March 2009 K1 Filer

[jcg303 1]

Well, it seems we've used up all of our lifelines for the time being, and my fingers are crossed that we have an experience similar to Kimbear.

I just got off the phone with the congressional aide who was told that our file has been in background check since June and that it would take up to 90 days.

Personally, I think the "background check" line is kind of like their "5 months" line....it's their standard response, with the key difference being that a congressional contact usually generates some actual movement on the case in addition to the line of BS. On a side note, she suggested while stopping just short of recommending that, as long as she's here, we could get married and file for AOS and that, as long as she didn't over-stay her visa in the process, the only repercussion would be possible difficulty in getting travel visas for her family to visit here. (She specifically said it's not a deportable offense.) That's not my understanding based on the information I've seen here, and after all of this waiting, I'm not really inclined to test her assertion.

I'll be watching my inbox even more intently over the course of the next couple of days to see if we get that magical touch.

Will definitely keep you all updated so those still waiting know how big a grain of salt to take with the mis-information spouted by USCIS. Today has been a low point in terms of faith and patience, especially on Ingrith's end, so please keep us in your thoughts, prayers, whatever.

i called my congressman this morning, and they seem to be helpful, although i had to call about 6 times before someone picked up. how soon they respond has yet to be seen.

then, i thought i would chance it and call uscis. i always seem to get a different answer from them. first, i was told that the current processing time is 5 months, and we're at 5 months to the day. then i was told there has been no action for 60 days. can't they see there's been no action since the NOA1??? THEN i was told they are currently processing petitions dated Feb. 15 - but their processing time is 5 months.....government math i guess.

i talked to my fiancee during lunch. we're with ya, Mariposa - it's definately one of those days. hopefully my congressman can grease the proverbial wheels.

good luck and hang in there!!! you're one day closer......

[Danu 19]

So I finished my medical today, went pretty smooth I think. As long as everything is good with the xray and blood test I should get my results in the mail on Wednesday or Thursday. Now if only I could get an interview date!!!

[jomegared 0]

Congratulations Jomegard and Kimbear!!! I'm really happy for you guys!

I'm a little disappointed, I'm 10 days close to the 5 month mark and nothing yet. I'm definitely looking into contacting the congressman. How did you guys do it? Phone, email, letter? Should I wait for the 5 months or should I go ahead and contact them now?

Also, my fiance is military and has moved around the US and overseas a lot, so that's why this probably takes so long... Do you think calling the Military help line would help more than inquiring at USCIS?

You have done enough waiting. Contact them immediately.

I contacted mine through a letter and then they called me as soon as they got it.

I am from a VERY unpopulated state though so that helped a lot.

I would call.

Often, until you get the help you need.

[jomegared 0]

Maripos -

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY TOLD ME.

Almost exactly.

2 days later.

I got an approval email.

Hang in there.

You should be soon.

[Starlight95 1]

Many congrats to Jomegared and Kimbear. That's awesome news for you, and also gives great hope to Ingrith and me.

Our Congressional aide said that she usually gets a reply within 2-3 days from CSC, and she inquired on Friday, so I'm hoping we'll get some action this week, and really, really hoping for an approval before next weekend so we can go out and get drunk before she boards the plane back to Panama Saturday morning.

We're still holding out hope that we can actually get married as planned on October 10th. I realize now how optimistic this date was, but it really really could happen. It's been a great day in general (well, except for the oppressive heat and humidity finally making it to central Illinois over the weekend).

And to any March filers out there who haven't yet gotten their NOA2....CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN! It does seem to work, and contrary to the "party line," it seems you don't even have to wait for the magical, mystical (imaginary) 5-month date to pass to get some satisfaction.

Just stay positive and it should be coming. I am seeing a lot of April 09 and May 09 approvals within 90 days. Even some way ahead of me. I don't know how they pick them. I also think that for some reason some consulates take longer than others. But, I am taking your advice I am not waiting 5 months for action. Just for my peace of mind emailed congressman just to keep her in the loop and find out for information about how the process works. I mean just to get an update or some call from USCIS to keep my mind at ease. I went and emailed her and I have not gotten any response. I just wanted to get on top of it. I think emailing does not work though, and the best is to call or fax. I think you will be seeing some action really soon. I really hope you get yours soon!!!!

[Binow 0]

What a complete joke. I called USCIS again today and was told the exact same thing, wait 17 more days and call back. Of course there isn't anything AT ALL they can offer in the way of information. I asked to even know if the process was started as far as background check or where about it is in the process. "Sorry we don't know." They also said I have not yet past the waiting period...that I have to wait 17 days to pass the 5 month period? Apparently I did not learn math the same way they did. When I asked why I was told to wait 17 days again which is the exact same thing I was told nearly a week ago...you guessed it...she had zero explanation. I have sent in a request to Senator McCain and will send one to each one of my congressmen tomorrow.

The process is a complete joke. Patience doesn't pay. Being nice doesn't pay. Trying to let the process work it's normal course doesn't pay. So, no it's time to pester the hell out of the if nothing else to let some frustration out. What's the worse that can happen? Oh what is it you say? Continue to wait? Appears that is the solution anyway so we shall see.

Good luck to those others that are waiting and congrats to those that have been approved already!

[Binow 0]

A quick question, I have contacted a Senator for my state and will contact congressman tomorrow. Should I just send it off to each one of them or my particular congressman?

Thanks

[jcg303 1]

A quick question, I have contacted a Senator for my state and will contact congressman tomorrow. Should I just send it off to each one of them or my particular congressman?

Thanks

i'm sure there's no harm in contacting the various members of congress in your state, but i'm not sure congressmen from other districts will be able/willing to help. i don't know that for certain - that's just my asumption. hopefully your congressman and senators will be able to provide the necessary motivation for uscis.

also - i got the same response from uscis when i called last monday, except i was told to wait 22 days. they told me this while i was on their website looking at the page that shows normal processing times, which indicates 5 months for k-1 apps AND was updated july 16th. i try to remember that the person on the phone is not the person who makes the rules, but i feel like they don't quite understand how serious this is for all of us. i mean, i not waiting on a stupid passport or tax return or something!!! and i see that 92/114 k-1 csc people have their NOA2. how did i get to be in the lucky minority???

anyway, good luck - i hope you representatives can light a fire under uscis.....

[Kimbear 53]

A quick question, I have contacted a Senator for my state and will contact congressman tomorrow. Should I just send it off to each one of them or my particular congressman?

Thanks

Whomever you send it off to will redirect it to the congressman in charge of the district where you live. Only they can help you. That is what happend to me. as my town is overlapped by two districts.

[FrostyMist 1]

Just getting together the relevant information in order to complete my police check today.

Anyone know whether I need to wait until I hear from the embassy before I send off the application to the relevant police authoraties, or can it be done before then?

Also, for anyone in England that's completed the police check application form - for the question "Country for which you require the Certificate", can anyone clarify whether that's England (my current country of residence) or the USA? Sorry for the dumb question, I'm just unsure of this one and don't want to enter the wrong answer.

Edited August 12, 2009 by FrostyMist

[Kimbear 53]

not sure about where you live..but i need a copy of my checklist and noa2 to get my police check done. same with my medical.

[Mariposa1010 0]

We've been touched!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!

I didn't get an email, but I looked online to see that our file was accessed yesterday (the day after our congressional staffer reached them).

Still "pending"....but it seems that a touch almost always leads to some type of action (even if it's an RFE) within a couple of days.

OMG OMG OMG OMG! (Did I say that already?)

:dance:

[Starlight95 1]

We've been touched!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!

I didn't get an email, but I looked online to see that our file was accessed yesterday (the day after our congressional staffer reached them).

Still "pending"....but it seems that a touch almost always leads to some type of action (even if it's an RFE) within a couple of days.

OMG OMG OMG OMG! (Did I say that already?)

:dance:

CONGRATS!!!!!

[menina 50]

We've been touched!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!

I didn't get an email, but I looked online to see that our file was accessed yesterday (the day after our congressional staffer reached them).

Still "pending"....but it seems that a touch almost always leads to some type of action (even if it's an RFE) within a couple of days.

OMG OMG OMG OMG! (Did I say that already?)

:dance:

Yeah!!! Surely this means your NOA2 is on its way soon. Good luck, and keep us posted!!

[Kimbear 53]

We've been touched!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!

I didn't get an email, but I looked online to see that our file was accessed yesterday (the day after our congressional staffer reached them).

Still "pending"....but it seems that a touch almost always leads to some type of action (even if it's an RFE) within a couple of days.

OMG OMG OMG OMG! (Did I say that already?)

:dance:

keep watching it!! i had 3 touches then BAM approval