What is the avg time to get a green card

[diverdon 0]

We were married Aug 8, 2009 and we filed for our AOS on Aug 25, 2009.

We received a I-797C Notice of Action dated Aug 27, 2009, stating that "the application has been received."

We received a second I-797C Notice of Action dated Sept 15, 2009---Notice type: Transfer Notice. this notice said that to give us faster service they had transferred our case to the California service center. We have received no further communication of any kind. We were never notified for any biometrics appointment, nothing.

When I check my case status online it says that we are at the initial review stage:

Initial Review

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

My wife should send her passport to the Philippines Embassy this month for it to be renewed, but I worry that she should hold the passport until she has a green card.

My Questions are as follows:

Is this kind of delay normal?

Is there anything I can do to speed this up?

[Richard90027 1]

We were married Aug 8, 2009 and we filed for our AOS on Aug 25, 2009.

We received a I-797C Notice of Action dated Aug 27, 2009, stating that "the application has been received."

We received a second I-797C Notice of Action dated Sept 15, 2009---Notice type: Transfer Notice. this notice said that to give us faster service they had transferred our case to the California service center. We have received no further communication of any kind. We were never notified for any biometrics appointment, nothing.

When I check my case status online it says that we are at the initial review stage:

Initial Review

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

My wife should send her passport to the Philippines Embassy this month for it to be renewed, but I worry that she should hold the passport until she has a green card.

My Questions are as follows:

Is this kind of delay normal?

Is there anything I can do to speed this up?

Looks like you are within normal time frame, could be another month..

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Don't worry, you are fine. AOS approvals can be all over the board from as little as 3 or 4 months to as much as 2 years. Ours took 22 months, including 8 months after it was transferred to CSC. That is the far extreme of the process - there was nothing wrong, (although I think it sat on someone's desk for a long time). You are not experiencing any delays as you are within normal processing times - and no, unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do to speed things up. Hopefully you will hear something soon. The good news is that being transferred to CSC means you almost definitely will be approved without an interview.

[Old Dominion 26]

If your wife can get her new passport now, it will help. You will have at least 6-8 weeks' notice if there is to be an interview, plenty of time to get her passport updated.

[diverdon 0]

Looks like you are within normal time frame, could be another month..

Thank you, that's good to know.

Don't worry, you are fine. AOS approvals can be all over the board from as little as 3 or 4 months to as much as 2 years. Ours took 22 months, including 8 months after it was transferred to CSC. That is the far extreme of the process - there was nothing wrong, (although I think it sat on someone's desk for a long time). You are not experiencing any delays as you are within normal processing times - and no, unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do to speed things up. Hopefully you will hear something soon. The good news is that being transferred to CSC means you almost definitely will be approved without an interview.

Thank you, Your post made my wife smile. (She is always nervous about interviews.)

[diverdon 0]

If your wife can get her new passport now, it will help. You will have at least 6-8 weeks' notice if there is to be an interview, plenty of time to get her passport updated.

We will get the passport off for renewal next week. Still I worry that with no green card and no passport, my wife's only Government issued ID will be a NYS drivers permit. We are planing a road trip to visit national parks, Washington DC, South Carolina, and Florida for the week after next. I hope that will not be a problem.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

As your wife's passport contains her visa, why not wait with the renewal until she gets her green card?

[diverdon 0]

As your wife's passport contains her visa, why not wait with the renewal until she gets her green card?

Hmmm, her passport expires this coming July, what if we do not have the green card before then?