ImmPro

Hey guys I haven't been on here for a while due to not much activity within immigration. However, about a week ago I got the interview scheduled alert. Yesterday, I received the letter, so I have my interview on Feb. 19. I am finally excited to be done with this part of the process. Quick question it's been about a year and half since my wife did the medical back in her home country during the k1 process. Does anyone know if she needs to do the medical exam before the interview? Thank you in advance?

On 6/25/2020 at 7:47 AM, Karosuko said:

Hi guys! Maybe you can help me. I am mildly freaking out here. Got my EAD/AP approved on 06/16 and since then nothing from USCIS. Not even a Notice of Approval. I got, however, my Social Security Card in the mail yesterday. I should start a job on July 1st. I really don’t know what to do. I mean I get that I don’t have the Combo Card right away but not even a notice of approval? Did this happen to anyone else (especially from the 06/16 approved ppl)? 

It’s alright it seems common these days as they are running a little bit slower with most processes. Even the social security office is moving quicker. My wife was approved the same time as you and same thing. She got her social security card but no EAD card yet. However, she got approved on 17th and did get the receipt.  
 

There was a time when the EAD would arrive and then the social security card. However this seems like it will be quite common now since they are going to furlough a bunch of workers unless Congress bails them out by allowing them to spike their fees for a bunch of forms and stop some of the fees being waived when you bundle. 
 

plus in their message they tell you give until certain time to contact them if you don’t receive. Everything it’s okay if you weren’t approved for some reason you wouldn’t be getting a social lol. Uscis sends that information to the card producer and social security office. 

I am finally back after being gone for a while. Our Immigration Law firm was semi closed for the last three months. Unfortunately, I was like the only employee who stayed so I was working on all the cases, but now seems like I can breathe again. Seems like if things things don't change USCIS could slow down soon because USCIS is really lacking the funding and they are asking for congress to step in. If they don't they are planning to furlough people soon and be working at 25% capacity from the last thing I heard.

Sorry, if someone mentioned it before, but like I mentioned I have not been on here for a while. Plus, when I was here I literally told people what was going to happen, but people don't listen, so I left.

In other news my wife's EAD combo card just got produced so I am excited about that.

1 hour ago, Bars&Saqi said:

I know it’s horrible for everyone whose interview/biometrics/oath ceremony got cancelled due to all USCIS offices closing temporarily and I feel for you.

 

But I think this might speed up processing of applications because more officers are assigned to applications since they can’t conduct interviews so it frees them up to work on cases.

 

Anyone else agree or am I just trying too hard to find a silver lining? 😭😂

It might be possible no one really knows, but it is what makes most sense. I am telling you when I was there on Monday the officers were all given laptops to take home, so they can process things remotely. How they will process things and their timelines is to be seen. I also went to the court on Monday and window filed some things, but now they are officially closed to even window file. Which makes sense I was stuck there with a few people on Monday, more so than a half full giant waiting room.

At offices I doubt they want to get so backlogged, so the only thing like they can seem to do at the moment is to process cases minus the human interaction parts to it. Hopefully we see a more lenient interview waiver. It is not unheard of. A lot of petitions from children to older parents get their interviews waived. Of course, I believe the potential of fraud there is much less prevalent than says a spousal adjustment, but I hope if cases have enough evidence they will consider interview waivers if they seem simple enough. However, no one can tell you with certainty what the plan is because things seems to change daily. I am telling you on Monday the officers were unsure of what was going to happen and I am sure they heard the same time we did.

New update, so I had an AOS interview for a client today and it was just cancelled. It was originally slated for 2pm pacific time. Seems like some interviews are already being cancelled until further notice. I was there yesterday and the interviews did go through, but the officers were all on edge joking about whether they even be coming into work or not. I talked with an officer and they were all given laptops including the clerks, and seems they will be working remotely. This was at the Los Angeles field office by the way, but I can't imagine that a federal agency would deviate too much from other offices. 

New update, so that AOS interview I had today was just cancelled and it was originally slated for 2pm pacific time. Seems like some interviews are already being cancelled until further notice.

10 minutes ago, cbro20 said:

Everybody hang in there. It’s chaos at USCIS right now because of the implementation of the  new rule and coronavirus.

 

I know the wait is torturous. I’m in the same boat. We shipped our I-485 to the Chicago Lockbox with USPS on the 22nd and it’s been radio silence since.

 

From what I’ve gathered and synthesized across forums and friends, packages that were shipped with commercial carriers near the deadline are getting rejected because the postmarked rule doesn’t apply to commercial carriers like UPS and Fed Ex. Unfortunately, USCIS does not seem to be following their published language that the date on the courier receipt counts as the postmarked date.

 

If you sent it with USPS, which does postmark envelopes, before the 24th, your file is likely sitting in a giant pile awaiting action. There is hope, because postmarking takes on a different meaning and I believe that USCIS is more likely to follow the rule on “officially” postmarked envelopes via USPS.

 

Also, there was a mad rush to file before the new rules went into effect, and it’s slowed everything down.

 

 

I hate to tell you this but our law business is teamed up with USPS for most things. We send everything out through USPS and on rare occasions we use other carriers. However, the packet we sent to USCIS on the 22nd and arrived on the 24th. However, it was received by USCIS on the 25th and was rejected for being outdated. I am not saying this to scare people, but simply to state there is some incompetent people out there lol. Also, 6 other packets were sent the same way with similar received date and those were processed just fine. In other news, wish me luck guys I need to translate for an AOS interview today at one of the busier USCIS offices. That LA waiting room is huge.

It has been a crazy 2020, and we are just three months in. I just wanted to share my experience from the law office where I work, so you guys have some idea of the climate currently. 

Let me start off with I am frustrated because just yesterday one of those packets sent before the 24th was rejected. It was sent out the 22nd and was delivered to Chicago on the 24th. That same day we sent out seven others exactly the same way. Mind you there is no difference except probably the individual who looked them over at the lock-box. Now 6 out of the 7 were no problem, but one did comeback.  To make things worse it was raining and when it came back the whole packet was soaked. As if someone dipped it in water , so everything inside the packet was destroyed. Of course we always make copies of everything sent, so at least we have that. USCIS has no idea sometimes how to implement its policies, especially regarding this new public charge rule. If they don't know how can anyone else know. We sent those public charge forms out to clients that have consular appointments and sometimes they ask for them and sometimes they don't (although became effective after Feb. 24). I think we wont know the full story until this policy has been in place for at least like a year.

Today I got an e-mail for the embassy in Beirut, Lebanon because one of clients was scheduled   for an appointment there on March 20th. He left on Monday and guess what they are suspending routine consular operations. This might be something that might be prudent to keep an eye out on, because can be the first of many. I am just updating you guys just to give you my experience of the climate right now. It's crazy to say the least. 

22 hours ago, klgck said:

Don't worry, I'm in the same boat as you! Mailed via USPS on Feb 21 and they received it Feb 24. Let's hope we hear back this week! 🙂They probably have soooo many last minute submissions, so I am sure they are busy haha (least that is what I tell myself!)

We mailed quite a few applications right before the Feb. 24 deadline (that weekend), and we just received a good amount of the receipts yesterday. I think they got a huge influx and just starting to ship out those receipts. 

2 hours ago, Donald120383 said:

Some folks do get EAD/AP without the Finger print. The only cause is that they were able to obtain finger prints from some where else.. no one knows but i have seen people receiving EAD/AP without the Finger print done 

Yeah you’re right. I’ve seen it a couple times and it’s common when doing work permit renewals, but even those times they usually send a notification that there’s no need for bios since they already have them on file. I also see it in asylum cases since when they ask for asylum at point of entry they take some forms of bios. 
 

Lets just hope we all get quick work permits. I know my wife is dying bored at home and rather be working and contributing financially. 

I don't know but EAD's seem to be processing pretty fast the last two months. The craziest thing happened in our office last week. A client actually had their EAD approved without having done the bio-metrics first lol. He received his social security number, but of course no work permit since they do not even have his photo or fingerprints on file yet lol. He has has bios appointment next week. However the last month I had three EADS approved within a month in a half, which is unheard of these days, but hey its possible. However, it is three out of like 20, so I would still not say it is the norm.

17 minutes ago, klgck said:

Thank you, @Verteres, his was very helpful! To confirm, do I leave travel document number blank? As for the NIV number, I see it on my Visa and it is in a red text, so hopefully that is the right number haha. Also, I entered through Buffalo, NY but live in Philadelphia, PA - so I put Buffalo as my last arrival place.

 

Edit: ah, I answered my own question - I do leave travel document blank! The stress is getting to me hahah.

You're on a roll lol. Yeah, it is the red text and for last place of Arrival it would be buffalo, NY because it is where you entered through and were admitted. Come on we can do this before the 24th!!!!!! 

This is the most stressful time of my life right now lol. I have to get like 10 complicated AOS applications out of here by Friday and next week I have my California Bar exam on Tuesday and Wednesday. This site helps me release stress, so I love all you guys hahah.

So far looking good. The information you are looking for is on your passport. The passport Number is usually easily visible on your passport Biographic page, while the Non-immigrant Visa number is found on the Visa page. It is usually the number on the bottom right corner. It is not the control number. You were inspected when you came in and entered on the K1, so looks good. Make sure to put the city where you entered through and the expiration date on your passport and not the Visa. @klgck

26 minutes ago, Donald120383 said:

dont need biometrics for AP/EAD. biometrics is only for 485 background checks 

Without the biometrics appointment you would not have that beautiful picture on your EAD though lol

22 hours ago, rocoblue said:

Thanks! Yeah I guess it depends on the state. I’ll have to find out at the DMV soon.

 

that’s odd and unacceptable!haha. W2s for 2019 aren’t given until late of January 2020. Maybe because their case are being processed this month (February) that made them require for the 2019 IRS. Also it depends on the person handling the case I guess. We’ll have to prepare that soon. I bet one of us might need the 2019 IRS. Just in case. Hopefully not. 😂

Yeah, I hope none of us get it lol. I find it very strange and from my experience it is rare that individuals would get and RFE for taxes that year before that April 15th deadline. I can tell you immigration law offices around the country keep an eye on that April 15th deadline and there's a surge of applications being sent out right before that because after the 15th you would need to include the 2019 taxes. However, before that date I can't recall ever getting an RFE for their taxes. Like someone else mentioned here it is good practice just to have updated tax return information for the interview especially after all the changes immigration is going through at the moment. Officers are being given more discretion nowadays.

To be honest, a lot of things depend on an officer. Might be a new guy doing some weird things lol. I have gotten some officers that let a few things slide, which I know probably should not have gone through. I have also met some officers who are lawyers and very detail oriented and will catch any little thing. Hopefully all of our files get someone efficient who does not ask for more than what is needed and just wants to go home relax and watch some Netflix lol.

18 hours ago, DSotomayor said:

Can someone help here please, I received a rejection notice from the form I-765 due to a missing signature 🤦‍♂️. should I resubmit the old form I got back in the mail? do I have to submit a new one with today's date? do I have to submit a the old one a new one? what do you suggest?.

Thanks for your help!!!

So when they send the rejection notice they sent you like a colored page that tells you put it on top of the new thing you send? By the way the I-765 you got back has little numbers on the bottom right like some computer code or some processing information they use. Anyway if it was not dated either I would just fix the mistake and resend the same sheet. However, if it was already dated then I would just resubmit a whole new I-765 with the signature. 

Man, we have got send back some strange things lol. Once we received two packages claiming missing pages to the application. Each package had their rejection notice. This missing pages were all there just on separate packages sent to us lol.

In other news my wife got her Bios appointment for February 21st. Sent out Packet January 23, received 24, so going at good pace here in Los Angeles. Wish I was in San Benardino for a quicker resoultion to the case, but I think Los Angeles field office works pretty good for how many cases I am sure they have. If anyone has questions in Los Angeles I can be of more help I am sure. I am in that office about twice a week.

2 minutes ago, rocoblue said:

I only have NOA for I-485(AOS) and I-131(AP) but have 3 case numbers. So that means I will not receive the notice for I-765 (EAD) because it will be combo? NOA for AP will also be NOA for EAD?

 The USCIS should have adviced the applicant that or wrote it on the NOA that it is a combo so we wouldn’t be worried about it the missing NOA.

 

 Oh well. Thanks for the info!

No, you should receive receipt notices for all three. When you get the Bios appointment notice it is just one notice you receive. It is true the EAD is a like a combo card that works as your AP. You should still not be worried about the missing I-765 NOA anyway since you received a receipt number for it in a text anyway. Worst case scenario it got lost somewhere, but it is still processing. I always like physical copies too like everyone so hopefully you get it soon.

1 hour ago, Jujusmom said:

Hello everyone! We sent our AOS on January 29. And I got the delivery confirmation on Saturday, February 1 that it arrived at the Chicago Lockbox. I’m joining the February filers but I’ll also follow here. 
 

I read on the saved post here that the employment (verification) letter should be updated and not the one from K1. Husband and I didn’t get an updated one and sent the one from last year that we used for K1. We also didn’t include his paystubs but we did include his W2’s from 2016, 2017, and 2018. Am I gonna get RFE? 
 

Thanks!

An updated employment verification letter does not matter that much, especially if you are working at the same place when the K1 was filed. If you submitted the K1 September of 2018 I am guessing the letter is dated sometime in the summer of 2018. What matters mostly is that you submitted your taxes with the W2 Forms to verify the income. You submitted the last three years even though you do not need to, so you're good. You only have to honestly include evidence for last year's taxes, even though you do need the information for 17 and 16's taxes.

Honestly, pay stubs is something I would find more important, because technically someone could have their W2's and doing well on income for the previous year and currently be unemployed. However, by the time you have the interview you can update all the financial documents. They might RFE for the lack of evidence overall, but more than anything else they look at taxes. Like mentioned earlier for sure they will not deny you right off the bat for that. They will give you a chance to respond.

Some people don't like RFE's but I do not mind them honestly. I actually don't see them as time wasters as other people. They also let me know that the officer currently has the file on hand. When you respond from my experience the wait is not that long. As long as it is not a complicated RFE, such as "you came in with a parole document, when most in your case would not be granted a parole document, explain and provide evidence that your arrival was a legal entry blah blah blah lol". Those take forever because they need to pass it to a supervisor lol. However, some RFE's are easy fixes.

4 hours ago, Montrealy said:

Thanks, that’s what I thought. Some people have 3-4 days after receipt of filing, seemed too fast to have gone through processing and mailing.

Some go quick. I always do next day delivery using USPS since it goes to their P.O Box address. If you use other carriers depending on the form it has to go to a different address because can't send those to P.O Box addresses.

Like mine was received and processed the day after. I did everything last minute, which I would recommend no one to do, but sometimes it's the nature of the beast lol. I got married January 23 and it was filed same day. USCIS processed it the day after because I made sure USPS would deliver before noon Chicago time. They already cashed the money orders. I hate when clients bring checks because they always take longer to cash those from experience.  

My first update:

I filed on Jan 23 and it was received on Jan 24. I received the three text messages for all the form( AOS, EAD, Parole) being received Jan. 28th. At this rate will get physical receipts before the end of the week. I can't wait for those receipts another form for proof of physical presence lol. Trying to rack those up lol.

8 minutes ago, BirdSong said:

 

So I need my W2 to back up the 2018 1040... got it.

Yeah you need the W2 to accompany your Income Tax filing. The only exception I have seen to this is when you file the actual transcripts from IRS. Before they did not really care about the transcripts, but lately they have been asking for those at the consulates and it seems to me that immigration policy withing USCIS is starting to mirror what they are doing at the consulates more and more these days. Especially when it comes to the amount of discretion officers are being given. 

On 1/13/2020 at 9:23 PM, Vidizzle said:

👋🏿Hello guys!!

 

We have our AOS interview scheduled and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a Spanish interpreter for the interview? I’ve heard they might separate us so I can’t translate for him. 
 

Thanks!!

Actually, can’t translate for him at all. Even when you’re together in the interview it would have to be a translator whom translates for him. Otherwise it gets murky because it’s a conflict on interest, so I know officers don’t like it. I know because I work in a small immigration law office in LA County and one of my jobs is to translate when needed. 
 

I would recommend a professional translator or at least someone who has done it before. I know there’s many Spanish speakers, but the admissibility questions can get hard or tricky to translate on the spot if you have not done before. 
 

if will take a family member or a friend let me know because I know something that would be a great resource for them. I’ve translated many and yes I always carry this one resource with me just in case I get a little stuck lol.