forena99

Its always recommended to start working once you have EAD , for verification purposes like E-Verifiy . Also you usually need a SSN for work so if he doesent have one then he can only apply with the card in hand . It should be a week from now roughly . You can call the hotline ask if a tracking number is available every day 

Hello all,
Good news!  We got 2 letters in the mail yesterday approving EAD & AP.   83 days after our NOA1 for AOS.
Didn't check my mail till this morning cuz I had so many groceries going up the stairs last night, lol!  But it shows that it pays to check every day.
 
NOA1: September 19th
Biometrics: October 18th
Date of Notice: December 6th
 
Does that mean we'll get his work EAD in the mail next?  Can my husband start working or does he need to wait until that EAD arrives in the mail?
Do we still have to do the interview?
 
Thanks,
Forena

I just received EAD and AP approved notices in mail today! It said they will send separate mails for EAD and AP card. They haven't update the case status on their website.
 
Received package: September 13
Biometric: October 4
RFIE for I-485: October 26 
 
 

Hi!
I just looked up processing times for the closest city to where I live. 
How do I know what local office our application went to?  Is it on the receipt document?  Or is it just the nearest city to where I live?

 
They are processing I-485 from 1 year ago!  can you imagine?  Does anyone have times this long?  Can this be right?
bummer...
 
Forena99

I think I am just going to wait it out (unless I see Ive been left far behind).  I won't hit 90 days until the end of the month and I went into this knowing I would be waiting for at least 90-120 days (and maybe more since several holidays fall in this time frame), so I can't really be cranky.  
 
As much as I would like to work to get out of the house and have extra income, I know in the future I will probably look back to this "extended vacation" I'm having and wish I would have appreciated it and enjoyed it more!! 

I haven't posted in awhile, but thought I'd let everyone know that I got my EAD acceptance letter in the mail yesterday. To my surprise, I found that the card was delivered too! 
 
I had checked the mail on Monday and got nothing.. Checked it yesterday and found both the acceptance letter and new card! 
 
No update on tracker. 
Mailed application on 09/18/2017
PD: 09/21/2017
Biometrics completed: 10/16/2017
 
 

UPDATE: we just got the envelope and it contained my husband’s EAD! We’re so amazed at how fast it was delivered. Less than 24hrs since it was sent. 🙌🏼 Even more amazed at how fast it was processed. Currently at day 66 since our application was received, according to the tracker. 
 
Hoping for more good news for everyone here!
 
P.S. The issue date on his card is 12/01/17 😊
 
Thanks for all the responses btw 😊

Just talked to a Tier 2 officer for application reasons and also asked about if a government shutdown hurts USCIS in any way I was told it absolutely DOES NOT effect USCIS and not to worry.

I have been running checks on the case tracker app to see how many i-1765 cases are actually approved from the first half of September and it is VERY few - I can find two approved from the 15th September so I am highly sceptical that they are actually processing large numbers of cases as of this date (my date is 15th September).
 
I was delighted to see people posting here to say that they have their EAD because it proves that
a) September cases are being processed
b) USCIS is not always updating its case tracker
 
Of the case numbers from to there are 568 i-765 cases.  Of these I can find five approvals. (these have dates of between 11th and 15th September - but are not all cases in this date range as some early cases are in earlier case number batches - case numbers have not always been assigned chronologically so this makes sorting out the figures more complicated)
 
in random batches of case numbers going back to august 24th, I found another 747 i-765 cases (these are a sample - not all cases) of which only two had approvals,

I think it would to some degree. While USCIS is mostly funded through us paying application fees, I think the employees are still government workers, working in federal buildings. I guess it is hard to say for sure, but I would assume processing times would be even slower if there were to be a government shut down. A scary thought. 

Received my EAD/AP combo card in the mail today, December 6th. Old style card, not the new one. My notice date was November 29th, and they mailed the card on December 1st. Case status still shows received, heh.
 
Interestingly, for those of you that use Informed Delivery; my Combo Card was sent with USPS Priority Mail, but it never showed up in my Packages or Letter previews; even today.

Finally my Ead card came in a mail so happy that was fast cuz I got approval letter yesterday..
so happy 
and good luck everyone. 
 

Well I got my letter saying my EAD was approved and my card (separate) today in the mail. 
No updates online or via mail or txt. 
But it’s here.  
😁

Hi everyone.  We had our K1 AOS interview in Raleigh, NC on 11/22, the day before Thanksgiving.  Quick 10 minute interview.  Mostly ran down the questions in Section 3 of the I-485 form, like are you a member of the communist party, have you ever killed anyone, or been trained in the military?  Checked our marriage certificate and said you're approved.  Should get your conditional green card in the mail in 2 weeks.  Got a I-797 letter in the mail on 11/27 that was dated 11/22  that said our I-485 was approved.  USCIS Web site is still not updated - says interview scheduled.  Should get green card next week?  Hope this info helps.

Here is my timeline for those interested:
 
9/18/17: All forms sent.
9/19/17: Forms received; Priority Date (PD).
9/25/17: Emails/texts received.
10/01/7: Biometrics Notice Date.
10/02/17: NOAs received by mail.
10/06/17: Biometrics appointment received by mail.
10/18/17: Biometrics completed in less than 15 minutes.
10/27/17: I-485 changes to "Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled for An Interview". 
11/27/17: EAD approved.
11/30/17: NOA for EAD approval received by mail.
 
It took exactly 69 days for my EAD to be approved. I am expecting the EAD to arrive something next week.
 
The "Case Status Online" did not update to say that the EAD has been approved. It still says "Case Received". Only the I-485 was updated as mentioned above.
 
Remember, do *NOT* follow your status online, unless it changes, of course. It hasn't been updating for the majority of the people waiting. That may cause you to become impatient. Always check your mail.
 
Best of luck, everyone! We are almost there!
 

I'm on day 76 now waiting for EAD/AP approval.  Have not received any RFIE, even though I translated his birth certificate.  USCIS case status says that the case is ready to be scheduled for interview (biom appt was 10/18). 
We haven't heard anything yet.  
We just have to keep waiting?
Is something supposed to come in the mail with our interview date?  (My husband is getting anxious, wondering why I don't have any news, lol!)
How do I know if I'm going through NBC or not?  (I'm in California, so I assume I'm going through the office here.)
*Sigh*
Thanks for keeping up the dialog here on VJ, appreciate it!
Forena

Hey there! 
As far as interview are concerned, they go through your local office. EAD/AP are the one that are dealt at NBC.
My "case has been ready to be scheduled for interview" since October 26th, but no one really knows when it will happen, for some it's a matter of weeks for other it takes up to 6 months. The thing it means from my understanding, is your background check is completed and negative and they reviewed your files and everything was in order, now it's on the local office to schedule them and depending on where you are it can take long or not.

It's been taking anywhere from 75 to 120+ days for EAD/AP approvals. Yours could be coming soon!!
We have a similar timeline and are hoping that our RFIE for the AOS petition doesn't slow us down too much. Still holding out hope that we'll have EAD/AP by the end of the year, but I'd try no be too disappointed if that doesn't happen.

I just received my EAD and AP approval notice in the mail today!🤗

Done with the AOS interview. We were approved right after. Got an I-551 stamp on my passport as well.  Things are going super fast at the Indianapolis field office. 2.5 months to approval since NOA-1 is pretty fast. Good luck to all September filers. I am sure y'all are going to hear some real good news pretty soon  I have also put in a brief review of the interview with some of the blunders I made that you could and should avoid. 

There is no exact answer. If you take a moment and visit, August, July, June etc Threads you will see lots of people who havent received the AP yet, so take a moment and visit the processing times page so you have a better idea;
 
http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/eadstats.php
 
Around 100 to 130 days I would say....

I received an email yesterday morning from NVC stating what we already know. Basically that everything is being sent to Bogota and if we had an interview date that NVC would send me something with a new date on it, and if we didn't have an interview date yet then NVC would send me notification of next steps. It's just all up in the air right now and I don't believe they have anything set out as to how they'll process the visas.
 
The update in your case may just mean that they are starting to send it to Bogota, but you'll know for sure once it's there because it'll put BGT after your HAV#.. For example we were able to send our petition to Argentina since that's where my fiance is right now and when the case was updated it added BNS to the end of our HAV case number. Then they sent us the packet 3 in an email stating the transfer was successful and next steps to get the interview date.
 
So keep an eye out for your email. I doubt that anyone will get any information for an interview or next steps until Dec or after the first of the year. Things are so insane right now with the US and Cuba.

Thanks for this. Do you think it will be easier/faster to transfer to another country? I called Bogota and they don't have our application, NVC has no info for me at all, and there's not BGT after the HAV number (thanks for this tip). My fiancé did his medical mid-September and so mid-March is our deadline to not lose that $400...plus I have financial, professional, and all sorts of worries all hinging on this!
BTW all, Embassy of Havana updated its FAQ today on the immigrant visa cases, mostly what we know already, but still helpful if you are hungry for info. Looks like the NVC sends us a letter with the new appointment info.
Just our of curiosity, what was your next steps before the interview in Argentina? Was there anything new, or anything you had to do over? Congrats on the transfer, that's a relief I am sure.

Some other questions as I am filling out Form I-485.
  @058rocale  @forena99 @eruiz3 if you guys went through any of these I would be so appreciative for your help, like always!  
 
Questions 23.c. Status on I-94
My husband's I-94 says "Class of Admission: K1", am I supposed to enter that? The form doesn't let me enter numbers or special characters only letters, so would I have to handwrite "K1"?

24. What is your current immigration status? (If it has changed since arrival.)
Do we fill this out? If so, what do we enter? He came on a K1, we married, and now are doing AoS.

Part 2. 2. Are you applying for adjustment based on the Immigration and Nationality Act INA section 245i?
Assuming thats a No, for K1 Visa?

Part 3: 1. Have you ever applied for an immigrant visa to obtain permanent resident status at a US Embassy or Consulate Abroad?
Does our K1 visa application count? Or do I answer no?

Part 3: Did you write the addresses of old residences and employer in Spanish or English, how they would appear in Cuba or us?

For residences and employment there are two sections - the first two questions ask for most recent, then the next two ask for most recent residences/employment out of US, should we just follow in chronological order? For instance, my husbands current address is in New York, US, and his previous was in Havana, Cuba. Do these need to be listed in the separate sections, or consecutively?

Part 8:  1. Have you ever been a member of, involved in, or in any way associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation, party,  club, society, or similar group in the US or any other location in the world including any military service?
My husband spent 9 months doing the obligatory Cuban military service, in a general position. Would we have to mark YES for this question? And it has implications for the following questions:
 
49. Have you EVER received any type of military, paramilitary, or weapons training?
We are hesitant to answer yes because he truly did the most basic form of general military service. Thoughts?
 
55. Have you EVER served in, been a member of, assisted, or participated in any military unit, paramilitary unit, police unit, self defense unit...etc?
Would we answer yes to this since he was technically in the military?
 
Thank you for reading through this! Obsessing over the details a bit as we want everything to be correct. Any help would be so appreciated!
 
 

hi all, i've spent the last 2 days making a lot of calls. any visa appointments scheduled in november are not happening - or at least for now they are not scheduled to happen until the dept of state/us embassy in havana announces a plan. 
 
i've called my congressman and they have even elevated the case and tried to get in touch with the us embassy in havana with no luck - it appears all communication has been cut off until a resolution is found. 
 
i wish i had better news. i'm heartbroken and frustrated... hoping for a resolution soon.