Dear Canada!

[lgg 2]

hello fellow canucks...

So, I'm sitting around reading the forums, waiting for our NOA2 to get here. Oh my gosh, the waiting is deadly! I waver between zen cool and freak-out mania!

My question to you all is this... as we're all the beneficiary, did any of you call the USCIS yourselves? My husband, the USC, has done it a couple of times to no avail but... I have infinite patience over him and would really love to do it myself but as I'm Canada, I cannot.

So, any of you other Canadians venture to try? IF so, how? When I was in the US last week or so, I called again (fruitless I tell you!) but the odd thing was, I told them that I was the beneficiary but whomever I spoke to allowed me to carry on with my query. I guess the person on the other end of the phone already knew that they weren't going to give me anything work with so...

Just wondering -- the waiting is so damn difficult sometimes... i just feel like if I could call and egg them on a bit with our file, maybe we could even get someone to look at it as it appears to not have even been touched at all.

Thanks all...

LGG

[trailmix 77]

I didn't call them about our I-130 - but the wait times were not as long at that point. There is no reason why you can't call - don't know that it will help at all.

[lgg 2]

Wait times weren't that long at that point eh? You got approved in 80 days! I'd have been thrilled with that. I can't call actually - the number they provide only works within the USA...

I guess i'm just trying to see if perhaps I can incite some action on our petition as it seems to be doing nothing at all. No touches on line, no emails, nothing. I'm not loving the feeling of not being able to find out anything.

But thanks TM... your words are always really good.

Later...

LGG

I didn't call them about our I-130 - but the wait times were not as long at that point. There is no reason why you can't call - don't know that it will help at all.

[brocku00 1]

I didn't call them about our I-130 - but the wait times were not as long at that point. There is no reason why you can't call - don't know that it will help at all.

Your situation seems very similar to mine when I was in that stage. My husband was in the states and I was in Canada and of coarse you can't dial that 1 800 number from up here. Well....my husband does not like to phone people and wasn't too 'rushed' to call for me, so I drove to the border (buffalo) went to the nearest phone booth and called (I was in a very loud grocery store!!) I got to speak to someone but in order for me to get any answers or to put in a request to find out what's happening (since it had been longer than so many weeks since any contact with NCIS), they required my husband...the American...to call. So my whole trip to the states was a waste. So then, I had my husband call me on the cell phone while he was at the pay phone, he called them, and requested info, they said we will be contacted within 60 days about our inquiry.....5 days later I got my approval!!! So, if it's been a long time (not sure of exact time lapse) since they contacted you last, your spouse can call from US to request an inquiry. But GOOD LUCK and hope it gets to you soon.

[trailmix 77]

Oh right, I see your point about not being able to call from Canada. When I was documenting my U.S. citizenship I called them a lot. The way I did it was my Sister lives in the U.S. and has 3 way calling - so we would get USCIS on a 3 way call.

I have also heard of others that use Skype.

[JillA 2]

I didn't call them about our I-130 - but the wait times were not as long at that point. There is no reason why you can't call - don't know that it will help at all.

Your situation seems very similar to mine when I was in that stage. My husband was in the states and I was in Canada and of coarse you can't dial that 1 800 number from up here. Well....my husband does not like to phone people and wasn't too 'rushed' to call for me, so I drove to the border (buffalo) went to the nearest phone booth and called (I was in a very loud grocery store!!) I got to speak to someone but in order for me to get any answers or to put in a request to find out what's happening (since it had been longer than so many weeks since any contact with NCIS), they required my husband...the American...to call. So my whole trip to the states was a waste. So then, I had my husband call me on the cell phone while he was at the pay phone, he called them, and requested info, they said we will be contacted within 60 days about our inquiry.....5 days later I got my approval!!! So, if it's been a long time (not sure of exact time lapse) since they contacted you last, your spouse can call from US to request an inquiry. But GOOD LUCK and hope it gets to you soon.

Oh gosh... you drove to Buffalo to use the pay phone! Did you tell the border guards when they asked the purpose of your trip: "I need to use the phone"

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Well, I know the USCIS is likely different, but while I was waiting for an interview in Montreal I called DOS myself and stated I was the Canadian beneficiary. They never had an issue with that. However, when I called their computers were down and she said she could only call me back if I was calling from the US. Funny thing, when my fiance called 2 minutes later they gave him the info. I don't know if they computers were really down or if she was just being mean!

I was never antsy waiting for the NOA2... Probably because I didn't realize the long process that we had to go through after that point.

[lgg 2]

OH man, that is funny and endearing! Sometimes I feel like damnit, I just should go across the border to call! Our husband's sound alike in that regard, BTW; he hates the phone and hates calling bureaucratic offices even more and I don't blame him. He has called and would if I wanted him to but I'd rather do it and as well, I can finagle my way into some information better and more patiently than he can!

I won't be driving to the US but I think I might try Skype and it's been 3 months which I know is not that long but it just sucks not knowing anything about our case. For all the other papers, events and such I was able to 'babysit' the process from where I was and call and inform myself and such but in this case, I can't. It's not like I want/expect preferential expedient service because it's ME, I just would like to know what the situation is and where we stand. That's all.

But thanks a lot you guys for letting me rant and telling me your similar tales and such, it makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only person out there fretting about a situation.

Best of luck to anyone who's still waiting and thanks and regards to all who have completed and took the time to answer my rant/query.

Much appreciated,

LGG

I didn't call them about our I-130 - but the wait times were not as long at that point. There is no reason why you can't call - don't know that it will help at all.

Your situation seems very similar to mine when I was in that stage. My husband was in the states and I was in Canada and of coarse you can't dial that 1 800 number from up here. Well....my husband does not like to phone people and wasn't too 'rushed' to call for me, so I drove to the border (buffalo) went to the nearest phone booth and called (I was in a very loud grocery store!!) I got to speak to someone but in order for me to get any answers or to put in a request to find out what's happening (since it had been longer than so many weeks since any contact with NCIS), they required my husband...the American...to call. So my whole trip to the states was a waste. So then, I had my husband call me on the cell phone while he was at the pay phone, he called them, and requested info, they said we will be contacted within 60 days about our inquiry.....5 days later I got my approval!!! So, if it's been a long time (not sure of exact time lapse) since they contacted you last, your spouse can call from US to request an inquiry. But GOOD LUCK and hope it gets to you soon.

Oh gosh... you drove to Buffalo to use the pay phone! Did you tell the border guards when they asked the purpose of your trip: "I need to use the phone"