What are my options for tracking where my K3 case (couldnt find this in the FAQ)

[hobokenworkingman 4]

I got married to my wife in India in September and immediatley filed for her I-130 and I-129F in October (I-130 NOA1 receive Oct 13th 2009 and I-129F NOA1 I-797C receive date3 Oct 23rd 2009). It has been over 2 months now and have not heard anything back. it went to the california service center in laguna miguel. the USCIS website says initial review pending, which is absolutely useless. The other USCIS website says that October applications are being processed (3154 or so completed etc etc, so I'm guessing that they are processing october applications) (http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=6&office=2&charttype=1). This has been the case for the last month ie, when i checked in december, it showed the same data on october 2009 cases.

me and my wife are going crazy tryng to figure out exactly where our case status is. According to the visajourney.com K3 timelines, it said 82 days from NOA1 to NOA2 and that october 15th apps were being processed. however, today it was updated and changed to 98 days from NOA1 to 2 and that october 2nd apps were being processed. yesterday it was 113 days. is there anyway to find out exactly???? can i call up the california service center? is there a legal or immigration service that can help me??? just want to find out where the case status is. has it even been touched, for example, are the kind of questions i want to know.

can anyone help or please point me in the right direction. it has been incredibly frustrating not even knowing if your application has even been gotten to. the case status website is useless, as it has no other details. i signed up for email and text alerts and it didnt even alert me when my i-130 got updated on the 27th due to the filing of the i-129f; so these sites dont really work.

when i called up the 800 # and talked to a human there on Oct 22nd, they didnt know if they had received the i-129f that i had sent just a few days ago. and then i ended up recieving the i-797c for the i-129f that very same day in the mail 5 min later when i checkd the mail. so it is apparent these guys dont talk to each other. someone has to know the proper info. can anyone shed some light on this? are there any lawyers that can help? thanks so much - this has just been very frustrating...

[pushbrk 13,043]

I got married to my wife in India in September and immediatley filed for her I-130 and I-129F in October (I-130 NOA1 receive Oct 13th 2009 and I-129F NOA1 I-797C receive date3 Oct 23rd 2009). It has been over 2 months now and have not heard anything back. it went to the california service center in laguna miguel. the USCIS website says initial review pending, which is absolutely useless. The other USCIS website says that October applications are being processed (3154 or so completed etc etc, so I'm guessing that they are processing october applications) (http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=6&office=2&charttype=1). This has been the case for the last month ie, when i checked in december, it showed the same data on october 2009 cases.

me and my wife are going crazy tryng to figure out exactly where our case status is. According to the visajourney.com K3 timelines, it said 82 days from NOA1 to NOA2 and that october 15th apps were being processed. however, today it was updated and changed to 98 days from NOA1 to 2 and that october 2nd apps were being processed. yesterday it was 113 days. is there anyway to find out exactly???? can i call up the california service center? is there a legal or immigration service that can help me??? just want to find out where the case status is. has it even been touched, for example, are the kind of questions i want to know.

can anyone help or please point me in the right direction. it has been incredibly frustrating not even knowing if your application has even been gotten to. the case status website is useless, as it has no other details. i signed up for email and text alerts and it didnt even alert me when my i-130 got updated on the 27th due to the filing of the i-129f; so these sites dont really work.

when i called up the 800 # and talked to a human there on Oct 22nd, they didnt know if they had received the i-129f that i had sent just a few days ago. and then i ended up recieving the i-797c for the i-129f that very same day in the mail 5 min later when i checkd the mail. so it is apparent these guys dont talk to each other. someone has to know the proper info. can anyone shed some light on this? are there any lawyers that can help? thanks so much - this has just been very frustrating...

Filing to petition approval is a black hole. Once the petitions are approved, NVC and DOS have information lines you can contact for status.

[Christi and Ian 24]

It's like you read my mind & posted it....we're going through the same thing right now & it's so frustrating not knowing - we're also October K-3 filers...

As far as the "touches", that should show on the USCIS website when you enter your receipt # - it's just when last date changes without anything actually moving forward on the case. In our case it was October 26th - which means, in my mind, that it's been sitting under a pile of paperwork, empty packages of potato chips, candy wrappers and a half drunk Diet Coke for the last 2 months...

Hang in there! xxx

[hobokenworkingman 4]

It's like you read my mind & posted it....we're going through the same thing right now & it's so frustrating not knowing - we're also October K-3 filers...

As far as the "touches", that should show on the USCIS website when you enter your receipt # - it's just when last date changes without anything actually moving forward on the case. In our case it was October 26th - which means, in my mind, that it's been sitting under a pile of paperwork, empty packages of potato chips, candy wrappers and a half drunk Diet Coke for the last 2 months...

Hang in there! xxx

Wow! that is like reading your mind! I like your sig too - yeah the K3 is not about the money, its about the time. Although I'm not sure that it is any faster than the I-130 ((processing time for both I-130 and 129F is 5 months according to the USCIS website) . Anyway what does "touched" mean? Interesting our times also kinda coincide - we got married Sept 2nd, sent the I-130 to the CSC on Oct 6th and have a NOA1 date of Oct 13. Then sent in the K3 129F application and have a NOA1 date of Oct 22nd. The I-130 got updated on Oct 27th (touched ???) according to the case status website. So far its been ~ 79 days...Christi and Ian, we should stay in touch, as if you get your approval, then that may be some indication that mine might also get approved soon (or at least looked at, at the very least!). My email address is saipiyer@yahoo.com. Question - are you and your wife currently physically together? I'm in the US and my wife is in India, which of course makes this a torturous ordeal...

I briefly consulted an immigration lawyer today and asked him all the same questions as the original post. He knew even less! Although the one thing he did say was that K3 visas dont go thru the NVC and directly go to the consulate wherever the interview will be. So I dont know if that is true or not, but it has no bearing on the issue. He did say that it used to take 8-10 months before to get a K3, but nowadays its takes ~ 4 months (to 6 months) and seemed confident that my wife would be here in about 6 months (4 for USCIS approval and 2 months for consulate process). If he is in the ballpark, then that would give some credence to the 98 days that the K3 timeline website (as of today; who knows what it'll say tomorrow - would sure like to know how that page is updated).

[pushbrk 13,043]

Wow! that is like reading your mind! I like your sig too - yeah the K3 is not about the money, its about the time. Although I'm not sure that it is any faster than the I-130 ((processing time for both I-130 and 129F is 5 months according to the USCIS website) . Anyway what does "touched" mean? Interesting our times also kinda coincide - we got married Sept 2nd, sent the I-130 to the CSC on Oct 6th and have a NOA1 date of Oct 13. Then sent in the K3 129F application and have a NOA1 date of Oct 22nd. The I-130 got updated on Oct 27th (touched ???) according to the case status website. So far its been ~ 79 days...Christi and Ian, we should stay in touch, as if you get your approval, then that may be some indication that mine might also get approved soon (or at least looked at, at the very least!). My email address is saipiyer@yahoo.com. Question - are you and your wife currently physically together? I'm in the US and my wife is in India, which of course makes this a torturous ordeal...

I briefly consulted an immigration lawyer today and asked him all the same questions as the original post. He knew even less! Although the one thing he did say was that K3 visas dont go thru the NVC and directly go to the consulate wherever the interview will be. So I dont know if that is true or not, but it has no bearing on the issue. He did say that it used to take 8-10 months before to get a K3, but nowadays its takes ~ 4 months (to 6 months) and seemed confident that my wife would be here in about 6 months (4 for USCIS approval and 2 months for consulate process). If he is in the ballpark, then that would give some credence to the 98 days that the K3 timeline website (as of today; who knows what it'll say tomorrow - would sure like to know how that page is updated).

All petition based visa cases pass through NVC but the K cases almost always pass through within a week or two.

[Christi and Ian 24]

Wow! that is like reading your mind! I like your sig too - yeah the K3 is not about the money, its about the time. Although I'm not sure that it is any faster than the I-130 ((processing time for both I-130 and 129F is 5 months according to the USCIS website) . Anyway what does "touched" mean? Interesting our times also kinda coincide - we got married Sept 2nd, sent the I-130 to the CSC on Oct 6th and have a NOA1 date of Oct 13. Then sent in the K3 129F application and have a NOA1 date of Oct 22nd. The I-130 got updated on Oct 27th (touched ???) according to the case status website. So far its been ~ 79 days...Christi and Ian, we should stay in touch, as if you get your approval, then that may be some indication that mine might also get approved soon (or at least looked at, at the very least!). My email address is saipiyer@yahoo.com. Question - are you and your wife currently physically together? I'm in the US and my wife is in India, which of course makes this a torturous ordeal...

I briefly consulted an immigration lawyer today and asked him all the same questions as the original post. He knew even less! Although the one thing he did say was that K3 visas dont go thru the NVC and directly go to the consulate wherever the interview will be. So I dont know if that is true or not, but it has no bearing on the issue. He did say that it used to take 8-10 months before to get a K3, but nowadays its takes ~ 4 months (to 6 months) and seemed confident that my wife would be here in about 6 months (4 for USCIS approval and 2 months for consulate process). If he is in the ballpark, then that would give some credence to the 98 days that the K3 timeline website (as of today; who knows what it'll say tomorrow - would sure like to know how that page is updated).

The "touches" don't really mean much of anything, other than, from what I can gather, they put your case in the computer for a moment, and then moved on...it looks like on our last "touch" they were just marrying the I-130 & the I-129F cases together so that they will move on in the process together.

Based on what I've read, and other's timelines, I'm confident that we'll see an approval date sometime w/in the next 30 days, and I'm sure you will too, provided they don't ask for the kitchen sink, which I wouldn't put past them. The complete lack of information is extremely frustrating - it's easier to wait when you at least know WHERE in the process you stand.

My hubby is currently still in the U.K. and chomping at the bit to get back, and I'm nearly insane with the waiting. Once we hit NVC things will start moving quicker & I'm holding onto the fact that the information black hole will be somewhat relieved.

I'll send a friend request to you - you're right - it's ever so much easier when you've got someone to go through the process with - and our timelines are so similar - let's hope for a miracle!

A friend of mine, who brought his wife over from the Phillipenes mentioned that the process may take even longer now, since the attempted bombing of the plane to Chicago...I don't know if that will affect our cases or not, but I'm crossing my fingers that our case, and yours, will make it through soon!!

BTW, keep checking your mailbox - I've read about a few cases where the NOA2 is received in the mail without the case ever being moved out of the initial stages on the website - and, like you, I've never received a single case update via email from the USCIS website...

Here's to you & your journey - may we all get through and be with our loved ones ASAP!!

[BRB 6]

How long it takes depends on the country also. You should get a K3 visa about 2 mos sooner than the CR1 if my experience is anything to go by but these times change depending how busy they are. You will have more do do once the K3 is approved and she is in the US but she will be here a little faster. I could of had the K3 in 5 mos or so but waited for the CR1 that took 7 mos. I did not fool around and sent paperwork as soon as I could and did not have any RFEs. Good luck!

[hobokenworkingman 4]

The "touches" don't really mean much of anything, other than, from what I can gather, they put your case in the computer for a moment, and then moved on...it looks like on our last "touch" they were just marrying the I-130 & the I-129F cases together so that they will move on in the process together.

Based on what I've read, and other's timelines, I'm confident that we'll see an approval date sometime w/in the next 30 days, and I'm sure you will too, provided they don't ask for the kitchen sink, which I wouldn't put past them. The complete lack of information is extremely frustrating - it's easier to wait when you at least know WHERE in the process you stand.

My hubby is currently still in the U.K. and chomping at the bit to get back, and I'm nearly insane with the waiting. Once we hit NVC things will start moving quicker & I'm holding onto the fact that the information black hole will be somewhat relieved.

I'll send a friend request to you - you're right - it's ever so much easier when you've got someone to go through the process with - and our timelines are so similar - let's hope for a miracle!

A friend of mine, who brought his wife over from the Phillipenes mentioned that the process may take even longer now, since the attempted bombing of the plane to Chicago...I don't know if that will affect our cases or not, but I'm crossing my fingers that our case, and yours, will make it through soon!!

BTW, keep checking your mailbox - I've read about a few cases where the NOA2 is received in the mail without the case ever being moved out of the initial stages on the website - and, like you, I've never received a single case update via email from the USCIS website...

Here's to you & your journey - may we all get through and be with our loved ones ASAP!!

Exactly. That's what I've been telling my wife too. The timelines have been fluctuating b/w 82 to 116 or so days according to the K3 processing timelines page on VJ. so I figure that end of month is when I expect to hear something too. You're absolutely right about knowing where you stand - at leasst you can plan on something.

Your husband (assuming he is a UK citizen) should be able to come and go as he pleases, as you dont need a passport to visit the states if you're EU or british citizen. Unless there's some special reason...

beleieve me, i check the mail everyday. after my experience with the 129f NOA1 where I talked to some daft USCIS idiot who didnt have a clue as to where my case was only to find the 797C NOA1 in the mail just 5 min later, I know better than to rely on the websites...

Yeah, seriously the best of luck to you as well (and me!). I added you in as a friend, but for some reason it hasnt updated my friends list. Anyway, please do email me at saipiyer@yahoo.com and stay in touch...

[Christi and Ian 24]

Exactly. That's what I've been telling my wife too. The timelines have been fluctuating b/w 82 to 116 or so days according to the K3 processing timelines page on VJ. so I figure that end of month is when I expect to hear something too. You're absolutely right about knowing where you stand - at leasst you can plan on something.

Your husband (assuming he is a UK citizen) should be able to come and go as he pleases, as you dont need a passport to visit the states if you're EU or british citizen. Unless there's some special reason...

beleieve me, i check the mail everyday. after my experience with the 129f NOA1 where I talked to some daft USCIS idiot who didnt have a clue as to where my case was only to find the 797C NOA1 in the mail just 5 min later, I know better than to rely on the websites...

Yeah, seriously the best of luck to you as well (and me!). I added you in as a friend, but for some reason it hasnt updated my friends list. Anyway, please do email me at saipiyer@yahoo.com and stay in touch...

Oh yes, you do have to have a passport, however he has always visited using the Visa Waiver program. He's still eligible to visit on the Visa Waiver, however we've been advised that it would be a waste of a ticket. The Border Agent has the power to turn him away at the Port of Entry, and we've been told that he most likely would be, once the Agent realized he was married to a US Citizen and attempting to gain residency in the U.S., even if we show we're trying to do it legitimately. You just never know - you get an ####### retentive agent, and you're out $1,000 for a plane ticket.

Also, it would be very inconvenient if we were to get approved, get through NVC, get a packet from the U.K. embassy and then have to scramble to get him a plane ticket back so he can be there for an interview.

In the mean time, we use Skype on our computers and our iPods to stay in touch as much as possible. I just got back from the U.K. this last Sunday where I spent 2 weeks with him and his family - so now of course, the missing him feeling is quite acute at the moment. I will feel so much better once I can actually see some progress on our case.

[hobokenworkingman 4]

Oh yes, you do have to have a passport, however he has always visited using the Visa Waiver program. He's still eligible to visit on the Visa Waiver, however we've been advised that it would be a waste of a ticket. The Border Agent has the power to turn him away at the Port of Entry, and we've been told that he most likely would be, once the Agent realized he was married to a US Citizen and attempting to gain residency in the U.S., even if we show we're trying to do it legitimately. You just never know - you get an ####### retentive agent, and you're out $1,000 for a plane ticket.

Also, it would be very inconvenient if we were to get approved, get through NVC, get a packet from the U.K. embassy and then have to scramble to get him a plane ticket back so he can be there for an interview.

In the mean time, we use Skype on our computers and our iPods to stay in touch as much as possible. I just got back from the U.K. this last Sunday where I spent 2 weeks with him and his family - so now of course, the missing him feeling is quite acute at the moment. I will feel so much better once I can actually see some progress on our case.

Sorry I meant not needing a visa for the US; you definitely need a passport to go anywhere that's for sure! I didnt realize that even under the VWP, you can get turned away even if a UK citizen. My understanding was that folks from the EU and UK pretty much had carte blanche in terms of entry into the US. hell that's the 1 thing I'm always happy about whenever I go to Europe - the ability to just pretty much walk into any country I want with my US passport. I guess it may not be all that easy and straightforward after all. at least the nice thing is that you, as a US citizen can visit him whenever you want (funds and time permitting, of course) making weekend trips possible if you're in the east coast. a night flight from JFK to London is 6 hrs; leave on friday nite, spend the w/e and back on Sunday PM - of course, this is assuming you're in New York...unfortunately the trip to India is 16-18 hrs of fliying time, with the 10.5 hrs time ahead. Cant really do weekend trips...

I tried to set my wife up with the whole skype/webcam thing. she didnt want to go for it saying that it would hurt even more, being able to see, but not touch me. Guess I can echo her feelings on that to some level...

Yeah same here - need to see progress asap!!!!