Submitting form I-485 during COVID-19 crisis:

[nelsonwcf]

I'd like to know if there's any benefit in submitting the form I-485 during this COVID-19 crisis.

In USCIS site, they state that all in-person services have been cancelled until June 4th. However, they also stated they are still performing activities that doesn't involve face-to-face contact. If this is true, in theory, submitting the form I-485 now would mean they would be processing it until the time for the biometrics interview when the process would be halted. In practice, I don't know if they are processing any forms or not since they will involve face-to-face contact at some point.

Since many immigration law firms are also closed, many forms are accumulating and I expect a big batch of forms being submitted at the same time when the coronavirus situation gets better. So, would there be any benefit for me to send my I-485 now or should I wait until the coronavirus quarantine is suspended? Any advice on that?

Thank you,
Nelson

[Enub4]

If you already have your complete package, I think is better to send it right now. That way you will know if they accept it or reject it for some reason.

If you are including form I-693 you must send your package before 60 days after the civil surgeon signed the form, if not, your I-693 will not be valid. You can send the I-485 package without I-693 and do the medical exam later.

[newacct]

There's the benefit that having a pending I-485 means you can stay legally in the US, even if you go out of status in the meantime.

[PKumar01]

Yes, send your petition now. It's best to get "in line" and get moving. The USCIS is still adjudicating petitions, even if they're not conducting in-person interviews. So, you can take advantage to get yourself in queue and save time.

[manolo]

I sent in my package, including form I-485, two weeks ago or so and for now they've been processing it just as they'd normally do: they charged my credit cards for the filing fees, and sent me receipt notifications and case numbers. The sooner you start the process, the sooner it'll be over.

[killabee]

I'd like to know if there's any benefit in submitting the form I-485 during this COVID-19 crisis.

In USCIS site, they state that all in-person services have been cancelled until June 4th. However, they also stated they are still performing activities that doesn't involve face-to-face contact. If this is true, in theory, submitting the form I-485 now would mean they would be processing it until the time for the biometrics interview when the process would be halted. In practice, I don't know if they are processing any forms or not since they will involve face-to-face contact at some point.

Since many immigration law firms are also closed, many forms are accumulating and I expect a big batch of forms being submitted at the same time when the coronavirus situation gets better. So, would there be any benefit for me to send my I-485 now or should I wait until the coronavirus quarantine is suspended? Any advice on that?

Thank you,
Nelson

USCIS is still working and still processing applications. They are also approving documentation using old biometrics and have stated that they are doing so on their website. Not being able to do biometrics isn't halting the processes. They have also been waiving in person interviews for some cases and approving people anyway.

The law firm I use is still open for business, just not physically. I would assume that any law firm worth its salt is doing the same.

Given that this crisis is likely to shift how business is done for the foreseeable future (perhaps until a vaccine is found, if they find one), there is not much pointing waiting until it's over since you'll probably be waiting for a while.

In other words: go ahead.

[odobo]

USCIS is still working and still processing applications. They are also approving documentation using old biometrics and have stated that they are doing so on their website. Not being able to do biometrics isn't halting the processes. They have also been waiving in person interviews for some cases and approving people anyway.
.

killabee, rrt_01 , Mmesa , Hi, can you give us all an update? Any movement in your case?

[killabee]

killabee, rrt_01 , Mmesa , Hi, can you give us all an update? Any movement in your case?

I received approval notices for I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (AP) today after 93 days of them receiving my application.

I haven't heard yet re: my I-140 but it has been 5 months so I'm hoping to hear within the next month or two.

Am not expecting to hear anything on my I-485 for a while.

So, yes, movement. They are still processing cases.

[odobo]

I received approval notices for I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (AP) today after 93 days of them receiving my application.

I haven't heard yet re: my I-140 but it has been 5 months so I'm hoping to hear within the next month or two.

Am not expecting to hear anything on my I-485 for a while.

So, yes, movement. They are still processing cases.

killabee ,
good to hear. What about your biometric? Did you do it before the shutdown? or did they apply a previous one? or did they approve EAD/AP without it?

[killabee]

odobo I called USCIS last week and they told me that my I-140 (received by them on December 23rd) was actually approved at the beginning of May but for whatever reason they have not sent me an approval notice nor have they updated the website. I just spoke to them again now, they confirmed that yes the I-140 was definitely approved and they have put in a request for the approval notice to be sent to me which could take up to 60 days.

I haven't done any biometrics at all. My EAD and AP were approved without it.

Hope this helps.

[Irishoxford]

odobo I called USCIS last week and they told me that my I-140 (received by them on December 23rd) was actually approved at the beginning of May but for whatever reason they have not sent me an approval notice nor have they updated the website. I just spoke to them again now, they confirmed that yes the I-140 was definitely approved and they have put in a request for the approval notice to be sent to me which could take up to 60 days.

I haven't done any biometrics at all. My EAD and AP were approved without it.

Hope this helps.

killabee Did you actually get your EAD/AP physical card yet? Is NBC the service centre also? Sorry to be peppering you with questions (in a similar, if not identical, position).

[killabee]

Irishoxford - no worries re: the questions. I haven't received my EAD/AP physical card yet, no. I spoke to one person at USCIS who told me it was in production, then I spoke to another person about a week later who said she wasn't sure that it had gone to production as yet and that I'd have to wait up to 60 days to receive it. I check my mailbox for it every day :-) And yes NBC is the service center. Nothing has been updated on the website beyond that I got the EAD and AP approval. I asked the second lady on the phone why they are so bad at updating the website/sending text and email notifications and she said it's probably because they are all working from home right now.

[Irishoxford]

Irishoxford - no worries re: the questions. I haven't received my EAD/AP physical card yet, no. I spoke to one person at USCIS who told me it was in production, then I spoke to another person about a week later who said she wasn't sure that it had gone to production as yet and that I'd have to wait up to 60 days to receive it. I check my mailbox for it every day :-) And yes NBC is the service center. Nothing has been updated on the website beyond that I got the EAD and AP approval. I asked the second lady on the phone why they are so bad at updating the website/sending text and email notifications and she said it's probably because they are all working from home right now.

Thanks for letting me know. I spoke to a Tier-2 officer yesterday and asked if there was something happening at the NBC re: delays in getting cards out. He said he hadn’t heard anything about that.

I’m sorry you haven’t received your card. I suspect I’m in for a wait likewise.

Thanks again!

[Mmesa]

Hi everyone

On my side, nothing since the I-693 courtesy letter.

I called two weeks ago to have infos about the biometrics and ask if they could apply the ones they got at the airport in NYC last year. The lady said they would apply any bio by themselves and there's nothing I can do but wait.

Tomorrow marks 90 days since my PD. I'll call on Monday and see if there's any news about my EAD/AP, I did not know they could process it without biometrics, this time I'll insist cause... I need to start working soon!

I don't know if it's still worth it to file an expedite then...

(Congrats Irishoxford and killabee for the approvals! did you get the card yet?)

[killabee]

Thanks for letting me know. I spoke to a Tier-2 officer yesterday and asked if there was something happening at the NBC re: delays in getting cards out. He said he hadn’t heard anything about that.

I’m sorry you haven’t received your card. I suspect I’m in for a wait likewise.

Thanks again!

Thanks - I am confident it will arrive soon. USCIS can sometimes be faster than expected, at other times they can be slower! Patience seems to be the name of the game. Good luck. Let me know when you get it.