September 2017 AOS Filers

[moosy 139]

On 9/27/2018 at 11:26 AM, Valex said:

 

Hi Everyone!

(Updates)

 

Had our interview 2 days ago (25th Sept) at Philadelphia field office! (Sept 12 2017 notice receipt)

 

 

The Immigration officer who interviewed us was a nice person. Asked the yes & no questions, date of birth, full name, country i was born. Where am I currently working, proof of address with our current address.  Asked if there were any instances that we lived apart.

 

Didn't ask for new i864 nor taxes. He only asked for proof of address, (gave him our electric bill, internet bill, joint bank statement, my paystubs) and recent pics. But better be ready just incase they ask for it.

 

At the end of the interview he said everything seems good and our relationship seems simple. he will review our case and let us know if he needs more documents. An hour after we left I received a notification from USCIS that my case was updated. Checked it and is says, "card being produced"

 

Thank you Lord!

 

Goodluck to everyone!

 

Sincerely,

Val

Thanks for the update!

 

Have my interview end of October, so getting a bit nervous. Already made a file of everything they might ask, and I keep coming up with more ideas haha. Good to hear it can also be really easy.

[PR&PR 325]

On 9/27/2018 at 12:20 PM, Mike V said:

We need some advice on what to do next.

Our I-485's (wife, 2 adopted stepchildren, one 11, one 19 at the time) were submitted and received on 27 Sept 2017.

Their Employment Authorizations were issued 27 Nov 2017 and expire on 27 Nov 2018.

Our current (27 Sept) status on the new USCIS link is (same for each I-485):

March 16, 2018
Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled For An Interview
As of March 16, 2018, we are ready to schedule your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Receipt Number MSCnnnnnnnnn, for an interview. We will schedule your interview and send you a notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
Current as of today at 1:54 p.m.

The interviews in fact were already held on 1 Aug -- 8 weeks & 1 day ago.

We thought it went well.  The interviewer gave my wife a sheet of paper with a box check to the effect that they cannot make a decision on that date, they will advise us when they make a decision.

8+ weeks later we're still waiting.

 
If the employment authorizations expire, they will lose their driving privileges in MN and probably their jobs.

 
The older boy (now 20) has a excellent part-time job with UPS that will reinburse up to $25K in college tuition (max $5K per year).  Continuing that job is especially important to him.

My wife attends adult education classes mornings and works (with overtime every week) as a caregiver in a nursing home in a nearby suburb.  She has taken over supporting 3 adult children in college in the Philippines (it's a lot cheaper there! ) plus a daughter-in-law & two grandchildren there.

If 27 November arrives and we don't have either green cards or work authorization extensions, the financial impact will be severe.

I also can't buy tickets for the Christmas visit back to the Philippines until they have their green cards (and the prices go up as Christmas gets closer), but that's a lesser consideration at the moment.

What should we do?

I would apply for renewal of the EAD and Travel visa asap. You may not receive them in time, but you should receive the paper stating that their work visa is extended 180 days. Which will buy you some time.

Because it was submitted with the rest, the fees are waived again.

[cupidmommy 5]

On 9/30/2018 at 12:17 PM, PR&PR said:

I would apply for renewal of the EAD and Travel visa asap. You may not receive them in time, but you should receive the paper stating that their work visa is extended 180 days. Which will buy you some time.

Because it was submitted with the rest, the fees are waived again.

Hi! I need to renew my EAD also and do I have to send the check for the fee too? I thought pending greencard can get a waiver. Do i send the check first and get refund or i dont have to send it at all? Thanks in advance!!!

[PR&PR 325]

On 10/4/2018 at 11:42 AM, cupidmommy said:

Hi! I need to renew my EAD also and do I have to send the check for the fee too? I thought pending greencard can get a waiver. Do i send the check first and get refund or i dont have to send it at all? Thanks in advance!!!

Hey sorry in the delays in getting back to you!

I just sent mine with proof that I had applied for I-485. I did not send a check of any sort.

[PR&PR 325]

After over a year, I finally got the notice saying that my interview was scheduled!

When I got the text message, I was like meh they are most likely telling me there is no updates again...

Notice is on it's way, I cannot wait to know the interview date.

[eastcoastgroove 329]

On 10/18/2018 at 8:28 PM, PR&PR said:

After over a year, I finally got the notice saying that my interview was scheduled!

When I got the text message, I was like meh they are most likely telling me there is no updates again...

Notice is on it's way, I cannot wait to know the interview date.

Yay!! Congrats!! I found a group on FB for Houston/ Dallas AOS filers and it looks like people who applied mid-May 2017 are now getting interview dates in Dallas.  So only another 4 1/2 months (and probably longer because of the holidays) until I get a letter 🤦🏼‍♀️

[Vickrd 18]

Hey guys. I have a situation... it's not that bad but it's kinda confusing... So, when I filed the AOS packet, me and my husband were living with his parents, and we were able to file a i864a (household member affidavit). Well, my interview is coming up in about two weeks, and we moved out about three months ago from his parents'. I notified USCIS of this change by filing the change of address early on as soon as I moved out. But a week or so ago I realized that my husband (the sponsor) needs to also notify of a change of address by filing a different form, the i865. Great, we filed that about a week ago (a little late but what can you do). My interview is really soon, and I was just wondering, if the i864a is for household members, and we don't live with his parents anymore (his father was the household member), will that form be void now? I saw online that in the case where the cosponsor doesnt live in the same residence as the sponsor that they could just file a free standing i864. Is this true? And should I just make a new free standing i864 with his father as the cosponsor so that it can be replaced (I guess) for the i864a, and just take that to the interview in case they ask? I hope I could get my point across... I have no problem in making the new form but I just wanted to get you guys' opinion on this. 

[moosy 139]

I ended up posting my experience with my interview in the September 2018 topic instead of here in the 2017 one. Awkward.

 

Anyway, here's the post:

 

I had my greencard interview today in the Atlanta Field Office. The officer's name was Swift. He was very nice and correct. He went over my application first asking basic questions (where we live, where I lived before, ...) And making sure the info was correct. Then he asked the questions about terrorism etc. Then he asked for some proof. We had tons of proof, so I asked which things he'd prefer to see. I gave him bills, joint accounts, affidavits from family, rental agreement. I had more, like pics etc but I think he got the gist. 

 

He went through a few more things and then said I was approved. I think he was one of the toptier officers as he was able to make that decision on the spot? Not sure.

 

He was friendly, and we didn't really get any questions. He did ask my husband when he came to me (twice), but nothing much more.

 

I was stressed out because one officer gets to decide over your future, but in the end, it was not weird, nor did we get the impression he was out to get anyone. I think his experience normally points him towards possible trouble and we weren't a blip on his intuitive radar.

 

After we were approved, he went over the AP/EAD card (that it's no longer valid now, as I was approved for the greencard), where my greencard would be sent (our home address), how long it would take (four to six weeks), what "conditional" meant, how to apply to remove those conditions, and how and when to become a US citizen.

 

We had a very positive experience.

 

The only thing that was risky, was that I did not have an updated medical, but he clearly knew I didn't need this, although he did ask if I had an updated one or not (I didn't). It wasn't a problem. I had my medical in May 2017, and filed September 2017. He checked that out loud and said it was fine then.

 

[PR&PR 325]

On 10/23/2018 at 4:36 PM, moosy said:

I ended up posting my experience with my interview in the September 2018 topic instead of here in the 2017 one. Awkward.

 

Anyway, here's the post:

 

I had my greencard interview today in the Atlanta Field Office. The officer's name was Swift. He was very nice and correct. He went over my application first asking basic questions (where we live, where I lived before, ...) And making sure the info was correct. Then he asked the questions about terrorism etc. Then he asked for some proof. We had tons of proof, so I asked which things he'd prefer to see. I gave him bills, joint accounts, affidavits from family, rental agreement. I had more, like pics etc but I think he got the gist. 

 

He went through a few more things and then said I was approved. I think he was one of the toptier officers as he was able to make that decision on the spot? Not sure.

 

He was friendly, and we didn't really get any questions. He did ask my husband when he came to me (twice), but nothing much more.

 

I was stressed out because one officer gets to decide over your future, but in the end, it was not weird, nor did we get the impression he was out to get anyone. I think his experience normally points him towards possible trouble and we weren't a blip on his intuitive radar.

 

After we were approved, he went over the AP/EAD card (that it's no longer valid now, as I was approved for the greencard), where my greencard would be sent (our home address), how long it would take (four to six weeks), what "conditional" meant, how to apply to remove those conditions, and how and when to become a US citizen.

 

We had a very positive experience.

 

The only thing that was risky, was that I did not have an updated medical, but he clearly knew I didn't need this, although he did ask if I had an updated one or not (I didn't). It wasn't a problem. I had my medical in May 2017, and filed September 2017. He checked that out loud and said it was fine then.

 

I hope I get an officer as nice as yours!

I have not redone a full medical neither and I won't until they tell me to, it is a huge expense.

[PR&PR 325]

USPS informed delivery is showing my letter coming in the mail! I cannot wait to be home tonight and see when my interview is! I will keep you guys posted.

[Chelleyandaaron 511]

Help!

 

I have an EAD/AP combo card which was issued on 12/17/17.  I have applied for a renewal and I have a received date of 07/13 for my AP and of 08/01 for my EAD (I had to resubmit).

My PD dates on my receipts are 08/01 for my AP and 08/13 for my EAD.  I have received my letter with the six month extension for my EAD but there is no automatic extension for my AP.

I am currently waiting for my Green Card interview (since AOS submitted September 2017).

 

I have a trip home booked to see my family - flying out on 12/22 and looking at current processing times for the EAD/AP I am now really worried that I won't be able to go.  I thought my GC interview would be Oct/Nov - but now it could be next year.  I renewed five months ahead of expiry to be sure that I would be safe - but that's not looking likely either now.  I haven't left the state since I arrived on 07/03/17 because of EAD/AP/money - and now I am working and have PTO booked and I am terrified I won't get my AP in time.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thank you in advance!

[PR&PR 325]

My interview is 11/28/18!

[Chelleyandaaron 511]

3 minutes ago, PR&PR said:

My interview is 11/28/18!

 

That's fantastic!  I am keeping my fingers crossed I'll hear something soon too!  Starting to panic now that I won't get home for Christmas... 🙄

[PR&PR 325]

don't lose faith there is still more than a month for the EAD to get there.

Maybe give them a call or make an appointment with your office to see if y ou could get a stamp of some sort?

[Chelleyandaaron 511]

3 hours ago, PR&PR said:

don't lose faith there is still more than a month for the EAD to get there.

Maybe give them a call or make an appointment with your office to see if y ou could get a stamp of some sort?

There is an option to expedite if I can demonstrate that not getting the AP in time would cause financial hardship or humanitarian hardship. I did the math and on top of the cost of the flights ($1600) it would also cost me around $2000 to take unpaid leave to travel when my AP does come through (and the cost of the flights again / so an estimated $5000-$6000 in total. 

My daughter has had some health issues and is likely to take it very badly if I can’t make it for Christmas - it would undoubtedly affect her health / but it would be a lot of hassle to get a doctors letter to that effect. I am hoping that gathering enough evidence will help get it expedited. I wonder how successful others have been / or if anyone else is in a similar situation? I am annoyed that my PD date is nearly two and a half weeks AFTER the date of receipt of my application. This buys USCIS more time. When I applied the first time, processing time was supposed to be 90 days so I was shocked to discover that it is now 4/6 months. I sent my application 5 months and three weeks ahead of my travel date - you would think that should be long enough?

thanks for your feedback. On another forum someone was just downright rude and told me I should have sent it sooner and that I had only given myself four months and that wasn’t enough time.