rndz

Thanks - had seen that but thought there was some additional data somewhere that was being used for the plots at https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/liftstats.php (CA and VT). Am resigned to the 2-3 year processing time in any case.

We've filed I-751. Mailed to an IL address. Received NOA for receipt and extension from the TX service center. I was trying to get an idea of processing times, but only see data here for CA and VT. Does anyone know how I find where the actual processing is taking place?

Your comment about an ATM in Thailand makes me a little uncertain if you'll be in the US or Thailand mostly, but we're faced with a similar situation and we're using TD Bank. One of their account tiers (I forget the name) has free checking with a minimum required balance and allows one free international wire transfer per month. It still requires you to visit a branch in person. So, you could have the direct deposit into this account and then make the monthly transfers. If you can't or don't want to do that, you could always use Wise to transfer the money to the Thai account. We use both methods, and I've noticed there's little difference in the net cost. Wise advertises good exchange rates, but you'll pay a fee for each checking-to-checking transfer. The TD Bank wire transfers usually show up the next business day. Sometimes the Wise transfers are instantaneous, and for some reason they've never been able to explain to me sometimes they are delayed for 2 or 3 days, so plan for this if the funds are needed in the destination account immediately.

Had our interview in June cancelled because of an interpreter no-show (we had contracted someone from a local agency to be available by phone). Showed up at rescheduled 11/29 interview and a second interpreter we hired was standing by waiting for our call. Instead, USCIS interviewer called another number somewhere within the organization and was connected to an interpreter almost immediately. Wish we had been this lucky 5 months ago but we were approved and I guess all's well that ends well.