By: Kirti Kalra

The Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman has received many case assistance requests for pending employment-based adjustment of status applications. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cannot provide individual assistance or updates due to the volume of requests. CIS Ombudsman has released answers to frequently asked questions to help guide people waiting for application updates.

receipt notices: form i-485 transfer requests 

Individuals who have requested to transfer of the underlying basis of Form I-485 Supplement J, Confirmation of Bona Fide Job Offer or Request for Job Portability Under INA Section 204(j), to the Western Forms Center for the transfer request should expect a receipt notice within two weeks.

For Individuals who did not use Supplement J, USCIS will not provide a receipt notice and cannot provide any additional or follow up information.

“temporary pause” message

Individuals who have received a “temporary pause” message on the USCIS Case Status Online tools webpage are likely to continue to see the following message: “We are temporarily pausing work on your application because an immigrant visa number is not immediately available to you. Once an immigrant visa number becomes immediately available to you, we will resume processing of your application.”

This message is not displayed in error. USCIS is not immediately changing case status upon receiving Forms I-485. The message will update once USCIS begins working on an individual’s Form I-485, such as issuing a request for evidence or making a final decision. Some applicants will continue to see the message after USCIS issues a receipt notice for Supplement J and moves the application from a service center to the National Benefits Center or a USCIS field office. USCIS is aware of this issue.

submission of form i-693

Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination is a required form. However, individuals that did not submit Form I-693 with their original adjustment of status application should not submit the form until they receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) specifically asking for it. USCIS does not provide any form of written confirmation for receiving evidence, including Form I-693.

timelines for pending forms i-485

If an individual submitted a Form I-485 that is still pending despite passing the published processing time, CIS Ombudsman is not able to assist. USCIS is currently backlogged on many visas and continues to process visas in the order they deem important.

conclusion

For case-specific questions or for help filing an employment-based visa application, please contact your Chugh, LLP immigration professional.