Employment Based Greencard

I had my EB2 interview in Cleveland in August. Due to visa retrogression officer didn’t approve the application. Still waiting for any news from USCIS. Is there anyone else with the same experience waiting so long after interview in August.

This forum has been really helpful during my journey...Here is my experience.

EB2 (Emp. based: Advanced degree).
My country is Current.
Residence: North Carolina
Service center: TSC (texas)
PD: 06/30/2017
LC approved and green light to file I-140: 10/06/2017
Concurrent filing: 01/12/2018 (if I had opted for filing I-485 myself, I could have had app go out of the door much faster, but the sponsoring company's lawyer, filed based on his availability
Receipt received dated: 01/22/2018
EAD+AP combo received: 04/02/2018
Case transferred to NBC: 04/26/2018
Biometrics done: 05/09/2018
Medicals notice (I didn't submit I693 with my I-485): 05/18/2018
Case transferred to Local office: 08/10/2018
Interview notice received: 10/12/2018
Interview done: 11/15/2018

How interview went:

Interview scheduled at 1:40 pm EST (6130 Tyvola). Arrived 1:10 pm. Went thru security and got ticket and set (all 10 min)...You will need government issued ID and Interview notice to get to this point.
Brought interpreter for my wife as Interview notice mentioned "If you don't speak English, bring YOUR interpreter"...Some states may offer their own interpreter, so please check you letter and your field office...Also, make sure to follow the rules about interpreter.
Immigration officer (IO) called our number at 2:20pm, IO got details of Interpreter. Oathed to tell only truth. Interview started: 2:30pm:
1) Confirm your DOB and ....basically all from I_485.
2) IO asked recent Employment letter (make sure it is recent), Paystubs for last 2-3 months (copies fine, as IO only needs copies)
3) Went thru I-485 (drug, trafficking, ....) one by one
4) IO did entries into system, looked thru quickly whole application (her copy): about 15 min
5) IO said no issues with my application and we should receive cards in 2-3 wks.
6) I was surprised she didn't ask Medicals (which I brought in sealed envelop), so I offered that to her.
7) She thanked and we thanked. Left the building at 3:10 pm

Note1:
Unless you have complicated situation, you do NOT need a lawyer at the interview (1st, they are very expensive (about 2 500 USD to attend) and 2nd they can't anwer for you, basically they can't do almost anything).

Note2: I understand this journey is very frustrating, full of tensions and anxiety but at the end of the day, you can't do anyting but wait, so please don't let this thing spoil your mood or change you in any way...Act as if you would not care outcome.

Would be happy to address your questions (if any)...Sorry about thing long post. Good luck!

Hi All,
I had my GC interview on 11/07. Everything went fine and smooth. Questions about my work and the yes/no questions. At the end officer took copies of my passport and EAD/AP card and handed me the letter for review. He said everything is fine we will let you know if we need anything else from you. Anyone had a similar experience? Just curious how long it took to get approved.

Thank You,

I had my interview in Sept 18 then case was transferred to NBC due to the retrogression.

Today my case status updated to "New Card is being Produced"

So I assume the retrogression is now over.

This forum has been a of great help throughout my journey.

All the best everyone.

Hi All

I am one of the members of this forum. Thanks so much for sharing. This forum helps a lot ! I want to update me case.

EB3- ROW

PD: March 2017

I-140 premium processing : Sept 2017

I 485/765/131 : Oct 2017

Finger print : Nov 2017

I-140 approved : Jan 2017

Combo card received: Jan 2017

Interview scheduled : Mid Sept 2018

Notice from USCIS local office to renew medical insurance: 2nd week Oct 2018

Medical exam done and submitted: 3rd week Oct 2018

Status changed on the website: "card is being produced" , then " case was approved" :4 th week Oct 2018

Status changed to " card was mailed" : 1st of Nov 2018

Card received in the mail : 2 week of Nov 2018.

Interview: IO was friendly, asked the reasons we applied for the case, what was my and my wife jobs before and whether I could take hardship job, whether our children love america, asked for employment letter from the company & payslips, went thru' I 485 questions ( randomly, not all the question). The total process took about 45 minutes.

At the end of the interview the IO said that our application would be held at the local office and wait for the visa retrogression and then she issued a letter said our case is held for further review.

Hope this helps you guys for reference while waiting for your cases to be completed.

All the best,

Anyone who was interviewed in Aug or Sept and still waiting for approval of GC? Due to retrogression, case has been transferred to TSC for faster processing after the interview.

Any idea if TSC has started processing any normal case or any backlog retrogression cases?

Has Anyone from here who has the same experience?
We had our biometrics April ,2018
since then nothing,even EAD .,was just wondering if whats the problem,online says
Finger print completed.
Im lossing hope,we've been waiting for almost 7 months,had to submit SR but still waiting for their feedback .
Thank you!

Process is finally over for us with a successful outcome.

Appreciate everyone's time and dedication for sharing their experiences and it helped me greatly. I wanted to return the favor.

--- Timeline ---
Started with TN visa (Canada)
4/2017: TN renewal for 3yrs (long enough period to go through GC process since Canada is historically current)
3/2017: PERM filed (priority date, category EB2 ROW, Texas service center)
5/2017: PERM RFE
6/2017: PERM RFE Response
11/2017: PERM Certified
1/2018: Medical exam
2/2018: I-140 filed (w/ premium processing) & concurrently filed I-485, I-765, I-131
3/2018: I-140 RFE1
4/2018: I-140 RFE1 Response
4/2018: I-485 biometrics appointment (photo, fingerprints)
4/2018: Received EAD/AP cards
4/2018: I-140 RFE2
6/2018: I-140 RFE2 Response
7/2018: I-140 approved
7/2018: I-485 transferred to local office
9/2018: I-485 interview ready to be scheduled
10/2018: I-485 interview scheduled & received notice in mail
11/6/2018: I-485 interview held in Charlotte
11/6/2018: Card being produced
11/7/2018: Case approved
11/9/2018: Cards mailed
11/14/2018: Wife's green card in-hand
11/16/2018: My green card in-hand (USPS delay with my green card; needed to call local post office to have them look into it)

--- Documentation (excessive, but I felt prepared) ---
- Entire family: Birth certificates, passports (old/current), last 4 years tax transcripts (irs webiste) & w2's, two months of paystubs, SSNs, Driver's licenses, EAD/AP cards, Copy of medical exam reports, Family photos, Marriage certificate, join assets (401K & life insurance beneficiary documentation, deed to home, home/car insurance), all I-797's, I-94 record (CBP site), travel history (CBP site)
- My work-related items: Current employer EVL, diplomas & school transcripts, resume, certifications
- I also created a spreadsheet list of all of our in's and out's and where the passport stamps were and the reason for the travel. Wanted to be able to show legal presence in US while working here

--- Interview experience ---
- Dressed up as if gong for interview (suit & tie, although most people in wait room wore business casual), wife wore nice dress, we wore our wedding rings
- Showed up 30mins prior to interview time
- Airport-style security, checked our interview notices before letting us through security.
- Checked-in to the first waiting area and provided interview notices. Because we were early, they said to sit and they'd call us 10 mins prior to interview time.
- Got called and gave us a number on our interview notices, and was told to go to a different waiting room for appointments.
- Several IOs called others in the room. Then we got called.
- Our IO was nice. Explained the process, took our pictures and fingerprints, and explained the case was already reviewed ahead of time.
- Stood up to take oath to tell truth
- Asked me biographical questions from the I-485, name, DOB, last entry into US, parents names, wedding date, where I work, when I started. The only thing they asked for was birth certificate as that was missing from my file. Asked my wife similar biographical info. Asked all yes/no questions from I-485 together, and we answered together.
- He gave us sheet since saying under review. He explained that he'll approve case, but always marks as under review in case anything comes up.
- Left office, and glad it was over. Been preparing for a long time to make sure this last step went smooth.

Long post, but wanted to give the details that I was looking for and interested in when I visited this forum multiple times a day.

Would be happy to answer questions. Hang in there, and GOOD LUCK!!

To all experienced immigrants, have a question. My I-485 status changed interview scheduled, but my EAD and travel auth forms are still in process and no movement from the time they are submitted in June. if i do have an interview before I-131 and I-765 is processed, what will be the impact?

Anyone who interviewed in August 2018 that is still waiting for their GC?