my number in 485 EB queue

[tempgc]

Hi All
I have one idea / question.

When we ask the USCIS / DOS to give the break up of the pending EB applications country and year/month wise, they say, its a security related info and taking endless time.

Can we ask them this way.
When I search with my I485 receipt number for the status, along with the status and receipt number, if it gives one more number like, how many people are ahead of me in the queue waiting for approval in my EB classification and in my country of changeability that would be great. This info is enough for me to estimate / plan.

Can we do this ? Do you see this helpful ?

I hope in the new USCIS website, they give this info if we can not ask for this.

Thx
TempGC

[patiently_waiting]

If they had that much exact information, they would give. The real issue is they do not have the information on

how many cases pending in AOS category
how many cases they would expect when they move EB dates on each category based on India, China or Rest of World


I think the second part is the most difficult part that they were not able to predict in advance.They can predict this based on the I-140 approvals. I donot understand why they are lagging in this.

Some Guru please give your opinion.

[vshar]

I received the following email. Could IV core look into it and take some initiative?

Dear USCIS Customer:



On behalf of the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), MorganFranklin Corporation has sent this e-mail to invite you to participate in a roundtable meeting with other USCIS customers to discuss ways to enhance USCIS customer service.



If you are a current or potential benefit seeker, we would like to get your feedback on the ways that we can improve the application process, such as moving from a paper-based application to an online system.



Your feedback will remain anonymous and will have no affect on your application. However, it will play an important role in ensuring that any new system meets the needs of the Agency’s customers.



The session will last approximately two hours. We will be holding the session on one of the following dates and times:



· September 22 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM or

· September 22 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM or

· September 23 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM or

· September 23 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM



The meeting will be hosted by USCIS and will take place at a Metro accessible location in downtown NW Washington, D.C. Additional details will be provided if you are interested in participating.



If this is something that you would be interested in, please reply to this e-mail or contact Nora at 305-662-7288, Ext. 305.



If you respond by e-mail, please provide a phone number where we may reach you, and at which date and time you would be able to attend. We will then provide further information such as directions to the location where the discussion will take place?



On behalf of USCIS we would like to thank you for your time.:)

[tempgc]

I am happy to see Ron's comment
Important update on visa cutoff date movement - Immigration Information Discussion Forum (http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/9117-important-update-on-visa-cutoff-date-movement.html)
I hope to see my queue number on the USCIS case status site on 9/22.
Lets see whether they show it or not.


I have some important news concerning visa backlogs and information about cutoff date movements. It appears that the CIS will be posting their Employment I-485 demand totals on their Web site on a Worldwide and oversubscribed country basis by month, year, and category. This should happen when they go over to their new system next Tuesday. So, the good news is that we shouldn't have to guess. We should be able to see the raw data on the CIS site. Let's see what happens.

On another subject, I have it on good authority that for worldwide EB3:

* By December we can expect that the cut-off date will be somewhere in the second half of 2003.
* It is unsure if they will be able to move the EB3 date for November because the October allocation was very large.
* The cut-off date should reach mid to late 2005 by late Winter or early Spring.

[whitecollarslave]

I received the following email. Could IV core look into it and take some initiative?

Dear USCIS Customer:



On behalf of the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), MorganFranklin Corporation has sent this e-mail to invite you to participate in a roundtable meeting with other USCIS customers to discuss ways to enhance USCIS customer service.



If you are a current or potential benefit seeker, we would like to get your feedback on the ways that we can improve the application process, such as moving from a paper-based application to an online system.



Your feedback will remain anonymous and will have no affect on your application. However, it will play an important role in ensuring that any new system meets the needs of the Agency’s customers.



The session will last approximately two hours. We will be holding the session on one of the following dates and times:



· September 22 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM or

· September 22 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM or

· September 23 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM or

· September 23 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM



The meeting will be hosted by USCIS and will take place at a Metro accessible location in downtown NW Washington, D.C. Additional details will be provided if you are interested in participating.



If this is something that you would be interested in, please reply to this e-mail or contact Nora at 305-662-7288, Ext. 305.



If you respond by e-mail, please provide a phone number where we may reach you, and at which date and time you would be able to attend. We will then provide further information such as directions to the location where the discussion will take place?



On behalf of USCIS we would like to thank you for your time.:)

I am going to this meeting. Did you sign up for this?

[tempgc]

I feel the data from USCIS seem completely wrong and pre Sept 09.
I got below numbers from another site which says EB2I pending are 9003 and for EB3I its 8634. Total EB2 and 3 = 17637. Do you think this number is correct ?

[h1techSlave]

In the below link Ron says EB3-I movement will be very slow.
Important update on visa cutoff date movement - Page 3 - Immigration Information Discussion Forum (http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/9117-important-update-on-visa-cutoff-date-movement-3.html)

But the GC prediction tool that IV has published paints a very rosy picture. So my days are some thing like this:
Morning: run the GC prediction tool --> I am very happy
9AM - 5 PM: My boss blames me for all the problems in the whole organization --> I am pissed off
6 PM: I go over various immi forums which predicts that EB3-I is screwed --> I am doubly pissed off
7 PM: I go home and kick the dog

I am happy to see Ron's comment
Important update on visa cutoff date movement - Immigration Information Discussion Forum (http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/9117-important-update-on-visa-cutoff-date-movement.html)
I hope to see my queue number on the USCIS case status site on 9/22.
Lets see whether they show it or not.


I have some important news concerning visa backlogs and information about cutoff date movements. It appears that the CIS will be posting their Employment I-485 demand totals on their Web site on a Worldwide and oversubscribed country basis by month, year, and category. This should happen when they go over to their new system next Tuesday. So, the good news is that we shouldn't have to guess. We should be able to see the raw data on the CIS site. Let's see what happens.

On another subject, I have it on good authority that for worldwide EB3:

* By December we can expect that the cut-off date will be somewhere in the second half of 2003.
* It is unsure if they will be able to move the EB3 date for November because the October allocation was very large.
* The cut-off date should reach mid to late 2005 by late Winter or early Spring.

[tempgc]

I got below numbers from another forum.
EB2 I Queue Number - PD - Expected Current without Spillover
8 Jan-01 Sep, 2009
42 Jan-02 Sep, 2009
137 Jan-03 Oct, 2009
459 Jan-04 Nov, 2009
1082 Jul-04 Feb, 2010
2587 Jan-05 Aug, 2010
2587 Feb-05 Aug, 2010
2587 Mar-05 Aug, 2010
2664 Apr-05 Aug, 2010
2664 May-05 Aug, 2010
2664 Jun-05 Aug, 2010
3108 Jul-05 Oct, 2010
3108 Aug-05 Oct, 2010
3108 Sep-05 Oct, 2010
3746 Oct-05 Jan, 2011
3746 Nov-05 Jan, 2011
3746 Dec-05 Jan, 2011
4639 Jan-06 May, 2011
4639 Feb-06 May, 2011
4639 Jan-06 May, 2011
7787 Jan-07 Jun, 2012
9003 Aug-07 Dec, 2012


EB3 I
8634 Aug-07 Oct, 2012



Looking at the numbers do you think total EB2 and EB3 pending 485's are only 9003+8634 ~ 18K ?
I don't think so.

Something fishy with the numbers.

[vikramy]

Where is GC Prediction tool on IV? Can you please point me to that?

In the below link Ron says EB3-I movement will be very slow.
Important update on visa cutoff date movement - Page 3 - Immigration Information Discussion Forum (http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/9117-important-update-on-visa-cutoff-date-movement-3.html)

But the GC prediction tool that IV has published paints a very rosy picture. So my days are some thing like this:
Morning: run the GC prediction tool --> I am very happy
9AM - 5 PM: My boss blames me for all the problems in the whole organization --> I am pissed off
6 PM: I go over various immi forums which predicts that EB3-I is screwed --> I am doubly pissed off
7 PM: I go home and kick the dog

[innervoice]

Pappu,

People who have donate for the FOIA, should get the access to see the report.

Contributed $130 so far.

[gc_check]

In the below link Ron says EB3-I movement will be very slow.
Important update on visa cutoff date movement - Page 3 - Immigration Information Discussion Forum (http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/9117-important-update-on-visa-cutoff-date-movement-3.html)

But the GC prediction tool that IV has published paints a very rosy picture. So my days are some thing like this:
Morning: run the GC prediction tool --> I am very happy
9AM - 5 PM: My boss blames me for all the problems in the whole organization --> I am pissed off
6 PM: I go over various immi forums which predicts that EB3-I is screwed --> I am doubly pissed off
7 PM: I go home and kick the dog

"GC prediction tool that IV has published" --> Is this something shared with you all in the Donor forum... Could not locate in general website are open to all.. Please update

[k_usa]

http://immigrationvoice.org/tracker/waitimes.php

The above link worked yesterday. But today i am getting 404 error

[pd2001_12]

LOL. Same situation here bro.. I don't have dog, i am trying to locate neighbors dog or cat...

In the below link Ron says EB3-I movement will be very slow.
Important update on visa cutoff date movement - Page 3 - Immigration Information Discussion Forum (http://www.immigration-information.com/forums/general-immigration-questions/9117-important-update-on-visa-cutoff-date-movement-3.html)

But the GC prediction tool that IV has published paints a very rosy picture. So my days are some thing like this:
Morning: run the GC prediction tool --> I am very happy
9AM - 5 PM: My boss blames me for all the problems in the whole organization --> I am pissed off
6 PM: I go over various immi forums which predicts that EB3-I is screwed --> I am doubly pissed off
7 PM: I go home and kick the dog

[vikramy]

Thanks for the info! may be it's intentional.

http://immigrationvoice.org/tracker/waitimes.php

The above link worked yesterday. But today i am getting 404 error

[vgc]

Here is the link to USICS pending 485 numbers...

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/New%20Structure/2nd%20Level%20(Left%20Nav%20Parents)/Green%20Card%20-%202nd%20Level/Pending%20Form%20I-485%20Reports.pdf

[gc_check]

Here is the link to USICS pending 485 numbers...

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/New%20Structure/2nd%20Level%20(Left%20Nav%20Parents)/Green%20Card%20-%202nd%20Level/Pending%20Form%20I-485%20Reports.pdf

How did you locate this link.. web search ?? Good find though, Not sure if this is the same one IV got via FOIA. Also the pdf does not have any date(as of xx/xx/2009), so not sure how current the data is..

[tempgc]

Here is the link to USICS pending 485 numbers...

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/New%20Structure/2nd%20Level%20(Left%20Nav%20Parents)/Green%20Card%20-%202nd%20Level/Pending%20Form%20I-485%20Reports.pdf

Great find buddy. good work.

[sidbee]

Good Find.

But the information in it , doesnt explain EB3 struct at 2001.
any comments??

[gc_check]

Guys, Check this...

USCIS - Questions & Answers: Pending Employment-Based Form I-485 Inventory (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=5e170e6bcb7e3210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=ae853ad15c673210VgnVCM100000082ca60a RCRD)

Updated Today .. Seems to be in sync with the other link updated by vgc

[girijas]

I am going to this meeting. Did you sign up for this?


Didn't see this. I live in MD and looks like Nora is not in the office. Did you find information about where exactly the meeting is located?

[gccovet]

Great find buddy. good work.



based on the pdf file, there are only 145 EB-3I cases before April 1 2001. Big question mark (?) on how the heck DOS releases VISA numbers.

GCCovet.

[girijas]

Good Find.

But the information in it , doesnt explain EB3 struct at 2001.
any comments??

The annual EB3 quota per country is around 3200. This translates to 800 per quarter.

Yes; they do release more than 25% in the first three quarters; but not sure if the table includes dependants or not. The pending applications until April 2001 are around 600. So it is a pretty good estimate. They are either keeping the cut off date a little too early to ensure that the earlier cases get cleared and/or to account for dependants (in case the table doesn't already do so)

[frostrated]

here is another link that shows us the dates and their explanation.

USCIS - Questions & Answers: Pending Employment-Based Form I-485 Inventory (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=5e170e6bcb7e3210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=ae853ad15c673210VgnVCM100000082ca60a RCRD)

if the link does not work, then go to uscis.gov
select the heading GreenCards.. in the middle of the page
In the right margin, there is a link to 485 inventory.

[frostrated]

what i dont understand in the table is the applications that have a priority date in 2008.
how did these applications get filed when they were not accepting any after july 2007?

[MDix]

what i dont understand in the table is the applications that have a priority date in 2008.
how did these applications get filed when they were not accepting any after july 2007?

Looks like that's PD porting or Cross-chagibilty.

[JaiHo]

How to read data ?

Under Section "I-485 Employment-Based Inventory for Individuals Born in India"

Not sure, it is inventory of all the filed cases (primary+dependent) ?
if it is yes, then pending application # for period 2001 to 2002 must be less than shown in in table. I am making this statement- because some of 2001/2002 cases approved in 2007-jun/july.

Thanks.

[new2gc]

How did you locate this link.. web search ?? Good find though, Not sure if this is the same one IV got via FOIA. Also the pdf does not have any date(as of xx/xx/2009), so not sure how current the data is..

As per this report, there are more than 36K applications in front of me, but per the FOIA data, there are only 8900 or so applications are infront of me. Not sure which one is correct.

USCIS is crazy, even after paying 5K USD, they were giving incorrect data?

[asdcrajnet]

Atleast I now know exactly when I will get GC....it is 4.5 to 5 years...already waited for 6.5 years....another 5 years is a piece of cake :)

[gcformeornot]

EB3 I is frozen to 2001 still chart shows 485 applications with PD 2008/2009. How is this possible?

If they are from BEC then their PDs should be prior to 2005. Why later 2007/2008/2009?????

Changeability is ruled out becoz then they should not show up in India...

[p.guptapost]

I have this question: EB1 + EB2 total is around 80K
There will be 140K visas for 2009-10…

Let’s say that 10K visa are filed in next 9-10 months due to recession…So shouldn’t EB2 all including India become current.
Also, around 50K visas should be available for EB3 folks.

Any comments??

[srini1976]

Here is the link to USICS pending 485 numbers...

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/New%20Structure/2nd%20Level%20(Left%20Nav%20Parents)/Green%20Card%20-%202nd%20Level/Pending%20Form%20I-485%20Reports.pdf

Fantastic find!

He is much faster than IV. So called smart folks keep thinking forever ...whether to share it with donors of FOIA or other members..for all great reasons like access to anti-immigrants..strategy planning..crap

Now IV keep FOIA update all for yourself and keep planning.. restrict access to donors..silver donors..gold donors..platinum donors....continue losing members(who can contribute)..Great Job IV.

Cheers.

[vsrinir]

USCIS mentioned it is " Sample Report" and how to look for your number.

Is it a real report or Sample report?

[asdcrajnet]

Another angle based total 485 pending...

Grand total of EB applicants pending is 233,816

Total allotted EB visas- 140K/year

If no one applies from now on, everything will be current in less than 2 years...which is impossible :)

Even if 100K people apply every year from now on(Number is less based on the current economic situation and it is going to stink for the next 5 years), it will be current in little moe than 5 years(233K + 100K+100K+100K+100K+100K ~ 730K/140 ~ 5.5 years)!!!!...Personally I believe only 50K will apply for the next 3 years. So everything will be current in 3 years :)

Looks positive....

If the lost visas are recaptured, Everything will be current immediately!!!!!!! :D

Bad news is for the EB3 I, which gets no spill overs, where I belong :(

[sidbee]

Another angle based total 485 pending...

Grand total of EB applicants pending is 233,816

Total allotted EB visas- 140K/year

If no one applies from now on, everything will be current in less than 2 years...which is impossible :)

Even if 100K people apply every year from now on(Number is less based on the current economic situation and it is going to stink for the next 5 years), it will be current in little moe than 5 years(233K + 100K+100K+100K+100K+100K ~ 730K/140 ~ 5.5 years)!!!!...Personally I believe only 50K will apply for the next 3 years. So everything will be current in 3 years :)

Looks positive....

If the lost visas are recaptured, Everything will be current immediately!!!!!!! :D

Bad news is for the EB3 I, which gets no spill overs, where I belong :(

Wrong Buddy ...
I think IV Calculator also used your logic.
"If no one applies from now on, everything will be current in less than 2 years...which is impossible :)"

The problem is people applying in the next 2 year in EB1,EB2 and EB3 ROW , would keep on extending the wait for EB3I.

[JaiHo]

Q: How can I determine my place in line based on my priority date?

A: Your preference category, priority date, and country of origin determine your place in line for a visa. The earlier your priority date is, the closer you are to the front of the line. To better assist you in knowing your place in line, we are posting a report of our total pending inventory of applications for employment-based green cards (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) for those seeking to adjust status in the United States. See the “Pending Employment-Based Form I-485 Report” link to the right. We are also posting five other reports by country of chargeability (China, India, Mexico, Philippines, and All Other Chargeability) (see the links to the right).

The “Pending Employment-Based Form I-485 Report,” displays the total number of pending adjustment of status applications, per preference classification. The report shows how many pending adjustment of status (green card) applications in each preference classification have priority dates in a given month and year. You can use this chart to determine how many applicants in your preference classification have priority dates in the same month and year as your own. Also, you can determine how many applicants in your preference classification are ahead of you in line for a visa number by adding together the number of cases with an earlier priority date than your own.

The All Other Chargeability report shows how many applicants from countries other than China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines have priority dates in a given month and year. The report is broken down into separate charts for each preference classification. If you are from a country other than China, India, Mexico, or the Philippines, you can use this chart to determine how many applicants for adjustment of status in the same preference classification have a priority date in the same month and year as your own. This chart also lets you know how many applicants in the same preference classification have earlier priority dates.

USCIS - Questions & Answers: Pending Employment-Based Form I-485 Inventory (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=5e170e6bcb7e3210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=ae853ad15c673210VgnVCM100000082ca60a RCRD)

[gcisadawg]

Fantastic find!

He is much faster than IV. So called smart folks keep thinking forever ...whether to share it with donors of FOIA or other members..for all great reasons like access to anti-immigrants..strategy planning..crap

Now IV keep FOIA update all for yourself and keep planning.. restrict access to donors..silver donors..gold donors..platinum donors....continue losing members(who can contribute)..Great Job IV.

Cheers.

That was indeed a great find. It was the raw data that people were fighting about.
However, I feel bad for IV admin people..They didnt expect USCIS to make that data public..
IV wanted to use that as a lever for prospective members to sign up and enter their profile...Thats a good thought....But the program was bad..

Dont forget, without IV's advocay effort and they paying for it , we wouldnt be seeing this data in the public domain..

The numbers we had from Senator's Kyl's office in Feb 2009 showed as
Pending India EB application 125,923
EB2 --> 51717
EB3 --> 70838

Based on FOIA stats for India, we have
EB2 --> 47728
EB3--> 62607

Does that mean, between feb 2009 and now, about 8K EB3-I were adjudicated/rejected/withdrawn/ported?

my 2 cents..

[srini1976]

That was indeed a great find. It was the raw data that people were fighting about.
However, I feel bad for IV admin people..They didnt expect USCIS to make that data public..
IV wanted to use that as a lever for prospective members to sign up and enter their profile...Thats a good thought....But the program was bad..

Dont forget, without IV's advocay effort and they paying for it , we wouldnt be seeing this data in the public domain..

The numbers we had from Senator's Kyl's office in Feb 2009 showed as
Pending India EB application 125,923
EB2 --> 51717
EB3 --> 70838

Based on FOIA stats for India, we have
EB2 --> 47728
EB3--> 62607

Does that mean, between feb 2009 and now, about 8K EB3-I were adjudicated/rejected/withdrawn/ported?

my 2 cents..

Dude,

I always support IV. But DO NOT support the DONOR based access. This is kind of pointless.

If ONLY IV could have released the FOIA information earlier to all the members and take CREDIT for getting the important FOIA information...Imagine the kind of POSITIVE feedback IV would have gained and even better the goodwill and trust of majority of the EB community...anyways all we wanted are the numbers..and we have them now from USCIS directly.

FYI: I had contributed for FOIA and have been suddenly denied access because of DONOR based access.

Cheers

[bobzibub]

OK, so I added up all those prior to me (I'm June 06) and I'm 45K EB3 ROW.

Now factor in 85% of the 40K EB3 ROW quota will not be consular and that leaves 34K per year.

Also, of the 45K, there are spouses, children etc so multiply by 2.1 and get 94.5K in the queue prior to me. This fiscal year has been alloted already. So 94.5/34K = 2.8 years starting in October when the Queue opens up again.

This puts me around August 2012, which would be around six years soup-to-nuts.

Are these reasonable assumptions?

(I can't believe the EB3 I/C, those that apply now. Holy cow! A life time in the same job!!!!)

[gcisadawg]

OK, so I added up all those prior to me (I'm June 06) and I'm 45K EB3 ROW.

Now factor in 85% of the 40K EB3 ROW quota will not be consular and that leaves 34K per year.

Also, of the 45K, there are spouses, children etc so multiply by 2.1 and get 94.5K in the queue prior to me. This fiscal year has been alloted already. So 94.5/34K = 2.8 years starting in October when the Queue opens up again.

This puts me around August 2012, which would be around six years soup-to-nuts.

Are these reasonable assumptions?

(I can't believe the EB3 I/C, those that apply now. Holy cow! A life time in the same job!!!!)

You dont have to multiply by 2.1 here....Most of the people in US would have already filed for their dependent also. There could be a few that didnt file and would be doing so when their date becomes current.

[looivy]

If USCIS recaptures lost visas (estimated to be in the range 300k-600k), all of us will be current. IV should start a drive to push for the recapture even if partial, it would help everybody in a big way.

[GC4US]

OK, so I added up all those prior to me (I'm June 06) and I'm 45K EB3 ROW.

Now factor in 85% of the 40K EB3 ROW quota will not be consular and that leaves 34K per year.

Also, of the 45K, there are spouses, children etc so multiply by 2.1 and get 94.5K in the queue prior to me. This fiscal year has been alloted already. So 94.5/34K = 2.8 years starting in October when the Queue opens up again.

This puts me around August 2012, which would be around six years soup-to-nuts.

Are these reasonable assumptions?

(I can't believe the EB3 I/C, those that apply now. Holy cow! A life time in the same job!!!!)


Does anyone know how many visas are given away for each category?
For eg. how many for Eb3-I and how many for Eb3 ROW?..per year? Is it 45k for ROW like you said?
I know in total there are 140.000 for all categories.