March 2020 AOS Filers

[Ameriaussie 49]

22 minutes ago, David_Norway said:

 

Fantastic that you received your biometrics notice! That's progress!

Also, I agree that people should be patient and relax as much as possible, but people should also feel justified to be anxious/frustrated. People's life depend on this, and for some it has real consequences, not just an inconvenient delay.

*A lot of people already have jobs, but will lose them if they don't get their new EAD
*A lot of people are dependent on a job for their family to keep living the life they do
*This is not 2009. This administration has an agenda, and the USCIS is purposefully making life hard for us. (ASCs could have opened sooner if they wanted to, the printer issue was completely avoidable, etc.)
*Logical objective of the administration is to do what it can to get reelected: Make as few new immigrants as possible eligible to vote in November, and give out as few EADs as possible so that Americans can get the available jobs instead. I would not be surprised if the reason you got your biometrics appointment was because you did not apply for EAD...

Anyways, I'll take your advice and chill now.


 

Again, how many actually secured jobs in this environment? Hence loose dependency on EAD

 

Not comparing 2020 to 2009, been in this process since 2009 continuously from which to judge. 

Edited July 21, 2020 by Ameriaussie

[Carina Brown 31]

18 minutes ago, David_Norway said:

 

Fantastic that you received your biometrics notice! That's progress!

Also, I agree that people should be patient and relax as much as possible, but people should also feel justified to be anxious/frustrated. People's life depend on this, and for some it has real consequences, not just an inconvenient delay.

*A lot of people already have jobs, but will lose them if they don't get their new EAD
*A lot of people are dependent on a job for their family to keep living the life they do
*This is not 2009. This administration has an agenda, and the USCIS is purposefully making life hard for us. (ASCs could have opened sooner if they wanted to, the printer issue was completely avoidable, etc.)
*Logical objective of the administration is to do what it can to get reelected: Make as few new immigrants as possible eligible to vote in November, and give out as few EADs as possible so that Americans can get the available jobs instead. I would not be surprised if the reason you got your biometrics appointment was because you did not apply for EAD...

Anyways, I'll take your advice and chill now.


 

Woah..... thanks for the info - it’s appreciated. I do not look / think about it in the depth of your examples you provided above. For me, I’m going with the flow. 

There is just way too much guessing & speculation on forums and it’s not healthy. 
 

I totally understand everyone’s personal circumstance is different but this is out of our control re USCIS and the process. Have to take it a day at a time. 
 

I came on a K1 visa got married and applied for AOS. This will be my 1st biometrics. 

Edited July 21, 2020 by Carina Brown

[David_Norway 135]

4 minutes ago, Ameriaussie said:

Again, how many actually secured jobs in this environment? Hence loose dependency on EAD

A lot of people do, but without EAD or a dependable timeline for when we will get the EAD, one can't really even start looking for jobs. I could get employers interested in hiring me, but it is awkward to not know your timeline: "Awesome, really excited to start working for you. I should get my EAD in two months, unless they are really slow at scheduling biometrics, and assuming that they can figure out how to print them. And assuming congress can figure out how to keep 13000+ American jobs..." Currently, it's better not to bother potential future employers with this mess!

Also from a sample size of two, it is possible to get good jobs in this environment:
* My US citizen wife did not have a job (just finished school) going into this pandemic. Started a new job remote in June.
* I had some really good leads going into this, but the uncertainty of when I could get my EAD (not the pandemic) put those on freeze. Also with an EAD, I could pick up any random job. My local grocery stores are hiring, I could drive for DoorDash, or I could start my own business. Lots of options, but without an EAD you can't do anything. Not fair to us, and not fair to our American spouses.

[Ameriaussie 49]

9 minutes ago, David_Norway said:

A lot of people do, but without EAD or a dependable timeline for when we will get the EAD, one can't really even start looking for jobs. I could get employers interested in hiring me, but it is awkward to not know your timeline: "Awesome, really excited to start working for you. I should get my EAD in two months, unless they are really slow at scheduling biometrics, and assuming that they can figure out how to print them. And assuming congress can figure out how to keep 13000+ American jobs..." Currently, it's better not to bother potential future employers with this mess!

Also from a sample size of two, it is possible to get good jobs in this environment:
* My US citizen wife did not have a job (just finished school) going into this pandemic. Started a new job remote in June.
* I had some really good leads going into this, but the uncertainty of when I could get my EAD (not the pandemic) put those on freeze. Also with an EAD, I could pick up any random job. My local grocery stores are hiring, I could drive for DoorDash, or I could start my own business. Lots of options, but without an EAD you can't do anything. Not fair to us, and not fair to our American spouses.

From a professional perspective, my thought to you is to let the employer make that decision. You are not obligated to disclose your immigration status other than not needing to be sponsored. Good luck.  

Edited July 21, 2020 by Ameriaussie

[David_Norway 135]

7 minutes ago, Ameriaussie said:

From a professional perspective, my thought to you is to let the employer make that decision. You are not obligated to disclose your immigration status other than not needing to be sponsored. Good luck.  

So what should I say to: "When are you able to start work?"

[Ameriaussie 49]

1 minute ago, David_Norway said:

So what should I say to: "When are you able to start work?"

Are you really asking or just a rhetorical question 

[David_Norway 135]

2 minutes ago, Ameriaussie said:

Are you really asking or just a rhetorical question 

No, really asking. You said you work with hiring, and you implied that I should just apply for jobs and not worry about the EAD. So assuming they like me and want me to start working, that question will of course come up. What then?

[SJ2020 65]

1 hour ago, Ameriaussie said:

Congratulations. And yes, wise words. 

 

I have been around this block many times since 2009 (i know) and those are precisely my words to my husband. I know it doesn't work coming from someone so close to you. Just be patient with reason. All will be fine. 

 

For those seeking EAD, find a job first. That's a bigger fish to fry than this document, understanding there's a loose dependency there. But if you are truly capable, your employer is willing to wait - also coming from someone who hires H1B workers - me. 

I got an amazing job offer in the beginning of June and my employer told me they are willing to wait for a month or two until I get my EAD. My EAD case got approved without biometrics but I need them for card production. Yesterday, as my local ASC opened and found out there is no way they will do my biometrics anytime soon, so I needed to let them know that if they need to they can offer the job to someone else. My husband also lost his job due to the pandemic and it is really painful letting an opportunity like that go because you are left in the dark how long the wait would be and nothing to do about it.

[Ameriaussie 49]

3 minutes ago, SJ2020 said:

I got an amazing job offer in the beginning of June and my employer told me they are willing to wait for a month or two until I get my EAD. My EAD case got approved without biometrics but I need them for card production. Yesterday, as my local ASC opened and found out there is no way they will do my biometrics anytime soon, so I needed to let them know that if they need to they can offer the job to someone else. My husband also lost his job due to the pandemic and it is really painful letting an opportunity like that go because you are left in the dark how long the wait would be and nothing to do about it.

Write your state representative 

[SJ2020 65]

6 minutes ago, Ameriaussie said:

Write your state representative 

I already have. They helped me with getting my case expedited and approved but couldn't get anywhere trying to request expedite biometrics or card without it.

This is what they got back from USCIS.

Edited July 21, 2020 by SJ2020

[Ameriaussie 49]

50 minutes ago, David_Norway said:

No, really asking. You said you work with hiring, and you implied that I should just apply for jobs and not worry about the EAD. So assuming they like me and want me to start working, that question will of course come up. What then?

If you are genuinely interested, private message me  

[David_Norway 135]

8 minutes ago, Ameriaussie said:

If you are genuinely interested, private message me  

My point, as exemplified by SJ2020 above, is that the current situation is extremely frustrating for a lot of people. I don't see a path out of the limbo anytime soon except entering legal grey zones, which I don't want to do. I don't want to mislead potential employers either. 

I got some personal projects to keep me busy in the current limbo, but if I need employment advice, I'll PM you.

[Ihatebaseboards 68]

On 7/20/2020 at 12:28 PM, Mummu said:

Oh wow. Hopefully you’ll get something this or next week.  Please keep us posted! Maybe you can try calling them. They are also able to check in the system if there are any updates to your case regarding Biometrics specifically. You never know maybe the tracker we use isn’t completely up to date. 

I called USCIS spoke with Tier 1 and Tier 2 reps, unfortunately no help. Even-though my ASC is open since 7/13 there is no scheduled biometric appointment for my application nor we can schedule one as all spots are taken. We contacted our representative today as a last resort. Hope for a positive change sometime soon.

[TravelingLilly 14]

Hello everyone, I have not found useful info in the last pages of this topic so I am sorry if I am asking something already asked. 

 

I flied for AOS from Tourist Visa the first week of March. The Chicago offices reopened on June 4 but I have not heard from them yet. I only received in March a NOA saying they received my paperworks. I am now waiting for biometrics. 

 

Is there anyone who filed in Chicago like me as well and is still waiting for biometrics ? is this delay normal during the time? 

 

 

 

[Linnn 108]

7 hours ago, David_Norway said:

So what should I say to: "When are you able to start work?"

How did you answer the online job application for the question 'Are you legally allowed to work in the US?' 

That's the one question that is keeping me from applying to any jobs since I'm still waiting for my EAD