AREYES

I am a OIF/OEF combat veteran and I submitted an I131 for PIP purposes for my spouse. The process was an ordeal as the PIP package needs to be submitted to the persons local USCIS office.

Once I submitted the package, I received a Notice of Action on March 10, 2014 that the package was received. Well, now it's been over two months and I have not received a biometrics appointment for my wife. The local USCIS office is also uncooperative.

Has anyone experienced this issue? What is the timeline to receive a response from them? How did you over come. From some of post on here it's seems we should have received a response by now. Any help is appreciated.

Leodan,

Hi. I'm sorry, I don't recognize the acronyms of OIF/OEF. However, from what your posts sounds like, it seems as though you submitted your PIP to a lockbox iinstead of the local office? Unless you are deployed, you could make an INFOPASS appointment to turn in the same package at the local office, or even your wife could go for you if you are deployed.

When I went for the INFOPASS appointment, they printed the Biometrics appointment letter right then and there. I was originally missing a document but they allowed me to return with the document a couple of hours later and that is when they gave me the Biometrics print out. Just in case you are not aware, Infopass appointments are scheduled online:

https://www.infopass.uscis.gov/

Also, there is a Facebook group dedicated to parole in place applicants with their experiences, its called PAROLE IN PLACE (PIP). The group has a lot of messages in spanish but there are some posts in english too. You definately could post a question in english on the site and receive an answer in english. It is a closed group though. So, you have to send a friend request to be able to see the FB page for them.

I hope this helps

Mailed AOS package: 5/1/14

Received NOA1 email: 5/6/14

Received Hard Copy NOA1 in mail: 5/9/14

Received Biometrics appointment in mail: 5/15/14

Biometrics appointment date: 6/5/14.

BTW-to all people that get approved for PIP/I 94. If you go to get a driver's license and you have not filed you AOS package yet, I think that the driver's license will have an expiration date the same as the expiration date on the I 94 card.

If you wait to apply for your license until after you have NOA1 letter for AOS package, they will give license with a normal expiration date. At least that was our experience here in Texas.

Hi AReyes,

have you heard back from USCIS? I am struggling to decide whether we should go ahead and file I-131. I am scared to death of the possibility of getting denied and the possibility of my husband being put in removal proceedings. If you can share any updates on your case i will greatly appreciate it.

thanks much!

Newbie,

Hi. Sorry I didn't see your post earlier. I am not an expert or an attorney but I can tell you what I have read regarding this whole process and share my experience as well. Supposedly the Parole In Place is a remedy to allow someone the ability to adjust status when their otherwise illegal entry would have disqualified them. But it is not a blanket permission that covers other factors that could still affect the applicants ability to qualify.

For example, if the person trying to adjust status has a significant criminal history, their case still may not qualify to adjust status even if granted the Parole in Place because the other factors disqualify the person, outside of the unlawful presence issue. I DO know that part of the PIP process is to do a Biometrics background check.

Would having a criminal history disqualify someone from being granted PIP? I dont know. But from what I have read, there are other waivers that someone with a criminal background could try to apply for like the 601-a waiver. I may be wrong, but the difference between the two is that PIP allows the person to adjust status without actually leaving, filing the paperwork strictly thru USCIS, whereas the 601A waiver is sort of like a guaranteed answer that even though the person still has to go back to their country to adjust, at least they know ahead of time that their case will not get a time ban of up to 10 years. Processing is thru the Visa Center. I hope this helps.

Questions I had during this process:

1. If someone illegal goes to the USCIS office for an infopass, will they be detained on the spot?

Answer- unless there is an active deportation order at the time, likely no. Security check was to walk through a metal detector, not required to show ID just to walk inside.

2. is there a charge for any part of the PIP process:

Filing and biometrics no. Still have to get passport style photos though.

3. Is biometrics a scary process?

NOOO. must bring form of ID to the appointment and appointment letter. Enter into a large room with seats. Everyone has a quick 1 page application to fill out. Fist one to turn in app is first one to be seen; first come first serve order.

3. How will I know when my PIP request is approved or denied?

I still don't know. I happened to schedule an infopass about 5 weeks after the Biometrics appointment and luckily, was granted I 94 few hours later.

4. Can someone get a drivers license with PIP?

In Texas-YES. However, need to fill out social security affidavit stating you don't have a valid ssn and need to bring at least 2 types of bills/insurance statement/bankstatement, etc, within the last 90 days proving residency in Texas.

Also, you will pay the fee, take the eye test, get picture taken and if your name has not yet been registered in their SAVE database, need to wait about a month for a clearance letter from dps telling you its ok to come back in. Making another infopass with immigration during this time wont speed thing up. Just wait.

I hope this helps

Yes. Now time to adjust status. One little thing to mention though- after my husband was given the I 94, he took the I 94 and passport to the local driver's license office. He paid the fees, took the pic and was even assigned a drivers license number. However, DPS was not able to verify his lawful presence through their SAVE program. So basically they toild him he has to WAIT until they get confirmation from immigration that his I 94 is legit and that his name appears in their SAVE databases. It took pretty close to a month for dps to get a response from immigration, but he just got the approval notice from DPS that he is all clear to take the test. YAY!!!!

Other strange thing, he received a Notice of Action letter from USCIS stating that they were reviewing his I 94 request about 2 weeks after he was already granted the Parole in Place and given the actual I 94 card in the local office.

I dunno why, maybe a delay in the recording of everything from the local office to the main immigration database? its all good though.

GOT APPROVED FOR PAROLE IN PLACE I 94 AT HOUSTON OFFICE YESTERDAY!

_{That's good. I am happy for you!}

@mnlescobar I too am a veteran and applied for i131 for my spouse and stepson. we did ours at the local office in Houston. after fingerprinting we received a letter to appear at the local office after six weeks. We were missing our final divorce decree from both of our previous marriages, so we went back today 2/18/14, took our info waited about 2 hrs and granted pip docs. hang in there

Awesome!!! So, are you saying that after the Biometric appointment, it took about 6 weeks to get a response from the local office and the response was telling you to schedule another infopass appointment? (Maybe only because your application was missing some docs?) I am curious because when we went to the local office we did a lot of running around that same day trying to gather all of the needed docs and turned everything in to USCIS before we were given printout for Biometrics appointment.

I read on another forum that after another applicant turned in their supporting docs and finished biometrics appointment, they received a phone call from their local office that the PIP was approved and was sent the I-94 it in the mail, without doing the followup infopass appointment. Could you post the dates/ timeline of when you submitted the package, Biometrics appointment and actual I 94 in hand? Thank you for your post

BTW, the timeline that I have for my case here is for my stepson, not my husband.

Hello. I submitted the parole in place for my husband (I am a veteran) to the local USCIS Office as well. He had his Biometrics appointment on 2/7/14. The whole Biometrics literally took 10 minutes to complete. Now, we just sit back and wait. I was told at the original infopass appointment in January that after the Biometrics appointment, the results would be forwarded to the local office and reviewed by a supervisor. We would be notified to come back into the local office and would be given a decision in approximately 3 weeks.

I don't know at this point how that will work, if we will be notified from USCIS via a letter with a specific appointment time and date, (like the Biometrics appointment notice) or if we have to make another infopass appointment to get the decision.

I found out after several phone calls to USCIS that info regarding PIP requests/status is independent from a pending or approved I 130 petition. Case info for both processes appears not to be LINKED. And calling USCIS for an estimated processing time didn't seem to do any good because the operator that I talked to was discussing the normal processing times for an I 131 in general, not for a PIP. I think it is still a very new process.

I was told by someone from USCIS that after NVC receives my husband's petition, if the I 94 does get approved, then USCIS will notify NVC that it was approved and the case will be transferred back to USCIS for processing. I was told NOT to pay any fees at NVC if the I 94 gets approved. I would file an I 485 and the other docs associated with that petition and a copy of the approved I 94 to adjust status here.

I am not an attorney, I am just telling how my experience has been so far. Hope this helps!

OOPS I meant I would post the websites on how to file the I 131 to get approved for the I 94.

https://cliniclegal.org/resources/articles-clinic/parole-place-administrative-relief-military-families

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/events/legal_assistance_military_personnel/ls_lamp_cle_nov11_session3_parole_in_place.authcheckdam.pdf

On Form I-131, under “Part 2, Application Type,” there is no box to check that indicates the
applicant is applying for parole in place.

It is suggested that applicants check off box 1d (“I am applying for an Advance Parole
Document to allow me to return to the United States after temporary foreign travel”) under “Part
2, Application Type,” and write “Parole in Place” in red ink next to the description.

Then, under Part 4, Information About Your Proposed Travel, Question 1a, Purpose of Trip, the applicant would write “Parole in Place (PIP)” again on this line.

To answer Part 4, Question 1b, List the countries you intend to visit, the applicant should write “N/A.”

(Applicants should be sure that the USCIS office adjudicating the I-131 understands that the applicant is submitting a parole in place request.)

Hi. We are in the process of having our parole in place petition/waiver approved. The law is so new though, I honestly had a hard time trying to find someone that could help me. It was passed 11/15/13 and I was at USCIS office on 12/2/13 trying to get info. At that time no one could tell me anything except for to talk to an immigration attorney. So I did, and was told same thing: "Its too soon, the change is too new, we haven't been given any formal direction on how to file the petition." I was frustrated and figured that I didn't have anything to lose, so I decided to try to do it myself.

So, I scoured the internet and found a website for immigration attorneys. The site said to fill out an I 131 travel doc and write in certain things on the I 131 petition. I also included a pdf copy of the memorandum from 11/15/13 regarding Parole in place and highlighted sections that applied to me (Veteran), wrote a hardship letter and included a bunch of docs (copies) marriage license, birth certificates for me and him, (if anything is not in English, it has to be translated to English), if anyone has ever been divorced, those will be needed too, my DD214, my texas driver's license, (has veteran stamp on it), first page of his passport, 2 color passport style photos and a bunch of docs to support we are married (bills together, insurance card, bank statement, church docs, etc.).

I sent the entire package to the local office. About a week later I received the entire package back stating that they don't accept petitions there, but that I need to make an info pass appointment and bring the entire package (application and docs) that I previously sent. When we went, someone at the window reviewed the docs and told us that before Nov 15th, there was a similar parole in place but it was only for active duty people that had deployment orders and they were granted the I 94 usually same day. However, with the memorandum change, the process is longer now. My hubby was given a Biometrics/fingerprint appointment letter that was scheduled for 2 weeks later. It didn't cost a thing. He just had his Biometrics appointment a week ago.

Supposedly it takes about 3 weeks for USCIS to get the results back. We were told that when they have the results, they will call us in for an interview. I don't know if that means with a particular date or if we have to schedule an info pass again. When he is called in for the interview, it will be determined then if our case qualifies for the I 94. it is my understanding that after he has his I 94 card, we can go ahead and file the adjustment of status here. After AOS is filed (supposedly) he will get his temp ss card and work permit after 90 days.

I am all new at this and I am not an attorney. I am telling you how the process has worked for me so far and what I was told to expect. I have also read over and over that each USCIC office has discretion to handle cases differently. Hopefully someone else reading this may be able to contribute their experience as well. I will update the forum when I have more info. I will also post the webpage that I got my information from on how to file the I 94... (I just have to remember where I found it.)

Good luck.

Case was transferred to Nebraska on 12/04/13. I got text/email that case was approved this morning. And just a couple of minutes ago another text/ email that case now being transferred to NVC.

Our case is a little different though. The timeline that I have on here is for my stepson, not my hubby. I am going to do adjustment of status for my husband, so he will not be doing the consular processing after all. I applied for the Parole in Place waiver for military veterans, that was just amended Nov 15th last year. My husband already went to local USCIS office with initial paperwork and was scheduled 2 weeks later for biometrics appointment. Supposedly, after the background check comes back, we make another infopass appointment and will be granted I 94 card which is to be filed with his adjustment of status application like a waiver. Wish us luck.

My hubby's case just got approved today!!!! Filed 5/8/13, approved 2/11/14.

It takes a LONG time.

I sent my AOS packet on 1/08/14 and just got an email from NVC telling me to resubmit my AOS yesterday (2/10/14).

Be careful when filling out financial info on AOS because there is a line that says to write the adjusted gross income from your taxes for the last 3 years. BUT THAT IS ONLY IF YOU FILED A 1040 EZ. If you filed anything other than a 1040 EZ, you have to write line 22 from your taxes which is the total income. Its a little tricky. I am not sure how much time that little mistake will set me back in this process .

It takes a little while. I received a text from USCIC that case approved on 11/08/13. I called NVC literally every week after that. On 12/6/13, NVC operator told me that NVC received case, but case# not assigned yet. Finally on 12/20/13, I found out that case# assigned, but that info was obtained from calling so often. i did not get any formal notification via email from NVC until 12/31/13.

Text from USCIC case approved: 11/08/13

Called NVC found out they "received case": 12/06/13

Called NVC and finally found out case#: 12/20/14

Received "formal" case# notification (via email): 12/31/13.

Oh and by the way, USCIC sends letters and texts to cvommunicate case info status. I ONLY received correspondence from NVC via email. NOTHING IN THE MAIL EVER. And, once case is transferred to NVC, you can't check case status anymore on USCIC website. NVC telephone# 1 603-334-0700

Hi. I actually have 2 petitions going on at the same time. The one for my hubby has a priority date of 5/8/13, we received a transfer notice to Nebraska Service

Center on 12/6/13 and we haven't heard anything since.

The USCIC processing dates haven't been updated since November. Supposedly they get updated every 15th of the month.

I would THINK that if there was going to be an RFE in the case, I should have heard something by now?

Has anyone received NOA2 after priority date of 5/8/13, where case was transferred to Nebraska Service Center?

Thanks!

Ann

Hi. I don't think it is you. May be a problem with the site. I an not able to edit my profile to upload a timeline.