Gomast

You will be alright. Grilling is normal for some instances. Take a breather. 

I expect approval.  Likely in 2 weeks or less.  

You were issued a K1, do not see your issue.

We filed my wife's I-751 in late March of 2019.  We are still waiting for the interview, too.

10 years.
 
She HAS to go.
 
Yep.
 
Not sure about that one.
What do you mean?
 
Yes.

Hey I just checked my status online and it says case approved!!!!!!! OMG finally!!!! Does this mean they sent my GC already? Or should I expect a « card is being issued next »? 

The AP renewal should just be switched over to a stamp in the passport like an extension, similar to people who get I-551 stamps while waiting out ROC. If you were approved for AP before, starting all over again from zero seems like it creates redundant work and bogs down USCIS even more. You raise some great points, the current system with this makes little sense.
 
 

Fully agree with this. At a stretch, I can see the rationale behind the EAD. But AP? I don't get that at all. Going home to visit family whilst waiting for the EAD would be a nice way to fill the time  

K visa holders are definitely at a disadvantage when it comes to basic things like travel and work
If I were to go back, I would have gone CR every time.  
This is the hardest part and seems in your case to be unnecessarily extended.  Can’t help you but I remember those days and it was tough on us.  Your vent is accepted with empathy.  Best of luck to ya.

While I feel very lucky to share my life with my wife here in the US, especially after we lived apart during the K-1 process, I am frustrated that I haven't been able to visit my home country (Israel) and see my friends and family since I arrived to the US on July 2019. I have been waiting for the GC since 9/23/19. I have been waiting for AP approval since 3/21/21. I already submitted 3 outside normal processing times requests. USCIS hasn't responded to any requests. The EAD took 18 months to approve. My drivers license renewal was pending EAD approval.
 
I think that the USCIS should change their AP policy:
1. EAD should be automatically issued for 180 days, upon entry with K-1.
2. Once USCIS approves the I-131, it should be valid for at least for 3 years, (considering current "normal processing times"). Otherwise, the AP should be valid until USCIS decision on the I-485.
 
I know that I need to be patient, and I am trying, but this immigration process could be made much more accommodating to the beneficiary, without compromising the immigration process.

In September 2019, I applied concurrently but I used an expired form for the I-131. So a few weeks later I resubmitted the I-131. It was approved in May 2020, after 8 months. In March 2021 I applied for renewal of the AP. 

Basically, from the 2.5 years that I’m in the US, I was only able to leave during the 1 year of the AP. USCIS is treating a renewal application for AP in the same way and with the same processing times as a first AP application. I think that the policy should be that once you approve the first AP application, the AP should be extended throughout the processing of the I-485. 

Tourists are non-immigrants.  

K-1 visa holders can adjust status and immigrate.
 
Different types of visas.  Different rules.  

It's also the law.  You made your choice with a K-1, and the law has not changed since you applied.  If leaving the US was a priority, you should have gone with a CR-1 visa.  

The only way to change immigration laws is to petition Congress.  Nothing has changed in 35 years.  Isn't going to change now.  

While I feel very lucky to share my life with my wife here in the US, especially after we lived apart during the K-1 process, I am frustrated that I haven't been able to visit my home country (Israel) and see my friends and family since I arrived to the US on July 2019. I have been waiting for the GC since 9/23/19. I have been waiting for AP approval since 3/21/21. I already submitted 3 outside normal processing times requests. USCIS hasn't responded to any requests. The EAD took 18 months to approve. My drivers license renewal was pending EAD approval.
 
I think that the USCIS should change their AP policy:
1. EAD should be automatically issued for 180 days, upon entry with K-1.
2. Once USCIS approves the I-131, it should be valid for at least for 3 years, (considering current "normal processing times"). Otherwise, the AP should be valid until USCIS decision on the I-485.
 
I know that I need to be patient, and I am trying, but this immigration process could be made much more accommodating to the beneficiary, without compromising the immigration process.

While I feel very lucky to share my life with my wife here in the US, especially after we lived apart during the K-1 process, I am frustrated that I haven't been able to visit my home country (Israel) and see my friends and family since I arrived to the US on July 2019. I have been waiting for the GC since 9/23/19. I have been waiting for AP approval since 3/21/21. I already submitted 3 outside normal processing times requests. USCIS hasn't responded to any requests. The EAD took 18 months to approve. My drivers license renewal was pending EAD approval.
 
I think that the USCIS should change their AP policy:
1. EAD should be automatically issued for 180 days, upon entry with K-1.
2. Once USCIS approves the I-131, it should be valid for at least for 3 years, (considering current "normal processing times"). Otherwise, the AP should be valid until USCIS decision on the I-485.
 
I know that I need to be patient, and I am trying, but this immigration process could be made much more accommodating to the beneficiary, without compromising the immigration process.

Cleveland, OH I think is one of the few fast USCIS offices. Seems like a lot of other places have slowed down to a grinding halt since Covid.
 
To be honest, the AP thing for K-1's baffles me. What is the purpose of limiting their travel outside the US? I guarantee most K-1 people would come right back and most would only travel for short periods while waiting for the GC to arrive. EAD I can maybe understand more as work authorization is a big privilege and a coveted right, but AP I just don't get at all. What is the concern, that K-1 people will just go back to their home countries and wait out their GC's there? Why would they do that if the whole point of a K-1 was to get here quickly to be with their fiance(e)? I just don't get it.

While I feel very lucky to share my life with my wife here in the US, especially after we lived apart during the K-1 process, I am frustrated that I haven't been able to visit my home country (Israel) and see my friends and family since I arrived to the US on July 2019. I have been waiting for the GC since 9/23/19. I have been waiting for AP approval since 3/21/21. I already submitted 3 outside normal processing times requests. USCIS hasn't responded to any requests. The EAD took 18 months to approve. My drivers license renewal was pending EAD approval.
 
I think that the USCIS should change their AP policy:
1. EAD should be automatically issued for 180 days, upon entry with K-1.
2. Once USCIS approves the I-131, it should be valid for at least for 3 years, (considering current "normal processing times"). Otherwise, the AP should be valid until USCIS decision on the I-485.
 
I know that I need to be patient, and I am trying, but this immigration process could be made much more accommodating to the beneficiary, without compromising the immigration process.

While I feel very lucky to share my life with my wife here in the US, especially after we lived apart during the K-1 process, I am frustrated that I haven't been able to visit my home country (Israel) and see my friends and family since I arrived to the US on July 2019. I have been waiting for the GC since 9/23/19. I have been waiting for AP approval since 3/21/21. I already submitted 3 outside normal processing times requests. USCIS hasn't responded to any requests. The EAD took 18 months to approve. My drivers license renewal was pending EAD approval.
 
I think that the USCIS should change their AP policy:
1. EAD should be automatically issued for 180 days, upon entry with K-1.
2. Once USCIS approves the I-131, it should be valid for at least for 3 years, (considering current "normal processing times"). Otherwise, the AP should be valid until USCIS decision on the I-485.
 
I know that I need to be patient, and I am trying, but this immigration process could be made much more accommodating to the beneficiary, without compromising the immigration process.

There’s no perfect data in this world. That’s what is available? Do you have better data? No you don’t! 
 
it’s laughable you’re gauging you’re projecting your case would be shorter, based on what? What’s special about you or your fiancée? I’m in Ghana and involved with two people whose process started in February last year who are now getting January interview dates.
 
Your fiancée being due has no bearing on the speed of your case. USCIS and the Department of State doesn’t care about your pregnancy, sorry.

Embassy security guard is probably on par with USCIS tier 1 knowledge-wise.

The lawyer needs to be local to attend the court hearing

@nekotakacho - a few years ago, I was in Israel and my children who are USC were living with their mom in the US. I had two custody orders, one from the court in Israel and another from the court in Nevada. With that, I applied for a B1 tourist visa at the Israel consulate. My visa was denied. Having USC children is not an advantage in this case. Unfortunately, no one cares that parents would be separated from their children. It happens everyday. I don’t see a path for them for a green card, but if they decided to overstay, it could take years until they are deported. 

@nekotakacho - a few years ago, I was in Israel and my children who are USC were living with their mom in the US. I had two custody orders, one from the court in Israel and another from the court in Nevada. With that, I applied for a B1 tourist visa at the Israel consulate. My visa was denied. Having USC children is not an advantage in this case. Unfortunately, no one cares that parents would be separated from their children. It happens everyday. I don’t see a path for them for a green card, but if they decided to overstay, it could take years until they are deported. 

@nekotakacho - a few years ago, I was in Israel and my children who are USC were living with their mom in the US. I had two custody orders, one from the court in Israel and another from the court in Nevada. With that, I applied for a B1 tourist visa at the Israel consulate. My visa was denied. Having USC children is not an advantage in this case. Unfortunately, no one cares that parents would be separated from their children. It happens everyday. I don’t see a path for them for a green card, but if they decided to overstay, it could take years until they are deported. 

AP and EAD are processed in the National Benefits Center. 
- I filed for AOS based on K-1 back in September 2019 in the Miami office. I haven’t heard anything from them since. 26 months waiting. 
- I filed for AP in September 2019 and it was approved in May 2020. It took 8 months. It expired  on 5/5/21.
- My cousin will be getting married in June 2022, so in March 2021 I applied to renew the AP.  That’s 8 months. It’s still pending. 
 

I predict "asking for a friend." 😅