March 2018 filers: let's share our experience!!

[NYfiling]

Hi All,

I am a March filer (PD: March 10th) from NY. I was on my OPT when I married my husband (US citizen) and applied for my AOS concurrently with the EAD and AP requests. My company also applied for my H1B lottery because my OPT was going to end before my green card would likely come. I got the H1B through the lottery and am currently working on my extended OPT. Just last week my EAD and AP combo card was issued as well.

My question is whether I should now work on my EAD or continue working on the H1B? I am also going to be traveling internationally in November and I don't know if I should get my H1B stamped and enter on that or enter using my AP combo card? Any advice?

My I-485 is ready to be scheduled for an interview (as of July 25) but I am not expecting an interview date to be assigned anytime soon given how backed up the NY office is.

[hopeanddream]

Hi All,

I am a March filer (PD: March 10th) from NY. I was on my OPT when I married my husband (US citizen) and applied for my AOS concurrently with the EAD and AP requests. My company also applied for my H1B lottery because my OPT was going to end before my green card would likely come. I got the H1B through the lottery and am currently working on my extended OPT. Just last week my EAD and AP combo card was issued as well.

My question is whether I should now work on my EAD or continue working on the H1B? I am also going to be traveling internationally in November and I don't know if I should get my H1B stamped and enter on that or enter using my AP combo card? Any advice?

My I-485 is ready to be scheduled for an interview (as of July 25) but I am not expecting an interview date to be assigned anytime soon given how backed up the NY office is.

Well, it all depends on if you want to keep your H1B visa? if you do want to have both you can as H1B is dual intent which is something your employer gives you, so you can have both simultaneously unless you wish to use your new EAD that is when you give up your H1B that means your H1B is not valid anymore as your have started using your EAD.

I would advice to talk to an attorney before your leave the country and thinking of going for stamping in order to keep your H1B, this matter is really confusing and USCIS has not stipulated these things in a clear manner.

[Krittika Govil]

Weigh the risks of H1B vs. EAD/AP re-entry

Hi All,

I am a March filer (PD: March 10th) from NY. I was on my OPT when I married my husband (US citizen) and applied for my AOS concurrently with the EAD and AP requests. My company also applied for my H1B lottery because my OPT was going to end before my green card would likely come. I got the H1B through the lottery and am currently working on my extended OPT. Just last week my EAD and AP combo card was issued as well.

My question is whether I should now work on my EAD or continue working on the H1B? I am also going to be traveling internationally in November and I don't know if I should get my H1B stamped and enter on that or enter using my AP combo card? Any advice?

My I-485 is ready to be scheduled for an interview (as of July 25) but I am not expecting an interview date to be assigned anytime soon given how backed up the NY office is.

I was in a similar situation earlier this year where I was playing out scenarios about re-entering on H1B vs. EAD/AP. Here's what I learnt from my H1B lawyer and others.

EAD/AP
Pros: Can work wherever you'd like. Less restriction since no LCA
Cons: You would re-enter as 'Paroled' not in an 'Admitted' status. This means your work permit is dependent on a successful I-485 petition. If for whatever reason it is unsuccessful (touch wood it is not), then you would lose your work authority. Being paroled is a less secure position than being admitted into the US.

H1B
Pros: Admitted instead of paroled. It's easy to go H1B >> EAD but not so much the other way around. If you get the stamp, then re-entry on H1B is easy.
Cons: Restricted to current job/LCA with less flexibility when it comes to switching employment. and the biggest risk - Have to get stamped at a consulate abroad. This always raises the risk for RFE. Plus you have to build time into your travel to account for the stamping.

It comes down to weighing the risks of each option. My lawyer had recommended re-entry with H1B over EAD anytime, due to a secure status. But in this political environment, it may be a better option to go with the EAD/AP even if it is a paroled status, granted a few months to the interview isn't long to wait. As you are going for the first time stamping, it would be good to get a lawyers opinion on balancing your risk.

[B_Andie]

USCIS website

Today I checked the USCIS website - my account - and found out that my case has been "ready to be scheduled for an interview" since April 18, 2018. However, the last time I logged in - Aug 14th - it did not say that and it was stuck in "case was received".

Also, it seems that on April 18 I got fingerprint review completed as well.

Does anyone know why is this happening? I also did not receive any alert in my emails or cellphone.

How can I tell how backlogged is Seattle, WA Office?


Thank you!

[BayAreaCaliAOS]

Today I checked the USCIS website - my account - and found out that my case has been "ready to be scheduled for an interview" since April 18, 2018. However, the last time I logged in - Aug 14th - it did not say that and it was stuck in "case was received".

Also, it seems that on April 18 I got fingerprint review completed as well.

Does anyone know why is this happening? I also did not receive any alert in my emails or cellphone.

How can I tell how backlogged is Seattle, WA Office?


Thank you!

Same as mine.
I was surprised to see it changed on that site.
Though on my dhs.gov account and on the app, It changed into that ?ready to be sched? noticed
pretty much around May.

[waitinglife_ing]

PD 3/14 no EAD/AP

Anyone still waiting for the combo card? It's been 167 days and no updates..

[JessielinD]

Congrats! What?s your PD?

Priority Date? March 29/18.

Anyhow, I called customer service yesterday and she told me I765 was approved same day!. Just never updated on site.
Upon checking the mail yesterday I received both approval notifications!!
Now I sit and wait for EAD.

[ember]

Exact same situation here. I logged in yesterday and saw that my husband & I have been "ready to be scheduled" (marriage-based AOS) since April 18, but no notifications and the site never said that until yesterday. We got "biometrics have been reviewed and we are still working on your case" update April 4, and nothing since then, except this last change w/o notifications.

Also, I don't know how accurate it is, but I've been reading the quarterly reports that show the number of cases coming in and being decided, to get a rough calculation.

Today I checked the USCIS website - my account - and found out that my case has been "ready to be scheduled for an interview" since April 18, 2018. However, the last time I logged in - Aug 14th - it did not say that and it was stuck in "case was received".

Also, it seems that on April 18 I got fingerprint review completed as well.

Does anyone know why is this happening? I also did not receive any alert in my emails or cellphone.

How can I tell how backlogged is Seattle, WA Office?


Thank you!

[AngelaPhelan]

Anyone still waiting for the combo card? It's been 167 days and no updates..

PD 3/2 still waiting.....

[hopeanddream]

PD 3/2 still waiting.....

Rediculously long wait, anyone who goes through this process will surely learn to be patient in very serious situations for the rest of his/her life, PD: march 30th.

[BayAreaCaliAOS]

Rediculously long wait, anyone who goes through this process will surely learn to be patient in very serious situations for the rest of his/her life, PD: march 30th.

This waiting game is seriously nerve racking.
Then some people get their interviews just a couple months later. Frustrating.

[AngelaPhelan]

This waiting game is seriously nerve racking.
Then some people get their interviews just a couple months later. Frustrating.

I know right?! This is not fair, it should've been in the first-in first-out order regardless of where we live, but I know that's not how it works, SAD.

[gaps0214]

AOS c(9) Seattle, WA

Today I checked the USCIS website - my account - and found out that my case has been "ready to be scheduled for an interview" since April 18, 2018. However, the last time I logged in - Aug 14th - it did not say that and it was stuck in "case was received".

Also, it seems that on April 18 I got fingerprint review completed as well.

Does anyone know why is this happening? I also did not receive any alert in my emails or cellphone.

How can I tell how backlogged is Seattle, WA Office?


Thank you!

There is no way of finding out how backlogged Seattle local office is. My EAD/AP notice of approval came exactly 5 months after receipt date 3/22/2018, others get it earlier or later than that. Keep your tail up and dont lose patience, it'll come.

AOS c(9) Seattle, WA, same sex marriage, Chicago Lockbox, National Benefits Center
PD: 3/19/2018
RD: 3/22/2018
BIO: 4/27/2018
RFE: 6/11/2018
RFE Rcvd: 6/22/2018
Status ready for interview: 7/10/2018
EAD/AP approved: 8/22/2018
SSN issued: 8/22/2018
EAD/AP Card status: Being produced

[Riszo]

Re: Aed/ap

There is no way of finding out how backlogged Seattle local office is. My EAD/AP notice of approval came exactly 5 months after receipt date 3/22/2018, others get it earlier or later than that. Keep your tail up and dont lose patience, it'll come.

AOS c(9) Seattle, WA, same sex marriage, Chicago Lockbox, National Benefits Center
PD: 3/19/2018
RD: 3/22/2018
BIO: 4/27/2018
RFE: 6/11/2018
RFE Rcvd: 6/22/2018
Status ready for interview: 7/10/2018
EAD/AP approved: 8/22/2018
SSN issued: 8/22/2018
EAD/AP Card status: Being produced

This question is for you gaps0214:- did you get both AP and AED approval notice simultaneously or did you only receive the AED notice of aproval and the combo card was mailed to you. I am asking because I received the notice of AED approval via email yesterday but didnt received notice of approval for my AP. I am hoping that the combo card will be mailed to me because I applied for both.

[JessielinD]

Ssn

There is no way of finding out how backlogged Seattle local office is. My EAD/AP notice of approval came exactly 5 months after receipt date 3/22/2018, others get it earlier or later than that. Keep your tail up and dont lose patience, it'll come.

AOS c(9) Seattle, WA, same sex marriage, Chicago Lockbox, National Benefits Center
PD: 3/19/2018
RD: 3/22/2018
BIO: 4/27/2018
RFE: 6/11/2018
RFE Rcvd: 6/22/2018
Status ready for interview: 7/10/2018
EAD/AP approved: 8/22/2018
SSN issued: 8/22/2018
EAD/AP Card status: Being produced

How can I check status of SSN?