neo_ny

@ProbeGT @missads  thanks again for the wealth of information you guys shared!  I was able to sign my mom up with tax credits in NJ and can confirm that indeed you needed to be denied by medicaid (due to being a new immigrant) before being eligible for the PTC.  Atleast in NJ thats the process that needed to be followed and as already been pointed out the actual process can/will vary between states.  I'm still unclear what would happen after 5 years when one technically becomes eligible for Medicaid...

Has anyone gone through this process in VA and willing to share their steps/experience to get it done?  Thanks!

p.s: cross posting in both threads to reach more folks, apologize for the duplicate post!

@ProbeGT @missads  thanks again for the wealth of information you guys shared!  I was able to sign my mom up with tax credits in NJ and can confirm that indeed you needed to be denied by medicaid (due to being a new immigrant) before being eligible for the PTC.  Atleast in NJ thats the process that needed to be followed and as already been pointed out the actual process can/will vary between states.  I'm still unclear what would happen after 5 years when one technically becomes eligible for Medicaid...

Has anyone gone through this process in VA and willing to share their steps/experience to get it done?  Thanks!

p.s: cross posting in both threads to reach more folks, apologize for the duplicate post!

On 1/20/2016 at 1:20 PM, missads said:

At the risk of repeating other posts, I just wanted to share my experience of being able to find affordable health insurance for my parents. Here are some details:

Parents - over 65, here on Green Card (permanent residents)

Living in the US for less than 5 years (about 2 years)

Eligible for tax subsidy through Obamacare (this does NOT constitute a public charge)

Residents of State of Michigan, have social security numbers

Eligible for Silver level insurance plans

Filed their $0 federal/state taxes jointly, separate from mine (I do NOT claim them as dependents on my tax return - this is important)

I had searched the healthcare.gov website last year for insurance for them and came up empty handed. We purchased "travelers insurance" online (***removed***) but got shafted. My parent had a major health incident and they didn't cover anything (all claims were denied as pre-existing condition) Stay away from these types of insurance.

I tried healthcare.gov again this year and couldn't find anything again. Many seem to assume, wrongly, that everyone over 65 is eligible for Medicare by default. This isn't true for immigrants, they need to have lived in the US for at least 5 years before they can participate in Medicare.

Anyway, the short story is healthcare.gov has still not caught on to this. If you want to purchase health insurance, you will need to work with a healthcare navigator. There are several public service organizations that have these navigators who will help you for free. They will help you do the application over the phone, and then it works just fine. I am in Michigan and went through Jewish Family Service. Have your parents green cards and SSN handy, that is all they need.

There appears to be a widely held misconception that immigrant seniors over 65 are not covered by Obamacare. This is absolutely NOT true. You don't have to wait for 5 years for Medicare to kick in. Recent immigrants older than 65 can purchase health insurance via healthcare.gov, just like any other US citizen or legal permanent resident. Some state exchanges might not know it, the person you talk to on the phone might not know it, the healthcare.gov website certainly doesn't appear to understand this special situation, but trust me parents on green cards who have been in the US less than 5 years ARE eligible for subsidized health coverage.

I was able to get health insurance for my parents who have no income, for around $100 a month per parent (after a $1000 tax subsidy, because their income is less than limit of ~$21K) Now that is REALLY affordable, and it is proper mainstream insurance (Blue Cross Michigan) None of that travelers' insurance BS.

Just trying to get the word out, because the open enrollment deadline is January 31st. If your parents arrive after Jan 31st, you can still sign up at that time, because their arrival date qualifies as a special "life event". But if they are already in the US, please sign up by Jan 31st. Otherwise they will have to wait until November for the next enrollment period to begin.

Hey there!

Your post was very helpful in signing my mom up for health insurance via ACA after getting her green card.  I was wondering if we need to do anything to plan for the future? i.e currently since she has been  a permanent resident for less than 5 years she is ineligible for Medicare/Medicaid and hence can sign up under ACA even being 65+.  Does this calculation change once she has been a permanent resident for more than 5 years?  At that point will she be considered eligible and we will need to "buy" Medicare instead of her being on a subsidized ACA plan?  Your initial post was from 2016 and you must be coming up on that 5 year requirement if you have not already, how are you planning on handling it?  

Appreciate your input!

Thanks!

On 10/1/2021 at 3:21 PM, Skyman said:

Yeah!

Congrats!!

On 9/10/2021 at 12:06 PM, Waiting_4Ever said:

Congrats. Can you please share where you're field office is? Place you live.

Thanks!  FO was Norfolk, VA.  My mom's case was approved at NBC and don't think it ever made it to a FO as the interview was waived.   Good luck!

21 hours ago, apd said:

 

Latest update: We had our interview today (Sept 7) and the interview went smoothly. Upon checking our status later today in myuscis, it said that "New card is being produced".

Congratulations!

I am happy to report that we received my mom's green card in the mail today - 9/8/2021 (supposed to be delivered yesterday but somehow got delayed..).  Took 10 1/2 months start to finish - given everything going on not too bad at all!

I wish that all of your cases come to a successful conclusion soon as well! I'll check in on here once in a while.  Good Luck to everyone who is still waiting!

7 hours ago, Maerica said:

Don't we have to apply for SSN on our own? Or maybe that's what you meant 

Congrats for this big step, I'm getting ready for it as well ! Hopefully soon !

We had checked the box on I-765 to apply for new SSN, my understanding is that (at least in theory) USCIS needs to forward the information to SSA to generate SSN.  If it doesn't, you are right that we will need to get an appointment/visit the SSA office to apply for one.

1 hour ago, Skyman said:

If you don't have it yet, I'd call SSA ASAP.

Don't have it yet, was going to wait until the end of this coming week before following up with them.

Anyway, I just checked the status of my mom's I-485, and it is now updated to "New card is bring produced" on 8/27.  I take it as a very positive sign that the process might be coming to an end for us!  The I-485 and I-130 status (still at the original application received status) have not been updated to approved yet but I think that might be happening soon!  I was hoping/expecting interview waiver based on recent parents' cases and it definitely seems like that'll be the case with us!  Biometrics might've been the biggest bottleneck since after that the case has progressed pretty swiftly!

I'll post with any further updates.  I wish that everyone's cases start to see some real progress soon!

On 8/20/2021 at 7:50 PM, Skyman said:

Finally. Don't have date yet but I  have this:

Glad to see an update on your case!  Congrats!  When is the interview?  Are you still waiting on EAD/AP or did you receive it already?

On 8/13/2021 at 9:22 AM, neo_ny said:

Finally I am able to share a worthwhile update for my mom's case - looks like both her EAD and AP were approved on 8/11, still waiting for the documents in the mail!  Just to recap her timeline:

 

11/25/2020 - Applications received

7/1/2021 - Biometrics (got the notice after raising an expedite request for EAD)

8/11/2021 - EAD/AP approved (re-raised the expedite request for EAD on 7/6/2021, not sure if it had anything to do with the approval or not)

 

I-485/I-130 still showing the initial case received status - so unsure about the next steps but happy to have atleast gotten her EAD/AP approved!

 

Hope to see more positive updates from folks on here, good luck everyone!

8/17/21 - EAD/AP combo card received.  Hopefully SSN will soon follow!  Quick question - are there any folks whose I-485 status is stuck at Fingerprint fee received even after biometrics and EAD/AP approval?

Finally I am able to share a worthwhile update for my mom's case - looks like both her EAD and AP were approved on 8/11, still waiting for the documents in the mail!  Just to recap her timeline:

11/25/2020 - Applications received

7/1/2021 - Biometrics (got the notice after raising an expedite request for EAD)

8/11/2021 - EAD/AP approved (re-raised the expedite request for EAD on 7/6/2021, not sure if it had anything to do with the approval or not)

I-485/I-130 still showing the initial case received status - so unsure about the next steps but happy to have atleast gotten her EAD/AP approved!

Hope to see more positive updates from folks on here, good luck everyone!

On 7/15/2021 at 6:51 PM, CFAmfz said:

Hello! Had my interview today and 30 minutes after it was done my status changed to new card being produced 😄.

Congratulations!  Enjoy not having to worry about your case progress!

On 7/19/2021 at 4:00 PM, Maerica said:

I'm a little mad, just live chat with USCIS, told me "You just had your biometrics on 07/16"... Oh yeah did I? hahah Never received any mail, any email, any phonecall, wasn't even aware it had been scheduled... Didn't show on "my USCIS"... I was patient until now, but this really made me sad... been waiting that long and they are not even able to send a mail or update status on their own website. I don't feel respected at all 

Sorry to hear, were you able to straighten it out?

On 7/15/2021 at 11:45 PM, Skyman said:

Pretty much just asking why we wanted to expedite. I had chatted a few days before and they said they would put in the expedite, then we got the call and I explained why we needed it. She said she would put it in and the NBC would probably call in week for more evidence but it's been 2 weeks. 

Any updates on the ER?  Did you hear back from Cruz's office? Its been radio silence for my mom's case, stuck at ER received status since 7/6 - no call/email or request for evidence..

On 7/6/2021 at 1:09 PM, Skyman said:

No update. Bio on June 11th then status changed to Actively Being Reviewed.  But apparently ignored since. Requested EAD expedite about 2 weeks ago. Even got a call from a tier 2 regarding that but heard nothing so far. This weekend I emailed Ted Cruz's staff to see if they can help. Maybe next week I'll try a democrat.

Ok, keep us posted!  What was the tier 2 call about?  Requesting evidence for expedite request? Ted Cruz lol, he seems to be more self-centered even by politician standards!  I would try House Reps rather than Senators, since those folks are always in *election running mode*, Cruz is up for re-election in 2022 though I think ..

On 6/28/2021 at 1:51 PM, Skyman said:

Awesome. What FO?

Skyman - Any updates on your wife's case after bio appointment?  My mom's bio got rescheduled to 7/1 (from 6/28) and we finally got it done on 7/1.  The online status hasn't updated yet but an agent on EMMA confirmed that the system shows that the biometrics were taken.  I also went ahead and re-raised the expedite request as the response to the first ER instructed us to do so (i.e. after biometrics were collected).  

Good stuff guys!  Happy to finally start seeing some movement for November filers!  Good Luck everyone!

Received biometrics appointment (Code 3) for my mom's cases yesterday in the mail - scheduled for 6/28, RD of 11/25/2020 so 7+ months!  I did raise an expedite request for I-765 on 5/25, not sure if it had anything to do with it but a couple of folks had also posted that it did help kick off their biometric appointments so its definitely worth a try!  Happy to finally see some progress!  Good luck everyone!

13 hours ago, Skyman said:

Ok, so today we got an email they couldn't expedite the I-765 because no bio yet and we could re-request the expedite after they're done. 

This is consistent with a couple of cases I saw on reddit.  Like you said, it "felt" like you did something and you have your biometrics appointment, it was worth it I would say! Hope this gets the ball rolling for you and go straight to interview/GC without needing to expedite again!

On 5/22/2021 at 11:41 AM, Skyman said:

I haven't actually received anything regarding the expedite request at all. A week after the request the I-485 status changed to bio scheduled and I downloaded the bio appointment letter. 

That's interesting!  I found some reports where the the expedite requests were officially closed stating the lack of biometrics and asking them to raise the expedite request again once biometrics was completed.  It did sometimes seem to trigger off the biometrics appointment though.  Now I recall, you are able to see your notices etc on your online account correct?  Most of us who 100% paper filed don't have that option!

19 hours ago, Skyman said:

Yes, went there about 1245.  Nobody out front.  The door was locked but a lady saw us try the door and came out.  Showed her the appointment letter and explained we now lived in SA and we had done a couple AR-11s but they till made the appointment in Portland.  She said to come back on the 11th with proof of residency like a lease or electric bill.

 

Good luck to you too.

Forgot to ask you - did you get an official response for your expedite request? Or is it still pending due to biometrics?

15 hours ago, Skyman said:

SA ASC said they'd do it but not until the June 11th scheduled date if we brought proof of our new residence.  Went home and called them and explained we'd moved and had put in AR-11s twice. Agent said she'd put in for a new biometrics schedule in SA. I figure the new date will likely be sooner but if not we'll just use the old one.

Did you physically go to SA ASC or were you able to somehow get a hold of them on the phone?  I went ahead and requested an I-765 expedite for my mom's case, no biometrics yet after almost 6 months .. fingers crossed that it triggers a biometric appointment for her just like it did in your wife's case.  Good Luck!

On 5/8/2021 at 4:07 PM, Maerica said:

Did it change anything? Do they answer when you submit this? 

I decided not to do it but mannn the wait is long !! In about a week I think I will live chat again to see what's up. 

On 5/8/2021 at 9:54 PM, Heyee said:

Hello guys, any update? especially for you mom’s petition? I would like to know the process because I was planning to petition  my mom under tourist visa and file concurrent filing thank you. 

Unfortunately, nothing new to report, no response yet to the SR either - the automated email said to they have until 5/18 to respond.. not holding my breath though .. lol

Not sure if it'll make any difference but I put in a SR for I131 for being outside of normal processing times, figured no harm in trying!  I hope (& wish) more of us start getting biometrics letters soon!

21 hours ago, CFAmfz said:

PD 11/04 marriage based AOS to USC

 

Got my bio appointment, code 3 for I-485 and I-765 for May 17th.

Congrats!  Maybe you'll get the ball rolling for us November filers!

Good to finally see some progress on here!  Maybe April will be month when all our cases start seeing some meaningful progress... we will all soon be eligible to open an SR some time during April as technically we will be outside of the normal processing times for AP!