Mariana D.A.

Guys, I need your opinion or in this case personal knowledge. So I finally just got some news on my parents case, their case has been stuck on "ready to be scheduled for an interview" since April 11, 2016. So I called USCIS to check if an interview had been scheduled and spoke to a tier 2 representative, she told me the case was now transferred to our local office and that we should be getting an interview date anytime now. My question is, every other time I have spoken to tier 2 reps. they've all told me that the case would only be sent over to our local office after they "opened a spot" and scheduled the interview. Now I'm confused, if they usually only transfer cases over to local office after an interview had been scheduled, why did they send ours without having an interview date? Is this normal?

Thanks in advance! :-)

Guys, I need your opinion or in this case personal knowledge. So I finally just got some news on my parents case, their case has been stuck on "ready to be scheduled for an interview" since April 11, 2016. So I called USCIS to check if an interview had been scheduled and spoke to a tier 2 representative, she told me the case was now transferred to our local office and that we should be getting an interview date anytime now. My question is, every other time I have spoken to tier 2 reps. they've all told me that the case would only be sent over to our local office after they "opened a spot" and scheduled the interview. Now I'm confused, if they usually only transfer cases over to local office after an interview had been scheduled, why did they send ours without having an interview date? Is this normal?

Thanks in advance! :-)

no just our case because we just moved from new jersey to new york

So now we fall under new york jurisdiction i wish we could've stayed to avoid waiting more lol but oh well that's great that things are moving along quickly in newark

Oh okay, now it makes sense! But don't worry, if Newark's office says they're handling cases from April 2015 on the website and the tier 2 rep. told me they're actually handling cases from November 2015, then New York must be currently processing cases from Jan. or Feb. 2016.

If you have an interview scheduled for AOS does it tell you the date on the USCIS website or do you just get a notice through the mail?

Hey! Yes, when the website is actually functioning normally, they will show the date on the case status check. But then again, people have been complaining of it not working at all lately, so you could actually receive the letter only.

Called today and apaprebtly our case is now under New York jurisdiction and they're reviewing cases from July 2015 lol it's going to be a looobg wait

Hummm...that's strange, now they're transferring New Jersey's cases to New York too??

Btw, I called USCIS and spoke with a very nice tier 2 rep. I asked him how were the processing times for Newark office as of now, since their website was only updated to March 31, 2016 (which is showing that they are still processing cases from April, 2015) but the rep. said that as of now they are processing cases from November 2015 already!!

A wvp overstay will definitely interview. It doesn't take any longer as far as I can see. Look at my time line. (although I did have an approved i130 before sending in the Aos paperwork).

Thank you for the info, I guess we'll just have to wait for that interview appointment, which will probably take a while since our local office is sooooo behind with older cases :-/

All I needed right now is more patience and less anxiety!

The case tracker is temporarily down, for maintenance, I guess...

Question:

I've noticed that most cases here are adjusting from K1 visas. I was wondering if anyone would be able to inform me if there is any difference between adjudicating a K1 visa and a Visa Waiver Program overstay?

Is there any possibility that the interview might be waived for a VWP overstay (parent of USC)?

Also, do these AOS of VWP overstay cases take longer than a K1 for instance to adjudicate?

I've noticed that most cases here are adjusting from K1 visas. I was wondering if anyone would be able to inform me if there is any difference between adjudicating a K1 visa and a Visa Waiver Program overstay?

Is there any possibility that the interview might be waived for a VWP overstay (parent of USC)?

Also, do these AOS of VWP overstay cases take longer than a K1 for instance to adjudicate?

I swear, I think this upcoming election and insanity that could happen is driving the approvals without interviews in a way.

I know!! I'm currently applying for my parents AOS, but back when I did mine 3 years ago, not one case on our thread was approved without an interview, now it seems like most cases are being approved without one, how strange yet so awesome!! It must be that they're giving priority to interviewing naturalization applicants rather than AOS applicants!

Congrats to those who have received updates!

For those of you still waiting, to give you an idea of how buggy the online system is atm - I received a text message yesterday that my I-485 had been updated. It said card delivered to post office. I received my card TWO weeks ago. I would definitely give them a call because the way the system is atm, is enough to drive anyone crazy.

Major congrats!

Wow!!That's so awesome!! I've mentioned this before, and I'll mention it again....it really seems like the processing times on their website are not accurate at all, the Newark office (my local office also) is supposedly processing cases of April, 2015 and yet you just got approved without an interview in less than 3 months!! Which I also have noticed that they are approving so many cases without interviews, it's just so great to hear the good news, it really gives us hope, especially since the Newark local office is supposedly so backlogged.

Wish you all the best and congrats!

Another miracle! Case update just came through stating his I-485 is approved ??? No interview.

Wow!! That's so awesome!! I've mentioned this before, and I'll mention it again....it really seems like the processing times on their website are not accurate at all, you local office (Houston, Texas) is supposedly processing cases of July, 2015 and yet you just got approved without an interview!! Which I also have noticed that they are approving so many cases without interviews, it's just so great to hear the good news, it really gives us hope, especially since my local office is supposedly processing cases from April, 2015 still.

Wish you all the best and congrats!

Mariana,

I am not an expert but I can share information based on my own experience.

I didn't have any biometrics for the AP - only for EAD and AOS. It seems to me that fingerprints appointments are not common for AP, since VJ timeline doesn't even have a field for it, like the others.

From what I learned from my research before I filed it, the standard for AOS applicants is to have AP approved without need further explanation, detailed travel plans, etc. I personally sent my I-131 requesting multiple entries and with "visiting family" as a reason, but no dates, since I didn't really have plans. It got it approved.

This is from page 10-11 from the instructions for I-131:

"If you filed Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and you paid the I-485 application fee required, then no fee is required to file a request for an Advance Parole Document or Refugee Travel Document on Form I-131 if your Form I-485 is still pending, if:

1. You now hold U.S. refugee or asylee status, and are applying for a Refugee Travel Document (see Form I-131, Part 2., Application Type, Item Number 1.b.); or

2. You are applying for an Advance Parole Document to allow you to return to the United States after temporary foreign travel (see Form I-131, Part 2., Application Type, Item Number 1.d.).

Under these circumstances, you may file Form I-131 together with your Form I-485, or you may submit Form I-131 at a later date. If you file Form I-131 separately, you must also submit a copy of your Form I-797, Notice of Action, receipt as evidence that you filed and paid the fee for Form I-485 required on or after July 30, 2007."

i would read more in depth into the requirements for admission, especially if they have a record of overstaying.

I hope that helped answer your questions.

Good luck!

Thanks Intdenver, for all the detailed info and for taking you time posting what the USCIS instructions says, I really appreciate it, I'll be submitting it this week, hopefully it will be approved before August =/

Hi there, I'm not very familiar with the non K1 procedure, so apologies if I'm not giving you the right answers - I'm sure somebody will be kind enough to correct me if I got something wrong. As far as I know, you can send in the AP application later on as well, with reference to the pending AoS, and you don't need to give a lot of detail about the purpose (look at the example forms on this site for more info). The AP should go through within 3 months. Also, they don't take fingerprints for AP, only for EAD and AoS.

Thank you so much Phaedra, that's a relief, not going back for fingerprints. I'll be sending it this week then. Thanks once again!

As others have said, you can file AP after AOS without any fee. Please read the form instructions. It is written clearly on there...your pending AOS is reason enough to leave the country, and you don't need to provide any explanation.

Thank you for the info, maybe I misunderstood that part on the instructions! I'll be sending it this week!

Yes, you can still submit I765 and/or I130 after you submitted your I485/I130. I just submitted my I765/130 two weeks ago. Remember to attach a copy of I485 with you so that USCIS would waive the fee for you. I don't think you need to do a fingerprints again. As far as explanation goes, you don't need one since you are applying it through Adjustment of Status.

Thank you so much, I'll be submitting it asap.

Hey guys, I need help please!

Like I have mentioned before, I filed I-130 for my parents who also filed I-485 and I-765. My dad's EAD had been approved already, but mom's hasn't. Both are "Ready to be scheduled for an interview" but I also know that the Newark local office is very backlogged, so I'm almost sure they won't be getting an interview appointment anytime soon. Problem is that they were offered two tickets to Portugal to go visit my grandparents and they did not submit I-131( advanced parolee).

Can we submit it now that everything has been sent already?

If yes, will they have to do fingerprints again?

Also, what should I mention on the explanation on I-131 form? The only "emergency" is that they might lose those tickets and also the fact that my grandparents are getting very old. Will that work?

Thanks in advance!!

Hey guys, I need help please!

Like I have mentioned before, I filed I-130 for my parents who also filed I-485 and I-765. My dad's EAD had been approved already, but mom's hasn't. Both are "Ready to be scheduled for an interview" but I also know that the Newark local office is very backlogged, so I'm almost sure they won't be getting an interview appointment anytime soon. Problem is that they were offered two tickets to Portugal to go visit my grandparents and they did not submit I-131( advanced parolee).

Can we submit it now that everything has been sent already?

If yes, will they have to do fingerprints again?

Also, what should I mention on the explanation on I-131 form? The only "emergency" is that they might lose those tickets and also the fact that my grandparents are getting very old. Will that work?

Thanks in advance!!

So I guess the online tracker is meaningless at this point?

I have been getting all online updates up until now, but from what I'm seeing, a lot of people aren't, they're just getting surprise mails, so we can't fully rely in the online tracker. Also, many from the February thread are getting their green cards without interviews, which is usually very rare.

Hey guys!

I just found this thread and I'm glad I did!

I've gone through this whole process back in 2012, I became a USC last year and this year

I am petitioning for my parents. The timeline is in my signature below.

I was just wondering, are parents processes dealt the same way as marriages, or does it usually take

longer?

My parents were offered two tickets to Portugal for August and I'm afraid they won't make it since Newark's local office is so backlogged and processing cases from April 8, 2015!!!

I've noticed though that most local office processing times shown on USCIS.gov must be way off, as many people

on the February thread are getting approved in less than 4 months when in reality their local offices appear to be very backlogged as well and also many are getting surprise mails of the approvals without online status change nor an interview, which is awesome, gives us some hope!!

0

Hey guys!

I just found this thread and I'm glad I did!

I've gone through this whole process back in 2012, I became a USC last year and this year

I am petitioning for my parents. The timeline is in my signature below.

I was just wondering, are parents processes dealt the same way as marriages, or does it usually take

longer?

My parents were offered two tickets to Portugal for August and I'm afraid they won't make it since Newark's local office is so backlogged and processing cases from April 8, 2015!!!

I've noticed though that most local offices processing times shown on USCIS.gov must be way off, as many people

here are getting approved in less than 4 months when in reality their local offices appear to be very backlogged as well,

which is awesome, gives me some hope!!

Sorry guys! I haven't had time to visit Visa Journey lately!! I actually received my green card on Saturday!!!! I couldn't stop looking at it! I still don't believe it, I think it will only sink in when I get on the plane to go to Brazil thus December!! Thank you guys for everything!!

Hi. Card went into production two days later. It took 7 days from interview to receiving green card :-)

Thank you!! Hopefully mine will go into production today then!!

Deblogs, when did your card go into production?? Sorry for asking, but just so I can get an estimate of time...

Since your interview was on Wednesday of last week, and mine was this Wednesday..

Thank you all!! ) I'm so happy!!

Hello guys!! So I had my interview this morning in Newark, NJ! I must say we were really anxious, We couldn't even eat this morning!! Lol The appointment was for 8:30, but we only got called in at 10:55! The ISO didn't ask for much, just identity and birth certificates and passports! Then she asked how we met...then asked to see our pictures! Btw, she loved my wedding album, and complimented us on it! She kept one photo, and that was it! She asked all the NO question and said I was approved!! She also said "Too bad you won't get your card today, since its your birthday!" Overall it was a painless, 5 min. Interview...easy, easy!!! Thank you all for everything!!!!

Mariana, I was going to write, but you beat me to it. I have my fingers crossed and wish you the best. Just be you :-)

Thank you so much Deblogs!! I'm a little less nervous now...I guess I'm getting a little tired of being nervous! Lol Like you saud, I'm just going to be myself...I know my marriage is real, and there is no reason for it to be denied!!