USCIS Biometrics after arriving to the USA

[bcking 3,157]

My wife arrived in April. In June we got a letter asking for her to go to a USCIS support center to get her fingerprints scanned. Unfortunately we had to reschedule it but she eventually made it in early July.

 

Anyone know a reasonable time frame to wait for the greencard at this point before we start calling anyone? It's been about a month since that appointment (where they literally took a single fingerprint) but we have no idea how long to wait before we start following up. They didn't give her any information at the center, not even a paper acknowledging she had the fingerprint done. She got her social security card in early July.

[Going through 5,668]

5 minutes ago, bcking said:

They didn't give her any information at the center, not even a paper acknowledging she had the fingerprint done.

Did they not stamp her appointment letter?  That serves as proof that she got them done.

Have you tried checking the case status online?  That would at least tell you if the card is in production..

Edited August 7, 2017 by Going through

[bcking 3,157]

5 minutes ago, Going through said:

Did they not stamp her appointment letter?  That serves as proof that she got them done.

Have you tried checking the case status online?  That would at least tell you if the card is in production..

Which case status online would you use?

 

The USCIS one says it has been sent to the Department of State (which happened last August)

 

The NVC one says the visa was "issued", but it has said that since early April before she got the temporary one in her passport. 

 

I don't know any other website to check. No they didn't stamp anything. She was in and out in 5 minutes, and as I said they took literally 1 fingerprint from 1 hand.

[Going through 5,668]

Only thing I can suggest then is try calling USCIS themselves and asking to be transferred to an L2 officer who can give you personal info regarding the status.

[Athens 101]

Check your case status on the USCIS link below:

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

[bcking 3,157]

2 minutes ago, Athens said:

Check your case status on the USCIS link below:

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

That website doesn't help. It says it has been forwarded to the NVC, which it has said since last August after we went to the NVC stage.

 

Would I call USCIS or NVC? They both have wait times (Just tried NVC and I got the "you can't even wait on hold" message). The notice for the biometrics was from USCIS, but USCIS hasnt' been involved in the last year since it was sent to the NVC.

 

https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

 

I'm also used this one and it says it was "Issued" in early April (when she got her passport back with a temporary visa). It doesn't update to mention the permanent green card it seems.

Edited August 7, 2017 by bcking

[Going through 5,668]

8 minutes ago, bcking said:

Would I call USCIS or NVC? They both have wait times (Just tried NVC and I got the "you can't even wait on hold" message). The notice for the biometrics was from USCIS, but USCIS hasnt' been involved in the last year since it was sent to the NVC.

USCIS is the one who requested the fingerprinting.  

USCIS is also the one who actually produces the card.  So yes, they are involved.  That's why I suggested calling them to see if they can give you some info.

 

Calling and trying to get some info isn't going to hurt anything---better than not even trying to call them at all, don't you think?

If you do call, request an L2 officer---the customer service people answering the phone won't be able to help you.

Edited August 7, 2017 by Going through

[bcking 3,157]

4 minutes ago, Going through said:

USCIS is the one who requested the fingerprinting.  

USCIS is also the one who actually produces the card.  So yes, they are involved.  That's why I suggested calling them to see if they can give you some info.

 

Calling and trying to get some info isn't going to hurt anything---better than not even trying to call them at all, don't you think?

 

I was more wondering if people have experience regarding how long it normally takes once these things happen. If waiting two months after a repeat biometric appointment is not unusual, I'll gladly wait. She has her green card in her passport which is good for 1 year so we have time. Unfortunately they don't make themselves easy to contact. You end up on hold for ages which is difficult with work so I don't want to go through the process now if all they are going to say is "Please allow 12 weeks" or whatever malarkey they usually give.

 

EDIT:

 

As expected - Calling USCIS goes through a machine that basically uses the website Athens linked. They literally read exactly what is on the website, and then it hangs up.

Edited August 7, 2017 by bcking

[Going through 5,668]

Just now, bcking said:

I was more wondering if people have experience regarding how long it normally takes once these things happen. If waiting two months after a repeat biometric appointment is not unusual, I'll gladly wait. She has her green card in her passport which is good for 1 year so we have time. Unfortunately they don't make themselves easy to contact. You end up on hold for ages which is difficult with work so I don't want to go through the process now if all they are going to say is "Please allow 12 weeks" or whatever malarkey they usually give.

Well, an L2 officer (who is an actual immigration officcer) can give you personal info directly related to your case instead of the generic info the customer service people give.  No one is forcing you to call to find out more info, of course.

 

Best of luck.

[Ryan H 3,791]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion.