Feb6361, sorry to hear about your case. But i am sure things would be in your favor soon. You have waited so long, therefore don't loose the hope now. Just wondering that how come officer would approve your case without an interview and send you the approval notice? that's really strange. These people are not worth it.
Yesterday, i went to local Greer office. I after waiting 1 hour, i wanted to know when i would get an interview, as charleston is processing dec 2001 cases. The officer is nice, and she told me that i should get something within 2 months as they have many cases on the shelve ahead of me. She said they are on shelf 37 and my case is on shelf 40. She said, i wouldn't go based upon dates on the internet.
then i asked her why my case got transferred, when my permanent residence is in PA, and it comes under Vermont juridiction.
She went inside and after 5 minutes she came outside and said, since i was out of status for two weeks, meaning my I-94 showed stamp as of Dec, 1 2001(meaning my stay expired in USA). And my I-485 filing date was Dec 17, 2001. Then i told her that i have never been out of status. That I-94 was from company A, and my lawyer should have attached I-797(h1-b) transfer notice that showed i am with the company B.
However, it seems my dumb ass lawyer did not attached I-797 transfer notice to company B, which was BTW approved in Mid-2001. I-94 reflected the old date based upon H-1B from my old company.
She said as long as you can prove that you'll be fine, other than that you'll have to file for I-245i and pay $1000 penalty.
I was fine as i know that's not a problem. However, i am just laughing on ineffciency of USCIS part that something like that they could have requested me on the RFE that they had sent 2 months ago. Also, it's amazing that even after 9/11, almost 3 years their databases with H-1B's are not linked and they did not even bother to do some leg work.
I guess, atleast i know what to expect in an interview.
That's our story my friend. we are just a puppet in their hands. Hope this journey ends for us.