August 2020 - AOS Filers

[theflyhigh 63]

15 minutes ago, INF said:

She said I should receive my biometric date letter in 45 days of USICS receiving my application (all days not just business days).

Seems false. I have seen many who are still waiting for the biometrics. Even for some USCIS cancelled due to COVID and still haven't rescheduled it.

[partyintheUSA 86]

1 hour ago, lstm said:

Thanks for this info. So, could you make it a bit clear? People will have a biometrics appointment 45 days after USCIS receive the application? 45 calendar or working days? And then the biometrics appointment will be 2 weeks after those 45 days? 

 

Again thanks for the info. 

Biometrics requires a scheduled appointment at a local office. Many local offices are currently overloaded dealing with backlog from cancelled appointments going back to March, restricted operational capacity due to local COVID 19 safety requirements, and soon there may be staff reductions as well.

 

Because of this, there's no real way to predict when anyone will receive a biometric appointment notice. Some people are still waiting for reschedules from March. Just keep checking your online status and then start checking the mail once you see the appointment has been scheduled.

[Jacobo 122]

8 minutes ago, partyintheUSA said:

Biometrics requires a scheduled appointment at a local office. Many local offices are currently overloaded dealing with backlog from cancelled appointments going back to March, restricted operational capacity due to local COVID 19 safety requirements, and soon there may be staff reductions as well.

 

Because of this, there's no real way to predict when anyone will receive a biometric appointment notice. Some people are still waiting for reschedules from March. Just keep checking your online status and then start checking the mail once you see the appointment has been scheduled.

Is there any change on the online status once a Biometric Appointment Letter is mailed or a Biometric Appointment is scheduled? 

[partyintheUSA 86]

2 minutes ago, Jacobo said:

Is there any change on the online status once a Biometric Appointment Letter is mailed or a Biometric Appointment is scheduled? 

Apparently not -- I assumed there would be! Editing my post.

 

Just keep watching the mail

[lstm 12]

5 minutes ago, partyintheUSA said:

Biometrics requires a scheduled appointment at a local office. Many local offices are currently overloaded dealing with backlog from cancelled appointments going back to March, restricted operational capacity due to local COVID 19 safety requirements, and soon there may be staff reductions as well.

 

Because of this, there's no real way to predict when anyone will receive a biometric appointment notice. Some people are still waiting for reschedules from March. Just keep checking your online status and then start checking the mail once you see the appointment has been scheduled.

I tend to agree but USCIS seems to try to rush some appointments. For instance, they have given 90 days after re-opening to reschedule already cancelled appointments. Also they are re-using already taken biometrics for those who apply for EAD/AP renewal. 

 

Regarding staff reduction(s) I think this will not happen. USCIS seems to increase fees and they will continue collecting / increasing their revenue significantly. Also, several Republicans and Democrats Senators tend to "question" USCIS data and their urgent funding. Hence, this was the primary reason USCIS stopped furloughs BUT argued that they will "reduce" funds of several significant services like printing EAD/GCs etc. 

 

Overall, I have estimated the delay for Seattle based on what I have seen / read around. Seattle is currently like 3.5 to 4.5 months for a biometric appointment. But taking in account that NBC will approve EAD/AP in like 5-6 months, the biometrics appointment maybe doesn't add any delay BUT stressing out applicants

[partyintheUSA 86]

2 minutes ago, lstm said:

I tend to agree but USCIS seems to try to rush some appointments. For instance, they have given 90 days after re-opening to reschedule already cancelled appointments. Also they are re-using already taken biometrics for those who apply for EAD/AP renewal. 

 

Regarding staff reduction(s) I think this will not happen. USCIS seems to increase fees and they will continue collecting / increasing their revenue significantly. Also, several Republicans and Democrats Senators tend to "question" USCIS data and their urgent funding. Hence, this was the primary reason USCIS stopped furloughs BUT argued that they will "reduce" funds of several significant services like printing EAD/GCs etc. 

 

Overall, I have estimated the delay for Seattle based on what I have seen / read around. Seattle is currently like 3.5 to 4.5 months for a biometric appointment. But taking in account that NBC will approve EAD/AP in like 5-6 months, the biometrics appointment maybe doesn't add any delay BUT stressing out applicants

Yes, some applications definitely get the magic carpet treatment once they hit the local office, but it's tough to say which are priorities right now. I think non-family based AOS tend to hear faster. Could certainly always hear faster than 45 days, I just don't want people to get anxious when 45 days have passed and there hasn't been any activity!

 

I thought the same as you about staff reductions when I first read the notice from USCIS about postponing the furlough, but I think they may have actually started based on the increased time to process payments and send texts. I think both of those activities are probably handled by a lower level of staff than the people who actually review the applications, so if those numbers get reduced, then things slow down. At the local offices I would expect the people who take the fingerprints will stay, but the people who schedule the fingerprint taking may be on reduced hours, leading to less appointments, etc. Would very much like to be wrong about this but the numbers are definitely not getting faster.

 

Maybe the new fees will lower the applicant numbers and create some space, we'll see. 

[lstm 12]

2 minutes ago, partyintheUSA said:

Yes, some applications definitely get the magic carpet treatment once they hit the local office, but it's tough to say which are priorities right now. I think non-family based AOS tend to hear faster. Could certainly always hear faster than 45 days, I just don't want people to get anxious when 45 days have passed and there hasn't been any activity!

 

I thought the same as you about staff reductions when I first read the notice from USCIS about postponing the furlough, but I think they may have actually started based on the increased time to process payments and send texts. I think both of those activities are probably handled by a lower level of staff than the people who actually review the applications, so if those numbers get reduced, then things slow down. At the local offices I would expect the people who take the fingerprints will stay, but the people who schedule the fingerprint taking may be on reduced hours, leading to less appointments, etc. Would very much like to be wrong about this but the numbers are definitely not getting faster.

 

Maybe the new fees will lower the applicant numbers and create some space, we'll see. 

I see what you mean. I am following several immigration lawyers and none has said anything or get something at their radar. And believe me those lawyers are very well informed One possibility of delays in NOA is that they have more and more applications received the last months. People found time to put applications down PLUS they are not willing (and this is normal) to pay the new increased fees. Hence the strategy is to apply NOW This tough created a huge influx of applications. 

 

Regarding employment based times vs family based: Yes there is a difference. I have an employment based and I got NOA in like 2.5 weeks while I see people at family based categories to wait significantly longer Also, for the family based there might be a delay in biometrics since there are tons of RFEs issued almost for no reason or for "silly" requirements. In my case lawyers prepared everything and hence any RFE is their own responsibility --- but they are very serious to avoid mistakes as my company pays them a lot for this job  

 

In my opinion: We may see delays but for lower level staff and mostly for staff who got part time --- hourly jobs. Also there might be huge delays contacting them through phone or email. Remember that House keeps pushing for adding relief funds for the USCIS and there is a fight now with the Senate. We might have good news from there too  

[partyintheUSA 86]

42 minutes ago, lstm said:

I see what you mean. I am following several immigration lawyers and none has said anything or get something at their radar. And believe me those lawyers are very well informed One possibility of delays in NOA is that they have more and more applications received the last months. People found time to put applications down PLUS they are not willing (and this is normal) to pay the new increased fees. Hence the strategy is to apply NOW This tough created a huge influx of applications. 

 

If you track July/August reports here on VJ and other forums, you can see a distinct change in the pattern in both the # of days between certain actions (payments and texts) and the frequency (from a more random distribution to distinct batches). This shift happened almost overnight, and around the exact same time the USCIS memo came out. Small sample size and may just be coincidence, but... I wouldn't expect an attorney to be aware of patterns like this, numbers scare most of them away

 

Also don't assume too much about your own attorneys. My wife is here on an L1 from a FAANG company and the attorneys they provided were so lousy we terminated them to AOS ourselves. They actually get paid more for every RFE they have to respond to. Horrible incentive!

[lstm 12]

28 minutes ago, partyintheUSA said:

 

If you track July/August reports here on VJ and other forums, you can see a distinct change in the pattern in both the # of days between certain actions (payments and texts) and the frequency (from a more random distribution to distinct batches). This shift happened almost overnight, and around the exact same time the USCIS memo came out. Small sample size and may just be coincidence, but... I wouldn't expect an attorney to be aware of patterns like this, numbers scare most of them away

 

Also don't assume too much about your own attorneys. My wife is here on an L1 from a FAANG company and the attorneys they provided were so lousy we terminated them to AOS ourselves. They actually get paid more for every RFE they have to respond to. Horrible incentive!

Hahaha I cannot agree most for companies attorneys. For me they are the only way (PERM path). But it depends who you will (luckily) assign too :( My lawyers seem to be ok as of now. No troubles and they did a good job for PERM and I-140. AOS is their last part and I pray they did not mess it up. 

 

Employment based cases are a bit faster but these days anything is a gamble. Regarding immigration attorneys, yeah I agree they don't like numbers BUT they are well informed if furloughs happened and if USCIS staff are working less and less. This is what I tried to claim. All immigration lawyers expect delays BUT not something terrible as furloughs didn't occur :) BUT again USCIS is an agency that can negatively surprise everyone! 

[TosioCarlyI 6]

Package sent on 8/22, account charged on 9/15.

Edited September 15, 2020 by PXandu

[TosioCarlyI 6]

Just now, Carolina G said:

I hope you mean 8/22 lol

Yes, corrected.

[TosioCarlyI 6]

Just now, Carolina G said:

Did they receive your package 8/22 or you sent it to them on that date? Just trying to keep metrics for others 

Sent on 8/22, it was a Saturday, they received it that Tuesday or Wednesday (8/25-26).

[partyintheUSA 86]

If I'm reading right user reports from the past two weeks show a batch of payments processed on 9/4 and 9/5 for applications received 8/19-21, and now another batch on 9/14 and 9/15 for applications received 8/22-25? 

 

Seems very slow, but if trend holds, maybe another batch next week for packages received Aug ~26-28/29 (do they deliver on weekends?)

[LBee1592 17]

I haven't made a timeline yet so here is what I can give so far:

 

-Package sent on 08/17/20

-Package received and signed by USCIS on 08/20/20

-Money Orders cashed out on 09/09/20

-4 Text notifications on 09/13/20

 

Waiting for physical notices ....

 

[LP0704 22]

Hey Everyone this is our timeline :

 

Package received 8/17

Check processed 9/12

I just got my text message today 9/15