JasonGG

There are a couple of us who are still waiting texts/NOA letters from December. Mine was delivered Dec 18th and I'm still waiting.. We keep calling USCIS every couple of days and they tell me it can take up to 30 days to get a NOA. I also e-mailed the Chicaco Lockbox to be sure that they received my package, but haven't heard back. I do have Fedex confirmation that it was delivered. I hope you will get yours sooner, but you can call USCIS and ask Tier 2 to check their system while you wait. They can look up your application by your name and/or A-number.

Congrats!  A lot of lessons to be learned from your experience. This will help others.

Very nice details. Congratulations reuniting all your family together now.

I wanted to share my wife's experience getting a driver's license in Maryland while adjusting status from a K-1 visa.  Our experience is Maryland specific, so other states may have different rules.  From our experience and talking to others in Maryland, it is a difficult process in Maryland and not everyone will have the same outcome.  Just be persistent!
 
My wife has a Vietnamese license, so she skipped the learner's permit step.  Still had to take a 3-hour drug and alcohol course and exam.  After submitting paperwork, paying $120 for MVA-approved translation of her Vietnamese license, passing the written test, and then passing the driving skills test . . . a 2 week process . . . we met with a supervisor for photo and final review to print the license.  When he handed her the temporary paper license, it had an expiration date that was the same day as her I-94 in just 5 weeks!  I asked about a longer license and he said that we could come back before Sept. 30.  Once we are "in the system" we "might" be able to request an 8-month license.
 
Since my wife wanted to take classes this fall she needed a driver's license beyond Sept 30.  She couldn't register and pay tuition hoping that she "might" be able to drive to school after October 1.  He shrugged his shoulders.  He said if I didn't like it, I was welcome to get another ticket and ask someone else.
 
I did just that.  Three hours later, the MVA was closed and my wife, daughter, and I were the only people waiting.  We saw several people talking about us and wondering what we were doing.  A supervisor walked over and asked what we were waiting for and if we had a number.  Apparently, our number was never entered into the queue!  I explained the situation and she asked if we could come back tomorrow.  I said no.  We have waited 3 hours to be seen now.
 
That evening, we spoke to 3 additional supervisors before we got one who knew what to do.  We were there for an 1 1/2  hours after the MVA branch closed.  They re-scanned all her paperwork (SSN, I-797, marriage license, utility bills, etc).  However, they were unable to delete the "erroneous" 5-week license without the original supervisor who had already gone home or the help of headquarters staff.  We still had to return the following morning to complete the process.
 
The next morning, I got another number, waited about 15 minutes, and the supervisor we worked with the night before saw us and called us to an empty window.  An hour later, my wife had a new temporary paper license with an April 2019 expiration date.  The supervisor waived the fee for the 8-month license and it should arrive next week.  The 5-week license arrived in the mail today and is valid until the other arrives.  We can return with her EAD (December hopefully) for a 1-year extension that should get us to the green card and the 8-year duration license.
 
So . . . I can certainly understand why so many people are having trouble in Maryland.  Three supervisors insisted she was only eligible for a license valid until her I-94 expired.  If my wife had gone alone or if I had not been persistent, she would not have gotten the 8-month license.  We'd been to the MVA 8 times since July, so many of the staff recognized us and a couple were sympathetic and I think tried to help a little more than normal.  For most MVA employees, we were just a number, though.  Several were very abrupt and rude until the last supervisor explained that they were mistaken.  Only then were they kinder to us.
 
A very long and frustrating process!  You really are at their mercy regardless of whether you are right or wrong.  Just be persistent and know that there is at least one person in Annapolis who can help in this situation.
 
Jason
 
 
 
 

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share my experience. Me and my husband live in MD and filled for him as a LPR. He came to the States on a B2 and later switched to F1. Here is our timeline:
 
08/18/2016 - Got married
08/23/2016 - Filled I-130 
01/12/2017 - I-130 Approval
Chart B date becomes current
10/04/2017 - Filled I-485 + I-765 + I-131
10/20/2017 - Biometrics Appointment
12/18/2017 - Approval of I-765 + I-131
12/22/2017 - Got the TRAVEL + EAD
EAD is about to expire
09/24/2018 - Filled for renewal of  I-765 + I-131
10/18/2018 - Online status says "We completed our review of your fingerprints and are working on your I-765 form"
 
It has been almost 13 months as of today and I know it is still within the normal processing times but damn it, its so frustrating. Anybody else that filled for a renewal of EAD? 
 
 

My wife and step-daughter's green cards have been approved!  Took 6 days from the interview . . . a VERY long 6 days!  - Jason

My wife and step-daughter had their AOS interviews today in Baltimore.  Our appointment was at 7:30, we arrived at 7:00, and completed security and check-in by 7:30.  We waited about 20 minutes before being called.  The interview lasted just over an hour as the officer reviewed the AOS application line by line.  He asked how we met, if I met her parents, and what initially drew me to my wife.  He asked my wife questions about my children, sister, my birthday, and where we go grocery shopping (based on our checking account statement). I provided pay stubs, joint bank statements and utility bills, insurance policies, photos, and notarized letters from my father, sister, son, and daughter.
 
He asked my step-daughter questions - who am I / what does she call me, how old is she, what is her name, and what time do I leave for work.  Her mother was allowed to translate when needed and she responded to all the questions in English.
 
The officer said he "did not see any reason not to approve us," but still needed to complete one more review before making a final decision.  He then talked about the next steps . . . when the green card would arrive, when to remove conditions, apply for citizenship, etc.  He gave us two form letters (one each for my wife and step-daughter) that stated that further review was needed before making a final decision within the next 120 days.  I am assuming (hoping) he wouldn't go through the trouble of explaining what happens after receiving the green card if he wasn't going to approve the applications.
 
Right now (3 1/2 hours since we left the USCIS office), the status on the old website says the interview was conducted but the case requires further review.  On the new website, it still says "Interview Scheduled."  I am hoping to see "in production" soon, as the officer said they would receive their green cards in the mail within 1 week from that status change.  For me, the last 6 hours have been the most stressful of the entire K-1/AOS process!  We are so close but still have no idea how much longer we must wait.
 
Jason
 
 

Thanks! They both changed this afternoon to “case was approved”. Super excited!!! Looks like we’re going to Brazil for Christmas 😀

Congratulations!  Our interview was 10/23 in Baltimore and we were approved yesterday.  Such a HUGE relief!

You can call USCIS, ask for a tier 2, and they can provide your interview date.  I called the day after our status changed and got the date wirhout any problem. 
 
Good luck!

My husband had his AOS interview this afternoon and got approve. Online status changed to "new card being produce". PD 08/02. The whole process was fast and easy. He didn't ask no questions; just the yes and no questions.  We only give few pics, bank statements, insurance and 401k, gym membership . We were at Jacksonville, Fl office. Good luck to the rest of you

Hi July Filers!!
 
My husband and I sent in our AOS packet at the end of July and just had our GC interview today. We were approved!!! Good luck to everyone still waiting! Lots and lots of love! We were at the Jacksonville FL field office. Their processing times are super fast right now.

Just got the green card today.  Would like to note that our medical was just over a year old by 2-3 weeks and they did NOT make us get another one.  

Hi everyone,
 
I was hesitant about sharing my experience here, but after reading your stories for a while, I decided I would share mine. This topic helped me ease the stress about this whole process especially because the USCIS processing time were saying that it would take more than two years to process AOS cases. 
 
My hubby and I sent the whole package in October 2017, about a month after we got married. I-130, I-485, EAD app but no AP application. I did my fingerprints for both EAD and AOS in the month of December. From there, I just had to wait. I was checking forums here and there to get an idea of other people's timelines. in January, I started getting worried about not receiving my EAD, so contacted USCIS at least three times since it was already passed the normal processing time of 3 months. On the third of 4th attempt (probable 5 months after application receipt date) I was able to speak to a tier two USCIS representation who told me I should be getting the card in the mail soon. A week later the card was in the mail. In the mean time, I had also applied for AP (In February). Received AP around 2 months after, in April. At this point I was just hoping to hear about AOS interview soon after.
 
Around August, I started getting worried about the AOS especially because the case status online was saying there is no case associated with the receipt number I had. I called USCIS and they told me that there was a glitch in the system, but that should not affect my application. From there I checked this forum and was reassured, so waited again.
 
When I expected it the least, on October 19, 2018, I received the interview notice. Exactly a year after I had sent my original application. Gathered all docs as mentioned on the notice, and realized my medical examination would have been expired by the time I meet with the IO. Checked some forums to see if I needed to renew it or not, and decided to renew it. I literally went to the civil surgeon the day before my scheduled interview (so much went into that exam, but that is a story for another time. 
 
On interview day we were the second couple to get called. The IO swore us in, mainly asked I-130 questions to my husband, then went over my I-485 application with me to confirm the info that were on the original application. At the end, he gave us a "notice of interview results" that. said he needed more time to review application.
 
Today, 10/30/18, received approval notice of my I-485 application. The notice date was 10/25 which was also our interview date so I am assuming he approved it right when we left. I do have to mention that my husband and I have a 9-month-old daughter born after we got married, so that may have contributed to us getting approved so quickly. Also, the IO did not ask about the new medical exam.
 
Good luck to you all, and sorry for writing this much. I just thought all details were necessary in case someone finds themselves in a similar situation.
 

My wife and step-daughter's green cards have been approved!  Took 6 days from the interview . . . a VERY long 6 days!  - Jason

My wife and step-daughter's green cards have been approved!  Took 6 days from the interview . . . a VERY long 6 days!  - Jason

My wife and step-daughter's green cards have been approved!  Took 6 days from the interview . . . a VERY long 6 days!  - Jason

Hey Everyone, got my green card in hand today in mail, my interview was october 22 2018, got approval status change 2 hours after we left, changed to card being processed next day, and than mailed 3 says later and got it today in mail. In all took one week. No EAD or AP! My NOA1 was july 22 2018. No RFE, but we mailed the whole packet on july 2 was received. 

Big difference between Germany and Vietnam. I have traveled to Vietnam many times and each experience (ingress/egress) is different. You are entering America from a communist nation known for fraudulent behavior. We're experiencing a chaotic, confusing time with our immigration/border issues. I've noticed a higher scrutiny of documents, people, luggage, etc. This is not the time to trust your entry to a piece of paper. Having the GC in hand gives you a bit more security - that's my opinion.

Jason please keep us updated as I'm wondering about this too.
 
We filed AOS in July 2017 and my husband received his EAD on 11/2/2017. We renewed EAD/AP on 6/19/2018. We got our interview scheduled for November 13th. We got the automatic 180 day extension for the EAD but not for AP. I'm expecting not to get approved at the interview right away so I'm wondering if there is still a possibility to receive the renewed combo card. 
 
BTW my husband and I traveled on AP and he was paroled in just fine. Of course at that time it wasn't expired.

I'm not sure if many people have had this problem.  I wasn't able to find anything searching the site . . . my wife and step-daughter had their green card interviews in Baltimore on Tuesday, 10/23.  We are still waiting for an approval as the status is "Interview was completed and my case must be reviewed."  From what I understand, this is standard in Baltimore as is waiting for the approval for days, weeks, or even months.
 
Because the interview was just 3 months after we filed for AOS, they have not received their AP or EAD yet.  Visa Journey estimated they would receive their AP/EAD in mid- November, so my wife was hoping to return to Vietnam to bring her son to the U.S. before the end of the year.  However, because their green cards have not been approved, will the service center continue processing their AP/EAD even though they have had their interviews?  Is there any problem traveling with advance parole if the green card is approved and issued while she is overseas?
 
Jason
 
 
 

I have always tried to be clear and respectful and supportive of everyone on this forum because we're all going through the same struggles. 
scroll through the last 82 pages of this forum alone and you can see that.
 
For the sake of not having this "drag" on for too long and spamming people with these posts- I'll quit replying now
And respectively take into consideration your comments.
Thanks!

No. They wont continue to process the EAD/AP

@JasonGG sorry didn't read your whole last question. In my case....i had a AOS interview before I got EAD first, and few days later got my GC.  You should be able to fly away no problems, there is no way to know when your GC will be coming. 

Had Interview on October 22, approved same day, card being processed October 23, today’s status says Card Mailed October 25! 🤗 
hope everyone gets good news soon! Keep patience up guys.  Texas San Antonio