DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

[student02]

Hello,
1) Is it absolutely necessary to include IRS Tax Return Transcript? Having provided all W2s and bank statements, I have trouble obtaining specifically return transcripts.
2) Can I replace it with IRS Wage & Income Transcripts OR 1040?

Thank you!

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello,
1) Is it absolutely necessary to include IRS Tax Return Transcript? Having provided all W2s and bank statements, I have trouble obtaining specifically return transcripts.
2) Can I replace it with IRS Wage & Income Transcripts OR 1040?

Thank you!

You may, if that is what you have.

 

[fencer537]

Mom has already answered all your questions, but I wanted to add a bit regarding 5). We were in a similar situation with me and my wife, with an approved I-140. As of now (July visa bulletin), Nov 2023 is the current date for EB2. When is your priority date? I'm assuming that you're close, hence you have this dilemma.

We were current in March, for DV, so it was a no-brainer for us, considering our EB2 priority date was March 2024. If you're current for both, and you decide to to do DV still, you could potentially wait until that is adjudicated before filing for EB2 based I-485s. Unless you have some complex situation, DV seems generally more straightforward than other types of petitions. And if time runs out, then you can still file another set of I-485s. But if you file simultaneously, you'd have to pay the filing fees twice. But in the end, this is up to you as Mom said before.

Hi,

Thanks for the additional information. My PD for EB2 ROW is November 2023, which is already current on Chart B. Chart A is currently in use, so we will have to wait until next month or possibly the start of the next fiscal year (October 2025). CN for DV2025 is AS15K, so it should be current in September, and we will know next month.

 

[Harry13--]

Hi, I am wondering does anyone have an experience with EMMA like this?
i just wanna know has my case transferred to FO or still in NBC. The agent asked me this question. Last time, She asked extra question like what is your citizenship?

Is it necessary to answer those questions? It makes me a little bit scare to answer.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Hi, I am wondering does anyone have an experience with EMMA like this?
i just wanna know has my case transferred to FO or still in NBC. The agent asked me this question. Last time, She asked extra question like what is your citizenship?

Is it necessary to answer those questions? It makes me a little bit scare to answer.

It sounds like they are trying to verify who you are before answering, but maybe call them if it makes you feel more confident to talk to an actual person. Hard to know when you have a person and when it’s a chatbot on the online chat functions.

 

[Harry13--]

It sounds like they are trying to verify who you are before answering, but maybe call them if it makes you feel more confident to talk to an actual person. Hard to know when you have a person and when it’s a chatbot on the online chat functions.

Thank you for your classification but I am not comfortable to answer those kinds of questions even tho i did not do anything wrong.
is there anyway to ask without answering those kind of question?
is it safe to answer?

 

[SusieQQQ]

Thank you for your classification but I am not comfortable to answer those kinds of questions even tho i did not do anything wrong.
is there anyway to ask without answering those kind of question?
is it safe to answer?

What do you mean, is it safe? Are you worried you are somehow calling a scam number? Or that you were using a scam website? (I do agree that the question was phrased oddly.) Then get the number directly from USCIS website.
Surely you can see why USCIS needs to verify who you are before handing out information to someone just because of a case number they may have found somewhere?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi, I am wondering does anyone have an experience with EMMA like this?
i just wanna know has my case transferred to FO or still in NBC. The agent asked me this question. Last time, She asked extra question like what is your citizenship?

Is it necessary to answer those questions? It makes me a little bit scare to answer.

Thank you for your classification but I am not comfortable to answer those kinds of questions even tho i did not do anything wrong.
is there anyway to ask without answering those kind of question?
is it safe to answer?

IMHO, contacting the USCIS to find out if your case file has been transferred to your FO or not is a complete waste of time, an unnecessary stress level if I may add, considering (1) the agents are known to give conflicting responses to this question, and (2) it is not necessarily an indication of how soon your case will be adjudicated. Under normal circumstances, the NBC forwards the AOS application to the FO as soon as the bio appointment gets scheduled.

With the current administration being quite anti immigration (both legal and illegal), introduction of these new line of questioning by the agents is not surprising. As the saying goes, he who pays the piper dictates the tune, you will have to answer those questions (if asked) whenever you try to follow-up on your case in order to proceed with your inquiry.

 

[ehsane]

Hello. CN: 2025AS00012xxx. I am in US and my CN will be current next visa bulliten. I am in US and will file i485. I wanted to know if I get my physical green card by fiscal year or it can take longer if so how long it can take. I might move to another place and wana make sure that I don’t lose my card. Thanks.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello. CN: 2025AS00012xxx. I am in US and my CN will be current next visa bulliten. I am in US and will file i485. I wanted to know if I get my physical green card by fiscal year or it can take longer if so how long it can take. I might move to another place and wana make sure that I don’t lose my card. Thanks.

It could take a couple of weeks following the end of the FY before you receive the mailed GC.

 

[Harry13--]

What do you mean, is it safe? Are you worried you are somehow calling a scam number? Or that you were using a scam website? (I do agree that the question was phrased oddly.) Then get the number directly from USCIS website.
Surely you can see why USCIS needs to verify who you are before handing out information to someone just because of a case number they may have found somewhere?

Oh no. I know it is real but not all Live agent do not ask those kinds of questions. I was just wondering does anyone have experience with those kinds of questions.

 

[Harry13--]

IMHO, contacting the USCIS to find out if your case file has been transferred to your FO or not is a complete waste of time, an unnecessary stress level if I may add, considering (1) the agents are known to give conflicting responses to this question, and (2) it is not necessarily an indication of how soon your case will be adjudicated. Under normal circumstances, the NBC forwards the AOS application to the FO as soon as the bio appointment gets scheduled.

With the current administration being quite anti immigration (both legal and illegal), introduction of these new line of questioning by the agents is not surprising. As the saying goes, he who pays the piper dictates the tune, you will have to answer those questions (if asked) whenever you try to follow-up on your case in order to proceed with your inquiry.

I was just curious and another agent told me my case is currently in FO.
Does it mean my background clearance has done?

 

[Sm1smom]

I was just curious and another agent told me my case is currently in FO.
Does it mean my background clearance has done?

Like I earlier on posted, the NBC forwards the AOS application to the FO as soon as the bio gets scheduled which is usually before the applicant even attends the bio appointment. AOS application being at the FO has nothing to do with whether the background check has cleared or not.

 

[keremk]

Hello Mom and Valuable members,

I have some questions. While preparing our AOS package (principal applicant + (spouse)derivative applicant):

1. Do we need to include marriage certificate in the primart applicant's files? Derivative applicant (spouse) already have it in his files.
2. As a supporting documents of marriage, besides Marriage certificate, is that okay to add car insurance paper that both of our names displayed, or should i remove it? we're also putting joint accounts as a evidence of financial support document to principal applicant? Just wanted to make sure, we are not putting more than what they're looing for.
3. For principal applicant, we already included high school diploma. Do we need to include previous employment verification letter?
4. We signed I-485, previous I-20's, I believe we should also sign money order's. Do we need to sign any other document?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello Mom and Valuable members,

I have some questions. While preparing our AOS package (principal applicant + (spouse)derivative applicant):

1. Do we need to include marriage certificate in the primart applicant's files? Derivative applicant (spouse) already have it in his files.
2. As a supporting documents of marriage, besides Marriage certificate, is that okay to add car insurance paper that both of our names displayed, or should i remove it? we're also putting joint accounts as a evidence of financial support document to principal applicant? Just wanted to make sure, we are not putting more than what they're looing for.
3. For principal applicant, we already included high school diploma. Do we need to include previous employment verification letter?
4. We signed I-485, previous I-20's, I believe we should also sign money order's. Do we need to sign any other document?

Thanks a lot!

1. It wouldn’t hurt to do so.
2 & 3. Take a look at the AOS process spreadsheet for a list of what is recommended.
4. This is too broad of a question. I have no idea of what you plan on including with your package. So I recommend you closely review your package to figure out which document you need to sign.

 

[smoothoperator]

Thanks! I did not proceed with Montreal because I've learned that this was coming and with us being past interview I figured it might be a better bet.

Officer was sympathetic (again) and according to him they already requested visa number for me. I think they did it just now since case processing was on pause and last time around what he told me is that he cannot adjudicate it or do anything (now he says it's up to the DOS). Department of State newer said or did anything that would indicate that they are suspending processing of cases such as ours. The only thing that stopped it was an internal USCIS policy issued by Deputy Director of USCIS. Which was addressed by the order. There is nothing like that on DHS or DOS level specific to us. In rare instances where applicants whose cases technically were supposed to be on pause were able to get past USCIS, they got their approvals, visa number was not affected.

Additionally, IO said his "boss" already saw this order and started doing something. So that would be "complying with the order". All of this makes me think that there is just some miscommunication and I'm trying to understand the process better to figure out where. Thanks for clarifying the "release of visa number" part.

@MaryJks is there any update or any progress on your case?

 

[kolette]

1. It wouldn’t hurt to do so.
2 & 3. Take a look at the AOS process spreadsheet for a list of what is recommended.
4. This is too broad of a question. I have no idea of what you plan on including with your package. So I recommend you closely review your package to figure out which document you need to sign.

Hi Mom, I have 3 questions:

1. I have the same question about Question 2. The spreadsheet only mentions submitting the marriage certificate, but I’m wondering, would including additional proof (insurances, joint accounts etc) be helpful, or could it potentially raise unnecessary questions?
2. Also, on the USCIS website, it says to sign a personal check. I just want to confirm, this doesn’t apply to a money order, right? Also, I saw we need to sign/write our names on the back side of the photos, is this true?
3. I previously submitted Form I-765. I’m planning to include my approval notice with my new filing, but I came across this statement on the USCIS website:
   “In most cases, a copy of a USCIS notice, if available, is acceptable evidence of a prior, related filing. If you prefer to provide a copy of a complete prior application, petition, or request in support of a new filing, please be sure that the prior application, petition, or request is clearly marked as a ‘COPY’ at the top of each page to ensure we process it as intended.”
   Do I need to write “COPY” at the top of the approval notice page as well?

Thanks.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi Mom, I have 3 questions:

1. I have the same question about Question 2. The spreadsheet only mentions submitting the marriage certificate, but I’m wondering, would including additional proof (insurances, joint accounts etc) be helpful, or could it potentially raise unnecessary questions?
2. Also, on the USCIS website, it says to sign a personal check. I just want to confirm, this doesn’t apply to a money order, right? Also, I saw we need to sign/write our names on the back side of the photos, is this true?
3. I previously submitted Form I-765. I’m planning to include my approval notice with my new filing, but I came across this statement on the USCIS website:
   “In most cases, a copy of a USCIS notice, if available, is acceptable evidence of a prior, related filing. If you prefer to provide a copy of a complete prior application, petition, or request in support of a new filing, please be sure that the prior application, petition, or request is clearly marked as a ‘COPY’ at the top of each page to ensure we process it as intended.”
   Do I need to write “COPY” at the top of the approval notice page as well?

Thanks.

1. Yes the spreadsheet only mentions a marriage certificate because that is all that is necessary (especially if the marriage was prior to DV selection), which is why I keep responding by asking folks to take a look at the spreadsheet that was painstakingly put together. This is a DV based AOS application and not a marriage based AOS application which requires applicants to provide sufficient documentation for demonstrating they’re not in a sham marriage for immigration benefits only. However if anyone feels they need to include additional documentation outside of what is recommended on the spreadsheet, they can go ahead and do so, it is each person’s personal call/choice.
2. If your money order has a signature section like a personal check does, then you get to sign it, and if it has no signature section, it means signature not required.
2b. Yes.
3. You may do so. However, you will not be penalized for not writing COPY on any I-797 that you send in with your AOS package.

 

[ozzy123]

Hi All,

I had my interview and it mostly went well as it was standard I-485 questions - the only change to my I-485 since filing was that I had to travel internationally after the initial submission in November, so I had provided an updated copy of my I-94 to the officer (I am on a L-1 so was told by lawyers it was fine to travel). The officer updated the details in pen and I signed the form.

I checked the status on USCIS and it is "Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed" - does anyone know what the average turn-around time for the review would be?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi All,

I had my interview and it mostly went well as it was standard I-485 questions - the only change to my I-485 since filing was that I had to travel internationally after the initial submission in November, so I had provided an updated copy of my I-94 to the officer (I am on a L-1 so was told by lawyers it was fine to travel). The officer updated the details in pen and I signed the form.

I checked the status on USCIS and it is "Interview Was Completed And My Case Must Be Reviewed" - does anyone know what the average turn-around time for the review would be?

Hard to tell since we have no idea as to what is being reviewed. Could be done with in the next couple of hours/days, or could take several weeks.

p.s. can you update your case progress on the Timeline spreadsheet?