Asylum Based i-485

[flando]

Hi Everyone, I have a quick question regarding Refugee Travel Document, my Form I-485 has the status "Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken" for the past 2 years (NBC), recently I finally received my RTD, (of course my country's passport expired long time ago). I'm planning to see my family while my RTD is still valid, so my question would be what are the risks traveling only with RTD (without a GC) and which countries accept RTD and what will be the return to US process, please, share if anyone has travel experience only with RTD, thank you in advance!

This is a loaded question and you should seek the help of an attorney.

The acceptance of RTD is country specific you only need to check whatever country you are traveling to. Nobody can give you answer for hundreds of countries out there.

As to the risks, mostly it's about if your LPR has been approved while you are abroad, it could complicate things when you return, i.e. making sure you are admitted as LPR vs asylee. But again, you should work with an attorney on your options.

[maratathi]

I was interviewed in December 2021, still waiting, did medical 4 times.

WOW! Unbelievable.

[JckDan3]

Hi Everyone, I have a quick question regarding Refugee Travel Document, my Form I-485 has the status "Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken" for the past 2 years (NBC), recently I finally received my RTD, (of course my country's passport expired long time ago). I'm planning to see my family while my RTD is still valid, so my question would be what are the risks traveling only with RTD (without a GC) and which countries accept RTD and what will be the return to US process, please, share if anyone has travel experience only with RTD, thank you in advance!

[Birjees2003]

I did my interview today at the Atlanta field office 4yrs after applying for asylee I-485 adjustment of status.

After the interview I was handed a notice that says USCIS is unable to complete your case at this time.

Your case is being continued until a final decision can be made.

Your case is being held for required background checks. Once all the requisite clearances have been received and reviewed, you will be notified by mail of the decision on your application.

Has anyone here had this experience & how long did they take?

Why did they not do a background check before calling me for the interview?

They have been holding the case for 4 years.

I was interviewed in December 2021, still waiting, did medical 4 times.

[maratathi]

I think if you got your approval thru the judge's order they will do an additional background check.

Nope. My Asylum was granted in the Asylum office.

[maratathi]

I did my interview today at the Atlanta field office 4yrs after applying for asylee I-485 adjustment of status.

After the interview I was handed a notice that says USCIS is unable to complete your case at this time.

Your case is being continued until a final decision can be made.

Your case is being held for required background checks. Once all the requisite clearances have been received and reviewed, you will be notified by mail of the decision on your application.

Has anyone here had this experience & how long did they take?

Why did they not do a background check before calling me for the interview?

They have been holding the case for 4 years.

The USCIS agent that interviewed me took my medical which they had asked me to bring to the interview. I had also submitted the medical in 2019 when submitted I-485 application.

Medical is so expensive to keep doing yet they are not approving my case.

[mandamus123]

I did my interview today at the Atlanta field office 4yrs after applying for asylee I-485 adjustment of status.

After the interview I was handed a notice that says USCIS is unable to complete your case at this time.

Your case is being continued until a final decision can be made.

Your case is being held for required background checks. Once all the requisite clearances have been received and reviewed, you will be notified by mail of the decision on your application.

Has anyone here had this experience & how long did they take?

Why did they not do a background check before calling me for the interview?

They have been holding the case for 4 years.

I think if you got your approval thru the judge's order they will do an additional background check.

[maratathi]

I did my interview today at the Atlanta field office 4yrs after applying for asylee I-485 adjustment of status.

After the interview I was handed a notice that says USCIS is unable to complete your case at this time.

Your case is being continued until a final decision can be made.

Your case is being held for required background checks. Once all the requisite clearances have been received and reviewed, you will be notified by mail of the decision on your application.

Has anyone here had this experience & how long did they take?

Why did they not do a background check before calling me for the interview?

They have been holding the case for 4 years.

[josh26]

Wow. 18 months is just unbelievably long to wait for a document that’s valid for 12 month. My first RTD took 7 months to process and I had to cancel travelh plans. If you have been approved for you GC it is really hard to make plans to travel with your rtd when the processing is taking almost 2 years+

Yes very unbilievable and really stupid because I just received it. Back then when I applied, I only had a work permit but 3 months later I got my green card and travelled abroad in 2 different countries using my home country passport. What I don't understand at this point is the fact that I got naturalized last month and got my US passport a few days ago, but they still responded to that case RTD case from almost 2 years ago, approved it and sent me a travel document. I am wondering really about how their system works, it doesn't make sense to me

[TSCpending]

it is really ridiculous to see how slow the USCIS is. I applied for a Travel document about 18 months ago and now that I absolutely don't need it anymore, I just received their response in my mail saying it's approved and they will send it to me. I am like are there real people working there? they don't see updates in their system? they don't match different cases opened by one person? it's just ridiculous!!!

Wow. 18 months is just unbelievably long to wait for a document that’s valid for 12 month. My first RTD took 7 months to process and I had to cancel travelh plans. If you have been approved for you GC it is really hard to make plans to travel with your rtd when the processing is taking almost 2 years+

[josh26]

Hello everyone! I would to share my joy with you today because my USCIS journey officially ended today. I am now a US Citizen. Let me share my experience and timeline hoping it's going to be helpful to some of you.


Jan13 2017 Arrived for the first time in the US as international student
Jan 2018 Sent Asylum application
March 2018 Asylum Granted then got my work authorization card valid for 2 years.
April 2019 sent I-485 form TSC
Febr 2021 Fingerprints
Jan20 2022 Application transferred to another service for faster ...
Jan25 2022 Transferred to NBC
Feb26 2022 Request for additional evidence
March 19 sent Medical Exams
March 26 New card is being produced.
April 3rd Green card in hand (exactly 10 years of validity)

Jan12 2023 Interview & oath ceremony through military


And it's crazy, I have officially been to this amazing country for 6 years today. And between this timeline, I travelled out of the country by air twice with my green card and my passport from my home country and got back in with no problem. In June 2022 (4 days in Mexico), then my home country ( 12 days in November 2022 for the funerals of my cousin I grew up with like a brother).


Thank you everyone, this forum has been so helpful and motivating especially when I was stressed waiting for my green card. I wish to all of you to have good news regarding your cases ASAP. Be blessed

it is really ridiculous to see how slow the USCIS is. I applied for a Travel document about 18 months ago and now that I absolutely don't need it anymore, I just received their response in my mail saying it's approved and they will send it to me. I am like are there real people working there? they don't see updates in their system? they don't match different cases opened by one person? it's just ridiculous!!!

[TSCpending]

2 days after i mailed i693 RFE my case was approved .i already received my Permanent Residence Card.
they backdated my Residence since date by a year.
San Francisco Field office approved my case without interview.

since your initial medical was 2 years ago , they will probably send you an RFE for medical as-well . May i know what will be your Field Office ?

Good Day, thank you all for all of this free and useful information.
i filed my 485 adjustment application on 08/2020 and according to the uscis website, it is still within the processing time (which had been rapidly increasing over the years). how do i know is my case is eligible to file a mandamus and can it be filed by the applicant?

[mandamus123]

2 days after i mailed i693 RFE my case was approved .i already received my Permanent Residence Card.
they backdated my Residence since date by a year.
San Francisco Field office approved my case without interview.

since your initial medical was 2 years ago , they will probably send you an RFE for medical as-well . May i know what will be your Field Office ?

The case is pending at NBC/MSC initially. I do not know how to check the field office tbh. Brooklyn or Queens maybe.
Should I get my medical ready? It takes another week for my PCP to fill the form up

[delayedGC]

Any updates on this?

Filed my mandamus yesterday. 485 was pending since 10/2020
The case was filed with Medical initially.
I hope I won't get interviewed.

2 days after i mailed i693 RFE my case was approved .i already received my Permanent Residence Card.
they backdated my Residence since date by a year.
San Francisco Field office approved my case without interview.

since your initial medical was 2 years ago , they will probably send you an RFE for medical as-well . May i know what will be your Field Office ?

[mandamus123]

11/2019 asylum granted
11/2020 i485 application was received (NBC)
01/2021 fingerprint was taken

no movement for 2 years

01/2023 finally decided to file mandamus
notice served to us attorneys and after 2 weeks received rfe on 01/17/23.

Any updates on this?

Filed my mandamus yesterday. 485 was pending since 10/2020
The case was filed with Medical initially.
I hope I won't get interviewed.