GCG

Hey everyone, 

Just wanted to update here regarding my EAD. After freaking out waiting for a response since November 7th, today I finally received approval!

My expedite request was denied because apparently they were already reviewing my application and the application was approved as a standalone EAD (no AP).

In the meantime I had contacted my congresswoman (her office was pissed that they've been ignoring a request from a healthcare worker!), not sure if this was what triggered the approval but I'm really really happy it happened! I will start my new job in 3 weeks after finishing all the paperwork needed! So relieved!

I also have a new "note" under my AOS now saying they're reviewing my RFE (sent in September 2022) - not sure if this actually means something but happy to wait now that I can work!

Good luck and timely approvals to all still waiting!

14 hours ago, Family said:

It’s a bit long for them to assign an officer and either make a decision or ask for additional info. 
Rule of thumb is to “ poke the bear “ weekly and check on status. Keep calling 

Everytime I asked they just kept adding a "new service request" which pushes your case back to the end of the queue, so I'm in a forever loop of "it's been more than 30 days" and "wait until it's been 30 days"

47 minutes ago, Family said:

@GCGTry having your employer write out a statement of financial loss, negative impact on employer is by the book a qualifier. If expedite is denied, appeal the denial . Also Google congressman in employer’s district and fill out case authorization ( employer signs) and asks for Congressional Liason to read that financial loss statement and help w expedite.

It’s easiest to call USCIS , make the expedite request on the phone and offer to submit employer letter via email . ..

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request

 

Because granting an expedite request means that USCIS would adjudicate the requestor's benefit ahead of others who filed earlier, we carefully weigh the urgency and merit of each expedite request. We may consider an expedite request if it meets one or more of the following criteria or circumstances:

• Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s or applicant’s failure

Already did all that, still waiting on a reply back since Nov 7th. 

6 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Expediting under financial loss can be a catch-22, as your spouse is expected to be able to financially sponsor you.  See how that might backfire?

12 hours ago, Artuicune said:

Unfortunately no, it is as application scientist for a biotechnology company, although their devices are used in healthcare research (cancer etc.)

Thanks for reaching out @Artuicune

As I said in private, I agree with others here that chances of expedite being approved in such a short timeline are very slim. If not backed by a strong evidence (and/or compeling storytelling) listed in USCIS' list of expedite categories, most likely will be denied.

I, myself, am a healthcare worker (biomedical researcher), I have a job offer for a very specialized and highly regulated FDA position and they are just basically ignoring my request. Beyond being a healthcare worker, it's base as well of financial loss (almost 5 months AOS without a salary is a third of our family's income - I used to work under a H1B), also the company can't hire anybody else because it's a very specialized position, they are losing literally millions and research that could be saving lives is being postponed, still USCIS doesn't give a(removed)! 😃 

I wish you best of luck on your travels, wedding and future application - but don't keep hopes too high about actually starting this job anytime soon.

14 hours ago, quinnscribe said:

Mine has said past due for awhile now. Seeing other mays approved as well as many that were same-day-as-biometric approved in Aug/Sep and am feeling jealous. Hoping for action soon.

Sorry to hear that you've also been waiting without an approval. 

I'm honestly getting very desperate.. My job offer of my absolute *dream job* will expire on Feb 13th after months on the wait for an expedite and no moviment. 

I'm going crazy at home with just walls to look while my husband works - I've been working crazy schedules as a healthcare worker since I was on my early 20's, worked through COVID while everything closed and everybody was told to stay home... I know, I get it, people have been waiting long times for their EADs but I'm starting to worry about my overall mental state if I'm not able to work soon. 

I've started a Master's program, I volunteer the max hours I'm allowed to by the organization, I help my sister-in-law with her kids and still have too much free time at hand... nothing like being overworked for years to get you feeling like you're never productive enough...

Anyway, just a giant rant, won't solve anything!

3 hours ago, EatBulaga said:

In case you are wondering, after "any time now" is "past due".

So good luck in your waiting.

 

I'm deleting all of my email updates and never getting back into VJ 🤕

Jokes apart.. I'm sorry you haven't received yours yet!

3 hours ago, slavaskii said:

 I also read on Reddit (so not an ocean, but a galaxy of salt) that USCIS was 'decoupling' EAD from AP cards in an effort to speed the former up - so maybe that's what we're seeing?

As with everything in this mad process, it seems to be random if and when you'll receive EAD and AP but overall goal was to approve EADs faster since the job market was crazy (too many open positions, not enough applicants) while AP was placed in the back-burner. Some people have been approved for combo cards, others have not without any logic or consistency - some VJ posts suggest that if you expedite you won't get combo but a lot of expedites have been approved for combo too...

USCIS website says (https://www.uscis.gov/i-765)

"Alert: To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time.

Hey everyone, 

I'm doing AOS, married to USC, PD 08/12/22 and anxiously waiting for my EAD since I have a job offer on the table since September (healthcare worker - tried expediting but denied).

For a few days now my account says EAD "any time now"

I understand VJ predictions must be taken with an *Ocean of salt* but in your RECENT experience (family based EAD applications from early/mid 2022), have you received your card withing the predictions of VJ?

Please share if you expedited your case, cause it seems like it has been mostly expedites or "auto" approvals after bio lately! Thank you so much for your input!

4 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

No news here! Though I actually just swooped by the August thread to comment on a strange 'update' to my wife's USCIS account; everything's the same, except now the I-131 has a "reminder" on it that she may update contact information if parole was filed for a beneficiary (?). I didn't even know you could file for parole for someone else, and I just reviewed her documents and everything's fine. So I'm not sure why we have that reminder, or why it showed up in the past couple days. Anyone else see the same?

Seems like it's a new update available to all pending I-131. Reddit had a lot of people asking about it last week. 

22 minutes ago, IrinaKevi said:

Greetings to all waiting! I also submitted my AOS around these dates (Aug 23rd) and sadly no fast approval for my EAD  . Any updates or some useful info for anyone's EADs or GCs lately?

 

GCG, how was your second expedite? any news so far? 

Unfortunately no news yet. 

I submitted my expedite request on Nov 7th - as healthcare workers qualify for the expedite. Once it reached 30 days without a reply, they've escalated it to a tier 2 officer to call me back - I've received an email saying that they might reach out through text, email or call but dead silent since. Last time I called they said to wait another 30 days before making another inquiry. 

It's very frustrating to be honest! I have a job offer pending for several months now and no way to know when I'll be able to start. 

Wishing like a little kid that Santa will gift me an EAD for Christmas

14 hours ago, AlmightyS said:

Congrats to everyone who already received their EAD!

I filed on August 24, biometrics done on September 20. Hoping for the best, it seems a lot of IOE cases are being approved these days.

Hi AlmightyS

I also submitted my AOS package on Aug24th. Fingers crossed that the predictions above are correct and EAD is on its way soon! 

I submitted a expedite request, nobody reached out for 4 weeks then it got denied saying I didn't submitted evidence. The officer I spoke on the phone said the case is actively being processed and another expedite request would be a similar wait than regular processing in her opinion - not sure if it's true... she ended up making another expedite request in the end.

I have a job offer waiting for months now, just moved expected start date to February today 😢

7 hours ago, noobjections said:

Thank you for the warm welcome! How did your appointment go? Let us know if you get instant approval! 

My appointment was scheduled for 2pm. I arrived early at 1:30, the lady officer at the door said it was pretty empty and I could go in - I was out of the door in less than 10 minutes. 

They couldn't fix the typo on my last name but she made a note about it. Overall really good and trying to calm down people, nothing like some bad reviews I read. I checked my account outside, and it had changed to "actively being processed"

I received the "classic" 3 texts and emails today at about 3:30am Pacific, probably an automated system - just the same status change of when I left the building "case is actively being processed" for AOS and EAD, AP still only shows case received. 

Not sure what happens next since it seems to be a mix of people just waiting, others that received EAD approval a few days after bios and others right away. Most cases here are AOS post K1, so I'm reluctant to make any assumption based on that. I don't know, just wait and see, I guess! 

Good luck to us all! 

14 hours ago, noobjections said:

Hi everyone I’m new to this thread! 
 

seems like  a lot of you are K-1! I am doing AOS by marriage to US citizen. 
 

PD: 8/10/22

Biometrics: 9/8/22 

 

Until today it says case is being actively reviewed! Really disheartening seeing people get EAD’s right after biometrics but I’m hanging in there! Congrats to all those that have received theirs so far. 

Welcome to the family @noobjections 

I'm also AOS through USC marriage, not K1.  PD 08/08/22, AOS filed on 8/24/22, Seattle WA office. 

Just got back from my bios appointment today. Status of AOS and EAD changed to "being actively reviewed". Now back to the waiting game! 

On 9/14/2022 at 12:28 PM, LemonLemonade said:

A little update on my side, my EAD ONLY got approved (status: Card being produced). AP, no update since received documents 😞 

 

More waiting then!

I'm hoping to get my AP approved soon as well.. I really wanted to be able to go visit family! 

Hope yours get approved soon LemonLemonade! 

I received a text this morning confirming they received my RFE response, my bios appointment is next week. 🤞

15 hours ago, LemonLemonade said:

You never know! Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones   

I sent in the RFE documents requested yesterday and hope to have news/updates after my biometrics in 2 weeks!

Seems like some early August filers got their EAD/AP approved right after bios...

Hi everyone!

Not sure if this would be the same forum for me, seems like most people here are adjusting from K1.

I (beneficiary) have been here in the USA in a work visa (H1B), got married to USC and we filed I-130 online on 8/12/22 and sent in the AOS package (+EAD+AP) via mail on 8/24/22.

Have my biometrics scheduled for 9/21 in Seattle WA and today received a RFE due to missing one document (W-2) on I-864.  I-130 is in Texas and AOS is at NBC. 

I'm excited that so far it seems like things are moving (someone has to have taken a look at our file to notice docs are missing, right?!) but heard Seattle is currently one of the slowest offices in the country! 

Fingerscrossed and good luck to everyone!

G

14 minutes ago, jostermacedo said:

Gabi,

on what bank you have an account in Brazil? If it's a international bank, opening a bank account in the US can be easier. It's not an option anymore, but I opened my HSBC bank account in the US in Curitiba at a Brazilian branch of the bank. No SSN needed.

Joster

Thank you for you reply Joster!

I currently had a Santander account. Not an option for US international, only Europe.

But my boyfriend contacted his bank and they said it would be possible to open an account with my passport during my next visit. I could use his address for mailing and $1500 inicial deposit both for savings or checking is necessary.

You should try opening an account with Bank of America when you're visiting. If you'd go for a joint account, any bank should do it even if you don't have a ssn, also that would work for building up proof for your future aos. I'd definitely move your money after the years ends, the dollar price compared to reais got a lot better than it was a year ago when I got here.

Best of luck

Thank you p-ana!

That is exactly was I am considering! And I also read that I can open an account just with my passport if I have enough money for an inicial deposit (around $1500).

Thanks for the quick reply!

Yes, I do have a place to stay while I wait, my family lives in the nearby and that would be no problem.

I plan to visit him so we can file the forms together in US, and I could possibly try to open a bank account during this period, that's why I asked!

No rush to move my money to US, but Brazil's economy is really unstable in the past 2 years, so being possible to have it "safe" in US, I would prefer to. It was not easy to save all that so far.

But again, no reason to do it if it can complicate our lives in the future, so I will keep it with me in Brazil while we wait for the process.

Thanks again! Love this website!

Hello everyone,

I tryed to find answer to this in the forum, but I couldn't!

So, my doubt is: Me and my boyfriend (USC) are considering to start the K1 visa process. I have an apartment in Brazil and since I plan to move to US in a couple (or several ) months, it is posted for sale. Once I have the money in hand, I would like to transfer it to US.

1)Is it okay to have an US bank account in my name while filling for a K1 visa or should I wait to transfer my money after approval?

2)It would be a personal account, not joint, but can this be considered a red flag if done before/during K1 process?

Thanks in advance for the answers! This website is amazing!!!

14:55 or 2:55pm

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