Online status is now RFE... can I find out before I get letter?

[Hiker 9]

After waiting nearly 5 months, the online status is today set to RFE. But, I can't find out what it is until I get the letter. I'm on vacation next week so I won't even be around to receive the letter, causing more delays. Is there any way to figure out now what it is they want?

[Hiker 9]

And what could they possibly need? I was very meticulous and thorough. Our case is very simple... I'm boring and don't do anything that anyone anywhere would question... always live in same place, always work in same place, no name changes, etc. I have a divorce but I included the original stamped divorce decree.

Any ideas? What types of things do they typically want in an RFE? And, how many days on average does VSC take to mail the actual letter once the online status changes?

[Hiker 9]

And the online status mentions there is a deadline for responding to the RFE. I of course want to be as fast as possible, but how fast is that deadline? I'm on vacation. I hope the "E" they need isn't something impossible like a divorce decree in another format (I gave them the only thing that MA courts will provide).

[Inky 1,110]

You have to wait to get the letter to find out.

Generally 30 or 60 days is on for the time frame, depends which they give you.

[Hiker 9]

So when can I expect this letter? I need to have an idea because I need to know now whether I should hire the cat sitter to come over once a day to collect my mail and open it for me and scan me what she finds. If it is going to arrive tomorrow, I won't bother calling her. If next week is more likely, then I better call her. She's expensive though.

[Inky 1,110]

usually shows up a week or two after the online notice

[Hiker 9]

usually shows up a week or two after the online notice

That's not good!

I'm really worried about this... I was extremely thorough... if I had the evidence, I sent it already. There is nothing left I could send, except send the same stuff again. And I sent a lot... multiple boarding passes for every flight and ferry we took together, passport stamps, Facebook and Yahoo chats listings, every picture of both of us (14 of them... all in different places, different clothes, a couple with her family), receipts at 3 different hotels, photocopies of cards we mailed each other. We don't do phone calls (just YM video calls) so I can't send those. There really is nothing left to send other than actually sending every recorded facebook and YM chat... but I figured they would not appreciate getting a box mailed to them with 5000 printed pages in it.

[missicy 87]

First, calm down, it's really not that big of a deal. They will give you enough time to respond so don't worry. Unless you will be away for a whole month, you will be ok and shouldn't stress so much. Sounds like you sent enough evidence that you met in person. Phone calls, Facebook and email messages are not relevant at thise stage (they don't prove that you met in person; your fiancee will need them at the interview). RFE could be about something as little as a small mistake on one of the forms, a missing signature, a blank box on a form or something like that, and can be easy fixable.

[Hiker 9]

My vacation is a week, which means I could have 3 weeks left to send what they want. I just need to make sure I have enough time... if they need another set of pictures from my fiancee, for example, she needs time to take them and figure out how to send them to me in time. But really, I can't imagine any small mistake I could have made on a form. I answered everything, and carefully researched anything I had questions about. I'm a "Jr"... could it be something as trivial as that? I don't always write or sign my full name with Jr at the end.

[Hiker 9]

So, is there a guide on here that says how to properly respond to the RFE? i.e. how to package it, what from the original I-129F also needs to be included, etc.? I know I saw one somewhere but I didn't pay attention at the time since I was not expecting an RFE.

Edited August 30, 2011 by Hiker

[Anh map 2,098]

So, is there a guide on here that says how to properly respond to the RFE? i.e. how to package it, what from the original I-129F also needs to be included, etc.? I know I saw one somewhere but I didn't pay attention at the time since I was not expecting an RFE.

You read the RFE and respond to what is listed. It will be very straight forward.

[FLBoy82 0]

You read the RFE and respond to what is listed. It will be very straight forward.

We recieved an RFE too. We got the letter about 3 days after the status changed, so I expect you to get it by the end of the week. I forgot to check one of the boxes in the application...

[Hiker 9]

Okay, I hope that's all it is. Although I just saw another post about them not believing someone's ex wife was really not living with them. Now I'm worried... my ex wife never left a forwarding address because she decided to disappear and not be found. So, post office still thinks she lives here. I hope they don't check post office records.

[Hiker 9]

Uh oh... not just post office records... she keeps applying for federal student loans and telling them she lives here. I have an unpleasant feeling she's the reason for the RFE.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Okay, I hope that's all it is. Although I just saw another post about them not believing someone's ex wife was really not living with them. Now I'm worried... my ex wife never left a forwarding address because she decided to disappear and not be found. So, post office still thinks she lives here. I hope they don't check post office records.

First, that other post was about an issue that came up at the visa interview - NOT at the petition stage with USCIS. They don't give a damn who you're living with, or who any public records indicate you're living with. Second, that other member was dealing with the US consulate in Cambodia - far far different from the consulate in Manila.

Relax. 99% of RFE's are for something relatively simple to get or fix.