I-485 Transferred to local office - HELP

[gino]

Hi Everyone,

I just received the following email form CIS, saying that they have transfered my case to the local for decision. Questions: Has one here had similar experience? Does this mean I will have to go for an interview? Is this a good or bad news? I will really appreciate hearing about your experiences.

"On May 19, 2005, we transferred your I485 Application to Register
Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status to an office in WASHINGTON, DC for
processing. That office will notify you when they take action on your
case. You should receive a notice informing you that your case has been
transferred to a local office. Please call the National Customer Service
Center at (800) 375-5283, to receive information about local office
processing times."

Thanks, Gino

 

[EspressoJoy]

Hey Gino
Sorry I don't have a response for you (although I seem to remember that this is not a bad sign and is pretty normal), but could you pls post your timeline? Thanks much

 

[gino]

Hey, thanks! Hope I won't have to go for another painful interview, and hope this won't delay my case for a few more months!

Gino
ND: 12/99
FP1: 10/2003
FP2: 03/2005
RFE: 05/2005

 

[thankful]

Hey Gino
Sorry I don't have a response for you (although I seem to remember that this is not a bad sign and is pretty normal), but could you pls post your timeline? Thanks much

Two possibilities. One, they randomly send about 3-5% of the applications to the local office for interview. I was among that group and the interview was easy.

Two, if they discover any serious problems relating to your file such as criminal record, HIV+ or indications of fraud on your original asylum application they will refer your file to the local office to a thorough check on you.

 

[gino]

Thanks, thankful. I'm definitely NOT in the second group, as I don't have any criminal record, or HIV, or a fake case.

So, can you share your interview experience?

Thanks,

Gino

Two possibilities. One, they randomly send about 3-5% of the applications to the local office for interview. I was among that group and the interview was easy.

Two, if they discover any serious problems relating to your file such as criminal record, HIV+ or indications of fraud on your original asylum application they will refer your file to the local office to a thorough check on you.

 

[thankful]

Thanks, thankful. I'm definitely NOT in the second group, as I don't have any criminal record, or HIV, or a fake case.

So, can you share your interview experience?

Thanks,

Gino

It was really easy. I was asked some basic biographical questions. The officer then explored my membership in the communist youth league back home. She was keenly interested in if I had ever renewed my national passport, travelled there or obtained any benefits from that government. It appears that a yes response to any of the three questions would have raised a big red flag. I was only a derivative asylee.

 

[gino]

It was really easy. I was asked some basic biographical questions. The officer then explored my membership in the communist youth league back home. She was keenly interested in if I had ever renewed my national passport, travelled there or obtained any benefits from that government. It appears that a yes response to any of the three questions would have raised a big red flag. I was only a derivative asylee.

thankful, thanks. This helps a lot. So, how long did the local office take to process your case?

Gino

 

[thankful]

thankful, thanks. This helps a lot. So, how long did the local office take to process your case?

Gino

A few months but I asked my local Congressman to intervene. I heard stories that my local office was horrible and many cases just got lost.

 

[gino]

A few months but I asked my local Congressman to intervene. I heard stories that my local office was horrible and many cases just got lost.

Thanks a lot. Let's hope they will take a decision on my case soon. I thought they will approve my case after receiving my RFE, but I guess I still have some more fun to deal with. Lucky me!

Gino

 

[thankful]

Thanks a lot. Let's hope they will take a decision on my case soon. I thought they will approve my case after receiving my RFE, but I guess I still have some more fun to deal with. Lucky me!

Gino

What did they ask on the RFE?

 

[gino]

What did they ask on the RFE?

They asked for evidence of staying in the US for at least one year, to fill out the biographical form, and provide with the details of my travles outside the US. I did not have copies of all the I-94s, as they took them form me at airports, and I returned all the RTDs back to the CIS. So, maybe that's why they transferred my case to the local office.

Gino

 

[ASSYLEE]

It was really easy. I was asked some basic biographical questions. The officer then explored my membership in the communist youth league back home. She was keenly interested in if I had ever renewed my national passport, travelled there or obtained any benefits from that government. It appears that a yes response to any of the three questions would have raised a big red flag. I was only a derivative asylee.

I have heard differing stories when it comes to renewing your passport. I have received my "Recommended Asylum" and am awaiting my I-94 and my "Final Approval." I have a passport and it has expired. Should I not bother with renewing my passport as it seems that it will come back and haunt me later on? My lawyer says it does not matter if I renew my passport or not as long as I don't travel back to my home country. Who is right?

 

[Lazerthegreat]

You will get conflicting advises on this issue. Even some lawyers (such as yours) would say that its ok to renew National passport. However it is always more advisable NOT to renew it. CIS looks upon such action suspiciously because it is considered that you have obtained a benefit from country of persecution. You can easily travel on RTD till your US citizenship so why renew NP? Don't do it

 

[thankful]

I have heard differing stories when it comes to renewing your passport. I have received my "Recommended Asylum" and am awaiting my I-94 and my "Final Approval." I have a passport and it has expired. Should I not bother with renewing my passport as it seems that it will come back and haunt me later on? My lawyer says it does not matter if I renew my passport or not as long as I don't travel back to my home country. Who is right?

Do not renew.

 

[ASSYLEE]

You will get conflicting advises on this issue. Even some lawyers (such as yours) would say that its ok to renew National passport. However it is always more advisable NOT to renew it. CIS looks upon such action suspiciously because it is considered that you have obtained a benefit from country of persecution. You can easily travel on RTD till your US citizenship so why renew NP? Don't do it

A big thank you to all those that reply with valuable information from your experiences. Some of you know more about this stuff than certain "acclaimed" immigration lawyers "specializing" in asylum cases.

 

[ayyubov]

I have heard differing stories when it comes to renewing your passport. I have received my "Recommended Asylum" and am awaiting my I-94 and my "Final Approval." I have a passport and it has expired. Should I not bother with renewing my passport as it seems that it will come back and haunt me later on? My lawyer says it does not matter if I renew my passport or not as long as I don't travel back to my home country. Who is right?

I spoke to Immigration Officer about it and he spesifically told me NOT TO RENEW THE PASSPORT. Now IO's are differnet; some might think it's ok some might not. The best think to do in ur case not to renew it. You will not need passport here sinse they got RTD's

 

[Lazerthegreat]

A big thank you to all those that reply with valuable information from your experiences. Some of you know more about this stuff than certain "acclaimed" immigration lawyers "specializing" in asylum cases.

Most of us talk from either our experience or a friend or relative. This sometimes can be worth more than a lawyer's advice.

 

[sidman]

green card interview

Hi Everyone,

I just received the following email form CIS, saying that they have transfered my case to the local for decision. Questions: Has one here had similar experience? Does this mean I will have to go for an interview? Is this a good or bad news? I will really appreciate hearing about your experiences.

"On May 19, 2005, we transferred your I485 Application to Register
Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status to an office in WASHINGTON, DC for
processing. That office will notify you when they take action on your
case. You should receive a notice informing you that your case has been
transferred to a local office. Please call the National Customer Service
Center at (800) 375-5283, to receive information about local office
processing times."

Thanks, Gino

hi .. i had same experince too,they trasfered my case back on 07/02/2004 to distric office they my case wene to local office in las vegas on 07/27/2004...i had to go on interview on 12/09/2204..they approved my case on 02/08/2005...recevied the green card on 05/14/2005...good luck

 

[gino]

Sidman, thanks. Can you tell me what they asked you in the interview? Was the interview easy?

Gino

hi .. i had same experince too,they trasfered my case back on 07/02/2004 to distric office they my case wene to local office in las vegas on 07/27/2004...i had to go on interview on 12/09/2204..they approved my case on 02/08/2005...recevied the green card on 05/14/2005...good luck

 

[sadasylee]

Hi brothers, I have two questions:

1) How do you know your case is transfered to the local office?
2) If your case is NOT transfered to the local office, will an interview be conducted before I-485 is processed/approved?

Thanks.