Jump to content
Captain Ewok

USCIS is Extending the Suspension of In-Person Services at all Local Offices from April 7th to June 4th Due to Covid-19

 Share

211 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
On 4/2/2020 at 11:02 AM, caputo said:

For ROC I-751.  They should accept previous biometrics (they have at least two) as they are doing for I-765.  It is ridiculous not to do it in these circumstances.

I agree.  One biometric is enough for any process.  My wife was finger printed in Decenber 2019 just before her K1 interview.  They need to refund my $85.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
26 minutes ago, ram1009 said:

I agree.  One biometric is enough for any process.  My wife was finger printed in Decenber 2019 just before her K1 interview.  They need to refund my $85.

I also don't understand the rationale for doing biometrics over and over. I suppose in some rare cases, a person's fingerprints could change (burns and other trauma) but it seems redundant for the vast majority. 

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/31/2020 at 11:46 PM, EllisAndRenz said:

We have ours scheduled for April 30th.  (Scheduled before the current zombie apocalypse obviously)

I have a slim bit of hope that we will still go, but it's ever so slim.  

 

 

Mine was on April 28th and I got this Notice on April 2nd

 

This is to advise you that, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to cancel the previously scheduled interview on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 08:30AM for the above applicant. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
We will advise you of any further action taken on this case, including any rescheduled interview appointment information, under separate notice.

 

01/14/2020 - filed N400 Miami FL

01/18/2020 - NOA Biometric scheduled 

02/05/2020 - Biometrics done 

03/13/2020 - Interview scheduled - canceled due Covid19

08/19/2020 - Interview 

08/27/2020 - OATH Ceremony MIAMI FL 

Done with USCIS  !!!! Good luck everyone!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is no excuse for this at all.  My entire company of nearly 14,000, in just a couple of days, transferred to working remotely.  We are all doing video conferences with our customers.  To me, this would be far more efficient than in person interview anyway.  I'm estimating a few hundred dollars between travel to nearest consulate, one or two nights in a hotel... For USCIS offices, being able to schedule one after another, and not having to worry about waiting rooms ect... would help them as well.  Even after the world begins to return to normal, there are still months before vaccines are developed.  People are becoming conditioned to this, and meetings in person will still be frowned upon for months, if not years.  Going to virtual interviews, is not just something that should be done, but they will have no choice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
On 4/6/2020 at 6:57 AM, MarcusZoe said:

There is no excuse for this at all.  My entire company of nearly 14,000, in just a couple of days, transferred to working remotely.  We are all doing video conferences with our customers.  To me, this would be far more efficient than in person interview anyway.  I'm estimating a few hundred dollars between travel to nearest consulate, one or two nights in a hotel... For USCIS offices, being able to schedule one after another, and not having to worry about waiting rooms ect... would help them as well.  Even after the world begins to return to normal, there are still months before vaccines are developed.  People are becoming conditioned to this, and meetings in person will still be frowned upon for months, if not years.  Going to virtual interviews, is not just something that should be done, but they will have no choice.

It'll never happen because USCIS does interviews to judge your body language, also look at how you and your spouse are together, and other psychology elements where they basically want to observe every detail about your behavior. There's just no way that experience can be replicated via a remote service. I suspect they could continue in person interviews, but from behind glass (similar to how the embassies are) to help at least mitigate some of the contagious factors.

 

This is the same reason evidentiary hearings/trials in court cases will never be done remotely.

Edited by millefleur

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

We got our letter that our April 30 interview was "cancelled". 

No idea what's next.  She can't work after September.  (and it may take that long to get a job)  We are concerned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

Hi!  Not sure if this is the right place, I had biometrics on feb 21, my AOS status shows ready to be scheduled for interview, however with the closures my Lawfully case tracker is estimating that approval could take until 01/2021 😥 

 

My question is, my I-94 expired yesterday (we got married 01/16/20), is this the same as when the noa2 for the I-129f expires before the interview and they will back date the extension whenever I get in front of an officer? 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, minails said:

My question is, my I-94 expired yesterday (we got married 01/16/20), is this the same as when the noa2 for the I-129f expires before the interview and they will back date the extension whenever I get in front of an officer? 

All that matters is that you got married before the I-94 expired and that you subsequently filed your AOS.   There is no extension.

March 2, 2018  Married In Hong Kong

April 30, 2018  Mary moves from the Philippines to Mexico, Husband has MX Permanent Residency

June 13, 2018 Mary receives Mexican Residency Card

June 15, 2018  I-130 DCF Appointment in Juarez  -  June 18, 2018  Approval E-Mail

August 2, 2018 Case Complete At Consulate

September 25, 2018 Interview in CDJ and Approved!

October 7, 2018 In the USA

October 27, 2018 Green Card received 

October 29, 2018 Applied for Social Security Card - November 5, 2018 Social Security Card received

November 6th, 2018 State ID Card Received, Applied for Global Entry - Feb 8,2019 Approved.

July 14, 2020 Removal of Conditions submitted by mail  July 12, 2021 Biometrics Completed

August 6, 2021 N-400 submitted by mail

September 7, 2021 I-751 Interview, Sept 8 Approved and Card Being Produced

October 21, 2021 N-400 Biometrics Completed  

November 30,2021  Interview, Approval and Oath

December 10, 2021 US Passport Issued

August 12, 2022 PHL Dual Nationality Re-established & Passport Approved 

April 6,2023 Legally Separated - Oh well

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, EllisAndRenz said:

She can't work after September.  (and it may take that long to get a job)  We are concerned.

How long was the EAD valid for? Usually, the EAD is valid for 1 year. Also, your profile says it was issued in December: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=302903

Edited by HRQX
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
1 hour ago, HRQX said:

How long was the EAD valid for? Usually, the EAD is valid for 1 year. Also, your profile says it was issued in December: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=302903

You are correct.  Thank you.  December.  (One of those *er months) 🙂

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

December.  (One of those *er months) 🙂

The EAD/AP renewal is also free. When the EAD is within 180 days of expiration (so around June 15, 2020) you can send I-765 and I-131 to the Chicago Lockbox: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses "If You Have a Pending Adjustment of Status Application" section

The EAD part will auto-extend to June 2021: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/42-automatic-extensions-employment-authorization-documents-eads-certain-circumstances The AP part will still end on December 2020.

 

An example of the optional cover letters:

Quote

[Street Number and Name]

[City, State ZIP]

 

[Month Day, Year]

 

USCIS

Attn: FBAS

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680-4120

 

RE: I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

Applicant: [Applicant's Full Name]

A-Number: [A-Number]

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

My Adjustment of Status case, [Case Number], is pending. I’m filing my Advance Parole Document (I-131) application concurrently with this request for an Employment Authorization Document (I-765). I filed the I-485 after July 29, 2007, and paid a one-time filing fee. Therefore, as an Adjustment of Status applicant, I am not required to pay additional USCIS fees for this I-765 request.

 

I am enclosing the following documents in support of my application for Employment Authorization:

  1. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
  2. Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance
  3. Copy of I-797C, Notice of Action, receipt notice of pending I-485
  4. Copy of my current I-766 (Employment Authorization Document) that expires within 180 days
  5. Copy of I-797, Notice of Action, approval notice of current I-766 (Employment Authorization Document)

I am requesting that your office promptly approve my request for an Employment Authorization Document. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at (000) 000-0000. Thank you for the time taken in this case.

 

Sincerely,

[Applicant's Full Name]

Quote

[Street Number and Name]

[City, State ZIP]

 

[Month Day, Year]

 

USCIS

Attn: FBAS

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680-4120

 

RE: I-131, Application for Travel Document

Applicant: [Applicant's Full Name]

A-Number: [A-Number]

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

My Adjustment of Status case, [Case Number], is pending. I’m filing my Employment Authorization (I-765) application concurrently with this request for an Advance Parole Document (I-131). I filed the I-485 after July 29, 2007, and paid a one-time filing fee. Therefore, as an Adjustment of Status applicant, I am not required to pay additional USCIS fees for this I-131 request.

 

I am enclosing the following documents in support of my application for Advance Parole:

  1. Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
  2. Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance
  3. Copy of I-797C, Notice of Action, receipt notice of pending I-485
  4. Copy of my current I-766 (Employment Authorization Document) that also "Serves as I-512 Advance Parole." The card expires within 180 days.
  5. Copy of I-797, Notice of Action, approval notice of current I-766 (Employment Authorization Document)

I am requesting that your office promptly approve my request for an Advance Parole Document. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at (000) 000-0000. Thank you for the time taken in this case.

 

Sincerely,

[Applicant's Full Name]

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

This is EXCELLENT.  (Especially the EAD extension, since that's the important part -- Assuming I can find her a job in this environment)

.. and thank you for the sample letters also.  I'm in your debt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/18/2020 at 4:42 AM, Nics said:

As much as it's in inconvenience, I'd rather be in your shoes right now, this is just delaying till further notice, I got k1 approved, was supposed to fly to the states beginning May, my visa expires 21 May, 😭. Have contacted the US embassy here in Amsterdam, but as of yet ive heard nothing. Still hopeful but stressed to the max, being only weeks away, it's awful, but remind myself there's so many people out there in the same boat. 

I think after this theyll  re issue a new visa without problems

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
Timeline
On 3/18/2020 at 5:56 AM, Captain Ewok said:

USCIS is Suspending In-Person Services at all local offices effective March 18 to (at least) April 1st 7th May 3rd Due to Covid-19.  This includes all scheduled interviews.  Processing at USCIS offices not requiring face time will continue as normal.

 

Full details from USCIS are here: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

 

Latest:

 

 

source: https://www.uscis.gov/

My fiancé submitted the K1 application form with the cheque since October, 2019 but is yet to get a notice from the USCIS office up until now April 2020. When he called the USCIS office in February 2020 they acknowledged the receipt of the documents via phone call and requested that he sends in evidence of our relationship to enable the process faster, which my fiancé has done. Although he was told that they are yet to start working on our case as they have a lot of file they are working on now. Should I be concerned for the fact that we didn’t get any notice from the USCIS office that they have recieved our application via mail? Or it’s normal for the USCIS to only acknowledge receipt of the documents when they intend to start working on the case file? 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
Timeline
On 3/17/2020 at 11:56 PM, Captain Ewok said:

USCIS is Suspending In-Person Services at all local offices effective March 18 to (at least) April 1st 7th May 3rd Due to Covid-19.  This includes all scheduled interviews.  Processing at USCIS offices not requiring face time will continue as normal.

 

Full details from USCIS are here: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

 

Latest:

 

 

source: https://www.uscis.gov/

Our petition was approved on 3 April.  Will they mail or email the letter to my husband;  beneficiary? He is in Nigeria and the post offices are closed due to COVID 19 

Edited by Vbreezy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...