February filers at CSC

[Amy and John 1]

Thanks to everyone with the congratulation messages.

Both myself (live in the UK) and my financee are over here in the UK at the moment, and so we heard about our NOA2 from Amy's mom in the USA when she called us with the good news (I have not seen or read its wording myself but it is the NOA2 and not an RFE as we had it read out to us over the phone).... I understand the process once our application gets to the london consulate(ie packets 1,2,3/medical/interview), but I am unsure whether its usual for the NVC part of the process to need any paperwork or documentation from us? Does the NVC part of the process usually NOT involve any action from us? Not sure whether I need to have anything ready before I hear from the London consulate thats all? Thoughts anyone?

and finally...how do we know when the NVC is done...can we still see the case status online via USCIS , or do we get that info from somewhere else (ie more NOA's in the mail, with the next one coming from the NVC?

Edited July 14, 2008 by Amy and John

[steveinsandiego 0]

I think I'll call them once I hit the 5 month mark. Hopefully the next 2 weeks they get back to work.

Good idea. Maybe everyone should start a phone calling campaign. Let them know we are not happy with the long delay.

I honestly think this is a bad idea. I think going directly through USCIS to try to get change is just going to piss them off. I suspect that the adjudicators are doing everything they can...it's policy and planning that is wrong. I think a letter-writing campaign to all of our congressmen is much more likely to get results! USCIS needs to change the way they handle this from a managerial perspective and the only way that's going to happen is through congress involvement. It definitely needs to change...but we need to take this through the right channels! I think we've all worked jobs where people get pissed off at us for management decisions...we can't do anything about it, even if we call management and tell them about the calls, they won't listen to us. We need to go above management and get at it from the other direction!

You're probably right. I'll give the USCIS a polite call just to let them now I am concerned. Then, I'll send a letter to my congressman. I think my NOA2 will come soon, so this probably won't help my case, but maybe it will speed things up for others.

[aravis227 1]

Thanks to everyone with the congratulation messages.

Both myself (live in the UK) and my financee are over here in the UK at the moment, and so we heard about our NOA2 from Amy's mom in the USA when she called us with the good news (I have not seen or read its wording myself but it is the NOA2 and not an RFE as we had it read out to us over the phone).... I understand the process once our application gets to the london consulate(ie packets 1,2,3/medical/interview), but I am unsure whether its usual for the NVC part of the process to need any paperwork or documentation from us? Does the NVC part of the process usually NOT involve any action from us? Not sure whether I need to have anything ready before I hear from the London consulate thats all? Thoughts anyone?

and finally...how do we know when the NVC is done...can we still see the case status online via USCIS , or do we get that info from somewhere else (ie more NOA's in the mail, with the next one coming from the NVC?

You do not need to do anything until you receive packet 3. Give it 5-10 days after the NOA2 date and you can call the NVC to find out if they've received the petition. From what I've heard they're usually really nice and will tell you when it was received and when it will be sent out. Most USCs receive a letter from the NVC informing them that the petition has been mailed to the foreign consulate. Good luck!

[aravis227 1]

I think I'll call them once I hit the 5 month mark. Hopefully the next 2 weeks they get back to work.

Good idea. Maybe everyone should start a phone calling campaign. Let them know we are not happy with the long delay.

I honestly think this is a bad idea. I think going directly through USCIS to try to get change is just going to piss them off. I suspect that the adjudicators are doing everything they can...it's policy and planning that is wrong. I think a letter-writing campaign to all of our congressmen is much more likely to get results! USCIS needs to change the way they handle this from a managerial perspective and the only way that's going to happen is through congress involvement. It definitely needs to change...but we need to take this through the right channels! I think we've all worked jobs where people get pissed off at us for management decisions...we can't do anything about it, even if we call management and tell them about the calls, they won't listen to us. We need to go above management and get at it from the other direction!

You're probably right. I'll give the USCIS a polite call just to let them now I am concerned. Then, I'll send a letter to my congressman. I think my NOA2 will come soon, so this probably won't help my case, but maybe it will speed things up for others.

That's my hope, too...I figured once I'd filed there wasn't much I could do without sounding like "give me my approval!!" However the system is really messed up and needs to be fixed...my hope is that if we start a letter writing campaign we can make it better for people in the future. (Yes...I'm an incurable optimist and I still think I can make a difference. )

[aravis227 1]

I know I told someone that I would post when I received my on-line update, but I can't remember who...anyway, I just received the email. It makes me happy all over again.

[sitkan 0]

I am a Feb filer too. Before everyone starts making calls (unless you are already overdue), please consider a few things.

1. They are busy, the more you call the less time they have to process someones application.

2. Do you have your Browser set to "refresh" everytime you visit the site, or is it possibley using cached file on your pc? After your page is loaded on the USCIS page hit the F5 key, this forces a refresh.

3. If I did not know any better I would say that they either have some new software, or some new employees and everyone has to get used to the new ways.

If you do call please be polite, because if I have to call I want a person that is not already been upset by the previous caller.

Good Luck All

Congradulations to Everyone that has been approved so far.

[steveinsandiego 0]

1. They are busy, the more you call the less time they have to process someones application.

The people who answer the phones are not involved in processing the applications, so calling them won't slow things down. Unfortunately, it probably won't speed things up either.

I called this morning at talked to a polite young man. He had little information to offer me, other than they are swamped with applications.

Regardless, I think calling lets the USCIS know we are not complacent with the long delays. I am sure they tally the numbers of calls they get each month and it is used to measure their performance.

BTW, if you call the automated 800 number, if can be tricky to actually speak with a live person. After calling the 800 number, I entered 1, 2, 6 to reach a person.

Edited July 14, 2008 by steveinsandiego

[Aline and Travis 0]

Guess what everyone?????? I got great news VIA Email today!!!...........................We received our NOA2 approval on July 11th! Yahoooooooooo!!!! I can't wait to tell Aline! Yahoooooooooo! Yahoooooooooooo! Yahoooooooooooo! Keep those hopes up high........yours is on the way!

[sitkan 0]

Check your email. I just got approved. Thanks for all the updates everyone.

[Craig & Julia 0]

Congratulations

[Jon-n-Michelle 0]

WE GOT OUR NOA2 TODAY!!!!!! Finally after 152 days of waiting it showed up in the snail mail box. The touches last week were it.I can't express the emotions I went through tonight. My SO was in shock!!! She said "HUN, please tell me this isn't a dream". I told her I would pinch her if I could. I pray they get the rest of feb filers approved soon. As usual I see the are working on march filers already while they still have Jan and ALOT of feb filers still waiting. I'll post my rant later. At least now it won't sound like I'm having a temper tantrum over not having my NOA2. I have it in hand, but I am still pi$$ed about the way the process is run. I will be contacting my congressman in the VERY near future. Edited July 14, 2008 by Jon-n-Michelle

[MissingHer 0]

Just got approval via email, on to the next phase, I think the approvals are going to start rolling in again. GL to all.

[yuki-lyka 0]

WE GOT OUR NOA2 TODAY!!!!!! Finally after 152 days of waiting it showed up in the snail mail box. The touches last week were it.I can't express the emotions I went through tonight. My SO was in shock!!! She said "HUN, please tell me this isn't a dream". I told her I would pinch her if I could. I pray they get the rest of feb filers approved soon. As usual I see the are working on march filers already while they still have Jan and ALOT of feb filers still waiting. I'll post my rant later. At least now it won't sound like I'm having a temper tantrum over not having my NOA2. I have it in hand, but I am still pi$$ed about the way the process is run. I will be contacting my congressman in the VERY near future.

congrats jon & michelle...

[KimandRuss 0]

Jon - SOOO HAPPY for you!!! Tequila time!

congratulations to travis & sitkan as well!

Nice to see CSC moving!

wow..missingher...you too! Congrats!

[steveinsandiego 0]

Wow, we just got approval notice by email too!

The USCIS web site seems to working again. I can see my approval on-line.

140 days from NOA1 to NOA2.

Hope we see many more NOA2's this week!