DV 2021 AOS Only

[Sm1smom]

Hi mom, can they schedule an interview as well?

No, they can’t. They however can reach out to the FO on an applicant’s behalf though

 

[gg96]

No, they can’t. They however can reach out to the FO on an applicant’s behalf though

Would they do that only if it has been more than 6 months since the filing date or does it depend on the person?

 

[Sm1smom]

Would they do that only if it has been more than 6 months since the filing date or does it depend on the person?

The decision to contact the FO depends on several factors such as the person you're speaking with, how you present your case, how they feel about the information you've provided them with, etc.

 

[FORESTWOOD]

Hi everyone. I wanted to give you an update on my and my spouse's interview which was scheduled for today (CN AS16xx, Filed mid-December). Interview was scheduled for 8 AM and we made it to the parking lot approximately five minutes early. We went through the security gate and were guided to a waiting room. The officer came out calling our name and guided us to her office. First she took our identification (passports, driver's license, social security card) and had us take an oath. Then she went on to review every section of our I-485's, she would ask if our answers were correct and we would basically just say yes. At some points she asked for details that were not required on the actual forms, and would write down the answers in red next to the respective part of the forms. For example, when she got to our current residence address she asked questions like whether the house was a lease or owned, whether anybody else lived with us at the same address, whether we had pets (maybe a personal touch?) etc, etc.

When she got to the grounds for inadmissibility she asked me several questions about my military service (I'm an Iranian national, and male Iranian nationals have to complete a 2 year period of military service). I told her that I have included detailed description of my military service in the last page, but she seemed uninterested so I answered her questions in short sentences. When did you go to military service? Did you receive any training with a weapon? What weapons were you trained with? Was it automatic/semi-automatic? Were you in charge of a group within the military? What was your highest rank? Were you ever involved in combat? etc. Again she would write down my answers in single words somewhere in the form.

After that, she moved on to form I-944, asked a few straightforward questions to confirm the details provided. Then she handed us the stacks of paper (our forms + supporting docs) to sign the dedicated fields in our I-485 and I-944.

When we were done with the forms she gave us a sort of a "soft yes". Meaning she pointed out that she had noticed we were not scheduled for a biometric appointment before our interview, so she had asked ASC to book an appointment for us. But unfortunately the first available date they had was March 15, she then handed us the ASC appointment notices. She said the background check process might take from days to weeks and there was no way for her to give an estimate, but we were supposed to receive our approval notice about a week after she received the results of our background checks.
Another thing I was stressed about was that I did not have a receipt of our DOS fee because I'd forgotten to include a self stamped envelope when I was sending out the payment. DOS had emailed me the receipt and I had included a copy of it in my application. But the payment receipt never came up and I didn't have to provide an explanation. She then accompanied us to the exit and that's that. Overall, she was very patient and friendly and made our experience much less stressful than we anticipated.

I checked our case status online as soon as I got home and it is now updated to "Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed". The previous status of our application was "Fingerprint Fee Received".

I hope our experience is useful to others in this forum, and thanks for the amazing community.

Thank you for this great overview, this is very helpful to get some better insight in the interview process. Out of curiosity and if you are able to answer this; did you make any phone calls in order to schedule your interview this quickly? It seems to be taking a long time for everyone to receive an interview invite, yet you were able to get one within two months post filing your AOS package and before your biometrics appointment? It would be helpful to know, how getting an interview can be sped up. What interview location did you go to? Thank you

 

[pooyan]

did you make any phone calls in order to schedule your interview this quickly? It seems to be taking a long time for everyone to receive an interview invite, yet you were able to get one within two months post filing your AOS package and before your biometrics appointment? It would be helpful to know, how getting an interview can be sped up. What interview location did you go to?

No, I didn't contact anyone to get an interview scheduled. I believe it depends on how busy your field office is and some luck as well.

Interview location was in Centennial, CO (close to Denver).

In all honesty I don't feel like going to your interview before biometrics is a good thing. If it happens the other way around as it normally does, then at least you can assume the time between the biometric and the interview isn't wasted and some of that time is going toward the processing of your background check. Whereas in my case, practically no progress is going to be made until the day of my bio, and it might take weeks or months after that for my background check to clear.

 

[raphael1899]

No, I didn't contact anyone to get an interview scheduled. I believe it depends on how busy your field office is and some luck as well.

Interview location was in Centennial, CO (close to Denver).

In all honesty I don't feel like going to your interview before biometrics is a good thing. If it happens the other way around as it normally does, then at least you can assume the time between the biometric and the interview isn't wasted and some of that time is going toward the processing of your background check. Whereas in my case, practically no progress is going to be made until the day of my bio, and it might take weeks or months after that for my background check to clear.

True, but at least after your bio you just have to wait for your background check to clear and the GC itself to be mailed to you. If I remember correctly, Mom explained that Bio appointments and interviews are scheduled by different offices so it really depends on how busy they are. Do we know if this has happened in previous years? People getting their interview date before the bio? I noticed that more cases are being handled this way this year and I'm not sure what to expect.

Good luck!

 

[Sm1smom]

True, but at least after your bio you just have to wait for your background check to clear and the GC itself to be mailed to you. If I remember correctly, Mom explained that Bio appointments and interviews are scheduled by different offices so it really depends on how busy they are. Do we know if this has happened in previous years? People getting their interview date before the bio? I noticed that more cases are being handled this way this year and I'm not sure what to expect.

Good luck!

Yes, it has, the ongoing backlog is mostly from Q2 2020 when the USCIS offices were closed to the public due to COVID-19 outbreak. While the offices were closed to in person services, applications were being filed on a daily basis for numerous petitions during the office closure. Check the last couple of pages of DV 2020 AOS Only thread, or take a look at the DV 2020 timeline spreadsheet.

 

[raphael1899]

Yes, it has, the ongoing backlog is mostly from Q2 2020 when the USCIS offices were closed to the public due to COVID-19 outbreak. While the offices were closed to in person services, applications were being filed on a daily basis for numerous petitions during the office closure. Check the last couple of pages of DV 2020 AOS Only thread, or take a look at the DV 2020 timeline spreadsheet.

Thank you. I'll take a look.

 

[zeroboy]

No, I didn't contact anyone to get an interview scheduled. I believe it depends on how busy your field office is and some luck as well.

Interview location was in Centennial, CO (close to Denver).

In all honesty I don't feel like going to your interview before biometrics is a good thing. If it happens the other way around as it normally does, then at least you can assume the time between the biometric and the interview isn't wasted and some of that time is going toward the processing of your background check. Whereas in my case, practically no progress is going to be made until the day of my bio, and it might take weeks or months after that for my background check to clear.

Hope everything goes well for you.

Did you get the IL from the NBC or the FO?

 

[pooyan]

Hope everything goes well for you.

Did you get the IL from the NBC or the FO?

Guessing from the fact that my case status was not updated that it was the FO. I called USCIS last week to verify that I had not received a bio date despite being scheduled for interview and they told me their system was not showing that my case was scheduled for an interview.

 

[DV21M]

I started CP but I am gathering as much as possible information on AOS, just in case, and I have a question I haven't been able to figure out yet.
(1) I wonder if there is a no turning back point when doing CP, like let's say they schedule me for September and that is too late for me, could I change to AOS? Not talking about timing for AOS itself but like a point of no return to make the change. (2) If not, can the interview be reschedule if I can't make the date they give me? (although this last question might be more appropriate for the general group)

Thank you everyone!

 

[Sm1smom]

I started CP but I am gathering as much as possible information on AOS, just in case, and I have a question I haven't been able to figure out yet.
(1) I wonder if there is a no turning back point when doing CP, like let's say they schedule me for September and that is too late for me, could I change to AOS? Not talking about timing for AOS itself but like a point of no return to make the change. (2) If not, can the interview be reschedule if I can't make the date they give me? (although this last question might be more appropriate for the general group)

Thank you everyone!

Once the KCC schedule your CP interview, you’re more or less at a point of no return. Your case file would have already been transferred to the applicable US embassy, KCC will not entertain any more request for processing option change at that point as they no longer have any jurisdiction over the processing. You will have to work directly with the embassy to get your case file sent back to the US, your AOS application (if you subsequently file) will not be approved without that KCC case file.

To change an already scheduled interview date, you again will have to work directly with the embassy. Most embassies do not entertain such a request, getting an open slot is usually tough.

 

[DV21M]

Once the KCC schedule your CP interview, you’re more or less at a point of no return. Your case file would have already been transferred to the applicable US embassy, KCC will not entertain any more request for processing option change at that point as they no longer have any jurisdiction over the processing. You will have to work directly with the embassy to get your case file sent back to the US, your AOS application (if you subsequently file) will not be approved without that KCC case file.

To change an already scheduled interview date, you again will have to work directly with the embassy. Most embassies do not entertain such a request, getting an open slot is usually tough.

Thank you so much for the information. So at that point, and given that rescheduling is most likely not an option, it would be up to the embassy to let me go back and switch to AOS (which is also not easy I assume and understand).

 

[Sm1smom]

Thank you so much for the information. So at that point, and given that rescheduling is most likely not an option, it would be up to the embassy to let me go back and switch to AOS (which is also not easy I assume and understand).

It is not a matter of the embassy “letting you go” - they have no role to play in your decision to process AOS or otherwise. It is more of trying to work with them to get them to be willing to transfer the case file to USCIS. They’re not obligated to do that. They can simply treat your case as a no show, if you do not show up for your assigned interview, and subsequently close the case file.

 

[DV21M]

It is not a matter of the embassy “letting you go” - they have no role to play in your decision to process AOS or otherwise. It is more of trying to work with them to get them to be willing to transfer the case file to USCIS. They’re not obligated to do that. They can simply treat your case as a no show, if you do not show up for your assigned interview, and subsequently close the case file.

That would be horrible, definitely!! I guess I would need to ask the embassy first if they'd transfer my case before I go ahead and do it, so I won't risk them not sending it,
Piggibacking on my own question and given that I know this is up to them so you can only advice me, in your opinion, if I have a valid (or valid for me) reason to ask them to reschedule (like I can't leave the US before mid May), would that make it more likely to be rescheduled?

Thank you and sorry for my clueless annoyingness.

 

[Sm1smom]

That would be horrible, definitely!! I guess I would need to ask the embassy first if they'd transfer my case before I go ahead and do it, so I won't risk them not sending it,
Piggibacking on my own question and given that I know this is up to them so you can only advice me, in your opinion, if I have a valid (or valid for me) reason to ask them to reschedule (like I can't leave the US before mid May), would that make it more likely to be rescheduled?

Thank you and sorry for my clueless annoyingness.

1. Good luck getting them to confirm their willingness (or none) to transfer the case - you don’t seem to realize the bureaucracy involved when dealing with government entities.

2. My response is still the same as previously given.

 

[SusieQQQ]

That would be horrible, definitely!! I guess I would need to ask the embassy first if they'd transfer my case before I go ahead and do it, so I won't risk them not sending it,
Piggibacking on my own question and given that I know this is up to them so you can only advice me, in your opinion, if I have a valid (or valid for me) reason to ask them to reschedule (like I can't leave the US before mid May), would that make it more likely to be rescheduled?

Thank you and sorry for my clueless annoyingness.

so, what you need to understand is, embassies typically have piles of various visa interviews to get through. For the average embassy, most of these are scheduled one to two months in advance. It’s not a case of a good reason or not, it’s a case of is there capacity at the embassy to fit another appointment in to a filled schedule. The only embassy I’ve heard of where rescheduling has been (emphasize: has been in the past) fairly painless is Sydney. I know when I tried at my home embassy, I was told I had to cancel my existing one and then check the website to see if a new slot opened at some stage! Too risky for me. I know some other embassies also work this way, Definitely cases of people trying to reschedule, canceling their existing and never getting another one, including at embassies where they are told they will be contacted with a new slot . Also bear in mind that when embassies reopen appointments for this year, there is a year’s backlog of almost all types of immigrant visas waiting. I think the chances of finding another slot even slimmer than usual. Especially if your slot is august or september, when there is a good chance of no new slots being available in the remainder of the fiscal year. but At busy embassies, I’ve seen reports of reschedule requests from April or may never getting another slot.

 

[DV21M]

so, what you need to understand is, embassies typically have piles of various visa interviews to get through. For the average embassy, most of these are scheduled one to two months in advance. It’s not a case of a good reason or not, it’s a case of is there capacity at the embassy to fit another appointment in to a filled schedule. The only embassy I’ve heard of where rescheduling has been (emphasize: has been in the past) fairly painless is Sydney. I know when I tried, I was told I had to cancel my existing one and then check the website to see if a new slot opened at some stage! Too risky for me. Definitely cases of people trying to reschedule and never getting another one. Also bear in mind that when embassies reopen appointments for this year, there is a year’s backlog of almost all types of immigrant visas waiting. I think the chances of finding another slot even slimmer than usual. Especially if your slot is august or september, when there is a good chance of no new slots being available in the remainder of the fiscal year. but At busy embassies, I’ve seen reports of reschedule requests from April or may never getting another slot.

1. Good luck getting them to confirm their willingness (or none) to transfer the case - you don’t seem to realize the bureaucracy involved when dealing with government entities.

2. My response is still the same as previously given.

Thank you both for your answers. This will be my fourth visa and the last three times the embassy was really nice whenever I contacted them through email, but you are absolutely right and this really is a complicated year with so much uncertainty, so obviously I can't take those experiences as a baseline.
I guess all I can do is wait and see, if they treat DV normally I should be fine If I delay sending documents until March/April, according to BritSimon's blog (someone asked something along these timeline issues), but if they're treated like back in September and appointments are scheduled one week to another, then I will have to re-asses.
Thank you again.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Thank you both for your answers. This will be my fourth visa and the last three times the embassy was really nice whenever I contacted them through email, but you are absolutely right and this really is a complicated year with so much uncertainty, so obviously I can't take those experiences as a baseline.
I guess all I can do is wait and see, if they treat DV normally I should be fine If I delay sending documents until March/April, according to BritSimon's blog (someone asked something along these timeline issues), but if they're treated like back in September and appointments are scheduled one week to another, then I will have to re-asses.
Thank you again.

But it’s not your fourth immigrant visa. The scheduling process is very different to NIVs. Anyway, you do what you think is right.

 

[DV21M]

But it’s not your fourth immigrant visa. The scheduling process is very different to NIVs. Anyway, you do what you think is right.

That is absolutely true. I am just so confused and worried that I am not quite sure what is right, I am so grateful to this group for the help. Let's hope things clear out in the next few days.