Pizookie

Hi all — back on this website for hopefully the second to last time I-751 and N-400.

Here's my timeline so far:

2/6/24: I-751 packet shipped via FedEx

2/7/24: delivered and signed for

2/9/24: text message with IOE receipt number received at 12:26pm

2/13/24: I-797 48 month extension letter and biometrics reuse letter available online, case status updated to "actively being reviewed"

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I finished my interview yesterday and was approved on the spot. My I-485 status updated to show approval today. It was fairly smooth even though I had a prior green card (abandoned) as a kid (I submitted I-407 to clarify that) as well as a previous J-1 visa with a 2-year home country residency requirement (I got a J-1 waiver I-612 for that).

The IO first asked for my passport and both of our drivers' licenses...and that's it! He didn't want my spouse's passport or our birth certificates (we had already sent copies of those in our original submission).

The IO asked my spouse generic I-130 questions about name, parents' names, date of birth, number of prior marriages, date of wedding, current address. 

Then he asked me I-485 questions about my name, parents' names, date of birth, place of birth, number of prior marriages, date of wedding, current address.

Then the IO asked us how we met, where we met, clarifications on our long distance relationship. Then he asked me to submit my medical. He then asked for some joint documents. He took our lease (he saw it digitally but also wanted a physical copy). We gave utility bills, joint bank accounts, trip itineraries, etc. The only thing he kept was the lease and the first page of our most recent joint bank account statement. We also showed photos that he looked through and commented on, but he didn't take any.

The IO really appreciated all of the evidence we sent in early on and refused to take any additional documents. He said that USCIS doesn't like them uploading new documents unless the couple didn't submit much initially xD He said he was going to approve us and to wait 2-3 weeks to get the green card in hand.

Here's how my case status updates went till today (2/8):

I-130: 
- Status on 2/7: "Interview was scheduled"

- Documents on 2/7: I-130 approval notice visible 4 hours after interview

- Status on 2/8: "Interview was scheduled"

- Documents on 2/8: Same I-130 approval notice

I-485:

- Status on 2/7: "Interview was scheduled"

- Documents on 2/7: (nothing new)

- Status on 2/8: "Case was approved"

- Documents on 2/8: I-485 approval notice visible 24 hours after interview

I-765:

- Status on 2/8: "Case is being actively reviewed"

I-131:

- Status on 2/8: "Case was received..."

Check out Rush Translate. They support a lot of languages and were very reliable and affordable in my case.

7 hours ago, Mimoha Singh said:

Guys I had my interview today, it didn't started well but in the end the IO told me first that she would fill in the paperwork today and that I would be getting my green-card within 3 weeks. Than she went ahead to walk me and my lawyer out and told my wife who was waiting outside the same thing again. I checked my status now after 5 hours and it hasn't changed yet, it still shows interview scheduled. What time it takes on average for the status to change online? I know I should give it some more time, but I'm very excited and was just curious lol, thanks in advance!

Congrats on finishing the interview! It really depends and can take hours to days to months. If you can tell us why you think it didn't go so well we might be able to provide more insight.

What did the IO ask and how did they respond?

10 minutes ago, Onelife786 said:

Now this is reasonable and totally fair argument.

 

Thank you for this. 

But if you go this route and they are not happy that you didn't follow their rules, they may deny your application or issue another RFE. 

Like I said before, I would highly recommend you fill out the timeline feature on Visa Journey so others can provide you with more useful advice. Without knowing your proper and most recent immigration history, it really is hard to decipher what is going on.

If your K1 process was done in 2015, how are you entering the US after so many years? Or did you do K1 again now, more recently? 

11 minutes ago, ltlbnna said:

Thanks, @Pizookie i was thinking about calling to ask. Perhaps i will call them next week. Yay yay yay! 

You don't even need to call, you can use the chatbot on the website and ask to speak to a live agent. That takes at most 10-15 minutes  Most likely yours is the week of Feb 7th (same as mine).

1 hour ago, ltlbnna said:

Hi @Pizookie i just received update that my interview is scheduled but the letter isnt in my uscis account. Did you get your schedule via postal service? Lol never thought to research this coz i expected this to happen in another 3-4 months.

 

yay!!! Interview scheduled!!! 

Yay, congrats! And no my interview notice never showed up online either, even though all my other ones did. It's coming today in the mail, but I found out when my interview is by asking an agent through Emma. 

Btw I got my notification of interview being schedule on 12/29, and in my USPS informed delivery the interview notice shows it was mailed out only on Monday 1/3. Hopefully will be delivered today.

4 hours ago, Onelife786 said:

It is quiet in here, assuming no action for any September folks

Wanted to refresh my timeline in here again:

 

Sent packet:

09/24/2021 - FedEx overnight service $104
10/02/2021 - Money has gone from the account (sent two CITIBANK cheques (not money order nor credit card))
10/04/2021 - Four letters received. Acknowledgment/receipts for I-130, I-485, I-765, and I-131
10/08/2021 - Online USCIS website status checked by entering receipt number (Biometrics Appointment was Scheduled on 2nd Oct
10/09/2021: Received 2 letters, biometrics, and ONLINE ACCESS CODE for I-130 petition together (biometrics appointment is on 27th Oct. was scheduled on 2nd Oct.) waiting for online access code for rest of the petitions
10/12/2021: Received physical letter in the post that has ONLINE ACCESS CODE for all other petitions i.e. I-485, I-765 and I-131
10/27/2021 - Biometrics done status changed to Actively Reviewing 

 

Case background: Applied as spouse to USC, no dependents, no kids, first marriage ever, married since 7 years, we lived 5 years in the UK, a British citizen. We have approve K1 petition in past (2015), current entry to USA is ESTA

(Self-made application - no lawyers/solicitors were used)

 

 

It will be nice if you all just re-post your timeline, please (pure timeline)

You can view people's timelines on their profiles (click "Timeline") instead of adding extra messages...no?

1 hour ago, Dark2013 said:

Usually it comes 30 to 90 days after biometrics. 

It used to. But currently the wait time is 9-10 months from your PD.

I'm in a FB group and someone with the same September 15th PD as me already got their interview schedule at the LA field office! That's crazy haha. I'm in Philadelphia where they're still  scheduling April cases...

9 hours ago, The.locd.doc said:

I was wondering, was this the live agent? Or robot Emma? 

Definitely the live agent lol. The robot is pretty useless 😂

3 hours ago, Onelife786 said:

Hello guys,

 

1. Is it normal? I sent USCIS tons of documents, but I only see i.e. 40% of the documents scanned into my account online?

 

2. Does that mean they confimed mis-placed/unable to locate rest of the documents that I sent and expect RFE?

 

Thanks for advance

 

________________________

Sent packet:

09/24/2021 - Fedex overnight service $104

10/02/2021 - Money gone from account (sent two CITIBANK cheques (not money order nor credit card))

10/04/2021 - Four letters received. Aknowledgement/receipts for I-130, I-485, I-765 and I-131

10/08/2021 - Online USCIS website status checked by entering recept number (Biometrics Appointment was Scheduled on 2nd Oct

10/09/2021 : Received 2 letters, biometrics and ONLINE ACCESS CODE for I-130 petition together (biometrics appointment is on 27th Oct. was scheduled on 2nd Oct.) waiting for online access code for rest of the petitions

10/27/2021 - Biometrics done status changed to Actively Reviewing 

 

 

10/12/2021 : Received physical letter in post that has ONLINE ACCESS CODE for all other petitions i.e. I-485, I-765 and I-131

Case background: Applied as spouse to USC, no dependents, no kids, first marriage ever, married since 5 years, we lived 5 years in the UK, British citizen.

(Self made application - no lawyers/solicitors)
 

Don't worry, lots of people have files missing, including me. I only see 20% of my entire packet. But 10 days after my biometrics, I received my I-693 deficiency notice. I then contacted USCIS and they said my case is in line to be scheduled for an interview, so the review of my case is complete. My assumption is they do not show you every file you submitted, and instead have their own database/view.

3 minutes ago, root_root_user said:

I did check in the account after reading your post, but nothing yet. Btw, how did you contact USCIS? Through EMMA or the message interface in the myuscis?

Through Emma chat. 

Me: Can you tell me if my case is ready to be scheduled for an interview?
Emma: So you want me to see if an interview has been scheduled?
Me: That or if it is ready to be scheduled

Emma: Our system is showing that your interview has not been scheduled yet. It has been requested for scheduling. ...

Btw I looked at the Case Tracker app for IOE091348001 - 1349000, and 3 out of 26 I-485 cases have received have received RFEs. And 9001 - 9501 contains my case. So if, based on my searching they are working in sequence, you should be getting a courtesy letter or RFE very soon.

4 minutes ago, root_root_user said:

Oh that's great (about the Courtesy letter). My NOA and biometric timeline is almost same to yours. The receipt number is IOE091348XXXX. So I am hoping to hear from USCIS soon for the next steps.

Have you checked your online account? It doesn't show up as a status update, just a silent upload of the document. 

Also I reached out to USCIS and it turns out my case is now "in the queue waiting to be scheduled for an interview," even though my status says "case is currently being reviewed." I guess this is the new norm for IOE cases where it doesn't update till the interview is actually scheduled.

8 hours ago, Pizookie said:

Hey! I remember we have similar timelines. My PD is 9/15. My case number is IOE0913498XXX, but no action for nearby cases. Wondering what yours is after 134ABXXX, ie A and B? 

 

Also it'd be great if you can add your info to the timeline function so it helps others know where your field office is 😅

Omg omg omg. Sorry I'm just so excited. I have a very complicated immigration history (no overstays but multiple visas and even a green card as a child — ask me about it over drinks 😜), and I was worried a lot about an RFE. 

Thanks to @JandK24 for the tip. I added a few cases around mine to the tracking interface on the Case Tracker app. I checked 500 cases before mine and there were RFEs, but 500 above mine had none. Tonight I got an update that some cases way above mine were RFEd. 

After double checking, I logged in to my account and didn't see any status change. But when I went to "my documents" for my I-485, I saw a new document called, "Courtesy letter to applicant." I click on it and lo- and behold it's the I-693 deficiency notice. 

Safe to say I won't be getting any RFEs from NBC (that would just be a very inefficient process...). But slight chance I could get one from my FO. 

I also noticed no IOE cases change to "case is ready to be scheduled for interview" but go directly from "USCIS is processing your case" to "interview scheduled." 

My FO is still interviewing people with an April 2021 PD. So now the wait begins...

I got this update 10 days after my biometrics.

1 minute ago, JandK24 said:

I'm in Sacramento, CA

Case number: IOE0913454XXX

 

Timeline:

Sept 13: Package delivered to Chicago Lockbox

Sept 15: NOAs via text

Sept 16: Checks cashed 

Sept 20: NOAs in the mail

Sept 24: Biometrics scheduled 

Oct 4: Biometrics appointment notice in the mail. 

Oct 22: Biometrics appointment 

Oct 23: case is being actively reviewed by USCIS (I-485, I-765)

Oct 27: Request for initial evidence 

Thanks!

And sorry I meant the "Timeline" function on Visa Journey. For example if you click on my name and scroll to the bottom there's a link that says "Timeline". Not sure if you know about that?

10 minutes ago, JandK24 said:

USCIS sent me RFIE for i-864, even though I already submitted it and it's correct. In my online account, they didn't upload the i-864 form, only the supporting document. Maybe they lost it? So I talked to a lawyer, she said it's mostly USCIS mistake and told me to resubmit the i-864 form again with same supporting tax documents but with updated pay stubs. Little bit annoyed but whatever, gonna resubmit it again soon.

Hey! I remember we have similar timelines. My PD is 9/15. My case number is IOE0913498XXX, but no action for nearby cases. Wondering what yours is after 134ABXXX, ie A and B? 

Also it'd be great if you can add your info to the timeline function so it helps others know where your field office is 😅

3 hours ago, AndrAlb said:

Just a general update: I randomly checked case tracker and around my number I saw a bunch of issued Requests for Initial Evidence dated 27 Oct.  IOE0913469481

Thanks for that info! Is your case IOE091348xxxx or 1347xxxx? Mine is 1349, so I can hopefully expect something soon. Did you see if any changed to "interview ready to be scheduled" or just RFEs?

15 minutes ago, sandiegodan2020 said:

Thank you. I read people get random RFEs even for items already submitted that perhaps the officer can't find or it was not properly scanned.

 

Yes that is true. It's a possiblity. Also I-765 and I-131 are taking 6-12 months because of COVID delays. You can find the case processing times on the USCIS website.

30 minutes ago, AndrAlb said:

Done with my biometrics just now! Case status changed literally 2 minutes after for EAD and AOS to Case is actively reviewed by USCIS. 
My appointment was at 11 and I was out by 11.15 AM. 
good luck y’all and don’t stress  

Nice! Mine is on Monday morning. 

I've heard from others with IOE receipts that they were stuck on "being actively reviewed" for 20-60 days until it went to "interview is ready to be scheduled."

1 hour ago, gamma50g said:

Just checked with Emma.  No receipt in the system yet for filing on September 24. No checks encashed till now.

Could be that it's being returned to you for some reason. I hear that takes 1-3 weeks..

4 hours ago, kline19 said:

So I went into May2021 thread and there people were found waiting for their NOAs for over a month!

 

My (conspiracy) theory is that USCIS might have tried to aggressively process the NOA's for the last weeks of September2021 in order to score better numbers for the cases-processed for the fiscal year that ended on September 30th. 

 

Another fantastic thing I have noticed is that USCIS I864-EZ form has expired on 09/30/2021 however their website has no updated form on their site. 

 

I've seen similar conspiracy theories but about overall case processing times. They are, I think, measured on how fast they complete a case fully (to acceptance/denial), not just receipt. So having cases that are unprocessed by the end of the FY might actually be counterintuitive. 
 

Now for some data-driven theories... I'm part of a WhatsApp group for summer filers and they have all more or less gotten their NOAs within 1-2 weeks since June of this year. So looks like the Lockbox has just gotten through it's backlog.

And now for another (maybe more likely IMO) conspiracy theory...On Reddit I saw a post where someone said USCIS was processing 2021 cases faster (from receipt to acceptance/denial) because it brought down their overall average case processing times. It could also be that from June/July they started moving most concurrent AOS cases to their online ELIS system and issuing IOE receipt notices, so it's easier to track and process case files. Plus more accountability for individual officers like how fast they take to go through a given case, and not misplacing any cases.

Also just because the form "expires" doesn't make it unusable. It just means USCIS needs to issue a new form from the OMB. The only thing to keep note of is if they issue a form with a new expiry date, like the I-693, and say "we won't accept old forms after XYZ dates." But that hasn't happened with the I-864-EZ AFAIK.

15 hours ago, Skyman said:

The approval notice is already under Documents tab on her USCIS account and unlike all the other NOAs we received, this one does NOT say that "This is not a visa and does not confer any status.......blah blah blah"

 

So maybe this is enough for her to get a SSAN and maybe do her Texas driving test?

Congratulations! It should be enough but the official approval notice is printed on bond paper, so depends on how discerning your SSA officer is. Worth a try. 

I saw that your interviewing officer looked at all of your documents on a tablet. I'm guessing you also have IOE receipt numbers?