DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

[Sm1smom]

Yes, This is me. But i will correct it.

Okay. Now to your original question:

Hi Mom. Our EAD will end on July, thats why i didn't submit it with I-485. When will i need to submit it?

You can apply for an AOS based EAD card anytime while your AOS application is pending. This could be when sending in the AOS package itself, it could also be anytime after the AOS application has been submitted, regardless of if one already had another EAD in place or not. One thing you just need to be aware of is the processing time for the EAD card, it takes about 2-3 months on average for the EAD card (if I'm not mistaken), unless one is able to get the EAD processing expedited (which may be possible to do based on being able to a potential demonstrate loss of income).

Your current status is listed as B1/B2 on the Timeline spreadsheet though, so how did you come about your current EAD?

Now, taking a look at your FO, I can see 2024 DV based AOS applications got approved within 3 months of filing or less without any interview. DV 2023 cases also got scheduled for interview and approved within the same time frame (more or less). So your case may possibly be close to being adjudicated, unless you get stuck in AP due to pending background check clearance.

 

[Sm1smom]

I have a quick question, my case number is current this month, but I am waiting for a favorable recommendation from the DOS about my J1 waiver. I am expected to receive the favorable recommendation soon, but as far as I know, I cannot file I-485 until at least I have a FR from DOS. My question is, if I answer NO to the question "Have you received a favorable recommendation from DOS), but in a separate cover letter explain that I expect to receive it soon, what is most likely, the RFE or NOID? or should I wait until I get the decision from DOS ( i just want to file i-485 asap so I can place my case in queue). Thanks!

Responses previously provided in this post and this post.

 

[Xmb]

Hello - will I do any harm to my case if they receive multiple copies of the RFE, or simply disregard everything but the first received one?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello - will I do any harm to my case if they receive multiple copies of the RFE, or simply disregard everything but the first received one?

Think of it this way, if you were an IO, and you keep receiving additional unsolicited responses to an initially issued RFE - will you be happy with the additional work being created for you by the applicant, considering you'll need to keep reviewing the new information?

Also think of the potential of some of your new responses being received well after the deadline you were required to respond to the RFE and USCIS decides to consider one of those new responses as the response received from you, which in essence is now considered late; they subsequently decide to deny you application on the basis of the RFE response being late.

Think "quality" and "timeliness"; and not "quantity" and "unsolicited"

 

[SusieQQQ]

Hello - will I do any harm to my case if they receive multiple copies of the RFE, or simply disregard everything but the first received one?

I think people have this idea (same issue with AP documents at the consulates) that when you send an RFE response it somehow goes right to the top of a pile to receive immediate attention. The IOs are receiving probably a pile of documents daily, including all the dozens/hundreds of RFEs they have sent to others. They’ll get to it when they get to it, working their way through their pile. Sending unnecesary documents just adds to the pile (as well as raising the risk of rejection as mom pointed out). Also pretty sure uscis works like any other time sensitive bureaucracy (if not more so given the nature of what they do), and any incoming document is stamped with date of receipt. We have had winter break holidays, we have had Weather (with a capital W) in a good chunk of the US, we are having another holiday next week, just be patient. If you can trust google, 60-90 days for uscis to respond to RFE evidence is not unusual.

 

[Samapps]

When is the right time to start a congressional inquiry? It seems that AOS processing has been slower this year compared to previous data.

 

[Xarthisius]

When is the right time to start a congressional inquiry? It seems that AOS processing has been slower this year compared to previous data.

That's just your imagination and impatience. We barely finished FY25 Q1, we are 15 days into Q2. Let's see what data says (DV AOS issuances):
- FY21: Q1 - 4 (out of total 1590)
- FY22: Q1 - 24 (out of total 1567)
- FY23: Q1 - 20 (out of total 930)
- FY24: Q1 - 10 (total unknown, but most likely >1000)

Source: https://ohss.dhs.gov/topics/immigration/legal-immigration-and-adjustment-status-report

 

[yeetery]

Hi everyone, I've just found this forum and the countless helpful sheets through Britsimon's videos. Thank you so much to Mom for putting this together and your endless stream of help that I've been reading through, as well as Susie for countless helpful comments and Xarthisius for the mountains of data and helpful UI/collation - you are all saints.

I've just put my case into the timeline. Sorry for the long message below, any help or advice would be sincerely appreciated if possible.

--

My case:
2025OC4xx, current status E2, applying for AOS.
Submitted DS260 May 4th 2024.
Current in October and filed to Chicago October 1, bio completed October 17.
FO is Los Angeles, CA.
No interview notice.

I have been chatting with Emma frequently and have been told multiple times my case arrived at LA on 10/29/2024 and is being processed, no interview information available.
I can see from the stats on the sheet I'm still at/within the average for Los Angeles of 107 days (currently being 107 days from lockbox delivery of 10/1/2024 to today, 15/1/2025).

--

My two questions are:

1. I can see from CEAC visa status check that my case is still "At NVC".
Is this because I'm an AOS instead of consular?
Is this normal?
(see screenshot taken today).

2. I just watched a BritSimon video where he showed the (unbelievably helpful) Xarthisius data about Oceania, and that there were 623 visas (people, not cases) in the totals column.
Brit estimates that there is a maximum of around 850 visas for the Oceania region (see screenshot of data table).
I didn't realize the number of visas allocated to Oceania was that close to the current amount of "Totals" already, and I'm concerned that the visas in my region will run out before my case is adjudicated.
I'm aware that I'm incredibly lucky to be current in October (and win the lottery at all) and that I'm only now just at my FO's average.
I'm also aware of the extremely low percentages of AOS'es completed in FYQ1 for DV.
I have been estimating that, due to the "October Average" in the stats of 170 days that my approval would be around mid March.

My question is:
Based on what you've seen for previous years, when would you see Oceania getting to their cap of 850?
Would this be beyond April?
Basically trying to get a feel on what my chances are at the moment based on the fact that the cap is at about 75% of the total.

--

Thank you so much for your help and guidance, can't thank you enough.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi everyone, I've just found this forum and the countless helpful sheets through Britsimon's videos. Thank you so much to Mom for putting this together and your endless stream of help that I've been reading through, as well as Susie for countless helpful comments and Xarthisius for the mountains of data and helpful UI/collation - you are all saints.

I've just put my case into the timeline. Sorry for the long message below, any help or advice would be sincerely appreciated if possible.

--

My case:
2025OC4xx, current status E2, applying for AOS.
Submitted DS260 May 4th 2024.
Current in October and filed to Chicago October 1, bio completed October 17.
FO is Los Angeles, CA.
No interview notice.

I have been chatting with Emma frequently and have been told multiple times my case arrived at LA on 10/29/2024 and is being processed, no interview information available.
I can see from the stats on the sheet I'm still at/within the average for Los Angeles of 107 days (currently being 107 days from lockbox delivery of 10/1/2024 to today, 15/1/2025).

--

My two questions are:

1. I can see from CEAC visa status check that my case is still "At NVC".
Is this because I'm an AOS instead of consular?
Is this normal?
(see screenshot taken today).

2. I just watched a BritSimon video where he showed the (unbelievably helpful) Xarthisius data about Oceania, and that there were 623 visas (people, not cases) in the totals column.
Brit estimates that there is a maximum of around 850 visas for the Oceania region (see screenshot of data table).
I didn't realize the number of visas allocated to Oceania was that close to the current amount of "Totals" already, and I'm concerned that the visas in my region will run out before my case is adjudicated.
I'm aware that I'm incredibly lucky to be current in October (and win the lottery at all) and that I'm only now just at my FO's average.
I'm also aware of the extremely low percentages of AOS'es completed in FYQ1 for DV.
I have been estimating that, due to the "October Average" in the stats of 170 days that my approval would be around mid March.

My question is:
Based on what you've seen for previous years, when would you see Oceania getting to their cap of 850?
Would this be beyond April?
Basically trying to get a feel on what my chances are at the moment based on the fact that the cap is at about 75% of the total.

--

Thank you so much for your help and guidance, can't thank you enough.

1. Yes. Yes.
2. Can’t help you with this. I don’t analyze visa progression.

 

[Xarthisius]

My question is:
Based on what you've seen for previous years, when would you see Oceania getting to their cap of 850?
Would this be beyond April?
Basically trying to get a feel on what my chances are at the moment based on the fact that the cap is at about 75% of the total.

Regional quota is for visas issued not scheduled. The number you should be looking at is 213. They have still a long way to go. Not everybody that's currently scheduled for interview will appear, not everybody will be issued. They won't get anywhere near the quota till August/September.
Moreover, regional quota is not a hard limit and more often than not, OC in particular, some regions get more visas than they should according to the quota formula (see e.g. FY24 - OC got 1.1k). The only hard limits are: the total number of visas (~52k this year) and the 7% country cap.

 

[javier98]

Hi everyone

I'm curious how you go about asking Emma about the status of your cases

Maybe someone can help me do it too?

 

[Xmb]

Think of it this way, if you were an IO, and you keep receiving additional unsolicited responses to an initially issued RFE - will you be happy with the additional work being created for you by the applicant, considering you'll need to keep reviewing the new information?

Also think of the potential of some of your new responses being received well after the deadline you were required to respond to the RFE and USCIS decides to consider one of those new responses as the response received from you, which in essence is now considered late; they subsequently decide to deny you application on the basis of the RFE response being late.

Think "quality" and "timeliness"; and not "quantity" and "unsolicited"

Makes sense, and I would not send anything to arrive after the deadline of course.

I think people have this idea (same issue with AP documents at the consulates) that when you send an RFE response it somehow goes right to the top of a pile to receive immediate attention. The IOs are receiving probably a pile of documents daily, including all the dozens/hundreds of RFEs they have sent to others. They’ll get to it when they get to it, working their way through their pile. Sending unnecesary documents just adds to the pile (as well as raising the risk of rejection as mom pointed out). Also pretty sure uscis works like any other time sensitive bureaucracy (if not more so given the nature of what they do), and any incoming document is stamped with date of receipt. We have had winter break holidays, we have had Weather (with a capital W) in a good chunk of the US, we are having another holiday next week, just be patient. If you can trust google, 60-90 days for uscis to respond to RFE evidence is not unusual.

I reviewed recent years of AOS saw so many different timelines - from approval on the day RFE response was received, to weeks and months for a decision. Of course everybody hopes to hear back as soon as possible.

Thank you both and I will try myself in patience.

 

[Xmb]

Hi everyone

I'm curious how you go about asking Emma about the status of your cases

Maybe someone can help me do it too?

You start the chat and connect to a live agent, and ask about the status of your case.

 

[faith25]

Hi everyone,Adjustment of Status - The check that included the fee payment was lost in the mail. It has been 2 months since it was sent. I spoke to USPS and according to the tracking number they gave me, it appears to be lost. What should I do in this situation?

 

[azatinusa]

Hi everyone,Adjustment of Status - The check that included the fee payment was lost in the mail. It has been 2 months since it was sent. I spoke to USPS and according to the tracking number they gave me, it appears to be lost. What should I do in this situation?

What do you mean by "the check"? Personal check, cashier's check, or certified check? Or maybe you mean money order or bank draft? Each has it's own process, timeline, and fee to stop/cancel the payment.

Anyway, you should request a stop payment or cancellation of the original payment, wait for confirmation from the bank or issuer, and then submit a new payment to USCIS.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi everyone,Adjustment of Status - The check that included the fee payment was lost in the mail. It has been 2 months since it was sent. I spoke to USPS and according to the tracking number they gave me, it appears to be lost. What should I do in this situation?

Is the check for your DV Administrative Fee payment? If your USPS tracking number is showing it hasn’t been delivered 2 months after sending out the mail, then you need to cancel/stop the payment at this point and send out a new payment in place of the lost one.

 

[yeetery]

Regional quota is for visas issued not scheduled. The number you should be looking at is 213. They have still a long way to go. Not everybody that's currently scheduled for interview will appear, not everybody will be issued. They won't get anywhere near the quota till August/September.
Moreover, regional quota is not a hard limit and more often than not, OC in particular, some regions get more visas than they should according to the quota formula (see e.g. FY24 - OC got 1.1k). The only hard limits are: the total number of visas (~52k this year) and the 7% country cap.

Incredible, thank you so much for the explanation and insight. Your data and UI has been beyond invaluable along with this forum and the timeline sheet. Amazing people - thank you all so much!

 

[faith25]

Is the check for your DV Administrative Fee payment? If your USPS tracking number is showing it hasn’t been delivered 2 months after sending out the mail, then you need to cancel/stop the payment at this point and send out a new payment in place of the lost one.

Yes it is ,thank you so much for the information.

 

[faith25]

What do you mean by "the check"? Personal check, cashier's check, or certified check? Or maybe you mean money order or bank draft? Each has it's own process, timeline, and fee to stop/cancel the payment.

Anyway, you should request a stop payment or cancellation of the original payment, wait for confirmation from the bank or issuer, and then submit a new payment to USCIS.

it is a cashier's check.

 

[azatinusa]

it is a cashier's check.

Be prepared to wait weeks or even months for the cancellation to go through. If you can't wait, see if you can purchase an indemnity bond from the bank to receive a replacement check faster.