Delays at Vermont Service Center in Processing Filing Fees and Issuing Receipt Notices

We started noticing delays in getting back receipt notices around the end of January. On March 3, 2023, USCIS confirmed they are experiencing delays due to filing volumes and intake delays. The delay is still ongoing as of the date of this post. Below is a sample H-1B receipt notice showing it took more than a month for USCIS to issue the notice and process the filing fee check. We are waiting...

Processing Times for Family-based petitions and applications, including I-130 and I-485

March 13, 2023 A sample I-130 approval (marriage based) showing 17 months of processing time. February 16, 2023 Processing times remain unchanged for I-130 petitions by US citizens for their spouses. Expect more than one year. January 9, 2023 Here's a sample I-130 approval for a spouse of a US citizen. The total processing time is about one year, matching the posted time frame for Texas. Note...

I-485 EB Processing Time (Filed in FY 2023)

Update February 17, 2023 Here are some some I-765 EADs based on the pending I-485s filed FY 2023. Fairly quick. Took less than 4 months. I-131 Advance paroles were also approved at the same time. Original Post November 3, 2022 This post will provide sample processing timeframes for employment-based I-485s filed in FY 2023 (October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023). Processing time for the previous...

H-1B Receipt Notice Delays at the Vermont Service Center

Update July 15, 2022 The good news is that we have already received approvals for some of the H-1Bs affected by the receipt delay. Update July 1, 2022 First Vermont, now California is experiencing unusual delay in issuing H-1B receipt notices. Interestingly, Vermont has been transferring workload to California since June to address its own delay and speed up the intaking process. Update June 22,...

Is the New Estimated Case Processing Time Better than Before?

On May 5, 2022, USCIS announced changes to simplify and improve how the agency communicates case processing time data to the public. Users can now immediately find the processing time information for their particular type of case, rather than seeing an aggregate of all related case types. Additional changes include: Adding drop-down options for form categories will help narrow results to only...

USCIS Temporarily Increases Automatic EAD extension up to 540 days

Update July 7, 2022 USCIS has informed the public that some applicants may have received incorrect receipt notices showing the outdated 180-day automatic extension instead of the current 540-day automatic extension. The incorrect receipt notices were issued between May 4, 2022 and June 2, 2022. Affected applicants should be receiving the correct notices by the third week of July. Sample...

Settlement Reached: H-4 EAD Renewals Now Also Qualifies For Automatic 180-Day extension and L-2s Get Work Authorization Without EAD.

Update May 12, 2022 On Nov. 12, 2021, USCIS issued a policy announcement to clarify that it will consider E and L spouses to be employment authorized based on their valid E or L nonimmigrant status. Since the November 2021 announcement, the Department of Homeland Security added new Class of Admission (COA) codes to distinguish between E and L spouses and children. As of Jan. 30, 2022, USCIS and...

Why Is My Case Taking So Long?

Related Posts: Another Chance to File I-485 after RejectionUSCIS Processing Update: H-4 / H-4 EADI-485 EB Processing UpdateExpediting a Pending I-765 EADBreaking: USCIS to Eliminate Biometrics Requirement for I-539 filers starting May 17, 2021Biometric Appt may now be Rescheduled by PhoneI-751 Processing updatesNaturalization Processing UpdatesTemporary Extension of I-693 Validity from 2 Years...

Anxious About Not Having Received a Receipt Notice? Ask Emma

As USCIS continues to grapple with backlogs and extended processing delays, the issuance of receipt notices has also be impacted with some taking 3 weeks or longer to arrive by mail. Coupled with mail delivery issues at USPS, it has now become a challenge just to get the receipt notice in hand. It is no longer easy or expected to receive the receipt notice within a few short days. Receipt...

I-751 Processing updates

Update Post 09/17/2021 We received an I-751 approval on 09/04/2021. Interview was waived. Filed on 12/06/2019 Approved on 09/04/2021 Update Post 08/20/2021 We received an I-751 approval on 08/17/2021. The interview also took place on 08/17/2021. Filed on 05/31/2019 Approved on 08/17/2021 Original Post 06/29/2021 Regarding ACS biometrics notices, we recently received one for a I-751 that was...