Employment Based Greencard

Country - Sri Lanka
Biometric Appointment - April 9th 2018
AP - June 9 th
Interview - September 5th in San Francisco

Officer told me about Visa retrogression and they were out of visas at the time of appointment.

Still waiting for my card.

Hello all, i have been a silent reader of this forum and its time to give back.

August 2016- approved i140 for EB3 ROW
waited for almost 2 years for priority date to be current

May 25, 2018- i485 filed with ead and ap
June 11, 2018- fingerprint appointment
August 11, 2018- received my combo card
August 18, 2018- interview appointment letter for september 22, 2018
September 22, 2018- interview completed, everything went well, just yes or nor questions but the IO needed updated birth certificate from Philippine statistics authority rather than from national statistics office and also, an updated medical exam report as the civil surgeon forgot to put his details on one part.
October 4, 2018- mailed RFE to Newark Field Office
October 22, 2018- New Card Being Produced status on USCIS website.

Still waiting for the physical card to arrive.

Good luck to all interviewees and God Bless you all. Keep your patience calm, you’ll get stressed once in a while or most of the time but always think positive. As long as you know you followed the correct procedure and everything is legal, there’s less to worry about. Always pray hard and keep your heart intact.

Interviewed mid August, same story - can't adjudicate status because of retrogression. Lawyers are sure my priority date was current at the time of the interview.

Current status is "interview completed and your case must be reviewed". Who known where is my case and who and when is going to work on it to adjudicate the status.

SUCCESS!

I completed my interview in August, and was told although everything looks good, due to retrogression, I will have to wait for the visa numbers to be available. Today I received a "Interview cancelled and notice ordered" update. Anyone else in the same boat? or know what this means?

Hello,

My I485 got approved a week back. However, my spouse I-485 status still shows " Interview scheduled". Do you have any idea why they are delaying the process only for the dependent case? What might be the reason? No any traffic violation nor any similar cases. The only possible case may be because of involvement in an organization at the University which organizes fun events for graduate students??. Do you think might be the reason for further review? But status didn't change after interview scheduled.

If it's the case of an additional review, do you have any idea about how long that process might take?

Thank you.

Folks,
just checking in again...... any July or Aug .2017 filers EB3 (ROW) still waiting in i140 approvals ? Thanks.

Completed our Interviews on 10/15/2018. Below are all the dates and extensive interview details for benefits of those need the information to better prepare.

EB3 India | Priority Date: April 2008 | Non-concurrent filling | Husband - Primary, Wife - Derivative

1 I-140 Approved -----> Feb-09
2 I-485, I-765, I-131, I-485 J - Application Sent -----> 5/17/2018
3 I-485, I-765, I-131, I-485 J - Application Received at NBC (Stayed there throughout until the Interview) -----> 5/21/2018
4 I-485, I-765, I-131 - Application Receipt Notice Date -----> 5/25/2018
5 I-485, I-765, I-131 - Application Receipts Received at Home Address -----> 6/1/2018
6 I-485 J Receipt Notice Date -----> 6/28/2018
7 I-485 J Receipt Received Date at Home Address -----> 7/2/2018
8 Biometrics Appointment Received -----> 5/31/2018
9 Biometrics Appointment Completed -----> 6/19/2018
10 Fingerprint Review Completed -----> 6/26/2018
11 I-765 New Card Being Produced -----> 8/24/2018
12 I-765 & I-131 Case Was Approved -----> 8/27/2018
13 I-765 Card Was Mailed -----> 9/5/2018
14 Combo Card Received -----> 9/7/2018
15 I-485 - Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled For An Interview -----> 8/31/2018
16 I-485 - Interview Was Scheduled -----> 9/7/2018
17 I-485 - Interview Letter Received - Interview Date: 10/15/2018 -----> 9/14/2018
18 I-485 - Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed -----> 10/15/2018
19 I-485 - Card is being produced on 10/15/2018 afternoon | I-485 and I-485J - Case is approved on 10/16/2018 afternoon -----> 10/15/2018 & 10/16/2018
20 I-485 - Card is Mailed (On 10/17/2018 for my Spouse | On 10/18/2018 for Me) -----> 10/17/2018 & 10/18/2018
21 I-485 - Cards Received in Hand (On 10/19/2018 for my Spouse | On 10/20/2018) -----> 10/19/2018 & 10/20/2018



Interview Experience:
---------------------
Interview time for both of us was in the AM at Dallas (Irving field office). Reached at 30 minutes early. Airport style security.

Gave the two Interview Notice letters to front desk. She asked to sit down and wait for our names being called.
Exactly at 10:15 am officer came and called our names. Greeted nicely and we exchanged pleasantries and he took us to his office.
Asked us to sit down and settle. He explained the process of interview.
For me - Oath first, followed by photos, and index finger print.
Same for my wife - Oath first, followed by photos, and index finger print.

IO Asked for ID - Gave my and my wife's driver’s license. IO Asked for Passports - Gave my and my wife's passport. He took both and kept it on the table. Did not see anything in there.

My Interview: IO started with me first - Asked for my Employment Evaluation Letter and Paystubs. I provided the letter and last 4 months of paystubs. IO did not see them and instead punched holes to these documents and added to my file - a thick stack of all documents my attorneys must have submitted and he received from NBC. He then asked for what do I do and where do I work. I explained what I do, my title, and legal name of my company. I possibly spoke for 4 minutes or so explaining what I do and what my company does. He was satisfied with the answer – maybe he was looking for a shorter answer. He then asked other questions - My title, my start date with this company. When did I arrive in the US first. My last entry to the US and on what visa. He checked if we left the country since. He then verified almost everything on the I-485 form - Address, SSN, name, DOB, parents name and place of birth, kids name and DOB, wife's name and DOB, Date and Palace of our Marriage. He asked if I have any other kids outside the the ones listed on the form anywhere in the world. That was funny and I spoke the truth that I only have two kids. SSN was asked as well.

My Wife's Interview: Her last entry to the US and on what visa. He then verified almost everything on the I-485 form - Address, SSN, name, DOB, Parents name and place of birth, Kids name and DOB, Husband's name and DOB, Date and Place of our Marriage. SSN was asked as well.

For both of Us Together: He asked almost all Yes/No Questions together and we answered at the same time. Yes/No questions sounds funny when somebody else reads out to you.

That’s it. IO then said let me check if the visas are available and if yes, he will request it right away. Since our priority date is current, IO requested the visa in the system in front of us. IO said our cases are approved on the spot. IO said he will approve the cases in the system later in the day after completing all the other interviews for the day. He said he would have to do a background check prior to approving - looks like background check step prior to approving is a Standard Operating Procedure so that they can check background again since the previous background check must have happened few weeks, months, years ago when file was at NBC. IO said we should receive the green cards in mail in 2-4 weeks.

I took originals and copies of all the documents. Properly labelled and filed. I took all of them out and kept it besides me. You all should do that. That demonstrate preparedness and confidence. Dress nicely - it demonstrate professionalism and respect to the IO office and process. The IO was very professional and courteous. I believe most IO officers are nice and they do a thorough job. I did not notice but my wife told me that the IO would read our faces after every answer - primarily during the Yes/No questions. We were done in exactly 30 minutes. I chatted a little with the IO on my way out - I asked him how many interviews on average he conducts - he said 7-8 every day - max 10. What other things does he do - Naturalizations, Oaths, N-400 application etc. We then shook the hands one last time and left the building.

That’s our interview experience - I wanted to provide the most amount of details so that any/all readers can find the details and benefit from this as needed. I benefitted from many posts on this forum and few others and want to make sure I reciprocated by pitching in the most amount of details for benefit of others. There is always a day and time set for your respective success and god watches out for you. God bless to all."

Also some additional information:
---------------------------------
- Be confident in every answer given
- If you don't understand the question, ask the IO to repeat. Its perfectly okay to ask for clarification.
- The IO enjoyed talking to us and so did we.
- The interview process is NEW and IOs want to ensure that information you primarily wrote on I-485 is accurate. If they doubt any answer, then they can probe other evidence requested. So be confident and crisp in providing any answers.
- Pre-Interview can be stressful but as long as you have all the data and documents, there is nothing to worry.
- It doesn't hurt to go there with over preparation
- Speak only when asked a question
- Do not volunteer any info
- Do not Lie
- If you have no complicated issue in the case, its a first interview, no criminal record, etc. - then you don't need an Attorney to take along. Unless the attorney you are using for filing the case also includes visiting with you for the interview as part of the fee you have paid to them, you should be okay not taking them. But of course follow the counsel of your attorney as needed. "

Document Checklist that We Carried (Originals and Copies)
----------------------------------------------------------
Interview Letters
Drivers License
EAD Cards
Passport Current
All Passport Old
Employment Verification Letter
Pay Stubs (Last 4 months)
Tax Returns (Last 14 years)
W2s (All)
SSN Cards
Marriage Certificate
Birth Certificate
Birth Certificate - Kids
Marriage Proof (Insurance, Bank Statement, etc.)
I-140 Copy
Copies of I-485
I-797 Approvals
Medical Examination Copy
Supplement J Approval Receipt
Copies of most recent visas & approval notices
Degrees & Certs
Previous Employment Letters
First & Last Entry Stamps
Travel Dates (for all the trips I have made: 20 +)
Marriage Photos
EAD/AP Approval Notices
I-94s - Current ones (and all the old ones i could find for both of us)
Kids Passports

Hi, this is my timeline (EB3 from F1)

2/16/2018-Received date
3/15/2018-biometrics
4/03/2018- application for travel document was approved
4/04/2018-Case Was Transferred And A New Office Has Jurisdiction from Texas to NBS
4/10/2018-EAD card and Advance Parole was delivered
4/13/2018-applied for social security card
4/24/2018-Social card was delivered
6/06/2018-We are ready to schedule your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for an interview.
6/07/2018-Interview was scheduled.
6/13/2018-Received interview letter (07/17/2018)
7/17/2018-interview at Newark field office (10:15am)
10/16/2018- New card is being produced
10/18/2018- Card was mailed to me
10/19/2018- Card was picked up by the United States postal service
10/20/2018- Card was in hand with receiving approval notice

At 10:30am, my name was called. My interviewer asked about how long I’ve studied at my previous school and when I transferred to other (present) school. He wrote everything I said on a blank paper. He asked transcript and any documents related to the school. So, I gave him my last year transcript (I didn’t prepare recent one, but fortunately I printed one in last year for drive license just in case) and enrollment verifications (for last year too). Also, he asked about my job position, duties, my manager name, whether I’m related to my employer, if I knew where my employer lived and how could I find this job, the name of the site I found the job. I took my fingerprint and photo. He checked my address, last time I entered U.S, from where (New york-JFK).
At the end of interview, he gave me a paper to sign in. But, I didn’t read it and just signed my name. I only remembered there were 3 blank boxes in a paragraph and the interviewer wrote ∅ in all three boxes. He asked me again what my manager name is and who gave me job interview. He told me to wait for him while he made a copy of my school documents in waiting room. After 5 minutes, he called my name, returned my documents and said “ You’re all set. You can go home.”

I visited my country during summer break for 19 days (8/17-9/4). After I arrived at JFK, I showed my EAD card with Advance Parole and waited for 5 minutes in an office.

I hope it’s helpful to you.

So I’ve seen a few approved cases here, but has anyone got approved after they had interview in Aug? Mine was Aug15th and nothing so far, not sure if I should be doing anything or just wait !

Hi,

I got email confirmation from Premium Processing unit for my i140 application. My first + middle name (given name) is total 19 characters. The email has cut down last character of my given name. Is this due to 18 character limit or is it a problem that they missed last character? What should I do? Anybody had similar issue in past? Thanks.