Approved and my experience
AOS application was approved 2 days ago. Wife's case is still pending for unknown reasons. Here is the story of the final months:
Completed NIW commitment in early september and sent all usual documents the very next day. I had this vague feeling that CIS having not done too many NIW AOS applications ( atleast at california service center ) may put my case in the back burner substantially delaying the process. So I decided to be proactive and requested senator's office initiate an inquiry, just 3 weeks after submission of final documents. It paid off , as in late october they sent me a RFE for medicals and also few days later got a second FP notice ( went early ).
CIS received RFE in early November and then the waiting game began.
As per there 'rules' I had to wait 60 days before initiating any inquiry via the useless 1800 "customer service number". After waiting 4 weeks ( from the RFE reply date )I sent a polite fax to CSC informing them that my case is ready for adjudication. This was early this month. Got approved about 10 days after my fax. My wife's case is still pending, so this is not over yet.
Here is gist of all this
* Send all documents as soon as waiver is over ( I sent w2's, last 5 yers tax returns, paystubs, EVL etc )
*It helps getting senator/congressman's office involved early( Google to find out who the senator /congressman is in your state/county). Write a polite but matter of fact letter requesting their office's help. People have posted there letters in various forums here and one may get an idea on the contents from them.
*No point in calling the customer service number or sending USCIS emails etc. They basically have the same info as the case status page on the USCIS website.
* setup a portfolio with the case status web page, this helps as one can track the LUD and therefore any movements on one's case . Also CIS sends email one's there is any major development in the case i.e any RFE, approval etc.
*Once medicals/2nd fp done they usually adjudicate the case in 2 weeks ( atleast the LC based cases of non MD's ). If over 3-4 weeks , send a simple fax to the division informing them that case shud be ready for adjudication. Division fax numbers are avalilable at CIS website or search this portal.
The bottomline is that their experience with NIW cases is limited due to few number of applications compared to a traditional LC based cases which engineers/ non MD's apply in large numbers ( atleast that's the case at california service center). It is easy for one officer to pass on the buck therfore delaying the approval.
It's a honest fact that there's only one person who cares whether the case is adjudicated or not and that is the applicant.
Best of luck to all.
WAC021
RD 3/02
Ist FP 4/02
1st RFE may04(EVL, W2s,tax returns, paystubs )
Waiver completion: early sept, sent again the above RFE documents a day after waiver completion.
RFE late Oct ( medicals )
2nd FP early Nov
RFE recieved by CIS 11/09
AD 12/14