DV 2023 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Only

[ethelN23]

Hi everyone! As I am preparing to resubmit my application, I am reading online that you *need* to enter N/A on all fields that you do not have an answer for, including those that belong or do not belong to you, and not to leave *any* fields blank. I see that the sample filled I-485 there are N/As for fields that belong to you. Any advice on this? Can I leave a field blank if it belongs to me or do I *have to* enter N/A? Is it ok to leave other fields blank?

What about the optional I-131, I-765 and I-134? Should I enter N/As here too or leave it blank?

 

[Suze]

All applications move from the Lockbox to the NBC to the FO - you can check the "NBC_LockBox_FO" tab of the AOS Process Spreadsheet for more on what each of these locations are responsible for. Although your application should already be with your FO by now, so I highly doubt what the agent said about it still being at the NBC is correct.

@Suze - can you confirm your FO is indeed New York, NY as there are a couple of FOs in New York (which folks have sometimes assumed were the same as the New York, NY FO).

@Nicdep - I see another case from New York, NY current in October, filed 2 months before you which seems to also be waiting for the IL. Assuming it is not a situation of this other selectee failing to update the spreadsheet, this seems to support what I've written earlier on about the New York, NY FO. Nonetheless, you may wish to initiate congressional case follow up assistance at this point - as in contact your congress person's office and request their assistance with following up on your case with USCIS. While this does not guarantee an immediate action/response from USCIS, it sometimes helps with moving cases along or bringing it back to their attention if it had fallen through the cracks.

@Nicdep -- Just confirming that my FO is indeed New York, NY (Manhattan) and that I had my interview this morning (will do a writeup to share the experience for other members of the forum a bit later )

 

[Nicdep]

@Nicdep -- Just confirming that my FO is indeed New York, NY (Manhattan) and that I had my interview this morning (will do a writeup to share the experience for other members of the forum a bit later )

Hi Suze, thank you for the clarification!

N.

 

[Suze]

Hello again, just wanted to update everyone on my interview experience yesterday!

Before the interview
Interview for myself was scheduled at 10am at the New York, NY Field Office and for 11am for my spouse. We arrived at the FO around 9:35am, showed our appointment letters and proceeded through the airport-style security screening. Took the elevator to the 7th floor, showed our appointment letters to the waiting room security officer, and joined the line for check-in where we received numbers. We then took a seat and waited for about 15 minutes before our assigned IO called out my number and escorted me to her office.

The interview
The IO interviewed myself and my spouse separately. The IO was very nice and the atmosphere was professional but very relaxed. She first congratulated me on the DV selection and was clearly very knowledgeable about the process. I then took the oath and the interview proper could begin. She went through the biographic information on the I-485 and also went through a good selection of the yes/no questions at the end of the form. The IO also verified my original documents (birth certificate, educational certificates, marriage certificate, drivers license). She asked how my spouse and I met (spouse and I married after DV entry but before selection) and asked to keep two photos from our wedding for her file. She then asked a bit more about our engagement and wedding, and I explained the situation. Again, the atmosphere was very easy. Throughout the interview the IO was also using positive language such as "when you get the Green Card you should remember to update that information with your employer" etc. My interview took nearly 1 hour because the person who compiled our two files mixed up some of our documents. As we were finishing up the IO was saying she just needed to review the paperwork before she could approve the case but said that essentially the case would be approved. Afterwards the IO walked me back to the waiting room and called in my spouse. My spouse's interview lasted about 20 minutes in similar format to mine. Overall, a very positive experience.

After the interview
It was hard not to constantly refresh the status update page! Around 3 hours later my status changed to "new card is being produced" and around another 45 minutes later my spouse's status changed to the same. Now to wait for the cards in the mail!!

General notes
Just thought I would also add some general notes for other forum members with cases in the same FO:
- The NY FO is mask-optional
- Everyone at the FO was very kind and professional. Chapeau to the staff really!
- You can use your mobile phone in the waiting area as long as it's set to silent mode and of course no photography or recording allowed. Your phone must be switched off at the check-in desks and during your interview.
- Do not underestimate the power of being prepared and organized! We brought an organized binder (used sticky tabs to find documents easily) that contained originals or fresh copies of our entire submission as well as evidence of our relationship since we got married after DV entry. Even if you don't think you'll need something, or it wasn't asked for on the IL, bring it with you! You never know what can arise in the interview itself. It was at some points more convenient to hand the IO fresh copies of documents already in our submission because of the file mix-up that happened.

I'll of course keep updating the spreadsheet as well

 

[Dr.HPol]

Hello again, just wanted to update everyone on my interview experience yesterday!

Before the interview
Interview for myself was scheduled at 10am at the New York, NY Field Office and for 11am for my spouse. We arrived at the FO around 9:35am, showed our appointment letters and proceeded through the airport-style security screening. Took the elevator to the 7th floor, showed our appointment letters to the waiting room security officer, and joined the line for check-in where we received numbers. We then took a seat and waited for about 15 minutes before our assigned IO called out my number and escorted me to her office.

The interview
The IO interviewed myself and my spouse separately. The IO was very nice and the atmosphere was professional but very relaxed. She first congratulated me on the DV selection and was clearly very knowledgeable about the process. I then took the oath and the interview proper could begin. She went through the biographic information on the I-485 and also went through a good selection of the yes/no questions at the end of the form. The IO also verified my original documents (birth certificate, educational certificates, marriage certificate, drivers license). She asked how my spouse and I met (spouse and I married after DV entry but before selection) and asked to keep two photos from our wedding for her file. She then asked a bit more about our engagement and wedding, and I explained the situation. Again, the atmosphere was very easy. Throughout the interview the IO was also using positive language such as "when you get the Green Card you should remember to update that information with your employer" etc. My interview took nearly 1 hour because the person who compiled our two files mixed up some of our documents. As we were finishing up the IO was saying she just needed to review the paperwork before she could approve the case but said that essentially the case would be approved. Afterwards the IO walked me back to the waiting room and called in my spouse. My spouse's interview lasted about 20 minutes in similar format to mine. Overall, a very positive experience.

After the interview
It was hard not to constantly refresh the status update page! Around 3 hours later my status changed to "new card is being produced" and around another 45 minutes later my spouse's status changed to the same. Now to wait for the cards in the mail!!

General notes
Just thought I would also add some general notes for other forum members with cases in the same FO:
- The NY FO is mask-optional
- Everyone at the FO was very kind and professional. Chapeau to the staff really!
- You can use your mobile phone in the waiting area as long as it's set to silent mode and of course no photography or recording allowed. Your phone must be switched off at the check-in desks and during your interview.
- Do not underestimate the power of being prepared and organized! We brought an organized binder (used sticky tabs to find documents easily) that contained originals or fresh copies of our entire submission as well as evidence of our relationship since we got married after DV entry. Even if you don't think you'll need something, or it wasn't asked for on the IL, bring it with you! You never know what can arise in the interview itself. It was at some points more convenient to hand the IO fresh copies of documents already in our submission because of the file mix-up that happened.

I'll of course keep updating the spreadsheet as well

Congratulations! I see you did a walk-in for your biometrics. Did you have any problems with it?

 

[Dr.HPol]

I received my NOA yesterday but it came from the NBC instead of the lockbox. Is this a normal practice?

 

[Suze]

Congratulations! I see you did a walk-in for your biometrics. Did you have any problems with it?

For the walk-in, at the security check downstairs they asked why we came before our appointment and we explained that we were just trying to get the process done as quickly as possible for a few reasons. The security guard was very friendly and asked a colleague to call upstairs to see if they would take us. We came upstairs and at first the staff there was a little hesitant at first as they were understaffed, and again asked us why we came earlier. In the end, the staff let us do the biometrics. We were of course friendly and polite throughout all of this and never pushy.

 

[Dr.HPol]

For the walk-in, at the security check downstairs they asked why we came before our appointment and we explained that we were just trying to get the process done as quickly as possible for a few reasons. The security guard was very friendly and asked a colleague to call upstairs to see if they would take us. We came upstairs and at first the staff there was a little hesitant at first as they were understaffed, and again asked us why we came earlier. In the end, the staff let us do the biometrics. We were of course friendly and polite throughout all of this and never pushy.

Thank you Suze for the detailed explanation. Wishing you all the best as LPR!

 

[AMolHel]

Just wanna make sure I phrase this answer right in my DS 260. Please let me know if It's correct.Thank you!!

Q: Have you ever been unlawfully present, overstayed the amount of time granted by an immigration official or otherwise violated the terms of a U.S. visa?

Yes

No

Explain :

I-94 Departure Date - 05/25/2020
Departure from US - 06/10/2020 (due to flight cancellations during to Covid)
I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status filed on 05/24/2020.
Departure from the United States constituted abandonment of my request for change of nonimmigrant status, therefore application was denied and my status between 05/25/200 and 06/10/2020 is considered being unlawful.

Hello Sm1smom
We are waiting for our Interview Letter. DS260 is processed and other cases that submitted late just got their 2NL yesterday for Bucharest Embassy..so we are hoping for an interview date after May (not earlier).

Now we were thinking about my issue with overstaying my I-94 in 2020. I have wrote this explanation in my DS260.
When I've received my current H2b Visa in April 2021 I didn't have any issues. When I have applied for the visa at the embassy and filled the DS160 for my H2b Visa ..there was also this question and I answered NO.
Back then I didn't know all this with overstay..considered unlawful even though I had a Change of Status pending etc.
1. Can this create problems at the interview..thinking that I have lied?
My COS decision-> DENIAL was made on September 2021 when I was already in US
2. That would mean I was pending COS from May 2020 - September 2021 so I was actually right to answer NO in DS160?
p.s Would be a question for CP thread but I wanted to quote this so it easy to track my situation.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello Sm1smom
We are waiting for our Interview Letter. DS260 is processed and other cases that submitted late just got their 2NL yesterday for Bucharest Embassy..so we are hoping for an interview date after May (not earlier).

Now we were thinking about my issue with overstaying my I-94 in 2020. I have wrote this explanation in my DS260.
When I've received my current H2b Visa in April 2021 I didn't have any issues. When I have applied for the visa at the embassy and filled the DS160 for my H2b Visa ..there was also this question and I answered NO.
Back then I didn't know all this with overstay..considered unlawful even though I had a Change of Status pending etc.
1. Can this create problems at the interview..thinking that I have lied?
My COS decision-> DENIAL was made on September 2021 when I was already in US
2. That would mean I was pending COS from May 2020 - September 2021 so I was actually right to answer NO in DS160?
p.s Would be a question for CP thread but I wanted to quote this so it easy to track my situation.

1. Hopefully not.
2. No, you were not pending COS from May 2020 - Sept. 2021, you couldn’t have been in a pending status while you were out of the US (it therefore does not justify answering YES to the overstay question on the DS160), and subsequently got re-admitted on a new status upon your return. The COS was deemed abandoned the moment you left the US regardless of when the final denial decision was made.

 

[AMolHel]

1. Hopefully not.
2. No, you were not pending COS from May 2020 - Sept. 2021, you couldn’t have been in a pending status while you were out of the US (it therefore does not justify answering YES to the overstay question on the DS160), and subsequently got re-admitted on a new status upon your return. The COS was deemed abandoned the moment you left the US regardless of when the final denial decision was made.

Makes sense..
I will attend the interview and see.. there is nothing else I can do now. I didn't know all this back than.. but its all up to the consular.
I am surprised there was no questions or issues when I renew my visa.
Thank you

 

[Mira22]

Hello, I live in Illinois.
1-Is my lockbox in Chicago?
2--I am filling the form I-485. I am a bit confused reading about the blank boxes. Should I write N/A to all boxes that don't relate to me or I have no answer for? Even the interpreter or 3rd party part. I am completing alone, there is no 3rd party.
3-In assembling the package can I include explanatory sheets in the middle to divide each form and supporting documents?
4-I am filing I-485, I-134, I-693 and all supporting documents for these forms. Do I need more than 2 pictures?
5-How does the first page look like? Can it be my cover letter?
6-What happens if anything is missing?
7-What are some reasons for denial of the package?

Thank you so much for the help!

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello, I live in Illinois.
1-Is my lockbox in Chicago?
2--I am filling the form I-485. I am a bit confused reading about the blank boxes. Should I write N/A to all boxes that don't relate to me or I have no answer for? Even the interpreter or 3rd party part. I am completing alone, there is no 3rd party.
3-In assembling the package can I include explanatory sheets in the middle to divide each form and supporting documents?
4-I am filing I-485, I-134, I-693 and all supporting documents for these forms. Do I need more than 2 pictures?
5-How does the first page look like? Can it be my cover letter?
6-What happens if anything is missing?
7-What are some reasons for denial of the package?

Thank you so much for the help!

1. Yes
2. See the pre-filled I-485 (see the AOS Package tab of the AOS Process Spreadsheet) as an example of how to fill the I-485.
3. You can if you like (not necessary IMO).
4. I recommend you read the instructions that comes with each form.
5. See the Assemble Your Pack Tip link.
6. It depends on what is missing. Could lead to package rejection. Could lead to being issued with a RFE.
7. Take a look at the FAQ section of the AOS Process Spreadsheet.

 

[Hello888]

Hi Sm1smom, thank for all the help. I got married after the initial lottery entry. Does the spouse go through the same list of forms and documents as if it was entered in the original submission or should we file some other form (e.g. i-130)?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi Sm1smom, thank for all the help. I got married after the initial lottery entry. Does the spouse go through the same list of forms and documents as if it was entered in the original submission or should we file some other form (e.g. i-130)?

Same list as the selectee.

 

[Hello888]

Same list as the selectee.

Thank you. Did you by any chance mean selectee's derivative?

 

[vovan_nav]

Hello Guys.
I have a question. Me and my wife won a DV Lottery. We are on pending asylum status, prepared all AOS Package and we do not know where to send our package. We live in New York. Also we checked USCIS where to send i485 cases but can not find there where to send DV Lottery AOS package, you will see on a photo which category but nothing for DV.

Will be glad for any information.

Thank You!

 

[Sm1smom]

Thank you. Did you by any chance mean selectee's derivative?

You were asking about the spouse’s package, right?
The spouse = derivative.
The person selected = selectee.

Therefore the forms to be submitted for the spouse mirrors what is being submitted for the selectee.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello Guys.
I have a question. Me and my wife won a DV Lottery. We are on pending asylum status, prepared all AOS Package and we do not know where to send our package. We live in New York. Also we checked USCIS where to send i485 cases but can not find there where to send DV Lottery AOS package, you will see on a photo which category but nothing for DV.

Will be glad for any information.

Thank You!

If you click the drop down button in front of Most Common Reasons, you’ll see DV listed as one of those - follow the link in there to determine your applicable Lockbox.

 

[Hello888]

You were asking about the spouse’s package, right?
The spouse = derivative.
The person selected = selectee.

Therefore the forms to be submitted for the spouse mirrors what is being submitted for the selectee.

Thank you.
1. Sorry for being a pain but would that mean the spouse also needs to submit a high school diploma too?
2. The reason for the question is that “high school diploma” and some other documents are not part of the “Spouse package” in the excel sheet you put together. Would it be required in my spouse’s case because we got married after initial lottery entry?

Thanks again