rostofer

1 hour ago, James777 said:

Does that mean I only carry my EAD when I go back to my country ?

 

Thanks

8 minutes ago, Chardon Ne' said:

Yes...

I was wondering about this too and whether carrying the EAD/AP combo card alone would be enough. Found some info on this site: https://citizenpath.com/advance-parole-travel-adjustment-status/ which in the section towards the bottom of the page, recommends:

Quote

 

When traveling with Advance Parole as an Adjustment of Status applicant, remember to:

• Take your original Advance Parole Document
• Take a photocopy of the I-797 Notice of Action confirming that your I-485 application was accepted
• Return before the deadline on your Advance Parole Document – leave extra time in case of travel delays

 

It was published in 2015 so the situation may have changed as I think back then they were issuing APs in paper format. But to be on the safe side I think I will bring a copy of my I-797 confirming my I-485 application.

58 minutes ago, r72lrb said:

Thanks!

 

Yes I hear you... however, I don't have citizenship or any ties whatsoever to those listed countries. The officer said USCIS can say one thing (you're all clear, all day long) but an on the spot CBP officer can say the opposite. You're never guaranteed reentry with AP. It's a hope for the best scenario - granted, most of the time it is okay. I'm a travel agent and I've heard a lot of crazy surprising scenarios as of late so I'd just prefer not to leave anything open for interpretation. And yes there is that - what orders could be put in place while you're outside the country?! It only means waiting a couple extra weeks for me so I'm okay with that. By the time my combo card arrived it was 2 days before my interview. Wish you a wonderful trip home and easy reentry!

Thanks, I certainly hope it will be a smooth re-entry. As you rightly say, it is a worry as it's entirely up to the discretion of the CBP officer on whether they permit re-entry. So in some respects it is a gamble, in terms of whether or not you get lucky in encountering a CBP officer who isn't on a power trip. In hindsight I probably should have waited to book the trip until after my GC comes through. Although, it's rather alarming reading the recent reports that now GC holders and even US citizens are being hassled at the border, such as the recent cases of USC's being pressured into unlocking and handing over their phones to be searched before being allowed to enter their own country... https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/business/border-enforcement-airport-phones.html

Congrats on your AoS approval!

25 minutes ago, r72lrb said:

We did have discussion about my EAD/AP and she said with all the upheaval at the borders and since it is ultimately up to the CBP officer to have the last say on your reentry using the AP, she would strongly advise against using it if at all possible. Wait for the Green Card to arrive before making plans to leave the country. 

^ Quite surprised to hear that they would say this, following receipt of my EAD/AP a couple of weeks ago, my wife and I have booked a trip to London to visit my family at the end of the month. I appreciate that there could be cause for concern for anyone who has visited, or who has citizenship of, any of the middle-eastern countries that were arbitrarily defined in the recent so-called "travel ban". Especially as there is now talk from the Trump administration about potentially issuing a revised executive order. If that were to come into force while travelling outside of the states, while in AP status, I suppose then it could cause issues getting back through.

18 hours ago, Shaj33 said:

Still no update for me , haven't had any update since dec 07,2016 when I sent in my RFE response . I submitted a service request and was told they are running behind because of the load of application but the delay has nothing to do with my process ? Giving it until feb 15 to update , if not I'm contacting my congresswoman. Congrats on getting yours ???

Thanks Shaj33, when I went in for an Infopass appointment the officer at my local field office (Detroit) also mentioned they were experiencing backlogs (not sure if he meant specifically at the Detroit office or centrally though). He said instead of the usual 90 days it's taking them up to 120 days from the date of Biometrics. I was told this last week on 25th Jan (day 100 since NOA and day 80 for me since Biometrics). So I went away thinking I could potentially have another 40 days to wait! However I was pleasantly surprised to at least get the EAD update over the weekend. The AoS I don't mind waiting for so much, it's the ability to find work and travel that is my main concern (as I imagine applies to most people in this situation).

6 hours ago, Canuck2016 said:

No update on USCIS case tracker for my AP but EAD card arrived and is combo card. I suspect if there was a problem with your AP then that would be updated on the site.

Just cannot figure the rational behind USCIS updating the case tracker

Good point, hopefully that is the case. Although you are right, the case tracker updates do seem rather arbitrary, so not sure they can be trusted. I went into my local field office last week for an INFOPASS appointment and the officer told me he could see that my AOS was "ready to be scheduled for interview", however the case tracker online still says "On October 17, 2016, we accepted the fingerprint fee for your Form I-485". So clearly there is some discrepancy or delay in updating going on between their internal system and what is available via the USCIS website.

It would be some peace of mind at least if there was an intermediate update between "On October 13, 2016, we received your Form I-765" and "Card being produced", such as "Biometrics received/processed", "Case assigned to an officer" or "Case under review". This would at least provide some feedback to people who are otherwise bound to get restless and wonder what the hold up is.

12 minutes ago, Canuck2016 said:

Quiet here today. Looks like all the immigration officers working at the airports and not updating any cases,

Indeed, I guess that's a possibility. Are there many/any people on this thread who are still waiting for their EAD?

My EAD case was finally updated to "New Card Is Being Produced" on Sat 28th (day 103 since NOA). I'm still waiting for updates on AOS and AP, I'm hoping I will find the AP is combined with the EAD when it arrives.

1 minute ago, ltr said:

Received an email today saying that EAD card for my wife is being printed and mailed.  I'm assuming this includes her AP tough no update on that yet.

 

For those curious:

Oct 21 mailed packet

Oct 24 they received packet

Nov 5 or so for NOA

Nov 23 Biometrics

Jan 6 notice of interview scheduled

Jan 23 EAD approved

Feb 8 Interview date

Congrats, if applying for AP+EAD at the same time I believe they usually send one combo card which serves the two purposes.

Some of us, like myself, aren't having such luck, my status has been stuck at "application received" since biometrics on Nov 7th...

Oct 10 mailed packet
Oct 13 they received packet
Oct 18 recieved NOA in post
Nov 7 Biometrics

No RFE or RFIE's. Have filed multiple SR's with nothing but standard responses. Going in for an infopass appt at my local USCIS office on Weds, hopefully they can provide some form of useful update. Also have been in touch with my local congressperson and they are sending a waiver form for me to sign, to give them my permission to chase things up on my behalf.

Hello, mid-Oct filer here, reached my 97th day of waiting to hear back since my biometrics were taken, no RFE's or updates of any kind. So I decided to try my luck contacting my local congressperson this afternoon and surprisingly they got back to me within a couple of hours with the following:

Quote

Our office is in receipt of your request for assistance. In order for our office to contact USCIS you will need to complete a privacy release form authorizing our office to speak on your behalf. I have mailed this form to the address you provided us with in Ann Arbor. Please complete the form and return to my attention using the self-addressed franked envelope (no stamp required). I ask that you do not list your social security number, list all USCIS receipt numbers for each of your applications. Once I receive the completed form I will contact USCIS.

If your biometrics were received on November 7^th- your applications would still be pending background checks which could take up to 90 days. USCIS does not adjudicate applications until background checks are complete.  EAD and AP cards are typically adjudicated and issued within 30 days after assignment to an officer only if no additional evidence is requested. These applications are not adjudicated at the Detroit Field Office. If emergency travel should arise, USCIS Detroit could issue a one-time emergency travel document at the discretion of the officer reviewing your documents.  In regards, to the I-485 application, that will be adjudicated at the Detroit Field Office after an initial interview is scheduled, currently I believe they are reviewing cases received May 2016.

Interesting what she says about it potentially taking up to 90 days from biometrics while they do the background checks, which kind of conflicts with the general consensus of opinion on here and other forums that the expected turnaround is 90 days from USCIS receiving the application.

Also interesting that she mentions the AP and EAD's are issued within 30 days of being assigned to an officer. As far as I know, from what I read on here of other applicants experiences, the status never gets updated to "Your case is assigned to an officer". This would certainly be useful, as at least we'd get some feedback and have a rough idea of how long we have remaining to wait.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share this, in case anybody else is in the same boat and is considering reaching out to their congressperson but was perhaps putting it off thinking the response would be unhelpful or might take a while.

16 minutes ago, Juliak said:

They do, for 2 previous service requests I made I got letters with answer, never email

Ok, perhaps they only send it by post then if the email address is omitted, I just noticed this field is optional on the form...

I've submitted 2 SR's now on 85th and 91st days and both times I only ever got emails.

2 minutes ago, Juliak said:

I'm on 103th day and I also did service request, it's completed and I'm waiting for the letter with their answer. No approval yet ?

I don't think they post hard copy letters out in response to Service Requests - I got mine by email. It was just a standard response though, saying my case was still under review. No approval yet either.

7 minutes ago, EmpressBab said:

Try contacting the ombudsman https://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance 102 days is way past the processing time. U have to use internet explorer to fill out the electronic form 

From the description on the website it seems like they suggest submitting an SR and failing that then making an Infopass appointment with USCIS before requesting help from the Ombudsman. It also says:

     "The Ombudsman is committed to reviewing all incoming requests for case assistance within 30 days, and taking action to resolve 90 percent of case-related inquiries submitted to the office within 90 days of receipt."

So given how long it takes them to review requests, it might still be worthwhile doing that at the 102 day mark, but it sounds like booking an Infopass appointment, via https://my.uscis.gov/en/appointment, would also be a good idea so you can speak with a USCIS official in person.

49 minutes ago, pcke2000 said:

If your I-765 and I-131 cases have been pending for more than 90days, strongly suggest that you make an InfoPass appointment.

 

Online service request won't be very helpful until your I-765/I-131 hits the 90-day mark.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm on my 97th day now and getting very eager to begin working in the U.S and travelling outside of the U.S if I so desire.

I've made an appointment online, via https://my.uscis.gov/en/appointment, at my local office (Detroit, MI) the soonest available appt was 25th Jan. So I guess if I hear something before then I can just cancel it online.

Has anyone had any experience of attending an Infopass appointment? Would be useful to know what to expect and whether anyone has had any success getting their EAD+AP card quickly after attending.

Just now, Brianhayley1 said:

okay, have you received yours yet?
so am i likely going to received something in the mail?

I didn't get anything through the mail no, just an email, with subject line of "Your recent inquiry (receipt #MSC-xx-xxxx-xxxxx)".

I submitted an SR back on 30th Dec, received the email on the 4th Jan saying my "case is currently under review.  You should receive a decision or notice of other action shortly" however almost 2 weeks on and I'm still waiting. It's been 96 days now since they received my joint AOS, EAD, AP application on 13th Oct, all of them still show a status of "Case was received".

3 minutes ago, Brianhayley1 said:

can anyone tell me what this means? 

my actual visa status hasn't changed but it says that the request was 'completed'?

 

I am on day 102. 

Looks like the response to a service request. I had the same thing appear in my Case History after submitting a service request. I think all that "completed" means in this context is that they have responded to you enquiry. In my case I just got an email from USCIS saying...

"The status of this service request is:

Your case is currently under review.  You should receive a decision or notice of other action shortly".

Did my biometric on 11/09/2016. No case update till date other than your case was received. Anyone with the same experience???

Likewise, no update online since 'case was received' 10/13, had my biometric 11/07. I'm adjusting status from a K1 visa, how about you?

Had my biometrics appt 7th Nov (at the Detroit, MI office), heard nothing yet and online status still shows last updated 10/19/2016.

Timeline...