lost paperwork or slow people?

[paulinespens 3]

My Fiance recently applied for a Fiance Visa. This was back in Janurary of this year. She paid with a money order because she not gotten her checking account sorted at the time. About a month ago she talked to someone over the phone and said that we had not had enough info of evidence so listening to this so called fact she sent in more items if you will. Items that were orginal and can not be used again. Well its been since then and we have yet to hear anything nor get anything claiming our files have been seen or processed. Does it normally take this long.? I understand that we are not the only ones wanting to be together, but we have waited almost 3 months with nothing to show. This is three months of our lives waiting. We want to be together as soon as possible but I dont know why its taking so long and weve not heard anything yet. Should we refile? or wait? or what. Im confused as what to do next. Is there any other way of going about filing. Please any info about whats going on would be greatly appreciated. We are at wits end and its causing stress with us both...

[Niels Bohr 72]

First, you need to find out if your fiance received NOA-1.

Second, no it should not take that long for NOA-1.

Third, my thought is a little unorganized while reading what problems you have.

Edited March 19, 2007 by consolemaster

[TimsDaisy 0]

Whoa whoa whoa - a minute ago you were saying you package had been returned and were concerned about money and refiling, etc. (see: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59800 )

And if you never got an NOA1, I'm not sure how they could be asking for more evidence.

I recommend you let your USC fiance post questions here because I think you're missing part of the process/story. Or either you or your fiance are confused about what documents you have received and where you are in the process (I'm not being mean, really do want to help you here).

You just asked about refiling and I offered some constructive advice. You certainly don't have to take it, but this is a whole different situation from the last one you described and it's hard for us here at VJ to know what to tell you . . . .

Edited March 19, 2007 by TimsDaisy

[Yodrak 7]

paulinespens,

Point of clarification: your fiancee did not apply for a fiance(e) visa. You will apply for a fiance(e) visa once her petition to establish you as her fiance has been approved and has been sent to the US consular section in London.

Your question with regard to her petition is not clear. Please try to organize your thoughts and re-state the situation.

Yodrak

My Fiance recently applied for a Fiance Visa. This was back in Janurary of this year. She paid with a money order because she not gotten her checking account sorted at the time. About a month ago she talked to someone over the phone and said that we had not had enough info of evidence so listening to this so called fact she sent in more items if you will. Items that were orginal and can not be used again. Well its been since then and we have yet to hear anything nor get anything claiming our files have been seen or processed. Does it normally take this long.? I understand that we are not the only ones wanting to be together, but we have waited almost 3 months with nothing to show. This is three months of our lives waiting. We want to be together as soon as possible but I dont know why its taking so long and weve not heard anything yet. Should we refile? or wait? or what. Im confused as what to do next. Is there any other way of going about filing. Please any info about whats going on would be greatly appreciated. We are at wits end and its causing stress with us both...

[ELW 5]

I am also confused whether your fiancée received the NO1 (“Receipt Notice”) or not. Are you just waiting for NOA2 (“Approval Notice”)? I also paid with a Money Order, there is no worry with that. Many of our approvals took 3-4 months, so no, you should NOT file again and no, there is not another way to go about filing.

You wrote that your fiancée was told more evidence was needed – did she receive the written RFE (Request for Evidence) notice by regular post from the USCIS? When she mailed in the evidence, did she put a cover sheet with large writing showing all info like the case number, her name, your name, etc.? Not labeling additional evidence slows things down too.

Good luck to both of you!

[Mononoke28 135]

Here's what your fiance needs to do. First of all, she needs to call USCIS customer service and ask for a copy of the NOA1. Since you file in TSC, it is now at CSC and they haven't sent NOA1s to a lot us lately. If they DID actually receive your petition, then they'll have everything in their system. They'll ask for her name, SSN, date of birth, your name, date of birth and country you reside in to make sure they're talking to the correct person. If the case is in their system, they'll give her a receipt # which should start with 3 letters such as WAC, as an example.

Once you get your receipt # you can go to the USCIS web site, register as a customer, plug in your receipt # and see where your petition is at. If USCIS received it, it should be at the CSC and it's taking about 2-4 months to process, you've already waited 3, so you've got about 1 or 2 to go.

But again, the first step is for your fiance to call customer service and ask for a receipt # which is what they send on the NOA1. I'm surprised she hasn't called to find out what it is yet. I only waited 30 days to call and they gave me the correct # over the phone, then asked them to mail it to me and there were no issues with that.

Good luck!

[paulinespens 3]

when calling asking for a receipt number we are told that our case is not on there system. They have more or less told us to refile.

[ELW 5]

Awful! Do your fiancée have any proof of delivery receipt? Any copies of the MO? It was sent to the right address? (Anyone out there know if this is a basis to contact a congressman, because they sent TWO mailings with original docs!)

If you have to file again, this time do not send in any original documents (except the applications & letters of intent with signatures), and be sure to make a copy of EVERY piece of paper sent in, and post it with return receipt.

[Minya's wife 24]

About a month ago she talked to someone over the phone and said that we had not had enough info of evidence so listening to this so called fact she sent in more items if you will.

...

when calling asking for a receipt number we are told that our case is not on there system. They have more or less told us to refile.

How could your fiancee have talked to someone who told her the evidence you submitted was not enough if you did not have a case # beacause it was not in their system? That means that whoever she (your fiancee) spoke w/ was not looking at your case, they were just giving general information. Was your fiancee told specifically to mail in additional information, or did she just take the initiative to do so? How did she expect that the two files, i.e your original application AND the additional evidence she was mailing, would be merged without some sort of receipt #, or file #. You have to realize that these centers receive an overwhelming amount of applications for all sorts of things, Fiancee Visas, Spouse Visas, Green Card, Citizenship, etc. etc.....there has to be a way to track them, that is why each petition is given a case#. If you do not have that, you are nowhere as far as USCIS is concerned.

From what you have said so far, it looks like somehow your information was lost is some sort of black hole. Unless you haven't given us some information, at this point it looks like you will have to re-file and start all over.

If you do so, please mail the petition w/ some sort of service that will allow you tracking "DHL, FEDEx, UPS or even US Mail w/ return receipt" so that at least you will know that it was delivered to the them and someone signed for it. Once USCIS receives your petiton, you will get the receipt letter, w/ your case# on it within 10-14 days.

Good luck!

[GabachaYucateca 0]

You guys are certainly wonderful and helpful...I've tried to follow this person's posts and I can't make heads nor tails of it.

[TimsDaisy 0]

I would recommend we all sit tight on this thread. The OP and fiancee are going to contact their congressman tomorrow - likely the only place that can really HELP them sort this out (as opposed to our advice and pondering, which, while appropriate, won't move anything forward).

Hopefully, they'll get some kind of clear information and they'll have more to work with. As everyone has agreed - this is a confusing situation, I don't think there's too much we can do right now.

[meauxna 15]

Multiplicate post. Original here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59800

Congressman?

argh. Have they contacted the CSC yet?