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DV 2020 AOS Only

Hirouri said:
Hello,

We had our interview on last Friday (09/04) in Detroit. The IO was very polite and kind. She only asked basic questions (where/how did we meet? And yes/no questions…)

During the interview, we realized that our lawyer sent only copies of all our documents (birth certificates, marriage certificate and even our I-485 forms!!!) I had a very hard time to hide how mad I was at my lawyer (she was not present because based in Houston and myself in Detroit). Fortunately it was not a big deal because we could sign our forms and show all original certificates… but of course there was no chance for our interview to be waived by sending only copies!

I asked the IO if she had an idea why our lawyers only provided copies, she answered that the lawyers typically send copies of certificates and they provide originals at the time of the interview.

Lesson #1: this is an additional reason not to hire a lawyer – in my case hiring a lawyer just made it impossible to have our interview waived (and I won’t mention here the tens of mistakes that they did and we corrected before they sent our application) à a pain in the a.. from A to Z

Lesson #2: in addition to the originals, bring a copy : for example we could not give the IO our property deed because she only wanted documents that she could keep with her (again it was not a big deal because we had other evidences but not as strong as a property deed) – in many interview story in this forum, people said that the IO left to make some copies and came back, so I though it was the way it should be. Plus in the interview letter they only ask for bringing originals à bring a photocopy of any single evidence that you don’t want to give the original.

At the end of the interview, the IO said that she needs to review our file to make a decision. I asked her if our background check was completed (bio done 1 month earlier on 08/04) and she said: “honestly I need to check because I haven’t checked this before the interview”.

So now I am quite stressed and I can’t wait to see my status changing… hopefully soon

Thank you Mom for all the resource you made available for us, you multiplied by x 1000 our chance to succeed!
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Congratulations on interview completion.

Adding a slight correction here - you are not supposed to mail in the original version of documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, school records, etc unless you’re referring to the translated English version, so your lawyer did nothing wrong on that end. The I-485 however should have been the original copy. You are required to attend the interview with the original copies, if your lawyer had submitted those, you obviously wouldn’t have been able to take them along to your interview and USCIS wouldn’t have returned them to you.

Nonetheless, I don’t think sending in a copy of the I485 form is the reason you couldn’t have been approved without an interview. Your IO most likely just didn’t feel inclined to do so.
 
Update just FY'all-I

I'm now getting the "Card has been mailed to you" message.
i never got the "Card is being produced" ever.
just jumped from "Case approved" to "mailed"

this is just to reiterate for the benefit of everyone, that the case status update is not always perfectly up to date and is not the same for everyone.
 
I need a suggestion, please.
I have my interview scheduled for Sept 18th. I am currently in F1 visa. My OPT expired on August 20th, however, I have applied for STEM OPT which shows the case is received and I also got a text with a receipt number. I have kept the mailing address to my college international student center. But they said that they could not find my I797 for stem OPT. I also called USCIS to issue I797, but they said they sent it back in June and cannot re-issue one again. Will that be a problem in my interview? (as I won't have I797 for STEM OPT). Or can I just tell the IO my receipt number for STEM OPT? Or is there any suggestion, please?
I do have my I20, currently working, and can show my paycheck and employment letter dated after August 20th.

Thank you so much!
 
hi All,
Still waiting for the interview after completing bio on Nov 19.
Submitted an expedite request on 08/31, received a response on 09/01 that "We still reviewing your case". My layers also told me that they submitted the ombudsmen inquiry and congressman inquiry last week. Is there anything else I can do? Some people here mentioned Infosy's appointment, but USCIS agent said it's not possible to submit for the diversity visa program.
Thanks!
 
Good afternoon dear, a question once you receive the green card I must take my passport to be stamped ? or what else I should do ? thank you
 
Nyankosensei said:
Hi !
I have some updates!

I called USCIS this morning, then an agent told me other special agent call me back. I think I called at 9 am.
Now I just got a call from LFO, it's Santa Ana. This call was about my interview schedule!
He called me because he is going to send emails with appointment letters. Even they send letter by mail, they don't know if I can get them before appointment so he wanted confirmation of that.
My interview appointment is 9/15 morning.
I told him I haven't had a biometric appointment yet then he said he can do it same day I have an interview!

I don't know if my documents will be approved yet but it is good news for me ! At least I can go to the interview!

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate all of you guys who gave me great advices!
It is just another step but I am sure I couldn't come this point by myself.

Thank you so much! Hope I can update with great news soon !
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Thanks Nyankosensei for sharing experience and all for sharing advice here.

Me and my family have received biometrics letter but are awaiting interview letter. I took the advice here and called USCIS tier 2 officer today, and they kindly submitted an expedite request for my i485 case at Houston FO. Unfortunately they didn't expedite my wife and 6 year old son's case because they were not on the call (I called from my desk at work). I'm not sure of the significance of this. I am the principal applicant (the DV Lottery winner) and an expedite request has been submitted for my i485. Does it stand to reason that my family member's cases would be expedited as well? Or do I need to get wife and son to call back and request expedite too? Thanks for any advice in advance.
 
akabhagawan said:
I need a suggestion, please.
I have my interview scheduled for Sept 18th. I am currently in F1 visa. My OPT expired on August 20th, however, I have applied for STEM OPT which shows the case is received and I also got a text with a receipt number. I have kept the mailing address to my college international student center. But they said that they could not find my I797 for stem OPT. I also called USCIS to issue I797, but they said they sent it back in June and cannot re-issue one again. Will that be a problem in my interview? (as I won't have I797 for STEM OPT). Or can I just tell the IO my receipt number for STEM OPT? Or is there any suggestion, please?
I do have my I20, currently working, and can show my paycheck and employment letter dated after August 20th.

Thank you so much!
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If the IO ask if you wish to submit any new document, inform them about the STEM OPT application, and that you’ve lost the associated I-797 to that application.
 
Reiden said:
hi All,
Still waiting for the interview after completing bio on Nov 19.
Submitted an expedite request on 08/31, received a response on 09/01 that "We still reviewing your case". My layers also told me that they submitted the ombudsmen inquiry and congressman inquiry last week. Is there anything else I can do? Some people here mentioned Infosy's appointment, but USCIS agent said it's not possible to submit for the diversity visa program.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Be patient. You’ve already utilized available case follow up resources. What for the outcome of the already initiated inquiries.
 
930 said:
Thanks Nyankosensei for sharing experience and all for sharing advice here.

Me and my family have received biometrics letter but are awaiting interview letter. I took the advice here and called USCIS tier 2 officer today, and they kindly submitted an expedite request for my i485 case at Houston FO. Unfortunately they didn't expedite my wife and 6 year old son's case because they were not on the call (I called from my desk at work). I'm not sure of the significance of this. I am the principal applicant (the DV Lottery winner) and an expedite request has been submitted for my i485. Does it stand to reason that my family member's cases would be expedited as well? Or do I need to get wife and son to call back and request expedite too? Thanks for any advice in advance.
Click to expand...

If your case gets expedited, your derivatives will equally benefit from it.
 
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A little bit update:
I called USCIS this morning again because I haven't received emails since my FO called me on August 28.
I think I talked tier 1 and he could see my interview appointment on his computer. Also he suggested that I make a USCIS online account to follow my case.
I made it already and just waiting to go to interview next week.
 
Hi, guys ! I’m ready to send my I-485 form and supporting documents. Can I send them and bring my medical exam with receipt of fee $330 to the interview? Cause I don’t have much time to wait results of medical exam.
 
Zulfiia said:
Hi, guys ! I’m ready to send my I-485 form and supporting documents. Can I send them and bring my medical exam with receipt of fee $330 to the interview? Cause I don’t have much time to wait results of medical exam.
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Are you dv2020? If yes, I don't want to disappoint you, but I don't think you have enough time to get an interview by the end of September...
 
Zulfiia said:
Hi, guys ! I’m ready to send my I-485 form and supporting documents. Can I send them and bring my medical exam with receipt of fee $330 to the interview? Cause I don’t have much time to wait results of medical exam.
Click to expand...

You obviously are taking a risk, but it doesn’t matter since you’ve already stated you’re willing to take the risk.

Zulfiia said:
I’m DV2020. But I want to take a risk and try to send my documents.
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What is your current status by the way? Just curious.
 
Sm1smom said:
You obviously are taking a risk, but it doesn’t matter since you’ve already stated you’re willing to take the risk.



What is your current status by the way? Just curious.
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My mom applied for asylum and I was a child under 21. One more question: G-1450, I just need to put my card information and IO will get a payment when IO will receive I-485, is it correct?
 
Zulfiia said:
My mom applied for asylum and I was a child under 21. One more question: G-1450, I just need to put my card information and IO will get a payment when IO will receive I-485, is it correct?
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Meaning you’re a derivative asylum pending? Which means you technically have no status to adjust from in the first place.

The Chicago Lockbox will charge the credit card based on the information provided on the G-1450 after they AOS package has been formally accepted.
 
Hi Mom,

I did my interview without bio about a week ago. The interview went well and the officer asked me to wait for the bio invitation letter. I received it today and it`s scheduled for 09.21. I am worried that it`s only a week before the month`s end. Do I need to ask them to reschedule it for a closer date or are they aware of the deadline?
 
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