Application Status

[NeelVohra]

Weird part is we escalated to Tier 2 and they also came back with the incorrect Priority date. We will try creating another SR (through the immigration counsel if possible else directly) and see if another officer has a different opinion!

The telegram group that was shared within Trackitt also has a few such cases where an incorrect priority date was quoted in the response. There as well the I-140 receipt date is being quoted as the priority date. Hoping there is ineptitude and not malice from USCIS in such SR responses. If its more widespread, speculating whether that is the cause for lack of TSC movement.

[TheLureoftheGreen]

I filed for AOS for the first time in July 2020 when my July 09 priority date became current in FAD. My case is assigned to the national benefits center (MSC), and my field office is Boston, MA. It took several months to receive the biometrics appointment, but EAD/AP approvals followed soon after. Ever since, there has been no updates to the I-485 case status, which remains at the "Fingerprints were taken.." stage. Worse, the normal processing time--which at the time of filing the I-485 was between 8-24 months for Boston--has now increased to 13-52 months. And, its been about 8 months since I filed my I-485...

By now, I would've expected to (well, hoped to) see a change in status to "Case Under Review" or "Case being prepared for Interview". I did call USCIS' customer service today to inquire, but unsurprisingly, got nothing out of it.

I am considering writing to Liz Warren's office. I see Oct 09 priority date cases receiving interviews, and from what I can tell, my case would be considered pretty straight forward. Maybe I should say, I'd consider it straight forward (Economist; been with the same firm for a while; medicals were filed with I-485). I guess it really benefits to have your case pre-adjudicated. I missed that opportunity.

Any thoughts on the best time to seek assistance from the Senator's office? A normal processing time of up to 52 months scares me to just sit on my a** in this continued perpetual wait.

[qesehmk]

I filed for AOS for the first time in July 2020 when my July 09 priority date became current in FAD. My case is assigned to the national benefits center (MSC), and my field office is Boston, MA. It took several months to receive the biometrics appointment, but EAD/AP approvals followed soon after. Ever since, there has been no updates to the I-485 case status, which remains at the "Fingerprints were taken.." stage. Worse, the normal processing time--which at the time of filing the I-485 was between 8-24 months for Boston--has now increased to 13-52 months. And, its been about 8 months since I filed my I-485...

By now, I would've expected to (well, hoped to) see a change in status to "Case Under Review" or "Case being prepared for Interview". I did call USCIS' customer service today to inquire, but unsurprisingly, got nothing out of it.

I am considering writing to Liz Warren's office. I see Oct 09 priority date cases receiving interviews, and from what I can tell, my case would be considered pretty straight forward. Maybe I should say, I'd consider it straight forward (Economist; been with the same firm for a while; medicals were filed with I-485). I guess it really benefits to have your case pre-adjudicated. I missed that opportunity.

Any thoughts on the best time to seek assistance from the Senator's office? A normal processing time of up to 52 months scares me to just sit on my a** in this continued perpetual wait.

LOFG - You have waited long enough. Time to nudge your senator. And you will be greened by September. ZERO doubt about that. It's pathetic how racist USCIS has become. Yes - I consider it racist for these lazy ass SOBs to sit on their asses on a case from June 2009. Even if you filed it in July 2020, there is no excuse for them to take that amount of time. It is sad how these government agencies are using Corona as an excuse and I am afraid significant visas might be wasted one more time when there are thousands highly qualified, law abiding people waiting in the line for decades as second class residents in this country.

[ak7419]

From April 2021 onward, the October filers will gradually be eligible for AC 21 and H1B transfer. Will these new petitions impact EAD/GC processing speed?
Not sure if the same USCIS manpower is allocated to process all kinds of applications.

For TSC - yes, i think so on top of everything else. Also note that new H1B processing will also start from April. They are getting hit from multiple directions and I am not sure how they are going to handle caseload. Very scary.

[aGCHopefull]

I have got rfe for medicals, I submitted for 485 in October 2020

PD: July 2011
EB3 straight
Filed in TSC but receipt started with MSC
EAD received in Feb 2021.

Definitely good for you. Assuming you did not include medicals while filing I485 in Oct 2020, right?

[aGCHopefull]

For TSC - yes, i think so on top of everything else. Also note that new H1B processing will also start from April. They are getting hit from multiple directions and I am not sure how they are going to handle caseload. Very scary.

Is this the same workforce working on H1 and I-485? This happens every year with H1 season in April so obviously not a new thing.

[moonlight]

Is this the same workforce working on H1 and I-485? This happens every year with H1 season in April so obviously not a new thing.

The difference is .. this time USCIS has visa number available to process massive EB 485 applications and minimize visa wastage. This was not the case earlier when the date movement was not so aggressive and USCIS didn't have a visa number to allocate.

[TheLureoftheGreen]

LOFG - You have waited long enough. Time to nudge your senator. And you will be greened by September. ZERO doubt about that. It's pathetic how racist USCIS has become. Yes - I consider it racist for these lazy ass SOBs to sit on their asses on a case from June 2009. Even if you filed it in July 2020, there is no excuse for them to take that amount of time. It is sad how these government agencies are using Corona as an excuse and I am afraid significant visas might be wasted one more time when there are thousands highly qualified, law abiding people waiting in the line for decades as second class residents in this country.

Thank you, Q!

As much as I try to keep my emotions checked, I often find myself feeling exactly the way you described USCIS and its incorrigible staff. And, I heard all about the "COVID causing delays" excuse earlier this morning when I spoke to the service rep. It's such a jaded worn out response...but it's either that or it's some form of micro-aggression.

I feel that they don't give a rat's a** about wasting away visas no matter the consequences to the thousands that pay for their budget....

[nbk1976]

Would it be advisable to send in the medicals and Supp-J proactively before an RFE?

Would it save precious time considering the TSC is so far behind and slow? I am worried that the TSC wouldn't get to my application by October and the spillover will reset to 0.

Has anyone done this with good outcomes?

I am EB-2 (India) with PD 2/10/2010 with my pre-adjudicated application at TSC.

[idliman]

Would it be advisable to send in the medicals and Supp-J proactively before an RFE?

Would it save precious time considering the TSC is so far behind and slow? I am worried that the TSC wouldn't get to my application by October and the spillover will reset to 0.

Has anyone done this with good outcomes?

I am EB-2 (India) with PD 2/10/2010 with my pre-adjudicated application at TSC.

The answer is complicated but I will try to represent my angle.

The main reason attorneys say wait for RFE is that the RFE has a barcode on the front that helps the lockbox to direct the new material to your file. When you are filing I-485 Supp J by itself there is no barcode. However, I-485J has A#, I-485 Receipt Number and I-140 Receipt Number. USCIS has an established process for I-485 Supp J. So I am pretty sure that they can link the standalone I-485J to your file. USCIS should have improved from the age of Dinosaurs. So that's the positive argument for sending I-485J proactively. If you are doing that then submit I-693 and G-325A along with it. You need to watchout for the validity of I-693 and timeline expiry and such from the date surgeon signs it to the day USCIS receives it.

When I did I-485J before pandemic, I sent it in March and by October my RFE response was accepted. I delayed the I-693 and took it to the last 15 days as my FA was not current. So thats an intentional 2.5 month delay. The normal response time now is about 2 months for I-485 Supp J. My guess is that it may be 2 to 4 months now. If the attoney or yourself write a covering letter saying FA is current and request adjudication, I think you will be good. Even if they lose the I-693, my guess is you will lose about $800 max for one primary and one dependent. I would still take the shot.

Now you are in TSC. As you know TSC timeframes are all over the place. You need to watch the excel tracking spreadsheets for the last few months (from Oct) and get a sense of response times from TSC for I485J. Then you decide whether it is worth it to send I-485 Supp J proactively.

[GCdreamz]

Hi All,

Me and my wife, applied for 485 on Oct 15th and later applied for EAD/AP on Nov 30th. I got Biometrics appointment for 485 only and my wife received appt letters for 485 and EAD/AP. The manager at USCIS center tried to lookup but did not get any information but said that USCIS might use 485 fingerprints.

Anyone else in this situation?

We gave fingerprinting done on Mar 22nd. When can we expect EAD/AP? Our case is being processed in NBC.

Thanks!!

[nbk1976]

The answer is complicated but I will try to represent my angle.

The main reason attorneys say wait for RFE is that the RFE has a barcode on the front that helps the lockbox to direct the new material to your file. When you are filing I-485 Supp J by itself there is no barcode. However, I-485J has A#, I-485 Receipt Number and I-140 Receipt Number. USCIS has an established process for I-485 Supp J. So I am pretty sure that they can link the standalone I-485J to your file. USCIS should have improved from the age of Dinosaurs. So that's the positive argument for sending I-485J proactively. If you are doing that then submit I-693 and G-325A along with it. You need to watchout for the validity of I-693 and timeline expiry and such from the date surgeon signs it to the day USCIS receives it.

When I did I-485J before pandemic, I sent it in March and by October my RFE response was accepted. I delayed the I-693 and took it to the last 15 days as my FA was not current. So thats an intentional 2.5 month delay. The normal response time now is about 2 months for I-485 Supp J. My guess is that it may be 2 to 4 months now. If the attoney or yourself write a covering letter saying FA is current and request adjudication, I think you will be good. Even if they lose the I-693, my guess is you will lose about $800 max for one primary and one dependent. I would still take the shot.

Now you are in TSC. As you know TSC timeframes are all over the place. You need to watch the excel tracking spreadsheets for the last few months (from Oct) and get a sense of response times from TSC for I485J. Then you decide whether it is worth it to send I-485 Supp J proactively.

Thank you for the advice: it was very helpful. What is the excel tracking spread sheet you refer to? where could I find it? Thank you.

[phkb2020]

Are lockbox delays for issuing receipts still ongoing? I applied for our EAD renewal 2 weeks back but haven't heard anything from TSC. We are in this place because TSC only extended our previous EAD by 1 year instead of 2 ! And we become current in April so I guess we'll wait to hear from TSC for two different items !

[ak7419]

Are lockbox delays for issuing receipts still ongoing? I applied for our EAD renewal 2 weeks back but haven't heard anything from TSC. We are in this place because TSC only extended our previous EAD by 1 year instead of 2 ! And we become current in April so I guess we'll wait to hear from TSC for two different items !

I hear you! I also got 1 year combo card instead of 2 years. Thanks to processing delays, even though I am current since November, I have to think about applying for renewal which expires in October. What a sad story!

My spouse got her EAD receipt in five weeks.

[idliman]

Thank you for the advice: it was very helpful. What is the excel tracking spread sheet you refer to? where could I find it? Thank you.

These are the ones that I came across. Others can share for remaining months. Don't know how frequently they are updated. But they give a good picture of the percentage of approvals.

Oct 2020 VB
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...oj4/edit#gid=0

Nov 2020 VB
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...t#gid=42326570


Mar 2021 VB
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gid=1293517752

[idliman]

I hear you! I also got 1 year combo card instead of 2 years. Thanks to processing delays, even though I am current since November, I have to think about applying for renewal which expires in October. What a sad story!

My spouse got her EAD receipt in five weeks.

Don't wait for anything. Just start the renewal process and send in renewal at the start of 180 day clock. Don't take chances. I am sure your GC will get approved. But it is not worth it to sweat about it at the last weeks.

[ak7419]

Don't wait for anything. Just start the renewal process and send in renewal at the start of 180 day clock. Don't take chances. I am sure your GC will get approved. But it is not worth it to sweat about it at the last weeks.

Thanks @idliman. Is there anything we (TSC folks) can do about these delays collectively?

[phkb2020]

I hear you! I also got 1 year combo card instead of 2 years. Thanks to processing delays, even though I am current since November, I have to think about applying for renewal which expires in October. What a sad story!

My spouse got her EAD receipt in five weeks.

Wow 5 weeks to just get a receipt? Good that I applied more than 5 months before expiry ! Mine expires end of August. Has your spouse gotten their EAD approval yet? How long are you waiting?

[ak7419]

Wow 5 weeks to just get a receipt? Good that I applied more than 5 months before expiry ! Mine expires end of August. Has your spouse gotten their EAD approval yet? How long are you waiting?

She has not received her combo card yet and her present one is expiring in few days. She is relying on 180-day automatic extension to continue working: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/fo...-circumstances

[phkb2020]

She has not received her combo card yet and her present one is expiring in few days. She is relying on 180-day automatic extension to continue working: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/fo...-circumstances

Oh ok. Hope she gets hers soon ! I hope to not rely on the 180 day extension. DL issues and what not. I also work for an employer who is clueless about immigration, so do not want to go into explaining why I can work while my EAD renewal is pending. Of course I still need to get the receipt notice !

[ak7419]

Oh ok. Hope she gets hers soon ! I hope to not rely on the 180 day extension. DL issues and what not. I also work for an employer who is clueless about immigration, so do not want to go into explaining why I can work while my EAD renewal is pending. Of course I still need to get the receipt notice !

Don't worry, you will receive yours on time. You still have plenty of time left. Even my wife's employer is unaware of 180 day extension and her DL is also expiring. This entire thing is so frustrating and time consuming.

[Wizoz2]

Service Center: TSC, EB2 , PD:28th April 2010, Got a case status update today - Request for additional evidence was sent.

[nbk1976]

Service Center: TSC, EB2 , PD:28th April 2010, Got a case status update today - Request for additional evidence was sent.

Did you or your lawyer make an inquiry (that might have triggered this)? I am Feb PD; no changes yet.

[Wizoz2]

Did you or your lawyer make an inquiry (that might have triggered this)? I am Feb PD; no changes yet.

Absolutely no inquiries from me or my attorney, I had low expectations considering they would have started looking from tomorrow. Also this is my first ever RFE since filing in 2012. And I am a primary applicant with no dependents.

Well actually I did give a heads up to my attorney as soon as the visa bulletin was released saying I would be current beginning April 2021. They just told me that they would wait for the RFE paperwork to come and let me know.

[idliman]

Service Center: TSC, EB2 , PD:28th April 2010, Got a case status update today - Request for additional evidence was sent.

Congratulations. I am happy for you.

USCIS replies to service requests state that they prioritize based on received date and PD. Obviously your case is an exception to that.