Family Emergency, waiting for GreenCard

[JedNik 5]

So I am waiting for my greencard. We filed back in June and haven't heard anything. The RFE response said we would hear something within 60 days, still nothing. I called USCIS and they said they would do a service request and expect to hear something within 15 days. I'm assuming that's business days, and if it is, I have 4 more days before those 15 days are up.
Now I just got word that my grandpa is not doing well, back home in Canada. Does anyone know the procedure in case I have to go home in an emergency? How long does that process usually take?

Thanks!
I hope that I won't need to do anything, but just in case, I think we All know that USCIS is anything but fast!

[Darnell 8,478]

1. which visa did you arrive in the USA on and

2. did you file I-131 and I-765 with the I-485 set, or no ?

[newacct 688]

Did you apply for Advance Parole when you applied for adjustment of status? Regardless, you can go in to an infopass appointment now and ask for emergency Advance Parole with evidence of your emergency. They are not guaranteed to give you one though.

[JedNik 5]

I came on a k1, and filed for a i485.
So calling would be my best bet. And then likely going to the local office which is 7 hours away! Yikes, ok!, Thanks!!

[Darnell 8,478]

if you are thinking to use a telephone -

then get a Tier 2 human, tell them you need to arrange for emergency AP. It's sad you not file the I-131 with the I-485 - if you did, prior, then you'd already have an AP card or document.

Are you choosing to 'call' because of the 7 hour drive? I can't say it's that big of an emergency, if you weren't prepared to knock the doors down on Tuesday, when they are open again.

Calling, mostly, is a waste of time, to get an expedited AP card/document. This will take some time, as well, as you not file the I-131 prior, and you'll need biometrics done for that.

Anyway, figure a week to 20 days, if yer able to engage a Human at the local USCIS office to actively do something for you. If it's same day, well, you were blessed, for a moment.

Edited October 12, 2013 by Darnell

[JedNik 5]

Did you apply for Advance Parole when you applied for adjustment of status? Regardless, you can go in to an infopass appointment now and ask for emergency Advance Parole with evidence of your emergency. They are not guaranteed to give you one though.

I did not apply for Advance Parole. I was in no hurry of going home, and prior to this my grandpa was doing fine.

Do you know for what reason they won't give it to me?

[JedNik 5]

if you are thinking to use a telephone -

then get a Tier 2 human, tell them you need to arrange for emergency AP. It's sad you not file the I-131 with the I-485 - if you did, prior, then you'd already have an AP card or document.

Are you choosing to 'call' because of the 7 hour drive? I can't say it's that big of an emergency, if you weren't prepared to knock the doors down on Tuesday, when they are open again.

Calling, mostly, is a waste of time, to get an expedited AP card/document. This will take some time, as well, as you not file the I-131 prior, and you'll need biometrics done for that.

Anyway, figure a week to 20 days, if yer able to engage a Human at the local USCIS office to actively do something for you. If it's same day, well, you were blessed, for a moment.

Actually? Yikes. They have so sympathy when it comes to family emergencies.

But yes, I would choose to call first because I would hate to drive the 7 hours just in "hopes" they would give me the greenlight. I'll call Monday and see.

I have had my biometrics done, so hopefully that helps my situation.

Thanks!

[Darnell 8,478]

biometrics for AP is seperate, usually.

[Lainie B 465]

biometrics for AP is seperate, usually.

AP doesn't require biometrics.

EAD and GC biometrics are now done together, not separately.

[Darnell 8,478]

aaaaaaaaaaaah ! ok la ..

[newacct 688]

Actually? Yikes. They have so sympathy when it comes to family emergencies.

But yes, I would choose to call first because I would hate to drive the 7 hours just in "hopes" they would give me the greenlight. I'll call Monday and see.

I have had my biometrics done, so hopefully that helps my situation.

Thanks!

Read this page about expedited and emergency AP: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=5436f0cb861c5210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4c790a5659083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

To expedite an AP application, you can call. But to get an emergency AP, you'll have to go in to the office. The people at the office are the ones who decide.

[bigdog 376]

Good Luck getting this done, sorry to hear the bad news.

[JedNik 5]

So. Update. My grandpa is actually doing better now, thankfully! Over the weekend it was Not looking good. Hence why I looked into an getting my case expedited. I'm SO glad he's doing better, also because i'm pretty sure that thanks to USCIS I wouldn't have been able to get home in time. I called today, and basically I would have to prove he had died (How the flip do I do that???!) and then it would take a minimum of 5 days to expedite my case, if we're lucky. I was absolutely appalled. Like really? They can't do it any quicker? I'm just lucky I'm from canada and can drive there in a few days or fly. But I can't imagine what it must be like for those who live overseas, have to fly, and take a couple days to get there. I would have thought that USCIS would have a little bit of a heart, or sympathy and a quicker option. Like if it takes up to 20 days (which I fully believe considering how slow it takes for everything else) who would hold a funeral that long? Good grief!!
anyways, i'm soo thankful he's doing good, at least for the time being and hope I can get my GC soon! I had gotten a service request since it's been over the 60 days in which we were informed we would hear something, and then with the service request they said I would hear something within 15 days. That passed, so I called and this person told me 30 days.

Does anyone else feel that when you call them, that what you hear COMPLETELY depends on who you talk to? And that there is no protocall or anything that they follow? It seems like every person tells me different things!
ANYWAYS. That's my rant. can't wait for the 2 year gc for when I don't have to deal with uscis anymore!

[Umka36 781]

Hopefully others will learn from your experience, and apply for the AP even if they think they will not need it. Life's full of surprises.

[Darnell 8,478]

you could always file for AP, now, and the fee is still waived when you include a copy of your I-485 receipt notice.