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Got there at 6am and there were already about 80 people ahead of us.

At 6:15 they started handing out tickets. At 7:30 we had ours.

Went inside to sit down and at 7:45 our number came up. Handed over copies of the I-765 and I-485 receipt notices (it speeds up things if they do not have to make the copies) and newly filled out I-765s (they want them).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: