AOS March 2016 filers/Part 2

[Linyahui 103]

All right, gang! I've just conducted some highly unscientific research in the Immigration Timelines portion of this website and thought I'd share the data with you all. Keep in mind that these numbers are based solely on self-reporting figures and I was doing this over my lunch hour at the office (i.e. take it with a grain of salt). 

 

I was looking at all VisaJourney members around the U.S. who reported applying for green cards from K-1 visas during the month of March 2016. Here's what I found:

 

Total # of folks reporting filing for GC from K-1 in March 2016 on VJ: 113

(caveat: there could be tons more around the U.S. who don't know/care about this website)

 

# of March filers who've either had an interview or received an interview date: 33

 

# of March filers who've received their GC without an interview: 64

 

Total # March filers now holding a GC (with or without interview): 97/113

 

SOOOOO, those of us still waiting are just in that lucky group of 16!

 

I went back and looked at the number of people who reported filing the same time my husband and I did (week of March 8-15) and, of the total 113 in the month of March, 52 couples filed during that week alone! So that may explain why some of us have gotten lost in the shuffle--if you filed around that time, you were filing as a mass influx of applications were coming in.

 

AND THEY SAY THEY PROCESS IN ORDER OF RECEIPT. 

 

 

[sparkles_ 456]

1 hour ago, Linyahui said:

All right, gang! I've just conducted some highly unscientific research in the Immigration Timelines portion of this website and thought I'd share the data with you all. Keep in mind that these numbers are based solely on self-reporting figures and I was doing this over my lunch hour at the office (i.e. take it with a grain of salt). 

 

I was looking at all VisaJourney members around the U.S. who reported applying for green cards from K-1 visas during the month of March 2016. Here's what I found:

 

Total # of folks reporting filing for GC from K-1 in March 2016 on VJ: 113

(caveat: there could be tons more around the U.S. who don't know/care about this website)

 

# of March filers who've either had an interview or received an interview date: 33

 

# of March filers who've received their GC without an interview: 64

 

Total # March filers now holding a GC (with or without interview): 97/113

 

SOOOOO, those of us still waiting are just in that lucky group of 16!

 

I went back and looked at the number of people who reported filing the same time my husband and I did (week of March 8-15) and, of the total 113 in the month of March, 52 couples filed during that week alone! So that may explain why some of us have gotten lost in the shuffle--if you filed around that time, you were filing as a mass influx of applications were coming in.

 

AND THEY SAY THEY PROCESS IN ORDER OF RECEIPT. 

 

 

I've finally met someone who researches on the level I do!! Seriously, I had to take a chill and just walk back from it all.....or else I could rupture vessels in my brain from trying to figure their games and ways out. 

 

We filed on the 14th, get the NOA1 on the 23 of March.....this makes my eye twitch a bit, lol.

 

I'm also a weirdo on this level. My USCIS app, I set the number up to 99, and then filter the i485s only.....you better believe I check to see who has gotten interviews scheduled out of the 100 near my case number, and honestly only 3 have so far out of like 9. 

[sparkles_ 456]

I've decided after we drop the EAD renewal, I will be heading to our congressman as well. Probably when we get the hardcopy receipt from it, and kill two birds with one stone and have them both help us expedite the EAD and get some AOS info. Last time the congressional caseworker had some magic and our i130 got approved like 5 days afterwards. Gonna cross my fingers for similar results

[Loveforeverfeb8 14]

We are still waiting for a interview date, I thought we would be done by now.  .

[SanneW 30]

17 hours ago, Linyahui said:

All right, gang! I've just conducted some highly unscientific research in the Immigration Timelines portion of this website and thought I'd share the data with you all. Keep in mind that these numbers are based solely on self-reporting figures and I was doing this over my lunch hour at the office (i.e. take it with a grain of salt). 

 

I was looking at all VisaJourney members around the U.S. who reported applying for green cards from K-1 visas during the month of March 2016. Here's what I found:

 

Total # of folks reporting filing for GC from K-1 in March 2016 on VJ: 113

(caveat: there could be tons more around the U.S. who don't know/care about this website)

 

# of March filers who've either had an interview or received an interview date: 33

 

# of March filers who've received their GC without an interview: 64

 

Total # March filers now holding a GC (with or without interview): 97/113

 

SOOOOO, those of us still waiting are just in that lucky group of 16!

 

I went back and looked at the number of people who reported filing the same time my husband and I did (week of March 8-15) and, of the total 113 in the month of March, 52 couples filed during that week alone! So that may explain why some of us have gotten lost in the shuffle--if you filed around that time, you were filing as a mass influx of applications were coming in.

 

AND THEY SAY THEY PROCESS IN ORDER OF RECEIPT. 

 

 

Wow... I filed the 10th, I guess they got sick of all the applications and just approved my paperwork on spot to get rid of it! 

 

But especially for a K-1 aos it takes forever! I tought they already do all tests and checks BEFORE you even file AOS... that it should be smooth sailing 0.o

[Linyahui 103]

17 hours ago, sparkles_ said:

I've finally met someone who researches on the level I do!! Seriously, I had to take a chill and just walk back from it all.....or else I could rupture vessels in my brain from trying to figure their games and ways out. 

 

We filed on the 14th, get the NOA1 on the 23 of March.....this makes my eye twitch a bit, lol.

 

I'm also a weirdo on this level. My USCIS app, I set the number up to 99, and then filter the i485s only.....you better believe I check to see who has gotten interviews scheduled out of the 100 near my case number, and honestly only 3 have so far out of like 9. 

I know...it's an unhealthy obsession. Sometimes I convince myself that I'm "helping" matters by conducting this type of bonkers research, but mostly I know it's not the best path toward a healthy mental state...

 

I'm kind of glad I don't have the USCIS app...one less thing for me to check constantly. 

[Linyahui 103]

10 hours ago, Loveforeverfeb8 said:

We are still waiting for a interview date, I thought we would be done by now.  .

 

Same here, Loveforeverfeb8! You must be one of the lucky 16 remaining from the original 113 who filed in March...

[Linyahui 103]

17 hours ago, sparkles_ said:

I've decided after we drop the EAD renewal, I will be heading to our congressman as well. Probably when we get the hardcopy receipt from it, and kill two birds with one stone and have them both help us expedite the EAD and get some AOS info. Last time the congressional caseworker had some magic and our i130 got approved like 5 days afterwards. Gonna cross my fingers for similar results

Yeah, I don't know how helpful they are in reality. We first contacted our congresswoman on November 30, 2016 and, while her office says they contacted USCIS on December 2, we have yet to hear ANYTHING back. I call the congresswoman's office about once every ten days to ask for an update and stay on their radar (albeit as an annoying constituent). When I called yesterday, I was told that it can take up to six weeks and I should call back then...well, yesterday WAS the six-week mark and I said as much. Apparently, the aide is going to tell so-and-so who will tell so-and-so who will submit another inquiry to USCIS.

Result? Useless. 

[Linyahui 103]

1 hour ago, SanneW said:

Wow... I filed the 10th, I guess they got sick of all the applications and just approved my paperwork on spot to get rid of it! 

 

But especially for a K-1 aos it takes forever! I tought they already do all tests and checks BEFORE you even file AOS... that it should be smooth sailing 0.o

RIGHT?? That's what one would assume....

 

Still, fingers crossed that one day we will come home to find the GC waiting for us in the mailbox.

[Ninahi 53]

1 hour ago, Linyahui said:

Yeah, I don't know how helpful they are in reality. We first contacted our congresswoman on November 30, 2016 and, while her office says they contacted USCIS on December 2, we have yet to hear ANYTHING back. I call the congresswoman's office about once every ten days to ask for an update and stay on their radar (albeit as an annoying constituent). When I called yesterday, I was told that it can take up to six weeks and I should call back then...well, yesterday WAS the six-week mark and I said as much. Apparently, the aide is going to tell so-and-so who will tell so-and-so who will submit another inquiry to USCIS.

Result? Useless. 

If your congress representative isn't getting the job done, send in your senator. They're equally obligated to help with federal agencies (and may be better equipped too). USCIS should only have a limited time to respond to congressional inquiries, so 6 weeks sounds like bs to me.

Very frustrating though, and I now completely understand why some people rely on attorneys for the seemingly "simple" AOS process. Ugh.

[Linyahui 103]

47 minutes ago, Ninahi said:

If your congress representative isn't getting the job done, send in your senator. They're equally obligated to help with federal agencies (and may be better equipped too). USCIS should only have a limited time to respond to congressional inquiries, so 6 weeks sounds like bs to me.

Very frustrating though, and I now completely understand why some people rely on attorneys for the seemingly "simple" AOS process. Ugh.

Sadly, we already have escalated the inquiry to our Senator (I was using the wrong title in my previous post). We contacted our congressman, Keith Ellison, on October 25. After several emails and phone calls went unreturned, we moved to Senator Klobuchar's office on November 30, which is where we are now, waiting six weeks for a response from USCIS. 

 

At what point do we move to the ombudsman? 

[Linyahui 103]

 

As an FYI:

 

I just looked into contacting an ombudsman. For issues with long-processing cases, the case must be 60 days outside the normal processing time for the local office. For us, although we've been waiting nearly 10.5 months, we're still within "normal" processing time for St. Paul, which is 10 months and 3 weeks. 

 

Here's more information. 

[Ninahi 53]

2 minutes ago, Linyahui said:

Sadly, we already have escalated the inquiry to our Senator (I was using the wrong title in my previous post). We contacted our congressman, Keith Ellison, on October 25. After several emails and phone calls went unreturned, we moved to Senator Klobuchar's office on November 30, which is where we are now, waiting six weeks for a response from USCIS. 

 

At what point do we move to the ombudsman? 

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear your representatives are useless! Since it's been 6 weeks and they have failed to respond (or get a response from USCIS), I'd go ahead and contact ombudsman after you fall out of processing time + 60 days. I saw on a law firm website that it is recommended you don't have a case open with a representative and ombudsman at the same time (probably to avoid confusion).

[sparkles_ 456]

1 minute ago, Ninahi said:

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear your representatives are useless! Since it's been 6 weeks and they have failed to respond (or get a response from USCIS), I'd go ahead and contact ombudsman after you fall out of processing time + 60 days. I saw on a law firm website that it is recommended you don't have a case open with a representative and ombudsman at the same time (probably to avoid confusion).

Yes this is true. You should never have two inquiry cases going at once of any kind, because you can confuse an already confused system, sadly.

[kbrookeq 7]

Just came to check in on everyone else's cases and found the other thread closed! 

 

Our interview is at 8:15 tomorrow morning.....

 

Anyone have any last minute words of advice??