February 2021 - AOS Filers

[Gatekeeper 35]

30 minutes ago, Under-the-sea said:

Filled in Feb. Still waiting on biometrics. Used live chat to expedite my EAD 18 days ago but haven’t heard anything since. 🤷‍♀️

Does anyone know if the biometrics is required for the EAD or if it’s only for the AOS? In other words, if a delay in getting the biometrics done entails further delay in EAD lead time?...

also, @Under-the-sea can you ask for an expedite even if you’re not yet within the outside of normal processing timeframe? The agent on live chat told me you can’t...

[Under-the-sea 3]

1 hour ago, arae said:

My PD is Feb 1 and I still have no bio. Yet March filers are having tons of movement.

 

Tried chatting through Emma again today but received errors 3 times. Assuming it's down.

I tried Emma today too. Think the system is down. 

[Under-the-sea 3]

1 hour ago, Gatekeeper said:

Does anyone know if the biometrics is required for the EAD or if it’s only for the AOS? In other words, if a delay in getting the biometrics done entails further delay in EAD lead time?...

also, @Under-the-sea can you ask for an expedite even if you’re not yet within the outside of normal processing timeframe? The agent on live chat told me you can’t...

I tried early one morning via Emma. I was just asked my reason for expedite  and I said financial. I also haven’t had my biometrics. Just luck I guess 

[miserygame 28]

2 hours ago, arae said:

My PD is Feb 1 and I still have no bio. Yet March filers are having tons of movement.

 

Tried chatting through Emma again today but received errors 3 times. Assuming it's down.

Same here, I'm trying to find a pattern, what i'm seeing is that from Feb the 1st to like the 5th or 6th there hasn't been any movement, I really want to know if USCIS organizes cases by PD - Agent i.e.: 1 agent deals with the 1st week of each month so on and so forth, if that's the case it seems like the agent dealing with the 1st week of feb is a lazy-### dude who isn't doing his job since most of us, haven't got anything yet. 

2 hours ago, Under-the-sea said:

Filled in Feb. Still waiting on biometrics. Used live chat to expedite my EAD 18 days ago but haven’t heard anything since. 🤷‍♀️

Same here, I expedited about 19-20 days ago, I reached out to them last monday and the agent updated my expedite  my request and and they told me that i was going to hear back in 5 days, today is the 5th day and the ###### live chat is down, Now I've been literally on the phone for about 2 hours trying to be connected with a representative.

 

I swear to god I lived and worked in eastern europe for almost two years, and even in developing  eastern Europe the bureaucracy is more efficient than this country, it's insanity. 😂

[arae 81]

53 minutes ago, miserygame said:

Same here, I'm trying to find a pattern, what i'm seeing is that from Feb the 1st to like the 5th or 6th there hasn't been any movement, I really want to know if USCIS organizes cases by PD - Agent i.e.: 1 agent deals with the 1st week of each month so on and so forth, if that's the case it seems like the agent dealing with the 1st week of feb is a lazy-### dude who isn't doing his job since most of us, haven't got anything yet. 

Same here, I expedited about 19-20 days ago, I reached out to them last monday and the agent updated my expedite  my request and and they told me that i was going to hear back in 5 days, today is the 5th day and the ###### live chat is down, Now I've been literally on the phone for about 2 hours trying to be connected with a representative.

 

I swear to god I lived and worked in eastern europe for almost two years, and even in developing  eastern Europe the bureaucracy is more efficient than this country, it's insanity. 😂

I tried to expedite a few weeks ago and they hold me I couldn't because I didn't have bios done. 5 months and nothing except NOA1. How ridiculous.

[miserygame 28]

23 minutes ago, arae said:

I tried to expedite a few weeks ago and they hold me I couldn't because I didn't have bios done. 5 months and nothing except NOA1. How ridiculous.

There's a trick to expedite your EAD and hopefully 'trigger bios' 

Connect w/ a live agent,  provide EAD receipt number  and request the EAD to be expedite DO NOT mention that you don't have bios(super important point), then provide your expedite motive,  it should work, if not try a couple times those live agents are 24/7 grumpy.  

Edited June 28, 2021 by miserygame

[parents2021 9]

Have applied for my parents - Priority Date: 2/19

NOA received: 3/22

Biometrics appointment letter received: 4/22

Biometrics completed: 5/13

RFE received for i-693: 5/20

Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled For An Interview: 6/17

Interview was scheduled notice: 6/23

Interview Date: 8/11

 

Question: I completed my parents' i-693, envelope was sealed and signed on 6/1 -- is it still valid for the 8/11 interview date? 

[Jacobian 9]

1 hour ago, parents2021 said:

Have applied for my parents - Priority Date: 2/19

NOA received: 3/22

Biometrics appointment letter received: 4/22

Biometrics completed: 5/13

RFE received for i-693: 5/20

Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled For An Interview: 6/17

Interview was scheduled notice: 6/23

Interview Date: 8/11

 

Question: I completed my parents' i-693, envelope was sealed and signed on 6/1 -- is it still valid for the 8/11 interview date? 

I suspect that Form i-693 has to be submitted to USCIS within 60 days of civil surgeon's signature.

However, you might wanna confirm with Emma.

[Gatekeeper 35]

1 hour ago, parents2021 said:

Have applied for my parents - Priority Date: 2/19

NOA received: 3/22

Biometrics appointment letter received: 4/22

Biometrics completed: 5/13

RFE received for i-693: 5/20

Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled For An Interview: 6/17

Interview was scheduled notice: 6/23

Interview Date: 8/11

 

Question: I completed my parents' i-693, envelope was sealed and signed on 6/1 -- is it still valid for the 8/11 interview date? 

This seems to prove that they do not follow priority date or handle applications in the order they receive them. My PD is Feb 3rd, AOS for spouse of a US citizen (so there’s no cap on number of visas available), and my biometrics aren’t even scheduled yet.

so my question would be what is the criteria that defines if/when an application is going to be handled?...I’m lost😱

pS: I’m glad it went so fast for you though!😊

[parents2021 9]

30 minutes ago, Jacobian said:

I suspect that Form i-693 has to be submitted to USCIS within 60 days of civil surgeon's signature.

However, you might wanna confirm with Emma.

Yes - i've seen both a 60-day timeframe (for prior to application, i.e. when submitting i-485 the i-693 if submitted at the same time, cannot be longer than 60 days since signature) AND i've heard/read the i-693 is valid for two years. Hence, stems the confusion. 

When i received the RFE on 5/20 - it had clear instructions to not mail the i-693, and wait for further notice. And only today received the interview date....i'll take your advice and connect through Emma tomorrow and take it from there. 

 

[arae 81]

Finally received bio appt today. Notice dated 6/18. Received 6/28. 
 

PD: 2/1 

Bio: 7/15

 

[Jacobian 9]

4 hours ago, arae said:

Finally received bio appt today. Notice dated 6/18. Received 6/28. 
 

PD: 2/1 

Bio: 7/15

 

There you go. 

Congratulations!

[Jacobian 9]

4 hours ago, parents2021 said:

Yes - i've seen both a 60-day timeframe (for prior to application, i.e. when submitting i-485 the i-693 if submitted at the same time, cannot be longer than 60 days since signature) AND i've heard/read the i-693 is valid for two years. Hence, stems the confusion. 

When i received the RFE on 5/20 - it had clear instructions to not mail the i-693, and wait for further notice. And only today received the interview date....i'll take your advice and connect through Emma tomorrow and take it from there. 

 

You are right; the USCIS guideline is confusing.

However, it sounds like the validity of Form I-693 is 2 years if submitted after fling the AOS (https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-4). 

Yeah, better to confirm with Emma. Good luck.

 

[Jacobian 9]

10 hours ago, Gatekeeper said:

Does anyone know if the biometrics is required for the EAD or if it’s only for the AOS? In other words, if a delay in getting the biometrics done entails further delay in EAD lead time?...

also, @Under-the-sea can you ask for an expedite even if you’re not yet within the outside of normal processing timeframe? The agent on live chat told me you can’t...

You are right, biometrics is not required for EAD; it is required for the AOS. 

For your second question, I will let other experienced members to weigh in.

[miserygame 28]

After the rant yesterday, My Bios are scheduled for 7/19/20 

finally