US Green Card Holder Sponsoring his Wife

US Green Card Holder applying for Spouse!
Update
Timeline (hope this helps others)

USCIS
Case submitted - April 6th 2021
Case into active Review - August 2nd 2022
Case Into Active Review - September 17th 2022
Case Approved - September 20 2022
Case Closed - September 22 2022
Contact from NVC - September 22 2022
Paid fees (Affidavit and Visa fee) - September 22 2022
Case sent to Abu Dhabi Embassy - November 18th 2022

Next steps
As of Jan 4th, 2023. Still waiting on the interview date....‍♂️
 
Dumb question but does anyone have any idea how long Abu Dhabi usually takes on average to schedule these intervies? I have a friend who got theirs scheduled within a month. I know it is a festive period and all but it is almost 2 months now. Can i even make inquiries at the embassy?
Appreciate any insight.
 
US Green Card Holder applying for Spouse!
Update
Timeline (hope this helps others)

USCIS
Case submitted - April 6th 2021
Case into active Review - August 2nd 2022
Case Into Active Review - September 17th 2022
Case Approved - September 20 2022
Case Closed - September 22 2022
Contact from NVC - September 22 2022
Paid fees (Affidavit and Visa fee) - September 22 2022
Email update - Case sent to Abu Dhabi Embassy - November 18th 2022

As of Jan 4th, 2023. Still waiting on the interview date

Email Update - Acknowledgment that case is still being processed. They are still waiting for Abu Dhabi Embassy - 17th January 2022

still waiting...
 
Update - Feb 16th.
Still waiting.

Officially 3 months since case was approved.
It is interesting that the Abu Dhabi Embassy is taking this long. Wheewww.. since November that this was approved by NVC.
This is crazy.

Anyway, using this just to vent my frustrations with immigration.

Any tips? Help? Anything will be appreciated.
 
I realized a little bit later that you are doing CP and not AOS: it might be hard to run a parallel on the timeline.

- Oct 18, 2021: Case received by USCIS
- Nov 18, 2021: Biometrics appointment & Case moved to "Active Review"
- July 18, 2022: we received a "I-693 Deficiency Notice" where was mentioned that I-693 would have either to be brought during the interview or sent back if interview is waived but not to send anything in the meantime.
- July 25, 2022: Both I-131/I-765 were approved - we had submitted Advanced I-131 in Jan 2022 this year to travel during Christmas
- Feb 9, 2023: My wife received a RFI for the I-693. Our hope is that it will follow the "Deficiency Notice" and interview will be waived.
- Feb 16, 2023: We returned the completed I-693 in a sealed envelope as instructed.

And now we waited again.
We also hope that she'll get the 10y GC (instead of the temporary 2y) since the case will be approved more than 2y after our wedding.

Good luck, I guess the best tip is... patience ;)
 
vladoo said:
I realized a little bit later that you are doing CP and not AOS: it might be hard to run a parallel on the timeline.

- Oct 18, 2021: Case received by USCIS
- Nov 18, 2021: Biometrics appointment & Case moved to "Active Review"
- July 18, 2022: we received a "I-693 Deficiency Notice" where was mentioned that I-693 would have either to be brought during the interview or sent back if interview is waived but not to send anything in the meantime.
- July 25, 2022: Both I-131/I-765 were approved - we had submitted Advanced I-131 in Jan 2022 this year to travel during Christmas
- Feb 9, 2023: My wife received a RFI for the I-693. Our hope is that it will follow the "Deficiency Notice" and interview will be waived.
- Feb 16, 2023: We returned the completed I-693 in a sealed envelope as instructed.

And now we waited again.
We also hope that she'll get the 10y GC (instead of the temporary 2y) since the case will be approved more than 2y after our wedding.

Good luck, I guess the best tip is... patience ;)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the tip!! Patience is indeed a virtue in this case.

I wish you all the best as well.
 
We got another RFI for the I-130 this time earlier this month: it's weird because the I-130 status online went to "RFE requested" and then to "Active review" on the same day. We got the request in the mail in any event.

There were 2 requests in there:

1) Because we disclosed my wife's previous religious marriage (entered and then annuled, never registered officially), USCIS asked for official documents to that she was married/divorced because they did not find any official record. In hindsight we were maybe too transparent in the initial package back in 2021. She wrote a notarized affidavit to explain that, in her country, you have to enter a religious marriage first to register it but this second step was never done and sent an official civil record showing she married to me because we registered our marriage in her country. Do you think this will be enough? Administration does not give any other paper.

2) Prove the bona fide marriage, probably for the 10y greencard, so we sent everything we have where we can show the shared life we have together.

DateLogDays
10/18/2021AOS package submitted online (I-485, I-130, I-765) -
10/19/2021Fee receipt 1
10/23/2021Biometrics appointment notice 5
11/18/2021Biometrics appointment 31
11/18/2021I-485 active review 31
1/25/2022I-131 submitted online 99
7/18/2022I-693 deficiency notice 273
7/18/2022I-765 EAD approved 273
7/21/2022I-131 Advance parole approved 276
7/25/2023I-765 EAD card received 645
2/6/2023I-485 RFE request by USCIS for I-693 476
2/16/2023I-693 mailed to USCIS 486
2/22/2023I-130 active review 492
2/16/2023I-485 RFE response mailed to USCIS 486
2/23/2023I-485 RFE response acknowledged by USCIS 493
3/6/2023I-485 active review 504
3/6/2023I-130 RFE request by USCIS 504
3/6/2023I-130 active review 504
3/16/2023I-130 RFI response mailed to USCIS 514
 
vladoo said:
We got another RFI for the I-130 this time earlier this month: it's weird because the I-130 status online went to "RFE requested" and then to "Active review" on the same day. We got the request in the mail in any event.

There were 2 requests in there:

1) Because we disclosed my wife's previous religious marriage (entered and then annuled, never registered officially), USCIS asked for official documents to that she was married/divorced because they did not find any official record. In hindsight we were maybe too transparent in the initial package back in 2021. She wrote a notarized affidavit to explain that, in her country, you have to enter a religious marriage first to register it but this second step was never done and sent an official civil record showing she married to me because we registered our marriage in her country. Do you think this will be enough? Administration does not give any other paper.

2) Prove the bona fide marriage, probably for the 10y greencard, so we sent everything we have where we can show the shared life we have together.

DateLogDays
10/18/2021AOS package submitted online (I-485, I-130, I-765) -
10/19/2021Fee receipt 1
10/23/2021Biometrics appointment notice 5
11/18/2021Biometrics appointment 31
11/18/2021I-485 active review 31
1/25/2022I-131 submitted online 99
7/18/2022I-693 deficiency notice 273
7/18/2022I-765 EAD approved 273
7/21/2022I-131 Advance parole approved 276
7/25/2023I-765 EAD card received 645
2/6/2023I-485 RFE request by USCIS for I-693 476
2/16/2023I-693 mailed to USCIS 486
2/22/2023I-130 active review 492
2/16/2023I-485 RFE response mailed to USCIS 486
2/23/2023I-485 RFE response acknowledged by USCIS 493
3/6/2023I-485 active review 504
3/6/2023I-130 RFE request by USCIS 504
3/6/2023I-130 active review 504
3/16/2023I-130 RFI response mailed to USCIS 514
Click to expand...
Thanks for Sharing.

We still have not hear anything on our side About interview date
 
Today we got an email from a specfic someone at USCIS asking us to submit the I-693 medical - see below.
It's odd because we already received a RFE on Feb 6 for it, we sent it in the sealed envelope on Feb 16 and status on the USCIS shows that it was received on Feb 23.
We answered with a copy of the scanned I-693 in Cc asking him if he needs a new one or able to locate the one we already sent: I just hope he can call the civil surgeon from the copy and confirm it was all in order to be honest.

Did someone already came accross this situation before? What would you do here?
I expect the civil surgeon will ask us to pay the medical visit fee again, it's not really his problem.

Dear XX

USCIS has completed pre-processing checks on the applications listed below which has now been transferred to the Queens Field Office for processing.

An initial review determined that a signed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, has not yet been submitted in connection with your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The Form I-693 should be submitted in an envelope, sealed and signed by the civil surgeon. Please see the attached instructions.

A list of designated civil surgeons can be obtained by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283, or via the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov and using the MyUSCIS Find a Doctor tool at my.uscis.gov/findadoctor. You will need to provide your zip code or address. If you are hearing impaired, please call the USCIS Contact Center TDD at 1-800-767-1833.

While review of the application is pending, you can supplement the file with additional documentation that you believe may support your eligibility for the benefit. It is not necessary to resend any documents that were included with the initial filing.

If you wish to submit this documentation, you may do so by bringing the documentation to the Queens Field Office and drop them off with one of our available staff members. Please bring a copy of this email with you when you arrive at our office.

Our address is as follows: YYYY

If you are unable to provide additional documents at this time and our review determines insufficient evidence, a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny will be issued in accordance with USCIS policy.

Sincerely,

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Click to expand...
 
vladoo said:
Today we got an email from a specfic someone at USCIS asking us to submit the I-693 medical - see below.
It's odd because we already received a RFE on Feb 6 for it, we sent it in the sealed envelope on Feb 16 and status on the USCIS shows that it was received on Feb 23.
We answered with a copy of the scanned I-693 in Cc asking him if he needs a new one or able to locate the one we already sent: I just hope he can call the civil surgeon from the copy and confirm it was all in order to be honest.

Did someone already came accross this situation before? What would you do here?
I expect the civil surgeon will ask us to pay the medical visit fee again, it's not really his problem.
Click to expand...
Hope someone responds.
Goodluck man.
 
US Green Card Holder applying for Spouse!
Update - Timeline (hope this helps others)

USCIS
Case submitted - April 6th 2021
Case into active Review - August 2nd 2022
Case Into Active Review - September 17th 2022
Case Approved - September 20 2022
Case Closed - September 22 2022
Contact from NVC - September 22 2022
Paid fees (Affidavit and Visa fee) - September 22 2022
Email update - Case sent to Abu Dhabi Embassy - November 18th 2022

4th January, 2023
Still waiting on the interview date

17th January, 2023
Email Update - Acknowledgment that case is still being processed. They are still waiting for Abu Dhabi Embassy

17th February, 2023
Email Update - Acknowledgment that case is still being processed. They are still waiting for Abu Dhabi Embassy -

21st March, 2023
Email Update - Acknowledgment that case is still being processed. They are still waiting for Abu Dhabi Embassy -

At this point, i am thinking of transferring this to my Home Country Cameroons Embassy as this seems to be faster.
-Any thoughts on this? Has someone done this before?
-Do you know if it is typically at the begining or end of the month that they schedule and send out invites for interviews that month?

Thanks!


still waiting...
 
Quick update:
My wife and I went back to our doctor to ask for an original copy of the I-693 medical in a sealed envelope and turns out we were not alone: our doctor said he got 5/6 customers asking for the same thing. My guess is that they had an issue with the mail delivery or submission and the email is just a way to ask us to resubmit. I went to my FO this morning to resubmit both RFE reply in person, that gets things moving hopefully.
 
Hi all, so as things stand, we are still waiting for our place in line. I wanted to see if someone can assist and give me some guidance on what to expect.

I am a GC holder filing for wife who is in Abu Dhabi. Her priority date is April 6th 2021. According to the visa bulletin, i see they are handling October 2020 in my category.

Can someone with knowledge of this give me any predictions or anything on what to expect. My wife is pregnant and due in 6 months. Is there any chance she gets her documents by then?

Thank you!
 
Hi, Any updates about your cases? I applied for my husband on Jul 25th 2022. Still no update and I'm not surprise either. :) Good luck for your cases.
 
Sarah Nayomi said:
Hi, Any updates about your cases? I applied for my husband on Jul 25th 2022. Still no update and I'm not surprise either. :) Good luck for your cases.
Click to expand...
As a green card holder, you are in for quite a wait. Hopefully u become a citizen soon after his case is approved. Then he gets a call at the embassy. The wait times for green card holders spouses is crazy.
 
Still waiting for my wife's I-485 (no current yet, priority date October 2021) but I-130 was approved in August.
Last couple of Visa Bulletins have been disappointing, nothing is moving on the Final Action Dates: hope the next one is not just a copy-paste of the precedent again.
 
vladoo said:
Still waiting for my wife's I-485 (no current yet, priority date October 2021) but I-130 was approved in August.
Last couple of Visa Bulletins have been disappointing, nothing is moving on the Final Action Dates: hope the next one is not just a copy-paste of the precedent again.
Click to expand...
Tell me about it. My wifes priority date is April 2021.

For the bulletin, It is estimated to be that way until the middle of next year at the very least. It is election season so any changes in Immigration may be the last thing on anyones mind.
 
vladoo said:
Still waiting for my wife's I-485 (no current yet, priority date October 2021) but I-130 was approved in August.
Last couple of Visa Bulletins have been disappointing, nothing is moving on the Final Action Dates: hope the next one is not just a copy-paste of the precedent again.
Click to expand...
At least with a pending I-485, she can stay in the US for as long as it is pending, and get free EAD (to work) and Advance Parole (to re-enter) for as long as it is pending, so it doesn't matter that much how long it takes.
 
It does matter: better to keep her on a valid visa as much as possible not to tie her fate to a pending i485.
I heard about denials of pending i485 on Reddit, and whether they were justified or not, i am not a gambler (at least not with USCIS).
 
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