October/November 2010 Immigrant Visa filers (CR-1/IR-1)

[I & JJ <3 9]

i was touched 12-02 and 12-03. maybe i'll receive something in the mail tomorrow?

Congrats on your approval. I sure wish they would approve all cases as quickly as they approve those which have been expedited but I must admit that anyone going through a health/economic hardship does deserve a speedy process.

(Not that we all don't deserve it, but in times of need I don't think it's wrong to cut someone a break).

Good luck on the rest of your journey.

[CanadaLove 16]

Congrats jhilly!

*is a little envious, but happy you're moving through*

[jhilly143 0]

Congrats on your approval. I sure wish they would approve all cases as quickly as they approve those which have been expedited but I must admit that anyone going through a health/economic hardship does deserve a speedy process.

(Not that we all don't deserve it, but in times of need I don't think it's wrong to cut someone a break).

Good luck on the rest of your journey.

Thank u! now i feel guilty for "cutting in line" i always dislike that when people do that in line! and yes i agree. i wish they would approve all cases as quickly as they approve those which have been expedited. i wish u good luck with your journey as well. lets all hang in there!

Congrats jhilly!

*is a little envious, but happy you're moving through*

i know how u feel! i was like that last month when i saw cases being approved ... i hope u receive GREAT NEWS SOON!

[giamimigio 21]

i know how u feel! i was like that last month when i saw cases being approved ... i hope u receive GREAT NEWS SOON!

people getting approved means they're doing their job over at CIS.

you moving on is one less person they have to deal with up there.

here's to a speedy journey the rest of the way for you

[Amy and Nick 37]

Congratulations!

I guess noone is really having much to report for now...

Anyone getting a large amount of touches? Mine was touched on 26th of November but nothing since (i know this doesnt mean anything at all, but it doesnt stop me checking every day!)

Im quietly hoping we get a week of touches, and then all of a sudden NOA2 within a month (definitely going insane now!)

[giamimigio 21]

Congratulations!

I guess noone is really having much to report for now...

Anyone getting a large amount of touches? Mine was touched on 26th of November but nothing since (i know this doesnt mean anything at all, but it doesnt stop me checking every day!)

Im quietly hoping we get a week of touches, and then all of a sudden NOA2 within a month (definitely going insane now!)

in my mind, that's exactly how optimistic i am.... then some "veteran" decides to rain on my parade and goes on this 5 months is 5 months is 5 months rant....

it's our choice to be optimistic or pessimistic...

[Burebista 3]

Congratulations!

I guess noone is really having much to report for now...

Anyone getting a large amount of touches? Mine was touched on 26th of November but nothing since (i know this doesnt mean anything at all, but it doesnt stop me checking every day!)

Im quietly hoping we get a week of touches, and then all of a sudden NOA2 within a month (definitely going insane now!)

Nope. All Quiet on the Western Front (CSC).

[umer8566 0]

can any one tell me how to find out if they touch ur file or not or update whatever plzzz thx

[CanadaLove 16]

jhilly - don't feel guilty over 'jumping the line' - you had good reasons for your expedite and I'm not begrudging you that one bit.

Mine hasn't been touched either, but then, it's only been barely a month since the petition got to the CSC, so I'm not expecting anything to change anytime soon.

@umer - I posted how to do it back in this thread a few pages back.

[Sarah101 5]

I am with you , we got touched on nov 22 and up till now we got nothing. lets hope for the best

Congratulations!

I guess noone is really having much to report for now...

Anyone getting a large amount of touches? Mine was touched on 26th of November but nothing since (i know this doesnt mean anything at all, but it doesnt stop me checking every day!)

Im quietly hoping we get a week of touches, and then all of a sudden NOA2 within a month (definitely going insane now!)

[I & JJ <3 9]

I was reading a thread regarding the possibility of getting an RFE even after the 5 month mark and there were a couple of replies by the user Gary and Alla that caught my interest (he mentions "touches"). I'll copy and paste the replies here. (I'll also post a link to the thread).

"You certainly can. They haven't looked at your file yet if you have neither an approval or an RFE. It is not like they work and work and pass it around to committees. ONE person does the adjudication, it takes about 20 minutes. If there is a problem or a question, they may kick it up to a supervisor, but otherwise it gets reviewed in a few minutes time and then tossed into either the RFE or the approved pile. A clean backgroud check, for example takes about 30 seconds. If there is a problem it will get sent for a manual check, and you will see a "touch" (never figured out why people think a "touch" is a good thing) a clean petition never gets a "touch" once assigned unless it gets reassigned for some reason. It sits in a pile until it is reviewed and then approved or gets an RFE

You have exactly the same chance of an RFE at 5 months as you do at 5 weeks. If the information and documents you provided are adequate then your chances of an RFE are -0- (barring mistakes, they do occasionally make mistakes)"

"If someone moves it from one pile to another, it gets scanned and you get an update on your online system. Otherwise it is waiting safely in a pile somewhere. Check out the description of how petitions are handled in the pinned topic at the top of the K-1 forum. That's it. They arrive, they wait in a pile until they are picked up, opened, checked, approved or sent an RFE. Adjudicators (we are acquainted with a couple that work at VSC) process and approve (or send for RFE) 20-24 petitions per day, they work 10 hour days, 4 days per week. 2-3 per hour start to finish. There really is no update to give. They do not "take another look" at your file. They take ONE look at your file, approve it or not. If they DO take more than one look at it, it is not a good thing, it means they need someone else's opinion or a manual check of something (adjudicators do not do manual checks)if they cannnot approve it or RFE it from their cubicle using their computer, it gets sent to someone else and they go on to another file.

Consider what you have to send and what they have to check. How long do you think that takes? Birth certificate or passport, divorce certificate (maybe), letter of intent, proof of meeting. They go down the check list (they actually HAVE a checklist) It is there? Good. All that other stuff you sent? emails, phone logs, 200 photos? Ignored. Not necessary. It was put at the back of the file when your petition arrived and no one looks at it. Your petition looks like every otjer petition there. Whatever you did to organize it was undone and put in their own order. While they were checking their list they put your names in the background check, when they finish checking their list they look at the results of the background check. Passed? Good. Approved. Next.

It took me longer to write this post than they will spend on your petition IF everything is correct. That is not a guess."

Here's the link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/286139-can-they-ask-for-rfe-at-the-5th-month/

Anywho, I guess I found it interesting because it sheds some light on the process (if this is what really happens). It's also a little disturbing to think that one has to wait five months for something that supposedly takes a few hours(???)!

[giamimigio 21]

I was reading a thread regarding the possibility of getting an RFE even after the 5 month mark and there were a couple of replies by the user Gary and Alla that caught my interest (he mentions "touches"). I'll copy and paste the replies here. (I'll also post a link to the thread).

"You certainly can. They haven't looked at your file yet if you have neither an approval or an RFE. It is not like they work and work and pass it around to committees. ONE person does the adjudication, it takes about 20 minutes. If there is a problem or a question, they may kick it up to a supervisor, but otherwise it gets reviewed in a few minutes time and then tossed into either the RFE or the approved pile. A clean backgroud check, for example takes about 30 seconds. If there is a problem it will get sent for a manual check, and you will see a "touch" (never figured out why people think a "touch" is a good thing) a clean petition never gets a "touch" once assigned unless it gets reassigned for some reason. It sits in a pile until it is reviewed and then approved or gets an RFE

You have exactly the same chance of an RFE at 5 months as you do at 5 weeks. If the information and documents you provided are adequate then your chances of an RFE are -0- (barring mistakes, they do occasionally make mistakes)"

"If someone moves it from one pile to another, it gets scanned and you get an update on your online system. Otherwise it is waiting safely in a pile somewhere. Check out the description of how petitions are handled in the pinned topic at the top of the K-1 forum. That's it. They arrive, they wait in a pile until they are picked up, opened, checked, approved or sent an RFE. Adjudicators (we are acquainted with a couple that work at VSC) process and approve (or send for RFE) 20-24 petitions per day, they work 10 hour days, 4 days per week. 2-3 per hour start to finish. There really is no update to give. They do not "take another look" at your file. They take ONE look at your file, approve it or not. If they DO take more than one look at it, it is not a good thing, it means they need someone else's opinion or a manual check of something (adjudicators do not do manual checks)if they cannnot approve it or RFE it from their cubicle using their computer, it gets sent to someone else and they go on to another file.

Consider what you have to send and what they have to check. How long do you think that takes? Birth certificate or passport, divorce certificate (maybe), letter of intent, proof of meeting. They go down the check list (they actually HAVE a checklist) It is there? Good. All that other stuff you sent? emails, phone logs, 200 photos? Ignored. Not necessary. It was put at the back of the file when your petition arrived and no one looks at it. Your petition looks like every otjer petition there. Whatever you did to organize it was undone and put in their own order. While they were checking their list they put your names in the background check, when they finish checking their list they look at the results of the background check. Passed? Good. Approved. Next.

It took me longer to write this post than they will spend on your petition IF everything is correct. That is not a guess."

Here's the link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/286139-can-they-ask-for-rfe-at-the-5th-month/

Anywho, I guess I found it interesting because it sheds some light on the process (if this is what really happens). It's also a little disturbing to think that one has to wait five months for something that supposedly takes a few hours(???)!

good find

now everyone that has gotten "touched" are freaking out now

[I & JJ <3 9]

good find

now everyone that has gotten "touched" are freaking out now

The funny thing is that Istil don't really think a "touch" is a terrible thing to be feared. There is a saying in spanish: "el que nada debe nada teme" which pretty much means if you've got a clean conscience then you've got nothing to fear. I believe that when it comes time for them to review my case they will see I have a clean record and that it's the first time my husband and I have ever dealt with U.S. Immigration. If I were to get a touch it would most likely be because they moved my file or because they will send me an RRFE. If they need any more information from me because I failed to provide it the first time than by all means they can go ahead and request it because hey, at least I know my file was finally looked at and if the RFE is answered adequately they have nothing more to do than approve me. No one can stop me from checking the status of my case. If the USCIS provided this service I don't see why so many people want to discourage others from utilizing it. If it really were as pointless as others say than why even provide the service at all?

[I & JJ <3 9]

Sorry for all the typos, I'm doing this from my phone

[giamimigio 21]

The funny thing is that Istil don't really think a "touch" is a terrible thing to be feared. There is a saying in spanish: "el que nada debe nada teme" which pretty much means if you've got a clean conscience then you've got nothing to fear. I believe that when it comes time for them to review my case they will see I have a clean record and that it's the first time my husband and I have ever dealt with U.S. Immigration. If I were to get a touch it would most likely be because they moved my file or because they will send me an RRFE. If they need any more information from me because I failed to provide it the first time than by all means they can go ahead and request it because hey, at least I know my file was finally looked at and if the RFE is answered adequately they have nothing more to do than approve me. No one can stop me from checking the status of my case. If the USCIS provided this service I don't see why so many people want to discourage others from utilizing it. If it really were as pointless as others say than why even provide the service at all?

i like the post. it makes sense. for my own sanity, though.. the whole "touching" situation could be anything and I'll just take it as that. as you said, someone could have just said "Hey, Bob, looks like you've got a massive pile on your desk there. I've had a pretty light work load these past few weeks. How 'bout i take a third of that and help you out a bit...." hence.... "The Touch"

the waiting game is sh**ty, but it doesn't mean we have to all be gloom and doom about it.