854Turbo

Hi all,

Recently posted about some woes with the Address Change process. Figured it out eventually. Filing the AR11 online did nothing to change the address in the USCIS systems. When I called them, they saw no request despite my confirmation receipt. So they put in a manual request to update the address on the I485, which they said goes to the field office that has jurisdiction over my case and they update it manually. About a week later, I received an email informing me that the address on my I-485 has been updated. The other thing I noticed is that in the online case tracker, the date changed. It used to say "As of March XX, your case is ready to be scheduled for an interview." Now it says, "As of August XX, your case is ready to be scheduled for an interview."

Good so far. But I'm confused as to the whereabouts of my case. A USCIS rep told me that the address has been updated, the application shows it correctly, but they also said that my case has NOT been transferred. What does that mean? Is my file just sitting at a desk in the previous local field office? What has to happen for the new field office to request it? The rep just told me to wait and that there was nothing I can do about it. Shouldn't they contact the previous field office and request that the file be transferred back to the national service center and/or the new field office?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

I've had the issue since yesterday. Put it receipt number and then it just takes me to a blank page with no results. Tried from two computers and from a phone, same result.

As for myUSCIS, I have an account there but I see no updates in that one. It just says "We have received your case and there is no action you need to take at this point. The eGov website gives me more details on the status of the case.

I did the online change of address process and I am freaking out now.

First of all, I filed two separate AR-11's online and my wife filed the third for the three pending applications (i-485, i-765, i-130). The system simply wouldn't let me add all of them on form. Fine.

Got email confirmation for all three requests.

Within 5 days, we received notices in the mail for the address change on i-765 and i-130...but no notice for the i-485, which is the one that really matters.

I'm wondering whether the following is possible - the 765 and 130 were changed automatically on NVC level, but because the i-485 is already at the local field office in our old state, they are waiting for that office to respond to the service request and move the application to the field office in our new state?

If I don't receive a notice in the next 5 days, I will call USCIS directly and see what I can find out there.

But I also noticed that they changed one process - InfoPass appointments are no longer available for people within the U.S. So I can't schedule an appointment at the local office to confirm that they have the updated address and our application.

Any additional advice? I feel pretty helpless here - not much I can do other than hope their system works as it was designed.

Hi all,

AOS applicant, EAD approved, I-485 status is "We are ready to schedule your interview as of..."

We recently moved to a different state, changing jurisdictions. We already filed AR11 online for all pending applications, and we are about to mail i-865. The instructions for both i-864 and i-865 say nothing about needing new evidence of financial support if you relocate. I'm wondering what are people's experiences with this? Has anyone been asked to provide new evidence of financial support after they moved?

Secondly, after filing AR11 online, I'm waiting for the verification letters to come in the mail, but I heard it's also wise to call USCIS and double-check to make sure the whole file is being moved from the old state to our new state. Anyone experience issues with that?

Weird update on my case. I did biometrics last Friday, March 15.

I765 status changed to: Biometrics Review complete

I485 status still stuck on Biometrics fee received. 

Hopefully it's just a glitch. I specifically asked the lady at the biometrics office if it's going to apply to both applications. 

8 hours ago, PaulaMarie said:

💥AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT : NEED SUGGESTIONS 💥

 

I need suggestions in filing Affidavit of Support for AOS, so my husband recently got hired (September 2018) for his work and passed the Poverty guidelines for household member of 2 (me and him = $20575 year 2020 guide ), please see photo 1. But because he was just recently hired, his 2018 tax income is low ($7767), see photo 2. My questions are:

1. Do you think we need to file a joint sponsor? (Btw, I have also my Dad-in-law's joint sponsor forms and documents, I was just thinking if I really need to file a joint because my husband's income made it to the poverty line.)

 

 

I wish I could give you a better answer, but this is a grey area. Technically, the official instructions ask for annual income for the current year (2019), so his new contract or employment verification letter should suffice. Technically, it shouldn't matter what he made last year. But in reality, they may ask for more evidence that he will make this amount in 2019.

If willing to take a chance, you can file it like this and see if they send a RFIE, then you can send in a joint-sponsor form if need be. But I don't think anyone can predict how they are going to look at your initial application.

14 hours ago, DJClaire said:

Does anyone know if all the passport type photos required for the APS / EAD / AP need to be without glasses?

11 hours ago, accumbyte said:

I assume you already know how deficient the instructions for the I-485 are about this:

The link above even leads to a 404-error page. The newest Department of State link is: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/photos.html But my hunch is that USCIS will accept eyeglasses (since DOS and USCIS are separate agencies). The following third-party page seems to support that: http://www.antaoandchuang.com/picspec.html

I would not risk it. Get new photos at Walgreens, it will cost you less than $70 (they have coupons too).

I believe last year there was a change for all government agencies regarding federally issued IDs - no glasses, no smiling with teeth showing (that has been the rule in the EU for quite a while). I could be wrong, but the person at Walgreens also reminded me not to smile and to take my glasses off.

I know the whole process is expensive, but let's put it this way - are you willing to save $70 but risk getting an RFE and delaying the process by weeks, if not months?

2 hours ago, adamj7 said:

thanks! What if my letter and scheduled appointment both happen when I'm out of town? Or will the letter arrive more than a week in advance?

From what I've seen, the letter arrives 1.5 to 3 weeks before the actual appointment. 

My plan is to try a walk-in if it happens to be scheduled on a day that I am out of town, if that doesn't work...maybe I can reschedule my trip. My last resort is to mail the notice back and officially reschedule, but that will push the entire process (EAD and AP as well) by at least a month. 

2 hours ago, Nicola and Jordan said:

On all forms - put N/A or blank for questions not relating to me

You will hear conflicting views on this. Their instructions say don't leave anything blank, but some questions clearly say "skip."

What I did, and what many others have also suggested, is put N/A in the first field of every block of questions that doesn't apply to you (for example, for Interpreter I put an N/A in the name field and left the following - address, phone, etc - blank; another N/A for Preparer)

1 hour ago, jbpshsu said:

How far out do they schedule biometrics if you request a reschedule? Just sent the letter back today cause we will be out of town next week when it was originally scheduled.

It doesn't hurt to try a walk-in. Rescheduling - there are some horror stories out there, but at best I think you are looking at 1 month off (which delays your EAD and the entire processing)

1 hour ago, DJClaire said:

Thank you.

Can anyone tell me where I can find my USCIS online account number?  I am not sure I have one??? I have an account to monitor my cases using this url:  https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do 

However that does not give me any kind of account number.  Should I just leave this question blank on the i-765?

 

Not an expert, but after looking into it a lot, I think this is the situation:

- simply registering for an online account does not create a USCIS online account number for you (which makes sense, technically any Internet user can create an account there)

- you get an USCIS online account number if/when you e-file an application (not all applications have a digital form), so you will most likely have one and use it if/when you apply for naturalization.

I just realized I'm kind of in the wrong thread since I'm adjusting from F1, but considering this thread gets way more updates, I'll keep checking in here. Chicago lockbox received our package Tuesday, Feb 12, but we still haven't received any text messages from them, and the checks haven't been cashed yet. Starting to get anxious.

Have you heard back yet? Mine was delivered last Tuesday and I have no texts yet.

2 hours ago, accumbyte said:

True, but it takes 4-6 months to process if you decide to submit it later; the exception is if its a qualifying emergency, then its processed faster. A lot people don't have travel plans when they apply for AOS-based AP so they leave the parts for date and length of trip blank. Their I-131 still get approved. Others just pust unreasonable dates, such as: 02/26/2019 to 03/05/2019.

That would be my only reason. 

I guess I just didn't want to mess with it now, I wanted to get the process rolling as we were already falling behind schedule (EAD is a priority). And from what I understood, even with an AP,  you can't simply exit/enter whenever you want, you still need a qualifying event, and you have to do an InfoPass, etc...

28 minutes ago, accumbyte said:

Did you also submit a free I-131? If not, you can still submit one to the Chicago Lockbox https://www.uscis.gov/i-131-addresses

I didn't do 131 now since I don't have any travels planned. I can always submit it later, if I need to.

7 hours ago, Alex Lamarre said:

Did you sent I 765 and I 485 in the same package to the same address?

Yes. I-130, I-485 (with the supporting I-864), and I-765 all in the same package to the same address. Each application/petition had separate binder clips, separate cover letters. I hope I did it all right. The whole package was 5lbs as I included all kinds of extra documents. 

Mailed our AOS package on Friday, February 8 via UPS to the Chicago Dearborn St address. Scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Will keep everyone updated.

As for the recent discussion on ITR and affidavit of support documents, it is indeed a very grey area. They are asking for your sponsor's income for the current year, meaning 2019. They ask for previous year tax returns because...I really don't know why. If your sponsor has an employment verification letter that lists the annual salary for the current year (2019), previous years really shouldn't matter, and yet they do.

Thanks! I will hope they let me do it early. Your timeline is helpful, I know that AOS in Minnesota can take a long time. Did you not apply for EAD? I don't see that in your signature.

I'm getting ready to file any day now, however I am trying to time my application right. I will be out of town from March 5 to March 13, so I'm trying to plan mailing the AOS package in a way that doesn't schedule the biometrics during that period. I'm curious to see those of you who filed in the first day of February -  what appointment dates did you get (or will you get) for your biometrics. Will be following this thread with great attention.

Hi all. I'm not a January filer, getting ready to file any day now, however I am trying to time my application right. I will be out of town from March 5 to March 13, so I'm trying to plan mailing the AOS package in a way that doesn't schedule the biometrics during that period. I'm curious to see those of you who filed late in January what appointment dates did you get for your biometrics?

Hi all. Minnesota filer here. Getting ready to send my AOS package at the end of the week. I'm worried about the biometrics scheduling as I will be traveling out of state March 5-13. How long does it usually take between NOA and the biometric scheduled date? With my luck, it will fall right in that timeframe. I've heard the MN office does not accept early walk-ins? What are people's experiences? (mostly curious, if my PD is say 2/13...when should I expect the biometrics to fall on?)

9 hours ago, eckoin said:

I literally made color photocopies of everything. The staff at Staples told me they're not allowed to make copies for me because the color copies look "too real" and they can't condone that. Had to do it myself. Zero issues. 

 

I have my original birth certificate and certified copy of the marriage certificate. Color copied both and that's it. Translation for my birth certificate was a printout from an online $10 translation service. 

 

I included mine for I-765 as well. In fact, I included one copy of all important documents (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, driver's license, etc.) with pretty much every form. Not going to hurt. The marriage certificate in my books is basically the one piece of evidence that ties the entire AOS application together, since it's the reason you're applying.

Thank you! This is very helpful. To clarify - you sent a copy of your marriage certificate and just brought the certified copy to the AOS interview?

One follow up question to you, and everyone else, regarding i-864 the Affidavit of Support. My wife makes just under the threshold so we are supplementing with our joint assets/joint bank accounts. I am not using my income as proof, only our joint bank accounts. Based on my understanding - it sounds like I do not need to file I-864A?

Thank you all! Following up a little bit, right before we file the AOS packet.

On Form i-864, we are listing my wife's income and then we are supplementing with assets from our joint checking accounts (more than enough to cover the difference). My confusion is in regards to where to list the assets. Should we list the X amount under "Your Assets" (my wife, USC)...or under "Assets of the principal sponsored immigrant"? All our accounts are joint, so the money technically belongs to both of us...or either of us, there is no way to determine who has what part of the whole amount. Of course, I'm attaching bank statements and bank letters, but as a simple matter of filing out the correct fields - do we just fill the numbers for "Your Assets" (my wife, USC, petitioner) and leave the rest blank?

Follow-up question:

On all of the forms - what is the best practice for questions that don't apply to you ("other names used," "children or previous spouses) - do you leave them blank or do you type N/A or NONE in every single field?

Hi all,

I'm getting ready to concurrently file i-130+i-485+i-765 (marriage-based, I'm the beneficiary). Before we file, I wanted to run a few questions by the community to double-check if my understanding is correct:

1. A# number - I have an A number from my F1 EAD card. I know they will issue a new one based on this application, but I've used the current number in every field that the applications ask for it. That won't hurt/delay the application, right?

2. i-765 - I see the form has changed from last year and it has fewer questions. When I applied for my OPT, I included not just my current i-20 form but ALL previous i-20 forms (for the past 10 years) as a way to show I've maintained my status. I'm thinking about doing the same here - attach copies of all i-20s and both of my EAD cards. Good idea?

3. i-693 - I know the validity rule changed to 2-years, but since I'm filing in Minnesota where the process is very slow, even 2 years might not be enough. So we are not sending i-693 along with the initial filing and will wait for the interview notice. Does the notice usually arrive approximately 1 month before the interview date?

4. Copies - I know the instructions say not to send original documents unless directed otherwise. Copies it is then. But what about marriage certificate and birth certificates - do they want just regular copies or certified copies? Specifically, my birth certificate - I have the original translated and certified, but only have one certified copy - if I mail it to them, I can't bring it to the interview with me. What have people done in the past? Send the certified copies of documents?

5. Marriage certificate - should I include a copy of it for each of the applications (i-130 and i-485, so two copies total?)

Thank you all in advance! Any advice would be greatly appreciated