Hi everyone,
New to the forum and wanted to share my experience with my second DACA/EAD renewal.
I got my first DACA renewal issued on
09/26/2014.
This year, it expires next Sunday,
09/25/2016
USCIS received my renewal application a couple days into the 150-120 day submission window. My thinking was to get it in ASAP so it can be processed ASAP. They recieved it on
05/08/2016.
I completed my biometrics appointment on
06/02/2016.
Since then, I hadn't heard from USCIS and my case status had not changed on the website (it just stated my application was received and that a biometrics appointment was scheduled). Two weeks ago, I started calling USCIS customer support. This was about
120 days+ after the application was received. They put in a service request and got back to me via phone and email. They basically told me what the initial person told me: my case is in line to be processed.
The woman I spoke to initially did tell me the N
ebraska processing office is backlogged about 2 months. I asked her is there was a possibility of getting a temporary extension that could be put in place until my case was resolved. She said it would be possible, but that I would have to go to my local application support office.
Using their InfoPass system, I did that and my appointment was scheduled for this previous Friday, 09/16/2016. I got there and spoke with a rep. The guy said that
USCIS is not offering any temporary extensions. He said that it has been brought up in their meetings multiple times, but that USCIS has not put in a place a mechanism to do that. He also said that they did not anticipate so many applicants and renewals and did not appropriately assign the necessary resources to process all the applications in a timely manner. (IMO, this is such BS since DACA has been in place for several years now and this is not the first time renewals have been offered. Just typical government incompetence, if you ask me.) I asked if there was anything else I could do (talk to a supervisor, etc.). All he could offer was to open another elevated priority service request. He said they would mail me a follow up in a couple days and that the notice would allow me to respond via fax so I can send documents that would demonstrate why my case processing should be considered for expedited service (such as a letter from my employer stating that I may lose my job).
I feel the above is not really going to help, but wanted to get your thoughts on what I should do next. I know a lot of you are in a similar situation. From researching, it seems like it's going to be a waiting game and that contacting the USCIS Ombudsman and senator/rep's office is not helping. I do plan on hounding the USCIS support line over and over in hopes that something different will happen. My EAD expires next Sunday....
Stay strong, everyone.