How to use My Progress to track Form I-485 Green Card Application

USCIS is getting better and better at letting applicants know the progress of their immigration applications! Today we will talk about how you can use this new tool from USCIS, "My Progress", to track several applications, including Form I-130, I-765, I-485 and more!

How to use My Progress to track Form I-485 Green Card Application

Here are the steps:

1. create an online account with USCIS here if you don't have one yet
2. select your pending application
3. once you link your application to your account, you will see a my Progress tab for your application
4. You will now be able to see the estimated wait time until your case has a decision, along with a checkmark beside three milestones as they are completed
1. Confirmation that the application was received
2. Biometric services appointment (if required) has been completed; and
3. The decision on the pending case.

What forms are now available for tracking?

• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status - NEWLY ADDED!
• Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status - NEWLLY ADDED!
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
• Form I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Have you tried My Progress yet? Share your progress with all of us in the comment below! Learn more here

USCIS Rolls Out Mandatory Form I-9 Update on Nov 1, 2023!

Exciting news! USCIS introduces a streamlined Form I-9 for all employers starting November 1, 2023. This update aims to facilitate the new I-9 remote document verification procedures, ensuring a more efficient process. 

USCIS Updates Form I-9 - What do you need to know? 

Using the old I-9 version (dated October 21, 2019) could lead to penalties, so be sure to make the switch. Employers using electronic I-9 systems should verify they're using the updated form. 

 The new form is now user-friendly for mobile devices, incorporates receipt notices, auto-extensions info for Employment Authorization Documents, and features a checkbox to document the use of remote document verification. Remember, U.S. employers must complete Form I-9 for each new hire within three business days of their start date to verify their identity and work authorization.

Learn more on USCIS's website: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9

More updates for you:

• Can I Still Verify Employment Eligibility Remotely (Form I-9)?
• DIY How I Applied for My I-485 Green Card with No RFE! (Updated November 2023)
• USCIS Introduces Online Form for Hassle-Free In-Person Appointments
• I-485 Adjustment of Status Cover Letter Samples

USCIS Introduces Online Form for Hassle-Free In-Person Appointments

Are you tired of the time-consuming process of scheduling an in-person appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)? Good news – USCIS has rolled out a user-friendly solution to simplify the appointment request process for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives. 

Online Form for Hassle-Free In-Person Appointments

 Say goodbye to lengthy phone calls to the USCIS Contact Center. With the new online appointment request form, you can effortlessly request an in-person appointment at your local field office. This digital tool is designed to enhance your experience with USCIS services and provide a more convenient way to secure appointments. The online appointment request form streamlines the process for specific services, including ADIT stamps, Emergency Advance Parole, and Immigration Judge Grants. While it doesn't offer self-scheduling capabilities, you can propose a preferred date and time for your appointment. The USCIS Contact Center will then review your request and the availability of in-person appointments at your chosen field office. Please note that while you can suggest a specific appointment time, USCIS cannot guarantee that the requested date will be available. 

Rest assured, USCIS will confirm and schedule your appointment based on the best available date and time. This initiative aligns with USCIS's commitment to providing excellent customer service and supporting the Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government. The new online appointment request form aims to collect the necessary information upfront, potentially resulting in faster appointment scheduling without the need for extensive interactions with the USCIS Contact Center. 

 In certain cases, the Contact Center may still need to reach out to you via phone or email, depending on the appointment's urgency and reason. When contacting USCIS, remember to provide the reference number assigned to you when you submitted your appointment request. 

 Ready to take advantage of this hassle-free appointment request system? Visit my.uscis.gov/appointment for more information and to access the online appointment request form. Say hello to a more efficient way of securing your USCIS appointments!

More updates here...

• Can I Still Verify Employment Eligibility Remotely (Form I-9)?
• USCIS Now Provides Tracking for Form I-131 & I-765 Progress!

Can I Still Verify Employment Eligibility Remotely (Form I-9)?

Yes you can! The COVID-19 flexibilities have come to an end! But you still have an option to have your employer exam your Form I-9 document for employment authorization remotely. 

USCIS Publishes a revised version of Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification

On Aug. 1, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will publish a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. 

 What has been updated? 

A checkbox for your employer to use to indicate they remotely examined identity and employment authorization documents under an alternative procedure authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)! 

How do I verify employment eligibility remotely now?

 To participate in the remote examination of Form I-9 documents under the DHS-authorized alternative procedure, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify, examine and retain copies of all documents, conduct a live video interaction with the employee, and create an E-Verify case if the employee is a new hire.

See other recent updates here:

• USCIS Now Provides Tracking for Form I-131 & I-765 Progress!
• NEW! USCIS Self-Service Biometrics Appointment Rescheduling Tool
• DIY How I Applied for My I-485 Green Card with No RFE! (Updated July 2023)

USCIS Now Provides Tracking for Form I-131 & I-765 Progress!

Are you anxious about your travel permit and work permit progress? You will love this great news! USCIS is now providing tracking to your Form I-131 & Form I-765. Let's check out more details:

USCIS Adds Form I-131 & I-765 to My Progress Tracking Tool

Exciting news! USCIS is getting better and better. Now the agency announced that they are updating its processing time tool "My Progress" for Form I-765 (Work Permit) & Form I-131 (Travel document)

What is "My Progress" from USCIS?

USCIS My Progress is a tool within USCIS online account that helps applicants to get personalized estimation of their wait times, including the final decisions. Although the estimates are based on historical patterns of similar cases and can't be guaranteed, it does give applicants some insights where their cases are at.

What Forms are Available for USCIS My Progress?

Currently several forms are available within the tool:

• Form I-765 and Form I-131 - newly added!
• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
• Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
• Form I-485 & I-821 are also added! - Updated on 11/21/2023!

Where do I use USCIS My Progress?

To view estimated case timelines, you need to:

1. create an online account with USCIS here if you don't have one yet
2. select your pending application
3. once you link your application to your account, you will see a my Progress tab for your application
4. You will now be able to see the estimated wait time until your case has a decision, along with a checkmark beside three milestones as they are completed
1. Confirmation that the application was received
2. Biometric services appointment (if required) has been completed; and
3. The decision on the pending case.

Click here to learn more from USCIS's news post>>

What do you think? Is this tool helpful? Any thoughts? Leave me a comment!

Keep learning....

• How many G-1145 forms and cover letters should I include in my I-485 application package?
• How many photos do I need for I-485 concurrent filing?
• Where do I mail my I-485 Package?

NEW! USCIS Self-Service Biometrics Appointment Rescheduling Tool

Finally! There is a way to reschedule your biometrics appointment without any hassle! Check out this new tool USCIS has launched:

USCIS Self-Service Biometrics Appointment Rescheduling Tool

Now you don't need to call USCIS contact center to reschedule most biometrics appointments. USCIS has launched a new self-service biometrics appointment rescheduling tool to streamline their immigration services. This is available to be used for both paper=filed and online-filed benefit requests. 

How do I use USCIS Self-Service Biometrics Appointment Rescheduling Tool?

Simply follow these steps:

• Create a USCIS online account if you don't have one yet here: https://myaccount.uscis.gov/
• Make sure your biometrics appointment date has not passed - you can't use this tool to reschedule the appointment that you missed already. 
• Make sure you have acceptable reasons for rescheduling. Here are a few examples:
• Medical reasons - illness, medical appointment, hospitalization
• Previously planned travel
• Significant life events - wedding, funeral, graduation
• Inability to obtain transportation to the appointment
• Inability to obtain leave from employment or caregiver responsibilities
• late delivered or undelivered biometric services appointment notice. 
• Select Biometrics Rescheduling Option and follow the prompts to fill out everything
• Print the new appointment notice and bring it to your appointment.

What if I missed my appointment already? 

There are some special circumstances where you still need to call USCIS Contact Center such as your request is within 12 hours of scheduled appointment, you have rescheduled the same appointment twice already, or if you have missed the appointment already. 

Learn more details on USCIS's website here>>

Keep Reading:

• DIY How I Applied for My I-485 Green Card with No RFE! (Updated July 2023)

• How to Assemble My I-485 Adjustment of Status Package

USCIS Removed 60-Day Rule for Civil Surgeon Signatures on Form I-693!

USCIS Removed 60-Day Rule for Civil Surgeon Signatures on Form I-693!

USCIS had issued a temporary waiver a while ago to pause the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days before an applicant applies for Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. 

Now this temporary waiver has become a permanent policy! 

How will this affect previously submitted cases?

For those whose Green Card applications have been considered invalid solely due to the expired I-693 signature before, you will no longer receive Request for Evidence (RFEs). USCIS will accept these Forms I-693 for adjudicative purposes for up to 2 years after the date the civil surgeon signed the form.

For new applicants, Civil surgeons no longer have to sign Form I-693 no more than 60 days before the Green Card (I-485) application is filed. 

What's the best practice?

Submit your Form I-693 with your Form I-485 together! USCIS will consider a completed Form I-693 to remain valid for 2 years after the date the civil surgeon signed the medical record form. 

You may be interested in these posts:

• DIY How I Applied for My I-485 Green Card with No RFE! (Updated Feb 2023)

• How Long Does It Take to Receive My I-693 Report?

• What Vaccines Are Required for the I-485 Green Card Application?

USCIS Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Naturalization Application Fees

USCIS has been talking about changing application fees and rules to better serve the immigrants. Let's take a quick look at some key points:

USCIS Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Application Fees

USCIS today published a Notice of Proposed Reulemaking (NPRM) to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. 

Why? This allows USCIS to more fully recover its operating costs and they need more money to maintain timely case processing (which is one of the biggest concerns that everyone has!)

The projected revenues would also allow USCIS to increase the number of adjudicators processing applications, improve technology and increase support provided to individuals. 

Who will be affected by the new rule?

The proposed rule would include a modest increase in the fee for certain naturalization applications, while preserving existing fee waiver eligibility for low income and vulnerable populations and adding new fee exemptions for certain humanitarian programs. 

If finalized, the rule will decrease or minimally increase fees for more than one million low-income filers per year. 

New measures include:

• incorporate biometrics costs into the main benefit fee 
• remove the separate biometric services fee
• establish separate fees for each nonimmigrant classification covered by Form I-129
• Change premium processing timeframe from 15 calendar days to 15 business days
• institute lower fees for certain forms filed online

Click here to see the full measures

Please note that the fees will not change until the final rule goes into effect, after the public has the opportunity to comment and USCIS finalizes the fee schedule in response. Stay tuned for USCIS's public engagement session on proposed fee rule on Jan 11, 2023! 

More updates:

• DIY How to Apply for Form I-751 Green Card Renewal by Yourself with No RFE! (Timeline Updated again!)
• I-751 and N-400 Combined Interviews with Real Questions!
• When can I File Form I-751 to Remove Conditions on Residence?

NEW Version of Form I-485 Starts Dec 23rd, 2022!

Hello everyone! Just want to give you a quick alert that USCIS starts accepting the new version of Form I-485 for your Green Card application! Here are a couple of things that you need to be aware of:

• If you file your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, on or after Dec. 23, 2022, you MUST use the new edition of Form I-485! Or USCIS will reject your filing.
• If you file Form I-485 before Dec 23, 2022, you MUST use the older version (07/15/22) or USCIS would reject your filing as well!

Download the latest version of Form I-485 here>>

The rule of thumb - always check your forms before you submit to make sure you are using the right version! 

Good luck!

More updates:

• DIY How to Apply for Form I-751 Green Card Renewal by Yourself with No RFE! (Timeline Updated again!)
• I-751 and N-400 Combined Interviews with Real Questions!
• When can I File Form I-751 to Remove Conditions on Residence?

USCIS Automatically Extends Green Cards for N-400 Naturalization Applicants

Great news! USCIS continuously improves the immigration process by automatically extending your Green Card if you applied for naturalization. Let's hear all about it!

USCIS Automatically Extends Green Cards for N-400 Naturalization Applicants

USCIS now automatically extends the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) for applicants who applied for naturalization! 

Since many naturalization applicants are experiencing long processing times, this new policy will help permanent resident maintain their status in the US and avoid the need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). 

In plain words - Make sure you file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization in time and you will receive an automatic extension on your existing Green Card. Isn't that wonderful?

When does this policy start? 

It's effective on Dec. 12th, 2022! 

How do I prove that my expired Green Card has been extended? 

The N-400 receipt notice will have an updated language that extends your Green Card for up to 24 months for these applicants. 

As long as you present your expired Green Card with the N-400 receipt notice, you will be able to prove your continued status in the US. 

Keep Reading...

• DIY How to Apply for Form I-751 Green Card Renewal by Yourself with No RFE! (Timeline Updated again!)
• I-751 and N-400 Combined Interviews with Real Questions!
• When can I File Form I-751 to Remove Conditions on Residence?