NOA1 from Oz

[AshleyLCBaker 7]

Hi everyone,

Here's another, possibly dumb, possibly oft-repeated question: how long did it take you to get your NOA1 back, if mailed from Oz?

I stupidly didn't know about the G-1125 until after I mailed it, so we won't be getting any SMS or emails. I mailed it from Sydney by Express Post (not the couriered one, because I thought I could still track it online, but that's not working now, ugh) on Jan 25. It was the Friday before Australia Day, so I'm sure that slowed it up as well. I just wanted to see how long it took others who sent it from here to get a mailed response back and if/when I should start to worry. I know now's probably way too early to worry, but I was just curious at what point I should officially start worrying.

Again, apologies if this is a really old/boring question!

Thanks a bunch!

[PerthtoMass 12]

Hi everyone,

Here's another, possibly dumb, possibly oft-repeated question: how long did it take you to get your NOA1 back, if mailed from Oz?

I stupidly didn't know about the G-1125 until after I mailed it, so we won't be getting any SMS or emails. I mailed it from Sydney by Express Post (not the couriered one, because I thought I could still track it online, but that's not working now, ugh) on Jan 25. It was the Friday before Australia Day, so I'm sure that slowed it up as well. I just wanted to see how long it took others who sent it from here to get a mailed response back and if/when I should start to worry. I know now's probably way too early to worry, but I was just curious at what point I should officially start worrying.

Again, apologies if this is a really old/boring question!

Thanks a bunch!

Hi Ashley,

check my timeline, it will give you some idea. Also read through info in the header such as processing times, you will learn heaps.

I envy you being in Sydney, as I will have to fly from Perth for my interview.

Enjoy your Visa Journey

Gab

[Lainie B 465]

Hi everyone,

Here's another, possibly dumb, possibly oft-repeated question: how long did it take you to get your NOA1 back, if mailed from Oz?

I stupidly didn't know about the G-1125 until after I mailed it, so we won't be getting any SMS or emails. I mailed it from Sydney by Express Post (not the couriered one, because I thought I could still track it online, but that's not working now, ugh) on Jan 25. It was the Friday before Australia Day, so I'm sure that slowed it up as well. I just wanted to see how long it took others who sent it from here to get a mailed response back and if/when I should start to worry. I know now's probably way too early to worry, but I was just curious at what point I should officially start worrying.

Again, apologies if this is a really old/boring question!

Thanks a bunch!

Did you use a personal check to pay? You'll know for sure that it was received and accepted with the check is cashed.

Once you get your NOA1 with your case number you can register for texts and emails at the USCIS website. But you will need the case number first.

[Alex&Amy 28]

We lodged from Sydney also on the 30th of November, got Auspost notification that it was delivered on the 4th of December, The USCIS clowns even though they said on the phone AU is the known abbreviation for Australia rejected it based on the use of the abbrivation on the first page of the form, anyway it got sent back, returned it in on Jan 3rd, arrived 2 days later got an email from USCIS following Monday that it had been received, check was cashed the day after than and the NOA1 was then dated 2 days after that, so I'd say your package would be well and truly there by now.

Edited February 12, 2013 by Alex&Amy

[AshleyLCBaker 7]

We lodged from Sydney also on the 30th of November, got Auspost notification that it was delivered on the 4th of December, The USCIS clowns even though they said on the phone AU is the known abbreviation for Australia rejected it based on the use of the abbrivation on the first page of the form, anyway it got sent back, returned it in on Jan 3rd, arrived 2 days later got an email from USCIS following Monday that it had been received, check was cashed the day after than and the NOA1 was then dated 2 days after that, so I'd say your package would be well and truly there by now.

Oh, thanks so much for giving me a recap of your experience. I'm slightly freaking out, because I just have no way of knowing if it's there or not. The woman at the Post Office told me I could track the package with the envelope I bought, but it's not working, and I used a bank check instead of a personal one, so I can't track that either. I had to put AU on most of the front page as well, because there was no room! I put Australia the first time I used it, so hopefully they won't be idiots and let it go. Would you (or anyone else!) possibly know how I can get in touch with USCIS if I don't get my hard copy NOA1 within, say, another couple of weeks? That would be a whole month since I sent it and I think that may be the point to start getting concerned!

[Alex&Amy 28]

Oh, thanks so much for giving me a recap of your experience. I'm slightly freaking out, because I just have no way of knowing if it's there or not. The woman at the Post Office told me I could track the package with the envelope I bought, but it's not working, and I used a bank check instead of a personal one, so I can't track that either. I had to put AU on most of the front page as well, because there was no room! I put Australia the first time I used it, so hopefully they won't be idiots and let it go. Would you (or anyone else!) possibly know how I can get in touch with USCIS if I don't get my hard copy NOA1 within, say, another couple of weeks? That would be a whole month since I sent it and I think that may be the point to start getting concerned!

If you call them say tomorrow you will probably need to speak to a tier 2 person and you will need to give your name and social,inquire about your application say when you sent it and that it should of got there probably by the 30th of Jan at the latest, based on that they can look it up. Unfortunately you might end up the same as we did, it got to 2.5 weeks no emails or NOA1 then we called USCIS and found out that our application was rejected and being returned, once we got it back we found out it was for the stupid AU abbreviation!! So annoying if that is the case, but I hope for your sake its not, such a stuff around especially seeing as you are sending from Australia and it takes about 2 weeks for their correspondence to get back through standard US post.

[AshleyLCBaker 7]

If you call them say tomorrow you will probably need to speak to a tier 2 person and you will need to give your name and social,inquire about your application say when you sent it and that it should of got there probably by the 30th of Jan at the latest, based on that they can look it up. Unfortunately you might end up the same as we did, it got to 2.5 weeks no emails or NOA1 then we called USCIS and found out that our application was rejected and being returned, once we got it back we found out it was for the stupid AU abbreviation!! So annoying if that is the case, but I hope for your sake its not, such a stuff around especially seeing as you are sending from Australia and it takes about 2 weeks for their correspondence to get back through standard US post.

Ugh, God, that sounds like a nightmare, I'm sorry! Thanks again for your advice, it's making me feel so much better that at least I know what I need to do if it takes much longer. You don't by any chance remember the USCIS phone number you called, do you? I've looked around here for it, but the ones I've found are really old and apparently out of order.

[Alex&Amy 28]

Ugh, God, that sounds like a nightmare, I'm sorry! Thanks again for your advice, it's making me feel so much better that at least I know what I need to do if it takes much longer. You don't by any chance remember the USCIS phone number you called, do you? I've looked around here for it, but the ones I've found are really old and apparently out of order.

1800-375-5283, just remember the +1 if you are calling from Australia.

[AshleyLCBaker 7]

1800-375-5283, just remember the +1 if you are calling from Australia.

Oh, bless your heart, you're a wealth of information!

So, I called USCIS, just to see if it was there and they tried to take my details and get someone to call me back. Well, they can't really, since I live in Australia, so they begrudgingly sent me over to a supervisor, who didn't seem super happy to be talking to me. She tried to find my file and said it wasn't in the system yet. So I of course start freaking out. Then I called AusPost and they were luckily able to track and see it was delivered to Chicago on Feb 8, meaning it took like two weeks to get there. So, I guess it makes a bit more sense that it hasn't been entered in yet. But at least I know it's been delivered and isn't floating around in the ether somewhere!

[AussieNemesis 16]

I think your bank can confirm if their bank cheque has been cleared or not. You may have to go into the branch that you drew the cheque at... But still they CAN trace their own cheques.