No K-1's approved for a week??

[NatPatBen 3]

I really feel for those who are still waiting...just try to be patient, and the best thing you can do is start getting the papers and evidence ready for packet 3 and your interview, that way there are minimal delays between the next steps!

Unless you've done that MONTHS ago.... Then you can start gathering the AOS paperwork... unless you've done that WEEKS ago! Then you're just SOL.... or is that just me.

[laura819 0]

I really feel for those who are still waiting...just try to be patient, and the best thing you can do is start getting the papers and evidence ready for packet 3 and your interview, that way there are minimal delays between the next steps!

Unless you've done that MONTHS ago.... Then you can start gathering the AOS paperwork... unless you've done that WEEKS ago! Then you're just SOL.... or is that just me.

wow you are really on top of things! good for you! ummm then you could.....get the stuff together for lifting conditions? hahaha i dont know...you are awesome lol.

and if it makes you guys from VSC feel better....CSC has been approving a lot less than VSC most weeks recently...

[Victor&Cory 1]

You know what really bugs me? After all the procedures are done it takes one human to decide if you and your loved one can be together or not. The procedure we can take it even as long as it is, but that after all waiting one person has the final decision it really hits my mind in a bad way. hehehe.

PEACE and a speedy journey to you all............

[Danu 19]

I really feel for those who are still waiting...just try to be patient, and the best thing you can do is start getting the papers and evidence ready for packet 3 and your interview, that way there are minimal delays between the next steps!

Unless you've done that MONTHS ago.... Then you can start gathering the AOS paperwork... unless you've done that WEEKS ago! Then you're just SOL.... or is that just me.

Or me. I've had all my AOS paperwork ready to go since about 2 weeks after we filed. I had all the consulate stuff ready to go before we filed lol.

[scandal 951]

Does anyone know if a lawyer is supposed to help speed things up?

Several friends Ihave talked to say that my lawyer is supposed to be doing more to help me, not just by sending in the application. My dad called the lawyers office(it is a friend of his) and asked and she said no.

common sense tellls me that if that were true(a lawyer doing something to speedthings up) then everyone would be doing it or getting faster approvals

I guess i would like to know if I should stay with who I'm with(lawyer) or try someone else that friends are telling me about.

uuuuggghhh, the STRESS

A lawyer cannot speed up the process. I will not advise you to keep your lawyer, change to a different one, or dump the lawyers and do it yourself.

If you feel you are getting value from a lawyer, than by all means stay with him/her.

But they will not get USCIS, or NVC, or the embassy, to process things one iota faster than if you file the paperwork yourself, assuming you are competent and can follow instructions and fill in the paperwork correctly. In fact, if anything, a lawyer will only slow it down since they need to get the information and documentation from you and then assemble and file it. All you've done is add an (expensive) step to the process.

Now, the above is NOT true for unusual or complex cases. If you need to file a waiver for example, a lawyer may be helpful. For a standard visa application they don't add much if any value.

As to timelines, some on this thread are wondering how long things will take... I can only tell you that there are people who are in the 6+ month club, meaning they have waited more than half a year from NOA1 to NOA2. There is even a 1 year club

And keep in mind that even you get your NOA2 you are not done by any means. You have to get through NVC and your consulate processing.

Our NOA1-NOA2 took 4.5 months (Sep 5- Jan14). But we have now been out of NOA2 for the same length of time, and still don't have our interview scheduled! We are a routine case. Nothing bizarre. No waivers, no RFEs. We simply got stuck in random administrative processing AP at NVC for 7 weeks. And now the embassy (Bangkok, in our case) is sitting on files for weeks on end without scheduling interviews. So here we are 9 months since we filed our I-129F and no end in sight yet.

Patience, everyone. You will need lots of it to survive to the end.

Good luck all!

[BunzTheMagicSnail 2]

apparently every year at this time USCIS begins to process H-1B petitions as a prority over k visas

This is from their web site...

USCIS Updates Information on FY2010 H-1B Petition Filings

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced information on the number of filings for H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2010 program.

USCIS has received approximately 45,500 H-1B petitions counting toward the Congressionally-mandated 65,000 cap. The agency continues to accept petitions subject to the general cap.

Additionally, the agency has received approximately 20,000 petitions for aliens with advanced degrees; however, we continue to accept advanced degree petitions since experience has shown that not all petitions received are approvable. Congress mandated that the first 20,000 of these types of petitions are exempt from any fiscal year cap on available H-1B visas.

For cases filed for premium processing during the initial five-day filing window, the 15-day premium processing period began April 7. For cases filed for premium processing after the filing window, the premium processing period begins on the date USCIS takes physical possession of the petition.

USCIS will provide regular updates on the processing of FY2010 H-1B petitions. The updates can be found on the USCIS Web site at www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count.

related Files

USCIS Updates Information on FY2010 H-1B Petition Filings (26KB PDF)

now my question is how long does it take them to process 65000 applications?

[Shad and Dani 3]

Sitting here not being able to do anything is the worst. We are in the same boat as you because we filed about 2 days before. I'm actually looking forward to taking action if we don't get the NOA2 by July 6th.

[NatPatBen 3]

Sitting here not being able to do anything is the worst. We are in the same boat as you because we filed about 2 days before. I'm actually looking forward to taking action if we don't get the NOA2 by July 6th.

You're looking forward to it??

What you could do in advance is find your Senators' and/or congressman's websites and download whatever forms they require you to fill out to request their assistance. That way, if you reach the point where you want to contact them, you can have everything already ready to fax.

[DaleandPat 0]

I find it quite unusual that nothing has happened there regarding K-1's for about a week now. I know we only have a small portion of the applications that come in but my fiancee is actually having a nervous breakdown about the uncertainty about it all. We submitted our's on the 13th and haven't heard yet and its becoming increasingly frustrating that couples (I Know its not there fault and I'm happy they've heard something) almost a month after ours have heard. Has anyone any information and idea on why it has suddenly seemed to of stopped after a lot being done at the end of last and start of this month?

Good luck to anyone facing the same problems as ours....

In addition to the H-B1 visas I noticed there was a new office opended to for processing foreign immigration from I believe Mexico. Maybe that will help take the load so the K1s will start flowing again. My K1 petition was was received by the CSC on May 1st and updated on May 4th, but no more action yet. I wonder how far after 90 days it will be before we start seeing the NOA2s. Good luck.

[T0dd&Chr1ssy 0]

Well I'm guessing, by guessing I mean working out on the average number of H-1's being processed so far compared to how many weeks they've been going so far, its going to be at least 2-3 weeks before they fully return to K-1 mode as we know it. I really really hope I'm wrong though

[R&AINC 1]

Does anyone know if a lawyer is supposed to help speed things up?

Several friends Ihave talked to say that my lawyer is supposed to be doing more to help me, not just by sending in the application. My dad called the lawyers office(it is a friend of his) and asked and she said no.

common sense tellls me that if that were true(a lawyer doing something to speedthings up) then everyone would be doing it or getting faster approvals

I guess i would like to know if I should stay with who I'm with(lawyer) or try someone else that friends are telling me about.

uuuuggghhh, the STRESS

A lawyer cannot speed up the process. I will not advise you to keep your lawyer, change to a different one, or dump the lawyers and do it yourself.

If you feel you are getting value from a lawyer, than by all means stay with him/her.

But they will not get USCIS, or NVC, or the embassy, to process things one iota faster than if you file the paperwork yourself, assuming you are competent and can follow instructions and fill in the paperwork correctly. In fact, if anything, a lawyer will only slow it down since they need to get the information and documentation from you and then assemble and file it. All you've done is add an (expensive) step to the process.

Now, the above is NOT true for unusual or complex cases. If you need to file a waiver for example, a lawyer may be helpful. For a standard visa application they don't add much if any value.

As to timelines, some on this thread are wondering how long things will take... I can only tell you that there are people who are in the 6+ month club, meaning they have waited more than half a year from NOA1 to NOA2. There is even a 1 year club

And keep in mind that even you get your NOA2 you are not done by any means. You have to get through NVC and your consulate processing.

Our NOA1-NOA2 took 4.5 months (Sep 5- Jan14). But we have now been out of NOA2 for the same length of time, and still don't have our interview scheduled! We are a routine case. Nothing bizarre. No waivers, no RFEs. We simply got stuck in random administrative processing AP at NVC for 7 weeks. And now the embassy (Bangkok, in our case) is sitting on files for weeks on end without scheduling interviews. So here we are 9 months since we filed our I-129F and no end in sight yet.

Patience, everyone. You will need lots of it to survive to the end.

Good luck all!

Hi, I saw somewhere that you can request the embassy to open a provisional file after the NOA2 is received. Would this speed the process at all? Did you try this?

[delci06 0]

Does anyone know if a lawyer is supposed to help speed things up?

Several friends Ihave talked to say that my lawyer is supposed to be doing more to help me, not just by sending in the application. My dad called the lawyers office(it is a friend of his) and asked and she said no.

common sense tellls me that if that were true(a lawyer doing something to speedthings up) then everyone would be doing it or getting faster approvals

I guess i would like to know if I should stay with who I'm with(lawyer) or try someone else that friends are telling me about.

uuuuggghhh, the STRESS

A lawyer cannot speed up the process. I will not advise you to keep your lawyer, change to a different one, or dump the lawyers and do it yourself.

If you feel you are getting value from a lawyer, than by all means stay with him/her.

But they will not get USCIS, or NVC, or the embassy, to process things one iota faster than if you file the paperwork yourself, assuming you are competent and can follow instructions and fill in the paperwork correctly. In fact, if anything, a lawyer will only slow it down since they need to get the information and documentation from you and then assemble and file it. All you've done is add an (expensive) step to the process.

Now, the above is NOT true for unusual or complex cases. If you need to file a waiver for example, a lawyer may be helpful. For a standard visa application they don't add much if any value.

As to timelines, some on this thread are wondering how long things will take... I can only tell you that there are people who are in the 6+ month club, meaning they have waited more than half a year from NOA1 to NOA2. There is even a 1 year club

And keep in mind that even you get your NOA2 you are not done by any means. You have to get through NVC and your consulate processing.

Our NOA1-NOA2 took 4.5 months (Sep 5- Jan14). But we have now been out of NOA2 for the same length of time, and still don't have our interview scheduled! We are a routine case. Nothing bizarre. No waivers, no RFEs. We simply got stuck in random administrative processing AP at NVC for 7 weeks. And now the embassy (Bangkok, in our case) is sitting on files for weeks on end without scheduling interviews. So here we are 9 months since we filed our I-129F and no end in sight yet.

Patience, everyone. You will need lots of it to survive to the end.

Good luck all!

Oh wow, thanks for the advice. I guess I haven't really looked at anything except for info on Feb/March K1 filers. I had no idea there were people waiting that long, or that it could take that long to get an interview.

Thanks a million

[delci06 0]

Does anyone know if a lawyer is supposed to help speed things up?

Several friends Ihave talked to say that my lawyer is supposed to be doing more to help me, not just by sending in the application. My dad called the lawyers office(it is a friend of his) and asked and she said no.

common sense tellls me that if that were true(a lawyer doing something to speedthings up) then everyone would be doing it or getting faster approvals

I guess i would like to know if I should stay with who I'm with(lawyer) or try someone else that friends are telling me about.

uuuuggghhh, the STRESS

A lawyer cannot speed up the process. I will not advise you to keep your lawyer, change to a different one, or dump the lawyers and do it yourself.

If you feel you are getting value from a lawyer, than by all means stay with him/her.

But they will not get USCIS, or NVC, or the embassy, to process things one iota faster than if you file the paperwork yourself, assuming you are competent and can follow instructions and fill in the paperwork correctly. In fact, if anything, a lawyer will only slow it down since they need to get the information and documentation from you and then assemble and file it. All you've done is add an (expensive) step to the process.

Now, the above is NOT true for unusual or complex cases. If you need to file a waiver for example, a lawyer may be helpful. For a standard visa application they don't add much if any value.

As to timelines, some on this thread are wondering how long things will take... I can only tell you that there are people who are in the 6+ month club, meaning they have waited more than half a year from NOA1 to NOA2. There is even a 1 year club

And keep in mind that even you get your NOA2 you are not done by any means. You have to get through NVC and your consulate processing.

Our NOA1-NOA2 took 4.5 months (Sep 5- Jan14). But we have now been out of NOA2 for the same length of time, and still don't have our interview scheduled! We are a routine case. Nothing bizarre. No waivers, no RFEs. We simply got stuck in random administrative processing AP at NVC for 7 weeks. And now the embassy (Bangkok, in our case) is sitting on files for weeks on end without scheduling interviews. So here we are 9 months since we filed our I-129F and no end in sight yet.

Patience, everyone. You will need lots of it to survive to the end.

Good luck all!

Hi, I saw somewhere that you can request the embassy to open a provisional file after the NOA2 is received. Would this speed the process at all? Did you try this?

What is a provisional file?

I've already called to see if they could expedite the case b/c of all the kidnappings and killings going on in his town. The reason is b/c our 10 month old daughter is with him b/c I am having to work 2 full time jobs and can't take care of her right now. They denied it

Edited May 29, 2009 by delci06

[kcrand 0]

contrat's to 4 lucky couples.

I guess VSC did work last week!

[NatPatBen 3]

contrat's to 4 lucky couples.

I guess VSC did work last week!

I think the reason we went so long without seeing anything is because USCIS has not been updating the website or sending out emails with NOA2. So people aren't knowing that they get approved until they get a letter in the mail a week or two after the fact.