October 2018 Filers

[nudda]

Firstly, thanks for your reply!!!

Is this the right time to expedite?
How can I actually expedite it? I've been told doing premium processing for the i140 is no use as they i485 will need to be approved too which has no premium processing option and will take months.

Did some research. Hoping someone can help me with the below:-

1) Some people say PP will attract RFE's. Others are saying its the best decision they made. What are your thoughts?
2) People online are saying once the i140 gets approved, the i485 gets picked up sooner. Is that true?
3) Can I do PP given I initially went with regular processing based on what the immigration attorney advise re. waiting for i485 anyway? If so, can I just contact them, ask them for it and pay?

[BluePanther]

Firstly, thanks for your reply!!!

Is this the right time to expedite?
How can I actually expedite it? I've been told doing premium processing for the i140 is no use as they i485 will need to be approved too which has no premium processing option and will take months.

Whether to expedite or not depends on how dire your situation is. I have not expedited myself and not sure how to execute it.
No idea about premium processing, there are likely existing threads on the topic already that you can review.

USSCFFS would be a good source, but have not seen any responses from him for a while.

[Spaniard88]

My field office is Newark. My pd is April 26th. I got the EAD card 4.5 months after. Last week my interview was scheduled for next month. Everything tooks like 9.5 months, Considering the high volume of applications that handle this office I think is a reasonable time. Didn't get any RFE in the waiting time

That's great news! Hopefully processing time is still similar. I don't think EAD cards will be approved until end of Feb, but it's true if it takes around 10 months, Newark timing isn't that bad.

[BluePanther]

That's great news! Hopefully processing time is still similar. I don't think EAD cards will be approved until end of Feb, but it's true if it takes around 10 months, Newark timing isn't that bad.

Newark:
7 Months to 17.5 Months - Employment-based adjustment applications
10.5 Months to 20.5 Months - Family-based adjustment applications

[Spaniard88]

September Retrogression

Just a thought... but if back in September 2018 there was a pretty significant retrogression, there shouldn't be many applicants from that month. Does that mean that October filers should get served for EAD/AP combo after August filers?
I'm seeing that many of the August filers have already received EAD/AP combo cards

This is me day dreaming... lol

[Teto00]

Just a thought... but if back in September 2018 there was a pretty significant retrogression, there shouldn't be many applicants from that month. Does that mean that October filers should get served for EAD/AP combo after August filers?
I'm seeing that many of the August filers have already received EAD/AP combo cards

This is me day dreaming... lol

i would hope this is true lol.

My wife is getting desperate because she can't work.

[nycfiler3]

Just a thought... but if back in September 2018 there was a pretty significant retrogression, there shouldn't be many applicants from that month. Does that mean that October filers should get served for EAD/AP combo after August filers?
I'm seeing that many of the August filers have already received EAD/AP combo cards

This is me day dreaming... lol

September retrogression? What makes you think so?

[Spaniard88]

September retrogression? What makes you think so?

The official visa bulletin of September 2018 https://travel.state.gov/content/tri...mber-2018.html
back in September 2018 almost all categories were affected

[Enub4]

Do you think the change from "Final Action Dates" to "Dates for Filing" for EB adjustment since October make a big increase in new filings?

Some people that couldn't file before now can file and get EAD/AP even if there are no GC available yet.

My guess is that if the number is not big, then there will be no change for the 'normal' processing times.

[nycfiler3]

The official visa bulletin of September 2018 https://travel.state.gov/content/tri...mber-2018.html
back in September 2018 almost all categories were affected

Oh ok, I've never really understood how to read these bulletins oops! Thanks though

[Spaniard88]

Do you think the change from "Final Action Dates" to "Dates for Filing" for EB adjustment since October make a big increase in new filings?

Some people that couldn't file before now can file and get EAD/AP even if there are no GC available yet.

My guess is that if the number is not big, then there will be no change for the 'normal' processing times.

At this point it's all speculation. I'm guessing this because something like did not happen in the previous year (September 2017 bulletin). Plus, I haven't seen an active 'September filers' thread in this forum either. That's what made me think that maybe (just maybe) there might be less than normal number of applications. Again I don't have a way to sustain this hypothesis with factual data, and it's boring to wait in silence.

[Enub4]

At this point it's all speculation. I'm guessing this because something like did not happen in the previous year (September 2017 bulletin). Plus, I haven't seen an active 'September filers' thread in this forum either. That's what made me think that maybe (just maybe) there might be less than normal number of applications. Again I don't have a way to sustain this hypothesis with factual data, and it's boring to wait in silence.

Yes, it makes sense that less people filed in September. Then in October all the people that didn't file on September (due to retrogression) were able to file, plus some more thanks to the change on the calendar used to file (for EB).

[BluePanther]

At this point it's all speculation. I'm guessing this because something like did not happen in the previous year (September 2017 bulletin). Plus, I haven't seen an active 'September filers' thread in this forum either. That's what made me think that maybe (just maybe) there might be less than normal number of applications. Again I don't have a way to sustain this hypothesis with factual data, and it's boring to wait in silence.

I do agree that retrogression and switching between Final Action Dates and Filing Dates will impact the backlog. That said, the impact will likely be felt with a delay so it is indeed a matter of wait and see how much it changes processing times.

You can keep an eye on the I765 processing times, it seems to change regularly so it appears they keep this up to date.

Other than that the best strategy is to practice patience. If you are going to check your status every day, you will drive yourself insane and it makes the wait feel much longer. Best to just go on with life and don’t think about it too much.

[Teto00]

close to 3 months and still have not heard anything for the combo cards :/

Hopefully in the next 2 months there is some movement.

[funnykriss]

hello please share your interview experience

I do agree that retrogression and switching between Final Action Dates and Filing Dates will impact the backlog. That said, the impact will likely be felt with a delay so it is indeed a matter of wait and see how much it changes processing times.

You can keep an eye on the I765 processing times, it seems to change regularly so it appears they keep this up to date.

Other than that the best strategy is to practice patience. If you are going to check your status every day, you will drive yourself insane and it makes the wait feel much longer. Best to just go on with life and don’t think about it too much.

Hello panther,
since you mentioned your interview is at end of jan please share your experience once you are done with it. I wish you good luck.

Thanks
funny