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"Went to the local Houston USCIS office by 4:50 am on friday Jul 11, 2003 and found myself behind 100 people (folks camping out...looked like a slumber party. They sure let us in by 6:15am and got a number (186) & processed by around 12:45pm.

Applied for INFOPASS appointment on completion of 90 days.



Went Federal plaza @12pm for a 1pm appointment, promptly admitted.



Directed to third floor no one on line, given a number and I765 to fill up and asked to go to 9th floor.



When I got off the elevator, and entered the room my number was called ( that fast, fortunately I took an I 765 form all filled up, or else I wouldn't have time to even complete it!!!)



1.30 hours wait for processing and photos/finger print etc.

* filed for EAD 3rd Renewal with RD June 28th at TSC but no response till today.



* went to San Jose USCIS office on Sep 27th for IEAD as I stay in Bay Area.



* Though had an appointment, it is about Hour and half before i was called to the window.



*Approved EAD for 8 months with no questions asked by just looking at EAD recipt notice & passport and taking a pre-filled EAD Application, copy of I-140 approval notice and I-485 notice.

Here are some experiences with regards to my entire track from NIW I-140 petition to I-485 approval. I had somewhat of an unique case, so if anyone here is in the same boat, this may be of help to you. I have done the entire process by myself, without an attorney, and long hours of research in the law library on U.S.C. Section 8.



Arrived to US in 1991 on J-1, not subject to section 212e, changed to F-1 on arrival. Became an H-1 in 2001 and filed for NIW in March of 2002, case was backlogged due to 9-11.

Based on the advice of some of the members at immigrationportal and being an eternal optimist, I went to Vermont Service center on Aug 23rd taking a dayoff. The lady in the counter told me that my file is in queue for FP scheduling. I told her that I got the same reply even two months back when I made senatorial enquiry.

I had an interesting N-400 interview yesterday. Don't know where to start but the IO stemmed out of the office with my thick file while I was waiting for my attorney to arrive. I quickly summed him up to be a hard ass. BTW, I have been an officer of the law for a little over four years now...My attorney arrived shortly after and we went to this small conference room. I was sworn to tell the truth, and the interview started.

Today I had my interview conducted, and passport stamped as the final result. I finally can draw a closure for this 27-month-long journey. Honestly and surprisingly, I was extremely calm when I arrived USCIS office 4 am today. I was reading one of my favorite authors' (Ann Quindlen) bestseller " One True Thing" while I was waiting in the waiting room so concentratedly that when my name was called, I realized that my eyes were full of tears (yeah, the story's very touching and real. ) Anyway, here's my detail report to all of you who are still waiting: