January I-129F filers

[Stu4Lee 66]

Processing in order and approving in order are entirely different matters.

Edited June 9, 2012 by Stu4Lee

[P+J 47]

Processing in order and approving in order are entirely different matters.

Yes indeed. An entirely different process.

[wdm1986 2]

Which is why I am now in trouble since my NOA1 was Jan. 9th. Sent all of that stuff today thinking that maybe I could still hear something today or Monday and if not, they would inquire and push our case along....only to read this now that I should not have bothered. I figured that it couldn't hurt--since it SHOULDN'T, you know?! I am just so disgusted. And I can't stand thinking of going back to the US alone and leaving him here waiting b/c I never know when something could happen to him and at least if I am here closeby, I can help him in whatever way possible but from a distance, all I could do would be to send money. And since we have been in the same city for the duration of our relationship--other than my 3 short trips to visit family--I don't know what it would be like to try to have a long-distance relationship. He doesn't have a computer or internet and doesn't know enough about computers even to go to an internet cafe and communicate with me that way, so when I am gone, all we have are expensive cell phone calls....I hate this feeling of being totally helpless...there is no good option, no answers, no good possibilities of anything.....just frustration and fear b/c we are living in the most dangerous country in the world.

If you have smart phones, use Skype or google voice! It'll run off of your phone's Internet plan and it's basically free. If that's not the case, then that strait talk service that Walmart offers has an international plan for $60 a month and you can go to strait talk website and order the plans and the sim cards to fit an iPhone or you can use their phones. The iPhones have to be unlocked I think. You could buy them from amazon maybe? Or some other website. I don't think strait talk offers smart phones. iPhone would probably be your best bet if you can get it.

[kate&javi 26]

Have a good weekend, everyone. Next week will be better

[sabi 148]

Processing in order and approving in order are entirely different matters.

Apparently...

We'll get there sooner or later, just wish it was sooner...

[P+J 47]

Apparently...

We'll get there sooner or later, just wish it was sooner...

I just hope many of us receive NOA2 next week. At least that would put us within processing time. 150 days seems to be about what we're averaging right now. It's amazing to look back at the rates of approval for November and December petitions. They were averaging 100-120 days easily..Trying to control my expectations, but these next 2 weeks have to improve.

[Bryan and Isabel 29]

I think as as long as you send GOOD proof instead of things that don't really show a relationship you should be fine, I rather have a little evidence BUT REALLY ROCK SOLID STUFF than ALOT OF GARBAGE that just makes the package look big. Many memebers have been fine with just the bare nessecities.

[P+J 47]

I think as as long as you send GOOD proof instead of things that don't really show a relationship you should be fine, I rather have a little evidence BUT REALLY ROCK SOLID STUFF than ALOT OF GARBAGE that just makes the package look big. Many memebers have been fine with just the bare nessecities.

Yes. They are really only looking for proof meeting and some very basic evidence in terms of relationship (e.g. photos). The consulate primarily focuses on determining the legitimacy of the relationship.

[BnT 9]

If you have smart phones, use Skype or google voice! It'll run off of your phone's Internet plan and it's basically free. If that's not the case, then that strait talk service that Walmart offers has an international plan for $60 a month and you can go to strait talk website and order the plans and the sim cards to fit an iPhone or you can use their phones. The iPhones have to be unlocked I think. You could buy them from amazon maybe? Or some other website. I don't think strait talk offers smart phones. iPhone would probably be your best bet if you can get it.

Interesting...well this is not a good place for smart phones--instant target for robbery, as well as super slow internet on any cell phone, so that's out.....well, I have been living here for over 2 years now and it just seems silly to move back to the US when we should have gotten our NOA2 last week---so close but yet so far...haha. Anyway, interview "should" be in the next few months and I can't afford to buy a ticket to the US, move wherever there for a few months, buy another ticket back for the interview, then another ticket back to the US......so that's why I have stayed......i guess if this ends up taking way longer than we have been planning, I might have to go back to the US but the job that I have right now is flexible enough that I could easily get the time off for the interview whereas if I went back and got a better paying job, it would not be as easy...too many complications, so I will stop! Hahaha. Anyway, I will keep strait talk in mind...I didn't know they offered international plans! Thanks for the idea!

[sara80 17]

Interesting...well this is not a good place for smart phones--instant target for robbery, as well as super slow internet on any cell phone, so that's out.....well, I have been living here for over 2 years now and it just seems silly to move back to the US when we should have gotten our NOA2 last week---so close but yet so far...haha. Anyway, interview "should" be in the next few months and I can't afford to buy a ticket to the US, move wherever there for a few months, buy another ticket back for the interview, then another ticket back to the US......so that's why I have stayed......i guess if this ends up taking way longer than we have been planning, I might have to go back to the US but the job that I have right now is flexible enough that I could easily get the time off for the interview whereas if I went back and got a better paying job, it would not be as easy...too many complications, so I will stop! Hahaha. Anyway, I will keep strait talk in mind...I didn't know they offered international plans! Thanks for the idea!

skype itself offer pretty good deals for phoning abroad, which means u can phone a landline or a mobile if you put some credit on it. I used to use it 5 years ago when my mum didn't have a pc and it worked pretty well.

[photomile 101]

Paul86 : I believe you on what you said about the congressman and it makes perfect sense to me however it seems almost contradictory. That being said I have a feeling we might be too late to stop ours.

I

'm going to put this out to the rest of the VJ community because I'd like a little more insight into the congressional side of things. I hope you don't mind!

I Have a feeling that for us, stopping it wouldn't make a difference. We're outside processing times and we started a service request a week or so before the date was up. The congressional at this point, since it's basically at the start I think would still be of benefit. Again, I'd like a wider opinion of everything but it just makes sense to me that it won't make much of a difference for us.

By the way, what is everyones plans for the point past NOA2? Initially I thought the 'done thing' was to call about a week afterwards to confirm the NVC has received the case and for the local embassy number In our case LDN) and then once we have that, go ahead wait another few days and book the medical and pay for the interview, however I'm seeing that some people are calling the NVC afterwards to confirm that the case has left? Or do I have it wrong and people are calling the local embassy to confirm receipt.

Our plan was just to call the NVC and as soon as we had the LDN number wait a week then call and book and pay for the medical. The day of the medical I would then send off the forms with a cover letter and hopefully this would speed things up some. I'm guessing, that this isn't the best plan.

Eugh...

[sara80 17]

I think that once you have the LND no. you can book the medical, which I am pretty sure it won't be immediately. So by the time you go to the medical London should have put your case in.. I am so concentrated in getting the NOA2 that I am barely thinking on what's next after that....

[L+T 71]

Paul86 : I believe you on what you said about the congressman and it makes perfect sense to me however it seems almost contradictory. That being said I have a feeling we might be too late to stop ours.

I

'm going to put this out to the rest of the VJ community because I'd like a little more insight into the congressional side of things. I hope you don't mind!

I Have a feeling that for us, stopping it wouldn't make a difference. We're outside processing times and we started a service request a week or so before the date was up. The congressional at this point, since it's basically at the start I think would still be of benefit. Again, I'd like a wider opinion of everything but it just makes sense to me that it won't make much of a difference for us.

By the way, what is everyones plans for the point past NOA2? Initially I thought the 'done thing' was to call about a week afterwards to confirm the NVC has received the case and for the local embassy number In our case LDN) and then once we have that, go ahead wait another few days and book the medical and pay for the interview, however I'm seeing that some people are calling the NVC afterwards to confirm that the case has left? Or do I have it wrong and people are calling the local embassy to confirm receipt.

Our plan was just to call the NVC and as soon as we had the LDN number wait a week then call and book and pay for the medical. The day of the medical I would then send off the forms with a cover letter and hopefully this would speed things up some. I'm guessing, that this isn't the best plan.

Eugh...

Ok, since you asked, you said you had service request in mid may, or sometime during normal processing. Their goal is 5 months, but they consider up to 6 months normal processing. At this point of service request, they have 30 days to respond. Your file may very well be pulled and waiting for a supervisor to only let you know at the time of your service request you are in normal processing time. Then after the 30 days, you get back in line with the Feb 5 filers, as your petition was pulled and being serviced for this time, and you don't just jump back where you were.. just like an RFE stops processing times (as stated on case status). Then congress contacts them, only to be told you are still in normal processing time. They don't want 1000's of requests come in during or shortly after the target 5 months, and to reward these requests would only encourage everyone to do it, and would result in reality slowing down the system with additional paperwork outside approvals. IMHO... Everything i have heard on other threads is wait 6 months and put in service request, if there is no reasonable action on this after 30 days call congress. The only other time congress has been of help during normal processing is rejected expedite requests.

[sabi 148]

Ok, since you asked, you said you had service request in mid may, or sometime during normal processing. Their goal is 5 months, but they consider up to 6 months normal processing. At this point of service request, they have 30 days to respond. Your file may very well be pulled and waiting for a supervisor to only let you know at the time of your service request you are in normal processing time. Then after the 30 days, you get back in line with the Feb 5 filers, as your petition was pulled and being serviced for this time, and you don't just jump back where you were.. just like an RFE stops processing times (as stated on case status). Then congress contacts them, only to be told you are still in normal processing time. They don't want 1000's of requests come in during or shortly after the target 5 months, and to reward these requests would only encourage everyone to do it, and would result in reality slowing down the system with additional paperwork outside approvals. IMHO... Everything i have heard on other threads is wait 6 months and put in service request, if there is no reasonable action on this after 30 days call congress. The only other time congress has been of help during normal processing is rejected expedite requests.

That actually makes sense!

Now that I think we will wait till we pass 6 months mark with all the service requests... I hope we won't need to do that though...

[P+J 47]

Ok, since you asked, you said you had service request in mid may, or sometime during normal processing. Their goal is 5 months, but they consider up to 6 months normal processing. At this point of service request, they have 30 days to respond. Your file may very well be pulled and waiting for a supervisor to only let you know at the time of your service request you are in normal processing time. Then after the 30 days, you get back in line with the Feb 5 filers, as your petition was pulled and being serviced for this time, and you don't just jump back where you were.. just like an RFE stops processing times (as stated on case status). Then congress contacts them, only to be told you are still in normal processing time. They don't want 1000's of requests come in during or shortly after the target 5 months, and to reward these requests would only encourage everyone to do it, and would result in reality slowing down the system with additional paperwork outside approvals. IMHO... Everything i have heard on other threads is wait 6 months and put in service request, if there is no reasonable action on this after 30 days call congress. The only other time congress has been of help during normal processing is rejected expedite requests.

You explained it perfectly L+T. This is exactly what the lawyer told me. I had the false belief that the service requests and the Congressional or senatorial inquiries were a method to accelerate adjudication. I was shocked to discover that it's the opposite effect. We're all honestly stuck waiting the 6 months before qualifying for an expedite. Then the service requests and inquiries are a viable option. Apparently my lawyer has begged his clients not to do it in the past. He has seen the same result each time the requests or inquiries were initiated too soon. The only time they could have a positive effect is beyond the 6 month mark. Any other time it merely causes more delay. It's a horrible system. But who knows. Maybe Photomile will get lucky and all will be okay. I would just suggest that no one else do anything before at least 6 months. Hopefully most of us will be receiving our NOA2s in the next 2-3 weeks and we won't even have to think about this anymore. VSC has got to start moving through these petitions soon. They won't be sitting on these January petitions much longer. Can't believe we're all still waiting around like this when just a month ago we had approvals consistently in the 120-130 day range after NOA1. Let's hope for some shock and awe the next 2 weeks. Everyday should be like last Wednesday here. 5-6 approvals indicated on VJ timelines each day would get us back on track. There really aren't any December petitions still waiting other than some RFEs.

Edited June 10, 2012 by Paul86