Sticky

I am so happy for everyone who is moving along! But completely understand everyone else's frustration. The case tracker shows my last update on 3/8! Telling us case was received will get a letter blahhhhhh blahhhhh blah. We had biometrics on 4/11. Then nothing. I wish it would at least have an updated date or something to acknowledge that it isn't sitting in a Corning holding the door open in the mail room. Lol. I'm going crazy!

I am so happy for you all moving forward!! I swear I check the status 3 times a day!

My lawyer said so. Did your husband's get approved?

Thanks for that info - based on the visajourney stats I might be in luck to make the wedding!! Unfortunately we can't apply for AP because I entered on a tourist visa...

Why do you think this? My husband overstayed his tourist visa and was still eligible to apply for ead and ap. Is there something that says you can't?

Adding Holtsville, NY

ALABAMA

Birmingham, AL - He give us a hard time, but finally agreed to let us through. Successful.

ARIZONA
Phoenix, AZ - Gave no reason, no questions asked, successful. Staff very friendly and courteous. Went on Monday at opening time (8 am), in and out in 20 minutes.

Tucson, AZ - Gave no reason, no questions asked, successful.

CALIFORNIA
Buena Park - No reason, just gave security guard my appt letter. YES
Chula Vista - 2 Walk-ins, first was 10 days early and the second was 23 days before the appointment. Successful.
El Monte - 13 days early. Work conflict. Sup wasn't nice about it, but biometrics got done!
Fresno - 07/14/14 - Successful, no questions asked. After 2 pm walk-ins allowed.
Gardena - 5/24/12
Los Angeles - (USCIS Fairfax on W. Pico). Successful with no questions asked. 01/11/2015-> walked in 9 days before appointment, asked to come around 2pm. Let me take biometrics no problem then!
Los Angeles - (downtown) July 2012. NO
Los Angeles - San Fernando valley (Chatsworth) division: successful walk-in, no questions asked, short wait. 6/11/13.
Modesto - 10 days early. Went in to try our luck for my wife (K-1) and step daughter (K-2) AOS/EAD Biometrics and no questions asked. The process took about 10 minutes. The employees on-site were very friendly.
Oakland - Oct 2013 successful
Pomona - long wait. Successful
Riverside - Nov 10, 2014 - Unsuccessful. Original appt for Nov 17. Told to come back on the scheduled date. Guard was firm and unfriendly. Didn't help that the woman in front of me was arguing with another member of staff about her appt date.
San Francisco - Feb 2014 - Successful, no questions asked.

San Francisco - 05/19/2014 - No question asked for three weeks early walk-in. Just showed security guard the letter. Get it done in half hour. Friendly staffs
Santa Ana - Walked in 2 times in June 2012. No questions asked. The friendly security guards even told me I could go inside to fill out the form for my wife but will have to wait outside afterwards.
Santa Ana - early walk-in successful, the day after I recieved the biometrics letter (original appointment date: 03/11)! Really nice staff and security guards.
Santa Ana - 7/30/2014 Early walk-in successful (Original appt date is August 14, 2014). I was in and out in 15 minutes!
Santa Ana - 7/28/2014 Early walk-in successful. Really nice staff... was in and out within minutes. Very short wait since there were others ahead of me. Very friendly.
Santa Rosa - Walked in right after lunch. very few people. They were not happy and pointed out the scheduled date many times, but didn't send us away. I'm glad we were in the area and busy on our actual day.
San Marcos - Walked in at a little after 2pm and we're 2nd in line. Showed Appointment Notice and passport. Entire process only took 15 minutes and didn't have to pay parking fee (inside a small shopping center)
San Marcos - Walked in right after I got apt letter, went 20 min before closing, was the only one there, didn't give any reason, was in and out in 7 min, free ample parking space.
San Jose - 4/29/14 - Successful. Appointment for 5/14/14. Did a walk-in at 11.20am. Staff was pleasant and polite. In and out in 10 minutes.
West Sacramento - 4/28/14 - Unsuccessful

COLORADO
Aurora - Went 10 days early. Reason: I was in the area and had lots of meetings on appointment day. Successful. I arrived at 8 am and saw that lots of people were waiting. Left, did some chores, and came back at 9:15. Finished biometrics in 10 minutes.
Denver - went in 2 days early because I couldn't get the day off of work to take hubby on exact date and we had no issues

FLORIDA
Jacksonville - May 2013- Gave no reason, 2 weeks before appointment, successful in 25 minutes.
Miami - June 2012 - Gave no reason. Showed up 2 weeks before - was in and out in 5 minutes.
Oakland Park - Feb 2013 - Gave no reason, 2 weeks before appointment, succsessful in 10 minutes.
Tampa - May 2014 - Said I would be out of town, 2.5 weeks before appointment, successful in under 30 minutes
Tampa - 8/12/2014 - Appointment for 8/21/14 - Gave no reason, successful
Tampa - 9/18/2015 - Appointment for 9/22/15 - Not successful, was told to come back day of appointment, was told they were understaffed and there were no walk-ins allowed all day

GEORGIA
Atlanta - No reason Officer had us wait outside until the earliest appts went in (about 15 minutes). Yes.
Atlanta - Our appt was for 6/13 went in 5/25 and we were successful with no questions. The office just wrote on our form Walk-in.
Atlanta - Appointment for 04/26/13. Did a walk-in at 3PM 04/17/13 successfully. Reason was husband is working on appointment day. No question of reason though.
Atlanta - Appointment for 10/18/13. Did a walk-in at 3PM 10/01/13 as we are on vacation on appointment day. No problems, the place was deserted. Successful - in and out in 10 minutes.

ILLINOIS
Naperville (abut 30 miles west of Chicago) - My appt was 8/13. Went on 8/30 at 2pm but was unsuccessful - only one technician on duty. I asked if there was any point in trying again and was told 'I can't tell you not to try again but to try earlier in the day'. I went on 8/1 at 11am and was seen after the 11am appts. I was in and out in about 25 minutes. I was told that I shouldn't really be doing this and not to do it again but at least they saw me. I didn't give any reason for wanting an earlier appt. I just said that I had been waiting so long during the whole K1 process, I would like to get a head start on AOS!

INDIANA
Michigan City - January 2012 - No reason needed - Yes to successful walk-in(asked about it, I was there the same day as appointment)

IOWA
Des Moines - April 2010 - Husbands erratic work schedule meant rescheduling wouldn't help because there was still no guarantee the new date would work - Successful
Des Moines - March 2011 - To get it over with - Successful (advised they were being more strict but letting them proceed due to no-one else being there)

LOUISIANA
Metairie - Unsuccessful. You must arrive on the correct day at the exact time of your appointment, or they will not see you. Tried for AOS, ROC and N-400. Two friends have also tried it and been refused.

MARYLAND
Baltimore - April/2013, told guard I will have oral surgery couple days before appointment & will be very swollen/bruised, she asked for supporting documents which I provided. Denied walk in. Was told I could come the day of if I was feeling well enough or after appointment date but not before.
Wheaton - told Security guard I was not going to be in State on the day. Yes
Wheaton - July 2012, asked why could not make appointment, said attending wedding. Successful(out in 10 minutes).
Wheaton - Dec 27, 2013 - Told guard we had an 01/07/14 appointment in Baltimore but had a dr. appointment the same day. He passed us on through. The gentleman who we talked to gave us a lecture about going to the wrong place, that people would be waiting for us on the appointed day, that it wasn't fair to them, etc, etc. - but then said he would allow it this time but to do all other appointments on the scheduled date at the right office.

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston - I took my wife for her scheduled biometrics appointment on 1/14/14. In an effort to get some info for this thread I asked the woman at the front desk if they allow early walk-ins, this was her reply: "It depends on what the reason is. If you legitimately need to come at an earlier date they will allow it, but if you just walk in for no apparent reason, they may not."
Boston - Tried to do early walk in for my appointment in Lawrence, told them I worked in Boston and would have to take time off to go to Lawrence. They asked me if I couldn't make it on the original date, I said I could, just didn't want to take time off from work. They told me I'd have to come back on the day of my appointment, but I could do it in Boston. Still waiting to go back. - Not successful.

Boston - I missed my 01/08/2016 appointment due to the info getting to me too late (got it on 01/11). Called USCIS helpline, was told to either try a late walk-in or send paper in to Virginia to get a new appointment (wait time about a month *ahhh*). Showed up at Center today (01/12/2016) with letter and ID, manager came over to sign off on late slip and let me in no problem. There at 8:45am, back out at 9:30am, not bad at all and ALL DONE.
Lawrence - did an early walk in 3 weeks before my appointment. Just asked politely if it was ok as I was in the area that day anyway. They couldn't have been nicer. Done and on my way home in less than 25mins! Was quite anxious beforehand as I'd heard bad things about Lawrence. But they were all friendly and really nice and accommodating.
Lawrence - 05/08/14 - Went one day early, they commented that it was supposed to be the next day, no questions. Successful. Should've tried there first instead of Boston - MUCH better office.

MICHIGAN
Detroit 07/29/14 SUCESSFUL
-We arrived about 245pm security only asked for identification and where we were going. The clerk in ASC was more difficult initially when she looked at our appointment she said why are you here so early (appt scheduled for 08/14/14) I explained my wife is pregnant and due any day she said well we had a power outage yesterday I don't know if we will be able to get you in ( only 2 people were waiting for someone) so she went to ask her supervisor when she returned handed me the clipboard and stamped our I -797 and said I can't guarantee it but fill out this form so as soon as I finished filling the forms they called my wife and son back about 15 minutes in total.

MINNESOTA
Duluth - successful
Minneapolis - May 2012- NO because one of the computers was down
St Paul - No reason asked or given. Successful
St Paul - April 14th, 2014. Guard noted we were kind of early but I can let you in, as we're not busy. We mentioned we had a trip planned on the appointment day, after his comment. Successful
St. Paul - No reason asked or given. Successful. They will let you in if it is a slow day at the office.

MISSOURI
St. Louis - No problems, no questions asked, Successful

MONTANA
Helena - family had appts on different days. Did all the same day. Friendly office.

NEBRASKA
Omaha - 3/22/2012- appointment was for Apr 5. No questions. Successful
Omaha - 4/08/2014 - Appointment was for 4/18. No questions asked. Successful

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Manchester - Did routine security check and showed I-797 to guy at the window who said the decision would be the department's whether to take early appointment or not. Lady gave me lecture on how to change appt, if not able to make it and said they need to stop early walk-ins as they schedule staff based on # of persons per appt, Asked why I wanted it done, told the truth...it was anxiety....

NEW JERSEY
Hackensack - The guard asked me what I was doing there on 8/20/12 when my schedule was 8/30/12. I told him my sister will be having her baby and I will fly to Rochester on 8/25/12 to be with her. The guard let me talk with the manager and the manager checked my roundtrip ticket. The walk-in attempt was SUCCESSFUL.

NEW YORK
Brooklyn (60th St) - 5/7/14 (9am Wednesday morning) - no reason asked or given - successful, but an hour or so wait
Holtsville (Long Island) - 5/22/12 No reason asked. YES

Holtsville (Long Island)- 4/11/16 Successful. Officer asked for a reason and I explained that I had to take the day off to drive husband to the doctor and was hoping to not have to take another day off later in the week for biometrics as well. She said no problem. No wait. We were the only ones there at 12:30PM.
Manhattan - 01/15/2013, Couldn't get to Philadelphia, Walk in Successful

Manhattan - 03/04/2016 - Successful, no questions asked. Went at 08.00, not super busy, waited 45 minutes.

Port Chester - 02/21/2013, No reasons asked, very friendly, successful. Note: I am living in Connecticut but close enough to the New York state line - appointment scheduled automatically for Port Chester, not CT.

Port Chester - 03/01/2016 - Successful. No questions asked, friendly guard smiled, checked the appt letter, and gave us a form to fill out. Total time take just over an hour. (original appt was for 3/11)
Varick St (Manhattan) - 04/01/2016 - Successful. Friday afternoon at 3pm. Super fast and excellent service!

OHIO
Cincinnati - 07/23/2014 - Successful.
Cleveland - no questions. Successful.

OREGON
Portland- 07/2012 Unsuccessful, no walk-ins allowed.

PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia - Drummond Road -Successful. No questions asked. YES
Philadelphia - Oct 2013 successful
Philadelphia (May 12, 2014) - Drummond Road. SUCCESS, but highly stressful and not recommended on a Monday AM unless an emergency.
Pittsburgh - did this twice and no questions asked! YES
York - Successful. Place was basically empty and took less than 10 mins.
Pittsburgh - 7/7/14: No issues, place was empty and they were happy to do it (17 days earlier than scheduled appt). In and out in 10-15 mins.

TENNESSEE
Nashville - unsuccessful

TEXAS
Austin - We were in the area that day (we live an hour away) - Yes
Austin - Feb 2014. Was initially told to come back after 12noon but then success.
Dallas (Whitehurst) - Yes, had to give a reason, come early and they will take you
Fort Worth (Landmark Lake) - Successful, but they were not happy about doing it early.
Houston (Hwy 290 office) - Jan 2012 - gave no reason, only appt letter. Yes (3 times-AOS, ROC, Citizenship)
Houston SW (Sugarland) - No questions. YES
Houston SW (Sugarland) - Successful, but they were not happy about doing it early.

VIRGINIA
Alexandria - Successful
Alexandria- 01/07/2014- A week early. No questions asked about date on letter. Successful.
Alexandria- 02/27/2014- A week early. Gave no reason. Handed them appointment letter and passport, that was it. Successful
Alexandria- 05/16/2014- 3 weeks early.Gave no reason & no questions has been asked. SUCCESSFUL.
Alexandria- 09/15/2015- A week early, work conflict. No questions asked, place was deserted so service immediately. Successful.

WASHINGTON
Tukwila - 06/19/2014 - 2 weeks early. No reason necessary. In and out in 20 minutes. Successful.

Wow! Great news on the notice! We are holding are breath on the ead too...

Mine still hasn't updated. Has said fee accepted since March 15.

Received my I-765 today accepting the fee for biometrics and I-485. My I-693 will be ready from the Civil Surgeon this coming Wednesday. Does anyone have any advice on where it should be sent to? I can call the service center but wanted to ask here as well too as people may have some positive or negative experiences to share on this topic. Also how long is the Fee for Biometrics acceptance status on the case status page been running before being updated to the next step? Thanks bunches for the help.

Robert

Husband had a successful early walk-in for his biometrics in Holtsville, NY today. I was pleasantly surprised that it was all so easy. There was literally not one single person in the waiting room. We were in and out in ten minutes. They asked for a reason and I said that I had to take off work today for his doctors appointment and was hoping not to miss two days of work.

Glad you got it all worked out...Good luck with the future!

Not all jobs offer such a bad vacation policy. It usually depends on your skill level, and tenure. I work for a local government agency and receive 12 paid holidays, 18 paid vacation, 4 paid personal, 10 paid undocumented sick and unlimited paid sick time with a physicians letter. For every year you are here you are granted additional vacation time. As far as my field goes that is considered low. However, that would pretty much allow me to take a day off almost every week without an issue. It is just a matter of putting in your time and earning the better leave packages. It is not hopeless though.

My local field office is Holtsville, Long Island NY. It does not show up on the drop down menu for the timeline. Can it be added?

Has anyone had any experience with the Holtsville, NY field office. We have our bio appointment there 4/15. But with husbands heart attack and surgery last week I have taken so many days off of work and have already asked for two days that week for follow up doctor appointments. I am hoping to try and do a walkin on one of the days that week that I already had to take off.

Hope your husband is getting better after his surgery! Wish him all the best and a fast recovery!

I finally got my NOA lol! and since its in April, I am joining the April 2016 AOS Filers

cheers

Thanks for the wishes!! Wow...that took a long time. Did they give any explanation of the hold up? Best of luck...Hope everything else goes faster!

Praise God! Got our biometrics appointment today! It was a rough week. Husband had a heart attack and needed heart surgery. Thankfully he was added onto my health insurance when we got married last month. But this definitely helped to lift his spirits!

I put mine in the mail on 3/4 and did not get the texts/emails until the middle of the night on 3/16. So nothing at all to be worried about.

Was so excited to to go to the mailbox today after so many of you all get your bio appointments today! But nothing. Maybe tomorrow. I just can't wait for my husband to finally get through with all of this so he can feel some sense of permanency. He overstayed his visitors visa and really can't move forward with his life until every thing is resolved. I am so excited for him. Does that make sense?

Congrats!

ACH...have you heard anything yet? Haven't seen an update. Hope all is moving along!

It took 8 days for my electronic notification. And I got the hard copies 3 days later. So 11 days for me.

Hi everyone. I sent in my fiance's information on March 11th, and it was delivered on March 14th. We haven't received any messages from Chicago yet. It has been a week since it was delivered. Does anybody know how long it could take for us to get some kind of notification?

It's normal... mines says the same thing

Thank you! I am driving myself crazy second guessing every thing I did...

I have a question. I am finally able to see status of my cases online. All day case received blah blah... Except i485. That says fingerprint fee accepted. It doesn't say my i130 fee was accepted or my i485 fee was accepted. Is that normal? I'm second guessing my amounts that quadruple checked before sending.

I am finally able to see my case status online now too. Let the cyber stalking begin lol.

I ended up with different pics too. Because we had to renew passport at the same time and he used two that I had printed. Then we had to go back and get more.

Hahaha I only sent 5 pics... 1 for the for the I 131...and to make matters worst I got a 4 pack of pics...when back to see if I could get a same copy of the pics next day but they had already deleted it off ...so the i 131 is a different picture from the 4 pack.

The pics were really expensive! Plus I had to send my own and two extras of husband to go with I130 that we filed at the same time. Wish I knew about Costco then because I spent almost a hundred dollars for pictures that I kept thinking I could have done better at home.

The USCIS website allows you to see history if you create an account and add your numbers.