NOA2 Stolen

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am about to loose it.

The NOA2 is needed for the interview, which I expect to be in about 2 months or so (I hope)... but I was going to bring it to the medical because I never received my notice from NVC. It takes CSC at least 3 MONTHS to file a I-824 (replacement I-797 aka NOA2). The fee IS $340, and if you want that waived you need to send a waiver request and in my case she said, an expedite request to Chicago. IF the waiver request is denied then you still need to go through CSC for a new copy. This is absolutely ridiculous. These items were stolen from a US Army base, I did not lose them or was negligent.

Every single person on this base (even up the chain of command) has been urging us to skip the Visa and just have me move here and we marry and file for AOS, it's how everyone else has done it and they all were approved no problem. But me being a good person and all wanted to do this the right and legal way and now I'm just getting effed over big time. Sad part is this is just the next piece of bad news in a string of bad news we've been getting over the last 4 days.

The NOA2 is NOT needed for the interview OR the AOS. A COPY of the NOA2 is needed for both. The original should be in a safe place at all times in perpetuity. Did either of you ever think to make a COPY of the original. If yes, then stop worrying and go to your interview. Sheeeeesh.

If neither of you made a COPY of the NOA2 then you reap what you sow. Pay the fee.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I believe she had already mentionned that her copies were electronic...and therefore are in the stolen laptop.

I know my FI keeps everything electronically....which we lost when his computor crashed...we now are proud owners of a back up drive....

Brilliant. And SHE is getting "eff'd over". Forget owning a back up drive people! Go to kinkos and make copies. Lots of them.

I have absolutely NO compassion for people that line themselves up for disaster and then act all surprised when it happens. Stop complaining and do what you need to. And also do not try and say that you are "good people" because you are not criminals. Following the rules is the rules, it is not being a "good person". You want to be a criminal? Then just be one. You think they will believe now, after you filed a K-1, that you OOPS just met each while you were visiting by accident?

Just send the form and pay the fee. make a copy next time.

[Rob and Jill 82]

Sorry that happened and I sincerely hope you get a replacement copy in time!

Although Gary might sound harsh, he is correct in that physical copies are necessary! I have 5 copies of everything that has been sent. Well, 4 now because one went to Rob!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Brilliant. And SHE is getting "eff'd over". Forget owning a back up drive people! Go to kinkos and make copies. Lots of them.

I have absolutely NO compassion for people that line themselves up for disaster and then act all surprised when it happens. Stop complaining and do what you need to. And also do not try and say that you are "good people" because you are not criminals. Following the rules is the rules, it is not being a "good person". You want to be a criminal? Then just be one. You think they will believe now, after you filed a K-1, that you OOPS just met each while you were visiting by accident?

Just send the form and pay the fee. make a copy next time.

A little harsh, unnecessarily so, I think. People are entitled to use these forums to vent about this process. It's not an easy road for anyone.

[Hendea3 4]

I agree with coconuts.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

I agree with "Gary & Alla", it is our responsibility to ensure we have everything backed-up.

Get a gmail account, scan every important document and send yourself a copy. Use what ever level of encryption you feel safe with but never have only one copy of anything that your future could depend on.

[Dodi 69]

I agree with Coconuts.

While people DO need to follow the rules and SHOULD have backup copies of everything, there is NO REASON whatsoever for the kind of attitudes that many of the older members (and even some of the newer ones lately) take regarding many of the newer members and mistakes that are made.

I'm sure she feels bad enough at having lost the laptop and the original. She's just as stressed out as the rest of us who are going through the process, and now is even more stressed out because she's lost so much during her visit to her fiance, which could impact the Interview and AOS in the long run.

Please stop acting like you're the judge and jury of this place. It might not be your intention, but it comes across that way. You're not helping her by issuing your judgments. You're not helping anyone that way. She DID make a digital copy. Most of us know to do that. I've got a digital copy on my laptop at home, my work computer, on a flash drive, in my gmail account, and even on the SD card in my phone just in case, as well as 3 paper copies of everything in my file. I'm a bit OCD about backups. It doesn't mean things don't happen beyond our control.

Please, just try to have some compassion for others, and as your mom probably told you a million times: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. You older members who have been there, done that, got the t-shirt, burned it and are now wisened to the immigration ways seem like you're getting callous to the fact that YOU were once here, YOU were once going through this process and were just as new and scared as we are. You are making the newer members feel very unwelcome and unwanted when you act like this.

Gary & Alla - you are one of the posters here I've actually looked up to when you've given information in the past that has seemed invaluable, but your post here sounds like you're taking a page from the "legacy members" in the UK forum. Please, don't. You're sweet, and considerate and very helpful most of the time. Can we please just keep the peace?

Edited August 12, 2010 by Dodi

[mandyu1 5]

I agree with Coconuts.

While people DO need to follow the rules and SHOULD have backup copies of everything, there is NO REASON whatsoever for the kind of attitudes that many of the older members (and even some of the newer ones lately) take regarding many of the newer members and mistakes that are made.

I'm sure she feels bad enough at having lost the laptop and the original. She's just as stressed out as the rest of us who are going through the process, and now is even more stressed out because she's lost so much during her visit to her fiance, which could impact the Interview and AOS in the long run.

Please stop acting like you're the judge and jury of this place. It might not be your intention, but it comes across that way. You're not helping her by issuing your judgments. You're not helping anyone that way. She DID make a digital copy. Most of us know to do that. I've got a digital copy on my laptop at home, my work computer, on a flash drive, in my gmail account, and even on the SD card in my phone just in case, as well as 3 paper copies of everything in my file. I'm a bit OCD about backups. It doesn't mean things don't happen beyond our control.

Please, just try to have some compassion for others, and as your mom probably told you a million times: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. You older members who have been there, done that, got the t-shirt, burned it and are now wisened to the immigration ways seem like you're getting callous to the fact that YOU were once here, YOU were once going through this process and were just as new and scared as we are. You are making the newer members feel very unwelcome and unwanted when you act like this.

Gary & Alla - you are one of the posters here I've actually looked up to when you've given information in the past that has seemed invaluable, but your post here sounds like you're taking a page from the "legacy members" in the UK forum. Please, don't. You're sweet, and considerate and very helpful most of the time. Can we please just keep the peace?

Very well said Dodi

To the OP, I wish I had some advice, but I don't. And I agree, $340 for a piece of paper is a bit outragious. Hope everything works out

[Tater&Bugger 3]

It is slightly less ridiculous than carrying around your original NOA2. Pay the fee, get the document, you will need it. Keep it in a safe place. If you feel some need to carry it around...don't. Make a copy. NO ONE needs the original for anything in this process.

Why is it when people make irresponsible mistakes they think that what they must do to correct their error is "nonsense"?

I was recommended by others to carry around the original since I have no ties to Canada and needed strong evidence. Also, I was leaving from NY to go to my medical in Montreal and so wanted to bring it with me. My vaccination docs luckily weren't in my laptop case. I also just received my interview date with Montreal for next Friday.

Your comment is quite insulting as well saying that my choices are ridiculous. You don't know me and don't know why I was bringing the docs with me. It would be one thing if I left it somewhere while just going out and about but I was traveling TO the US and needed some papers in case I was pulled over for secondary questioning. If you have nothing of value to say, don't bother posting to someone's thread. It's a lot easier to just type nothing.

Thanks to all for the sympathies, its just a crappy situation. I tried everything I could while on the phone with USCIS but I think I will call again now that we have a confirmed interview date. Good luck to everyone else with the rest of your journey!

[Tater&Bugger 3]

and yes, all copies were saved to the laptop...