ValleyRocket

I also ended up with a relatively easy interview, approval next day, and Green Card less than two weeks later! God I'm glad this is done!

For interview advice, my Officer was mostly interested in updating documents related to my ability to support my wife (i.e. my 2020 taxes, which were filed in October 2021 due to a delay related to getting an ITIN for my wife). I think she would have also taken more recent copies of my paystubs. The point is I already previously provided this stuff, but they might ask for it again.

The other document she wanted was something proving we "lived/shared together". That was a little tricky since my wife didn't have a social security number, so we didn't have too many things commingled. I ended up sharing our health insurance cards (she's on my plan and it shows the same member # on both). 

We also brought our toddler (not by choice, but probably better evidence that our marriage wasn't a scam )

On 4/30/2021 at 6:38 AM, kowc said:

Well, I called today and they just said the only thing they can do is to file another service request... then I can call back in another 30 days if they have not responded to the new request.

Sorry to hear about the folks still waiting on biometrics. It's definitely frustrating....

As for some advice (especially if you are just waiting around with nothing to do):

1. One thing that I did was I called USCIS and specifically asked to speak to Tier 2 USCIS Officer
   • the person you initially get on the phone is a Tier 1 staff but that person is a government contractor from what I understand.
   • You may not get the Tier 2 person on the line immediately, but you can at least request for a phone callback. The Tier 1 may tell you it takes a week or so for a callback, but it shouldn't impact your original ticket request.
   • The Tier 2 person might ultimately need to file another ticket (I know this is "Kafkaesque"), but unlike the Tier 1 I believe they able to "flag" their tickets to get their supervisor to review (or something like that).
2. It helps to have a specific reason why you need the biometrics scheduled. From what I understand, here are some legit reasons:
   • you need to travel back home (emergency or hardship reasons) and the biometrics is needed for the Advance Parole (AP)
   • you need to work and therefore need the biometrics for the EAP

39 minutes ago, Esterlyn said:

Any update for September filers? Still waiting for the approval of EAD and AP here. Sent out our RFE last January 28. Two months since Biometric taken still no update on EAD and AP.

Case update today to "Response to RFE received". They begin working on our case again. Hope to see progress for EAD and AP for both K1 and K2. 

I filed my wife's I-131 separately from the I-485, but I was also trying to get the I-131 expedited for an Advance Parole so she could travel (family emergency). It just got completed today (check my timeline) , but it took several tries over the last couple of months to discuss things with the right person. Specifically it took a USCIS callback and discussion with a Tier 2.

So based on my own experience and what I've read in other threads in VJ, anybody who's trying to expedite their AP or EAD/AP combo card needs to justify it and be prepared to provide evidence. I'm guessing for the EAD, the common reason is a job offer letter. 

My wife was able to successfully walk-in 20+ days early from her scheduled biometrics on her I-131. BUT we have been trying to expedite the I-131 for several months.

When we finally got the biometrics appointment scheduled (it took several tries across different channels), it was accompanied by a letter from USCIS stating that 1) they couldn't expedite the I-131 until biometrics were taken and 2) the biometrics appointment had been scheduled for 2/22/2021.

We also walked into our ASC at ~12pm and it was clearly not that busy. But I agree that it's worth a try if you live near your ASC and have some good documentation.

2 hours ago, Stephanie2996 said:

Anyone else with a Sept 30 receipt date that is still waiting for biometrics? My LFO is Salt Lake City. Getting a bit anxious about not getting a letter for bio yet!

No biometrics here either and I got the RFE for the I-944 a couple of weeks ago. I also tried calling USCIS and even with service tickets raised there has not been any response.

5 hours ago, Esterlyn said:

Hello guys, 

Just a quick question for I-944. How to get credit score and report without your SSN. I don't have my SSN yet. 

Your help is much appreciated. Thank you

 

 

Before we got married, I had my then fiance added as an authorized user on my credit card. That alone was enough to put her on TransUnion's radar. I was able to chat with a live representative (800-813-5604) and explain why I needed a credit score and report. It seems to be something you can get for free, and I got it in the mail about a week later.

I'm PD September 28th and today (December 7th) my USCIS receipt got updated to say that an RFIE was mailed out. I verified in my USCIS online account that it was the I-944. 

Still no biometrics, which I'm more anxious about since I believe its strictly needed for the I-131.