Community
congressional inquiry
I contacted my congressman office regarding a congressional inquiry they made on my behalf about a month ago. so they are letting me know uscis did response to them saying they conductiong a third party background check and as soon as it’s complete they’ll send case back to field office. that’s crazy it take them one year to do a background check.
EAD Approval
I just got an EAD approval after getting an email saying USCIS had taken action on my case. I’m so happy. I went to my account and there it was. My approval notice.
All other applications for employment authorization
Total Days: 55 days
Case
2025-03-07
2025-05-01
I-765
55 Days
National Benefits Center: I-765
waiting for decision
I had an interview on February 19, 2025 and I added my wife during the interview. She got the letter for biometrics under code 5 and she already done before 3 weeks ago. I’m still waiting and it shows Application is pending. Any ideas what to do? Anyone have same related timelines?
My travel experience to Paris with my green card
I got my green card (for 10 years) on December 2024
Recently I travelled to Paris via Dublin and I returned back to the US 🇺🇸 via the port of entry Seattle, WA
I made it safely. It was very smooth.
In Dublin there is an entire section of the airport that is dedicated for the flights to the United States 🇺🇸 and under control of the US CBP.
So the CBP control is done in Dublin by the US CBP agents before we onboarded the plane.
They have their entire staff over there.
In Dublin the CBP agent asked me 2 questions only:
- How long did I stay outside the US ? my answer was: one week
- What was the purpose of my trip? my answer was: Travel for my daughters birthday
Then he took my picture and scanned my passport and verified my green card in their machine and that’s it. I passed the pre clearance and I was good to go.
It was quick less than 2 minutes
So we landed in domestic flight areas in Seattle airport and there is no extra CBP control at the Seattle airport. I just grabbed my suitcase and exited the airport.
Prior to my travel to Paris I was wondering about 5 speeding tickets 🎫 I had in the past. 😄
need advice
which airport is best to fly into that customs don’t give you a hard time coming from another country my husband was granted his papers and getting ready to leave Africa to come to USA I been hearing bad things about Atlanta customs airport I just need advice don’t wanna put him in harms way my home state is Illinois is there another good airport other than Atlanta to fly into ?
For I130 December 2023 fillers that are still waiting:
It sounds like your I-130 petition is experiencing delays beyond the posted processing time (17 months), and you're unsure about next steps. Here’s a breakdown of your concerns and what you can do:
---
### **1. Why Is Your Case Delayed?**
- USCIS processing times are **estimates**, not guarantees. Delays can happen due to:
- Backlogs at your specific service center.
- Additional security/background checks.
- Missing evidence or requests for further documentation (if you missed an RFE, for example).
- Administrative errors or workload fluctuations.
---
### **2. What Should You Do Now?**
#### **a. Follow Up with USCIS First**
- **Check Case Status Online**: [USCIS Case Status](https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/)
- **Submit an Inquiry**: If your case is outside normal processing time, file a **"Case Outside Normal Processing Time"** request via [USCIS e-Request](https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/).
- **Call USCIS**: Dial 1-800-375-5283, say "Infopass" to reach a live agent, and ask for an update.
- **Request Expedite**: If you have a valid reason (e.g., medical emergency, military deployment), request an expedite.
#### **b. Follow Up with Your Congressman/Senator**
- **Congressional inquiries CAN help**, but they’re not guaranteed to speed up your case.
- **If they didn’t respond**:
- **Call their office** (better than email).
- **Visit in person** if possible (bring your case details).
- Try contacting **your U.S. Senator’s office** (they often have dedicated immigration liaisons).
#### **c. Consider a Writ of Mandamus (If All Else Fails)**
- **What is it?** A federal lawsuit to force USCIS to make a decision.
- **When to file?** Only if:
- Your case is **long overdue** (e.g., 6+ months past the stated processing time).
- You’ve exhausted all other options (USCIS inquiries, congressional help).
- **Cost?** $5,000–$10,000 (attorney fees + filing fees).
- **Timeframe?** Usually forces a decision within **30–90 days** if successful.
---
### **3. What to Expect Next?**
- If USCIS is simply backlogged, they may approve it soon.
- If there’s an issue (like an RFE you missed), they’ll notify you.
- If no response after inquiries, **mandamus may be your last resort**.
---
### **4. Is Mandamus Worth It?**
✅ **Yes, if:**
- You’ve waited **far beyond** processing times.
- You need urgent resolution (e.g., family separation, visa expiration).
- You can afford the legal fees.
❌ **No, if:**
- You haven’t tried USCIS inquiries/congressional help first.
- Your delay is only slightly over the posted time.
---
### **Next Steps Summary**
1. **Check USCIS case status & submit an inquiry.**
2. **Call USCIS for updates.**
3. **Follow up with Congressman/Senator (call/visit).**
4. **If still nothing, consult an immigration lawyer about mandamus.**
Help..
Anyone in the same boat? how long do I have to wait to get an answer? Ik they said 90days but...
FO MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL MN
PD 03/21/23
On 03/29/2025, you or the designated representative shown below, contacted us about your case. Some of the key information given to us at that time was the following:
Caller indicated they are:
-- Applicant or Petitioner
Case type:
-- I485
Referral ID:
SR×××××000000SPM
Type of service requested:
-- Outside Normal Processing Times
The status of this service request is:
Thank you for contacting USCIS concerning the above-referenced application. Below is a summary of what we have found.
We are experiencing a high volume of applications. Your case is awaiting review. You do not need to do anything at this time. If we need any information from you, we will mail you a request for evidence at your current address on file with USCIS. When we make a decision on your case, we will mail a notice to you or your representative at the address you gave us.
Please note that processing times are estimates and are not a guarantee that applications will be processed within a specific timeframe. Individual processing times vary. Once further action is taken, notice will be sent to the address of record. It is important that you carefully follow the instructions outlined on any future notice that you might receive.
We assure you that we are working to complete the adjudication of your application as quickly as available resources allow. If you have not received notice of further action within 90 days of this response, please feel free to submit a new request to the USCIS Contact Center for additional assistance.
If your receipt number begins with IOE, please consider activating your USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.gov. You can use your account to get your current case status, access every notice we send you, and offers the capability to scan and upload any USCIS requested documents. You can also send messages and receive answers through a secure inbox.
Address Changes; If you move, please provide us with an updated address. For more information about address changes, please visit our website at uscis.gov/addresschange, and click on "How to Change Your Address." To ensure that all mail is delivered as addressed, please also ensure that you are registered with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to receive mail at the address of record you have provided to USCIS.
For questions about your application, you can use our many online tools (uscis.gov/tools) including our virtual assistant, Emma. If you are not able to find the information you need online, you can reach out to the USCIS Contact Center by visiting uscis.gov/contactcenter. The USCIS website also provides detailed information about policies and procedures, and you can download and e-file forms from the website.
Hola mí nombre José Alfredo García García con 52 años tengo 2 visas H2-B ya expiradas la última en el 2005 intente entrar ilegal las 2 veces me detuvieron esperó me la renueven 20050283250004
una mala acción de mi parte me hizo reflexionar en varios aspectos intente cruzar de ilegal en dos ocasiones y fuí detenido la juez me preguntó cuando fue la última vez que intentaste cruzar ilegal mente le dije hace 15 días y imprimió mi foto y me dice mira la diferencia de mentir sí hubieses metido te hubieras ido 5 años a prisión aquí dice que tú tienes visa solo tienes que renovarla bien buscá la forma de renovarla y te la van a renovar pero lo puedes hacer después de 3 años ya pasaron más de 10 una disculpa por el trabajo que les ocacione a los oficiales ellos no tienen la menor necesidad de que les ocacionemos tanto trabajo y pues aquí vamos con toda la actitud a hacer los trámites como lo marcá el reglamento de inmigración de US.
