Dis_Guy

Think this may be useful for those like me, who would like to know the earliest date to file for removal of conditions on the GC.

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-calculator-for-form-i-751-filing-jointly-with-your-spouse

48 minutes ago, probingoduke said:

Congrats, mine changed to that on Saturday. Today I kept spamming Emma until I got to an agent and they gave me the tracking number. The agent did say that once it’s mailed the status changes to USPS has picked package and mentions tracking number but honestly just talk via Emma and get the tracking info 

Thanks. Will do just that.

Just got this. Does anyone know if there’s a way to track this or how long it typically takes to reach recipient.

16 minutes ago, lcandcl said:

Thank you! Question: Is the entrance at Sudbury St or Cambridge St?

Cambridge St.

1 hour ago, chxakx said:

Congratulations!

Thanks.

10 minutes ago, lcandcl said:

Congrats!! Really happy for you. questions: when did you file it? Did they ask for the I944? How long it took to get the i693? I did mine on 11/17 and I have my interview in Boston ON 12/01 I am scared that it will get delay since next week is holiday. Thank you 

Thanks.

Filed on 02/22. But was received at USCIS office on 02/26. I wasn’t asked about the i994 but I was worried they’d ask so I printed a notice from USCIS website saying it only applied to applications postmarked on or after02/24. But I did not need to show it as it wasn’t asked for.

I693 is vaccination records right? I didn’t need that as I brought vaccinations records from my home country and submitted it with my i485 application.

2 hours ago, probingoduke said:

IRS tax transcripts are needed for the sponsor (petitioner). For the beneficiary its a good proof to show that one has legally filed the taxes. They took the transcripts for both of us, tickets to events, photos, hotel reservations

Thanks.
It wasn’t required for mine. I guess if I had brought it, they’d have accepted and filed them too.

35 minutes ago, vol1353 said:

Ah I see! Do you think they would allow me to do a walk-in at another location? The main reason why I didn't go to my initial appointment was because it was hours away. 

Not sure about this. But I would try at the least.

Had my interview at the Boston Field office today. 
 

like @probingoduke said, the list of docs that came with the interview letter is good enough, in my experience anyway. That’s ALL I went with.

I (beneficiary) was called in first and went over the i485 form to verify if anything had changed. Only my new job was updated.

Questions asked:

-Name, D.O.B, spouse name, current address?

-Do I have allergies, does my wife have?

-Do we live in a house or apartment?

-Single or double family house?

-what floor of the house?

-Does anyone live with us?

-How many brothers do I have ? How many sisters? Any of them live in the U.S?

-Do I smoke? Does wife smoke?

-Previously married?

- What did we eat last night? Where did we eat?

-Did we eat together?

-Who made the food?

-Any tattoos on me? On my wife? What does it say? What part of the body?

-Location of washing machine? How are they stacked/placed?

-Any pets?

-Do we rent or own? How much is the mortgage payment?

-Any children, is wife pregnant?

-where I work? Where wife works? Job title?

-How did we get to the field office? How are we going back?

Then he asked if I had any docs I wanted to show him. I showed him pics, insurance cards and credit cards. He asked if he could keep them, I agreed and he kept them on file. He asked If I had any questions for him...

Then he walked me to the hall out one door and took my wife inside through another door making sure that there was no interaction between us. Went through the questions with my wife and told her we would get the card in mail within 2 weeks otherwise we should contact them.

I got the “your case has been updated to ‘card is being produced’ “ text message before we got home.

7 minutes ago, vol1353 said:

Hi all! I also happened to receive a duplicate biometric appointment after receiving my EAD/AP combo card. I had already completed code 3 biometrics. I was told my a Tier 2 officer that I did not need to attend due to a system-wide error. Did anyone end up not attending? I ultimately did not attend after receiving the call but am a little paranoid. 

I almost did not go for my duplicate biometrics. In fact, I missed the day(11/13) because of my reluctance. But like you I became paranoid and just did a walk in yesterday. I had no hassles about wrong appointment date and they only took the index finger print. They later updated the i131 case....

if you can, just go. Better safe than sorry....

15 hours ago, probingoduke said:

Hello to all. Thank you so much for your advice, encouragement, help and compassion. We had our interview in the morning at the Boston, MA office.

 

I'm going to try and keep this detailed for anyone looking for tips/guide. Please feel free to ask any questions.

 

TLDR:

Our PD: Feb 21, 2020. Package sent without I693.

Mid march: Received notices.

June RFE: For Birth Certificate. Received in early June. Responded within a week. We were able to get my BC online and sent supplementary evidence like school marksheet.

July I693 Deficiency Notice

Early August: Reached out to Congressman's office in August and coincidentally/thanks to inquiry by CM office we got our i485/i765 bio for Aug 11.

Aug 11: 4hrs after bio I765 updated to show fingerprints were taken. 12 hrs after bio I485 updated to show fingerprints were taken.

Aug 17: I485 updated to 'Ready to schedule interview.

Nov 1: Received 2 mails (no online status update). 1 for bio appt for i131 set for nov 10. 2 for interview notice set for nov 18.

Nov 10: 1 hour after bio I131 updated to show Fingerprints were taken.

Nov 18: 1 hour after interview I485 changed to 'New card being produced'. I130 changed to 'Interview was completed and case sent for initial review.

 

Tips for Boston office:

• Dress business casual. Prefer not to wear a suit.
• Try taking public transport. 
• If driving in, prepare for $$$ parking.
• Multiple garages near building but bad sign directions.
• Typically takes us 30 mins to reach office but today all routes had accidents so it took us 1 hour 40 mins. Always account for the unknown. Or get a new yorker partner like me.
• You will most likely be separately interviewed. Typically, the petitioner goes in first with all docs and evidences. Boston officers are generally very friendly.
• If you have an attorney, the officer can offer you to go in with your spouse instead of going in with your attorney. Our attorney recommended going in with them instead.
• Entrance foe visitors is on Cambridge street so try looking for signs or park at Boston food market garage.
• When you enter the building, you will be asked to remove belt, shoes and jacket like at an airport TSA. Account time for that.
• When you enter the interview waiting hall you will be asked 'have you been outside mass in the last 14 days?'

Package preparation:

• The interview notice comes with a list of items to be brought. Just focus on that.
• We hired an attorney so he gave us a run through of the same and did a 'prep interview'.
• We made one folder to keep documents in the series mentioned as per the interview letter: Interview letter & Passports, I693, I864, BC and so on.
• Try getting tax transcripts from IRS website right away
• Try getting a letter from your bank/cc company sharing that you own joint cards and accounts.
• We made another folder for the 'thick materials' like 12 months of bank statements, 12 months of CC statements, 12 months of phone bills and since we don't have a lease as proof of living together we had collected mail over the year.
• We also made 3 photo albums. 1 depicting our story on how we met and all. 1 of our small wedding ceremony. 1 of our rescue animals (my wife runs a rescue so we have saved about 150 animals. Try making a similar album for hobbies/things that you and your partner do together (it will help, can even just be an album of your messages etc.)
• We had also printed out all our air/bus/hotel/Airbnb reservations and tickets.
• Receipts for gifts we got each other.
• We also asked our friends to write letters stating how long they knew us, when they met us last and all.
• Backpacks/luggage are not allowed. Try preparing to have a transparent bag or hand carry docs with you.

Questions asked (overall interview time 45 mins). Very conversational:

 

My wife went first and after taking an oath was asked the following:

• Drivers license and Passport to verify her name, address (how long she has lived there) and parents name.
• Any former names
• If this was her 2nd marriage and what her ex husbands name is
• Why first marriage ended and when did he move out
• How we met
• Did her ex ever meet me
• Proof of bonafide marriage: Photo album
• How many pets and their names/breeds
• How we first met, what we did on our first date, when I met the pets, how i liked them
• Took tickets to events we attended and Airbnb reservations.
• Took CC Letter, tax transcripts
• My work status, what kind of job i did, work from home or on site, what my company did, what my work status was
• What visa I had and previously had
• Whether she had any dietary restrictions (she saw that I got her vegan cake)
• What was our fav restaurant
• What we liked to cook at home
• When I went vegan
• How her business was going with covid

Then I was called in and after oath was asked (conversationally):

• Drivers license and Passport to verify my name, address, and parents name.
• Any former names
• If this was my or wife's 2nd marriage and what her ex husbands name is
• When did ex husband move out
• When did i move in
• How we met
• Did her ex ever meet me
• How many pets and their names/breeds
• How we first met, what we did on our first date, when I met the pets, how i liked them
• What things we did together
• My work status, what kind of job i did, work from home or on site, what my company did, what my work status was
• What visa I had and previously had
• Whether I had any dietary restrictions
• What we liked to cook at home
• How her business was going with covid

Then we went through our I485 questions (whether I'm terrorist, communist etc)

Took photo with webcam.

Took index fingerprints on both hands.

Confirmed 1 change that I was unemployed since we filed and I signed on that

 

Then she said I should be getting a letter soon and it may be my GC for 2 years. Briefly told me about ROC. She was shocked that I had 2 appts for bio.

 

We thanked her and that's all.

Congrats. This is really detailed and helpful.

Question though, why did you need the tax transcripts? And did they actually look at the docs? if so, which ones?

Thanks.

17 hours ago, fabianafcm said:

Hello everyone! Quick question to you all; Today I went to the RMV in Boston to get my ID. I asked what was the process to apply for a learner's permit and the office told me I could not apply with the EAD. He said and I quote "USCIS believes you have the right to work but not to drive. Driving is a privilege" ?!!?!?!?!?!?! He said since the EAD card expires in less than a year (if you notice, your ead card expires one day before completing 1 year), I cannot apply for a learner's. Can anyone share their experience with me please? This sounds absurd. 

Not True. Got my permit in MA. Used my EAD card. No issues at all. Location was Brockton. Also went to Worcester RMV office to correct a mis-spelled name on the permit. No issues there as well.

16 hours ago, mvasantos said:

Hey everyone!

 

I guess today was my lucky day with a tier 2 agent. He scheduled a bio appt for me! It's on next month but at least I finally have a date! He can't send the notice through e-mail yet unless it's 5 days before the appt but I'm supposed to get it in 10 days on the mail. I guess it's about trying and trying until you get somebody nice. I hope this is true though bc if it's not I'll be really sad.

 

Good luck everyone!

Congrats. Too long coming...

22 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

You can only get that removed once you have your GC. It does not affect the SS card in any way.

Thanks Sarge.

Hey guys. Finally got my EAD/AP combo card last week.

I have a question about the Social Security Card though.

I applied and got my SS card in February before the lockdown and on the card, it says "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" 

Now my question is do I need to have this card replaced with one that doesn't have that caveat or am I good to go? Bearing in mind that I now have the EAD.

Thanks.

1 hour ago, Dutch_lee said:

Hi everyone 

How do I connect to a live representative via EMMA?

According to @mat2291,

1. Tell emma to “Chat with a live rep”

2. Emma will ask what you need a live rep for. Choose “Case Status”

3. She will then ask for your case number

4. She’ll confirm if you want to chat with a live rep.

5. She’ll then connect you to Tier 1 via chat. They’ll ask standard questions to confirm identity. Ask for your tracking number.

3 hours ago, fabianafcm said:

Hello everyone! Just got another update. Card is being produced! Never got the approval notice or anything but hopefully I get my card soon! 

Congrats. It’ll change to Approved next. Mine changed to approved after a day. 

31 minutes ago, LilyKins said:

Congratulations @Dis_Guy for the EAD approval! We've hit a new milestone today -- 190 days since our case was received and 190 days since we got any status updates.

Thanks. We have identical timelines up to NoA.
 

Have you checked processing time for your local office to see if that’s what slowing down your process.

Hope you hear something positive soon.

35 minutes ago, Dutch_lee said:

Congratulations. Did you expedite your EAD?

Thanks. Did not expedite. Waited painfully for close on 7 months..

Nairalander?

3 hours ago, brainless69 said:

did it just go directly from fingerprints were applied to your case to card being produced? or did you get case approved notification online first?

No approval notification. It went directly to card is being produced.

1 hour ago, probingoduke said:

Of course, may i ask why your profile also mentions Chicago? I thought all AOS marriage based applicants go to NBC

If I remember correctly, I think I filed at the Chicago Lockbox. @fabianafcm, I can see you also submitted at the Chicago Lockbox too.... 

My RFE was submitted at NBC tho....

44 minutes ago, probingoduke said:

Thank you everyone for posting updates and sharing your stories. I'm a recent visitor to the forums and a feb filer (AOS-Marriage based).

 

I never knew this forum existed and to read about everyone's updates give me and my wife hope and encouragement to keep going on.

 

My bio was on 08/11 and we filed i485,130,131,765 on 02/21. I485 is now ready to schedule interview but 765 is still at FP were taken. 

 

My local CIS is Boston, MA but as per receipt numbers everything is at NBC. I'm hoping to get the card soon as I have been off work for about 2 months now.

Welcome bro.

We have the same Local field office. Had my bio on 08/14. Status same as yours. Kindly share any future updates.

25 minutes ago, PackersGn said:

Did you send in the I-944 as well since it was received on February?

Nope. My applications were with the old forms. 

7 minutes ago, fabianafcm said:

Oh, great news! My ASC is in Boston as well and it's so good to finally hear news from them! Congrats!

Thanks. Hopefully, things will move along a bit faster now.