Using A Different City's Local Office for AOS

[Waitinggent 2]

My fiance will arrive in the spring, but must return to her native home for the summer. My local office, Detroit, seems to be slow in scheduling interviews for AOS. Given the record of the Detroit office, my fiance may well not have enough time to remain in the USA to be at her interview, so I am wondering if it is possible to use a local office in a different city whose AOS processing time is faster than Detroit. If yes, what needs to be done to do this?

[Inky 1,110]

First, she can't leave the country without AP or green card! If she does she wont be able to get back in and you will have to do the process from the start again.

AOS gets sent where they want to send it, my aos didnt even get sent to my local office. You could try putting in a letter stating your issue when you file your AOS and see what happens but its completely up to the discretion of the USCIS as to what happens and where the file gets sent.

[payxibka 10,044]

My fiance will arrive in the spring, but must return to her native home for the summer. My local office, Detroit, seems to be slow in scheduling interviews for AOS. Given the record of the Detroit office, my fiance may well not have enough time to remain in the USA to be at her interview, so I am wondering if it is possible to use a local office in a different city whose AOS processing time is faster than Detroit. If yes, what needs to be done to do this?

Local office is assigned based on your residential address... If a change from a slow office to a faster office was easily obtained, then the fast office would all of a sudden become overwhelmed with added case load....

FWIW, it seems that aboput 50% of K-1's adjust without interview

Edited November 3, 2009 by payxibka

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My fiance will arrive in the spring, but must return to her native home for the summer. My local office, Detroit, seems to be slow in scheduling interviews for AOS. Given the record of the Detroit office, my fiance may well not have enough time to remain in the USA to be at her interview, so I am wondering if it is possible to use a local office in a different city whose AOS processing time is faster than Detroit. If yes, what needs to be done to do this?

Switching offices will probably not be possible. Some things you can do...

1. Get married as soon as she arrives, or shortly after.

2. Make sure you arrange for a certified copy of the marrage certificate prior to the marriage. It may take some legwork, driving, hand carrying etc., but can get you that needed document 2-3 weeks faster. Find out from the issuing authority how to get a certified copy ASAP.

3. File for I-485, AP and EAD at the same time. When you have the receipts (NOA1) make an infopass appointment and do a walk in biometrics, most local offices will do this. They do not have to, but most will. Ask them to assist you in expediting the AP, they may ask you to complete another AP application at the local office.

4. Once the AP is in hand...she is free to travel home, but may be subject to return for an interview. The interview could be postponed (I do not recommend postponing an interview) or possibly moved up (again with an infopass appointment at the local office) If she were out of the country at interview time and could not return for the interview, then a postponement is your option.

[Waitinggent 2]

Hi Gary and Alla. Is biometrics necessary to get the AP, or only for the AOS?

[TracyTN 237]

AP and EAD are considered 'benefits' of the AOS process for K applicants so bio is not needed for those. Normally, biometrics are done after EAD and AP have been adjudicated - but not always. Just depends.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi Gary and Alla. Is biometrics necessary to get the AP, or only for the AOS?

Both and all. When I took Sergey in, he actually had THREE biometrics taken, separately, a few minutes apart Literally he went in, they took his photo and fingerprints, then came back out to the waiting area, then called in a again, then back, then called in again...really wacko! But yes, you need biometrics for the green card, the AP and the EAD. They had several forms we had to fill out (partly because we applied for the AP there) and then each receipt has to be stamped to show biometrics was done. Then, since we did not wait for the biometrics appointment, they had to fill out other papers (one for each application) to send to ...whoever...to tell them biometrics was already done in this case. All I know is we were there for almost two hours and we didn't have an "interview"! LOL At any rate, we got what we wanted. When I asked the IO if Sergey would have an interview he said "I doubt it, he has been here longer than any interview, we know him real well!" LOL

Edited November 4, 2009 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

AP and EAD are considered 'benefits' of the AOS process for K applicants so bio is not needed for those. Normally, biometrics are done after EAD and AP have been adjudicated - but not always. Just depends.

Tracy, in my experience we had to do them for each "benefit" for Alla and both boys. And even so, Alla got her green card before her EAD and AP...as happens sometimes. Sergey was a different case, K-2 to follow with an expidited AOS so who knows about his, but he did give three separate biometrics.

[TracyTN 237]

I just checked my timeline again - not sure what I was thinking! LOL Hubby's EAD and AP were only approved after his bio appt. I could have sworn I have read about folks getting approved for both before bio - or maybe it was just AP. Because come to think of it, your EAD card does have your fingerprint on it, right?

Will see if I can find such posts. Otherwise, its quite possible I am crazy. LOL!!!!!