VisaDonnie

Well after years of waiting, we finally had our prayers answered. My wife's Green Card came in the mail today. We started this process a long time ago, but my advice to anybody else waiting is to hang in there. We filed for the I-485 and I-130 back in April 2021, after going down the K-1 Visa route only to have it all stalled due to Covid. So we cancelled the K-1 process and started the AOS journey. So it took about 32 months from the initial filing of the I-485/I-130 to getting the Green Card. Along the way my wife's EAD work card expired as well as the medical exam (only good for 2yrs and another $550 for the exam) and we actually reapplied for the EAD card in October 2023 and literally had the card in less then 10 days, I was amazed. This time the card was good for 5yrs but also had a "No travel Authorized" stamped on it, unlike the first card which did have the I-131 authorized travel. We also did not get interviewed, so that does happen. We are also married 3yrs at this point so maybe that had some impact. Anyway I just wanted to update my fellow Visa Journey peeps that there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you have any questions please fee free to write. Cheers, Don & Reina

Thats totally incorrect. The USCIS is funded by the Presidents Budget. Go look at the 2023 Department of Homeland Security United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Budget Overview. The FY 2023 Budget includes $913.6M, for 4,001 positions; and 3,014 full-time equivalents (FTE) in discretionary budget authority for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This funding level represents an increase of $444.1M above the FY 2022 President’s Budget.

Thats totally incorrect. Go look at the 2023 Department of Homeland Security United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Budget Overview. The FY 2023 Budget includes $913.6M, for 4,001 positions; and 3,014 full-time equivalents (FTE) in discretionary budget authority for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This funding level represents an increase of $444.1M above the FY 2022 President’s Budget.

Whats that got to do with anything? They need to hire more people to work immigration instead of 80,000 new IRS officers.

Just sort of venting here. We filed the I-485 AOS in April 2021, we did the biometrics, the fingerprints, the medical..etc. September 2021 we got s notice that USCIS will contact us to schedule our Greencard Interview, then we heard nothing...crickets. June 2023 we get a notice we need to get my wife a new medical exam because the original was expired, so there went another $600.00 bucks. 60 days went by and we didn't hear anything from immigration stating they even got our medical package even though I know they signed for it and I have the receipt. So I contacted USCIS 13 OCT 2023 asking to please let me know if they received our new medical package. A Tier 1 request was submitted and on 19 OCT we received this letter from USCIS: "Due to workload factors not related to your application, USCIS anticipates a delay in completing your case. We anticipate the delay to be approximately 6 months from the date of this notice. We assure you that we are working to complete adjudication of your application as quickly as available resources allow. If you do not receive a decision or other notice of action from USCIS by that date, please reach out to the USCIS Contact Center for additional assistance." Seriously? 6 months because you don't have enough people working on cases?

Agree, I am doing it ASAP.

I am crossing my fingers that's what might happen. I did finally read that the medical is only good for 2yrs...:( So we are doing it again next week.

Free? I never heard that, where is that written?

So I filed an AOS (I-485) back in April 2021, The USCIS acknowledged receipt in June 2021. In September 2021 we received a notice that they have everything and they will schedule us for an interview, then we heard nothing but "crickets". Fast forward to July 2023, about a month ago I contacted USCIS and asked them to expedite our case, because we are in our 60's, we are not getting any younger and it been 2yrs waiting for a Green Card interview. About 4 weeks later we received a letter saying yes we got your expedite request. Today I got a letter "Request for Evidence" You must provide the following information for us to make a final decision on your case and to submit an I-693 Medical Examination and Vaccine record which we already did over 2yrs ago. So my question; is there a time limit on the medical examination? It doesn't seem fair to make me pay again, when I am not the one holding things up its USCIS. Plus on top of that I have to pay to resubmit paperwork to get her another 2yr work/travel card. Anybody have the same issue before? Cheers, Don

I am not sure exactly which forum this goes under. But we are waiting for a Green Card Interview for Adjustment of status, its been 2 yrs. My wife's passport and tourist visa have expired from her home country (Venezuela). But she did receive an EAD card to work and travel as well as a SS#. My question is if we got her Green Card lets say next week, without a valid (non-expired) passport she still can't leave the country, correct? Any help is appreciated.

How did you file an expedite request?

I feel your pain...So far we have heard nothing since the SEP 2021 notification that they were ready to schedule an interview. Fingers crossed it happens by summer.

Good Grief...

Well now that we are married over 2yrs, it’s automatic 10yr green card when we get it…:)