man-woman-and-gc
07-15-2011, 11:54 AM
Mine was a slightly unusual case, and went thru some unusual steps but thankfully had a happy ending. I received an approval email today, almost 2.5 months after being current.
Details:
PD - May 23, 2006
July 2007 Filer
Category - EB2 - India
Primary applicant approved on June 27, 2011 (TSC)
Spouse Approved on July 14, 2011
My Case - I and my wife both filed our GC application in EB2 category thru our employers. We also filed for each other as spouse on each GC application. My wife had a PD of May 2006 and I had a PD of July 2007. We both applied for I-485 AOS in July of 2007. We both were issued 2 Receipts each with 2 different A# on them.
In the background, our files were combined but we still had 2 A# and Receipt # each. We have been called for 6 interviews (3 each) by USCIS and 6 Finger printing notices have been issued. In each interview, we had to clarify our situation on how we had 2 applications. The Immigration officers in each interview asked us to keep both applications active and withdraw one as soon as one of them gets approved.
Our date was current in May of this year. We waited patiently but did not get any approval for a month. We opened an SR on May 25 but with no avail. I had an interview appointment for June 12. In my interview, the Immigration officer told us that my wife's file (whose date was current) is in TSC and my file is with him and so he cannot approve either. He asked us to take an Infopass as soon as TSC approves my wife's application. We waited another week and then contacted a Senator on June 20. Senator’s office sent an enquiry about my wife's case to TSC and TSC responded that they have assigned an officer to review the file. About 10 days later, we received 2 notices for my wife, approval for one application and denial for another (as expected).
We took an Infopass appointment for July 6 and in the Infopass appointment, the officer told me that my file was upstairs with an immigration officer who was on vacation that day. He took copies of my wife's approval and both my I-485 and told me that he will give it to the immigration officer assigned to my file and have him call me. To my surprise, I actually received a phone call from the immigration officer next day and he said - everything looks clear, he is waiting for my biometrics to be uploaded and as soon as its done, he will approve my application in a couple days. He also assured me that he would call back when he approves my application. We waited another week, but did not receive any call, so we took another Infopass appointment for July 14. In that appointment, the officer talked to the person assigned to my file and he said he was waiting for me to withdraw one of my I-485. I did not know what to say, but told him I can do that right now. So they made me write on a plain piece of paper that I want to withdraw one application - seriously, no forms, nothing, just a plain paper with one sentence and my signature.
But this time it seems to have worked. I got my approval notice today and hopefully the physical card will be here soon.
I’m sure a few of you may have been thru this or may be in the same boat, so I thought would share my story. There are some lessons to be learnt and depending on ur apetite for risk and patience, you have the option to go one way or the other.
For us, 2 Applications did make things somewhat complicated, but I think in the end it was well worth it because of all the options it gave us. I or my wife were not dependent on one job, we were able to seek better opportunities and career (we moved from Denver and Ohio now to North Carolina) and basically some peace of mind. I don't recommend it, but its not illegal as some might think of it.
Good luck to all others waiting in the queue. I hope good news is just around the corner
Details:
PD - May 23, 2006
July 2007 Filer
Category - EB2 - India
Primary applicant approved on June 27, 2011 (TSC)
Spouse Approved on July 14, 2011
My Case - I and my wife both filed our GC application in EB2 category thru our employers. We also filed for each other as spouse on each GC application. My wife had a PD of May 2006 and I had a PD of July 2007. We both applied for I-485 AOS in July of 2007. We both were issued 2 Receipts each with 2 different A# on them.
In the background, our files were combined but we still had 2 A# and Receipt # each. We have been called for 6 interviews (3 each) by USCIS and 6 Finger printing notices have been issued. In each interview, we had to clarify our situation on how we had 2 applications. The Immigration officers in each interview asked us to keep both applications active and withdraw one as soon as one of them gets approved.
Our date was current in May of this year. We waited patiently but did not get any approval for a month. We opened an SR on May 25 but with no avail. I had an interview appointment for June 12. In my interview, the Immigration officer told us that my wife's file (whose date was current) is in TSC and my file is with him and so he cannot approve either. He asked us to take an Infopass as soon as TSC approves my wife's application. We waited another week and then contacted a Senator on June 20. Senator’s office sent an enquiry about my wife's case to TSC and TSC responded that they have assigned an officer to review the file. About 10 days later, we received 2 notices for my wife, approval for one application and denial for another (as expected).
We took an Infopass appointment for July 6 and in the Infopass appointment, the officer told me that my file was upstairs with an immigration officer who was on vacation that day. He took copies of my wife's approval and both my I-485 and told me that he will give it to the immigration officer assigned to my file and have him call me. To my surprise, I actually received a phone call from the immigration officer next day and he said - everything looks clear, he is waiting for my biometrics to be uploaded and as soon as its done, he will approve my application in a couple days. He also assured me that he would call back when he approves my application. We waited another week, but did not receive any call, so we took another Infopass appointment for July 14. In that appointment, the officer talked to the person assigned to my file and he said he was waiting for me to withdraw one of my I-485. I did not know what to say, but told him I can do that right now. So they made me write on a plain piece of paper that I want to withdraw one application - seriously, no forms, nothing, just a plain paper with one sentence and my signature.
But this time it seems to have worked. I got my approval notice today and hopefully the physical card will be here soon.
I’m sure a few of you may have been thru this or may be in the same boat, so I thought would share my story. There are some lessons to be learnt and depending on ur apetite for risk and patience, you have the option to go one way or the other.
For us, 2 Applications did make things somewhat complicated, but I think in the end it was well worth it because of all the options it gave us. I or my wife were not dependent on one job, we were able to seek better opportunities and career (we moved from Denver and Ohio now to North Carolina) and basically some peace of mind. I don't recommend it, but its not illegal as some might think of it.
Good luck to all others waiting in the queue. I hope good news is just around the corner