wildling99

The last two times I have flown out of Pearson with my EAD/AP, they held me in secondary. No questions, nothing like that, but literally held me until my plane was DEPARTING in 5 minutes. I've gotten to the point where I just don't stress - let it happen. They'll let you out with a couple minutes to spare and Air Canada will force you to run to your gate. Air Canada's agent said it's a common practice just to hold people up until the last possible second. People were getting super mad at the CBP agents, who would just yell back at them, and then other people were angry with the airline agents. No one can help, so just sit there and let them take their time.

My bags had already been pulled from the flight in both instances, but just as a heads up. Deep breaths.

I showed this link to my employer with my card! Mine expired on 10/15/18 and I'm still waiting on a new one. I actually didn't initially see that you could apply for your renewal far earlier than I did. I think I had read an older thread that said within 90 days. I applied in August as well. It took three months to the day to get my first card. It sucks that it's almost four months for a renewal and I've heard nothing. Trying not to feel nervous about travel plans in the new year!

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/automatic-employment-authorization-document-ead-extension

As someone who is a Canadian and came to the U.S. without intending to marry anyone, I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the process  

I would highly recommend once you get married that she doesn't leave the country. For me, it meant not seeing my family for a year - missing my niece being born, missing my best friend's wedding, etc. It was extremely difficult. We got married in March, had to save up money to file (since I wasn't able to work) and filed everything at the end of June (rec'd by USCIS first week of July). I got my EAD/AP (you file these concurrently with your I-130, 485) in October. I finally went back to Canada in December. I'm still waiting for our interview to be scheduled, and depending where you are in the country, the timelines based on your local office's workload can vary. 

Once you file your papers, you CANNOT leave the country without your AP - you abandon your I-485 application. And once you spend that money, it seems like a huge waste to throw that away, and then potentially not be able to get back into the country, due to the fact that your intent is not longer to just visit. 

Hi June filers! I'm a July filer, but I lurk in your waters to see how much progress is being made in June to gauge where I'm at  Up until this point, I thought we were on track to get an interview date scheduled sooner rather than later, but then...

I noticed something that I just posted in our July filer thread: USCIS rolled out a new case processing time page that is apparently supposed to be more accurate. I thought it was awesome until I looked up Phoenix for an I-485.

Current time: 14 to 22.5 months. They're currently working on MAY 2016, which is a LOT more backlogged than I anticipated. I tried a couple other field offices to see if it was consistent, and it looks like Phoenix is one of the longest waiting times. It also means you're not out of "normal" processing time to submit a service request unless your date is prior to that. So it's kinda crazy!

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

13 hours ago, Kirk&Kean said:

You can renew 90 days before your EAD/AP expiry date. But don't expect to get it within 90 days because they cannot guarantee that. I don't think you can file earlier than 90 days too because they would return it and say you have to wait until exact 90 days before expiry date. There are people who tried filing for renewal of applications like 91/92 days and get returned... We were thinking to travel in Spain for a while after I got my combo card, but after reading about all the risks and possibility of still being able to be detained upon returning to US, I've decided not to take any risk, just wait until I have GC on hand for any international travel purposes. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice for the sake of getting something that can help you in the long run.

Glad that you have been to Malaysia I have to say though the humidity and temp in Malaysia, still not as bad as Yuma... dry heat with above 90F is crazy.... I cannot wait to have my GC on hand and finish with this freaking hot summer and move to East Coast haha, but then I will have to be prepared to learn to live under crazy Winter in PA !!

Oops, didn't realize how to multi-quote, guess I didn't need to post twice in a row

This is good to know! At least buys six more months of (hopefully) uninterrupted work and travel.

I hadn't read much about anyone being detained with their EAD/AP! I went back to Canada for the first time in a year in January and I didn't have any issues coming back related to my status. We don't have any immediate trip plans, but I'd like to remain confident that if we do go on a vacation, all will be well. 

14 hours ago, Ehri&Mark said:

My field office is Phoenix, AZ as well. What is weird is before they updated the website, I always checked it and it said that they were processing March 2017.

I know, that's sort of what I was basing things off of as well! I tried looking up a couple different cities, just to see if everything seemed super lengthy - some do, some don't. Looks like ours is one of the worst though.

Kind of a bummer! I've been so happy working and living my life, just waiting for the interview! At least waiting another year only strengthens (in my opinion) our cases because we'll have that much more evidence at our interviews.

Phoenix filer over here!

I noticed USCIS rolled out a new case processing time page that is apparently supposed to be more accurate. I thought it was awesome until I looked up Phoenix for an I-485.

Current time: 14 to 22.5 months. They're currently working on MAY 2016. TWENTY SIXTEEN. HOLY #######!!!

Making me get scared about my EAD/Travel doc expiring in October if that's actually true. Suddenly spending extra money on an expired medical exam is the least of my worries.

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

On 1/31/2018 at 8:03 PM, BaltimoreFiler said:

Hey guys

 

had my interview today, was verbally approved at the end of the interview. The IO said her computer was down so will put it through tomorrow, was not given the 120 day decision letter.

 

It felt more like a chat rather than an interview, Interview was scheduled for 2pm, we was called in around 230 and was out by 250.

 

we was sworn in, and ask for Driving Licenses and Passports for both of us.

 

The IO asked my wife the USC, our address, my full name and date of birth.

 

She then asked me the same about my wife.

 

She asked If we had any more evidence to give

- mortgage letter

- car insurance shows both or names

- blank check from joint account 

- a 2016 and a December 2017 joint bank statement 

- our joint phone bill

 

she kept all the above but also I took our joint credit cards which show the same number

 

we still live with the in laws which we explained cos we were saving money and she totally understood. 

 

Then we we spoke about how we met, when, who proposed, how proposed, where proposed, what’s our future plans.

 

also asked if my wife had met my parents in UK, she hasn’t except by Skype, due to my mom can’t fly and I can’t leave the country, we explained that we plan on going home in the summer.

 

The IO went through a scrapbook I’d done, and our photos, she loved the photos of our dog and asked for 5/6 for our folder.

 

Went through some of the Yes/No questions, she was laughing at some of them and what she had to ask.

 

After that she said I am approving you today, and she will put it through either tonight or tomorrow.

 

I am patiently waiting for the text/ email update from USCIS

 

I will answer any questions if you have them 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I’m so nervous even waiting for an interview date to be scheduled, it sounds like it was a smooth process for you guys. Congrats!

Received my combo card in the mail yesterday, just a few days after receiving the online/text updates.

Such an awesome feeling! Hope everyone is on track to get theirs soon.

I updated my timeline to reflect the last few days.

Looks like a good day for July filers all around! Congrats on positive news for so many people in our group!

I woke up to a text with an update - EAD card being produced. I hit snooze and a couple hours later, both AP and EAD were updated again to say case approved. YAY! As of yesterday, my SR had not been assigned, so this was an awesome surprise.

My file date was July 7, NOA July 12, Bio Aug 1, SR Oct 12.

2 hours ago, T_P said:

You do not need to submit two different requests. You call USCIS and request a SR for your EAD and once they process if you initially requested for AP, it should came all together.

I filled out the SR online. It only allows you to select one form, I should have specified.  But hopefully that means they should work on it at the same time. Thanks!

2 hours ago, T_P said:

There was the same question two posts above yours. 

I just went back five pages to check that I read correctly and I'm not seeing this question asked two posts above mine. 

I read this forum almost every day to keep tabs on everyone's situation and was looking for a friendly voice to weigh in on whether or not I have to submit a request for each receipt separately. 

16 hours ago, Athens said:

 

I submitted SR for EAD only because I didn’t apply for AP. 

Ahhhh thanks for letting me know! I had a specific reason to go back home last month, which is why applied for AP, but now that I don't have immediate travel plans, it's not necessarily as pressing as the EAD. So hard to be patient!!

Hey July AOS crew!

Someone may have already answered but I can't seem to find it.

I'm almost at Day 90 (my receipts were dating July 12, USCIS received our package on July 7.) I did biometrics on Aug 2. Requested twice to have my AP for a trip home and they didn't even request proof, just closed it. 

I'm not dying to have the AP anymore, but I'd love to get the ball rolling on my EAD. I just submitted a service request for that, but have you guys been submitting service requests for EACH thing you're asking about? ie: one for AP, one for EAD, etc? I realize the actual adjustment of status will take longer, so I haven't submitted an SR for that.

tips? Stories? 

Thanks guys!

1 hour ago, Fox087 said:

Hello guys. Just for information: had appointment 10 mins ago at Phoenix field office. Wanted to expedite 485, as I have offer admission for the University and as a resident my fee can be singnificatly decreased, however they said that it's not enough for expedition, but I have a good chance that my interview will be scheduled in the next 60-90 days...will hope. Document were sent on 26th June. At the site my status still - fingerprints fee was received. However I did biometric 36 days ago and already received my EAD. 

Wow! Can't believe you got your EAD 36 days after your biometrics, that's awesome! - looks like we both did bios in Phoenix on the exact same day and I'm still waiting for my status to change on AP/EAD. Unfortunately, it means I missed a very important trip back home :(( 

Did your status for the EAD change online, or did it just show up in the mail? I've heard some people see it arrive in the mail before status has even been changed.

7 hours ago, malene1207 said:

 

In my case since i came in under K1, i submitted my DS - 2025 together with I-693 but i only filled up the first page and signed the 2nd page. The rest that says Surgeon to fill up i put N/A. 

Did you get a foreign medical exam? As I understand, K1 filers only need another exam if it's more than a year after their foreign med. exam when they file I-485!

you should be ok if you fall within that!

I requested to expedite and mine said the same thing online. They said "while your situation appears urgent, there is no evidence of extreme emergent need" in the letter I received.

I called again to offer evidence of financial hardship and elaborate, and my newest update is the exact same as the first one, so I'm anticipating another letter in the mail that says the same thing.

5 hours ago, kasu06 said:

Congratulations from me also We're actually at the beginning of the process . We have almost all the forms filled out, but in a sample cover letter I found in visaharmony the

Supporting Documents for I-485 these 2:

1.       Copy of Vaccination Documentation Worksheet, Form DS-3025

2.       Sealed envelope for the Form I-693 signed by a USCIS recommended civil surgeon

 

Did you guys submit these 2?

I forgot to mention that I did not submit my I-693 with all of my submission packet - I had read that you can bring it along to the interview.

Last week I received a yellow form telling me I didn't submit my I-693. It said do not send it now, but to bring it to the interview when/if scheduled, and if an interview is not required that they would request by mail.

It worked out well because it gave me time to collect my vaccination records from Canada, and to set an appointment with the civil surgeon. I'm headed there tomorrow and it will be $275.

Hope this helps!

Hey July filers!

I've been scouting this forum for the last couple weeks and noticed something changed for me when I checked my receipt numbers today. Thought I'd start sharing my progress. I am (was?) a TN status holder for work (06/16 valid through 06/19). I got married to a USC in 03/17. Filing to adjust status, also for travel doc because I need to go back to Canada in September.

07/03/17 Mailed 130/485/765/131 to Chicago office via UPS

07/07/17 Package received by Chicago

07/12/17 Notice date for 130/485/765/131 (received hardcopy within a few days)

07/14/17 Biometrics notice date, appointment for I485/I765 on 08/01/17

08/01/17 Biometrics appointment completed (Phoenix)

08/01/17 Called to request expedite on I-131

08/03/17 Request for expedite says "While situation appears serious, you have not provided evidence of extreme emergent need"

08/14/17 Online status changed to "Ready to schedule interview"

08/15/17 Called USCIS to follow up about expedite and add additional information

I see one other person from July has been updated to the interview scheduling phase.

Anyone receiving any traction on I-131s?