ajs1984

Same here. Mine was approved on 6/23. I didn't get a text and only found out from Informed Delivery. They sent an I-797 approval letter and GC will be arriving within 60 days. N-400 still pending. I had called them earlier this week because my 180 day grace had long expired and my CA drivers license was also expiring! I'm sure it's just coincidence, though

My experience trying to expedite at MSC / NBC has been poor.
 
Firstly, don't use the online system as suggested on this thread. The online system only lets you raise an SR. An SR is not the same thing as an expedite, and you don't want to raise an SR. You can only expedite by calling them, by mail, or through your congressman. SRs show up on the 'Next Steps' part of the USCIS case checking system (right side), Expedite will show up under 'Case History' and will have a code like T1D...WKD or similar, presumably standing for Tier 1. SRs look like SR..MSC, for example.
 
I raised an expedite request on 1/2 and on 1/3 they sent a request for more information through regular mail. They didn't email or call me even though they had all the details required to do so. The letter arrived on 1/9 and it asked for more supporting information, providing an "Attn" line for the team handling my request, plus the fax number. I faxed my supporting documentation with a cover letter on 1/9. On 1/23 (2 weeks later) I called USCIS again. They said they have no record I even faxed the documents! I faxed them again yesterday.
 
The expedite process seems to be very 'hit or miss'. I wish you the best of luck with it.

Got my green card today. USPS missed me yesterday but I picked it up at the post office this morning.
 
I second what shakeyy said.. if you have a non-squeeky-clean past, it's best to wait for the green card.

Got my green card today. USPS missed me yesterday but I picked it up at the post office this morning.
 
I second what shakeyy said.. if you have a non-squeeky-clean past, it's best to wait for the green card.

Got my green card today. USPS missed me yesterday but I picked it up at the post office this morning.
 
I second what shakeyy said.. if you have a non-squeeky-clean past, it's best to wait for the green card.

Got my green card today. USPS missed me yesterday but I picked it up at the post office this morning.
 
I second what shakeyy said.. if you have a non-squeeky-clean past, it's best to wait for the green card.

Got my green card today. USPS missed me yesterday but I picked it up at the post office this morning.
 
I second what shakeyy said.. if you have a non-squeeky-clean past, it's best to wait for the green card.

Finally received my GC today.
I was supposed to get it yesterday, but you know, USPS sometimes! Ugh!
 

Got my green card today. USPS missed me yesterday but I picked it up at the post office this morning.
 
I second what shakeyy said.. if you have a non-squeeky-clean past, it's best to wait for the green card.

A lot happened for me last night. My approval notices were not delivered but they got re-scanned by USPS again this morning so I am expecting them today. My I-131, I-765 and I-485 (!!) receipt numbers got updated on the online system and they all indicate approved / card was mailed / card is being produced. Amazing! It looks like something got unblocked for my cases. However, no Priority Mail tracking number has shown up in Informed Delivery; usually that happens for anything addressed to my name. Hopefully it will appear next week.

From USPS informed delivery this morning I can see my approval notices for EAD + AP. Hopefully now even if my green card takes a while to get approved, I can start working once the card comes. So happy!!

From USPS informed delivery this morning I can see my approval notices for EAD + AP. Hopefully now even if my green card takes a while to get approved, I can start working once the card comes. So happy!!

No. Though not shown in the screenshot, this is the receipt number for Form I-765.

The agency involved in approving the I-131 petition (USCIS) is different from the agency enforcing the use of Advance Parole for re-entry (CBP). As USCIS does not require a reason to be specified for non-DACA applicants in the case of an adjustment application, it is moot whether the instructions state a reason is required, as no reason need be codified on the application paperwork, and so, no reason can be inferred by USCIS.
 
At the border, the CBP handbook will kick in, as well as the officer's discretion. I agree that this could go any way. However the CBP website does clearly state the admissible reasons for travel with AP:
 
""Aliens in the United States should, prior to departure, obtain Advance Parole in order to re-enter the United States after travel abroad if they have:
Filed an application for adjustment of status but have not received a decision from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Hold refugee or asylee status and intend to depart temporarily to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa in Canada; and/or An emergent personal or bona fide reason to travel temporarily abroad."" This list is clearly an A, B or C type list; A does not require C. Therefore, if you have a pending adjustment of status, you don't need an "emergent personal or bona fide reason" any more than you need to "hold refugee or asylee status".
 
It's probably best not to state your opinion or the opinion of lawyers as any kind of fact. The facts in this case are contradictory on the government documents we have at hand. But it is quite safe for me to state my opinion that a botched USCIS instruction document will never be enforced by CBP -- it is the CBP's own rules, regulations and allowances that will be (as well as the Code of Federal Regulations).

I noticed the USCIS processing times statistics were updated.
 
Field Office Processing Dates for National Benefits Center as of: November 30, 2017
I-131 Application for Travel Document All other applicants for advance parole September 1, 2017 I-765    Application for Employment Authorization Based on a pending I-485 adjustment application [(c)(9)] September 1, 2017  
According to this, the processing times were back to 90 days in November. Huh..
 

The agency involved in approving the I-131 petition (USCIS) is different from the agency enforcing the use of Advance Parole for re-entry (CBP). As USCIS does not require a reason to be specified for non-DACA applicants in the case of an adjustment application, it is moot whether the instructions state a reason is required, as no reason need be codified on the application paperwork, and so, no reason can be inferred by USCIS.
 
At the border, the CBP handbook will kick in, as well as the officer's discretion. I agree that this could go any way. However the CBP website does clearly state the admissible reasons for travel with AP:
 
""Aliens in the United States should, prior to departure, obtain Advance Parole in order to re-enter the United States after travel abroad if they have:
Filed an application for adjustment of status but have not received a decision from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Hold refugee or asylee status and intend to depart temporarily to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa in Canada; and/or An emergent personal or bona fide reason to travel temporarily abroad."" This list is clearly an A, B or C type list; A does not require C. Therefore, if you have a pending adjustment of status, you don't need an "emergent personal or bona fide reason" any more than you need to "hold refugee or asylee status".
 
It's probably best not to state your opinion or the opinion of lawyers as any kind of fact. The facts in this case are contradictory on the government documents we have at hand. But it is quite safe for me to state my opinion that a botched USCIS instruction document will never be enforced by CBP -- it is the CBP's own rules, regulations and allowances that will be (as well as the Code of Federal Regulations).

My I-485 case status was updated to "Interview is Scheduled", today.

I got the interview appointment letter today. Still no sign of / no update on EAD/AP. My interview is on 2/7. Very happy.

San Jose / Santa Clara has a reported 11 month backlog, yet two of us allocated there got an interview in less than five. It's very encouraging news for other filers.

I got the interview appointment letter today. Still no sign of / no update on EAD/AP. My interview is on 2/7. Very happy.

I got the interview appointment letter today. Still no sign of / no update on EAD/AP. My interview is on 2/7. Very happy.

I got the interview appointment letter today. Still no sign of / no update on EAD/AP. My interview is on 2/7. Very happy.

Info for I-693 Part 9, Vaccination Record.
 
Writing this up because I found a lot of obsolete and conflicting information about the requirements and what was generally accepted by the civil surgeon. What you get done in advance has an impact on what you end up paying. The customer in front of me was charged $400; I was charged $180.
 
I was told by a lawyer at an early consultation that out of country vaccination records aren't usually accepted by the Designated Civil Surgeon. The said that they *will* accept print outs from local lab companies and heathcare providers that they are familiar with. So most likely, you don't need your historical records, as they wouldn't be accepted anyway. Lab titers are usually cheaper or less risky than administering another shot, and you can get them all done from one blood sample, so you can 'americanize' your records quite easily. But, I'm not sure you have to. See below..
 
Male & female adults aged 26-60, which I'd guess covers most people adjusting w/ spousal petitions, only need Tdap (if never previously received) or a Td booster (you need evidence of Tdap), and the Influenza shot during the winter months. Of course, it's best to always get the flu shot, even if it isn't in season, as you don't know when your interview will be. All other requirements are allowed to be marked "not age appropriate" or "not medically appropriate". Both of these vaccines are cheap to get, even if you are not insured.
 
My civil surgeon did transcribe everything I had labs done for, and I have heard that some Civil Surgeons will require evidence of everything. But no other records are required by CDC or USCIS, so don't let your civil surgeon oversell you. For example, I've never been vaccinated against Hep A or Hep B.. Hep B is a 6 month series and most likely quite expensive to get done, and I've never read about any civil surgeon requiring it, perhaps unsurprisingly.
 
Things you need
 
Tdap: I got the shot from KP in California. Had the record. He wrote the date of my 2014 shot. Don't listen to people online that say your shot needs to be from 1 or 2 years ago. It doesn't. You get 10 years for the initial shot and any booster.
 
Influenza: I got the shot from KP done in October, just before I filed. This guy only lasts a year. Had the record. He wrote the date of my 2017 shot.
 
Things you might need
 
Varicella: This one is called out in the "Complete Series", so most likely a good idea to get it done. I'd never been vaccinated, but I had chickenpox as a child, and got a blood titer done for V.Zoster which proved I was immune. He wrote "VH <date>", the date being when my titer form was printed.
 
Things you probably don't need
 
DT/DTaP/DTP, OPV/IPV, Hib, Rotavirus, Meningococcal: I had these done as a child. He marked "Not age appropriate", and didn't ask for records.
 
Pneumococcal, Hep A, Hep B: Never had the vaccines. He marked "Not age appropriate", and didn't ask for records.
 
MMR: I had lab titers done for mumps, rubeola and rubella. He marked "Not age appropriate", didn't ask for records. In retrospect this one was a waste of my time/money.

Info for I-693 Part 9, Vaccination Record.
 
Writing this up because I found a lot of obsolete and conflicting information about the requirements and what was generally accepted by the civil surgeon. What you get done in advance has an impact on what you end up paying. The customer in front of me was charged $400; I was charged $180.
 
I was told by a lawyer at an early consultation that out of country vaccination records aren't usually accepted by the Designated Civil Surgeon. The said that they *will* accept print outs from local lab companies and heathcare providers that they are familiar with. So most likely, you don't need your historical records, as they wouldn't be accepted anyway. Lab titers are usually cheaper or less risky than administering another shot, and you can get them all done from one blood sample, so you can 'americanize' your records quite easily. But, I'm not sure you have to. See below..
 
Male & female adults aged 26-60, which I'd guess covers most people adjusting w/ spousal petitions, only need Tdap (if never previously received) or a Td booster (you need evidence of Tdap), and the Influenza shot during the winter months. Of course, it's best to always get the flu shot, even if it isn't in season, as you don't know when your interview will be. All other requirements are allowed to be marked "not age appropriate" or "not medically appropriate". Both of these vaccines are cheap to get, even if you are not insured.
 
My civil surgeon did transcribe everything I had labs done for, and I have heard that some Civil Surgeons will require evidence of everything. But no other records are required by CDC or USCIS, so don't let your civil surgeon oversell you. For example, I've never been vaccinated against Hep A or Hep B.. Hep B is a 6 month series and most likely quite expensive to get done, and I've never read about any civil surgeon requiring it, perhaps unsurprisingly.
 
Things you need
 
Tdap: I got the shot from KP in California. Had the record. He wrote the date of my 2014 shot. Don't listen to people online that say your shot needs to be from 1 or 2 years ago. It doesn't. You get 10 years for the initial shot and any booster.
 
Influenza: I got the shot from KP done in October, just before I filed. This guy only lasts a year. Had the record. He wrote the date of my 2017 shot.
 
Things you might need
 
Varicella: This one is called out in the "Complete Series", so most likely a good idea to get it done. I'd never been vaccinated, but I had chickenpox as a child, and got a blood titer done for V.Zoster which proved I was immune. He wrote "VH <date>", the date being when my titer form was printed.
 
Things you probably don't need
 
DT/DTaP/DTP, OPV/IPV, Hib, Rotavirus, Meningococcal: I had these done as a child. He marked "Not age appropriate", and didn't ask for records.
 
Pneumococcal, Hep A, Hep B: Never had the vaccines. He marked "Not age appropriate", and didn't ask for records.
 
MMR: I had lab titers done for mumps, rubeola and rubella. He marked "Not age appropriate", didn't ask for records. In retrospect this one was a waste of my time/money.

Info for I-693 Part 9, Vaccination Record.
 
Writing this up because I found a lot of obsolete and conflicting information about the requirements and what was generally accepted by the civil surgeon. What you get done in advance has an impact on what you end up paying. The customer in front of me was charged $400; I was charged $180.
 
I was told by a lawyer at an early consultation that out of country vaccination records aren't usually accepted by the Designated Civil Surgeon. The said that they *will* accept print outs from local lab companies and heathcare providers that they are familiar with. So most likely, you don't need your historical records, as they wouldn't be accepted anyway. Lab titers are usually cheaper or less risky than administering another shot, and you can get them all done from one blood sample, so you can 'americanize' your records quite easily. But, I'm not sure you have to. See below..
 
Male & female adults aged 26-60, which I'd guess covers most people adjusting w/ spousal petitions, only need Tdap (if never previously received) or a Td booster (you need evidence of Tdap), and the Influenza shot during the winter months. Of course, it's best to always get the flu shot, even if it isn't in season, as you don't know when your interview will be. All other requirements are allowed to be marked "not age appropriate" or "not medically appropriate". Both of these vaccines are cheap to get, even if you are not insured.
 
My civil surgeon did transcribe everything I had labs done for, and I have heard that some Civil Surgeons will require evidence of everything. But no other records are required by CDC or USCIS, so don't let your civil surgeon oversell you. For example, I've never been vaccinated against Hep A or Hep B.. Hep B is a 6 month series and most likely quite expensive to get done, and I've never read about any civil surgeon requiring it, perhaps unsurprisingly.
 
Things you need
 
Tdap: I got the shot from KP in California. Had the record. He wrote the date of my 2014 shot. Don't listen to people online that say your shot needs to be from 1 or 2 years ago. It doesn't. You get 10 years for the initial shot and any booster.
 
Influenza: I got the shot from KP done in October, just before I filed. This guy only lasts a year. Had the record. He wrote the date of my 2017 shot.
 
Things you might need
 
Varicella: This one is called out in the "Complete Series", so most likely a good idea to get it done. I'd never been vaccinated, but I had chickenpox as a child, and got a blood titer done for V.Zoster which proved I was immune. He wrote "VH <date>", the date being when my titer form was printed.
 
Things you probably don't need
 
DT/DTaP/DTP, OPV/IPV, Hib, Rotavirus, Meningococcal: I had these done as a child. He marked "Not age appropriate", and didn't ask for records.
 
Pneumococcal, Hep A, Hep B: Never had the vaccines. He marked "Not age appropriate", and didn't ask for records.
 
MMR: I had lab titers done for mumps, rubeola and rubella. He marked "Not age appropriate", didn't ask for records. In retrospect this one was a waste of my time/money.