Any recent O1 approvals?

[wulffman89 4]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm wondering if anyone know of recent O1 approvals? My application for a 3-year renewal was received by the USCIS on November 5, 2019, and since January, they kept pushing the processing time for a month longer. Last week they updated the receipt date for a case inquiry from early November to... April 5! Still haven't heard back from them, and when I filed for an inquiry they said that I don't have any authorization to see what's going on with my file. 

 

I'm still in the US and my former O1 visa expired as of March - with no income or anything, so it's becoming quite stressful.

 

I haven't heard anyone around me with a recent approved O1, so I'm wondering if they are halting the visas? It's been 8 months already by now for something that should usually take up to 8 weeks.

[SalishSea 17,827]

6 hours ago, wulffman89 said:

Hi everyone,

 

I'm wondering if anyone know of recent O1 approvals? My application for a 3-year renewal was received by the USCIS on November 5, 2019, and since January, they kept pushing the processing time for a month longer. Last week they updated the receipt date for a case inquiry from early November to... April 5! Still haven't heard back from them, and when I filed for an inquiry they said that I don't have any authorization to see what's going on with my file. 

 

I'm still in the US and my former O1 visa expired as of March - with no income or anything, so it's becoming quite stressful.

 

I haven't heard anyone around me with a recent approved O1, so I'm wondering if they are halting the visas? It's been 8 months already by now for something that should usually take up to 8 weeks.

So you have now overstayed your visa?

[wulffman89 4]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

So you have now overstayed your visa?

Well, since it's a renewal I am allowed to stay in the US to wait for an answer. Just not allowed to work, etc. (Advised by my attorney)

[wulffman89 4]

Thank you all - just for anyone who's interested to hear: my visa got approved! They are still processing O-1's today 🙂

[jan22 3,053]

Just to clarify so people don't get confused -- if you are in the US, you did not get a visa approved.  Visas are not approved/issued inside the US.  Sounds like your O-1 petition and extension of status was approved.  

[fs2439 46]

On 6/30/2020 at 4:11 PM, wulffman89 said:

Thank you all - just for anyone who's interested to hear: my visa got approved! They are still processing O-1's today 🙂

Congratulations! No rfe? Did you just file the same petition as your original o1? Did the lawyer charge a reasonable percentage of the value of the original petition? I might need yo do the same thing as you soon.

[wulffman89 4]

19 hours ago, fs2439 said:

Congratulations! No rfe? Did you just file the same petition as your original o1? Did the lawyer charge a reasonable percentage of the value of the original petition? I might need yo do the same thing as you soon.

No RFE, correct. My lawyer used most of the former file and added some new documentation and proof to complete it. She charged me a flat fee (which is really not as bad as I hear in some other cases) and has been extremely helpful throughout the entire process. I hope you still have your old files, as it saves you so much time!

[fs2439 46]

1 hour ago, wulffman89 said:

No RFE, correct. My lawyer used most of the former file and added some new documentation and proof to complete it. She charged me a flat fee (which is really not as bad as I hear in some other cases) and has been extremely helpful throughout the entire process. I hope you still have your old files, as it saves you so much time!

Yrs, I have everything. Congratulations again! I filed an i140 though, so not sure what the lawyer will suggest as o1 is not fully immigrant intent. We'll see. Its encouraging that your o1 got approved in late june/early July! I was under the impression that everything was halted due to the probable furloughs. Congratulations and happy holiday