On 6/26/2018 at 3:45 PM, Brittani said:

Have you contacted USCIS? That is waaay out of normal processing for his EAD. I know that's an nightmare. Luckily, we have a two year old daughter together so he's going to get to catch up on some missed bonding time with her to keep him busy.

We've contacted them multiple times and we keep getting different answers. Now they're saying the processing time for EAD/AP is 4-7 months. We're reaching out to our Congress Rep this week. 

17 hours ago, Me and her said:

Hello all!  Just had our Charlotte, NC adjustment of status interview!  We were approved!  Good luck to all those still waiting!

Congratulations! That's great news!

13 hours ago, Brittani said:

I have to wait until my name is changed through ss even though he's the one applying for AOS?

We got married in October so I wanted to change my name before the end of the year that way I could just change everything at once. We filed the adjustment at the beginning of December (everything had my maiden name) then I changed my name around the middle of December. We received a RFE for the GC because they wanted updated financial information (which I learned is pretty standard since it's a new year). I mailed all the evidence which now has my married name. So far no issues. I think because it's a social norm here for married women to change their name, I really don't think it's an issue. In fact, it's probably a good thing as it proves as evidence of a bona fide relationship. Plus your SS# and DOB will match and your new name will match that of your husband. 

Congratulations on the K1! And best wishes for your wedding and AOS!

And P.S. the EAD/AP is taking forever, so just prepare him for that. We still haven't received my husband's EAD/AP.

20 hours ago, geowrian said:

Gotcha. The RFE (actually an RFIE since it was for the I-864) for the I-485 automatically pauses processing of the I-131 and I-765. Technically, it also resets the timeline for when USCIS considers it to be out of normal processing timelines based upon they receive the response. However, in practice, it normally doesn't change the actually timeline any differently than an RFE. That might explain why the service requests aren't going anywhere either.

Good luck on the expedite. If you get a firm job offer, that's a valid reason to request an expedite.

That makes sense. Well, maybe he'll receive his GC soon and we won't have to worry about the EAD/AP.

58 minutes ago, Sunnyland said:

First, did you make an InfoPass appointment already at your local USCIS office? or did you call USCIS customer service and talk to a Tier 2?

We haven't done an InfoPass but he did talk to a Tier 2 officer which was extremely frustrating. The guy had a very thick accent (so imagine my Indian husband speaking to a French guy, both with foreign accents, having a hard time understanding one another). The officer had NO idea where our case was or even what my husband was trying to explain to him. I came home from work that day to a very frustrated husband. 

56 minutes ago, geowrian said:

First did you get an RFEs or RFIEs? That would delay the process.

Second, did you submit any service requests / case inquiries yourself? If not, then I suggest doing that.

 

Beyond those, I suggest your state's senior US senator. They generally have the most resources and processes to handle requests since they've probably been there longer than anybody else. A long-term congressional/state representative can also be useful.

We have not had any RFEs in regards to the EAD/AP. We had an RFE for the Green Card asking for updated financial information since we are now in a new year. He put in three service requests for "outside of processing times" and each response was, "Now our processing times are __ months longer" etc. He put in an expedite request but I have a feeling it will be denied because we don't really have a "valid" reason according to USCIS. 

Thanks!

2 minutes ago, wimpog said:

Yes, I had sent an online request as to why this case was taking longer – never received an answer. Then I scheduled and went to an InfoPass appointment. EAD/AP was approved and came in mail 2 months after the InfoPass appointment. They told us at InfoPass the average Green Card waiting time is now 18 months.

From our experience, they say whatever they want to say to placate whomever they are speaking with. First they told us his EAD would take 3 months, then it was 4, then 5; now they're saying up to 8. He's fine without the GC - he would just like to start working. 

We've been waiting since the beginning of December for my husband's EAD/AP. He's tired of sitting home all day without being able to do anything productive. Who do we need to contact? I know some people have contacted their government reps, but I'm uncertain who specifically it is. Is it the Congressional Rep? State Senator? US Senator? All of the above? lol

1 minute ago, wimpog said:

My wife received it earlier this month exactly after 1 year after filing.

That's ridiculous!! Had you contacted anyone about it during that time? We are thinking of contacting our Congress person (or whoever it is we need to contact) and see what can be done about it. 

We filed in the beginning of December and we are still waiting for EAD/AP... 

On 6/13/2018 at 9:39 AM, RaptureSongbird said:

She did not and I didn't want to be too forward in asking, I tend to be a little shy.  So, we just kept checking the DHS website for updates and after almost 4 weeks the site updated to say "We are producing your card" and, 3 days after that update, it updated to say "We have approved your case".  It seems a little backwards to me to show an approval after already saying the card is being produced but I've seen that happen to others here as well.  If your IO doesn't tell you that you are approved and you aren't comfortable directly asking, you could do what I did and ask some leading questions to try and gauge which way they are leaning.  The questions I asked were something like "Assuming everything is okay with today, can you explain how Removal of Conditions will work?" and "Since the current Social Security card says only valid with DHS authorization, should we get a new one once we receive the Green Card?" and "I think somewhere I read in the instructions that USCIS will register with Selective Service as a part of this process.  Just to be sure, and to avoid any issues in the future and assuming everything looks good after today, should we just go ahead and register?".  Based on how she answered these questions, I could tell that she was leaning towards approval because she responded with answers like "When you receive your green card you should....".  Again, if I was more forward I could have asked, and we had a really good rapport with the IO so I think she would have answered honestly or given the usual "I need to review the case further and you will receive notification in the future but right now everything looks okay" answer, but depending on your personality and the IO, you might have to take the roundabout way :-)

Congratulations! Glad to see your case is going smoothly!  

1 hour ago, Little_Vixen said:

What struck me most about America is the vastness and diversity. I am Dutch. My country is a quarter of the size of the state I will be living in and has twice as many inhabitants. If I drive for 5 hours I pass through 5 different countries. You can speak about 'the Dutch' or 'the French' but you cant speak of 'the American'. That's like saying 'the European'. All the different states are as diverse as the countries in Europe are. Each has their own mannerisms and cultures, all they really share is a language (and technically they don't even do that, lol).  I have learned that there is no 'the American'.

 

What we do to get me adjusted is we share our day. He walks me through his finances while catching up his checkbook. He explained the way taxes work when he had to file those. When he went to pay car insurance and buy a new license plate he explained why he needed to do that. It helps me understand the daily things that need to be done and its also a very interesting conversation starter cause we often end up talking for hours comparing the United States to the Netherlands. He also sends me loads of pictures. A car he is looking at for me. Or his dad and him golfing. A squirrel playing in the yard. Just normal every day things that get me used to the scenery and the life over there.

What I love most are the phone calls during supper or when he is cooking. The kids are home and they are joking around together. Sometimes singing songs or talking about their day. It makes me feel like I am there. It's not just him and me talking lovey dovey (although we do that a lot too) but its us as a family functioning in an American culture.

I love this! He sounds like a very caring and thoughtful guy. And not to mention it makes your relationship more meaningful and rich. I wish you two all the best  

Met online September 2016 

I went to meet him November 2016 (I know, right?)

Filed paperwork February 2017

Went for a second visit March 2017 and he formally proposed

Visa granted September 2017

Arrival/Wedding October 2017

It was a crazy whirl-wind and I wouldn't exchange it for the world! 

On 6/7/2018 at 9:19 PM, N & JJ said:

Just wondering what was your case status  before you received rfe. Have you entered into case ready to be scheduled for interview yet? Thanks.

The website said the case was received then it said a request for additional evidence was mailed. It took about a week to receive the actual letter. About two business days after they received the evidence (we sent it priority so we could track it) the website said evidence was received. There haven't been any changes since then... 

I would tell the truth. Truth is always your best friend. Explain what happened and why. Since you have officially registered the marriage in Bangladesh, you don't have to worry about having a not-valid-enough marriage for a K3. 

Best wishes!

2 hours ago, A-and-B said:

Update on my case... had final interview on May 30th, went well, lasted about ~20 minutes, we weren't separated or anything during the interview.  The officer just read through our AOS/I-485 packet and asked to confirm some information, and that was it.

 

 

Got e-notification that our case was approved 2 days later (the officer didn't "approve" at the end of the interview nor stamp anything in my passport, but he said from what he saw, everything looks good "wink", nothing to worry about).

 

Got e-notification my green card got mailed out on June 4th.

Congratulations! 

The actual visa should be glued to the inside of your passport where international visas go. That's where my husband's was put. The folder has paperwork but not the actual visa. 

Update:

I called USCIS to clarify about the RFE (which had some conflicting bullet points; looked like someone cut-and-paste without really making sure it applied to us). Basically they just want up-to-date financial information (2017 W2s, 2017 tax filing, updated salary information, etc). We will have everything gathered by the end of the day today and in the mail tomorrow morning. Looks like he'll get his GC soon (God-willing)!!  EAD/AP still isn't here and it would probably be useless anyway smh 

18 hours ago, SarahMV said:

Got a copy of response that USCIS in response to my congresswoman's inquiry about my case. Total useless, couldn't give me a timeline. Basically said a small percentage of cases involve unresolved issues and cause adjudication delays. Didn't even tell me what the issue is. Just so infuriating how incompetent they are. Pending 170 days. 

I was going to suggest to my hubby that we write to our congressperson but I don't even know if it's worth it. 

The website tracker says we got an RFE for the green card application; no new updates on the EAD/AP card. At this rate he may get a green card before the EAD/AP! 

This is my speculation... (because what else can I do but try to make sense out of why this is taking so damn long).

This is not a statement for or against the current administration's immigration policies, but it seems like the policy changes, speculation about the policies, changes in USCIS - whether they are rumored or factual - have created a lot of tension and fear among US immigrants and potential immigrants. There are probably a lot of applications sent in that would have otherwise sat on someone's desk for weeks, months, years but now there is pressure to apply before something changes. Plus there are probably more phone calls, inquiries, emails that take up officers' time. Not to mention there is probably pressure from congress. All that makes for slower progress for us who are in the midst of the process. 

Again, that's just my two cents and not from any concrete source. 

1 hour ago, Gregory Karter said:

I see that you've been waiting for about 145 days. Did you raise SR ?

SR?

1 hour ago, Gregory Karter said:

Anybody here waiting for more than 138+ days? today marks my 140th day waiting. Yesterday morning I got two emails Saying 

"We are still reviewing your case and there are no updates at this time"

with the date i took my fingerprints as the day they last took action on my case. Should I call them?

I don't know exactly how many days it is (it's too depressing to count) but our NOA1 is December 6th and we're still waiting. He was told the wait is now 5 months and to call May 1st (today) to check again. 

Well friends... just like the visa approval, here we are at the end of the waiting list for our month group. No emails, no updates, nothing. A few weeks ago, they told him to call back on May 1st, so he'll be calling tomorrow.

But what is this I see about different trackers?? We have been checking the standard USCIS website tracker. Is there something else we're missing?