lupa222

Hi everyone,

Please add me to the list. We sent the I-751 on 04/23, NOA1 receipt date is 04/28/2014. I came to the US on an F1 visa and got my green card through AOS. I'm also still waiting on a bio letter, but after reading here I might not receive one?? I did my original biometrics appointment in April 2012, so it's over two years... I've been trying to call them and talk to someone at USCIS. Can you help me with how to call? The numbers I'm using are 1-800-375-5283 or 1-877-247-4645 (military hotline). It never gives me an option to talk to a CSR though Is it maybe because I'm calling too late (Hawaiian Standard time is 2 hours behind PST)... I would really appreciate it if you could tell me about how to get past the annoying automated menu options lol

Thank you and good luck to all

Thank you, I will

I can't check it online because I don't have a case number. If I use the one from the noa it doesn't find anything. What number do I call to speak to a representative?? I can never get past that automated part and they never offer the option to talk to an actual person... I've tried the regular number and the military hotline...

What number do you guys usually call?

Your local office could be backed up for biometrics letters, so don't panic.

You are supposed to call if you do not get a bio appointment in 30 days, so go ahead. You might try to find others who have cases at your local office and see how long it took their bio appointments to come to see if they are backed up.

Thank you, Harpa! Do I call USCIS or my local office?

Hello all,

We filed our I-751 end of April 2014 and received the I-797 (NOA) with a receipt date of 04/28/2014. It has now been over a month and we still haven't received an appointment letter for the biometrics appointment. I will probably call USCIS in the morning, but they're usually very rude and not helpful at all. After looking at some timelines I noticed that most people had their biometrics appointment about 1 month after the receipt date of their NOA. Now I'm freaking out that it got lost in the mail or something. Anyone else still waiting on their letter? If they were going to send us an RFE, I shouldn't have received the NOA yet, correct? Also, they cashed the check already...

Please, anybody with info on this - HELP!

Oh my gosh, so happy for you!!!! I had missed the part where you were military,a nd got worried when you mentioned him not being able to go with! SO glad it went easily for you!! When do you get to be back with your husband again?

Thank you I'm with him right now Left right after the interview yesterday and drove 11 hours to move all my stuff from FL to AL and prepare for the big move to Hawaii I was really surprised how "easy" and fast the interview was

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/375016-aos-approved-f1-and-military/ (here's the promised review).

Thank you and good luck to everyone

Hope to see you all again when it's time for ROC (not that I'm leaving - I still want to help/pay it forward to others )

First of all I want to thank everyone here at visajourney for answering every question and providing great resources

So, here's my review from the AOS interview (adjusted from F1):

Because my husband is currently training with the U.S. Army, he could not attend the interview with me (got a letter from his commander stating this, and that was all they needed (even double checked that through an InfoPass appointment). Our interview was scheduled for 11.15, and I arrived at the Oakland Park ASC at 10.45. After the check-in the lady told me to sit down and wait for them to call my name. There were about 50 other people waiting too, so I was worried about how long it would take. To my surprise, I was the second person called in (after 10 minutes or so) - which was about 20 minutes before my scheduled interview time . The IO was very friendly and started "small-talking" before we even got to her office. Before I sat down, I had to raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth. Then she asked for my ID (and still no word about the "missing" husband, I guess she figured since it said in the file that he was military). She then asked for my husband's proof of citizenship and I showed her a copy of his passport. I was so nervous and shaking while looking for the papers, that she actually told me to just relax I then told her that I had this letter from his commander and gave it to her. She looked at it briefly and then talked about her dad who was in the Navy for 30 years... She then asked me for my address (I told her that I'm moving out of state as soon as I done with the interview lol), so I gave her my new address. She wrote it down to update my file immediatley and make sure the GC gets sent to the right address. (I will still file an AR-11 with USCIS just to be double-sure). Then she asked where my husband was stationed ATM, and if he wants to finish to retirement. Then she asked two more questions (How did you meet? - I said in class, and she briefly commented: is that so? and smiled). Second question was if he has ever been to Austria - I answered, yes, 3 times and we're going again in August. Then she started talking about the EUropean Union and the state of the economy, but also how beautiful Austria is, and how she always wanted to go there. Last item we talked about was the school I attended and that her daughter-in-law thinks about applying there... While she was doing all that smart-talk, she checked off stuff on her list (I think it was the I-130), made a copy of another paper and then handed me the copy.

That's when she explained the ROC procedure, and even made a note on there to file for ROC on Memorial Day 2014. She then said: Your GC will have that expiration date on there, because you have been married for less than 2 years...

She closed her file and was ready to walk me out, but (luckily) I remembered to ask her for my original birth certificate (with the certified translation and all) because it was really expensive to get ($100). She was really nice and look through all the paper work (and we sent in a ton!!!) until she found it. I handed her copies of said documents and that was it

As she walked me out she wished me good luck in the future and a safe trip

At 11.10 I was out of the office and approved!!! (even before my scheduled time hehe ). I didn't have to show any of the evidence (bills, POA, insurance, pictures, lease, etc) that I had brought. Now looking back I realize that the actual AOS talk was only two questions Not sure if I just had a really nice IO, or because we sent in a very complete package to begin with (thank you VJ), or because we're military. Either way, it has been a very pleasant experience and there was no need to be nervous. Cannot wait to receive my GC in the mail soon

Approved, also took only about 15 minutes Will write a review soon Thank you to everyone at visajourney for your help and support

Congrats

Thanks for all the wishes Will let you know how it went... A little nervous right now and can't sleep yet - hope everything goes smoothly with my husband not being able to attend the interview with me tomorrow...

EAD arrived :)

Mine too!! Received the combo card, even though the AP case said it is still in post decision activity (and the EAD was in card production)

It feels great and I'm glad that it seems to be moving fast for (almost) everyone. I didn't expect it all to be done before our big move to Hawaii.

Provided Lupa receives their Advance Parole (AP) and they were not out of F1 status prior to filing for AOS then a person may leave and re-enter the US using their AP-- however they must return in time for their AOS interview.

Applied for AP as well, and I think now the AP and EAD are on the same card?!? I was never out of status, and the AOS interview is before my flight home... should even be enough time to receive the actual green card before my flight on July 8

Thanks Chris ...

Also congrads Lupa on the ead its a great feeling :-)

Yes it is!!

Got an email saying my EAD card was mailed out to me today soooooooooooo HAPPPY

I got my texts/emails today as well! EAD card is in production, interview is in 20 days! so happy to know that I will be able to go back home soon (and then come back as a permanent resident hehe)

It used to be that when a GC interview was approved they would immediately put an I-551 stamp in your passport. It serves as temporary evidence of a green card until the real thing arrives in the mail.

These days they do not do automatic stamps in the passport because the GC comes quite quickly once they approve you. You can request an I-551 stamp following a successful interview, but you will probably have to make an Infopass to get it.

In all likelihood you will have your GC in your hands by July anyway, and won't need to worry about AP or getting an I-551 stamp.

OK thanks for the info

I will be moving to a different state the day after the interview, so I'll try to get that stamp just to be sure, in case something gets lost in the mail. Hoping I can get them to change the address during the interview (I know I'm also supposed to file that form out etc)... but maybe I can tell them to send the green card to my new (my husband's) address...

What a fantastic forum!

My husband and I met in 2006 before he signed the dotted line. After meeting in 2009 we knew that was it for us. In 2010 we got married after lots of trips back and forth

I just got my case completed at NVC for a CR-1 visa. Medical and interview to go... then I'm off to Hawaii

We're going to Hawaii too Hopefully we can get this visa work sorted out before the first big PCS!! Maybe I'll see you in Hawaii one day, and then we can celebrate that the visa stress is over (for now)

congratulation. and welcome to the club lol.

most likely , it takes from 2-3 months. and I am positive that you will receive your EAD/AP before July, plus , if you got the approval on the spot, you can ask the officer to stamp your passport with temporary I-551

Thank you, I didn't know about that stamp - is that like a temporary AP or GC? Hope all goes well at the interview...

Latest interview list for the Aprilers:

Aimee K - 13th June (Baltimore, MD)

chimcham - 25th June (Hartford, CT)

Daeras - 26th June (Philadelphia, PA)

myafi1985 - 26th June (Washington, DC)

DC2011 - 26th June (Washington, DC)

mycdngrl - 26th June (Denver, CO)

lupa222 - 26th June (Oakland Park, FL)

With regards to travelling abroad, I would not make any firm plans (i.e. book the flights) until you have either AP (on your EAD) or GC in your hand. By July it's highly likely you will have an EAD by then, and heck maybe a GC if your case is approved on the day or shortly after. It usually takes only a few days to receive a GC once it is approved, usually less than a week from the time you receive the "Card Production Ordered" notification, and usually closer to 4-5 days.

As for your spouse not being able to be at the interview, that is an issue. Usually for people adjusting based on marriage, both the foreign national and the USC have to appear. I assume there is some kind of exemption for active military personnel, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Perhaps call the USCIS helpline and see what they say?

(Edit) According to http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/111988-us-military-spouses/page__st__585 you will need a copy of his military orders indicating that he cannot be present at the interview due to being deployed on active military service.

Thanks for your help! This flight has been booked since last November, so in the worst case I will have to change it and move it back a few weeks... But as you said, I should have my EAD (or even my GC by then ) - good to know that the process time is fast once approved.

He's not deployed right now, but there is no way the Army will let him take two days off, he's at training right now... They will just have to understand this, and I have an InfoPass appointment at the local office in two weeks (since they will be the ones that have the say in this) and will find out further information then. I called USCIS (and even their military helpline), but they were no help whatsoever!!! All they did was read the standard procedures to me and they told me "we can't give you any specific details on your case"... really point- and useless!!

Our interview date is on the "magical" June 26 as well (in Oakland, South FL)... However, I'd much rather know that my EAD/AP are being processed... I plan on traveling back home July 8 Does anybody know how long it takes after the interview to get your card/travel papers (provided you pass the interview, but I don't see why we wouldn't).

Also, does anybody have any information on military-related expedites (overseas orders) or how to go about if my husband won't be able to come to the interview (the Army won't let him leave during the week, and we live in separate states)

Any input would be greatly appreciated And congrats to everyone else who has a date already - it's moving surprisingly fast

Done the walk-in biometrics today :

Me too!!

Went in today and did a successful walk-in Thank you everyone for your help

Thank you! I did mine today - no problems at all

Did anyone do a walk-in biometric appointment at the ASC in Oakland Park, FL? I keep reading here that it's up to the office, so I was wondering if anyone had any experiences with that particular office?

Okay, thanks guys!

Thanks for the fast reply! Does anybody have any experience with the Oakland Park Office in Florida?

Hi all,

I received my letter for the biometrics appointment today (May 4th). Unfortunately, I will be out of town on that day and there is NO WAY I can make it on the 4th (I'm part of an athletic team and traveling to regional championships in another state) :help:

So now, can someone please tell me what my options are? Can I just walk-in for an earlier appointment? Is there any way you can call the ASC office to find more information (Oakland Park, FL). I called the USCIS hotline and they very not helpful at all... felt like talking to an automated system: "follow the instructions on the notice".

Does anyone know how/if rescheduling the appointment affects the processing times? I really need my AP in 3 months, because my flight is booked for my sisters wedding back home! Please, can anyone help me? I'm so frustrated and disappointed that they scheduled the appointment on that one weekend that I'm out of town... :(

Did anyone else go through rescheduling? How long did it take and how soon was your next appointment?

THanks!!