schultoy

Interview coming up soon on July 29th! @flacka Let me know how yours goes, looks like you're 1 week before us, I'm guessing same office in West Philly  

On 6/8/2021 at 5:55 PM, flacka said:

Ahhhh another update! Interview has been scheduled!!!! Now to wait for the notice to find out the date 😊

Same!!! Yesterday morning I got the update "Interview Scheduled" (we're both based in Philly if you remember we had biometrics around the same time 😁) BUT I was so surprised because I still don't have any update on my EAD/AP combo since "Fingerprints were taken"! Did you get your EAD before the Interview was scheduled? I'm still waiting for the mail notice to see the exact interview date!! If mine is also in late July, that's so soon, better start prepping!!! Do you have a lawyer??

1 hour ago, JaneNC said:

Thank you for the explanation! I thought it might be risky and jeopardize the chances of getting the AOS approved.

Certainly there was risk and it was not an easy decision — first, the risk of the waiver not being approved, which means the AoS application (and the COST!!!) goes to waste and the clock starts ticking for unauthorized stay – and second, the risk of AoS being ready for interview BEFORE the waiver, thereby having to intentionally delay the interview while waiting for the unknown (and not being able to commit to work...)

So yes, I was worried about the risks too. But frankly, at that point I already felt the walls closing in on me and had nothing left to lose 😪 (...then the pandemic started and the walls really closed in on everyone!) so when we spoke to this lawyer and he didn't just tell me to "go home and do consular processing" — I said "where do I sign?" 😅

PS: AoS has been pretty slow anyway... Filed in Sept, did my biometrics in March, and still waiting for EAD, etc... 

1 minute ago, Hardship waiver said:

Congratulations!! 
I have a question about the adjustment of status. How did you apply for it without having the waiver? Wouldn’t that be considered an incomplete application? I have been in this mess for three year’s waiting on the waiver.

Every lawyer I spoke to back in Sept-October 2019 told me I can't apply for AoS until I have the waiver. I think they just didn't want to handle a J1 waiver case especially because the program was US funded. I was so close to giving up, but in March 2020 my US spouse spoke to another lawyer who had a different opinion and had done NOS Waivers before. 

BASICALLY, he explained that applying for AoS was a good idea for 2 reasons:

1- Even though I was going to be out of status (I am now) after my student visa and OPT expired, I am staying in the US without accumulating "period of unauthorized stay" because having a pending AoS case gives you temporary authorized stay (and work authorization, etc) — so, it basically keeps you from becoming illegal, which is always a plus 😅 

2- If the waiver is approved (it is now!) I wouldn't actually need to prove that I have it until the final day of the interview, unless they choose to send an RFE before. So, in a way, AoS was buying me time to get the waiver. And I did include in my AoS package that I APPLIED for a waiver, and attached a copy of the DoS fee receipt and screenshot of the online system update.

Hope this helps!

Dear all, 

I meant to post this sooner... finally a positive update, the 2 words I dreamed of for months... => FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. 🤗

Goes to show there is hope for those who had US gov funded programs!

Application package delivered - May 21

Fee cashed - May 29

Embassy NOS delivered - June 19

Case showed up online - Sept 18 

... See photo for the rest of the updates!

("Incomplete Info Letter" was basically an RFE asking for evidence on a medical claim in my statement, and "Other" is my response to the RFE with a doctor's report.)

I'm just SO relieved to see "Favorable Rec" even though it took ~10 months since I filed. I'm also in the middle of Adjustment of Status so hopefully I will have the hard copy waiver before the final interview!

THAT SAID, I have no idea when to expect the actual hard copy waiver from USCIS. Any steps I should be taking?

Thank you all!

On 2/2/2021 at 5:32 PM, flacka said:

Update!!!! Biometrics came in the mail!!! 

 

9/25/2020 - Application sent to USCIS Chicago lockbox 

9/29/2020 - Package delivered to lockbox. 
10/21/2020 - Received 4 texts! Around 8:30pm

10/29/2020 - Received 4 NOA’s!! Priority date is 9/29/2020

1/29/2021 - Online status changed to RFE 

2/2/2021 - Biometrics letter received, appt 2/17/2021. 
 

No change or update in online status - still just says RFE was issued for I-485 and case received for the rest. When I got our daily USPS email and saw a letter was coming I assumed it was the RFE! Very surprised it’s biometrics but so happy! My husband goes 2/17  

Looks like we're both in Philly! Got my biometrics notice too, it's scheduled for 2/18 (a day after you). I would be so grateful if you could tell me what to expect!! Thank you

Hi everyone,

Still waiting for biometrics notice! Here's my timeline:

9/30/2020 : AoS package submitted

11/2/2020 : Cash checked

11/9/2020 : Received 3 notices, dated 11/2 but "date received: 10/2" 

Nothing since that! When should I expect biometrics notice?

PS 1: We submitted I-130 petition separately — e-filed and received on 3/18 (about 6 months before filing AoS) 

Does this affect the AoS process because we didn't file everything all together?

PS 2: In parallel, I also have a J1 waiver (NOS) case pending, and the latest update was "request sent for sponsor views" on 11/19 ------- It's okay if some of you are not familiar with what this means...

On 9/21/2020 at 12:21 PM, J1toH1 said:

Hello all,

 

Finally received my favorable recommendation. Wanted to share the information with all of you if that helps. I sent my documents to DOS at the end of May (around 20th). The embassy sent the No objection letter on May 31st. Below is the timeline posted online:

 

Department of State Advisory Opinion Finding: Favorable Recommendation
 

Recommendation Sent : September, 15 2020

Passport Data Page Received: September, 02 2020

No Objection Statement Received: August, 13 2020

Fee Received: August, 02 2020

Form DS-3035 Received: August, 02 2020

Form DS-2019 Received: August, 02 2020

Statement Of Reason Received: August, 02 2020

 

Thanks and wish you all the best!

Congratulations!!!!! Looks like it took 5-6 weeks between your case showing up online and getting your FR.

Last Friday (Sept 18) my case finally showed up online! Everything said "Received" but it said Received on Sept 15, and NOS received on Sept 16... In reality, it's been 3-4 months.... I think it may have something to do with the fact that my lawyer sent an email inquiry and attached a copy of the entire package and embassy letter AND proof of fee being cashed.

My OPT grace period ended Sept 18 (same day the status showed up online) so I'm reeeeally hopeful for an FR that will make this all worth it — in the meantime, AoS package is nearly ready to be filed!

May 19: package mailed (forms + fee)

May 21: package delivered to WRD in Saint Louis

May 29: filing fee cashed (according to Western Union money order tracking)

Jun 17: NOS embassy letter mailed

Jun 19: NOS embassy letter delivered to Dos in DC

*Sept 18: Status showed up online - "Pending"

On 7/30/2020 at 7:58 PM, clevercard said:

Yeah, if nothing shows up in 2 week, I'll contact the congressman office from my region. I hope they can help me.

Did you end up contacting the congressman office? If so, do you think that helped in getting your case updated online?

On 8/7/2020 at 3:17 PM, J1toH1 said:

Hello, I finally got to see my case online today. It says that it received DS 2019, DS-3035, Fee and Statement of reason received as of August 2. However, passport data page and no objection statement is still not showing. Did you see something on your end?

Thanks for the update! Still nothing on the online system for me. I'm staying hopeful, since a few other people with similar submission dates have posted recently that their cases showed up online.

On 8/12/2020 at 11:53 AM, clevercard said:

My documents finally appeared on the system.

 

This is my timeline:

 

Application package received by DOS (Fedex Tracking) - June 17th, 2020.

Check cashed - June 22nd.

Embassy sent NOS - June 23rd.

NOS received in online system - August 10th.

Application package received in online system - August 11th.

 

I hope I can get my recommendation soon!

 

 

 

I hope my case also appears on the system very soon! We do have a similar timeline. In fact, I sent my package a little sooner than you, and I saw other users who also got their case updated on the online system in the past few days. I don't know whether to be excited that it could happen soon, or worried that it hasn't!

Application package delivered - May 21

Fee cashed - May 29

Embassy NOS delivered - June 19

On 2/23/2014 at 4:50 PM, snappyg2000 said:

I am a J1 visa holder subjected to the 2year HRR ( although i strongly believe i was subjected erroneously) i have filed for a waiver and it is pending presently. I have also completed my family based AOS package but havent sent it in yet. I will like any advice about concurrent filing of these two i.e if i can send in my AOS package while my visa waiver is still pending.

THANKS

Hey, I realize you posted this 6 years ago but I'm really curious what you ended up doing! Did you file AoS while the waiver was pending?

I'm also waiting for my J1 waiver to be processed, at the same time preparing to file AoS and scared about overstaying if the waiver doesn't get approved very soon.

On 7/9/2020 at 3:35 PM, J1toH1 said:

Hello,

 

Is there anyone here who sent all the documents at the end of May including the embassy No objection letter? If yes, can you see information on your case online? I still see no information updated for my case number when I track online.

 

Thanks!

Hi, I'm in a similar situation!

May 19: package mailed (forms + fee)

May 21: package delivered to WRD in Saint Louis

May 29: filing fee was cashed (according to Western Union money order tracking)

Jun 17: NOS embassy letter mailed

Jun 19: NOS embassy letter delivered to Dos in DC

Online tracking system still shows "no information regarding the status of your case"

Also, my partner and I submitted an inquiry through our local congressman office and they got a short response from 212e division on July 2nd saying they have "no record of receiving my application" — Since then, the contact person at the congressman office sent another follow up, in vain. Last week, they followed up again saying they reached out to their liaison in Washington to see what's up. Waiting to see what happens next. I'm in a tough spot because my OPT just expired so I'm on my grace period, and have to wait for a Favorable Recommendation to apply for spouse-based Adjustment of Status. 

It's been 2 months since the fee was cashed, so I'm really hoping at least the online system will be updated soon and show receipt of everything, then I just have to wait and hope it's approved before September to give us some time to file for AoS.

I'll keep you posted! Please do the same.

Thanks and good luck!