John Tanglewood

Hello everyone.

After much deliberation and frustrating days/weeks/months waiting, my wife FINALLY received her green card in the mail.  It's been just about a year to the day since we initially filed!  Holy #######!

Just posting an update.

Our interview was December 14th in Hartford.  Since then we've heard nothing.  The online tool still shows our interview date (it has not been updated since we received our interview notice).

It seems literally everyone has gotten their approval quicker than my wife, so as you can imagine we are stressed.  We've gone from checking the mailbox every day with anticipation to trying to forget about it so we don't stress.

Our immigration attorney said we can schedule an infopass to go in and ask about the status of our case.  Does anyone have experience with this?  The "official" documents say to wait 6mos before scheduling an infopass, but our attorney said that is just a guideline and we are fine to schedule one at this time.

We did receive the document at the end of our interview that our "case is being continued", which I understand is the total norm.  But still it's been close to 3 months and no update, no request for additional info, nothing....  It is extremely frustrating.

Any suggestions or comments?

On 1/16/2018 at 3:29 PM, YoungJ said:

Your interview was pretty quick, on the website it says that they are processing cases for of January 17 for Hartford 

What does that mean though?  That they are literally a year behind for case processing after the interview?

Quote

 

Hi,

 

We have very similar timelines - we applied May 11 and also had our interview on December 14 in Hartford!  At the end of the interview they gave us a piece of paper saying the case was being "continued," which meant that they were making a decision and we could file a SR after 120 days.  We got our approval notice a week later and he now has his green card.

 

It sounds like all you can do is wait.  The IO was probably just busy with the holidays and may not even be back from vacation yet, who knows.  Were there any questions that concerned you/the IO during the interview?  What country is your wife from?

Good luck!

Hi there,

Did you have to deal with the snow on the way to the USCIS location?  We arrived 20min late but it was no problem as they saw us anyway.

My wife comes from Chile.  Originally entered on an H1B1 (I think).  Overstayed.  But then we were married in April and started the application process right away.  We used a lawyer who helped to make sure all our documents were in order.  Because she entered the country legally to begin with, we were told there shouldn't be any problems at all.

No questions during the interview that concerned me.  Everything was very straightforward, and the IO said she didn't see anything that stood out in our case, and that she'd try to get to it over the break between Xmas and New Years.  She showed us the other cases she had to get through ahead of us, and it looked like there were about 10 of them.

Thanks for the info about your timeline.  I know they're all different.  Your husband comes from the UK I take it?

Hi,

Just wanted to make sure I am posting in the correct thread.

It says our I-485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR ADJUST STATUS was received May 2, 2017.

My wife received her EAD/AP card, and shortly after our interview was on December 14, 2017.

We are in CT, and went to Hartford.  How long is it going to take before we receive a decision?  I heard some people taking 2 weeks......  Our interview agent said she would try to get to our case over the Christmas/New Year's break, but now we're over 30 days past our interview and nothing.

I enter her MSC # into the USCIS Case Status and still get this:

On November 8, 2017, we scheduled you for your interview and mailed you an interview notice for Receipt Number MSCxxxxxxxx. Your interview is on December 14, 2017. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your interview notice by December 8, 2017, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

On 11/7/2017 at 12:09 PM, ElGuapo88 said:

I went to Maui on my honeymoon while still going through the AOS process.  At the time I was using an old ID card.  It was not expired and I had no problem traveling with it for years.  However, I was also paranoid about going to Hawaii even though it's "just another state".  Luckily before our trip I was able to get a driver's license prior to receiving my EAD card (in Florida you can get one just by showing your I-485 notice of action documents).  It said "Temporary" in big red letters at the bottom, but it had the Real ID star on it, and a recent picture which made me feel better.  I'm not sure what state you're from, but I believe most if not all states allow you to get a DL with your EAD card.

 

In any case, try to get an actual DL, bring your EAD card, along with copies of your marriage license and any NOAs you've received just in case.  It might be overkill and people will tell you that you're paranoid/crazy, but if it gives you some piece of mind then why not.  But other than an extra USDA form & inspection for produce and what not, it's no different than going to Kansas and you won't need anything other than a DL to go there.  I know it's hard, but relax and enjoy Hawaii.  

Thank you!  I am checking now CT law to see if she can get a DL using her EAD and I think she can!

On 11/7/2017 at 12:09 PM, ElGuapo88 said:

On 11/5/2017 at 12:37 PM, missileman said:

No, what you said was "With all the new legislation and actions by President Trump, we cannot help but be fearful of her not being allowed back into the country for whatever reason, even if it is from a US territory like Hawaii"

 

Hawaii is not a US territory.  It is as much a state as New York or any other.

 

Ah I see my error now!  Territory vs State.  My apologies you're right.

Also we just received our interview appointment!  I didn't think it would come until January!!  Scheduled for Dec 14, very excited!

On 11/4/2017 at 1:24 PM, NYCruiser said:

Wow..where does one start? Your post as so many misunderstandings it is mind boggling...

 

1. Hawaii is one of the States of The USA. You do NOT need immigration clearance.

 

2. Re:

It is my understanding that she is now automatically in the process of waiting to receive an interview appointment so as to obtain permanent residency.  Can someone confirm this?

Yes.

 

3. President Trump like other Presidents is ENFORCING the law...this should have been done by previous administrations more strictly!! Your EAD/AP card is fine for a) Employment b) Travel out of the USA within a reasonable time c) Services as an ID for DMV purposes and others...

 

Hope this helps

 

Hi,

I don't believe there was any misunderstanding - I stated that Hawaii is part of the US but they also do have a USCBP presence.  

Thanks so much for your feedback as to the interview appointment!

46 minutes ago, missileman said:

1.  Drivers Licenses are controlled by STATE authority, not by anything Obama did.

2.  As of 2016, only 12 states issued allow DO licenses.

 

EDIT:  I'm just saying that a DO license would probably not serve as a REAL ID credentials for flying..

Apologies for my ignorance on that!  I should have specified that the DO is for Connecticut!

And actually we have been able to travel with her just using her DO as identification (I myself have Global Entry), but I understand this won't last.  In either case she always carries her South American passport.

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

It takes some time to stop being paranoid I think!!!!

No one knows the complete story for any OP, but there is no reasonable fear of this travel with an EAD / AP Card for you, unless there are significant issues that haven’t been declared .... but no one can ever say never. 

Enjoy the trip!!!!! 😁

But of course - aside from her mother and father remaining in the US likely without updated Visa's, my wife has a 100% clean record and there would be no other reason for us to be paranoid about re admittance.

3 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

I'm glad you realize you are being paranoid

I'm sorry - again I am completely new at this.  

Does this mean it is a no-brainer that we should be OK to travel to a place such as Hawaii?  If the reply is sarcastic I'm fine with that - Just looking for people with experience/knowledge to help assure me of our situation.  Not trying to take any risks in this process.

7 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

I use a TX Drivers licence when travelling domestically, but if she doesnt have a state DL, then she will need to use her passport, and carry the EAD/AP as evidence of lawful presence.. 

Due to the law passed by Pres Obama allowing immigrants to obtain Drive-Only Licenses (DO, not DL), she did obtain a  DO license so she could legally drive a vehicle.  And she was able to use that license for travel within the continental US.

With her having this, her home country passport, and her EAD/AP card, should we be OK going to and returning from Hawaii to NYC?

Thanks!

I'm very sorry to post such a question.  Perhaps I am just looking for some clarification, or just some reassurance.

I am a US Citizen, born and raised.  Recently I married my wife, who came here legally from South America with her family on an H-1B visa over 10 years ago and since expired.  DACA helped to allow her younger sister to renew her work/education visa through DACA, but unfortunately my wife barely missed the age cutoff and thus remained in the country without visa.

We married almost a year ago and have gone through all the steps (applications, biometrics) to apply her for permanent residency.  We recently received the I-512 Employment Authorization card in AUGUST and at the bottom it says "Serves as I-512 Advance Parole", which is my understanding that it is a work/travel combo card.  We then used this I-512 to apply for a social, which she also received just about a month ago.

It is my understanding that she is now automatically in the process of waiting to receive an interview appointment so as to obtain permanent residency.  Can someone confirm this?

While we wait, I am still worried to travel outside the country despite having the card, as it says USCBP can still stop us at the point of re-entry and refuse her if they'd like.

For this reason I was thinking of possibly taking her to Hawaii (we currently live in the Northeast and have frequented California several times), but I am STILL paranoid as it's not part of the continental US.

• How worried should I be about her being stopped during "re-entry" from Hawaii into NYC?  I know you don't even need a passport to go to Hawaii, but I was still told there is CBP presence who carefully checks all identification.
• What percentage chance would she be denied entry?  Again I don't want to take any risks if we are in the waiting process for our interview.

With all the new legislation and actions by President Trump, we cannot help but be fearful of her not being allowed back into the country for whatever reason, even if it is from a US territory like Hawaii.  Am I being paranoid for no reason?  Should this I-512 AP be 100% sufficient for travel to and from Hawaii?  Or should I just continue waiting for our appointment and then only leave the country once she's obtained her residency?

Thanks for bearing with me on this lengthily post.