Hi...I'm a newbie and here's my story

[K1inCincy 0]

Hey people my names Tony and I am in the slumps of the k-1 process. I'm not really sure that I am posting my "process" as detailed as you all are, but I will try. I read the two post at the top of this forum on the K-1 process. It confused me just as this whole process has done since day 1.

I filed late due to stupidity and the fact that I thought there was another way around all this.

Me: Tony U.S. citizen from Ohio

Fiancee: Portia, a Filipino who is in Calgary on a Caregiver work permit.

Filed at California Service Center.

Jan. 10th 2008 receipt number received

Feb. 8th 2008 first touch, but no change in status

Feb. 15th Portia gave birth to our daughter Miyah

Also I had a senator submit a request to expedite our case and of course it was denied.

My lawyer says that we should get the approval anytime now because they have been getting approvals now for early January, but nothing yet.

I have been checking my email a few hundred times a day now. Will it happen in one day or will I be able to see a touch when they start working on it???? If anyone knows please ease my mind. What is the process that lets me know they are working on it? Also do you think my lawyer is right or is it going to take longer???

[Devkpaik 1]

K1inCincy,

I am a little confused... What do you mean you filed late thinking there was another way around all this? Around all what?

Jan 10, 2008 you received your NOA1?

You expect to get your NOA2 in one month, and your lawyer is telling you this?

I am not really sure they are getting approvals for January consistently. If one gets approved in January I am sure they didn't file at the USCIS (Cal. service center) as this is a lot slower than Vermont.

Please explain in better detail your situation

Hey people my names Tony and I am in the slumps of the k-1 process. I'm not really sure that I am posting my "process" as detailed as you all are, but I will try. I read the two post at the top of this forum on the K-1 process. It confused me just as this whole process has done since day 1.

I filed late due to stupidity and the fact that I thought there was another way around all this.

Me: Tony U.S. citizen from Ohio

Fiancee: Portia, a Filipino who is in Calgary on a Caregiver work permit.

Filed at California Service Center.

Jan. 10th 2008 receipt number received

Feb. 8th 2008 first touch, but no change in status

Feb. 15th Portia gave birth to our daughter Miyah

Also I had a senator submit a request to expedite our case and of course it was denied.

My lawyer says that we should get the approval anytime now because they have been getting approvals now for early January, but nothing yet.

I have been checking my email a few hundred times a day now. Will it happen in one day or will I be able to see a touch when they start working on it???? If anyone knows please ease my mind. What is the process that lets me know they are working on it? Also do you think my lawyer is right or is it going to take longer???

[Izoom 0]

Being late, this post will be brief, but just to fill in some info:

- Touches can be anything from someone reviewing it to a repackaging in another box. If I recall, every time someone physically touches your case, it is scanned via barcode. So in essence, it could be someone important reviewing it or it could be a worker simply shifting documents among the office.

- While the Vermont SC lately has been quite a bit faster at these than the California SC, there is little you can do as a person to "speed" the process up other than submitting everything completely and 100% accurately. As someone pointed out, just one of these adjudicators in an office of dozens of them are looking at your case. That same adjudicator ends up seeing dozens of cases per day and endless boxes, so don't take it personal when yours isn't going as fast as others.

- If your case had been idle for quite some time, say 6+ months, I would say that a word from a Senator would have expedited things somewhat, but not after 1 month of normal processing time.

[RyaNRiza 1]

My lawyer says that we should get the approval anytime now because they have been getting approvals now for early January, but nothing yet.

I have been checking my email a few hundred times a day now. Will it happen in one day or will I be able to see a touch when they start working on it???? If anyone knows please ease my mind. What is the process that lets me know they are working on it? Also do you think my lawyer is right or is it going to take longer???

Most VSC filers had been approved earlier compared with CSC filers. We are CSC filers and we got approved after 127 days of receipt. Since your petition was received on January 10, it's only 78 days since then (I hope I calculated it right) and we were only "touched" once. You should have your approval middle of May or earlier, I hope.

-Riza

[L & P 0]

Hi K1inCincy,

I don't want to break your hopes but if you filed in January at CSC it can take a while longer. I filed in October and still waiting

Good luck in your journey

[Jeraly 4]

We filed through CSC and it took 152 days for NOA2 but I think things have got a lot better since we filed

Unfortunately I think CSC is running at about 4 months for approvals right now (someone correct me if I am wrong?) so settle in, make some new friends and try and chill abiout it all

[sara..... 371]

well.........Jan....huh lol i think ur attorney is mistaken..........and for sure i would not start calling anyone to help u until at least six months has passed but i dont think it will take that long............but welcome to vj and good luck on ur visa application i hope that it goes smooth and fast for u oh yes congratulations on the birth of ur child.........

sara

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

My lawyer says that we should get the approval anytime now because they have been getting approvals now for early January, but nothing yet.

Your lawyer seems incompetent since he doesn't even know the situation at CSC. I agree with the others, the soonest you should get an approval would be around May/June.

[regholdsworth 0]

Use the timeline search function on this site to get a feel of who else is getting approved around to your own timeline.

Or bookmark this link to check and it tells you the last 20 timelines approved on here and when they submitted...

http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/igor/vjdata/default.aspx

One thing is certain they are not doing January yet.

[Zee Bee 61]

I would not expect anything earlier than May/June. It is true that VSC is faster, but even so, there are some that wait longer than others. It seems your lawyer may be a little out of the loop

Just so you know, if you signed up for e-mail notifications from USCIS, the only time you will get an e-mail is for an RFE or approval. Besides that, the touches are pretty much useless. Some people get a ton, others none.

Patience is the key in this process. Just sit back and wait for it. The point when you should be worrying is when it has been 6 months and you have heard nothing...then you can freak out.

Also, expedites are rarely ever given and the only cases I have seen are when the petitioner is in the military and about to be deployed. Besdies that, there is really nothing much else your senator can do, until you go outside the processing times.

Good luck on your journey.

[ldshgirl 0]

Hi K1inCincy,

I don't want to break your hopes but if you filed in January at CSC it can take a while longer. I filed in October and still waiting

Good luck in your journey

Well, we're filed in December at CSC and we got approved after 97 days. Maybe there is hope!!!!! I crossing my fingers for you guys!!!! Hopefully you'll get it sooon!!!!!

[K1inCincy 0]

Hi K1inCincy,

I don't want to break your hopes but if you filed in January at CSC it can take a while longer. I filed in October and still waiting

Good luck in your journey

Well, we're filed in December at CSC and we got approved after 97 days. Maybe there is hope!!!!! I crossing my fingers for you guys!!!! Hopefully you'll get it sooon!!!!!

Well thanks to everyone that posted. I think this is a really cool site. Honestly though it's not the news that I wanted, but atleast now I know. When we started out on this k1 visa we were really hopeful, but now....well I just expect the worst. I have been here in Canada with them since November, but I have to leave at the end of the week. I won't lie this is depressing. It would be nice if it did come soon, but I doubt it lol. I'm not getting my hopes up just to get let down. But honestly thanks for your responses.

[RyaNRiza 1]

I wonder if they will forward the packet to the US Embassy in Manila or to Canada. Is she a Philippines citizen? If so, she may need to return home for the medical, and interview. I don't really know about that. You should probably register on USCIS for email notifications. Once you get approved, they will send your petition packet to NVC, that's about 15 days right now. Then 1-2 days there before they forward it to the embassy. CSC has been notoriously slower than VSC. All I can do is counsel patience.

-Ryan

[K1inCincy 0]

I wonder if they will forward the packet to the US Embassy in Manila or to Canada. Is she a Philippines citizen? If so, she may need to return home for the medical, and interview. I don't really know about that. You should probably register on USCIS for email notifications. Once you get approved, they will send your petition packet to NVC, that's about 15 days right now. Then 1-2 days there before they forward it to the embassy. CSC has been notoriously slower than VSC. All I can do is counsel patience.

-Ryan

They are saying that it will go through Vancouver. Patience is a true asset of this game. LoL...I'm trying. Thanks Ryan

[Devkpaik 1]

Hi K1inCincy,

I don't want to break your hopes but if you filed in January at CSC it can take a while longer. I filed in October and still waiting

Good luck in your journey

Well, we're filed in December at CSC and we got approved after 97 days. Maybe there is hope!!!!! I crossing my fingers for you guys!!!! Hopefully you'll get it sooon!!!!!

Well thanks to everyone that posted. I think this is a really cool site. Honestly though it's not the news that I wanted, but atleast now I know. When we started out on this k1 visa we were really hopeful, but now....well I just expect the worst. I have been here in Canada with them since November, but I have to leave at the end of the week. I won't lie this is depressing. It would be nice if it did come soon, but I doubt it lol. I'm not getting my hopes up just to get let down. But honestly thanks for your responses.

Hey K1incincy.

I agree this is a really cool site. You get free advice from people whose only objective is to help one another out. Everyone on here is going through the same process as you and we are all here to help. I don't want to be negative, but I think you should have a long talk with that lawyer of yours and tell him that you want him to explain his reasoning to you. I have a lawyer as well and he always tells me the worst case scenario numbers of how long it's going to take.

We don't want you to expect the worst!! You should expect the best and good things will happen! You JUST started your journey and you need to think positive or this process will be long and drawn out (it already is but it's easier with a good attitude).

It's very depressing but just remember once you are finished with the process, you'll never have to do this ####### again and you guys will be together forever!