The I-485 application is a milestone in one’s road to green card. Compared to I-140, I-485 application is relatively simpler, but quality control in the application process is also very important. Right now, it may take a long time for USCIS to approve one’s I-485 application. Delayed by FBI security check or immigration visa unavailability, some I-485s may be pending in USCIS for a significant period of time like several years. In this process, effective communication between an immigration officer and an attorney plays a vital role, especially when mishaps happen.

Swamped by hundreds of thousands cases, USCIS may have mishaps. However, we believe USCIS officers are professional and dedicated to their work to help applicants. Sometimes we are impressed by the professionalism demonstrated through the good work by USCIS officers. If they find a problem, they may take actions to fix it. The following two are stories which happened at our offices recently.

On July 31, 2007, Attorney Zhang’s assistant Linda received a phone call from an immigration officer from NSC requesting us to provide a copy of an I-485 application package of Mr. and Mrs. Gupta. The immigration officer informed us that two checks for I-485 filing fees indicated that Guptas’ I-485 applications were received on July 20, 2007. However, NSC could not locate their physical documents. In their Oracle CRM system, they found Jerry Zhang was the attorney for Gupta’s I-140 petition. The immigration officer assumed that we were representing the clients’ I-485 applications too. Then, the inquiry phone call came to our office.

Linda realized this was a very important matter for the applicants. She got the immigration officer’s phone and fax numbers immediately and checked our Oracle CRM system. She found that Mr. Gupta and Ms. Gupta were our NIW I-140 clients, but they filed their I-485 applications by themselves. Linda pulled out the client’s contact information from our CRM system and called Mr. Gupta immediately. Mr. Gupta was very appreciative for what Linda did for this matter. He said it could be a disaster for his application if this matter was otherwise handled. The USCIS’ officer’s phone call to us, Linda’s responsiveness and our CRM played a big role to avoid any further delay for the I-485s.

A similar communication between TSC and our offices happened on March 21, 2007. This is about pending I-485 cases we submitted for Mr. Lee (Not real name) and his wife. The principal applicant, Mr. Lee, relocated from southwest to a northeast city when his case was pending in TSC. He notified USCIS his address change within 10 days of the relocation.

On March 21, 2007, an immigration officer called our office, and Attorney Zhang answered this call. The immigration officer said that Mr. Lee had submitted the notice of his address change, but there was no record of address change of Mrs. Lee. The immigration officer was wondering where Mrs. Lee lived and what her current status was.

Attorney Zhang typed Mr. Lee’s name into our CRM system and pulled out all related materials of Mr. Lee’s case within a few seconds. These materials included his contact information, case status descriptions and the major e-mail records between Mr. Lee and our attorneys. Attorney Zhang found that Mrs. Lee did not move at that time. So she did not need to submit AR-11 form and the notice of address change for the pending I-485. Attorney Zhang told the immigration officer about it. To ensure the information was accurate, Attorney Zhang told the officer that he would check it with Mrs. Lee and call her back in a few minutes. Then Attorney Zhang called Mrs. Lee at the number saved in our CRM system. Mrs. Lee confirmed that she still lived at the old address. After finishing the brief conversation with Mrs. Lee, Attorney Zhang immediately called the officer and explained this situation to her. The officer was satisfied with the answer.

In the conversation, the officer was very impressed to know our firm uses Oracle CRM too, as that was also the system used by USCIS to manage and process their cases. The common usage of Oracle CRM might have built up certain chemistry between the officer and Attorney Zhang. When talking about the status of Mr. Li’s I-485 petition, the officer said that name check of these petitions was completed. At the end of this pleasant conversation, Attorney Zhang suggested to the officer that it was a good day to approve the I-485s of Mr. Lee and Ms. Lee. The officer seemed very happy with the conversation and also said that it was really a good day to do so. One day later, on March 22, USCIS issued approval notices for the I-485 petitions.

These cases demonstrate the importance of the role of a responsive attorney in I-485 applications. As it takes a long time to get an I-485 case approved, many things might happen to one’s case. For example, USCIS may make mistakes about a case. The attorney can help you make inquiries. An immigration office may want to talk about a case with the attorney directly to speed up the processing as shown in the above case. Sometimes USCIS may issue a RFE to a pending case, which should be addressed soon. In all of these situations, a responsive attorney can provide big help.

We know many applicants are working hard to file their I-485s before the deadline. We would like to remind all applicants to be careful and make everything correct.

May your American Dream come true.

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Fifty-five professionals at Zhang & Associates will continuously work for the next ten days to get the cases out before the deadline.

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