September 2018 filers

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Well thanks for that USCFFS because I was wondering. Indeed, when I run a search on the app, I notice that all statuses are updates on like 3!different dates out of 250 cases (not counting the RFEs). Isn’t it weird? So basically, we can hope for an accurate update about twice a month?

I do not really know. But that sounds about right. However, you will not get an update every month; especially in NYC. You will continue to get updates until your case reaches the "Case is Ready To be Scheduled for an Interview" stage. Beyond that point, it will get rather quiet for those in NYC.

The data from the case tracker app is not granular enough to draw solid conclusions. It does not provide jurisdiction or category. And why would it? That would bring accountability to USCIS.

[nycfiler3]

I do not really know. But that sounds about right. However, you will not get an update every month; especially in NYC. You will continue to get updates until your case reaches the "Case is Ready To be Scheduled for an Interview" stage. Beyond that point, it will get rather quiet for those in NYC.

The data from the case tracker app is not granular enough to draw solid conclusions. It does not provide jurisdiction or category. And why would it? That would bring accountability to USCIS.

Right. As long as it goes smoothly I’m fine even if it’s long. If everything goes well my next update should be “ready to be scheduled for interview” or is there another step before?

Also: how can I find out if my background check is do done? I assume this isn’t something that is tracked online? I don’t want to call just for that, I’m just curious and the timeline seems SO different from one person to the next.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Right. As long as it goes smoothly I’m fine even if it’s long. If everything goes well my next update should be “ready to be scheduled for interview” or is there another step before?

Also: how can I find out if my background check is do done? I assume this isn’t something that is tracked online? I don’t want to call just for that, I’m just curious and the timeline seems SO different from one person to the next.

An adjudicator at the NBC will review your case and determine if any initial required evidence is missing and if missing, then they would issue a RFE.
If you did not submit the I-693, you would receive a courtesy letter letting you know that no initial required is missing AND asking you to bring it to the interview. If you submitted it and nothing is missing, then you will go straight to "case is ready to be scheduled for an interview".

It is important to note that the background checks will ONLY prevent/delay approval of the combo card. In other words, if you are in a slow jurisdiction, you may get the combo card even if you are not at the "Ready for interview" stage. At the same token, in fast jurisdictions, USCIS may schedule the interview quickly and you may never get the combo card.

[BluePanther]

An adjudicator at the NBC will review your case and determine if any initial required evidence is missing and if missing, then they would issue a RFE.
If you did not submit the I-693, you would receive a courtesy letter letting you know that no initial required is missing AND asking you to bring it to the interview. If you submitted it and nothing is missing, then you will go straight to "case is ready to be scheduled for an interview".

It is important to note that the background checks will ONLY prevent/delay approval of the combo card. In other words, if you are in a slow jurisdiction, you may get the combo card even if you are not at the "Ready for interview" stage. At the same token, in fast jurisdictions, USCIS may schedule the interview quickly and you may never get the combo card.

Yeah there is really no consistency in those updates. My case stayed on fingerprint fee received, until one day it changed to ready for interview and interview scheduled (both after 5 months and on the same day). There were no updates in between except a few weeks prior I did received EAD and AP notifications and combo cards a few weeks prior to the interview notice. But as said all cases stayed without update for 4.5 months in my case.

[Misspaige]

An adjudicator at the NBC will review your case and determine if any initial required evidence is missing and if missing, then they would issue a RFE.
If you did not submit the I-693, you would receive a courtesy letter letting you know that no initial required is missing AND asking you to bring it to the interview. If you submitted it and nothing is missing, then you will go straight to "case is ready to be scheduled for an interview".

It is important to note that the background checks will ONLY prevent/delay approval of the combo card. In other words, if you are in a slow jurisdiction, you may get the combo card even if you are not at the "Ready for interview" stage. At the same token, in fast jurisdictions, USCIS may schedule the interview quickly and you may never get the combo card.

Is your statement about the background check and the combo card accurate? When I called USCIS and said I wanted to know about the background check because I knew EAD wouldn't be approved without it the person I was speaking with said that was not true. So I wasn't sure where you sourced that info or if they just don't know what they are talking about lol

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah there is really no consistency in those updates. My case stayed on fingerprint fee received, until one day it changed to ready for interview and interview scheduled (both after 5 months and on the same day). There were no updates in between except a few weeks prior I did received EAD and AP notifications and combo cards a few weeks prior to the interview notice. But as said all cases stayed without update for 4.5 months in my case.

That's good to know. Looks like on the website they are approving EAD for PD in July. Looks to be on track then!

[huyhoangvn]

Is your statement about the background check and the combo card accurate? When I called USCIS and said I wanted to know about the background check because I knew EAD wouldn't be approved without it the person I was speaking with said that was not true. So I wasn't sure where you sourced that info or if they just don't know what they are talking about lol

Only speculation. It's due to the lack of transparency on the USCIS side.

[nycfiler3]

Only speculation. It's due to the lack of transparency on the USCIS side.

Hi huyhoangvn, just saw your timeline: do you mind sharing what your RFE was about? Always curious to see some RFE coming 2 weeks after PD and others, 4 months...!

[huyhoangvn]

Hi huyhoangvn, just saw your timeline: do you mind sharing what your RFE was about? Always curious to see some RFE coming 2 weeks after PD and others, 4 months...!

It was actually an RFIE. It didn’t happen until I made a request for expedition on 11/07. Not sure how long I had to wait should I didn’t put in the request. Right after I made the call, the status of the I485 switched to “we sent you an RFIE”.
Turned out it was the RFIE for the form I864. My spouse didn’t make more than 125% income requirement, so I had to use my income as well. I’ve been working on campus under F1 visa for almost 3 years. They wanted to make sure my income was legally obtained.
This made me so mad because it wasn’t mentioned in the instruction for filing the form. Even worse, in the pink slip provided, it asked for proof of some specific visas that allows non-immigrant to work (like J, H, O...) but left out F1. As an F1 student, on-campus is granted without a fomal EAD. This ate up one month because I need to ask for a whole bunch of document from school’s HR and the International student office.
After submitting the repsonse, I made another request for expedition and still waiting...
Sigh

[nycfiler3]

It was actually an RFIE. It didn’t happen until I made a request for expedition on 11/07. Not sure how long I had to wait should I didn’t put in the request. Right after I made the call, the status of the I485 switched to “we sent you an RFIE”.
Turned out it was the RFIE for the form I864. My spouse didn’t make more than 125% income requirement, so I had to use my income as well. I’ve been working on campus under F1 visa for almost 3 years. They wanted to make sure my income was legally obtained.
This made me so mad because it wasn’t mentioned in the instruction for filing the form. Even worse, in the pink slip provided, it asked for proof of some specific visas that allows non-immigrant to work (like J, H, O...) but left out F1. As an F1 student, on-campus is granted without a fomal EAD. This ate up one month because I need to ask for a whole bunch of document from school’s HR and the International student office.
After submitting the repsonse, I made another request for expedition and still waiting...
Sigh

Thank you for the details! What a wait ugh. Good luck with that. It's also probably the worst time of the year...things move so slow around the holidays it's like the country is on pause. I'm sure your case will shortly move forward!

[huyhoangvn]

Thank you for the details! What a wait ugh. Good luck with that. It's also probably the worst time of the year...things move so slow around the holidays it's like the country is on pause. I'm sure your case will shortly move forward!

Thanks. It shouldn’t be a problem if the startdate for the job is not on 01/14 which is only 6 working days away. I may have to ask the company to give me a bit more time. It’s just devastating to have an offer hanging for 2 and a half months and saving account is getting slimmer and slimmer. It took me 3 months to get this job. I’ve read somwhere people got their job rescinded after waiting for 2 months.
Urgh.

[nycfiler3]

Thanks. It shouldn’t be a problem if the startdate for the job is not on 01/14 which is only 6 working days away. I may have to ask the company to give me a bit more time. It’s just devastating to have an offer hanging for 2 and a half months and saving account is getting slimmer and slimmer. It took me 3 months to get this job. I’ve read somwhere people got their job rescinded after waiting for 2 months.
Urgh.

Good luck, stay positive! I understand how hard it is at times though. Two of my friends were waiting their EAD as they found a job and both places waited for them up to 3 months.

[UKtoUS1]

Medical exam and EAD date

Hey everyone,

I'm new to this forum and it has been super helpful.

I've my timeline below, I am married to a USC (military). I've spoken to two USCIS officers in person and they both said to bring the medical exam to the green card interview, like it's no issue and I don't need to mail it in advance. Do you think that might slow anything down? I haven't had any updates on the website since 'fingerprint fee was received'. No RFEs, no courtesy letter for the i-693 medical form, nothing.

Also, anyone had any luck expediting their EADs? I'm interviewing and would be so sad if I couldn't work the job because I'm still waiting on the EAD....

Thanks! Trying to stay positive!

[ArizonaPHX]

I wonder if anyone received their EAD without expediting the process? have you guys seen anyone from Sep ?

[huyhoangvn]

I wonder if anyone received their EAD without expediting the process? have you guys seen anyone from Sep ?

Nope. Some filers got theirs with expedition. I think they haven’t even touched the batches filed the mid/late August.

[ArizonaPHX]

Nope. Some filers got theirs with expedition. I think they haven’t even touched the batches filed the mid/late August.

Thank you, hopefully will hear good news soon.