NinoniAndBoosBoos

EAD and AP are DESIGNED to be approved prior to AOS... I feel this might just be a wording/explanation issue because I admit the way you're explaining it in your OP (with the term "get") is a little confusing to me as well... especially where you say you've read "many posts" where people haven't received AOS (their GC) and yet HAVE received EAD/AP... That implies (to me) you've read about a lot of AOS denials...

When you received the RFE it put everything on hold. Continuing to call doesn't help anything but you CAN make a service request if they are out of normal processing times.

If you want to keep calling that is up to you, at least that way you'll feel like you're doing something (in a process where you feel out of control). I would probably wait till mid-May though because you might be able to make a service request then.

I apologize for the confusion, but I am so confused. I haven't read about AOS denials, only that many have received their EAD/AP cards, prior to their Greencards.

I will wait to mid May and hopefully get some kind of news, and if no news, then I will start the birage of calls!!! hopefully it wont get to that, I pray.

IM not sure if im understanding correctly but... EAD and AP are to be issued to the person BEFORE the AOS is approved. Thats the whole point of filing for an EAD and AP. They are approved and issued before AOS so that you can travel and work before your green card is approved and arrives. The EAD and AP is void when your green card is approved and the green card takes over the duty as your proof / permission to work and travel.

thanks Inky...so I did read and understand correctly, that the EAD and AP are issued before th AOS is approved. I am very confused why the officer said that is impossible. Gosh, so many conflicting pieces of information. I guess if I need to travel I can arrange an appointment. I will wait till mid May and see if there is any word. Thanks again.

The same day i was ready to contact my congressman i got de RFE email from USCIS. Finally they worked with my application and my guess is it was forgotten in a desk just accumulating dust. They request an update for the vaccines,..... my case was in USCIS for 8 months!!!! of course it was time for second shots..

too funny, yes after 8 months time for new shots..gosh I hope I am not kept waiting this long..but so happy you got some news...

I talked to an officer (1st tier) who said it is impossible to get the AP/EAD without the AOS, IS THIS TRUE, I have read many posts and heard of many cases where VJ'ers received their EAD/AP cards but no AOS.

I had my biometrics back in January, and have not received anything. February 17 they received the request for Evidence and it is being processed at the National Benefits Centre in Lee's Summit, MO.

Do I still call the only number that is on all the documents: 1-800-375-5283 for any updates as my online status updates is proving futile, or do I just wait until Mid May, as the officer indicated it is still withing the normal processing times. or do I be proactive and CALL again.

My EAD and AP were processed back in December but looks like these are on hold until AOS if processed and approved, so is this still within normal processing times?

Thanks everyone for your comments, suggestions and advice.

is your case transferred to California service center? Mine did. So I would only be able to give advice for cases like mine.

When you call USCIS, if your case has not been more than 180 days after transferred, USCIS basically won't give you too much information at that stage.

If your case has been more than 180 days, call the USCIS, choose 'report problems to your case' and then you got connected to a 1st tier people, who basically gives no helpful information. Politely tell them your case has been more than 180 days and explicitly ask them to transfer you to a 2nd tier officer. They will do that. (I called twice, both of the 1st tier immediately transferred me onto the higher level office). Then at least you could get to check with them and make sure that all of your information (address/name/DOB is correct).

This is what I would say for a start to track your case. (i never called NVC...I am not sure why you call NVC for AOS??)

Good luck!

thank you, I only called the customer service center....but my AOS USCIS status says it is being by the NVC..I guess I will call the only number I have and ask if it has been transfered somewhere else.

Good luck to you too...all the best

You mean USCIS costumer service right? Call them, if you don't get any news... call and call again.

I just got an email from Customer Service Division/CSC......

Thank you for your inquiry. Your case was already pulled and is currently being adjudicated. You should receive a notice of action* within 45 days.

Please tell me that is good news!!!!!

NICE, yes good news ..OPPS SORRY ALREADY POSTED

Coconuts, I came here to ask how it was all going with your medical and stuff...and realized it wasn't until next month. They can't get you in any sooner??? That really sucks

Pocheros, that is awesome about the interview! Did your husband get the job???

I got my SSN all fixed up, but I still don't know if they have my middle name as part of my first name (which it shouldn't be!). I guess when I get a job I can explain the situation, and tell them if it doesn't go through as my middle name, to try it as a second first name? I dunno how that all works (One of the few HR duties I never did at my old job...my boss handled that). When my husband filed his extension for taxes, he put it in as my middle name and it accepted it (denied it the first time when he put it as my maiden name, but I think my card was fixed at that point and in the mail). I am glad this all got sorted out before my trip back to Canada next week. I didn't want to worry about anything here, as I have our larger Canadian wedding ceremony to deal with!

I was just reading your AOS timeline...so wonderful you didn't have an inteview. Still waiting to hear anything on mine, I think I will call USCIS to see where mine is being processed. It says the National VISA Centre. Confused why some VJ'ers rec'd EAD/AP without the AOS. But good news, processed our own Federal and State taxes and cheques arrived for both. Now if USCIS can process the AOS as quickly

Yeah, seems like they lost my medical. Great. I've found a civil surgeon around here, have to call and see what she charges. Hopefully it's nothing outrageous.

how horrible, such incompetencies, and to pay for it on top of it..sorry

You mean USCIS costumer service right? Call them, if you don't get any news... call and call again.

I just got an email from Customer Service Division/CSC......

Thank you for your inquiry. Your case was already pulled and is currently being adjudicated. You should receive a notice of action* within 45 days.

Please tell me that is good news!!!!!

of course that is good news, any news is good news....

hi, i am almost on the same boat as you are. We submitted the AOS package September 6 and it was transferred to California service center on 26 Sep. I got the bio, and EAD/AP fairly soon in Nov. But I have heard nothing back from the CSC.

I called USCIS and talked to a 2nd tier officer, she asked me to call them back the next day and they will check the case for me (I called around 4:30 pm the first day). So I called the next day (in the afternoon). Another person talked to me and checked with me all my address and personal information of the case. Then he just said that all the address and other information was correct, it is still under normal processing procedure.

So basically not too much help.

I just mailed the congressman of my state. (I did this when I was applying for K1 and it REALLY helped! I waited for a long time as well--longer than normal processing time.) I hope that it will work again this time. --I waited for over 7 months now.

Good luck to us all!

gosh, so many people have received their EAD/AP already, I too have had my biometrics back in January but have received nothing,nothing with no status updates, nothing ...DO I CALL the NVC? Advice please?

Doesn't sound right. You should have been able to change your name on SS card based solely on marriage certificate.

apparently nope, I was quite upset, because the first time I went to the SSecurity office, the person did not say anything about an expiration date, if I had known I would have been there well before the expiration. Anyway the second time I went to update it with married name, gentleman was adament about it, I told him I was not adviced to come in prior to the date on my 1-90 and he said he can't do anything without the AE card..

You are right about confusing processing times, some months ago it said 6 months, now they changed to 60 months!!!!!

My case status says Initial review, and case was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office, but it has been like that since transfered to CSC. Never got a RFE or changed addres.

I suggest you call and ask for your call to be escalated, the front-call person usually reads from a script, but when it is escalated, make sure you get the officials number and they may be able to give you better details. I had to do this with our 1-129f fiancee application, I am not sure if this is the best approach for AOS, hopefully some others VJ'ers will be able to offer advice..

Good luck

Hi just some advice re: Federal and State Income Tax: make sure you use the name on your SSN card, not your married name if your SSN card has not been updated. I was not able to change my SSN to my married name,as my I-94a (departure Record) expired on Dec. 5, 2011, so I am not allowed to change it without my I-765 (employment authorization). I did our taxes on line and IRS rejected the first one, SSN name discrepency, but it has been accepted now.

I wish I know what the expiration date on the I-94 meant and how it effects things.

Hopefully I will hear something soon on our AOS, as apparently this effects the I-765 & I-131.

Hi guys... We sent our AOS on August 2011, everything went smooth and fast until case was transfered to CSC. Since I didn't plan to travel or work right away we didn't aplyed for EAD o AP .

Called USCIS so many times until they put in Service Request on March 1st, got this email regarding the SR:

Thank you for your inquiry. We will pull your file for review. You should receive a follow up notice within 30 days indicating the result of our review.

35 days later and no news called uscis again and was transferred to a Immigration officer who said there was nothing wrong with my case bla, bla, bla.... got the same wait answer.

Called again yesterday and they gave me an email to contact CSC since i didn't get any response to my SR so far... Well mi question is: Will this actually help to get some news ?.

I am considering to involve my congressman but thought i might try this last resource first.

Thanx you all !!!

my goodness that is a really long time...gosh I hope you get some news soon....I have been waiting close to 3 months on my AOS (1-485) from the date I had to send an RFE, and almost 4 months on my -I765 and

1-131. It is confusing checking processing times for AOS on the USCIS website: it says 60months on one list and Feb 2007 on another...that is 5 years either way

I do that sometimes

too funny.....I remember being a kid and once in a blue moom we would slice up our hotdoggies and fry them up with ketchup..oh the gourmet life

I still don't have the desire for pickles. My big pregnancy craving is cheese! Cheese strings, cheese and crackers, anything with cheese in it really... Hence the increased desire for mac & cheese.

Speaking of cereal, how about Shreddies? I really miss those. With a light sprinkle of sugar... yumm.

yummmy indeed, now I see your desire for Mac & Cheese...hope you find some so the little bundle knows what we are talking about...

ok, how about Quaker Harvest Crunch???? miss it so..can anyone suggest similiar products or if anyone has seen this item in any american retail stores?

Yes to all of that! I almost forgot about alphagettis...

Man you guys sure know how to make a pregnant lady hungry

congrats!!!!!! so how about pickles and ice-cream cravings with your MAC & CHEESE?

Oh Kraft M&C is just perfectly fine here. I love making mine with chopped up raw Habanero peppers in it. Actually thinking of that, maybe that's what I'll have for dinner tonight. And I can't remember what we used as kids, but maybe we did use forks up in Canada, I have always used a spoon here because you can get all the cheese better.

Now one thing I've noticed is that people always have weird things they add to their Mac and Cheese. I knew a lot of people up in Canada that would put ketchup with theirs. GROSS!!!!. I knew another guy that would mix it with sauerkraut (which doesn't sound all the bad actually). Others used bacon bits and so on and I just use my Habeneros.

And are they insane for charging $15 shipping for a box of Canada version Mac and Cheese off that Canadian Favorites site? I was tempted to see if there really was a difference between the two, eventhough they rip you off with $2.98 a box (compared to $1) here, they have to add a overpriced shipping charge on top of it? Looks like my taste test won't be happening. But I am curious as I don't recall how Canada's version tasted as it's been too long...

how about those that cut up hot dogs to their M & C? too funny....

Good thread! I'm now making my pre-packing shopping list... 1 case of KD, half dozen bottles of Cheez Whiz, and 1 case of all-dressed chips. We may have to leave some clothes behind if there's not enough room in the U-Haul! ;-)

Don't forget your Smarties tooo, just want to wish you all the best with your upcoming K1 Interview.

The American mac and cheese says to mix the cheese powder with milk and then add it to the cooked macaroni. The Canadian one says to add the cheese packet to the macaroni, then add butter and a bit of milk so that the sauce is also made right in the mac and cheese. The Canadian version of the sauce is thicker and creamier while the American version is more watery.

so do you add the peanut butter first than the jam, or spread it on both side and than slap it together..still all turns out the same...except of course the quality of the product can make all the difference...still wont buy the orange Kraft one..yuck!!!!! too much food colouring here....

Hi there, welcome, I have only be here 6 months and still getting use to so many changes but so wonderful so far....I have family in Alberta and would certainly like to catch up about all things "C OWTOWN"

thanks everyone...some great ideas for sure...making my own, trader Joes, Amazon and going back are all great ideas,,,good to see so many others are missing their White Cheddar Mac & Cheese..good to chat with my fellow canucks...

The Kraft Mac N Cheese here tastes horrible Besides ordering it online you could try making it at home. Costco has a nice selection of cheese- we just picked up a big hunk of delicious white cheddar the other day for only 8 bucks.

Has anyone ever found Pilsbury Pizza Pops here? The only thing I've found is some knock off ones (can't remember the brand name, it startes with a T) and it was positively horrendous D: My husband had no idea what I was talking about when I said I wanted pizza pops and thought I was nuts because I was so dejected when I couldn't find them, lol. I've looked EVERYWHERE.

And now for a side by side comparison:

Canadians use forks, and Americans use spoons?

oh my goodness, TOO HILARIOUS!!! forks and spoons,,,wow amazing...

silly topic I know, but I really miss White Cheddar Kraft Dinner, and still waiting on my AP/AOS/EA so can't travel over and get any....one of many things I miss...