oops.  Another anniversary to worry about forgetting!

 

Thank you very much!  Makes a lot more sense now.  

 

@geowrian Ninja edit, stupid question: let's say my interview is June 5th, or some date reallllllllly close to my 2-year marriage anniversary.  Would it be a HORRIBLE idea to forget to bring my I-693, get an RFE, and submit it on June 13th... thereby getting a 10 year card instead?

Edited September 21, 2018 by eckoin

[geowrian 22,338]

11 minutes ago, eckoin said:

Oh wow, not that you mention, that's super obvious.  Oops.  Another anniversary to worry about forgetting!

 

Thank you very much!  Makes a lot more sense now.  

 

@geowrian Ninja edit, stupid question: let's say my interview is June 5th, or some date reallllllllly close to my 2-year marriage anniversary.  Would it be a HORRIBLE idea to forget to bring my I-693, get an RFE, and submit it on June 13th... thereby getting a 10 year card instead?

No worries!

 

No, that is an option...you wouldn't be the first person to forget it. Or you ask the IO to hold off on a decision for a couple days (no guarantees they would do so, but it's not uncommon for them not to make a final decision on the day of the interview anymore).