L&Ceci

On 8/30/2021 at 10:11 AM, TrashOTreasure said:

Thanks for such a detailed response!

 

Yes I'm in AOS. I think the main issue in my case is that i'm still waiting on the biometrics.

Looks like you can submit the expedite request once you are done with biometrics. Is that what your understanding is?

 

But its been over 6 months since I filed and no update (other than one RFE that I responded and they received in June).

 

You are right if there is no biometrics it's gonna be hard to give visibility to a prospective employer. In my case I moved from Europe where I was working for a US based global employer. My employer is willing to move me to one of their US offices if I have an EAD. But without any visibility to a date of EAD approval, I just cant convince my employer to hold that position for me. They would probably hold it for me for 2 months at the max.

 

My husband supports me currently and to be honest we are not exactly struggling financially where we are not able to pay rent etc (California rents are ridiculously high!). We are on a super tight budget though and have to sacrifice some stuff to get by!

 

So given the above points I'm not sure how to go about the Congressman route for requesting an expedite! 

If your employer wanted to keep you working in US after working with them in Europe they didn't propose a transfer visa (L1)? 

Now you are filing AOS I guess both would be conflicting... 

Official USCIS answer is that you need biometric to expedite. But some people requested expedite before biometrics and it seems it could trigger the appointment (even if request is denied). 

You would still need the job offer but you could try to convince employer to try that way. Would have to resubmit an expedite request after biometrics are done. 

Yes if you just have to keep a tight budget it might be hard to justify.

Contact your representative and ask for advice. They might be able to tell you better if they can help or not based on your case. 

Once you get a job offer it would become a financial loss, even if you were not in financial hardship, it is still a loss (financially and eventually for your career) + a loss for the company. Then congressman will help with no problem.

Did you double check with Emma that your biometrics letter has never been sent ? seems a lot of appointment letters get lost...

8 hours ago, TrashOTreasure said:

Hi,

 

First of all thank you for all your updates. They are super helpful!

 

Similar case as yours but filed in Feb (on B2 status).

Curious to know how you managed to get a job offer without an EAD ? Im sensing this is an important document to show to strengthen expedite request. 

But because of B2 status and pending EAD no legit employer is willing to offer a job in my case.

 

Also, how do prove financial hardship? Is there are guideline USCIC works on? Just like there is a poverty guideline? 

We are also planning to start a family and I wonder if that can be mentioned as a hardship (even though there is no pregnancy yet)

 

Thank you so much in advance!

Hey ! 

Well I don't think pregnancy, in itself, is a valid reason in USCIS perspectives. I tried a first expedite (without congressman help) based on financial hardship due to totally unplanned pregnancy (husband had a vasectomy 10 years ago !) before getting that offer. Never got an answer of evidence request. 

This time I filed for financial loss (not sure they consider financial loss and financial hardship the same way...).

My advises to find a job before EAD: 

- Wait for after biometrics. I tried to apply to jobs for months, if you can't give visibility to employers they are not interested or at best they will tell you to come back when you get EAD (which happened to me with a contracting company, I restarted interview process with, but I got a better offer somewhere else). Before biometrics there is no way to give employers visibility.

- Once you have biometrics give visibility and the feeling that you are confident EAD isn't gonna be a problem: "my EAD is in process" + "I will not need any sponsorship from you at anytime, my spouse is my sponsor" + "once I have an offer I should be able to start working in 4-5 weeks approx". 

- Apply to jobs in your field and that really match your level of skills. You need to be THE one they look for, so they will be fine waiting a little bit for you. If you apply to everything and anything most likely they will find someone else that fits and is available now. 

- What kind of jobs are you looking for ? If you can, try consulting companies (they are usually not in a rush to hire and wouldn't mind waiting)

Regarding evidences, I gathered evidence of financial loss (for our household + for the company needing my skills ASAP)

- Primary evidences (sent to congressman): Job offer + letter from company (they also mentioned they are an essential business).

Evidences I got ready but they never asked for, to support financial hardship:

- Evidence of unplanned pregnancy: Vasectomy report

- Pregnancy related bills

- A 12 months budget starting when we filed for AOS to show we were fine with my Husband's salary (working part time while going to school) + my savings, but that not budgeted bills/baby purchases would get us in severe hardship.

Be careful, when you filed, your spouse signed that he/she would financially support you/the household until your case is processed so I think an unplanned event has to justify that suddenly you guys are struggling. 

- Husband's last pay slips

I think, in my case, surprise pregnancy was just to enforce that really I couldn't miss that opportunity but it was definitely not the main reason to expedite.

If you filed in February, you are not in B2 anymore, you are in Adjustment of Status, right ? 

22 minutes ago, ashley_ann said:

I haven’t yet as I just put the request in a couple days ago. I’m waiting to see what happens and ask for support if needed 😊

I would be you, I would ask support now, I really think they helped make it faster and they have good advises on how to make it more efficient 🙂

My congressman staff was a little slow to start so I am glad I requested help right away. 

5 minutes ago, ashley_ann said:

Wow that’s awesome! Congrats on a successful expedite! 
 

I’m hoping mine ends in approval 😅

 

 

Hope you will ! 

Did you ask congressman support ? 

On 7/13/2021 at 10:50 AM, L&Ceci said:

Received my biometrics letter yesterday and did early walk-in this morning ! 

 

March 12 2021 - package received by USCIS

April 6 2021 - NOA1

July 12 2021 - biometric letter received (notice date is 07/02/2021). Biometric appointment scheduled for 07/26/2021. 

July 13 2021 - early walk-in on the morning. Just showed up asking if I could do the biometrics now, she was really nice and answered it was my lucky day that is was really calm so their was no problem for me to do them. Seems sometimes they have so many people they have to wait outside... I waited max 10 min and they called me, it took 5-10 min do get my information (I had completed the Applicant's Information Worksheet before going in), the picture, the fingerprints and the signature. Super easy !

 

My I-485 was handled by NBC.

My local office is Houston, Tx and my ASC was Houston Southeast. 

 

Wishing to all still waiting that they will get theirs soon... 

Hi Guys, 

Here are some updates on my case. 

07/16: I-485 is « ready to be scheduled for an interview ».  My field office (Houston, TX) takes forever (like 18 months) to schedule interviews so I have plenty of time. 

I requested expedite processing of my EAD: 

• 08/05: Signed a great job offer & Request to Expedite I-765 placed online with Emma. I got a summary ready before starting the chat and clearly stated: 
  • Request based on financial loss for me AND the company (I had my offer letter + a letter from the company as evidences)
  • Expected start date & salary
  • Financial hardship because of pregnancy
• 08/08: I contacted my congressman via their website. 
• 08/12: Congressman staff sent me forms to file, that I sent back the same day + offer letter & company letter (also had medical bills, husband’s pay stubs & next months budget ready in case more evidences were needed)
• 08/18: no news from congressman, I asked for updates & they said I had to change something in the form before they can send the congressional request to USCIS… Updated and send it back that same day. Not sure when they sent it to USCIS. 
• 08/19: Chat with Emma, « case assigned to an agent for review »
• 08/26: Request to expedite processing of I-765 approved
• 2hrs later: « New Card being produced ». 

No RFE and no request for evidence (I think the congressman staff sent those with their request).

Now I just have to wait for the card, hoping they will do a combo card as I request I-131 to be expedited at the same time.

12 hours ago, B@C said:

wow~~seems like your case was transfer to VSC before.so NOA2 is from that center

It does! 

I contacted Emma a couple of months ago to ask if it was still in the same service center and they said yes... I never received any notification about the transfer. 

It was filed online so I guess in that case transfers are super easy.

Hi All! 

I got updates on my case, so here is my timeline: 

- 03/03/2021 - Filed I-130 online. I filed paper AOS (I-485/I-131/I-765) a week after (came on B2 to visit and decided stay and get married)

- 03/03/2021 - NOA1 received from Nebraska Service Center

- 07/23/2021 - Case is Being Actively Reviewed by USCIS 

- 08/05/2021 - Petition Approved by Vermont Service Center  

No RFE

Received my biometrics letter yesterday and did early walk-in this morning ! 

March 12 2021 - package received by USCIS

April 6 2021 - NOA1

July 12 2021 - biometric letter received (notice date is 07/02/2021). Biometric appointment scheduled for 07/26/2021. 

July 13 2021 - early walk-in on the morning. Just showed up asking if I could do the biometrics now, she was really nice and answered it was my lucky day that is was really calm so their was no problem for me to do them. Seems sometimes they have so many people they have to wait outside... I waited max 10 min and they called me, it took 5-10 min do get my information (I had completed the Applicant's Information Worksheet before going in), the picture, the fingerprints and the signature. Super easy !

My I-485 was handled by NBC.

My local office is Houston, Tx and my ASC was Houston Southeast. 

Wishing to all still waiting that they will get theirs soon... 

7 hours ago, miserygame said:

I always do that, and chat with a live agent, when I ask them if I have an appointment scheduled they just reply me back with the scripted answer of 'DUE TO COVID LOLXOXOXOXO WE WILL SEND YOU A LETTER BLAHBLAH' so unless I'm getting very grumpy live agents, I don't know how to do it 

Same here ! No matter the way I ask they always copy-paste the standard text... Frustrating... 

They received my package on March 12, and except the notice to say the I-693 was missing and needs to be taken to the interview, I didn't get any update.... 

Hi There, 

You might want to look here, another thread has been created early March: 

Hi Guys ! 

Got my Receipts Numbers today ! 

Here is my timeline: 

- March 3rd: My husband (USC) filed I-130 online (PDF receipt same day)

- March 9: I-485/I-131/I-765 Shipped (including the I-944 as I didn't see it was discontinued that same day) 

- March 12: I-485/I-131/I-765 Received by USCIS

- April 6 : 3 Receipts # received by texts for : I-131, I-765 and I-485 (for that one the case status says they accept my fingerprints fees, I guess it means they also accept the rest of the fees).

- I am waiting for  the receipts sent by mail. 

My check hasn't been cashed yet, but pretty sure it's gonna happen soon. 

Hope every March filers will get theirs soon too !

On 6/24/2020 at 4:22 PM, Prairiegirl3 said:

Has anyone flown into the US from Vancouver? I’m considering doing so at the end of July but am nervous if they’ll let me through. 

I did flew from Vancouver to Dallas on July 4th with American Airline. It went super smooth, here are some details to help you feel better about it.

First I am a French citizen, living/working in Canada with a Working Holiday Visa/Temporary Work Permit. So I am not a Canadian citizen (was worried they let only Canadians pass the border). 

Before I went to the airport, I printed few documents (especially the US document enclosed stating the restriction isn't applicable to air travels - that version is the one applicable until July 21st), just in case, but I didn't use them.

When I checked in online the previous night, they asked me if I had traveled to Europe/UK/China/etc (= the restricted countries for US) or if I was feeling sick. Nothing else special at that point.

My flight was one of the first one on the morning. So I was one of the first to go to customs. 

Usually we have to use the machines to take finger prints/picture before talking to the agent, but with the virus we are back to the old way: they check stuffs on their computer, they ask questions, take pictures/finger prints. 

Here are the questions:

- What is the purpose of your trip ? (meeting my fiancé)

- How long are you staying in US ? (no return flight ticket asked - but asked the precise date, I guess it was showing on his computer)

- When was the last time you went to US ? 

- Did you stay in Canada all the time since your last trip to US ?

- What is your destination and who's is the address filled in when you checked in (my fiancé's)

- Asked to confirmed I didn't checked in any luggage (only had a carry on)

And that was it !

He didn't mention anything about the covid-19, my K-1 visa request or the fact I couldn't get married while over there.

As always with custom's agents: be honest, patient and respectful and it will be fine  

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