September 2018 filers

[kaiodama]

Alright. For the sake of clarity, I have to ask. Does the status update say "Interview Scheduled" OR "Case is ready to be scheduled for an interview"?

It says
interview was Scheduled

on December 28, 2018 we scheduled an interview for your form I-485....

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

It says
interview was Scheduled

on December 28, 2018 we scheduled an interview for your form I-485....

Thank you for clarifying!!! Often times the difference between the two status updates is a source of confusion on the forum. The Boston, MA office does show reduced processing times 4.5 Months to 14.5 Months Family-based adjustment applications. The case inquiry date is November 01, 2017. That's pretty fast.

[huyhoangvn]

Thank you for clarifying!!! Often times the difference between the two status updates is a source of confusion on the forum. The Boston, MA office does show reduced processing times 4.5 Months to 14.5 Months Family-based adjustment applications. The case inquiry date is November 01, 2017. That's pretty fast.

I also saw a reduction in Houston processing time. It was like up-to 32 months last time I checked, but today it shows 21-23 months which is not too bad. I had hoped it would be dragged to more than 2 years so I can get the 10-year GC.

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you the valuable information, I did not apply to extend my OPT since I already filed AOS. I asked my lawyer if I should and he said no, I still have till end of march and hopefully will get my EAD before then.

AOS EAD is much more powerful than F1 EAD which has limitation on which jobs you can take. With AOS EAD, you can work whatever jobs you want, even driving Uber as the second job. You don't have that privilege with F1 EAD.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I also saw a reduction in Houston processing time. It was like up-to 32 months last time I checked, but today it shows 21-23 months which is not too bad. I had hoped it would be dragged to more than 2 years so I can get the 10-year GC.

It seems like field offices are striving to finalize those cases that take longer. I just read this entry from someone in Minnesota https://www.immihelp.com/experience/....html#comments

05-18-18 Priority date
08-99-18 Interview Date - sometime in August
12-19-18 Approval date - new card being produced.

That's 19 months right there. The case had several layers of complexity. I am just glad to see that they are making a concerted effort to adjudicate all cases filed in 2017.

[Misspaige]

What day and time of day is everyone getting their updates? I'm obsessively checking the case tracker but I thought maybe I could save myself stress if they only update usually on certain days or between certain times. 101 days since submission and still nothing since fingerprint fee was received.

[BluePanther]

What day and time of day is everyone getting their updates? I'm obsessively checking the case tracker but I thought maybe I could save myself stress if they only update usually on certain days or between certain times. 101 days since submission and still nothing since fingerprint fee was received.

There are no fixed days for updates, but the processing time for EAD/AP is currently 5-6 months and the AOS depends on the field office, but probably your case will stay with NBC until the EAD/AP are completed. So probably best to check less obsessively to save yourself the stress or try expedite your case if you have a valid reason (such as a job opportunity).

[huyhoangvn]

What day and time of day is everyone getting their updates? I'm obsessively checking the case tracker but I thought maybe I could save myself stress if they only update usually on certain days or between certain times. 101 days since submission and still nothing since fingerprint fee was received.

It happens quite randomly. There's no fix time frame for them to update things. Better off signing up for email and mobile notification and just forget about it. I'm tired of waiting for the EAD/AP too. Got a job offer but can't work and my checking account is getting slimmer and slimmer. Request for expedition doesn't seem to help much. They don't really care.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

What day and time of day is everyone getting their updates? I'm obsessively checking the case tracker but I thought maybe I could save myself stress if they only update usually on certain days or between certain times. 101 days since submission and still nothing since fingerprint fee was received.

I have observed that updates tend to occur around the Tools Outage that takes place twice a month. Typically, these tools outage happen on or around the 5th and 20th of every month.

It is also helpful to have the "No activity" notifications turned on. You will get a bi-weekly email letting you know that "We are still reviewing your case and there are no updates at this time. We last took action on your case on MM/DD/YY". While these emails may seem pointless at first, they are actually quite helpful. You will not get one when they are working on your case. So let's say that on the second Thursday of the month, you do not get the email. Then, after the next 2 week cycle, you will eventually get one letting you know that there are no updates at this time BUT the "We last took action on your case" date will be different. Those are "soft" updates. You can actually call USCIS and ask what is the most recent action they took.

Best,

USCFFS

[Misspaige]

It happens quite randomly. There's no fix time frame for them to update things. Better off signing up for email and mobile notification and just forget about it. I'm tired of waiting for the EAD/AP too. Got a job offer but can't work and my checking account is getting slimmer and slimmer. Request for expedition doesn't seem to help much. They don't really care.

We are signed up for the email and mobile notifications but I'm just clearly obsessing haha the job offer should be coming soon. Taking a lot of phone interviews so far but no offers yet.

- - - Updated - - -

I have observed that updates tend to occur around the Tools Outage that takes place twice a month. Typically, these tools outage happen on or around the 5th and 20th of every month.

It is also helpful to have the "No activity" notifications turned on. You will get a bi-weekly email letting you know that "We are still reviewing your case and there are no updates at this time. We last took action on your case on MM/DD/YY". While these emails may seem pointless at first, they are actually quite helpful. You will not get one when they are working on your case. So let's say that on the second Thursday of the month, you do not get the email. Then, after the next 2 week cycle, you will eventually get one letting you know that there are no updates at this time BUT the "We last took action on your case" date will be different. Those are "soft" updates. You can actually call USCIS and ask what is the most recent action they took.

Best,

USCFFS

where do you sign up for the No activity notifications?

[Misspaige]

I have observed that updates tend to occur around the Tools Outage that takes place twice a month. Typically, these tools outage happen on or around the 5th and 20th of every month.

It is also helpful to have the "No activity" notifications turned on. You will get a bi-weekly email letting you know that "We are still reviewing your case and there are no updates at this time. We last took action on your case on MM/DD/YY". While these emails may seem pointless at first, they are actually quite helpful. You will not get one when they are working on your case. So let's say that on the second Thursday of the month, you do not get the email. Then, after the next 2 week cycle, you will eventually get one letting you know that there are no updates at this time BUT the "We last took action on your case" date will be different. Those are "soft" updates. You can actually call USCIS and ask what is the most recent action they took.

Best,

USCFFS

Actually just checked my USCIS account and the no activity notifications have been turned on but I have never received any emails or texts. Weird?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Actually just checked my USCIS account and the no activity notifications have been turned on but I have never received any emails or texts. Weird?

Please take a moment to edit your signature (under settings), and enter your timeline and field office. It is easier to help you and answer your questions if we are able to see your timeline and field office.

I clicked through your posts. Your field office Buffalo, NY. It is not a very busy field office. I know of a few people who got their interview around the 5 month mark. You filed in September 2018. So your interview should take place some time in February or March, maybe even in April.

[Misspaige]

Please take a moment to edit your signature (under settings), and enter your timeline and field office. It is easier to help you and answer your questions if we are able to see your timeline and field office.

I clicked through your posts. Your field office Buffalo, NY. It is not a very busy field office. I know of a few people who got their interview around the 5 month mark. You filed in September 2018. So your interview should take place some time in February or March, maybe even in April.

Thank you I was unable to find where to add signature! That would be amazing to receive an interview that soon.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thank you I was unable to find where to add signature! That would be amazing to receive an interview that soon.

Cool, I see that you added your timeline to your signature. Does your receipt for the I-130 start with MSC? That is the national benefits center. You sent your I-130 first and then, a month later, your I-485. And that is fine. You may want to call and ask a Level 2 officer, or even make an Infopass appointment to speak to an Immigration Officer; to make sure that your I-130 file joins your I-485. Sometimes people get to the interview, and the I-485 is at the field office, but the I-130 is still at the Service Center. It is just good practice to track them down and make sure the two files are put together as concurrently filed.

Let me know if that made sense.

Best,

USCFFS

PS: Your case should start moving forward soon. Make sure that you sign up for an account on these two sites:
https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do (this one links to the case tracker app)

https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/

[huyhoangvn]

We are signed up for the email and mobile notifications but I'm just clearly obsessing haha the job offer should be coming soon. Taking a lot of phone interviews so far but no offers yet.

Once you get the offer, tell the company to give you plenty of time in case the EAD won't come on time. Expedition takes a lot of time and very unpredictable outcome. Many people got rejected.

[Misspaige]

Cool, I see that you added your timeline to your signature. Does your receipt for the I-130 start with MSC? That is the national benefits center. You sent your I-130 first and then, a month later, your I-485. And that is fine. You may want to call and ask a Level 2 officer, or even make an Infopass appointment to speak to an Immigration Officer; to make sure that your I-130 file joins your I-485. Sometimes people get to the interview, and the I-485 is at the field office, but the I-130 is still at the Service Center. It is just good practice to track them down and make sure the two files are put together as concurrently filed.

Let me know if that made sense.

Best,

USCFFS

PS: Your case should start moving forward soon. Make sure that you sign up for an account on these two sites:
https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do (this one links to the case tracker app)
https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/

Thank you for bringing that up. I just now called USCIS to make sure about the I-130 and it did in fact merge with the other petitions. But we got some crappy news.... the background is not complete and no one has even started to work on the case.