travellers

19 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I agree with @Crazy Cat and @jackiegringa, if you are planning on naturalizing, file the N400 assuming you meet all the requirements.  My wife did that with our I751 pending just when processing of I751s were starting to crawl, and she was a citizen about the same time as others who filed near the same time were getting their 10 yr GC.  Not sure about the articles, or what reasoning they are using to say wait, but it makes no sense overall.  However, they are right the I751 does have to be finalized first or at the same time as the N400 which is what usually happens for those in the situation with both petitions in process.

 

Good Luck!

Thanks folks for your kind and fast replies. 

So we are going to file N400 while waiting for 751 approval. One more question about the combo interview. Must the sponsor (me) go together with beneficiary (my wife)?

Hey folks, my wife and I need some advice. We live in NJ. She filed I751 in December 2022. It has been 16 months but the tracking info is still "Fingerprints Were Taken". We did not file N400 yet because we ever read some articles on the internet what it's "better" to Get I751 approved first. So shall we contact our congressman to push USCIS a little? Not sure it works but we have no idea what else we can do. Can you folks give some advice? thanks in advance 

Just now, Abe009 said:

Congrats, you def getting your Greencard. Curious why did you say security questions were asked? My wife and I are getting ready for our interview in the next couple of weeks. 

Those questions in the end of 485 forms such as "have you murdered someone" etc.

We just came home from the 485 interview. The IO was very nice and asked us simple questions such has "tell me about your wife/husband", "Show me the updates since you submitted the application", "what did your parents say about your marriage", etc. At the end, the IO asked the applicant 485 security questions.  Only about 15 minutes. Then the IO gave us a paper saying that the decision will arrive within up to 120 days. We asked the IO if we were approved. The IO said that if approved we should receive the card by the end of March. 

When we arrive home, the online status becomes "card being produced". Is this a confirmation that we are approved? 

MY spouse is going for the 485 interview this Wednesday but the EAD combo card will expire tomorrow. My spouse is not working or looking for a job. Will this be a problem for the 485 AOS?

Hi folks, I heard that in recent months or couple of years, USCIS tends to separate the husband and wife during the 485 interviews. while I remember this used to be rare several years ago. Can you guys share your impression about the recent cases?

I am preparing our 485 interview in 2 weeks. I see this webpage suggests bringing all forms (e.g. I-130, I-130A, I-864, I-131, I-765). Is this necessary? All these forms have been submitted already and USCIS have them in hand. 

Per this webpage: 

https://citizenpath.com/i-485-interview-preparation/

A complete copy of your adjustment of status application packet. In addition to Form I-485, have available any other forms (e.g. I-130, I-130A, I-864, I-131, I-765) you may have submitted.

2 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Yes, if you are fluent in both languages.

Thanks! I have a concern. Generally a "certificate" means a qualification from an authority such as government-licensed. So in this case, any person who is fluent in both languages can do the translation without being licensed from an authority? thanks again

5 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Any person  who is fluent in both languages can translate......just include the appropriate certification statement.

 

Can I do the translate and include this certificate?

Hi folks, We finally had the 485 interview schedule for early March. The letter requires a certified English translation for all doc's not in English. We had a custody paper of my kid not living with us from my prior marriage in South Korea. I searched on yelp and google and found numerous such translation service but most of them conduct online. I don't know which service is trustworthy. Does USCIS have a list of translators we can use? Can you guys recommend a translator that USCIS will accept? 

Alternatively, can I translate the doc myself with an affidavit that my translation is fully qualified?

Thanks again folks 

After long 14 months waiting since we mailed the 130/485 concurrent filing, we finally received a notice that the 485 interview was schedule for March 10th. But the 130 is still pending. That's weird as 130 must be approved before 485. Shall we be worried?  

On 10/14/2020 at 5:15 PM, Sierra Echo said:

Yeah I feel your pain. 
Let's think positive. Newark FO may not be fast, however it is not a worst case, if compared to slower FO

 

Let me tell you about Seattle FO for instance. There still are marriage based AOS filers who are waiting for the GC interview 2 years already.
There could be more FO whose processing time is as slow as Seattle.

Thank you fellows.

Do you guys think it would be helpful to ask for a senator's help? 

On 10/8/2020 at 6:37 PM, Paul & Mary said:

My experience is that concurrent filings take longer overall.   Your I-130 will be looked at "quickly" to determine that complete and if so than an AP/EAD/Combo is issued.  The green card won't be issued until the interview and I-130 are completed.  I don't think it is very clear if the I-130 has to be approved prior to the interview.  I've seen cases now both ways.  Your field office plays part of the green card issuance.   Having a tier 2 rep involved is usually a good thing.  They get things done.

Thanks pal. Someone just posted their experiences in this forum recently and their case got approved in 3 months. I have waited for almost a year and still no update. This delay and the covid-19 has delayed lots of things including our wedding ceremony. 15 days ago I was told that tier-2 rep involved but when I called today they told me that they could not do anything except making me waiting for longer. so sad

On 10/8/2020 at 5:12 PM, Sierra Echo said:

I-485 interview schedule depends on field offices.
Not sure where your field office is and how slow FO in NJ is, however on VisaJourney I-485 timelines, someone from NJ (PD May 2019) had interview in August 2020 at Newark NJ FO.
Enter your field office and compare your timelines
https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/aoslist.php?vtype=&op8=Newark+NJ&interview=&xfr=&op1=d&op2=&op3=&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C9%2C10%2C11&cfl=0

 

And you can check USCIS processing time for I-485 in accordance with FO. 
For instance, as of today, out of normal processing time for I-485 at Newark FO is : February 15, 2018

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

 

Thanks for the reply. I see someone in this forum got their 130/485 approved in 3 months. Newark Nj FO is really slow according to their posted timeline. IS it normal that it takes so long for marriages based green card?

On 9/28/2020 at 1:04 PM, payxibka said:

most likely delay is covid related versus and flaw in your filing 

thank you all. I am worried if something is going on. I know some friends filed in last year and had already got notified for interview. is it because I live in NJ?

Hi folks, Looks like we are going through a difficult season. I am a US citizen and I filed 130/385 for my wife in late November 2019. We already got the combo card in March 2020 but the 130 has been pending as "case received" for 10 months now. Last month I called USCIS and was told the normal processing timeline for my case is 7.5 months and so my case was 45 days more than this timeline. The representative opened a case for me to ask for jurisdication within 30 day. Today is the 32nd day since I called last time. I called again and was advised to talk to tier 2. This makes me super worried as I heard that tier 2 means a trouble in your case that tier 1 cannot resolve. I see here some people's 130 got denied and this makes me even worried. Can you guys share your opinions/ experiences what will happen? will my 130 be dined? thanks 

9 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

You don't have a timeline or country filled out so people aren't here willing to make guesses . . .

 

I-130 - Expect it to take a while.  The length of time depends on what visa you are adjusting from AND your nationality.  Pakistan, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq and others are hard to get security and documents checks.

 

For AOS - you should have already received an EAP/AP if you requested it.  If not you will wait until the I-130 is adjudicated.  Based on previous posts you forgot to include a marriage certificate and also sent a photo album.  The immigration gods are already looking at your case wondering why you didn't read the instructions.

Thanks fellows. 

Sorry forgot my timeline and background. I already naturalized as citizen. Me and my spouse are originally from South Korea and got marries in mid 2019. We concurrent filed 130/485 from NJ in November 2019. Out field office is Newark, NJ.

Yes, we already received EAP/AP in March 2020. I-130 is still pending. 

You are right, we forgot to include marriage certificate in the first mail but fortunately I recalled the package before it was delivered in Chicago and mailed it again with all materials. Unfortunately we mailed a thick album with hundreds of pictures, too big for the people in USCIS NBC (Chicago). They returned the album to us shortly. We had no idea how to re-send pictures so we just wait for RFE. But so far, 9 months passed, our I-130 is still hanging on.

To check the I-130 processing time on USCIS, there are only 5 field offices without Newark NJ. I believe 9 months is already out of normal processing timeline but cannot find an official ref. So dear fellows here, can anyone help with :

(1) where to check official 130 processing time for NJ applicants like us?

thanks everyone here.

it says NBC, none of the field offices

anyone can help answering? thank fellows

Hello folks, I filed 130/485 for my alien spouse inNovember 2019 and now 9 months passed. I lived in NJ and mailed the concurrent filing materials to NBC in Chicago. My I-130 is still pending now. Which field office shall I refer to for the normal processing time of I-130? Vermont or Nebraska? thanks 

On 12/28/2019 at 3:05 PM, NikLR said:

it can take longer this time of year.  Lots of holidays and people on vacation. 

~~moved to AOS from work, tourist, and student visas progress reports from bringing family of USC to the USA~~

That’s my guess also but still no news for fingerprinting after 35 days of fees cashed. How can I check with USCIS? If I have to call, which number can I call?

Marriage based concurrent 130/485. USCIS received our case on 12/03/2019, and fees cashed also. but so far we have not received any notice regarding fingerprinting. I see other people usually received such notice within 2 weeks of receipt. Shall we do something to check with USCIS? I m located in NJ. 

Thanks. So now what shall I do? mail a small envelop of photos? 

Hi folks, we submitted concurrent 130/485 for my wife and also included a big album of our photos. USCIS obviously keeps all the other materials. Today we received this photo album saying that "this album is not the right format to include in the folder". So do we ned to submit photos together with concurrent 130/485? for my case, Shall I submit a smaller album to fit in a folder? 

7 minutes ago, Russ&MaryAnn said:

I sent it to the address on the NOA1. I believe it was less delay than waiting for an RFE 

So we have to wait for receipt from USCIS to get NOA1? For your case, when did this happen? in this year? I am worried that my petition would be denied by this error. The 130 form says "If you do not completely fill out this petition or fail to submit required documents listed in the Instructions, USCIS may deny your petition".