My timeline:
Eb3, priority date June 2002
RFE on 485 for self March 2005, spouse a couple of weeks later.
Replied to RFE beginning of May. Received notice on June 8 that our case was transferred to Cincinnati, Ohio
Made infopass appointment to visit Columbus and was told that Cincinnati was the office that received files from the service center and that Cincinnati would forward the files to Columbus.
Hey Everyone!
We got approved in Atlanta today. Everything went really well, but anyways I wanted to share my experience with all of you:
Left from Alabama at 7:30 AM. Took us about Two hours to get there.
The DO is a 3 story building with the USCIS logo and name... impressive and yet scary.
We entered they building at 11:23 AM and went through the security (metal detector and x-rays) Make sure you empty your pockets!
I start my experience first with a big thanks to Rajiv who helped us through the process of getting F1 visa stamped. Without his encouragement we would not have done it.
My status: on H1, visa expiring in September 2007. Rajiv's team applied for my H1 extension and I had I797 approvals till 2010. I had an H4 extension approval done for my wife as well. There is no employer change from first 3 years on H1 to second approval.
My timeline:
eb3, priority date June 2002
RFE on 485 for self March 2005, spouse a couple of weeks later.
Replied to RFE beginning of May. Received notice on June 8 that our case was transferred to Cincinnati, Ohio
Made infopass appointment to visit Columbus and was told that Cincinnati was the office that received files from the service center and that Cincinnati would forward the files to Columbus.
Release Date
12/05/2025
New vetting center will focus on powerful screening resources to keep America safe
Release Date
12/04/2025
Maximum validity periods of some Employment Authorization Documents will be reduced
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens. This update also incorporates changes to EAD validity periods made by recent legislation to ensure proper vetting and screening of aliens.
USCIS is updating USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part C to deter the filing of frivolous claims and provide operational consistency. This update clarifies that the Department of Homeland Security generally will not take biometrics of detained aliens unless they are in removal proceedings and have a pending application or petition filed with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date.
Rajiv S. Khanna, US Immigration attorney, provides free immigration help by hosting a free community conference call for US immigration-related questions every Thursday. You can post questions for the call if you are a member of our US Immigration forums. Membership is immediate and lifelong. Walk-ins are also permitted.
Last Updated: December 3, 2025
As of December 15, the Department will expand the requirement that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents, in addition to the students and exchange visitors already subject to this review. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.”