noobjections

32 minutes ago, is930 said:

Hi all, my boyfriend submitted all his documents in October, NOS received Nov 1. We contacted the Congressperson in January and they got a general response saying it can take up to 16 weeks. Now it has been 5 months and we got no response. His case is relatively straightforward, he is a physician and was a research fellow without any government scholarship. Our friends with similar cases got favorable recommendations. Anyone with a similar situation of this taking so long?

I heard that waivers for those that had government assistance take longer to get approved. 
 

in any case mine took 11 months to be approved and this was in 2021 - no government sponsored J1 though. So you might be in for a wait 😕

11 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

Were you adjusting from a K-1? 

No, F1. 

Just wanted to say that I got approved on the 22nd of March! My journey is over, just waiting on my card now.

I wish y’all the best and hope you all receive your GC’s soon! 

Hi guys, my I-130 got approved today. I didn’t send my medicals initially so just waiting for either an RFE or interview notice. Just wanted to give an update! 
 

My PD is 8.10.2022

40 minutes ago, SandyR said:

For k-1 you must do a medical in local country.  But seems odd they wouldn’t give a copy of exam.  Ya, might have to repeat. 

Sorry about that. But at least you know it’ll be done correctly this time and you can get approved soon! 

12 minutes ago, SandyR said:

It’s from india.  They don’t follow rules very well.  We have asked 3 times.  Will call uscis and ask for guidance. 

I’m unfamiliar with K-1 rules but are you allowed to do your medicals outside the country? 
 

Within the US you’re entitled to a copy and the sealed document to send to USCIS. You might have to do it again within the US. 

32 minutes ago, SandyR said:

We received a notice asking for our I – 693. We did not get a copy of that after the medical because they said we were not allowed to have a copy. What is everyone doing about the form? I’m assuming we have to pay for another medical?

What’s your PD? 
 

You need to call the doctors office, you’re supposed to get a sealed copy and your own personal one (not sealed). If you have your receipt go back and tell them you need your sealed copy, I’ve never heard of this happen as all civil surgeons are very knowledgeable about the USCIS requirements. 

1 minute ago, RonAnn said:

I think its just were you live like Cali has one of the longest waits some people in cali though have been lucky

 

ANY NEWS FROM ANYONE ELSE LOL???

Mine is 0917 and a friend applied a month after me and just got approved. They are definitely not going in order of apps received. 

15 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Random question, but does anyone know how switching addresses / switching back affects processing times? I will be moving for work out in Texas this summer, with my wife and pup obviously moving with, so we'd have to update the address with USCIS. But after a couple months, we'll be back in DC, where we are now. Granted, the times between Texas and DC are pretty similar, but what happens to our position in the 'queue'? Does the application transfer, or stay at the filling location? TIA, it's an IOE case number but as I understand that's everyone's nowadays.

 

And continual well-wishes and prayers to all the August filers in here.

I just moved. You’re legally required to send a change of address (AR-11 form) within 10 days of moving. 
 

my lawyer said my new field office has a less wait and processing time so it *might* work out in my favor, but no guarantees. 

1 hour ago, BreakTheDistance said:

Hey guys, just got my EAD card but I believe it seems to be a combo? I’ve attached a pic of the card also

 

am I right into thinking I can book a ticket back to London for a week and still be allowed back into the USA? Has anyone ever known someone to have issues regarding re-entry with the combo card?

 

Thank you

Congrats! Technically you’re ok to travel with AP but it’s still a risk, since it’s up to CBP to let you in at their discretion. 
 

if you haven’t gotten into any trouble or you haven’t illegally stayed you should be ok. 

3 minutes ago, BreakTheDistance said:

Hmm the problem is I don't have my EAD yet and was wondering if I could some how bypass bringing this in with the other documents you stated

Hmmm, that might be a problem. But go with your i485 NOA and other documents i mentioned and hopefully they accept it. 
 

the website is a little confusing! 

48 minutes ago, BreakTheDistance said:

Hey everyone,

 

Has anyone successfully applied for their driving license? Wondering what documents you provided? My I-94 has expired but would showing NOA1 for AOS be sufficient along with foreign passport, bank statement letter and social security letter?

 

I live in Connecticut if that helps!

 

Thank you to all

I live in GA, and was just there yesterday. 
 

Check your specific states DMV requirements but what I took was: 

Social security card 

EAD 

My i485 notice of action 

2 pieces of mail for address verification

Passport 

Bank Statement for address verification 

hope this helps! 

46 minutes ago, BreakTheDistance said:

Hey guys, how do you actually go about expediting your EAD? You speak to Emma and say what exactly? 'I'd like to expedite my EAD and the reason being 'financial loss to a company'

 

And that's it or do you have to explain further? 

 

Thank you

Well yeah, that’s one of the criteria to expedite. But you need to be a bit more specific when you’re talking to an agent on phone or through Emma.

In my experience what you say right then is the most important, and determines whether your expedite gets approved or not. 
 

Make sure you have some kind of proof, just in case they ask. Good luck! 

24 minutes ago, Qui said:

Hi! Lurker in this thread - I’m about to submit our AOS tomorrow (I still don’t see any September 2022 AOS filers thread so I’m here). Thanks for this! May I please know what State you’re in and the office that processed your EAD?

Welcome! 
 

I am in GA but my field office (where I had my biometrics) is in Jacksonville, FL.

The service center that processed my EAD is National Benefits Center (NBC).

On 9/27/2022 at 6:06 AM, EatBulaga said:

Congratulations!

What was the reason you gave for the expedite?

Thank you! 
 

Financial loss to a company. They were my previous employers and wanted me back ASAP. 

On 9/27/2022 at 11:09 AM, BreakTheDistance said:

That's great!! Can you share the reason for your expedite? 

Financial loss to a company. They wanted me to come back ASAP as I had worked for them before. 

On 9/27/2022 at 11:39 AM, Sarge2155 said:

Very good now get to work! 😄

Thank you! Waiting for it in the mail and to get through hurricane ian first 😂 

Hi all, 

Just coming to you with an update. On 9/15 I requested an expedite through Emma. They told me I’d hear back in 7 days. 
 

On 9/24 I got an email saying they are reviewing my expedite request. Today 9/26 MY EAD GOT APPROVED!!! They did not ask for evidence. 
 

Obviously super stoked and I can’t believe it, I was desperate and needed to try. Happy to answer any questions! 

11 minutes ago, GCG said:

My appointment was scheduled for 2pm. I arrived early at 1:30, the lady officer at the door said it was pretty empty and I could go in - I was out of the door in less than 10 minutes. 

They couldn't fix the typo on my last name but she made a note about it. Overall really good and trying to calm down people, nothing like some bad reviews I read. I checked my account outside, and it had changed to "actively being processed"

 

I received the "classic" 3 texts and emails today at about 3:30am Pacific, probably an automated system - just the same status change of when I left the building "case is actively being processed" for AOS and EAD, AP still only shows case received. 

 

Not sure what happens next since it seems to be a mix of people just waiting, others that received EAD approval a few days after bios and others right away. Most cases here are AOS post K1, so I'm reluctant to make any assumption based on that. I don't know, just wait and see, I guess! 

Good luck to us all! 

Sounds exactly like how mine went! I was in and out in 15 minutes, my cases also got updated to actively being reviewed immediately after.

I know what you mean, I was on edge right after thinking I’d get the EAD the same day but I guess not 😅 good luck to us all for real! 

8 hours ago, GCG said:

 

Welcome to the family @noobjections 

I'm also AOS through USC marriage, not K1.  PD 08/08/22, AOS filed on 8/24/22, Seattle WA office. 

 

Just got back from my bios appointment today. Status of AOS and EAD changed to "being actively reviewed". Now back to the waiting game! 

 

Thank you for the warm welcome! How did your appointment go? Let us know if you get instant approval! 

1 hour ago, slavaskii said:

Welcome to the family! We have exactly the same PD and Biometrics) Also no EAD card. But while all our correspondences come from NBC, my assumption is that the local FOs are the ones processing our EAD/AP; hence, a bigger area (such as DC/NY/LA) is likely to take longer than a FO in, say, the Midwest.

 

If they're really prioritizing newer applications first (as seems to be the case), perhaps ours will be sooner than we expect? But in any case, for us K1s here, actually being with our spouses now makes the waiting infinitely easier, lol

Amazing! Let’s keep each other informed 😊 

Absolutely and you saying that made me realize I was taking all this for granted - at least we get to be with our spouses while we wait. I can’t imagine how agonizing the wait is for people doing consular processing. My FO is Jacksonville, FL and I imagine they are very very very busy! 

Hi everyone I’m new to this thread! 
 

seems like  a lot of you are K-1! I am doing AOS by marriage to US citizen. 
 

PD: 8/10/22

Biometrics: 9/8/22 

Until today it says case is being actively reviewed! Really disheartening seeing people get EAD’s right after biometrics but I’m hanging in there! Congrats to all those that have received theirs so far. 

I’m not a July filer but also not far off. 
 

PD: 8/10/22

Biometrics done: 9/8/22

until now all cases say “actively reviewed”. Was really hoping I’d get mine the same day as biometrics 😞 seen so many people apply after me and already have their EAD in hand. 

59 minutes ago, madovi said:

 

this is my timeline. I sent my documents in November 15th. When did you receive the waiver after the Final Recommendation ? How long did it take?

Took about 5 days to get it in the mail. 

28 minutes ago, CAF48 said:

Sorry @noobjections. I just saw your post. I took around 2 weeks, right? Is there a way to check the USCIS status? Thank you! 

I received FR on June 29th from DOS and then got approved by USCIS on July 13th. 

After you get FR from DOS and they transfer it to USCIS, you get a receipt number to check the status online.  Mine was sent to my lawyer so I didn’t personally have it. She was checking everyday and finally told me it was granted. I received the waiver/receipt notice in the mail on July 22nd. 

37 minutes ago, Johnyyy said:

Congratulations... how did you get your receipt number??... and how your lawyer know about the approval if lawyer doesn't have your receipt number??

My lawyer received my receipt number after USCIS received the case. She was checking for me and finally told me that it was approved, so I didn’t get a chance to look at my USCIS case status before she did. 

On 6/17/2022 at 8:04 PM, noobjections said:

Hey everyone, I’m new here but have been following all of your stories for a few months now. 
 

Here is my timeline so far: 

 

Documents sent - 11/19/21

NOS sent to DOS - 12/8/21 

Documents received on website - 1/4/22 [saying documents were received 03/28/22] 

Sent email to both my embassy and DOS to make sure they got the NOS - 4/28/22 [my embassy resent + DOS said they will update in the coming weeks] 

Checked today and saw NOS was uploaded to website - 06/17/22 

 

What are my next steps? How much longer do you think I have? 
 

thank you and good luck to all of you! 

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share an update. 
 

I received favorable recommendation on June 29th.

My lawyer informed me that USCIS approved the waiver July 15th. 

Currently waiting for it in the mail! Good luck everyone, took about 8 months from start to finish for me. Now to file AOS! Wish me luck.