EB2-3 Predictions (Rather Calculations)

[sling10]

I would suggest to wait until USCIS publish filing chart for October 2021. should be out there in 1-2 days . If filing is open get Medical done asap and send applications with schedule delivery of 1st October.

Thx andhraguy ! USCIS just confirmed that they will honor the DOF chart !!

For Employment-Based Preference Filings:
USCIS will not accept any new employment-based fifth preference adjustment of status applications based on the Regional Center Program until that program is reauthorized. For all other employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for October 2021.

Are you saying that if I had the package ready now, I could have shipped them NOW with a delivery date of 1st October ?

[gammaray]

USCIS just confirmed that they will honor the DOF chart !!

For Employment-Based Preference Filings:
USCIS will not accept any new employment-based fifth preference adjustment of status applications based on the Regional Center Program until that program is reauthorized. For all other employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for October 2021.

Where are you seeing this? This hasn't been released yet.

[rohanvus]

Thx andhraguy ! USCIS just confirmed that they will honor the DOF chart !!

For Employment-Based Preference Filings:
USCIS will not accept any new employment-based fifth preference adjustment of status applications based on the Regional Center Program until that program is reauthorized. For all other employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for October 2021.

Are you saying that if I had the package ready now, I could have shipped them NOW with a delivery date of 1st October ?

Great Sling . But when i check below link it still shows Next month as "Coming soon"

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/gre...-visa-bulletin

Where exactly has USCIS confirmed this ?

[sling10]

Where are you seeing this? This hasn't been released yet.

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/gre...-visa-bulletin

[sling10]

Great Sling . But when i check below link it still shows Next month as "Coming soon"

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/gre...-visa-bulletin

Where exactly has USCIS confirmed this ?

The same link that you have mentioned. Maybe clear the browser cache and try again !

[andhraguy]

Thx andhraguy ! USCIS just confirmed that they will honor the DOF chart !!

For Employment-Based Preference Filings:
USCIS will not accept any new employment-based fifth preference adjustment of status applications based on the Regional Center Program until that program is reauthorized. For all other employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for October 2021.

Are you saying that if I had the package ready now, I could have shipped them NOW with a delivery date of 1st October ?

I am happy to see that USCIS is accepting applications starting from October 1st. Best wishes for that. it is too early to send application. you should wait until end of the month. Either 30th September use overnight shipping or 2-3 days earlier send using specific day guaranteed delivery service to deliver on 1st October.

[Transformer]

Thanks sling.

Question - Are you taking the appointment in October or in September ?
Heard that now Covid vaccination is a must now , but whether this requires a new I-693 form now am not sure. Incase this requires updates to I-693 form , then should we take appointment for October dates ?

It's not when you take the appointment with the doctor or when it reaches USCIS. The critical date is when the doctor signs the form. If doctor signs on say 9/30 then they don't have to mention anything related to covid vaccine if not they need to. As of now USCIS didn't release any updated 693 form.

When I took my medicals few weeks ago, the doctor mentioned my covid vaccine 1st and 2nd dose dates in the remarks box. I think it is better to do it even if you are getting medicals before 10/1.

[SG2020]

I am happy to see that USCIS is accepting applications starting from October 1st. Best wishes for that. it is too early to send application. you should wait until end of the month. Either 30th September use overnight shipping or 2-3 days earlier send using specific day guaranteed delivery service to deliver on 1st October.

Quick question for the more informed/experienced on this forum: Do you expect retrogression in EB3 any time soon? And if yes, any thoughts on which date will PD retrogress to? I am asking based on the update by the Murthy team (https://www.murthy.com/2021/09/13/oc...visa-bulletin/) mentioning a possible retrogression as early as November. My PD is May 17, 2011. So I had downgraded to EB3 but am still waiting for any actions from TSC. I did complete my biometrics this Friday, but so far haven't seen any progress on the I-140. If retrogression is a real possibility, would I be better off moving back to EB2 since that is current too?

[sling10]

It's not when you take the appointment with the doctor or when it reaches USCIS. The critical date is when the doctor signs the form. If doctor signs on say 9/30 then they don't have to mention anything related to covid vaccine if not they need to. As of now USCIS didn't release any updated 693 form.

When I took my medicals few weeks ago, the doctor mentioned my covid vaccine 1st and 2nd dose dates in the remarks box. I think it is better to do it even if you are getting medicals before 10/1.

Thx Transformer ! Yes, that's my plan to have the civil surgeon include the Covid-19 vaccination details during my appointment in September.

[sling10]

I am happy to see that USCIS is accepting applications starting from October 1st. Best wishes for that. it is too early to send application. you should wait until end of the month. Either 30th September use overnight shipping or 2-3 days earlier send using specific day guaranteed delivery service to deliver on 1st October.

Thx andhraguy ! Bottomline, the 485 package should NOT reach before 1st October irrespective of when the package was shipped.

[Sebiswaiting]

The filing date for EB3 I is still Jan 2014. I think (ASSUME) that the final action date might retrogess (probably till early 2013) in between but get back to Jan 2014 again by/before 2022 Sept.

Your PD is in mid 2011, so there should not be any downgrade from eb2 for PDs before that date, considering EB2 mid 2011 FD was current in Oct 2021. So EB3, should not retrogress to any date prior to mid 2011. Since FD is still Jan2014, I am hoping FAD reaches that date by Sept 2022 again.

Recon bill hopefully gets some positive news for us though.

Quick question for the more informed/experienced on this forum: Do you expect retrogression in EB3 any time soon? And if yes, any thoughts on which date will PD retrogress to? I am asking based on the update by the Murthy team (https://www.murthy.com/2021/09/13/oc...visa-bulletin/) mentioning a possible retrogression as early as November. My PD is May 17, 2011. So I had downgraded to EB3 but am still waiting for any actions from TSC. I did complete my biometrics this Friday, but so far haven't seen any progress on the I-140. If retrogression is a real possibility, would I be better off moving back to EB2 since that is current too?

[idliman]

USCIS had already announced that they will accept dates of filing in October for all EB. For FB, they are accepting DF for all except FB2A (Current on FA).

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/gre...-visa-bulletin

So get your medical appointments and prepare I-693 without any worries.

[rohanvus]

The same link that you have mentioned. Maybe clear the browser cache and try again !

Thanks sling.

I have booked appointment on 27th sep (could not get any earlier ,though will keep trying other appointments) . However , i was thinking if I can have my vaccinations, etc all done at my primary care beforehand - then on the day of exam with USCIS doctor i can show all such proofs and get all the signed form earlier .

Do you know what all vaccinations or immunization or blood work ,etc we can do beforehand to save time ? Any tips will be helpful

[Immig7]

Experts,

Any idea if spill over has been considered in the forecast and the FAD, filling dates mentioned in the Oct bulletin? My priority date is Jan 22 2014 in EB2, so I also miss the boat on downgrading and filling in EB3 now in October. Is there any idea on where Jan 2014 dates will end up? Thanks much!

[singax]

Thanks sling.

I have booked appointment on 27th sep (could not get any earlier ,though will keep trying other appointments) . However , i was thinking if I can have my vaccinations, etc all done at my primary care beforehand - then on the day of exam with USCIS doctor i can show all such proofs and get all the signed form earlier .

Do you know what all vaccinations or immunization or blood work ,etc we can do beforehand to save time ? Any tips will be helpful

my doctor orders following tests:

Quantiferon TB,
Syphilis screen Treponemal &
Gonorrhea (Urine)

Checked following Vaccines, which we already had:
TDAP
MMR
FLU and
COVID

[sling10]

Thanks sling.

I have booked appointment on 27th sep (could not get any earlier ,though will keep trying other appointments) . However , i was thinking if I can have my vaccinations, etc all done at my primary care beforehand - then on the day of exam with USCIS doctor i can show all such proofs and get all the signed form earlier .

Do you know what all vaccinations or immunization or blood work ,etc we can do beforehand to save time ? Any tips will be helpful

That is what I have done already so as to save time and money. Most of these civil surgeons do not work with the insurance, not sure why. If you take vaccines from them, they will charge $95 (amounts may vary) per person / per vaccine.

I took the I-693 vaccination page along with me to my primary care physician and showed him the list of vaccinations needed by USCIS. I already had proof of TDap. He gave orders for bloodwork for MMR, Varicella and HepB. Based on the results of the bloodwork, I had to take the MMR and HepB vaccine. I also did the bloodwork for TB, Syphillis and the urine test for Gonorrhea.

I took the flu shot from CVS as well and have taken the Covid-19 vaccine too.

I plan to take all this paperwork along with me to the medical examination with the civil surgeon. Hopefully, I am not told to take any other vaccines / bloodwork.

[gammaray]

Thanks sling.

I have booked appointment on 27th sep (could not get any earlier ,though will keep trying other appointments) . However , i was thinking if I can have my vaccinations, etc all done at my primary care beforehand - then on the day of exam with USCIS doctor i can show all such proofs and get all the signed form earlier .

Do you know what all vaccinations or immunization or blood work ,etc we can do beforehand to save time ? Any tips will be helpful

Moderators can move this to the appropriate thread.

The civil surgeon will ask for proof of MMR and TDAP (within last 10 years). If there is no proof, need to get TDAP. For MMR he will recommend a blood test and if any of the three (mump, measles, rubella) antibodies are below minimum levels then you will have to take the MMR shot. Typically mumps antibodies decline with age, so some people fail that in spite of getting the childhood shot.

Including the MMR test, the other blood/urine tests which he will recommend are:

MMR AB (IGG) Panel -- blood test
Chlamydia/Gonorrhoeae RNA, TMA, Urogential --- Urine test
Varicella Zoster Virus Antibody (IGG) ---- blood test for chickenpox
RPR (DX) W/REFL Titer --- blood test for Syphilis
Quantiferon TB Gold Plus, 1 tube ----- blood test for TB

If the TB test comes back positive, a confirmatory X-ray will be required.

All these tests can be done at Quest Diagnostics or whatever lab exists in your area. Not sure if the labs conduct the testing without the doctors note. Also insurance will not cover the lab tests without a doctors note. Depending on the insurance all the tests are free (may have to pay some for the TB test). Without insurance the bill is around $1200.

Any of the vaccines (MMR, TDAP, Chickenpox) can be taken without a doctors note at a CVS/Walgreens -- which is free with insurance (if you take it at the civil surgeon or urgent care or elsewhere you have to pay).

All other vaccines listed on the I693 ( Hepatitis A/ B, pneumococcal, rotavirus, meningococcal) will be marked not age appropriate by the surgeon.

Caveat: Flu and Covid vaccines required after Oct 1.

If you can't find an earlier appointment with a doctor, I suggest searching for other civil surgeons in the area. Typically civil surgeons in urgent care etc. allow walk-ins and are available right away.

Hope this helps.

[sling10]

Moderators can move this to the appropriate thread.

The civil surgeon will ask for proof of MMR and TDAP (within last 10 years). If there is no proof, need to get TDAP. For MMR he will recommend a blood test and if any of the three (mump, measles, rubella) antibodies are below minimum levels then you will have to take the MMR shot. Typically mumps antibodies decline with age, so some people fail that in spite of getting the childhood shot.

Including the MMR test, the other blood/urine tests which he will recommend are:

MMR AB (IGG) Panel
Chlamydia/Gonorrhoeae RNA, TMA, Urogential --- Urine test
Varicella Zoster Virus Antibody (IGG) ---- chickenpox
RPR (DX) W/REFL Titer --- blood test for Syphilis
Quantiferon TB Gold Plus, 1 tube ----- TB

If the TB test comes back positive, a confirmatory X-ray will be required.

All these tests can be done at Quest Diagnostics or whatever lab exists in your area. Not sure if the labs conduct the testing without the doctors note. Also insurance will not cover the lab tests without a doctors note. Depending on the insurance all the tests are free (may have to pay some for the TB test). Without insurance the bill is around $1200.

Any of the vaccines (MMR, TDAP, Chickenpox) can be taken without a doctors note at a CVS/Walgreens -- which is free with insurance (if you take it at the civil surgeon or urgent care or elsewhere you have to pay).

All other vaccines listed on the I693 ( Hepatitis A/ B, pneumococcal, rotavirus, meningococcal) will be marked not age appropriate by the surgeon.

Caveat: Flu and Covid vaccines required after Oct 1.

If you can't find an earlier appointment with a doctor, I suggest searching for other civil surgeons in the area. Typically civil surgeons in urgent care etc. allow walk-ins and are available right away.

Hope this helps.

Pretty good info gammaray !

[rohanvus]

That is what I have done already so as to save time and money. Most of these civil surgeons do not work with the insurance, not sure why. If you take vaccines from them, they will charge $95 (amounts may vary) per person / per vaccine.

I took the I-693 vaccination page along with me to my primary care physician and showed him the list of vaccinations needed by USCIS. I already had proof of TDap. He gave orders for bloodwork for MMR, Varicella and HepB. Based on the results of the bloodwork, I had to take the MMR and HepB vaccine. I also did the bloodwork for TB, Syphillis and the urine test for Gonorrhea.

I took the flu shot from CVS as well and have taken the Covid-19 vaccine too.

I plan to take all this paperwork along with me to the medical examination with the civil surgeon. Hopefully, I am not told to take any other vaccines / bloodwork.

Does MMR vaccine require 2 doses and these 2 doses need to be taken with a month gap in between ?

[gammaray]

Does MMR vaccine require 2 doses and these 2 doses need to be taken with a month gap in between ?

No, single shot for adults.

[aGCHopefull]

No, single shot for adults.

Don't we need a booster shot for MMR?

for example: we had medical test done during 2015 fiasco and gotten a MMR shot. Would we need a booster now for that?

Also do they usually ask TDAP to be taken in about 8 years (I know 10 years by books)?

[srimurthy]

QQ - when filling in 485J, what will be the 485 filing date? Is it separate from the received date or is it the same?

[yubeie]

hi all..both mine (primary) and spouse (derivative) 485s were approved on 09/09/2021.. my 485j was also approved on the same day ..
But since then only spouse status changed from "Card Mailed" on 09/10 to "Card Picked Up by USPS" with tracking info on 09/13.

My application is still stuck in approved state since 09/09..I'm about to receive all the approval notices today by mail but my GC hasn't been mailed yet.
Has anyone seen/run into similar situation? Is this a matter of concern?

Thanks.

[gammaray]

Don't we need a booster shot for MMR?

for example: we had medical test done during 2015 fiasco and gotten a MMR shot. Would we need a booster now for that?

Also do they usually ask TDAP to be taken in about 8 years (I know 10 years by books)?

I am assuming everyone has had mmr in infancy. The single shot MMR as an adult is the booster shot. I haven't heard of anyone requiring two shots.

The books are right, its 10 years : https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/...rt-b-chapter-9

[sling10]

I am assuming everyone has had mmr in infancy. The single shot MMR as an adult is the booster shot. I haven't heard of anyone requiring two shots.

The books are right, its 10 years : https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/...rt-b-chapter-9

gammaray - Looks like you have great knowledge on the I-693 form and the associated process !! Good info...