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Hi guys - I wanted to post a final update and share my story. I filed my I-485 through employer in New York on Sep 28th, 2018. My received date was Oct 1, 2018. During this anxious time after filing the I-485, I have 1) Switched jobs; and 2) Moved to a different State (New York to LA). I have had a grand total of 3 interview scheduling experiences. The first one was scheduled in New York in between the time I changed my address and when USCIS actually processed the address change. After the processing of the address change, USCIS cancelled the interview (I was fully willing to fly back to New York from LA just to attend the interview - although I do not think this is allowed if you have moved states). The second interview was scheduled in Los Angeles, where I moved to; however, when I went in person during the interview time, going through security and all the way up to the USCIS officer, they tell me that they don't have my file; my file is apparently still in transit from New York (it has been ~1.5 months since USCIS has processed my address change). Finally, the third interview was scheduled about 2.5 weeks after this experience, and this one went very well and I received an immediate approval on August 2, 2019.
Throughout the move and interview scheduling, I made numerous calls to USCIS, trying to get transferred to a level 2 agent (who has more power) and can file a ticket for my case. Primarily I was concerned with how long the interview scheduling would take after my 2nd failed interview, and if I would be put to the back of the processing queue. Fortunately, through these calls and appeals to USCIS, I was able to have USCIS contact the field office and have them put me in the front of the queue. The below is my exact timeline.
I want to encourage everyone to be patient, be proactive, and have a good legal team. I would also encourage if you have a complicated situation, to schedule a consultation with a third party lawyer. The lawyer working on your case may be the law firm that your company designates - sometimes those lawyers aren't that good or just don't know how to deal with complicated situations.
The two law firms I have scheduled multiple consultations with through the job change and address change are:
1) m urt hy Law Firm - Pamela Genise - https://www. **** **.com/about-us/law-...pamela-genise/
I had two calls with - she is extremely experienced and professional. Her rates are high, $250 for a 20 minute consultation, but when you need a second opinion, and a good one, I cannot recommend her enough. She was good relating to AC 21 related questions.
2) Capitol Immigration Law Group - Dimo Michailov - https://www.cilawgroup.com/professio...o-r-michailov/
He is good, rates are much lower than **** ** ($99 for 20 minutes). I would highly recommend him as well, but would say if you have the budget or have a more complicated case and need 3 opinions, Pamela is extremely good. I used both of them.
Here's my final timeline. Hope this is helpful for you.
Throughout the move and interview scheduling, I made numerous calls to USCIS, trying to get transferred to a level 2 agent (who has more power) and can file a ticket for my case. Primarily I was concerned with how long the interview scheduling would take after my 2nd failed interview, and if I would be put to the back of the processing queue. Fortunately, through these calls and appeals to USCIS, I was able to have USCIS contact the field office and have them put me in the front of the queue. The below is my exact timeline.
I want to encourage everyone to be patient, be proactive, and have a good legal team. I would also encourage if you have a complicated situation, to schedule a consultation with a third party lawyer. The lawyer working on your case may be the law firm that your company designates - sometimes those lawyers aren't that good or just don't know how to deal with complicated situations.
The two law firms I have scheduled multiple consultations with through the job change and address change are:
1) m urt hy Law Firm - Pamela Genise - https://www. **** **.com/about-us/law-...pamela-genise/
I had two calls with - she is extremely experienced and professional. Her rates are high, $250 for a 20 minute consultation, but when you need a second opinion, and a good one, I cannot recommend her enough. She was good relating to AC 21 related questions.
2) Capitol Immigration Law Group - Dimo Michailov - https://www.cilawgroup.com/professio...o-r-michailov/
He is good, rates are much lower than **** ** ($99 for 20 minutes). I would highly recommend him as well, but would say if you have the budget or have a more complicated case and need 3 opinions, Pamela is extremely good. I used both of them.
Here's my final timeline. Hope this is helpful for you.
| 28-Sep-18 | package sent | |
| 01-Oct-18 | package delivered - received date - day in which 180 days starts for AC 21 | |
| 15-Oct-18 | receipt notices in mail | |
| 19-Oct-18 | Received fingerprint appointment notice | |
| 01-Nov-18 | Fingerprint appointment at local office | |
| Waiting a long time | ||
| 31-Mar-19 | Change of address requested online | |
| 04-Apr-19 | Approval notice for i-765 - 1 year card - allows you to work in the US - old address | |
| 04-Apr-19 | Approval notice for I-131 - application for travel document, advance parole - old address | |
| 05-Apr-19 | Change of address - online status changed, said assigned to officer for response | |
| 08-Apr-19 | Online status: "We mailed your new card your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, directly to the address you gave us." | |
| 08-Apr-19 | Interview #1 scheduled in New York for Monday May 13 1210pm | |
| 09-Apr-19 | Online status: "The Post Office picked up mail containing your new card." | |
| 10-Apr-19 | Combo Card Received | |
| 18-Apr-19 | Address change completed | |
| 19-Apr-19 | Intereview #1 cancelation notice - very likely due to change of address being processed the day before | |
| 24-Apr-19 | Received notice of interview #2 scheduled in Los Anglees - Monday June 3, 2019 11am | |
| 11-Jun-19 | Arrive a couple hours early, go through security, head up to the 8th floor. Officer comes out, says my materials aren't there and they have to cancel the interview. | |
| 27-Jun-19 | Interview #3 scheduled in Los Angeles - for Aug 2, 2019 at 815am | |
| 02-Aug-19 | Interview goes smoothly, mere formality, officer was quite familiar with the case and all we've been through. Was the field director of the office. Immediate approval and sent me home with an approval notice. | |
| 02-Aug-19 | Case status online: "We ordered your new card." | |
| 05-Aug-19 | Case status online: "We approved your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status." | |
| 07-Aug-19 | Case status online: "We mailed your new card your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, directly to the address you gave us." - the other site gave a trackign # - https://myaccount.uscis.gov/ | |
| 08-Aug-19 | Case status online: "The Post Office picked up mail containing your new card." | |
| 10-Aug-19 | Greencard received | |
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