Abbyerin

You can only be outside of the U.S for up to six months at a time. 

Also, be aware that any time out of the country counts against time for your citizenship. So, a person who got a GC through marriage can apply to be a citizen after 3 years but they need to be physically present in the U.S for I think half of that. This trip will deduct from your time being "present" in the U.S if citizenship is a route you want to take. 

Already done that. Already got in touch with multiple immigration lawyers who know people from USCIS too. This was one of my last ports of calls.

I've contacted USCIS through multiple emails. I've also posted it in other places on the internet. So, this was my last ditch attempt so to speak. Thank you for replying though 

Hi, 

I'm at Paralegal School and I am doing a project on USCIS. Part of the project is a mini interview that will go into my paper and a short powerpoint. It's nothing invasive! The questions are below. 

If you know anyone or do work/worked for USCIS then please come forward. I've been trying for weeks to find someone but to no avail. 

Thank you for any and all your help.

Also, If someone does want to answer these questions and want to do it privately, that's no problem. 

Interview questions

1.     What’s your name and what is your role at USCIS?

2.     Which location do/did you work for?

3.     Does/did your location specialize in a certain area for USCIS? Or does/did this location cover most aspects of it?

4.     How long have you been employed by USCIS?

5.     Is this your only job role in USCIS or have you been in other roles?

6.     What does your average day look like in your job?

7.     Who do you personally answer to/what is their job role?

8.     What attracted you to working at USCIS?

9.     What are your favorite aspects about your job?

10. What is the one thing you’d like the general public to know about USCIS?

On 2/5/2017 at 9:44 AM, jsaechao907 said:

Congrats! We went straight for the card being produced just like yours....

Thank you so much! My status went from "New card is being produced" on 02/04/2017 to "Case Approved" on 02/06/2017! Good luck to everyone still waiting! We're all getting there!

So... as I said previously... all three of my case numbers (EAD, AP and AOS) never worked until they got approved. Well today my I-485 changed to " Card is being produced". It never went to " Case approved", it just went straight to "card is being produced". Has this happened to anyone else? 

I'm so happy to have an update! 

46 minutes ago, MrsWoodsy said:

Hopefully everything will be just fine with your case! PA seems to have slow processing times, but I know other places are definitely slower. We were assured as well that his case is within its normal phase. It's irritating going and checking on the case status and getting the "invalid case" for sure. I guess good things will just come in due time... But anyway, I'll let yous know when the day comes! Good luck Abbyerin!  

Thank you love! Yeah seems they are processing 5/6 months after applying. I'm in my 6th month now as they didn't get my file until end of July so I'm hoping January is the month! At least we're with our partners so it's not too bad  

1 minute ago, MrsWoodsy said:

We called 1.800.375.5283 which is the customer service line for USCIS. We told the lady that we couldn't check our case status online and she said she couldn't answer where our case was because she was seeing the same thing we were. She directed us to 2nd tier cos she couldn't help us. 

I did the same thing on Monday and they told me that I'm still "within processing times" but in two weeks I'll be out of the processing time. Then I can call up and request that they write to me and let me know what's happening with my case. That's if I don't hear anything in the next two weeks. I'm hoping I do It would just be nice to see my case status and it not come back with "case invalid". The guy (tier 2) assured me to not worry as he can see everything in his system because it's a different system and it's doing fine, just waiting to be processed. We shall see. I will update as I go along  Please let us know how yours goes MrsWoodsey  

2 hours ago, lilygracexx said:

 

Thank you, hope you get a case status update soon. In my case the I-485 took some time to work online but the I-130 only worked when it has been approved. 

Yeah, that's what happened to all three of mine (EAD, AP and AOS). My EAD and AP updated once they were approved and worked as normal. Thanks for the well wishes  I hope it updates soon. Makes it easier being with my husband. I think I'd be going crazy if I were still overseas! 

3 hours ago, Nipperswife said:

Howcome?

 

Have you called them and told the that it does not work??

All three of my cases never worked (AOS, EAD and AP). The EAD and AP did when they were approved and then worked as normal. It's happened to many people. I think it's just when it's not inputted into the system properly or there is a glitch or something?

Anyway, I've had my receipt numbers by post and done my biometrics etc so I'm not too worried. I've found it's happened to many people and when they call they don't really get any answer other than to just wait so I've not bothered. 

Although, if I don't get any update by the end of January then I think I will give them a call just to be on the safe side. As other people have said in previous posts... the wait isn't too bad now that we're with our partners  however, I would like my green card so I can properly feel settled. 

Congratulations to everyone getting their green cards! Woo! 

I've still not got mine and my case number doesn't even work but trying to be patient!

Happy new year everyone! 

AOS got approved today!!!

Congratulations !!

Still waiting. Field office is Pittsburgh which seems to be pretty backed up too

We're at Pittsburgh too! Looking at other people's time lines it seems to take 5-7 months at Pittsburgh. It's a long wait but at least we're with our husbands and wives now

Congratulations to all who've been approved! Hang in there for the rest of us! <3

I just entered it again. Looked off of his NOA1 sheet. I entered it the same as the paper and it still doesn't recognize the number. My husband called a month ago about this and they said there's nothing they can do about it except wait. :/

Check if you are entering it properly. They say the 45th day is when you are able to look it up online. Call them and tell them about that.. but I kinda believe you're not entering it properly. You are to enter it as is... the letters and all 11 numbers no space no hyphens

Nipperswife - Alot of people's are still invalid until they get updated. It just happened, they didn't get put into the system correctly or there was a glitch or something - I don't know. All three of mine weren't working until the cases got approved. So right now my AP and EAD is approved and been sent to me. Before this, They were "invalid numbers" until they updated. My I-485 still doesn't work but it should update once it's been approved.

Mrs Woodsey - Don't worry! I'm right there with you. My I-485 number doesn't work - Just comes back as invalid. I have the USCIS case app to check it easily everyday. Do you have this?

MY EAD and AP were invalid until approved and then they started working and I could track things.

The K-1 is a lot quicker than getting married in Peru.

This is because the K-1 allows your wife to be to come over and get married in 90 days. She would then adjust status to get a green card.

If you get married in Peru then you'd need to apply for a spousal visa that takes longer because your wife won't have to adjust status. This is because her permanent residency would have already been approved.

This website has a relatively informative chart of the differences: http://www.visacoach.com/fiance-vs-spouse-which-is-better.html

Take it with a pinch of salt, as filing fees are about to change. Also, stuff like the medical being $200 isn't set it stone. My medical cost £380.00 which is way more than £200.00 so keep that in mind.

Hope this helps

My permanent resident card arrived in the mail today, I'm done for a couple of years. Good luck everyone!

Congratulations!!

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I wish you all the best in your journey!

You too lovely!

ok two weeks would be Nov 4th.. so 4th to 9th I should expect the card mailed, according to your experience. I'll try to relax until the 9th then ... Thank you for this. It really is such a lengthy process, then we would have to wait for the social ... and then once we have the social in hand then we can properly get situated and be hired .. at this rate I probably wont be hired before the year is up ...

I know, it's so frustrating. I don't think I will have a job until next year now either but luckily I think we can manage without me working until then. Just think... next year, this will all be a distant memory! It really is just a slow waiting game. But hey! we all made it this far! I can't imagine a time when I won't be waiting for documents haha!

Fingers crossed it comes within the next week or so. Keep us updated!

I'm getting just a little bit frustrated.. My biometrics was done 50 days after my priority date. I don't have the ead/ap combo card in hand yet.. They were approved October 21 2016, it is now November 1st 2016 I know I should just relax but I am getting frustrated.

Still waiting for EAD/AP card. It's approved 10/19 which is 2 weeks ago.

Hey guys! Don't worry, it's on it's way.

My EAD/AP got approved on 13 October. The case updated on 27 October to "Card Was Mailed To Me" (exactly two weeks to the day it was approved) and then I received my card in the post yesterday (31 October). So it takes around 2-2 and a half weeks from approval to being in your hand.

These waits do suck and are frustrating I know

Thanks for responding!

The NYC office is even more behind - as of Aug. 31, they were processing cases from November 2015. Yikes!

Hello there, just wanted to tell you we're in the same boat as you.

We sent in everything to Chicago lockbox on July 19, 2016 and the receipt says it was received on July 20, 2016 (which is also the Priority Date).

We have the EAD. We didn't apply for AP.

We were never asked for a RFIE nor a RFE.

Just waiting. The processing times for West Palm Beach, FL office says as of August 31, 2016 they are working on I-485s received April 6, 2016.

Hang in there. Be patient. It's frustrating. We know!

I said this before earlier in the thread... Don't worry about those processing times they post. They're not true!

I know someone that filed in Mid June. Got EAD/AP approved at end of August and green card approved (without interview) at the end of September... This was at the New York office.

Most people don't look at processing times because they're wildly wrong. Unfortunately, sometimes people who file after you will get approved before you, it happens. It really is just a waiting game. I know, I'm in the same boat. I just want everything settled and done for a few years haha!

Anyway, this is just a reply to try set your minds at rest. It will happen, don't worry. Just don't look at the processing times

Interview in 11 hours in LA!!!!! Getting nervous and excited.

I'll let you all know how it went later tomorrow.

Good luck! You'll do great

Congrats to everyone who has seen progress!!!

No movement on the green card front from me yet... The NYC office is currently processing cases from a year ago - a whole year ago - so I guess I am in for a long wait.

I know someone who filed AOS in mid June (2016) at NYC office and got accepted for the 2 year conditional green card at the end of September!

Green card came in the mail today. Finally completing this part of the process feels so good!! I couldn't have done it without the support of this forum and my wonderful husband. Now to rest till it's time to remove conditions. I hope everyone's process goes just as smoothly!! :-)

Congratulations!

Congrats!

Congrats!

Thank you!!

Just got EAD and AP approved!!

My case numbers have never worked and today I just checked on the app as I do everyday. It updated between around 4pm and 10pm because that's when I last looked.

Up until now I've had no emails or text messages but they may come through later possibly? The green card application is still on "validation error" but hey, it's moving along!

Congratulations to everyone who is already approved and hang tight to all the people still waiting! It's going to come round soon! Going to update my timeline and signature now

Glad to see this topic on here. It seems very helpful. Hope it all goes smoothly for everyone.

We had a couple bumps down the road already since we filed our application including receipts taking forever to get here and getting an RFE.

However, we are still trying to keep a positive attitude.

I do have a question for you guys if you can help that'd be great

We filed our application July 5th and we did not receive a Biometrics appointment letter yet. Do you think it has been too long and maybe we should try and call them about it?

Yes, you need to get in touch with them about that. I filed in July and my NOA is 5th August and my biometrics were done on 29th August. You should of had them taken by now.

Let us know how it all goes. Good luck!