My 485 got approved on Dec 21,2004 and I got the approval papers by mail from my lawyer. So I took the infopass appointment for me, my wife and my daughter (5 year old) at Miami district office at 7-30, 7-45 and 8-00 AM respectively for Jan 4,2005. We reached the USCIS office at the intersection of Biscayne blvd and NW 79 th street at about 7-20 and we were asked to go to the back of the building. The guard let us all three of us in. We then went into a room where there were about 40/50 people waiting and we were asked to place our I-797 forms in a tray. They collected our 797 and after sometime they called us to finger print , took our pictures and were asked to wait. They called one by one all the people Fped , they took away EADs, I-94 and stamped our passports with I-551 and were done. We entered at about 7-30 and were out by 9-00AM. There were posts that said they would not let in people 30 mins before scheduled appointment time but in our case they did. 485 RD/ND : Oct30,2002 FP : Oct 05,2004 RFE: Nov11,2004 (regarding legal status for self and spouse) RFE Ack recd at TSC : Dec 15,2004 AD : Dec 21,2004 PP Stamped : Jan 4 , 2005 For more information on this topic click here
My I 485 for employment based GC was filed on feb 2002 thru small company A. My wife was filed a dependent on my case. I did left company after 180 days and joined company B (used AC21). Company A was small Desi one-man company. The old employer kept calling me and threatened me to join him (he was looking for free money) else he will cancel our GC process. Told him to go ahead and do it!! In 2003 we got a letter from INS stating that our case has been withdrawn as per our request. We really got confused & shocked, as we never told INS to withdraw our case. Did Send lots of letter, called INS several times but no luck. The I-485 attorney who originally filed my GC wont help me at all or tell me why our GC processed was canceled. Went to local congressman and asked for his help. Meanwhile joined one of fortune 100 company C. Told company C about everything about my GC process, Company C gave me best attorney (Thanks to company C). We did file new form in INS to change attorney (not sure the number I think its G21) in our case. Our new attorney wrote a letter to old attorney demanding him explanation about our cancellation. Immediately got response from old attorney (now he speaks first time after 4-5 months), it was my old employer (company A) had send a letter to INS to withdraw our GC processing. With the help of attorney and local congressman re-opened the case in Jan -2004. I think it was cancellation was mistake from there side. As per our attorney nobody has right to withdraw/ Cancel GC application except you. Got RFE for my employment responded back in June 2004. In Aug 2004 INS transferred case local INS. Local INS called us for an interview after 2nd fingerprinting. Went to local INS this week , interview really went well. Just asked us current job letter. And officer immediately stamped I 551 on our passports and told us we should receive plastic card soon! Good luck !!!
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Good day everyone. I just had my AOS interview this morning Jan. 11, 2005. My wife and I came in around 9:30 AM at 26 Federal Plaza. We went to the 8th floor where they were doing the interviews. We submitted our appointment letter to a lady working one of those INS windows and then waited for our lawyer. We got called around 11:00 AM but we told the person reviewing our case that we were still waiting for the lawyer. Our lawyer arrived around 11:15 and he checked in with the officer handling our case. We got called at about 12:00 PM. The officer led us to her office and we then took the oath. The officer addressed all the personal questions to my wife. She then asked me questions that were asked on the I-485 application form. She asked for the originals of several of the documents and examined it. She took one picture from us and then looked into her computer. She then asked me if I had my picture digitally taken during the time of my fingerprinting. I answered yes and she told me that she has approved my case and that I would be receiving the new green card in 4 weeks through mail. My lawyer then came in and asked the officer if she could stamp my passport. The officer told us that since this was a pilot program, she will only stamp my passport in case of an emergency. My lawyer politely inquired further if she (the officer) could give us some proof that I am officially a permanent resident. The officer told us that she can't do anything but tell us that the green card will be in the mail in 4 weeks since it was a pilot program. My lawyer and I came out of her office scratching our heads. My lawyer then told me that should I not receive my green card in 4 weeks, I give him a call. I guess that's it. Here is my timeline: RD: 09/23/2004 ND: 10/04/2004 FP: 11/02/2004 IEAD: 11/27/2004 Interviewed and I guess approved?: 1/11/2005
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I was interviewed and received my approval today. My RD was Feb 25, 2002. Case was transferred on the first week of June to San Jose. Interview letter came 10th July, with interview date for today, August 10. PLease understand the following with respect to your interviews: 1. If you were arrested, you WILL be called for interview. It doses not matter how your case was disposed of. 2. USCIS typically does NOT have your police report, they just have a couple of lines from the FBI saying you were arrested (may or may not mention the charge). If your arrest was long ago... it may also contain info on plea, conviction or aquittal, and your sentence. 3. If you were eligible for, and received record clearance, that technically changes your plea from guilty to not guilty and the conviction is set aside and case status changes to case dismissed by court. In such cases the FBI only says you were arrested and case dismissed. I had record clearance. 4. Note that if your case was dismissed on its own merits, and not due to record clearance, then your FBI report will say case dismissed without prejudice. USCIS knows the difference. 5. The arrest stays on your record and you WILL be called for interview as a result. 6. If you hid the arrest in your I-485 application, God might find it hard to help you. 7. If your arrest happened AFTER the I-485 was filed, don't worry about not having informed the USCIS. Mine was after. 8. Typically, the USCIS interviewer is interested in two things: (a) the FINAL DISPOSITION of your case: i.e. what was your plea and what was the penalty Have original court records handy. (b) they want to know in your own words what happened. Do not lie. 9. Typically, they do NOT want to see your police report. This is good, because those reports are scary: I have seen mine. 10. It does not matter if you pleaded guilty to things like disturbing the peace (which, BTW is a misdemeanor). If you have just an infraction, you are so cool, you don't even need to read this. (If you have a felony, you probably need a BIG lawyer ) 11. What matters is whether it was a crime of moral turpitude (stealing, DUI, beating up your spouse... etc.). Even THEN... for an offense to be worth denying your green card and putting you in removal proceedings, the following two tests need to be met: (a) the maximum POSSIBLE sentence for your crime is 1 year or more in county jail (this is different from one year in prison, which is way worse) (b) YOUR ACTUAL sentence must have been 6 months or more of the above 12. Note that if you were placed on FORMAL or SUPERVISED probation, without having to go to jail, that is the SAME thing as going to jail for the duration of the probation. It is just considered a jail-alternative. If you were placed on INFORMAL or COURT probation, that is cool. Hope this helps.
Finally, my wife and I were approved after the interview this morning at Cincinnati office. Our RD for I485 is 9/14/2002, an NIW case. Our case was transferred to Cincinnati office on 8/12/2004. I feel quite relieved. The interview this morning was even simpler than I previously expected. It took only about 15 minutes. Our appointment was 8:30 am. We arrived 15 minutes earlier. And our names were called at 8:30 am sharp! The officer only asked us some routine questions, such as current address, date of birth, current employee, etc. At the end, she said the reason we got interviewed was to check if I am still working in the same field. No problem there. Then, she quickly checked a few things on her computer and she stamped our passport. She told us the physical cards will arrive in mail within two or three months!? Thanks to this great forum. I have learned so much here. Also, special thanks to Senator George V. Voinovich. His case office has been extremely helpful. To Discuss more on this topic click here
