July 2019 - AOS Filers

[Silmaril 8]

4 hours ago, Grant & Bri said:

Yeah spoke to a tier 2 officer twice this week and wasn’t helpful at all. How do I get an info pass I see you can’t do it online anymore. 

Hi

 

Hopefully someone with direct experience can chime in here, but my understanding is that the tier 2 officer can help you with scheduling an appointment. The website just says the contact center can create an appointment:

 

From

https://my.uscis.gov/en/appointment/v2

 

“If our online tools do not provide the help you need, please call the USCIS Contact Center to request an appointment.”

 

The USCIS ombudsman office also apparently offers assistance with case inquiries

https://www.dhs.gov/topic/cis-ombudsman

 

Good luck!

[Moe428 129]

On 12/19/2019 at 1:57 PM, cmLee said:

Yea - my designated USCIS center in SF is already 3 hours from me. So I wouldn't mind being reassigned to either if it makes things go along faster. Besides, I always just make a trip out of visits like these. I wonder what 'reasoning' or protocol they use to determine which cases get transferred.

 

I wish you the best of luck in your interview! Do keep us posted so we can celebrate your good news!

  

On 12/13/2019 at 7:13 PM, bigjuniper said:

Moe428 it's like you're our lucky charm - or "reverse jinx" - just checked and saw "New Card Is Being Produced"  - this is for the receipt # related to our EAD. No update to status for AP, but of course we have our fingers crossed that it's actually a combo card that's coming.

I had my interview today.  I didn't get approved on the spot but few hours later I did get approved.

 

My general experience:

 

1)  The IO was completely disorganized.  It's not like the other interviews I hear of on VJ.  He didn't swear us in, and he only asked maybe 5-6 questions out of the 20+ odd questions on the I-485 form.

2)  He hadn't read even a single page of my application package.  Had no idea about what evidence we had already sent to support our marriage, or other important information in the package.

3)  Made several racist comments about hispanics (since I am not one, I guess).

4)  Overall though, he was very nice towards me and my wife.  So despite other short comings, I can't say it was a bad experience.  I would rate it as a maybe 3/5, only because I wish he had gone through at least some of the application before he saw us, and for the racist comments.  But those didn't result in any practical issues in the interview.

 

Some specific things:

1)  He asked specifically for a joint banking account.  I was kind of surprised, since I thought they wouldn't ask for specific things but anything that we got.  Me and my wife don't have one (we didn't see the practical value of one, but are planning on having one for ROC), so he asked us why.  We just told him we didn't see practical use in having one.  We instead gave him the deed showing joint ownership of our house, and that seemed to put him at ease.  He didn't ask for much more after that.

2)  We did provide several other things, such as jointly filed tax return, 2 utility bills with both our names, jointly owned car.  Everything here was included in our application package as well.  

3)  Asked several times if this was our first marriage

4)  Asked my wife my birthday

  

Edited January 17, 2020 by Moe428

[Moe428 129]

54 minutes ago, cmLee said:

I am hoping my case will get transferred to Sacramento! Thank you for your words - it gave me a flicker of hope that I might get an interview by the summer (July will be a year since we filed). When you changed your address, did you face any difficulties with the process? I've heard horror stories of USCIS not changing addresses and interviews being scheduled at their old local office (which are sometimes in a diff state). Wondering how the process is for you. Also, did your priority/receipt date change when you changed your address? I think I might have asked you this before so I apologize if this is repetitive!

My wife had to do that when she moved from Illinois to California during the middle of her N-400 application.  She didn't encounter any issues.

[bigjuniper 15]

16 minutes ago, Moe428 said:

  

I had my interview today.  I didn't get approved on the spot but few hours later I did get approved.

Congrats! And thanks for the report. Very helpful to know what evidence they wanted to see and what questions were asked.

[cmLee 14]

20 minutes ago, Moe428 said:

  

I had my interview today.  I didn't get approved on the spot but few hours later I did get approved.

 

My general experience:

 

1)  The IO was completely disorganized.  It's not like the other interviews I hear of on VJ.  He didn't swear us in, and he only asked maybe 5-6 questions out of the 20+ odd questions on the I-485 form.

2)  He hadn't read even a single page of my application package.  Had no idea about what evidence we had already sent to support our marriage, or other important information in the package.

3)  Made several racist comments about hispanics (since I am not one, I guess).

4)  Overall though, he was very nice towards me and my wife.  So despite other short comings, I can't say it was a bad experience.  I would rate it as a maybe 3/5, only because I wish he had gone through at least some of the application before he saw us, and for the racist comments.  But those didn't result in any practical issues in the interview.

 

Some specific things:

1)  He asked specifically for a joint banking account.  I was kind of surprised, since I thought they wouldn't ask for specific things but anything that we got.  Me and my wife don't have one (we didn't see the practical value of one, but are planning on having one for ROC), so he asked us why.  We just told him we didn't see practical use in having one.  We instead gave him the deed showing joint ownership of our house, and that seemed to put him at ease.  He didn't ask for much more after that.

2)  We did provide several other things, such as jointly filed tax return, 2 utility bills with both our names, jointly owned car.  Everything here was included in our application package as well.  

3)  Asked several times if this was our first marriage

4)  Asked my wife my birthday

  

 

16 minutes ago, Moe428 said:

My wife had to do that when she moved from Illinois to California during the middle of her N-400 application.  She didn't encounter any issues.

Firstly, congratulations! Always nice to hear an interview going well. Thank you for responding to my address change question and for the update. Very helpful. I made a copy of the exact application we submitted so I will bring that with me (and more) when it's our turn for the interview. Congrats again!

[Fer Schvarztman 217]

@Moe428 congratulations! 

Thanks for the interview review. One question you mentioned adding a joint affidavit of support with your wife only, by any chance do you know if k1 Visa Co-Sponsor must also file an Affidavit of support for interview?.

 

I'm still not able to work because the MO Center sent my EAD Card with a typographical error on my married last name, so I don't think I will be able to add economical support to our household soon. 

Edited January 17, 2020 by Fer Schvarztman

[Grant & Bri 93]

6 hours ago, Silmaril said:

Hi

 

Hopefully someone with direct experience can chime in here, but my understanding is that the tier 2 officer can help you with scheduling an appointment. The website just says the contact center can create an appointment:

 

From

https://my.uscis.gov/en/appointment/v2

 

“If our online tools do not provide the help you need, please call the USCIS Contact Center to request an appointment.”

 

The USCIS ombudsman office also apparently offers assistance with case inquiries

https://www.dhs.gov/topic/cis-ombudsman

 

Good luck!

Thank you for that information I appreciate it and I’m going to look into it. But basically what I want to know is what can I actually do if I’m granted a infopass can I just go talk to someone in person about my case or something? 

[LuFlolady 881]

16 hours ago, Grant & Bri said:

Expedite for EAD - 34 days NO RESPONSE

Second RFE response received - 19 days ago NO RESPONSE!! Boston filer here and I’m completely over this process about to lose a good job offer due to being given false hope when I made the expedite request that I would get a response within 5-30 days. Numerous of calls to USCIS each week and still nothing no more information I hope that one time I call they will see more information than I can and give me something but nope. I get everyone’s case is different but I just find it hilarious that people that filed in October already have EAD’s and interviews scheduled and there is some of us here still waiting for one of this. Absolutely over it. Sorry I’m just ranting but I’ve been here for 7 months already and already been 5.5 months since I filed my paperwork. 

my husband has been here for 8months and 6 months since we filed and nothing I contacted my congressman ofc on Monday..waiting to see what that will do..... 

[LuFlolady 881]

12 hours ago, Grant & Bri said:

Yeah spoke to a tier 2 officer twice this week and wasn’t helpful at all. How do I get an info pass I see you can’t do it online anymore. 

how do you speak to a tier 2? what numbers are you pressing?

[Grant & Bri 93]

4 minutes ago, LuFlolady said:

how do you speak to a tier 2? what numbers are you pressing?

‭+1 (800) 375-5283‬ Press 1,1,2,2 then you’ll be transferred to a level one representative tell them that you wanna speak to a tier 2 office then they will transfer your call and put you on a call back list. Just bare in mind they aren’t that helpful depending on who you get, seems like they just wanna get you off the phone. I had one hang up on me a few weeks back because I’m trying to expedite my case so I can work and she said well that’s why you have a sponsor. Thank you for calling USCIS and then hung up on me. Like what if I was trying to start work for medical reasons and need to pay medical bills etc etc... that my sponsor cant afford. Anyway rant over good luck anyway. 

So my start date is being pushed back one last time to the 3rd of February so let’s see if I can get a response soon.

[Grant & Bri 93]

So my start date is being pushed back one last time to the 3rd of February so let’s see if I can get a response soon.

[DanielPlainview 368]

For those of you who have not interviewed yet........

 

IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THE AGENT AND APPLICANT SIGN THE I-485 DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS !!!!!!!!

 

I am usually pretty thorough but I missed the fact that the applicant signs the i-485 twice.   Once with the submission of the application in Part 10 but ALSO DURING the interview in Part 13.   Most agents will likely have you sign, but if not be sure to ask about it.   We did not sign, and were not aware of the requirement.   A few days after the interview, we got notice of a "Second Interview" without any explanation for what it's about.   This also caused a two month delay as we waited for the second interview to be scheduled.  We were also working feverishly on any additional relationship evidence and reviewing intensive interview information, and considering hiring an attorney.   Not a fun position to be in....particularly when a simple signature would have avoided all of that.

 

It was another two weeks after the second interview for the approval, so all in all, not good.  However, the status now shows mailed, so we're going to have a breather for two years until removal of conditions.

 

Also, apparently fees for Removal of Conditions and Citizenship are proposed for increase.  ROC is currently $595 and the proposed fee is $760.  Citizenship is currently $640 and the proposal is $1170.  We are all about two to three years away from those processes, so hopefully we won't see additional increases.

 

[Olga&Jared 267]

19 hours ago, cmLee said:

I am hoping my case will get transferred to Sacramento! Thank you for your words - it gave me a flicker of hope that I might get an interview by the summer (July will be a year since we filed). When you changed your address, did you face any difficulties with the process? I've heard horror stories of USCIS not changing addresses and interviews being scheduled at their old local office (which are sometimes in a diff state). Wondering how the process is for you. Also, did your priority/receipt date change when you changed your address? I think I might have asked you this before so I apologize if this is repetitive!

I don't yet know the office where my interview will be, still waiting for a paper letter. But they did update my address on all 3 cases (AOS, EAD, AP). I filed electronically for change of address as soon as I moved, and got a confirmation email from USCIS a week after saying that they'd updated it in their systems. Then I called several times and asked for a phone operator to check it for me and after 3 more days they confirmed that everything was updated. I also later received my EAD card to the new address. I also read a lot of horror stories and was worried they wouldn't update it but I was a bit of a control-freak during this process and called several times to make sure. My priority date also updated. I originally had "Ready to be scheduled" status since October 9, but then it got updated on November 1. 

[Moe428 129]

14 hours ago, Fer Schvarztman said:

@Moe428 congratulations! 

Thanks for the interview review. One question you mentioned adding a joint affidavit of support with your wife only, by any chance do you know if k1 Visa Co-Sponsor must also file an Affidavit of support for interview?.

 

I'm still not able to work because the MO Center sent my EAD Card with a typographical error on my married last name, so I don't think I will be able to add economical support to our household soon. 

 

I should add, I am not adjusting from K-1 but rather from a work permit, so I wouldn't know the details of K-1 and if the same co-sponsors must be on AoS, so I hope other members can help.

[cmLee 14]

32 minutes ago, Olga&Jared said:

I don't yet know the office where my interview will be, still waiting for a paper letter. But they did update my address on all 3 cases (AOS, EAD, AP). I filed electronically for change of address as soon as I moved, and got a confirmation email from USCIS a week after saying that they'd updated it in their systems. Then I called several times and asked for a phone operator to check it for me and after 3 more days they confirmed that everything was updated. I also later received my EAD card to the new address. I also read a lot of horror stories and was worried they wouldn't update it but I was a bit of a control-freak during this process and called several times to make sure. My priority date also updated. I originally had "Ready to be scheduled" status since October 9, but then it got updated on November 1. 

It will be interesting to see if you got your interview at San Jose office or if they transferred you to another office - do keep us updated when you get your letter! What number did you call to check your change of address? My husband might get a new job sometime in the next few months so we might be moving - I want to learn about the process as much as I can before that happens because those horror stories are terrible! I am so glad yours went well. 

 

When you say your priority date updated, what does it mean? Did you get a new I-797C notice with new priority date? My priority date is July 1st 2019 (the date USCIS received our file). I am wondering if I move, will I get a new priority date which will push back my wait time even more (e.g., priority date/case received becomes a 2020 date)?

 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience!