RFE time line

[cris.luiza 0]

Hi everyone, we got a touch today but it was a bad touch! It was a request for more evidence. My idiot lawyer assured me that the couple of phone bills and 6 whole pictures, two letters from two wittnesses at our wedding, my passport full of visa stampes in and out of RO and all the official marriage paperwork would be enough evidence and now its not. I am so pissed off!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone here been through one of these? What do they usualy ask for? How long does it take to get the RFE and how long after you send what they ask for will they strat working on your case? I know this is a lot of info I'm asking for, but I will not be able to sleep until I get the RFE and see what they want. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!! Thanks.

[Madie 0]

Hi, did you get the RFE notice from USCIS by mail? What does it say? Do they ask for more evidence that your relationship is a bona fide one? I don't think this is what the RFE is about. The evidence that you sent already should be enough to prove that in this stage. Probably it has something to do with the way you filled out the forms.

For instance we got an RFE because my visa photo had a darker background than bright white and the dimensions weren't exaclty the size they requested and because on the G-325A form under question "list the names of former spouses" we put N/A instead of none,so we had to refill that form.

We got the RFE on March 17th (we saw that on line), we got it in the mail on March 21st. We sent the response on March 25th. On April 7th we received a notice on line that they got our response and that the processing of our case was resumed and they gave us a 60 day deadline for them to make a decision in our case. But we were lucky and on April 15th we got approved!! But the RFE sure caused an one month delay.

Good luck!

[Catt 6]

Hi everyone, we got a touch today but it was a bad touch! It was a request for more evidence. My idiot lawyer assured me that the couple of phone bills and 6 whole pictures, two letters from two wittnesses at our wedding, my passport full of visa stampes in and out of RO and all the official marriage paperwork would be enough evidence and now its not. I am so pissed off!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone here been through one of these? What do they usualy ask for? How long does it take to get the RFE and how long after you send what they ask for will they strat working on your case? I know this is a lot of info I'm asking for, but I will not be able to sleep until I get the RFE and see what they want. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!! Thanks.

Hi Luiza,

Sorry you got that RFE. I also doubt whether it's because of lack of evidence about bona fide marriage.

Why don't you just call the Service Center, via the RFE line (see how to do that in other links). You wouldn't be abusing the line, i'd say, since you actually got an RFE. Maybe they can already tell you what the problem is, so that you can already prepare the extra info/documents needed (and maybe already have them overnighted from where your wife/husband lives) and be ready to send it all off again once you receive the RFE letter.

Won't be long now! (At least getting an RFE means someone actually took a look at your application and you're out of the longest waiting line.)

[Urge To Race 2]

Your lawyer may still be an idiot, but he was correct about the evidence for a bona fide marriage relationship. For newly weds who have never lived together, most people have scant evidence to provide. On VJ, the affidavit from a couple of friends/relatives, etc has proven popular among the approved as well as wedding photos. We submitted no affidavits, pretty much ignoring the requirement since we had nothing else to show and in my opinion the affidavits would prove nothing other than maybe some people saw us taking our wedding vows.

The RFE could be for anything (passport photos background color, missing document like a birth cert, etc.). Don't stress yet, just wait to get it in the mail in about 10-14 days. Then give them what they want.

Hi everyone, we got a touch today but it was a bad touch! It was a request for more evidence. My idiot lawyer assured me that the couple of phone bills and 6 whole pictures, two letters from two wittnesses at our wedding, my passport full of visa stampes in and out of RO and all the official marriage paperwork would be enough evidence and now its not. I am so pissed off!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone here been through one of these? What do they usualy ask for? How long does it take to get the RFE and how long after you send what they ask for will they strat working on your case? I know this is a lot of info I'm asking for, but I will not be able to sleep until I get the RFE and see what they want. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!! Thanks.

[cris.luiza 0]

Hi, did you get the RFE notice from USCIS by mail? What does it say? Do they ask for more evidence that your relationship is a bona fide one? I don't think this is what the RFE is about. The evidence that you sent already should be enough to prove that in this stage. Probably it has something to do with the way you filled out the forms.

For instance we got an RFE because my visa photo had a darker background than bright white and the dimensions weren't exaclty the size they requested and because on the G-325A form under question "list the names of former spouses" we put N/A instead of none,so we had to refill that form.

We got the RFE on March 17th (we saw that on line), we got it in the mail on March 21st. We sent the response on March 25th. On April 7th we received a notice on line that they got our response and that the processing of our case was resumed and they gave us a 60 day deadline for them to make a decision in our case. But we were lucky and on April 15th we got approved!! But the RFE sure caused an one month delay.

Good luck!

I have not gotten the actual letter yet. I just saw that one was sent on the 22 of April. I can't wait to see what they want because we went to a lawyer to make sure everything was as it should be. Maybe we did not provide enough stuff like phone bills or something like that. I live in L.A. so I am pretty close to Laguna Niguel, about a 2 hour drive. So the letter should not take more than 2 or 3 days to get to the lawyer. He promised me he would call me as soon as he gets it, I will surely call him anyway. Then I will overnight it to CSC. I called the RFE line this morning and spoke to an officer. He would not tell me what they want. He said I had to wait for the letter. Then I asked him if they would start working on our case as soon as they get the evidence they requested, he said yes and that the officer working on our case keeps our case until evidence is received. I hope to get them their evidence ASAP, and that the delay will not be too long.

Cris.

[cris.luiza 0]

Hi everyone, we got a touch today but it was a bad touch! It was a request for more evidence. My idiot lawyer assured me that the couple of phone bills and 6 whole pictures, two letters from two wittnesses at our wedding, my passport full of visa stampes in and out of RO and all the official marriage paperwork would be enough evidence and now its not. I am so pissed off!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone here been through one of these? What do they usualy ask for? How long does it take to get the RFE and how long after you send what they ask for will they strat working on your case? I know this is a lot of info I'm asking for, but I will not be able to sleep until I get the RFE and see what they want. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!! Thanks.

Hi Luiza,

Sorry you got that RFE. I also doubt whether it's because of lack of evidence about bona fide marriage.

Why don't you just call the Service Center, via the RFE line (see how to do that in other links). You wouldn't be abusing the line, i'd say, since you actually got an RFE. Maybe they can already tell you what the problem is, so that you can already prepare the extra info/documents needed (and maybe already have them overnighted from where your wife/husband lives) and be ready to send it all off again once you receive the RFE letter.

Won't be long now! (At least getting an RFE means someone actually took a look at your application and you're out of the longest waiting line.)

Actualy I'm cris, I did call and they told me I had to wait for the letter. As soon as I get it I will post what they wanted and keep you all up to date on how long the process will take.

[cris.luiza 0]

Your lawyer may still be an idiot, but he was correct about the evidence for a bona fide marriage relationship. For newly weds who have never lived together, most people have scant evidence to provide. On VJ, the affidavit from a couple of friends/relatives, etc has proven popular among the approved as well as wedding photos. We submitted no affidavits, pretty much ignoring the requirement since we had nothing else to show and in my opinion the affidavits would prove nothing other than maybe some people saw us taking our wedding vows.

The RFE could be for anything (passport photos background color, missing document like a birth cert, etc.). Don't stress yet, just wait to get it in the mail in about 10-14 days. Then give them what they want.

I know it could be about small stuff like what you said but, I used a lawyer... I thought a professional who has been doing this foe 12 years would know exactly waht was needed.... When I spoke to him this morning he said that for the last two years RFEs have increased from 5% to 10% of the time to 75% of the time. I am hoping it will not take 10-14 days but only a couple since I am close to the CSC. The officer I talked to this morning told me it was already sent out to me. Wish us luck! Thanks to you all for your support and helpful answers.

Cris.

[Catt 6]

I know it could be about small stuff like what you said but, I used a lawyer... I thought a professional who has been doing this foe 12 years would know exactly waht was needed.... When I spoke to him this morning he said that for the last two years RFEs have increased from 5% to 10% of the time to 75% of the time. I am hoping it will not take 10-14 days but only a couple since I am close to the CSC. The officer I talked to this morning told me it was already sent out to me. Wish us luck! Thanks to you all for your support and helpful answers.

Cris.

Hey Cris (and not Luiza, sorry bout that!),

I agree with you. Considering you have paid him to help you, and considering he says he has been doing this for so long, I would also not be content about the RFE. He shouldn't hide behind the "they upped RFE's", and I also think the 75% is a bit much, going by people's stories in here. But first wait until you know what the RFE is actually about.

Great however that it is already on its way to you, you'll get the letter soon and will be able to get on with your case.

[Urge To Race 2]

Hi Cris,

Its great if they already sent it. The USPS is not the bottleneck, it only takes a few days at most to get the actual letter when its sent no matter where you live. The problem is in USCIS actually sending the letter, usually they order the letter to be sent when your case status is updated, and it leaves the mail room 10 days later.

Paying a lawyer usually does not help make the process any smoother. VJ is filled with people who had success filing for themselves, as well as people who regret having used a lawyer (costs $$, they can get sloppy, are probably slower in responding and sending things out than you would be because they are not as vested in your process because lets face it he has got lots of clients, you have one wife). This is a frequent VJ topic.

Anyways, best of luck you. I really do hope its something minor so you can zip off exactly what they need without delay. I doubt it is for phone bills etc., that is evidence your wife might need at the interview, not now. (and there are plenty of cases where they don't even look at phone bills at the interview). Evidence of the relationship is usually not the issue unless you have a long running relationship. Then if you can't provide evidence, it would be troubling.

Your lawyer may still be an idiot, but he was correct about the evidence for a bona fide marriage relationship. For newly weds who have never lived together, most people have scant evidence to provide. On VJ, the affidavit from a couple of friends/relatives, etc has proven popular among the approved as well as wedding photos. We submitted no affidavits, pretty much ignoring the requirement since we had nothing else to show and in my opinion the affidavits would prove nothing other than maybe some people saw us taking our wedding vows.

The RFE could be for anything (passport photos background color, missing document like a birth cert, etc.). Don't stress yet, just wait to get it in the mail in about 10-14 days. Then give them what they want.

I know it could be about small stuff like what you said but, I used a lawyer... I thought a professional who has been doing this foe 12 years would know exactly waht was needed.... When I spoke to him this morning he said that for the last two years RFEs have increased from 5% to 10% of the time to 75% of the time. I am hoping it will not take 10-14 days but only a couple since I am close to the CSC. The officer I talked to this morning told me it was already sent out to me. Wish us luck! Thanks to you all for your support and helpful answers.

Cris.

[cris.luiza 0]

Hi Cris,

Its great if they already sent it. The USPS is not the bottleneck, it only takes a few days at most to get the actual letter when its sent no matter where you live. The problem is in USCIS actually sending the letter, usually they order the letter to be sent when your case status is updated, and it leaves the mail room 10 days later.

Paying a lawyer usually does not help make the process any smoother. VJ is filled with people who had success filing for themselves, as well as people who regret having used a lawyer (costs $, they can get sloppy, are probably slower in responding and sending things out than you would be because they are not as vested in your process because lets face it he has got lots of clients, you have one wife). This is a frequent VJ topic.

Anyways, best of luck you. I really do hope its something minor so you can zip off exactly what they need without delay. I doubt it is for phone bills etc., that is evidence your wife might need at the interview, not now. (and there are plenty of cases where they don't even look at phone bills at the interview). Evidence of the relationship is usually not the issue unless you have a long running relationship. Then if you can't provide evidence, it would be troubling.

Well they have touched our file everyday since Monday. So hopefully they are doing something constructive with it like doing everything they need to so that when they get to evidence they can approve it right away. Also there is something kind of worrying luiza and I, I hope its nothing but they have not touched our I129F (K3), does this mean they are not working on them together? Or is it that they just want the evidence to approve the I130 so they can approve the I129 along with it??? Does anyone know? Thanks for the info Urge to race.

Edited April 25, 2008 by cris.luiza

[Catt 6]

Well they have touched our file everyday since Monday. So hopefully they are doing something constructive with it like doing everything they need to so that when they get to evidence they can approve it right away. Also there is something kind of worrying luiza and I, I hope its nothing but they have not touched our I129F (K3), does this mean they are not working on them together? Or is it that they just want the evidence to approve the I130 so they can approve the I129 along with it??? Does anyone know? Thanks for the info Urge to race.

Cris, the good thing is that you are at the California Center. They seem to have been approving both I-130 and I-129F together lately. >I'm also a newbie on this site so I might be mistaken, but check out people's timelines and recent CSC approvals (e.g. Columbianogringo; there are several others), and see for yourself.

Vermont on the contrary, seems to only be approving the I-130 so far, even if folks have also submitted an I-129F appl. for K-3 (I'm really hoping that will change soon since we're at Vermont and we want a K-3 visa dammit ).

[cris.luiza 0]

Cris, the good thing is that you are at the California Center. They seem to have been approving both I-130 and I-129F together lately. >I'm also a newbie on this site so I might be mistaken, but check out people's timelines and recent CSC approvals (e.g. Columbianogringo; there are several others), and see for yourself.

Vermont on the contrary, seems to only be approving the I-130 so far, even if folks have also submitted an I-129F appl. for K-3 (I'm really hoping that will change soon since we're at Vermont and we want a K-3 visa dammit ).

You know I thought all the K3 stuff was being taken cared of at the CSC. At least thats what luiza told me. It would suck if that happened to you (not to have the K3 approved) I would write my congressman with this question and aks to see where your K3 paperwork is. That should at least give you an idea of where your file is in the process. We had this worry too a while back about only our I130 being approved without the K3 so Luiza had me ask my lawyer to look into it and he found out that they were looking (administratively) into the K3 being dropped thing. Shortly after they stopped dropping them at CSC. Do you have a lawyer? If you do ask him to look into it for you at the VSC. Thats all I can think of.

Edited April 25, 2008 by cris.luiza

[cris.luiza 0]

Cris, the good thing is that you are at the California Center. They seem to have been approving both I-130 and I-129F together lately. >I'm also a newbie on this site so I might be mistaken, but check out people's timelines and recent CSC approvals (e.g. Columbianogringo; there are several others), and see for yourself.

Vermont on the contrary, seems to only be approving the I-130 so far, even if folks have also submitted an I-129F appl. for K-3 (I'm really hoping that will change soon since we're at Vermont and we want a K-3 visa dammit ).

You know I thought all the K3 stuff was being taken cared of at the CSC. At least thats what luiza told me. It would suck if that happened to you (not to have the K3 approved) I would write my congressman with this question and ask to see where your K3 paperwork is. That should at least give you an idea of where your file is in the process. We had this worry too a while back about only our I130 being approved without the K3 so Luiza had me ask my lawyer to look into it and he found out that they were looking (administratively) into the K3 being dropped thing. Shortly after they stopped dropong them at CSC. Do you have a lawyer? If you do ask him to look into it for you at the VSC. Thats all I can think of.

Edited April 25, 2008 by cris.luiza

[Catt 6]

You know I thought all the K3 stuff was being taken cared of at the CSC. At least thats what luiza told me. It would suck if that happened to you (not to have the K3 approved) I would write my congressman with this question and ask to see where your K3 paperwork is. That should at least give you an idea of where your file is in the process. We had this worry too a while back about only our I130 being approved without the K3 so Luiza had me ask my lawyer to look into it and he found out that they were looking (administratively) into the K3 being dropped thing. Shortly after they stopped dropong them at CSC. Do you have a lawyer? If you do ask him to look into it for you at the VSC. Thats all I can think of.

Frankly I'm not worrying about that just yet. We only filed our I-130 and I-129F applications in March, so we're basically "newbies". Plenty of other folks are still in line for approvals before us. We'll see what happens in the meantime. Take care!

Edited April 26, 2008 by Catt

[Catt 6]

[We had this worry too a while back about only our I130 being approved without the K3 so Luiza had me ask my lawyer to look into it and he found out that they were looking (administratively) into the K3 being dropped thing. Shortly after they stopped dropong them at CSC.

Cris,

If I may ask, what did your attorney tell you exactly? Who was looking into it administratively? And when did CSC drop this practice too?

This might be very interesting info for people who are waiting for Vermont.

Happy Sunday!

Cat