Tenreyro

Hi guys,

Shame it sometimes gets so ugly, even with personal attacks. I am not the OP, but I was in a similar situation. I was F2A (spouse of a LPR), and applied to AOS on March 2018 with a pending I-130.

The instructions are very clear and specific, and the USCIS manual are also, so we took our chance. OP did not share their experience, but I am sharing ours. 

When we applied for AOS, my visa would had expired after 2 months. But I knew I was under "Authorized stay status", which means I was maintaining a legal status in the country. I received an Employment Authorization document and Advanced Parole on August last year, as well as a SSN and Driver's License. And I was approved last week, and received the 10-year permanent residency card in the mail today.

The IO did not ask about my status after AOS, she asked about the visa, when I got it and why (I guess to make sure I did not apply for the visa with a second intention).

I hope this answers the question for any other person in this thread, and please, if you don't know, say so and don't go attacking people online and claiming they are misquoting things. ^^

Happy Labor Day in advance!

Congratulations @AhsanTX!!!!! 

I also want to share my last mile experience.

We had our interview last week, and was very unusual. We had it scheduled for 7:15 A.M. (Didn't know they opened so early), after around 20 to 30 minutes after we got there, they called my name, and the officer told us that my wife didn't have to get inside with us. (At that point I thought maybe there was a new process and had o be done some biometrics or something first, so I leave with my wife the mega compilation of documents we had.

I got sworn in, fingerprinted, and then she asks for an ID and my passport (which is in the binder I left with my wife), we go and retrieve it, I apologize, and let her know I thought my wife was supposed to be at the interview, she said a comment that I don't recall word by word, but it was dismissing that idea. We go get the binder, get back inside, and continue with the interview without my wife.

The questions were:

- Full Name and Date of Birth

- Current Address including Zipcode

- Some "Yes/No" question from the form I-485, such as "Have you helped with Human Trafficking?", "Do you have firearms training?"

- She mixed three questions in the middle of the Yes/No questions:

              - When did you meet your wife (I use precise years, but we met more than 9 years ago, we started dating 2 years after we met)

              - When did I get the visa I had before AOS?

              - Why did I get that visa?

              - Did I do what I applied for the visa? (Yes)

- What organizations I have been part of (It's on the I-485, and I had mentioned a recreational club my wife and I were part of, and an NGO, I mentioned those two, she asked me to explain, so I did)

She then asked for the Medical, which I handed in the closed enveloped, she typed things, printed a paper, and said that as of that moment the interview was complete, that she had to review the information, handed me a white paper saying that, and asked me if I had any question. I was confused and in shock, so I did not, and asked her what it meant that it had to be reviewed, she only said that she had to review the case file.

That was it, a little cold, weird, one-person interview. So as you imagine, I was very confused, uncomfortable and didn't know what to expect. We spent the rest of the day together both with that weird feeling of uncertainty, knowing that the case would either update that same day, or if not then next week, but technically it could be 4 months.

I was checking the online status constantly, and around 4pm, the case updated saying that the card was ordered for production. As you would imagine, it was a relief, and a reason to celebrate!

Next day it updated to Case was approved, this week an approval letter came in, and today, the permanent resident card arrived!!!

I have to mention that the case never updated to provide tracking number, even when I called to ask about it (Labor day weekend coming, I didn't want it to arrive while we were gone)

It was a long journey, my P.D. is December 19, 2016, AOS started on March 2, 2018, so it would be 983 days since P.D., and 545 days from AOS receipt date to card in hand.

Good luck everyone, and wanted to share the interview experience in case someone gets a weird interview, so you don't go crazy thinking the worse, and for everyone still waiting, hang in there.

Hi everyone!

I am reappearing today to share a good news, and let you guys know why I vanished.

I really love this community and the way we try to move forward together, but this issue hanging around in my mind was really starting to affect me and kind of driving me crazy. I had to find distractions from the wait, and until I paused the forum for a few weeks I realized it made a difference, those weeks became months, and now here we are. I entered occasionally to read about how you guys were doing, but never even logged in again, fearing this issue would drive me crazy again. 

We started this things with just some questions and debates with QAF2A @thepanda @GiselaMargareta @lilydenris @Bfree3 @Bhumi @markx, and I knew sending that paperwork was a bet, a bet we were doing because we knew it was legal and that the path was there, for me was a bet to no longer be far from the person I love the most in this world. Now I feel it has become a living information source to enlighten and guide people showing what chart B actually means for a F2A applicant, and that sometimes it can help you be with your family and alleviate the pain of being away from each other.

I promised myself that I would enter and share the news either when 1 year had passed since "Case ready to be scheduled for interview" or the moment I received an interview notice. On July 2018, we got the "Case ready to be scheduled for interview", exactly 1 year later, we received the update that our case was scheduled for an interview 😮. Today, we received the Notice, and we have an interview on August 22nd 🙀

We are very excited and very nervous. And wanted to share with you guys this exciting news. And I really, truly couldn't even believe it until I got the interview notice.

Honestly, from March I had been feeling that our case had something wrong, that it was lost, misplaced or something like that, and we reached to our Senator that after a month said it was very strange, but that they couldn't get an answer on the case from USCIS, we parallelly contacted USCIS, that never answered that inquiry, and almost going crazy I reached to the Ombudsman, who said the case looked complete. (I sent a copy of the Medical via Mail, but not the Ombudsman, USCIS Customer Service or the Senator's team ever said they paired it to my case, tracking said they did received it).

Timing says none of those inquiries helped with the scheduling of our interview. I had also submitted my EAD renewal form, because I had estimated our interview could be anytime between March (when I sent them) and December.

For the ones that have had the experience of being interviewed: Your advice is welcomed!

Any question for this ghost from the past, here I am!

12 hours ago, thepanda said:

USCIS will not know when you have completed the medical exam. In the letter they tell you to bring it to the interview. That's when they know. 

 

Thats's true, but also you can send a copy of your medical to the Center that last contacted you about your I-485. That's what it says on the instructions.

That's what I will do, I'll start my medical on Saturday. Keep in mind that CDC established new requirements for the Medical, specifically the Tuberculosis test, now is something like Quadriferon? (I don't remember exactly the name, but I can send you guys the link.

Hi guys, now I have time again to enter the forum and write. Our relatives visiting was a more time-consuming task than I though. As I already posted, the EAD being produced, I had it in my hand around 1 week after I was informed it was being produced. I took a moment to get my Learner's Permit, so I can drive  again (NY allows you to drive unaccompanied if you have both the NY Permit and a Foreign Driver's License).

Nevertheless, we met with a family friend who is a doctor, and got some titer tests done to see the level of immunity, so I don't have to get some vaccines done that I already have. (It was impossible for me to get my full vaccination record in my country). So, I will soon do the Medical and send it to USCIS.

Thank you @Bfree3 for answering @VG31. Yes, now next steps for me are not that immigration related, but basically structure things that a normal people would have (driver's license, library card, etc.). But I will also get my medical done to send it to accompany my case. And mostly, wait is what's coming next, as always.

I am very, very happy for all the good news that have been posted on this forum, and it was such a joy to read each story and advance that have been happening. I wish the best of luck for everyone that is already going to an interview, and if you need help on the documentation to bring, don't hesitate on asking here.

Information during this process is vital, and in this thread we have created something that didn't exist before. We created hope for the F2A that are considering Adjustment of Status, we took it as a gamble at the beginning of March, but we were sure that it was possible (with a pending I-130 or not). And I am very happy to see new names everyday getting involved, and knowing there are also two or three people that only read, and might eventually share their stories. Good Luck everyone, and be patient, keep your spirit up.

16 hours ago, Holly-ando said:

@Tenreyro When i first joined the thread, you explained to me the difference between intent and misrepresentation, i filed after exactly 134 days, do you think this issue would be raised in this case, i would really like to hear your input about this??

 

@BenSherry can you please share your interview experience as well as your visa type ??

 

I'm sorry guys, the interview was scheduled quickly and i'm freaking out ! Thank you for your help

I think you are fine, misrepresentation could be assumed in that case if, for example, you said you came visiting, but you sold your car and house before coming 'visiting'. If you are in the process for real reasons, I think you would be fine.

14 hours ago, Bfree3 said:

Visa Journey is much more up to date and accurate with their processing timelines... They have my EAD coming between August 17th and August 26 I think.. @Tenreyro which definitely lines up since my date is march 29th

It is accurate. But it relies on the information provided by users, that's one of the reasons why it's so important to have your timeline filled and updated.

19 minutes ago, Bfree3 said:

Congratulations @Tenreyro!!🙌 I was thinking yours would be coming next.. @QAF2A and @BenSherry have you received the physical card in mail as yet? 

 

I was also happy to see the uscis processing times for 765 jumped finally to February 13,2018... I mean they are a few weeks ahead anyway but i think they maintain those processing times just so they can "your case is still within processing time" 🤐

Oh, It moved forward? Awesome! That means that in 17 days all March 2nd cases should be completed, if not, an inquiry can be open.

3 minutes ago, Oanagmzo said:

Congratulations!!!! That’s such great news!  When is your PD again? 

 

March 2nd, 2018. 

Hi everyone,

I received yesterday the update that my EAD Card is being produced. 

No expedite or anything. By my calculations, it could have taken up to Sept 16th, so, anyone with my same PD should keep their eyes open and case status checked.

Good Luck to us all!

1 hour ago, sponge_gto said:

Just thought I should share some recent update:

Day 161: I-485 Case is Ready to Be Scheduled for An Interview

Day 162: I-485 Interview Was Scheduled

Day 163: Informed Delivery shows incoming mail from USCIS

 

Meanwhile there's been no update on my I-765 and I-131 (the latter only submitted in July as I had initially planned to stay put until after AOS). I'm assuming they will not be processed? Considering I had a RFIE about a month after initial filing, I am relieved that things have progressed nicely in the end.

 

For context, I am filing from Ithaca, NY and did my fingerprints in Syracuse, NY. I'm not sure if the location in Syracuse does interviews as well so I wouldn't be surprised if I have to go to Buffalo or something. Anyone had experience with Syracuse?

Congratulations!!!

Yes, you should expect the interview to be in Buffalo, should be next month, somewhere between Sept 10-21. Good Luck!!!

Here are some reviews from people that have gone through the Buffalo Office, hope they are helpful.

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=&cty=Buffalo+NY&dfilter=5&topic=Adjustment+of+Status

26 minutes ago, ALANCrookham said:

My wife just received her notification that her final interview date is in the mail. We filed in Texas, but are in Pennsylvania visiting friends. Would it matter if the get her medical exam done here, or do we need to do it in Texas?

What @Dee elle said. As long as it is a USCIS-certified doctor, that should not be a problem. However, if she has the vaccination records at home, it can be worth it for her to wait until you both come back. The medical normally involves 2 visit, the second being 48 to 72 hours after the first one. And only tell the Officer if he/she asks you why the medical was there.

However, the date of the interview is normally a month after the interview date is in the mail. So, it is likely to be somewhere around September 10 to Sept 21. 

Good Luck!

Hi!

I'm creating this topic so we can keep in touch and see how is it being processed in the Long Island, NY field office.

My wife and I filed for AOS on March 2, 2018. Right now, the case status is "Case is Ready to be Scheduled".

Hope to find more people with the same field office!

15 hours ago, BenSherry said:

We got a notification today saying that the I-765 card is in production.  It has been around 160 days since we submitted in early March. I assume the card mentioned is the combo card with both 131 and 765.  Good luck to all!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Hope you get it soon!!!  So good to see movement and F2A approvals!!!

10 hours ago, Bhumi said:

We were just waiting..

And we received the EAD card by mail..

Also today we receive social security card..

Now waiting for interview notice..

 

Congratulations Bhumi!!! 

I have noticed that February and March were advancing and being approved. I knew one of us was going to be approved soon, congratulations Bhumi. The normal is not 120 now, its 145 by the estimates here on Visa Journey.

On 8/3/2018 at 2:21 PM, thepanda said:

Just giving a quick update. My case didn't change and is still on "Fingerprint Review was completed" but I am not expecting for that change anytime soon. 

 

I have been enjoying my time off since I resigned end of June. I travelled and I started to play golf, so I am practicing a lot. The time goes by quite fast for me but I only have been "on vacation" since a month, so that is probably why I am not too bored or driving myself crazy but really enjoying the time off. 

I finally got my job offers today as well and will give my official response to one of the offers on Monday. I already put in a request for the work permit to be expedited today. I am curious how this process will go. I will keep you guys updated. 

Congratulations on the job offer!

And oddly, I feel happy that you resigned from the place you worked, I know you wanted other prospects. Wow xD your 'vacation' activities sound very good xD

I am very happy for you. Be careful on the wording, if you are going to send a cover letter to USCIS with a copy of ypur job offer, try tp say 'financial loss' rather than hardship, hardship is associated with bad times, additional expenses, loans or something like that, financial loss is related to income that could be loss because the form is still pending, such as a job offer, a company in hardship because your form is still not approved, etc. Good luck, I am sure your EAD will be approved very soon, and I wish for your approval and everything to be processed smoothly and fast.

20 hours ago, Nikku777 said:

Finally after 184 days EAD & Travel card approved today . Status changed to "New Card is Being Produced", how long does it take to receive it in the mail ???

 

Also I got a I-693 notice saying the form I submitted was of a later version. I'm pretty sure I submitted the latest version of the form , I'm not sure what to do ?? Does this mean I have to go to the doctors office again and do all those tests again with a new form ??? 

Depends on the doctor, some of the one I researched say they charge $20 to update your medical to a newer version of the form, if you already did it with them. Ask them, and be sure that it is the last, the one available in USCIS' website

1 hour ago, davis-usa said:

You understand it correct except my PD is December 5th, 2016 not 2017 , and yes I am doing consular processing and I finished all doc and they put me on  the line for interview but they said they will not schedule it until there is a  visa available so my question is which table in the visa bulltein I should look at ? Chart A or B and I know AOS is different but the date you should receive green card or interview should be almost the same 

Sorry to confuse you, actually my PD is Dec 19, 2016. I don't know why I wrote 2017. And we filed using chart B, not A. I replied quickly while walking, sorry about the confusion.

As Bfree3 said, you should check Chart A, and the process is very, very different for us. For Dec 5th, I think you can expect it to move in December 2018 or January 2019. Your interview could be in January or February. All of this is guessing, but if you have a "Case Complete" status at the NVC Ceac, that should be helpful when the Visa Bulletin moves enough for your case, and of course, call in case the Visa Bulletin is due to move and you have no interview yet, don't be afraid to call several days. Right now, all you can do is wait, and you will probably spend next spring with your family  Good Luck!

1 hour ago, AhsanTX said:

Good News Guys, after waiting for 19 months finally the i-130 petition got approved !! 

Received e-notification for the approval, awaiting the approval letter to come by mail.

Congratulations @AhsanTX on such a good news!!!! Hope everything moves quickly and smoothly.

54 minutes ago, davis-usa said:

Hi , my priority date almost same as you expect is the 5th .my category is F2A did you get your green card ? I am waiting for interview to be scheduled overseas and I am wondering which chart they are using for our category  

Sorry davis, I don't understand your question. If I understand correctly, your PD is December 5th, 2017. I am not waiting for interview overseas, I applied for Adjustment of Status inside the country, I will not be going through Consular Processing. Congratulations on how advanced is your process. Are you going through Consular Process? Is your case completed at National Visa Center (NVC)?

We used the Chart A to file our cases, we are waiting both Chart B and each local office Processing Times, to keep in mind the time it might take. Good luck!

2 hours ago, Bfree3 said:

I think I’ll try a banana bread today. 

 

Recently we bought some used bikes on offerup. So we go riding together. It’s so nice and peaceful. 

 

Lots and lots and lots of reading.

watching movies 

looking forward to different events and family visits things to help keep the days going.

i like going to thrift shops looking for good books 

sometimes sit out by the pool 

I cook and clean a lot as well

 

Now that I have my anxiety and worries at an all time low I’m just really trying to relax mostly and enjoy this very long vacation because I know I’ll be rearing to go once the EAD is in hand. 

Awesome!!!

I wanted to buy a $30 bike on a thrift shop, but we have little space, so I decided it was better, and also it was a little bit rusty, and I wanted to take it as a project, but I also didn't want to take on such expenses right now.

We have also visited the village pool, and rented a lot of recent movies for free from our local library, (but also not so recent), I clean and cook as well, with my father in law we worked a bit on my wife's car. We also visit a lot of the state parks, I bought a State Parks pass as a gift to my wife so we visited the parks and beaches in the area, and we have been using it plenty.

I also wanted to write a little, but I have read a lot, but wrote very little, I should do that still 😅(Oh, nice, new emojis!!!), and I hope to volunteer in an cat shelter close to my wife's work,  I have been hoping to do that for months, but I keep saying "yeah, I'll come around to do it eventually".

My anxiety is also at an all time low, I felt relief when my case was finally 'ready for interview' because it took way too long.

And I am very happy to see new names and new filers in this group every time I log in.

15 minutes ago, Baconsoda said:

Well after 7months of waiting and no updates after biometrics in February we just received a RFE for i485 on August 1st. We have no idea what it will ask for but are so freaked out now! Also they inform us it resets the clock. So there's 7 months nearly 8 months wasted I guess!? We are so beyond stressed about it!

What @elmers said. It can only be 'reseted' if it was a Request for Initial Evidence, not a regular RFE. However, plenty of cases it happens that the clock does not reset. 

An RFE could actually be a good signal in this case, that an officer has been actively looking at your case, perhaps in the field office instead of NBC. So, if that's the case, then it might even be good news, try to be as thorough as possible with the RFE response. Unless it is a courtesy letter for the medical, in that case, that's just standard.

12 hours ago, Bfree3 said:

I have major concerns in trusting these timelines and processing charts. Seems like it automatically goes to the next day until someone manually goes in and resets it to the correct day. It’s so frustrating. I’m just going to stop checking it completely. How is everybody doing ? What sort of activities are you doing to keep busy ? 

That's the best idea @Bfree3. Yes, the dates update automatically every day, they are supposed to be useful to have an idea of the time it could take, but mostly it is useful for them, not for us, because they use it as a kind of a shield to avoid getting inquiries.

I have been jogging some days, since the weather have allowed it, I'm afraid that won't be the case for the whole year where we live. I have been cooking, and sending my wife with homemade meals whenever possible, and now I have tried baking a little xD, homemade bread, banana bread and french roll, with whole wheat flour. And we have a trip planned to Niagara Falls, it helps to think and find possible activities for that. And some reading and series-watching, but the last one is a little tiring after a while. I have applied to a few job that have find very interesting to me, just in case, not to let theose opportunities slide, and thinking in case the business liked me, I could always use a job offer to try and expedite.

Besides that, it has been the small things that have helped with avoid feeling despair, for example, it has been helpful that some Feb and March EAD's have been approved, even if those were for USC spouses.

How is everybody else? What have been your favorite activities, and what new have you tried while waiting?

2 hours ago, Zulu Flights said:

I got notifications this morning of my card being mailed to me. Please fam  How and when does the SSN card come?

Any luck yet?

Most users have reported their SSN arrived around a week after the EAD.

15 hours ago, markx said:

Thanks Tenreyro,

 

My PD for I-130 is Jan 9th 2017. how do you know look up where is the case? It was showing at NBC at the I797 Notice of Action. I didn't see it's been transfer to local office.

 

Sorry for my ignorance, a little bit confused When you said visit a specialist, does it mean make a INFOPASS appointment? I thought we can only make infopass appointment only PD is before case inquiry date. In my case the case inquire date is  October 10, 2016 for CSC office and I have to wait almost 3months to send an inquire as I would image?

 

Your PD seems appropriate for a Medical. If you feel is the right thing, then go for it, check for the average processing time for your local office just in case.

The 797C let's you know where it was received. I would call and let them know I have to send something additional, and would like to know where is the case. Or send it both NBC and your local office, to see if there is a good chance tour case would be complete before the medical expires.

No, by a specialist I don't mean an Infopass, I mean a doctor with a specific area of knowledge. And yes, you can schedule an Infopass at any given time for a filed case or even without a filed case, however, almost no one can open a Case Inquiry before the date they give, so don't expect to open one or get something for your case that way. CSC has started to process I-130 for Jan 2017, wait another 60 days first. It is a process, some parts will be fast, some slow, is not a race, and you are with people that you love and that love you, it's better than being apart.

15 hours ago, markx said:

congrats and enjoy your 'summer in law'

 

what's the next step after "Case is Ready for Interview"? I've been this status for couple of months. I know I did not submit I693 medical exam and my I131 is forever pending, so I assume we cannot do anything before CSC approved our 131?  (The case inquiry date fallback to October 10, 2016. Ahhhh....)  even F2A current date(7/22/2016) from Form A will catch up the CSC I131 processing date. I was wondering if form A become current and I131 is still pending, what we should do? 

Hi markx,

I guess you mean I-130, since I-131 is Advance Parole. I don't know your whole situation, for example in my case I want to visit a specialist before doing the medical examination. However, if your PD is before May 2017, I would do the medical and send a copy of your copy (remember the original must be kept sealed.). To send it you must find out where is your case, if at NBC, or already at the local office. I dont know if that would be helpful or not, but at least you would be doing something.

Why May 2017? To avoid the medical expiring before the PD is current, (making the assumption the pace will be the same, or even get delayed 1 month).