MAY 2019 AOS FILERS

[JudeB77 29]

52 days and still no sign of my biometrics letter - NOA1 dated May 24. I've just filed a service request with the contact center and was told I should receive a response within 15 to 30 days. If not, I should phone them again to chase it up.

[Joey.C 41]

10 minutes ago, JudeB77 said:

52 days and still no sign of my biometrics letter - NOA1 dated May 24. I've just filed a service request with the contact center and was told I should receive a response within 15 to 30 days. If not, I should phone them again to chase it up.

I'm in the same situation they told me to call if I don't receive the biometric letter within 30 days .We shall see that's so frustrating I wanna work to help my wife 

[amalam 40]

 

21 minutes ago, JudeB77 said:

52 days and still no sign of my biometrics letter - NOA1 dated May 24. I've just filed a service request with the contact center and was told I should receive a response within 15 to 30 days. If not, I should phone them again to chase it up.

Exact same timeline, same exact response after calling them.

[Moon&Stars 172]

I have a love/hate relationship with the USPS informed delivery. I got notice today that there is something in the mailbox addressed to me (petitioner) from USCIS. Now I have to wait all day to go home and see what it is! I keep telling myself it's probably just a confirmation notice that they received my address change. But I really want it to be something more exciting! Oh the need for patience in this journey!

[BB Family 299]

34 minutes ago, Moon&Stars said:

I have a love/hate relationship with the USPS informed delivery. I got notice today that there is something in the mailbox addressed to me (petitioner) from USCIS. Now I have to wait all day to go home and see what it is! I keep telling myself it's probably just a confirmation notice that they received my address change. But I really want it to be something more exciting! Oh the need for patience in this journey!

I had informed delivery for my social security card 4 weeks ago and I still haven’t received it... I called them and they sent another one and I haven’t received that one yet either.... of course they will lose a SS card... but they’ve never lost a bill.... 🤦🏻‍♂️

[Valmabe 254]

Hi everybody, my status:

 

UPDATE

 

Package sent May 8

Received May 10

Biometrics June 5

RFE July 10: Notification by e-mail (awaiting hard copy)

RFE: Joint sponsor, for not meeting the Federal Poverty Guidelines

 

I have only one question about this, since we know we meet the poverty guidelines, can we submit a new I-864 with documents supporting that we meet the guidelines and therefore no need for a joint sponsor? We submitted only w2 form, therefore the RFIE. Thanks for your thoughs on this. Highly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Celie 793]

36 minutes ago, Valmabe said:

Hi everybody, my status:

 

UPDATE

 

Package sent May 8

Received May 10

Biometrics June 5

RFE July 10: Notification by e-mail (awaiting hard copy)

RFE: Joint sponsor, for not meeting the Federal Poverty Guidelines

 

I have only one question about this, since we know we meet the poverty guidelines, can we submit a new I-864 with documents supporting that we meet the guidelines and therefore no need for a joint sponsor? We submitted only w2 form, therefore the RFIE. Thanks for your thoughs on this. Highly appreciated.

Idk 😕 you can call them and speak to Tier 2 to make sure but at this point getting a Joint Sponsor is your best bet, imo. All supporting documents had to be submitted initially and if they felt they were required, the RFE would have stated the need for the tax return, tax transcript etc instead. At this point, they are requesting a joint sponsor so anything less than that could result in a denial. But again, calling and speaking to a Tier 2 for them to reach out to the officer working your case may be the saving grace.

[isabel_sh 6]

My RFIE arrived today and they are requesting a copy of the birth certificate... 
For those who are on the same boat, did you send them the exact same copies that you submitted initially? Did you get a response from them?

Thank you in advance!

[isabel_sh 6]

I realized that I might have forgotten to send the translation of the back of my birth certificate .. there were only some numbers and codes on the back but maybe that was enough for them to reject it and ask to resubmit. Otherwise, I do not know what else could it be the reason.. the document is a full-page long containing all the required info (Full name at birth, Date of birth, Place of birth, Full name of parents, Name of issuing government body, Date of issuance, Seal or other certification)

[Reed1812 127]

 

On 7/12/2019 at 8:59 AM, MaryDave1992 said:

Yup... and after 30 days, still nothing.

I have 7 days remaining on my service request and still it has 'not been assigned to an officer for processing'. Did your status change at all and did you make a follow up call.

 

Hope we all start to hear something positive soon. I have a job lined up and ready to expedite, just need the biometrics. My would be employer is understanding but I can see his patience running out if nothing changes within the coming weeks.

[nekotakacho 60]

On 5/29/2019 at 7:47 PM, lonesurvivor said:

Finally got my NOA1 at midnight, took around 14 days.

 

I have a question for people who live in Texas/border states. My husband and I are planning to travel to the state in the next couple months to check out some areas, specifically Austin, to move to. This will likely be before my interview/ I know that Texas has internal checkpoints/I have heard of people checking legal status even at airports.

 

Will i be okay with an expired I-94 but a pending AOS? If i bring my passport, marriage cert, NOA1, etc

 

Hi, I live in Austin (for almost 20 years) and I am also from the border of Mexico (near Mercedes, TX). 

You will not experience any checkpoints unless you go south of San Antonio. There are checkpoints at Sarita, TX (on HWY 77) and Falfurrias, TX (HWY 281) and in Hebbronville (HWY 16?). These checkpoints are awfully close to the border, maybe one hour north. If you visit Austin, you will not find a checkpoint like this. If you visit Mexico, or the Rio Grande Valley, be prepared with all your paperwork possible, just in case. Good luck!

 

 

If you do go south of San Antonio, just know that Sarita has the longest lines and wait times and are very aggressive in searches. I always avoid Sarita checkpoint, from bad past experiences.

Edited July 16, 2019 by nekotakacho
updated experiences

[nekotakacho 60]

On 6/4/2019 at 3:03 PM, Mike&Lulu Burton said:

Hello all, thanks for all the messages, they really help to be patient   our AOS docs were received on May 31st, we sent a check that has not been cashed, so I am hoping to receive news this week.

By the way, I went to the SSA and filed for SSN and two weeks later a letter arrived in the mail stating that USCIS couldn't verify the documents I provided which was basically my K1 visa, my passport and my I94, so they could not issue a SSN and / or card  bummer, I really wanted to start with getting driver license and medical insurance, I know I have to wait for the EAD to start working but anyways, it was odd because we got married since April 27th, so not sure why USCIS could not find my information.

Hello, we are in a similar situation. We tried to get SSN the day after arrival. We tried several times for the first two weeks she was here. We got the same SSA worker 3 times, and she was not much help at all. They said they could send off for a "manual verification" of the I-94, but said that most likely it would get denied. We ended up giving up and waiting for EAD approval, which now will take many more months!! It's very frustrating because everyone else gets SSNs so easily, but they spoke to us like we were from another planet.

 

Also, luckily, we could get her medical insurance on my coverage. They still email me often asking for her SSN, but I just remind them we are waiting. We also have official paperwork stating that we tried. But it's a major headache for us. She cant get a drivers license or on my bank account, until 2020??? Ugh.

[nekotakacho 60]

Hi, I am a May 2019 AOS Filer.

 

Submitted AOS packet: 5/15/2019

NOA1 for AOS, EAD and AP: 5/22/2019

 

We applied for SSN the day after arrival, and several times the following 2 weeks. No luck getting an SSN. They wanted to mail in forms for verification and we decided against it. They really did not have much knowledge at SSA office, and we did not trust the lady speaking to us (she was a little crazy) and only had guesses, no answers.

 

We were able to get medical insurance for my wife, and I was able to put her on my lease. They waived the background check because she didnt have an SSN, and I offered to show them all her visa paperwork and approvals. That's a bigger background check than they could ever do! (Thanks State Department).

 

We still do not have a biometric appointment. We check the mail box daily, but nothing. I am afraid they will give us the same run around everyone else is talking about. I will try to speak to a Tier 2 spokesperson but am weary.

 

I want to know about expedited Advanced Parole documents. Everyone is speaking about expedited EAD, but we want to travel for NYE back to Moscow. I have spent the previous 3 New Years Eves in Moscow and would like to repeat for 2020. This may not be possible since USCIS is incredibly slow now. Instead, we will have to buy her parents US tourist visas to visit the USA. This is incredibly inconvenient and expensive. We were hoping AP could be done within 6 months, but now it seems unreasonable.

 

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

Edited July 16, 2019 by nekotakacho

[isabel_sh 6]

6 hours ago, nekotakacho said:

Hi, I am a May 2019 AOS Filer.

 

Submitted AOS packet: 5/15/2019

NOA1 for AOS, EAD and AP: 5/22/2019

 

We applied for SSN the day after arrival, and several times the following 2 weeks. No luck getting an SSN. They wanted to mail in forms for verification and we decided against it. They really did not have much knowledge at SSA office, and we did not trust the lady speaking to us (she was a little crazy) and only had guesses, no answers.

 

We were able to get medical insurance for my wife, and I was able to put her on my lease. They waived the background check because she didnt have an SSN, and I offered to show them all her visa paperwork and approvals. That's a bigger background check than they could ever do! (Thanks State Department).

 

We still do not have a biometric appointment. We check the mail box daily, but nothing. I am afraid they will give us the same run around everyone else is talking about. I will try to speak to a Tier 2 spokesperson but am weary.

 

I want to know about expedited Advanced Parole documents. Everyone is speaking about expedited EAD, but we want to travel for NYE back to Moscow. I have spent the previous 3 New Years Eves in Moscow and would like to repeat for 2020. This may not be possible since USCIS is incredibly slow now. Instead, we will have to buy her parents US tourist visas to visit the USA. This is incredibly inconvenient and expensive. We were hoping AP could be done within 6 months, but now it seems unreasonable.

 

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

I'm also living in Austin and chose San Antonio to have the final appointment. We have similar timeline. 
I experienced issues with the biometrics appointment letter as well. Have you opened a request with USCIS about it? They will ask you to wait 30 days. In my case, after 30 days, nothing changed in my case status. I called them again and the officer said she will open a second request for me. I explained that I submitted my paperwork more than 60 days ago. She asked me more info this time: which office I chose for my final appointment for instance. She said that this will help them to track my case. After talking to her, I received an email from USCIS saying that they sent me my biometrics ap. letter but it was not delivered and that they will send me another copy. I called USCIS again and asked to know when the appointment was scheduled. They transferred me to a tier 2 and I discovered that the appointment was assigned to be on June 4!! I was able to reschedule with them. Waiting for the letter now...
If you haven't opened a request with them, I would do it now and explain the situation. I would also provide the information about the office you chose for the final appointment. It seemed that it helped them to find the situation of my case...

[nekotakacho 60]

2 hours ago, isabel_sh said:

If you haven't opened a request with them, I would do it now and explain the situation. I would also provide the information about the office you chose for the final appointment. It seemed that it helped them to find the situation of my case...

How do I know which office I chose for my final appointment? I have a hard time understanding where my case even is (MSC/National Center). That was difficult to figure out, in itself. I do not remember choosing an office for the final appointment? We really dont care where it is, we want to know when!