September 2020 - AOS Filers

[noront 6]

40 minutes ago, X & R said:

Hello and greetings to all 😊,

 

On 8/29/2020 we filed the AOS as K1 recipient and it was delivered by USPS on 8/31/2020 to Chicago Lock Box. Now it's 9/30/2020 we have yet to here anything nor has our check been cashed, so getting nervous about what's going on. Little back story 😮 our K1 visa process was in 2019 and we married by sep 2019. Was not able to file AOS @ the time because my income was insufficient for the previous year but now after redoing the medical exam and etc and I found a co sponsor we picked up and continuing where we left off almost a year later 🙄😩. Anyways I'm seeing mostly everyone's post here that within a 2 to 3 weeks time frame their AOS package is being accepted and checks cashed etc and we are concerned hm a month later nothing 🤔 I guess I can try emailing the LockBox and see what's going on?  anyone else having to wait a month +  please advise. Congratulations to everyone getting there's processed 🎉 

Try the live chat during business hours. Go to the USCIS website and click on Emma and then keep asking Emma for a live agent. You should eventually be transferred to someone. (read that on this forum and it worked!). I have roughly the same timeline as you and I was able to get receipt numbers from them. I got the NOAs a few days later. They were postmarked on the day I talked to the chat agent. No idea if that was a coincidence or if they mailed them out because of my inquiry.

[X & R 4]

2 minutes ago, noront said:

Try the live chat during business hours. Go to the USCIS website and click on Emma and then keep asking Emma for a live agent. You should eventually be transferred to someone. (read that on this forum and it worked!). I have roughly the same timeline as you and I was able to get receipt numbers from them. I got the NOAs a few days later. They were postmarked on the day I talked to the chat agent. No idea if that was a coincidence or if they mailed them out because of my inquiry.

Hello,  I'll give it a try to see if they can us too. I saw a July applicant had a waiting period of 40+ days 😶 kinda long time. Thank you for sharing this information! 😊

[Sarge2155 4,587]

I'm sure by now most of you have heard or read that the fee increases and decreases scheduled to take effect on October 2nd have been put on hold!!! For how long we don't know.

 

Here's a link on Forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2020/09/30/judge-blocks-uscis-fee-increases-heres-why-it-happened/

 

We don't know for how long it will last as undoubtedly they will try to get this thrown out like with the I-944, but it is good news for the October 2020 filers. If you know anyone submitting in October best they shake a leg and get it in before this goes away!

[nobu 9]

On 9/23/2020 at 10:32 AM, nobu said:

Update: My package was received September 3rd 2020 sent via third party courier (UPS). Still no updates or charge to CC. Is anyone else experiencing long waiting period? 

Some good news: Got a text message notification that the package was received on September 29th. Credit card has been pending charge as of the 26th. Waiting for paper approval. Fingers crossed.  

[Laura Li 2]

Hello everyone! 

September filler here. I am really frustrated now and hope someone can give me some recommendations. Thank you everyone in advance and wish your applications can all go well. 

I filled my AOS package by myself for the marriage green card. I felt it's not that hard until I tried to submit them to the USCIS lockbox:

The first one was delivered in July but get rejected in August because of incorrect amount of payment. I am super sure the payment is correct and I confirmed with USCIS officer. I guess maybe Chicago lockbox made a mistake when they typed my credit so for the second package I added two personal checks instead.

The second package was delivered on Sep 1st and signed, I haven't heard back anything since then and my checks were never cashed out. I called USCIS and talked to live chat, they all told me to email USCIS lockbox which I already did. It has already been a week but the lockbox haven't reply me yet. I have no choice but to wait.

 

These frustrating experience just got me really upset. I am wondering do I need to hire an attorney/lawyer to do this for me, so at least they can make sure my application will go to USCIS successfully? It's has been 70 days since I mailed out my first package and USCIS still didn't get me in the system yet. But I already prepared all the forms and supporting documents by myself, drafted a really nice cover letter and assembled the package really well. Hiring a lawyer at this point seems to be really unnecessary. I don't know what should I do and I have no idea why my application met so many troubles. Any suggestion are appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[optimusx 1]

3 hours ago, Laura Li said:

Hello everyone! 

September filler here. I am really frustrated now and hope someone can give me some recommendations. Thank you everyone in advance and wish your applications can all go well. 

I filled my AOS package by myself for the marriage green card. I felt it's not that hard until I tried to submit them to the USCIS lockbox:

The first one was delivered in July but get rejected in August because of incorrect amount of payment. I am super sure the payment is correct and I confirmed with USCIS officer. I guess maybe Chicago lockbox made a mistake when they typed my credit so for the second package I added two personal checks instead.

The second package was delivered on Sep 1st and signed, I haven't heard back anything since then and my checks were never cashed out. I called USCIS and talked to live chat, they all told me to email USCIS lockbox which I already did. It has already been a week but the lockbox haven't reply me yet. I have no choice but to wait.

 

These frustrating experience just got me really upset. I am wondering do I need to hire an attorney/lawyer to do this for me, so at least they can make sure my application will go to USCIS successfully? It's has been 70 days since I mailed out my first package and USCIS still didn't get me in the system yet. But I already prepared all the forms and supporting documents by myself, drafted a really nice cover letter and assembled the package really well. Hiring a lawyer at this point seems to be really unnecessary. I don't know what should I do and I have no idea why my application met so many troubles. Any suggestion are appreciated. Thank you in advance!

I think it's just gross incompetence of government-run operations. I filed my AOS application end of August. I thoroughly checked my forms multiple times, added cover letters, and neatly categorized the documents for their convenience. Knowing how much hassle people go through with getting their fees cashed, I checked the credit card authorization forms at least 20 times before I filed my forms. After all this effort, my application package was returned to me with a rejection letter at end of September. Cause of rejection was listed as incorrect credit card info provided on G1450 form - but there's nothing wrong with the credit card info. I refiled my application immediately, but this time I included personal checks. For refiling I updated the I-765 form to the current edition, and also submitted the I-944 this time with a mountain of supporting documents. Who knows what excuse they will find to delay the processing further.

 

When a system is kept broken for a long period of time without making any improvements, it means someone is profiting off the system remaining broken.

[domdoda 3]

8 hours ago, optimusx said:

I think it's just gross incompetence of government-run operations. I filed my AOS application end of August. I thoroughly checked my forms multiple times, added cover letters, and neatly categorized the documents for their convenience. Knowing how much hassle people go through with getting their fees cashed, I checked the credit card authorization forms at least 20 times before I filed my forms. After all this effort, my application package was returned to me with a rejection letter at end of September. Cause of rejection was listed as incorrect credit card info provided on G1450 form - but there's nothing wrong with the credit card info. I refiled my application immediately, but this time I included personal checks. For refiling I updated the I-765 form to the current edition, and also submitted the I-944 this time with a mountain of supporting documents. Who knows what excuse they will find to delay the processing further.

 

When a system is kept broken for a long period of time without making any improvements, it means someone is profiting off the system remaining broken.

No it's just the Trump administration trying to their best to put pressure on all parts of the immigration system to reduce LEGAL immigration. They've said they're trying to cut legal immigration in half. So any reason to deny they will use to meet their target.

 

In terms of "chance of stuff going wrong" I would rank money order > check > CC. 

[optimusx 1]

24 minutes ago, domdoda said:

In terms of "chance of stuff going wrong" I would rank money order > check > CC. 

I considered using money orders, but I found that money orders have a hard limit of $1000. Since the I-485 + biometrics fee is > $1000, I could split it into multiple money orders. But I didn't want to take the chance that they might wrongly (intentionally) consider the fee amounts as incorrect. There are some instructions posted on the USCIS website with pictures on how to prepare personal checks for paying fees. I prepared my checks exactly according to those instructions, to the dot. I'm waiting to see if it works this time. But I will not know anything about it until almost a month has passed (maybe 2 weeks if I am really lucky).

 

After reading about the experience of many, many people having fee cashing issues regardless of the payment method used, I am not sure if there is a fee payment method that is 100% guaranteed to work.

[merry1123 1]

I got NOA1 in email form today.

 

 

I sent my AOS (k1 visa) packet, i-485, i-765 along with the i-601 form for vaccine waiver and it was received on September 16. and got NOA1 for all three today. (did not include i-944)

 

Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS National Benefits Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797)

 

i sent the entire thing in one big envelope to: 

 

USCIS
PO Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

Edited October 5, 2020 by merry1123

[Tigerlily87 40]

Just checked my USPS delivery account, my receipts should come today

[dpnce 102]

Hello guys!

 

Thought I would share my AOS timeline with you as well: 

Package sent: 09/15/2020 (ended up including I-944 following reading @Mackznie's post on the very same day https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/747137-september-2020-aos-filers/?do=findComment&comment=10259028 )

Package received by USCIS: 09/16/2020
Check cashed: 09/30/2020
Text notifications: 10/01/2020
NOA1 received: 10/05/2020 (today)
 

Looking forward to receiving further updates. Good luck everyone! 

Edited October 5, 2020 by dpnce

[Sarge2155 4,587]

1 hour ago, dpnce said:

Hello guys!

 

Thought I would share my AOS timeline with you as well: 

Package sent: 09/15/2020 (ended up including I-944 following reading @Mackznie's post on the very same day https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/747137-september-2020-aos-filers/?do=findComment&comment=10259028 )

Package received by USCIS: 09/16/2020
Check cashed: 09/30/2020
Text notifications: 10/01/2020
NOA1 received: 10/05/2020 (today)
 

Looking forward to receiving further updates. Good luck everyone! 

Very good....nice!!!!!

[Sarge2155 4,587]

On 10/3/2020 at 9:16 AM, optimusx said:

I considered using money orders, but I found that money orders have a hard limit of $1000. Since the I-485 + biometrics fee is > $1000, I could split it into multiple money orders. But I didn't want to take the chance that they might wrongly (intentionally) consider the fee amounts as incorrect. There are some instructions posted on the USCIS website with pictures on how to prepare personal checks for paying fees. I prepared my checks exactly according to those instructions, to the dot. I'm waiting to see if it works this time. But I will not know anything about it until almost a month has passed (maybe 2 weeks if I am really lucky).

 

After reading about the experience of many, many people having fee cashing issues regardless of the payment method used, I am not sure if there is a fee payment method that is 100% guaranteed to work.

Personal checks work the very best IMO! I understand though that not all people have a checking account.

[Tropical_Man 2]

Finally my MO has been cashed!! 

Lawyer sent package: Sept 14th 2020 

I can’t even say when it was delivered as I didn’t get the tracking from the lawyer. 

Figured the only way to track it was through the MO via Western Union automated call

 

Tracked it earlier in the day and it was pending being cashed.

 

Tried again this early morning and yippee!! 
 

MO Cashed: Oct 5th 2020

Text notification: pending

NOA1: pending 

Edited October 6, 2020 by Tropical_Man

[nbmtc 3]

6 hours ago, Tropical_Man said:

Finally my MO has been cashed!! 

Lawyer sent package: Sept 14th 2020 

I can’t even say when it was delivered as I didn’t get the tracking from the lawyer. 

Figured the only way to track it was through the MO via Western Union automated call

 

Tracked it earlier in the day and it was pending being cashed.

 

Tried again this early morning and yippee!! 
 

MO Cashed: Oct 5th 2020

Text notification: pending

NOA1: pending 

Great news! Congrats