Joe_UK

Hi everyone,

I just received an update today that my i-485 is "Ready to be scheduled for an interview"

For everyone who has had interviews at San Fernando Valley; how long did you wait from this update to the date of your interview?

Still no update on EAD/AP; 268 days waiting. Case inquiry submitted but not processed 🙄

32 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

Then either your rep's immigration liaison officer didnt explain your situation to USCIS properly or USCIS sent the incorrect form letter back. I predict the former.

I've contacted my rep to see which of the above options is true..

I'm concerned that USCIS is processing my application as a "family-preference" 😕 (Surely not though as i've checked my Notice of Action for i-765 and it clearly shows that my eligibility criteria for i-765 is C09 and my covering letter for the applications clearly shows that i'm adjusting status from marriage to a USC via a K1 visa)

Just now, K1visaHopeful said:

They gave you info on family preference visas. Does your rep know you are a K1 AOSer?

Yeh, I explained in my letter to them that i was a k1 AOSer 

I'm now 248 days without any movement on EAD/AP or AOS (I'm filing for AOS as a K1)

I submitted a "case inquiry" on July 30 2019 which is currently not assigned for processing.

I'm so frustrated waiting that i contacted my local congresswoman to contact USCIS on my behalf and this is the response i received from them..

I'm so confused regarding this "Your constituent filed using the Dates for Filing Applications Chart, and we will continue to review these applications and related ancillary applications in the order received. Due to the volume of cases under review, we do not have an estimated timeframe for completion"

Can anyone help try and explain this to me; do all AOS application from a K1 visa who are now married commonly file using the Dates for Filing Applications chart?

On 8/6/2019 at 2:16 PM, Gigi2017 said:

I have the same message like you do. I made an online inquiry Sunday and I see the update now that says is currently not assigned for processing however my EAD is out of processing time.

Hi Gigi2017..

Have you heard any progress on your EAD after you put in an online inquiry?

My case inquiry still reads "currently not assigned for processing" on my EAD

Just now, K1visaHopeful said:

You file a second one.

Almost makes a "case status inquiry" pointless 😕 

If you receive no response with 30 days of the second case status inquiry; you file a third one...?

Surely there should be a point where USCIS are held accountable?

4 minutes ago, Pat Argen said:

Once you submit a case inquiry, the USCIS will “review” your case and you’ll only be able to contact them within 15-30 days after your inquiry... unfortunately. I’m at day 258 and the update is still stuck at “Case Received” I also filed an inquiry last July 15, i just called this morning and I didn’t get much information (as I expected). Even if we ask for a Tier 2, they don’t say much and kept saying “Just wait” lol I think we can’t really do much anymore. Maybe try contacting your congressman or senator to check your case??? I might do that since we’ve been waiting too long. You can also submit an expedite request... if you have a “good enough” reason to expedite (e.g. financial loss) 

Thank you for your reply..

I think i'm going to contact my Congressman and explain my current situation. I have been tempted to file an expedite as my financial situation is becoming unbearable, but i've read that expedites can take up to 30 days to be approved (and obviously approval not guaranteed).

What happens if we don't receive a reply from the case inquiry within 30 days? I was hoping that the case inquiry would hold USCIS accountable for the delay but it seems not 😕

Hi everyone..

I'm a Dec filer and it's been 232 days with no change in EAD/AP status; still reads "Fingerprint Fee was Received"

As i'm outside of normal processing i submitted a case inquiry on July 30th; USCIS emailed me to say i'd hear a response by August 21st 2019.

Does anyone have any experience with submitting a case inquiry regarding EAD/AP? (I'm not holding my breath to hear anything by August 21st if i'm honest)

I checked today and the status of the case inquiry reads.... 

"As of July 30, 2019, your inquiry about why your case is taking longer than our processing time,

referral number SR***********MSC, is currently not assigned for processing"

I'm not really sure what my next steps are, or what my available options are? I'm kinda done with the whole "just wait" thing 😴😴

5 hours ago, BryceAndRebeca said:

After 203 days my EAD was approved, and the card is being produced!  I'm so excited!

Congratulations!! That's amazing news.

Nice to see some December filers getting good news! Did you expedite or was that normal processing?

I'm 204 days, still no news yet. Fingers crossed..

196 days; no changes since Dec 17, 2018 🤯

i-485: Fingerprint Fee was received 

i-765: Case was received

i-131: Case was received

I've seen some Oct/Nov filers are into 230+ days before they hear anything..

Any of Dec filers with the same processing notifications as me? 

Hi,

For anyone who has been using the USCIS Case Tracker App; did you receive a notification for EAD/AP approval? Or did you have to go onto the app and refresh 'My Cases'?

Just wondering if i'll receive a little notification once i gain approval. If not, i'll carry on checking the app daily hoping for good news. Day 186; still "case was received" 😴😴

Hi everyone..

Are any of you AOS filers from San Fernando Valley still waiting on interview dates?

I applied in December 2018; still no EAD/AP or AOS interview.

I've noticed that SFV office seems to be one of the longest wait times in the whole of USA 🤨

2 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Just read on another thread someone posting about USCIS giving priority to files from 2019, in order to fight the backlog. 

Don't know how accurate this is, but the poster that shared it seemed pretty confident.

He actually posted a link from the USCIS official site, citing that practice for asylum petitions. So it could be applied to ALL petitions.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-take-action-address-asylum-backlog

 

Here, an extract from the USCIS site: 

"To address this problem, USCIS will follow these priorities when scheduling affirmative asylum interviews:

1. Applications that were scheduled for an interview, but the interview had to be rescheduled at the applicant’s request or the needs of USCIS;
2. Applications pending 21 days or less since filing; and
3. All other pending applications, starting with newer filings and working back toward older filings."

Interesting article, thank you for the post!!

I did consider this as an explanation for the high number of Feb/March 2019 approvals. It's a sneaky way of reducing the "average" processing time.

By approving applicants after 40-50 days it reduces the average processing time significantly. As shown on VJs' predicted approval dates (125 days for EAD/AP) when October/November 2018 have been waiting 190-200+ 😡😡

Who knows what goes on! Whole process is incredibly unfair 😔😔

46 minutes ago, stacyt said:

Got news today that my EAD card is being produced!!! Anyone knows how long does it take to get it in the mail?

Congratulations!! I think its around 5-7 days from the date it's approved (i may be wrong but that's what most people on VJ have reported)

10 hours ago, Gigi2017 said:

Not everyone came with a K1 visa. Probably LoveBird is here with F1 visa and it comes with an EAD.

Your'e correct not everyone arrives with a K1 but the person who originally posted that message states on their timeline they arrived on a K1 visa in 2018?

11 hours ago, LoveBird said:

Status changed to Interview was Scheduled today! I guess I will be going in about a month from now, based on your experiences.  I'll update when I get the letter in the mail.

Ugh! I just burst into tears at work. It's such an emotional process. 😭 Still no word on EAD/AP.  

 

NOA Dec 18th.  

 

 

 

Congratulations!! That's amazing news..

Out of interest; how are you able to work without EAD/AP?

1 hour ago, jakejon said:

Mine is dated a year from my approval date. In some LFO's that have big backlog applying for an EAD extension is a necessity (unless you prefer not to I guess as there is no finite requirement but obv goes without saying it's advantageous lol)! My LFO is slow, so I'll for sure apply for an extension!  

Thank you @jakejon

For those of us with slow LFO's and big backlogs, the thought of going through all this again is 😤😤🤯

If the processing times remain at 5-7 months; does that mean you'll be completing an application for EAD extension within 6 months time? 😶

For anyone who has received their EAD/AP combo card; is the expiration date based from your NOA1 or the date it was approved?

My concern is that for some individuals with very slow LFO (17-36 months processing times) that they would be required to apply for an EAD extension if they haven't been scheduled a GC interview

I came across an article online which suggested some people received EAD which was backdated to their NOA1 (see below)

https://blavity.com/immigrants-are-facing-crisis-level-processing-delays-under-trump-and-the-consequences-are-wreaking-havoc

I feel like there is minimal activity of EAD/AP approvals across all October/Nov/December filers over the past 2 weeks or so 🤨

On the VJ immigration timelines, EAD approvals are averaging 2-3 a day max (I know VJ is a very small population of the total applications but still)

When i originally filed my K1 (January 2018), my lawyer advised 4-6 weeks for EAD/AP approval. Laughable; or maybe i should say CRYable! 😫

I'm hoping that we see a wave of activity soon; i'm only day 129 but seeing nothing even happening for people on day 180-200 is like 🤯🤯

5 hours ago, clare240 said:

The sample sizes aren't insignificant though (555 filed by mail in the last 180 days), I'm just wondering who the VJ members are who are getting EAD and AP so quickly, and why they seem to be well ahead of others, and whether VJ takes into account the different types of filing; are EAD and AP processing times different for applicants in the US vs. outside, for example? I don't know. People not updating their timelines would surely only increase the averages? Or just not be included in the calculation? And what sort of extra contingency USCIS put on their dates for case enquiries? Like, if they say you can file a case enquiry if your NOA is from Sept 15th, does that mean they're mostly onto mid-october applications, and they're just covering themselves? Just my maths brain, trying to fill up my unemployed hours. 

A large majority of the recent EAD/AP approvals (February & March) are actually expedited cases, and many of those people don't disclose that information..

As far as i'm aware VJ doesn't have an option to select and filter out expedited cases; the knock on effect of this is that the timeline for everyone's EAD/AP approval is reduced significantly and actually provides an incorrect estimation. It's frustrating as i've used VJ through this whole process (K1, EAD/AP & AOS) and their estimates have been pretty spot on; hence a lot of people are disappointed when their estimated date has been and gone 😔

2 hours ago, JMCKNG said:

148 Days.. USCIS actually says the processing time for EAD/AP is processing cases from 11/18/2019. I will be starting to get on the phone for that dreaded phone call. So annoying how it says 3.5-5.5 months and we have to go to the ABSOLUTE end of the range always. As well doesn't help that the "estimated VJ Timeline" shows 3/18-4/2. 😭😭

Where did you get this information from?

USCIS website says that processing time for EAD/AP is 5-7 months and that a case inquiry cannot be submitted until a NOA date of September 21st 2018?

37 minutes ago, C💏A said:

I got an SMS & email saying my case is updated. Case tracker & old website updated with CASE WAS APPROVED for my EAD. This morning also got just an email to check my status case and new USCIS website updated with New Card is Being Produced only.

Congratulations!! That's brilliant news!!

Did your expedite? 

Side note; has anyone who applied for an ITIN number when they submitted taxes for 2018 received their number yet?

1 hour ago, Derlon said:

 

Let's not abuse the people who work for USCIS. It's not their fault we have to wait so long.

 

Try working for a call center and see how it feels to get bitched at for something that's not your fault 🤷‍♀️

Hi Derlon..

I notice your EAD/AP was approved in 128 days; did you expedite?

4 hours ago, JunkTardis said:

Okay, so I am now BEYOND confused about my RFIE. I'm about to start a topic to ask about it. But anyway, apparently they don't seem to like my Birth Certificate for some odd reason! I have included the relevant information below with personal information blanked out. If anyone has any ideas, please throw them my way! 

I should add, this Birth Certificate IS a certified, full copy issued by my government and was accepted at every time I have used it, either at home or during my K1 application.

 

 

 

This is utterly ridiculous!! As if this whole process wasn't frustrating enough..😡😡

I'm a December 2018 filer; but i just checked my UK birth certificate and it looks identical to yours.

The only thing i did notice; mine only states registration district as "Birmingham, Metropolitan District of Birmingham" as yours does the same with "Wolverhampton".

Nowhere on my BC does it document or record United Kingdom? Do you think this could a reason for confusion (i mean, i'd hope they've seen 100s of UK BCs and would recognise them 🤨)

I hope you get a solution very quickly to your RFE..

1 hour ago, Naes said:

Guys I need your opinion on this matter,

so I did the inquiry right when my date passed. Of course there is nothing and the classic 30 day wait etc etc...

 

So I am getting close to psychologically losing it lol.

 

I am planning on getting the congressman involved, mine is pretty well known for her pro-immigration activities. 

How long should I wait? Should I wait till end of 30 days to pass, or maybe wait only another week or so? Anyone seen any posts in these cases where people involved congressman after making an inquiry and it being meaningless?

 

I'm a December 2018 AOS filer, although we share the same local field office "San Fernando Valley"..

I think you should contact congressman as soon as possible, especially as you are now outside of normal processing time! I haven't come across any cases involving congressman after making an inquiry but i have seen examples when people have utilised their congressman regarding an expedite and they've been successful.

I really hope you get some updates very soon, good luck!!