September 2018 filers

[seattle2903]

What carrier did you use to send the response to the RFE? I was thinking about USPS 2-Day Priority but is there anything faster? I tried FedEx envelope but it tells me one of the zip codes is not in the serviced area (??). USPS 2-Day is still fine, one more day won?t break the camel?s back.

[seattle2903]

My response to the RFE was delivered this morning to their office in MO and signed for. I am now waiting for them to acknowledge the receipt so the cases will no longer be on hold.

[WaitedLongEnough]

My response to the RFE was delivered this morning to their office in MO and signed for. I am now waiting for them to acknowledge the receipt so the cases will no longer be on hold.

See my timeline. You should get it by the end of the week

[seattle2903]

A quick tip for those interested: your congressional liaison can require an electronic (PDF) copy of the RFE. I did not request it but because I contacted my Congressman in regards to the EAD expedite request, she kept in touch with USCIS and updates me weekly. Today she emailed me USCIS? update saying that they are awaiting my response to the RFE and attached a PDF of the RFE. My response was delivered today to their office so I guess they haven?t processed it yet.

Anyway, if you are expediting your EAD and want to skip waiting 7-10 days to get the RFE by mail, you can try contacting the Congressional liaison and see if they can get the PDF from USCIS.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

A quick tip for those interested: your congressional liaison can require an electronic (PDF) copy of the RFE. I did not request it but because I contacted my Congressman in regards to the EAD expedite request, she kept in touch with USCIS and updates me weekly. Today she emailed me USCIS? update saying that they are awaiting my response to the RFE and attached a PDF of the RFE. My response was delivered today to their office so I guess they haven?t processed it yet.

Anyway, if you are expediting your EAD and want to skip waiting 7-10 days to get the RFE by mail, you can try contacting the Congressional liaison and see if they can get the PDF from USCIS.

Yes, by signing that privacy release form, you are granting the congressperson's office access to your entire AOS process.

[seattle2903]

Just got an update that USCIS received my response to the RFE.

[seattle2903]

I don't know what else to do. My job start date in Nov 13, so next Tuesday and I obviously won't be able to start because my EAD is still not approved. I expedited almost a month ago, responded to their RFE and still nothing. I got my Congressman and the Senator involved. I also placed an inquiry with the Ombudsman. I emailed HR at my company and told them I won't be able to start next week, apologized and hope they will be willing to push my start date forward. Otherwise, I have to start the job hunt all over again.

Is there anything else I can do? My I-485 status updated yesterday to "We received your response to the RFE and will begin working on your case again".

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I don't know what else to do. My job start date in Nov 13, so next Tuesday and I obviously won't be able to start because my EAD is still not approved. I expedited almost a month ago, responded to their RFE and still nothing. I got my Congressman and the Senator involved. I also placed an inquiry with the Ombudsman. I emailed HR at my company and told them I won't be able to start next week, apologized and hope they will be willing to push my start date forward. Otherwise, I have to start the job hunt all over again.

Is there anything else I can do? My I-485 status updated yesterday to "We received your response to the RFE and will begin working on your case again".

Remember that approval of the EAD/AP is entirely dependant upon the background checks. Those run on their own time and are finished when they are finished. You can't speed them up. No Senator/Congressman/Ombudsman can. You can ask either one of those 3 or ALL 3 IF the hold up is due to the background checks. They may be able to inquire how much longer it will take.

Your employer has 3 business days to fill out Section 2 of the I-9. If you start working on Monday, section 2 is due on Thursday. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/co...nd-attestation

Bottom line is that you've done everything in your power to get your EAD/AP expedited. Beyond this point, it's out of your hands. So just hang in there.

[seattle2903]

Remember that approval of the EAD/AP is entirely dependant upon the background checks. Those run on their own time and are finished when they are finished. You can't speed them up. No Senator/Congressman/Ombudsman can. You can ask either one of those 3 or ALL 3 IF the hold up is due to the background checks. They may be able to inquire how much longer it will take.

Your employer has 3 business days to fill out Section 2 of the I-9. If you start working on Monday, section 2 is due on Thursday. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/co...nd-attestation

Bottom line is that you've done everything in your power to get your EAD/AP expedited. Beyond this point, it's out of your hands. So just hang in there.

Thanks. I will ask the Congressman?s liaison to inquire about the background check and what the holdup is. Will customer service reps be able to tell me over the phone if the background check has been cleared already or not?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thanks. I will ask the Congressman?s liaison to inquire about the background check and what the holdup is. Will customer service reps be able to tell me over the phone if the background check has been cleared already or not?

Not level 1. A level 2 has access BUT not all are willing to pull up that info OR don't know how. When they did it for me, there was a lot of typing and clicking. They do use several systems to run checks. Thus, it makes sense they likely have to look at each one of those systems.

[seattle2903]

Not level 1. A level 2 has access BUT not all are willing to pull up that info OR don't know how. When they did it for me, there was a lot of typing and clicking. They do use several systems to run checks. Thus, it makes sense they likely have to look at each one of those systems.

Alright, I will call tomorrow and hope for the best. I always had super nice and helpful reps whenever I called, except for a Tier 2 who did not even speak English. That is my last attempt, I do not know what else to do. I am just going to wait it out and hope it will not take months.

Just a wild idea: would it do any good to place another expedite request? This one was hindered by the RFE (to which I responded) so I am hoping they will somehow come back to see it. But my concern with a new expedited request is that another officer will be assigned, he will need the case file, which could probably actually cause more delays.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Alright, I will call tomorrow and hope for the best. I always had super nice and helpful reps whenever I called, except for a Tier 2 who did not even speak English. That is my last attempt, I do not know what else to do. I am just going to wait it out and hope it will not take months.

Just a wild idea: would it do any good to place another expedite request? This one was hindered by the RFE (to which I responded) so I am hoping they will somehow come back to see it. But my concern with a new expedited request is that another officer will be assigned, he will need the case file, which could probably actually cause more delays.

LOL, oh come on... I doubt that whoever answered the phone did not speak English. They likely just had an accent that prevented them from communicating effectively with you.

I don't know that placing an additional expedite request would do anything - whether it would speed things up or slow them down. At this point, I would keep in close contact with the Senator, Congressperson, and Ombudsman. Most background checks take a good 90 days from the date they take your biometrics.

Our PD is 03-16-18. Biometrics were taking 04-12-18. Background checks cleared on 06-28-18. Combo card was approved on 07-30-18. My husband has only lived in Malaysia and in the US since 08-2014. His first, middle, Last name combination is unique. So I would say that his background checks cleared as fast as they could clear.

[MissG]

A two months process?!

what state?

[MissG]

Anyone from Detroit?

I've seen people have shorter processing times. I submitted application I-130, I-131, I-485, I-796 09/18/18. Biometrics 10/31/18. How long would be wait be? The application is not updated on the website so thats not helpful. Thanks

[seattle2903]

I emailed HR at my employer and let them know I still don?t have the EAD hence unable to start working on Tuesday. They pushed my start date to 11/26. I really hope I get the EAD by then.