Need help

[Vera & Levi 0]

Hi Everyone!

Our application has been submitted to USCIS in Vermont on 18th March 2010. In two weeks pretty much we will be in 5 months range that it usually takes for them to process applications. Online it says that the last time our application has been touched on 23rd March 2010 and since then nothing. If we won't hear anything until 18th August 2010, how should we process further? If application has not been approved or denied within 5 months, what does this mean?

Thank you very much for everyone's input in this! We are very worried and this uncertainty just kills.

Vera & Levi

[canadian_wife 1,829]

It doesn't mean anything if your petition hasn't been approved. It just means that they haven't gotten around to it yet

If at 5 months (and the website is still stating processing times at 5 months - because they do change) then call USCIS and call your congressman/senator

Good luck

[Kaiser 0]

Hi Everyone!

Our application has been submitted to USCIS in Vermont on 18th March 2010. In two weeks pretty much we will be in 5 months range that it usually takes for them to process applications. Online it says that the last time our application has been touched on 23rd March 2010 and since then nothing. If we won't hear anything until 18th August 2010, how should we process further? If application has not been approved or denied within 5 months, what does this mean?

Thank you very much for everyone's input in this! We are very worried and this uncertainty just kills.

Vera & Levi

My K-1 was submitted and updated on the exact same dates as yours and I am still waiting as well. I realize that fact doesn't help you, but for me at least I feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one waiting so long. I'm getting ready to call on the 18th. One question since our cases are so similar time-wise: did you get an NOA1 in the mail? I never got one, but they eventually did send me a receipt number in another correspondence.

Kaiser

[Vera & Levi 0]

My K-1 was submitted and updated on the exact same dates as yours and I am still waiting as well. I realize that fact doesn't help you, but for me at least I feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one waiting so long. I'm getting ready to call on the 18th. One question since our cases are so similar time-wise: did you get an NOA1 in the mail? I never got one, but they eventually did send me a receipt number in another correspondence.

Kaiser

It actually helps me too to know that we are not the only one who are waiting for such a long time. We hired lawyer to do this process. He sent us receipt number and I am not sure if we actually got NOA1, since all the correspondence goes directly to him. He told us that if we will inquire about our case, it usually takes USCIS for a month to respond. But it may even delay the decision making because they will be taking this case file from someone's drawer and yada yada. So, we are also waiting until the 18th, but praying that we will hear something before that. We still have somewhat 2 weeks. So hopefully you and us will hear something good soon.

[Kaiser 0]

It actually helps me too to know that we are not the only one who are waiting for such a long time. We hired lawyer to do this process. He sent us receipt number and I am not sure if we actually got NOA1, since all the correspondence goes directly to him. He told us that if we will inquire about our case, it usually takes USCIS for a month to respond. But it may even delay the decision making because they will be taking this case file from someone's drawer and yada yada. So, we are also waiting until the 18th, but praying that we will hear something before that. We still have somewhat 2 weeks. So hopefully you and us will hear something good soon.

A few of the cases I have seen that take a long time for the NOA2 have lawyers attached to them (like mine does - I needed some help with the paperwork overseas). I would never assume the USCIS slow rolls cases when a lawyer is hired, but it is an interesting theory. Maybe I should start a poll or something.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi Everyone!

Our application has been submitted to USCIS in Vermont on 18th March 2010. In two weeks pretty much we will be in 5 months range that it usually takes for them to process applications. Online it says that the last time our application has been touched on 23rd March 2010 and since then nothing. If we won't hear anything until 18th August 2010, how should we process further? If application has not been approved or denied within 5 months, what does this mean?

Thank you very much for everyone's input in this! We are very worried and this uncertainty just kills.

Vera & Levi

It means they haven't done it yet. It means you should wait until 6 months. Then contact your Senator. Calling USCIS is always useless.

[Vera & Levi 0]

A few of the cases I have seen that take a long time for the NOA2 have lawyers attached to them (like mine does - I needed some help with the paperwork overseas). I would never assume the USCIS slow rolls cases when a lawyer is hired, but it is an interesting theory. Maybe I should start a poll or something.

I don't think that it can be the case because lawyers are involved. The only reason why the process itself can be slower is conveying everything to one another. Like one of my friends was doing her K1 for 1 and half years, because lawyers didn't tell her that she had already interview, so she had to redo everything all over again. Plus, it took longer for us to actually submit application, because we had to send all our photos, correspondence, fees to the lawyer first. Then he prepared applications for us, then he forwarded to us, then we had to sign them and send to him. By the time he got everything and submitted it took time, whereas if we did everything ourselves it would have taken so much less time. If we have had found this website earlier, we wouldn't have hired him. But we were new to this and we thought it's such a difficult process that without lawyer we wouldn't be able to do a thing. Well, you live and learn.

[Vera & Levi 0]

It means they haven't done it yet. It means you should wait until 6 months. Then contact your Senator. Calling USCIS is always useless.

. If my fiance is from TX, means we need to contact Senator of TX?

[Kaiser 0]

I don't think that it can be the case because lawyers are involved. The only reason why the process itself can be slower is conveying everything to one another. Like one of my friends was doing her K1 for 1 and half years, because lawyers didn't tell her that she had already interview, so she had to redo everything all over again. Plus, it took longer for us to actually submit application, because we had to send all our photos, correspondence, fees to the lawyer first. Then he prepared applications for us, then he forwarded to us, then we had to sign them and send to him. By the time he got everything and submitted it took time, whereas if we did everything ourselves it would have taken so much less time. If we have had found this website earlier, we wouldn't have hired him. But we were new to this and we thought it's such a difficult process that without lawyer we wouldn't be able to do a thing. Well, you live and learn.

I meant the timing after the filing of the application. Like if the I-129F application comes in with a G-28 (which is the form for the lawyer), the application goes into the 5+ month to approve pile. If no lawyer is hired it goes into the 1-2 month pile. Again, I can't believe this would be the case as I'm not a conspiracy person, but, if it were, it would be really good information to have.

[Vera & Levi 0]

I meant the timing after the filing of the application. Like if the I-129F application comes in with a G-28 (which is the form for the lawyer), the application goes into the 5+ month to approve pile. If no lawyer is hired it goes into the 1-2 month pile. Again, I can't believe this would be the case as I'm not a conspiracy person, but, if it were, it would be really good information to have.

Hmmm, haven't thought of that. I sure hope not. )

[Kurt y Dora 1]

It actually helps me too to know that we are not the only one who are waiting for such a long time. We hired lawyer to do this process. He sent us receipt number and I am not sure if we actually got NOA1, since all the correspondence goes directly to him. He told us that if we will inquire about our case, it usually takes USCIS for a month to respond. But it may even delay the decision making because they will be taking this case file from someone's drawer and yada yada. So, we are also waiting until the 18th, but praying that we will hear something before that. We still have somewhat 2 weeks. So hopefully you and us will hear something good soon.

You should go to the USCIS website (www.uscis.gov ) and set up an account as the Petitioner and sign up for email and/or SMS text message updates. Also, once you get a notice of receipt from them (ask your lawyer, since he should have received this) you should be given a Receipt number as your reference number and then you can call and get any automated updates (if any action has been taken) or go to the USCIS site and follow the "Check my case status" for any updates.

Good Luck

Edited August 5, 2010 by Kurt y Dora

[Vera & Levi 0]

You should go to the USCIS website (www.uscis.gov ) and set up an account as the Petitioner and sign up for email and/or SMS text message updates. Also, once you get a notice of receipt from them (ask your lawyer, since he should have received this) you should be given a Receipt number as your reference number and then you can call and get any automated updates (if any action has been taken) or go to the USCIS site and follow the "Check my case status" for any updates.

Thank you! We do have all of those. That's how we know that our application has been accepted on 18th March and touched on 23rd. It just keeps saying "Initial Review".

Good Luck

[Dodi 69]

I meant the timing after the filing of the application. Like if the I-129F application comes in with a G-28 (which is the form for the lawyer), the application goes into the 5+ month to approve pile. If no lawyer is hired it goes into the 1-2 month pile. Again, I can't believe this would be the case as I'm not a conspiracy person, but, if it were, it would be really good information to have.

That's not necessarily true, because I had a lawyer involved, a shoddy one at that, and I got my NOA2 in 22 days. I think it's just the luck of the draw right now, and whether it gets forwarded to Texas for intake before being adjudicated or just stuck in The Pile in The Shelf to wait for someone to knock the dust off.

Good luck to both of you. I know it sounds hollow, but honestly, I wish you the best.

[Alan-and-Ira 1]

Hi Vera, Our petition was 5months + 3 days at CSC, and we called them about the case outside processing time. After that, in about 10 days the petition was "touched", and about a month later we got a hard copy of NOA2. By the way, on the USCIS web site our case is still on "Initian review" (two months since NOA2). God Bless you!

Edited August 5, 2010 by Alan-and-Ira

[Vera & Levi 0]

That's not necessarily true, because I had a lawyer involved, a shoddy one at that, and I got my NOA2 in 22 days. I think it's just the luck of the draw right now, and whether it gets forwarded to Texas for intake before being adjudicated or just stuck in The Pile in The Shelf to wait for someone to knock the dust off.

Good luck to both of you. I know it sounds hollow, but honestly, I wish you the best.

Sigh, thank you so much! We need that luck very much!