St. Louis interview experiences anyone?

[Abby2018]

Any recent St. Louis marriage-based I-485 interview experiences? What is the normal timeline for I-485 approval?

[Fastrain]

Any recent St. Louis marriage-based I-485 interview experiences? What is the normal timeline for I-485 approval?

I have asked this question as well when I just filed my papers. I live in St. Louis too. I filed in July 26th and I just got the email “case is ready to be scheduled for an interview” today. So it took 5 months to process that. Also I haven’t received any EAD or SSN.

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Any recent St. Louis marriage-based I-485 interview experiences? What is the normal timeline for I-485 approval?

Someone else said that it took 8 months for them to be interviewed. I think it was “ember” that’s said so. Not sure.

[Abby2018]

Thank you! I've always wondered if St. Louis is a busy office as compared to others.

[ember]

I have asked this question as well when I just filed my papers. I live in St. Louis too. I filed in July 26th and I just got the email “case is ready to be scheduled for an interview” today. So it took 5 months to process that. Also I haven’t received any EAD or SSN.

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Someone else said that it took 8 months for them to be interviewed. I think it was “ember” that’s said so. Not sure.

Hey! Yeah, that was me. Filing date was Feb 20, interview was October 11, and the case was approved on October 19.

A very loose/general timeline is:

Feb - filing
March - biometrics
April - ready to be scheduled
May - received EAD
June -
July - apply for AP
Aug - scheduled for interview
Sep -
Oct - interview /approval
Nov - green card

We went to biometrics early (I tend to use 'we' for everything btw, but I am the USC spouse, my husband is the one who got his green card) and then applied to expedite his EAD on the basis of financial loss because we were afraid the delays would cause him to lose his job. He had EAD through OPT that was valid for another 4 months after we filed, but with everything slowing down, we were worried...

Anyway, we got EAD in 2.5 months after the expedite request, then a month later we applied for AP. It was approved after a few weeks online, but we didn't end up getting the letter until around the time of our interview and the actual AP came way later. Our status remained on "biometrics completed" until August, when it changed to "Ready to be scheduled" but the date was way back in like April. As in, we were apparently ready to be scheduled in April but never got the update, so it was just stressful radio silence. A few days after that, we got the update that we'd been scheduled.

It was a pretty easy interview, 15 minutes, we had Officer Frison as our IO. She asked us about how we met, where we traveled together, and asked us to identify some people in photos. We went with a lawyer and I guess she lost the G28 or the last page or something, which is why it took so long to approve (we got RFE'd asking for a new G28 and were approved the day after it arrived).

USCIS St. Louis was pretty full, and our interview was probably 30-40 minutes after the scheduled time.

Overall it was an OK process. My husband is more laid back than me, so I stressed a lot more, esp. May-Aug when there was virtually no contact from USCIS and then again when we weren't approved soon after the interview (but if you're in STL, don't expect to be approved AT the interview anyway, I heard they almost never do that).

Feel free to ask me any other questions! Happy to try to shed any light that I can.

Also, don't know if it helps, but we are "easy" - both late 20s, both grad educated, we have a dog, he's met my parents in person, I've skyped with his and have plans to meet, etc. etc. no previous marriages, no kids, some shared & some separate accounts, I was in grad school but graduating soon, lived together, no crim issues or even tickets (although he got his first right before our interview OF COURSE), and no other red flags or complicated situation. Lots of photos and messages.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Make sure to read through the links on this hread to prepare for your interview. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...428#post590428

[Fastrain]

Hey! Yeah, that was me. Filing date was Feb 20, interview was October 11, and the case was approved on October 19.

A very loose/general timeline is:

Feb - filing
March - biometrics
April - ready to be scheduled
May - received EAD
June -
July - apply for AP
Aug - scheduled for interview
Sep -
Oct - interview /approval
Nov - green card

We went to biometrics early (I tend to use 'we' for everything btw, but I am the USC spouse, my husband is the one who got his green card) and then applied to expedite his EAD on the basis of financial loss because we were afraid the delays would cause him to lose his job. He had EAD through OPT that was valid for another 4 months after we filed, but with everything slowing down, we were worried...

Anyway, we got EAD in 2.5 months after the expedite request, then a month later we applied for AP. It was approved after a few weeks online, but we didn't end up getting the letter until around the time of our interview and the actual AP came way later. Our status remained on "biometrics completed" until August, when it changed to "Ready to be scheduled" but the date was way back in like April. As in, we were apparently ready to be scheduled in April but never got the update, so it was just stressful radio silence. A few days after that, we got the update that we'd been scheduled.

It was a pretty easy interview, 15 minutes, we had Officer Frison as our IO. She asked us about how we met, where we traveled together, and asked us to identify some people in photos. We went with a lawyer and I guess she lost the G28 or the last page or something, which is why it took so long to approve (we got RFE'd asking for a new G28 and were approved the day after it arrived).

USCIS St. Louis was pretty full, and our interview was probably 30-40 minutes after the scheduled time.

Overall it was an OK process. My husband is more laid back than me, so I stressed a lot more, esp. May-Aug when there was virtually no contact from USCIS and then again when we weren't approved soon after the interview (but if you're in STL, don't expect to be approved AT the interview anyway, I heard they almost never do that).

Feel free to ask me any other questions! Happy to try to shed any light that I can.

Also, don't know if it helps, but we are "easy" - both late 20s, both grad educated, we have a dog, he's met my parents in person, I've skyped with his and have plans to meet, etc. etc. no previous marriages, no kids, some shared & some separate accounts, I was in grad school but graduating soon, lived together, no crim issues or even tickets (although he got his first right before our interview OF COURSE), and no other red flags or complicated situation. Lots of photos and messages.

Thanks ember. It’s looking good so far. Today day 147 I got an update that my card is being produced. I’m super happy. It took 5 months.

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Make sure to read through the links on this hread to prepare for your interview. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...428#post590428

Thanks will sure do.

[Abby2018]

Thank you so much!

How many photos did you submit? We have many photos, and many are about our kids (aka our dogs).

[DreamBig13]

Hey! Yeah, that was me. Filing date was Feb 20, interview was October 11, and the case was approved on October 19.

A very loose/general timeline is:

Feb - filing
March - biometrics
April - ready to be scheduled
May - received EAD
June -
July - apply for AP
Aug - scheduled for interview
Sep -
Oct - interview /approval
Nov - green card

We went to biometrics early (I tend to use 'we' for everything btw, but I am the USC spouse, my husband is the one who got his green card) and then applied to expedite his EAD on the basis of financial loss because we were afraid the delays would cause him to lose his job. He had EAD through OPT that was valid for another 4 months after we filed, but with everything slowing down, we were worried...

Anyway, we got EAD in 2.5 months after the expedite request, then a month later we applied for AP. It was approved after a few weeks online, but we didn't end up getting the letter until around the time of our interview and the actual AP came way later. Our status remained on "biometrics completed" until August, when it changed to "Ready to be scheduled" but the date was way back in like April. As in, we were apparently ready to be scheduled in April but never got the update, so it was just stressful radio silence. A few days after that, we got the update that we'd been scheduled.

It was a pretty easy interview, 15 minutes, we had Officer Frison as our IO. She asked us about how we met, where we traveled together, and asked us to identify some people in photos. We went with a lawyer and I guess she lost the G28 or the last page or something, which is why it took so long to approve (we got RFE'd asking for a new G28 and were approved the day after it arrived).

USCIS St. Louis was pretty full, and our interview was probably 30-40 minutes after the scheduled time.

Overall it was an OK process. My husband is more laid back than me, so I stressed a lot more, esp. May-Aug when there was virtually no contact from USCIS and then again when we weren't approved soon after the interview (but if you're in STL, don't expect to be approved AT the interview anyway, I heard they almost never do that).

Feel free to ask me any other questions! Happy to try to shed any light that I can.

Also, don't know if it helps, but we are "easy" - both late 20s, both grad educated, we have a dog, he's met my parents in person, I've skyped with his and have plans to meet, etc. etc. no previous marriages, no kids, some shared & some separate accounts, I was in grad school but graduating soon, lived together, no crim issues or even tickets (although he got his first right before our interview OF COURSE), and no other red flags or complicated situation. Lots of photos and messages.

My situation is similar to yours. We are both mid 20s, college graduates and no crimes (never gotten tickets either).
How did your husband expedite the EAD under financial hardship? If you don’t have the EAD and you lose you job because of it, it would fall under financial hardship? I’m currently employed but my EAD (DACA) will expire next March and I don’t want to lose my job. I have heard people expedite EAD when they have a job offer but I haven’t heard of someone that has a job already.

[Dianis]

[QUOTE=Fastrain;590221]I have asked this question as well when I just filed my papers. I live in St. Louis too. I filed in July 26th and I just got the email “case is ready to be scheduled for an interview” today. So it took 5 months to process that. Also I haven’t received any EAD or SSN.

Hi! How?s your case going?
I?m transferring my case to STL in the next days. I?m wondering if that will make my case extra slow. My currents field office and STL have very similar processing times.

[ember]

My situation is similar to yours. We are both mid 20s, college graduates and no crimes (never gotten tickets either).
How did your husband expedite the EAD under financial hardship? If you don?t have the EAD and you lose you job because of it, it would fall under financial hardship? I?m currently employed but my EAD (DACA) will expire next March and I don?t want to lose my job. I have heard people expedite EAD when they have a job offer but I haven?t heard of someone that has a job already.

Sorry for the late reply! He requested an Expedite on the basis of severe financial hardship. They requested evidence so we submitted several automated emails saying "your work authorization is ending on XX/XX/2018 and if you do not submit updated documents before that date, you will be terminated", a letter from his HR stating the same but signed and on official company letterhead, and a letter from his boss explaining the importance of having him on the team and being able to work, basically "he is critical to the continuing success and his termination would negatively impact our business". We included this with a copy of our request to expedite, USCIS' request for evidence, and a cover letter explaining that we rely on his income to support our family (which is just us two, but still a family!).

Basically you need to show that you'll lose your job & income, and that your family needs it. At least that's what worked for us.

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Thank you so much!

How many photos did you submit? We have many photos, and many are about our kids (aka our dogs).

I think about 20 with our initial filing, and then about 60 at the interview (IO did not take them)