Mad & J

Back on VJ after nearly two years! We mailed our ROC package yesterday. I haven't kept up with processing times in the meantime and didn't realize how backlogged they were. Wow! Hope everything goes smoothly for us all even if it's a long wait.

Has anyone here experienced your online case showed "CARD IS BEING PRODUCED" while your case was actually still being reviewed? The reason why I'm asking is because my wife and I just had an interview for AOS this morning. We were told to wait 30-60 days while the case officer reviews our case. Whatever the reason was I think she suspected something and she wanted to review the case more. However, we just checked the case on USCIS system, and it is showing CARD BEING PRODUCED???

thanks

Sounds like you were approved, regardless of what was said at the interview? If so, in a few days your status should change to indicate that your card was mailed. Good luck!

I received my green card yesterday. So glad to get a break from USCIS for almost 2 years!

I hope they will not delay the proces . The way the interview went is really smooth. Just try to not worry. We all are passing a lot of stres only waiting during this proces. Don't forget that there is another interview in 2 years. Congradulation for being in this step so far! Enjoy this moment and the summer ! ???

Thanks for the good wishes. My case status just updated to say that my green card is being produced!

We had our AOS interview yesterday morning. I'd put together a large amount of evidence but the interviewer didn't ask for any of it! All he asked for was our passports, my driver's license, combo card, and SSN (I hadn't received mine yet when I originally filed for AOS). He didn't ask any questions at all. He sais he was approving my AOS and asked if we had any questions. I said I didn't, but that I'd brought a ton of stuff and did he want to look at any of it? He smiled and said, "Alright, let me look at your photos." He went through our entire photo album (it's massive!) while we explained where/when they were taken, who else was in the photos with us, etc. I feel it was more for our benefit than his. Overall very low-stress, he obviously had made his mind up before we walked in his office.

The only problem was that he didn't have my medical in my file. Ugh. I confirmed that I had my medical done in Canada for the K1 and showed him my copy of the vaccination supplement worksheet (DS-3025). He said that he would contact the Department of State and have them send the medical, which should have been in the file already. I really hope that they haven't lost it. Considering how much of a hassle the biometrics/EAD process was, I'm really not that surprised that there is one more issue with our AOS.

I just got notification that I will have my AOS interview on July 21. I was hoping they'd waive the interview since I came here on a K1 visa, but at this point I'm just glad they haven't lost my file. Time to start gathering evidence!

After 172 days they approve my EAD. 2 days less then my k1. This is crazy. But thank God they did something. I am curious how long will take my green carday to be approved.

Finally! Glad you were finally approved, I hope you have the card in your hands very soon!

My home province was BC. I think it works that way because the office that looks after out of the country claims is in Ontario.

I tried this and it worked! But sadly, it's not much help. I can't view my current claim or payment information, when I click on them I get the following: "Our records show that you live outside of Canada therefore you will not be able to use this service. If you do live in Canada, select the View/change my province of residence link from the Change tab on the My Service Canada Account home page to specify your province of residence." All I can access is my ROE.

IIRC I got that online account to work by saying I was in Ontario? it feels nefarious when you do it but when you sign in it has all your correct info.

I tried that by putting New Brunswick as my province (where I lived and worked before moving to the US), but that didn't work either. Maybe I'll have to call their help line.

Out of curiosity, who else who filed for AOS in January is still waiting for their GC?

Seems like so many people go theirs really quickly! We had to fight just to get the EAD/AP and I'm hoping my AOS file wasn't forgotten in the process. No RFE, no interview notice, my case is still at "Fingerprints fee received".

Congrats for your EAD card!!!

according to my case: I filled my EI claim on October 2016 and received my first payment February 07, 2016, my 36 weeks will end on October, 2016, my advice is to open a account in service Canada, you will have all your payment and eligibility details there, also all the information you need.

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/msca/access.page .

Btw: i have a question about Canadian tax return refund: I'm still waiting for my refund since 07 weeks is that normal?

Thanks.

Thanks!

I was approved for the full amount of weeks I thought I was eligible for, which is good. I received my first payment today, which was about 70$ less per week than what I expected from my calculations. Oh well. Still better than nothing!

I haven't been able to access my Service Canada account online. The Out of State Claims lady I talked to said that it was because I was from out of country. Did you already have an account before moving to the States?

We got married in St. Augustine, Florida (St. John's County), and we were able to get several certified copies of the marriage certificate right then and there. I second the suggestion of trying a different county if you are in a hurry to file for AOS.

My husband's card has been "in production" for 5 weeks....

That is crazy. Their 'wait 30 days' spiel is so unhelpful. I hope you get good news soon.

Thank you, AnnoyedAtTSC and Mad & J, for your replies and advices!

​Calls to USCIS about my case status did not make any progress, so based on your advices decided to contact ombudsman and our congressman. So today, after 4 days since reply from ombudsman about contacting USCIS regarding my case, I receive update that "my card is being produced". Oh my God! Finally! But afraid to celebrate now, only when I will have it in my hands!

​

Glad to hear it!

I hope that you receive it very soon! I got my combo card in the mail about a week after being notified of card production, but obviously with USCIS you never know what happens until you have your card in hand. Good luck!

Hey Guys. Thanks for the quick reaponse! It is a CR-1 visa for my wife. We are driving down and probably going through Houlton, Me. We have an uncle that lives in Houlten that we always make a visit to.

So we don't need to make an appointment?

We are planning on going down to Madsachusetts for a weekend to go to a Red Sox game and take care of a few things at our apartment.

Later in the summer, probably around August, we are going to officially move. So it's better to register the car then?

My fiancee (now wife) and I went through the Houlton POE in January on a K1 visa. We imported my Toyota Prius 2012.

The compliance letter was super easy to get from Toyota, and free. I would recommend officially importing your car when you activate your visa, it'll be easier. I had a picture of my license plate, a picture of my EPA and CMVSS stickers, my registration and my letter of compliance. The officer who handled my car import paperwork didn't even step outside to look at the car. Maybe cause it was January and really cold!

We had no appointment, showed up in the middle of the day on a Friday. We were in and out in less than 30 minutes and everyone was pleasant. You can look at the end of my timeline for a more detailed review: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=203168

I finally received my EAD (after 115 days since filing). As soon as I had it in hand I faxed it to the Interstate Claims office. The next day I called them and talked to Patrick again, who told me they had reopened my claim. I thought it was nice that he set the period of eligibility from the first day of the week in which my EAD was approved rather than the day they received my fax. Since I had to wait nearly two weeks to receive the card in the mail, this effectively adds two weeks to my period of eligibility. Anyway, I was able to complete my EI report for the first two weeks on the phone then and there, so I expect to start receiving payments soon. Finally! btw after fighting with USCIS for months over missing biometrics appointments and late EAD processing, it was very nice to talk to a government employee who knows what he's doing.

Question: How do they calculate the number of weeks for which you can get payments when there is such a long gap between filing for EI and being eligible to work? If I was originally eligible for 36 weeks, would they subtract the 19 weeks or so that passed between filing for EI and approval of EAD, or would I get the full 36 weeks? Hopefully I will start working soon and won't be needing EI for very long, but it would be nice to know.

Congratulations, AnnoyedAtTSC and Mad&J! You made it!!!!

​My case is still killing my nerves, I called to expedite it on the May 9. My status showed it was expedited, but no any news since then. Called them today and was killed by the answer of the officer (2nd tier!!!) "It seems you had your biometric appointment recently. You need to wait 90 days since your biometrical appointment because we need time to process your case. What does it mean "expedited" in this case? - Just we consider your case before others." To say dissapointed it is to say nothing.

How can I escalate my process?

Thanks!

That sounds like a load of BS from the tier 2 officer you spoke to! Does your case status still say 'case received'? If so, I would call again and hope you get someone more helpful. Point out that you didn't get an answer to your previous service request(s) and that you are outside processing times due to USCIS error. You can also involved your elected officials (congressperson and state senators), and file a complaint with the CIS ombudsman: https://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance

I still wait my EAD to be approved. I have 144 days. I made 2 service request, one infopass and talk with congressmen...nothing help. I don't know what I do next.

Really sorry to hear it! Have you tried filing a complaint with the cis ombudsman? You could also file another service request that specifically says that you want your case expedited due to being outside processing times. The only other thing I can think of is reaching out to your other elected officials, such as state senators. They may be more helpful than your congressman has been.

With the "2nd" request for help of the congressman's office (the first one was to add address which USCIS had no record of / getting the fingerprinting appointment setup), we were able to get the EAD finally approved 6 weeks from the fingerprint date. After we waited 30+ days from the fingerprint date, I got in touch with the congress' office. After they contacted USCIS and requested accelerated process for EAD/AP. We were also told that the status of the AOS application is still "pending".

Why we got a email notification for EAD only (currently it's being mailed), not the combo card? Has anyone experienced similar case receiving non-combo card?

We have very similar timelines and had the same issues with our cases. My case status for EAD has now updated to "card being produced", but AP has not changed (still says case received). However, I received a hard-copy approval notice for the AP yesterday (but no hard copy letter for EAD). What a mess of a system! They don't seem very diligent about updating the online case statuses these days, so it's possible that your AP was approved on the same day as your EAD but that they never updated the case status or sent the letter. If you want to be sure, you could call USCIS and talk to a tier 2. The customer support people who you first talk to won't know anything because all they have access to is the online case status, but tier 2 should be able to confirm whether your AP was approved or not.

Yes, i got my card on Friday May 12th and started work the Monday after

My status didn't update until the day before my card arrived. I actually rang a couple of times and the 1800 number people told me "this hasn't been approved, who told you it had been?" which worried me at first. But once i got through to a tier 2 they had the correct information.

If you've been approved you can ring and ask for a tier 2 in order to get the tracking number for your card. I was recommended to do this. I was unable to get the tracking number until the card showed up however.

Glad to hear it! I hope I won't have to wait too long until I receive it, I'll give USCIS a call to see about a tracking number. Thanks for the update!

So, did you finally get your card in the mail? I finally was informed that my EAD was approved on the 19th, but the online case status hasn't updated yet. Honestly I won't rest easy until I have the card in hand!

So, after countless service requests, an ombudsman complaint, an infopass apppointment and a congressman inquiry, I finally received notice that my EAD was approved on the 19th (via email response to my latest service request). My online case status has not changed to reflect this. After this whole debacle, I won't be able to breathe easy until I have my EAD card in hand. I really hope it will be an EAD/AP combo card, but at this point I'm more worried about EAD so I can finally start working. Hopefully I won't have to wait several more months for the AOS approval. I have to say, I'm really envious of all the January filers whose cases were processed so easily and who already have their GCs in hand!

Certainly not in Pinellas County or Marion County ? Where are you at?

Jacksonville

Except for medical things I've noticed they use metric first and then convert it. Also soda is in litres for big bottles which is odd.

We had daylight savings time in Ontario.

I can't get over the lack (non existent) of recycling here

Funny, I am also in Florida and find that they recycle things much more here than where I lived in Canada. It's not that surprising though, I come from a small town in the Maritimes and now live in a big city.

Good news, i like to think some rapid action was prompted due to our hassling of USCIS but i'm aware that is probably just coincidence....

Got a new biometrics appointment for 3rd May through the post today! Yay. Read online that people have had luck getting it done early so i took a chance and went over to the Nashville USCIS office. There was absolutely nobody there, other than employees. Asked if i could do it early.... "of course, not a problem".....filled out a form, got a number and took a seat.....immediately got called due to being the only person there. Wham bam, Bob's your uncle, biometrics done in 10mins flat.

Anyone know what sort of timeframe i'm looking at before the next case status update? I've got an infopass appointment on tuesday too so i'm gonna go to that and hopefully keep up the pressure. Fingers crossed i might even have a job offer by then that i might be able to use to persuade some further action.

My case will be outside normally processing time next thursday so as soon as that comes around i'll submit one of those enquiries online.

Am i right in thinking there is nothing else required from me now, other than hassling USCIS at every opportunity?

That's great! Glad to hear you were able to get your biometrics done early. I think now you just have to give them some time to work on your case, but yeah, I would keep on prodding them with that infopass appointment next week and a service request, just to make sure they don't forget about you.

I hope we both get some good news soon!

Agreed about USCIS being a ridiculous agency. The lack of accountability is the most frustrating part for me.

I was so sure your problem would be the same as mine, considering your NOA1 date! Did you manage to reschedule your appointment? I'm suspicious of them saying they had your correct address if you never received the notice. I'd advise calling back and insisting to speak to Tier 2... they are supposed to transfer you, especially if you insist right off the bat. I had to argue with them a few times but did manage to get transferred the last few times I called. I'd ask Tier 2 to verify your address, just to be on the safe side. But that's me, after this debacle I don't trust what they tell me anymore! Especially the customer service folks who first answer the phone. I'd verify all the info you got with an actual immigration officer (tier 2).

Good luck!! If nothing else an infopass appointment might help. Keep us posted!