I had heard that for 485 stamping people don't need to get in to regular line on sansom street office but security guard told me that now everything is through the same line. I arrived just 15 minutes before opening and I thought it will take me long day if I get in to the line. It was not that bad and I entered the building in next 15 minutes. It was frustrating to see slow number movement for first 2 hours but in next hours many of us were stamped. Parking is very expensive in SFO downtown and I paid $25 for public parking for 4 hours (think it as one time expense of greencard) Metered parking are only for two hours max and are useless. So better take a train or ride if possible.
IIO called me and took papers (I-94, EAD, AP, passport and photo), took fingerprints and asked me to wait. I never gave the I-485 courtesy copy and extra copies of my AP and he never asked for that. He called me again after 5 minutes and returned my passport with 1 year temporary stamp on it. He said it will take 6-12 months to get the card. The guy was old and had a hard time seeing the notice and typing in on computer. He mistyped my alien number 3 times on his computer. Also while copying my name on form, he made spelling mistake and I had to tell him the right spelling. Otherwise things were pretty smmoth and painless.
And for everyone's information, I was laidof 4 months back and joined a contracting agency as hourly employee no benefits. I am working on contract for another company through this agency since then. Never informed INS or even lawyer. But I figured out that lawyer knew about it because my previous company told him that I am not in their payrole anymore. I was concerned that how would I ask the official copy of I-485 since it comes to lawyer directly. But lawyer was good and he just passed that to me. I don't think they are bothered about it. Just make sure you keep good relations with old company esp. HR and immigration guys in case of any problem.
So good luck guys for your 485 approval and stamping. I think that some IIOs are old guys and can make mistakes that can generate RFE etc. I think it is a fairly clerical procedure so chances of mistakes are there.
IIO called me and took papers (I-94, EAD, AP, passport and photo), took fingerprints and asked me to wait. I never gave the I-485 courtesy copy and extra copies of my AP and he never asked for that. He called me again after 5 minutes and returned my passport with 1 year temporary stamp on it. He said it will take 6-12 months to get the card. The guy was old and had a hard time seeing the notice and typing in on computer. He mistyped my alien number 3 times on his computer. Also while copying my name on form, he made spelling mistake and I had to tell him the right spelling. Otherwise things were pretty smmoth and painless.
And for everyone's information, I was laidof 4 months back and joined a contracting agency as hourly employee no benefits. I am working on contract for another company through this agency since then. Never informed INS or even lawyer. But I figured out that lawyer knew about it because my previous company told him that I am not in their payrole anymore. I was concerned that how would I ask the official copy of I-485 since it comes to lawyer directly. But lawyer was good and he just passed that to me. I don't think they are bothered about it. Just make sure you keep good relations with old company esp. HR and immigration guys in case of any problem.
So good luck guys for your 485 approval and stamping. I think that some IIOs are old guys and can make mistakes that can generate RFE etc. I think it is a fairly clerical procedure so chances of mistakes are there.