OCTOBER AOS 2018 Filers

[ira1712 66]

4 hours ago, NikkiFromCanada said:

I'm going to give it a few more weeks. We're having a 200 guest wedding, so I need time to pay for it. I did hear back from my Congressman, but all USCIS told him is that my case is at the National Benefits Centre which is no new news. It's the most brutal process. What bothers me the most is how people get on the spot approvals at the interview, and also people who applied after me who already have their EAD. How is their case even being looked at before mine?? It makes no sense. I STILL have not been able to submit a proper case inquiry (without putting a false PD) and it's now 7 days past my PD. And we've already had out interview!! You would think that would be a light at the end of the tunnel, but nope. It's like it never even happened. I feel like it's a conspiracy or something. I'm unable to submit a case inquiry, and I'm also unable to submit an Ombudsman inquiry because the form doesn't work for me. I've never felt so helpless in my whole life

I'm so upset about your circumstances.😟 Why USCIS can't give at least a concrete answer to the Congressman what is your problem? It's horrible. And we, who have not received ours EAD/AP and GC, should understand that this can also happen to us. After all, even after the interview, the process can stop indefinitely and most painful that without explaning the reason.😟

[ira1712 66]

5 hours ago, KateP said:

Hi Ira,

 

I'm new to the forum but have been gaining silent comfort for the past 7 months (Ridiculous. Lol. Receipt date Oct 23rd)

 

Just wanted to say, we had the same error message on my RFE for I-864. I panicked a lot and checked my photocopies of everything I had sent. Yes I did send all the pages, and yes it was the correct most-up-to-date version (the one on USCIS website is the most recent). This message is a default message I believe and it just covers all possible errors. For our case we hadn't included tax returns for the last 3 years but they didn't ever say that on the RFI! 

 

Hope that helps you. We redid the I-864 form, included 3 year's tax returns and my husband's verification of employment letter and paystubs. We're now at 'ready to be scheduled for interview' but no other updates. Did you submit your EAD/AP application at the same time as the I-485? It has been a long time for you!

 

Hang in there folks and thanks for all your positivity and advice throughout the waiting! 

 

Hello Kate,

Thanks for your support.🤗

 

Yes, I applied for EAD/AP/GC  at the same time , on October 4th. But after 7 months of waiting filed a request EAD/AP( 30 on April). Until I send a new Affadavit support for my I-485 , my EAD/AP will not be considered.  Because ( like told me Tier 2 ) they are connected. Tomorrow I will send  letter to USCIS and will wait for the result. My husband has enough income and all his taxes are in order. And it is possible that after that they will confirm my EAD/AP. At least I hope.🙂

[NikkiFromCanada 233]

I just got off the phone with the USCIS Ombudsman office. I spoke with 3 different people, explaining that I am unable to submit a case on their website. I told them I've tried using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Safari mobile, 2 different PC's on one IP address, and a different PC on a totally different network/IP address and I am still unable to get the form submitted. I get the same error message every time. Guess what their answer was? "There's nothing wrong with our website, we can't help you." 

So...not only can I NOT submit a case inquiry to USCIS (I tried again today and it still says my case is within normal processing times) My case is now 8 days PAST the receipt date for a case inquiry. Now I also cannot submit a case inquiry to the Ombudsman to see if they can help me in any way. I truly don't know how much more of this I can take. I've never encountered such cold, mean people in all my life. It's so disheartening. 

[audaud 62]

I'm curious to see everyones list of documents/proof they are taking to the interview, does anyone care to share? Mine is coming up in about 2 weeks, and I've started to gather things, but wanted to see everyones input here too. Esp for people who have gone throgh their interview already! What were some of the most important things you took? 

[Soph97 33]

7 hours ago, audaud said:

I'm curious to see everyones list of documents/proof they are taking to the interview, does anyone care to share? Mine is coming up in about 2 weeks, and I've started to gather things, but wanted to see everyones input here too. Esp for people who have gone throgh their interview already! What were some of the most important things you took? 

I had my interview last Thursday at the Long Island; NY office. He took our certified copy of marriage certificate, I-94,  copies of birth certificates, copy of our 2018 taxes, copy of our lease, bank statements, health insurance, gym membership, he asked for 6 wedding photos, emails from my parents referring to my spouse and I, he also asked to see passports, original birth certificates... basically everything on the list. They asked me: how we met (they asked this twice), and if I met my spouses parents. They asked my spouse: where I was born, what my parents names were, had she visited England. He approved us on the spot, and our status changed to ‘card was mailed’ yesterday. 

[dismissingYou 0]

In my opinion you should try to detach from the process (I know this is easier said than done) but this process is going to consume you. I did my own Green Card detox not vising VJ or other sites for a while and forbidding myself from checking case status, or rationalizing it to once a week. 

 

I know you can't do anything in the meantime, but maybe find volunteering to do, or use the time to improve a skill. Again I know it's not that easy.

It would be ideal if you got the EAD for traveling. If so, I would recommend you to take long vacations back home (1 or two months even) 

Can't you try to make a case to expedite your I-131? Use any old relatives that need visiting as an excuse? 
 

 

Edited May 21, 2019 by dismissingYou

[Indian_Hubby 27]

1 hour ago, Soph97 said:

I had my interview last Thursday at the Long Island; NY office. He took our certified copy of marriage certificate, I-94,  copies of birth certificates, copy of our 2018 taxes, copy of our lease, bank statements, health insurance, gym membership, he asked for 6 wedding photos, emails from my parents referring to my spouse and I, he also asked to see passports, original birth certificates... basically everything on the list. They asked me: how we met (they asked this twice), and if I met my spouses parents. They asked my spouse: where I was born, what my parents names were, had she visited England. He approved us on the spot, and our status changed to ‘card was mailed’ yesterday. 

Your interview office fairfax ? Oh NY 👍 congrats

Edited May 21, 2019 by Indian_Hubby

[SignorMagnifico 4]

On 5/20/2019 at 7:25 AM, NikkiFromCanada said:

I just got off the phone with the USCIS Ombudsman office. I spoke with 3 different people, explaining that I am unable to submit a case on their website. I told them I've tried using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Safari mobile, 2 different PC's on one IP address, and a different PC on a totally different network/IP address and I am still unable to get the form submitted. I get the same error message every time. Guess what their answer was? "There's nothing wrong with our website, we can't help you." 

So...not only can I NOT submit a case inquiry to USCIS (I tried again today and it still says my case is within normal processing times) My case is now 8 days PAST the receipt date for a case inquiry. Now I also cannot submit a case inquiry to the Ombudsman to see if they can help me in any way. I truly don't know how much more of this I can take. I've never encountered such cold, mean people in all my life. It's so disheartening. 

Hello Nikki,

 

My wife’s I765 and I485 were received on 10/9/18, and we have still not seen any updates on the website after “interview was scheduled.” We attended the interview on 4/16. I tried submitting a case inquiry earlier this month and calling multiple times, but USCIS also gives us the same answer every time that they are backlogged and will take 60 days to respond to our case inquiry.

 

The immigration officer at our interview requested us to submit the medical exam again even though my wife had one in Korea and provided it to the consulate there.

 

I mailed the exam along with the RFE letter and assumed we would be processed in a week as the interviewer told us. I would have taken the envelope there myself, but, the office is a 45 minute drive away. I didn’t want to have to take off work again, so I mailed the sealed envelope because the officer told us we could do that. I got a delivery confirmation from USPS on 4/29, and I haven’t heard anything since. Hence, we have been calling/submitting case inquiries. USCIS can’t tell us if the local office received the I693, and they told us the office doesn’t have a phone. I think I will try one of the suggestions here and ask for Tier 2 and an infopass if I don’t get a response by their promised deadline of 5/29.

 

You are not alone. Some of us have also slipped through the cracks. We will get approved sooner or later.

Edited May 22, 2019 by SignorMagnifico

[NikkiFromCanada 233]

33 minutes ago, SignorMagnifico said:

Hello Nikki,

 

My wife’s I765 and I485 were received on 10/9/18, and we have still not seen any updates on the website after “interview was scheduled.” We attended the interview on 4/16. I tried submitting a case inquiry earlier this month and calling multiple times, but USCIS also gives us the same answer every time that they are backlogged and will take 60 days to respond to our case inquiry.

 

The immigration officer at our interview requested us to submit the medical exam again even though my wife had one in Korea and provided it to the consulate there.

 

I mailed the exam along with the RFE letter and assumed we would be processed in a week as the interviewer told us. I would have taken the envelope there myself, but, the office is a 45 minute drive away. I didn’t want to have to take off work again, so I mailed the sealed envelope because the officer told us we could do that. I got a delivery confirmation from USPS on 4/29, and I haven’t heard anything since. Hence, we have been calling/submitting case inquiries. USCIS can’t tell us if the local office received the I693, and they told us the office doesn’t have a phone. I think I will try one of the suggestions here and ask for Tier 2 and an infopass if I don’t get a response by their promised deadline of 5/29.

 

You are not alone. Some of us have also slipped through the cracks. We will get approved sooner or later.

Thank you so much. This is the first person I've heard from who is in the same situation as I am. I hope for good news for you soon!! It's so hard being at the mercy of USCIS. It would be a little easier to bear if they were at least nice about it. 

[NikkiFromCanada 233]

It is INSANE that I'm now 12 days past the date for a case inquiry, and the USCIS website STILL WILL NOT let me submit a case inquiry. The receipt date for a case inquiry as of today is October 31, 2018. My PD is October 19, 2018. Every time I call USCIS and ask them why I STILL cannot submit an inquiry, they say they have no idea why it won't allow me to submit a case inquiry and they have no idea why the website keeps giving me this message when I try: "Your application or petition is currently within the posted processing times. An inquiry may not be created at this time. Further information about recent processing times can be viewed on the uscis.gov webpage."

 

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! It seems like I'm the only person this is happening to. I feel so helpless and frustrated. No response back from the Ombudsman either. I'm just sitting in limbo, forgotten about and no one at USCIS can or is willing to help me. 

[K1visaHopeful 2,817]

30 minutes ago, NikkiFromCanada said:

It is INSANE that I'm now 12 days past the date for a case inquiry, and the USCIS website STILL WILL NOT let me submit a case inquiry. The receipt date for a case inquiry as of today is October 31, 2018. My PD is October 19, 2018. Every time I call USCIS and ask them why I STILL cannot submit an inquiry, they say they have no idea why it won't allow me to submit a case inquiry and they have no idea why the website keeps giving me this message when I try: "Your application or petition is currently within the posted processing times. An inquiry may not be created at this time. Further information about recent processing times can be viewed on the uscis.gov webpage."

 

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! It seems like I'm the only person this is happening to. I feel so helpless and frustrated. No response back from the Ombudsman either. I'm just sitting in limbo, forgotten about and no one at USCIS can or is willing to help me. 

Do you have somebody maybe like a parent or bff that can try for you from Canada? I dunno....just thinking of all of the possibilities.

[NikkiFromCanada 233]

17 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

Do you have somebody maybe like a parent or bff that can try for you from Canada? I dunno....just thinking of all of the possibilities.

I ended up getting the Ombudsman Case Assistance form submitted. I had to print it, fill it out, scan it & email it. This post is referencing submitting an Outside Normal Processing Time case inquiry to USCIS. It keeps telling me I'm within normal processing times when I try to submit the inquiry, and I'm not. I'm 12 days outside normal processing times. 

Edited May 24, 2019 by NikkiFromCanada

[K1visaHopeful 2,817]

3 minutes ago, NikkiFromCanada said:

I ended up getting the Ombudsman Case Assistance form submitted. I had to print it, fill it out, scan it & email it. This post is referencing submitting an Outside Normal Processing Time case inquiry to USCIS. It keeps telling me I'm within normal processing times when I try to submit the inquiry, and I'm not. I'm 12 days outside normal processing times. 

Right. I'm suggesting that maybe somebody else in another country could try to submit the online enquiry for you to see if they get a different result. 

[BrazilianInTexas 47]

53 minutes ago, NikkiFromCanada said:

It is INSANE that I'm now 12 days past the date for a case inquiry, and the USCIS website STILL WILL NOT let me submit a case inquiry. The receipt date for a case inquiry as of today is October 31, 2018. My PD is October 19, 2018. Every time I call USCIS and ask them why I STILL cannot submit an inquiry, they say they have no idea why it won't allow me to submit a case inquiry and they have no idea why the website keeps giving me this message when I try: "Your application or petition is currently within the posted processing times. An inquiry may not be created at this time. Further information about recent processing times can be viewed on the uscis.gov webpage."

 

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! It seems like I'm the only person this is happening to. I feel so helpless and frustrated. No response back from the Ombudsman either. I'm just sitting in limbo, forgotten about and no one at USCIS can or is willing to help me. 

@NikkiFromCanada, I just went ahead and started trying dates before my PD until it created the inquiry. If we have tried everything and they won't help us over the phone, let's just go around their barriers. What is the worse that can happen?

 

I'm with you, 217 days waiting... my GC interview has not been scheduled yet, EAD and AP still in "case was received"... and I have just accepted a job offer with a starting date in 2 weeks (the employer knows about the situation)... I have asked the help of the congressman and senator with the job offer and they said USCIS should give an answer in 7 days... I have also requested to expedite again (the first time I did because of USCIS error with my address, and they answered that my case was being reviewed and that I should receive a decision shortly... but it has been more than 3 weeks since)... Ombudsman has not answered me too...

 

I refuse to sit and wait... I'll do everything I can to pressure them to do their jobs!

[NikkiFromCanada 233]

11 minutes ago, BrazilianInTexas said:

@NikkiFromCanada, I just went ahead and started trying dates before my PD until it created the inquiry. If we have tried everything and they won't help us over the phone, let's just go around their barriers. What is the worse that can happen?

 

I'm with you, 217 days waiting... my GC interview has not been scheduled yet, EAD and AP still in "case was received"... and I have just accepted a job offer with a starting date in 2 weeks (the employer knows about the situation)... I have asked the help of the congressman and senator with the job offer and they said USCIS should give an answer in 7 days... I have also requested to expedite again (the first time I did because of USCIS error with my address, and they answered that my case was being reviewed and that I should receive a decision shortly... but it has been more than 3 weeks since)... Ombudsman has not answered me too...

 

I refuse to sit and wait... I'll do everything I can to pressure them to do their jobs!

 

21 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

Right. I'm suggesting that maybe somebody else in another country could try to submit the online enquiry for you to see if they get a different result. 

I don't believe it has any bearing on where I am physically submitting it from because when I manipulate my PD to a day earlier, it lets me submit an inquiry, but then it's got false information, so they ignore the inquiry.