May 2013 filers

[Nurseling 34]

Update on my case. It is finally in London and CEAC website says ready for interview. So I will send the papers by Friday.

Hope to see more approvals before the end of this week

[Vanitas 310]

I've fired off a preliminary email to the Ombudsman today stating that there has been a significant slowdown at Vermont for those of us *not* transferred to Texas and asking them to look into why this is the case and if those of us stuck at Vermont instead of being transferred to Texas could be dealt with quickly and efficiently. I doubt anything will happen as it's within processing times but if this keeps up, I'll keep on their case.

[sjs87 27]

Up it goes.. people filing at the start of August are getting approved elsewhere now..

Ugh, really? I wonder how long it will take for us to hear back from USCIS. We had an RFE August 1st, and we sent it to them August 7th or 8th via our lawyer (who apparently 'overnighted' our reply to CSC)... BUT they didn't show receipt of our RFE reply until August 19th. I really hope we get some good news soon!

[Vanitas 310]

Ugh, really? I wonder how long it will take for us to hear back from USCIS. We had an RFE August 1st, and we sent it to them August 7th or 8th via our lawyer (who apparently 'overnighted' our reply to CSC)... BUT they didn't show receipt of our RFE reply until August 19th. I really hope we get some good news soon!

Yup. Take a look here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/450907-noa-2-got-approved-in-19-days/

[cathyvrph 4]

trying to stay positive here, 3 weeks past approval and no case number assigned yet.

Edited August 28, 2013 by cathyvrph

[sjs87 27]

At what point would it be appropriate to call somebody to inquire about the length of time it has taken to get an RFE response? Should I wait until one month past their receiving date of our reply?

Yup. Take a look here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/450907-noa-2-got-approved-in-19-days/

[Vanitas 310]

At what point would it be appropriate to call somebody to inquire about the length of time it has taken to get an RFE response? Should I wait until one month past their receiving date of our reply?

I'd say that would be a good start, though they might just say something to fob you off. Make sure when you ring you ask for a Tier 2 officer - and say you will hold. Do *not* accept a callback in 5-7 days from the first person you speak to. When you're transferred to a Tier 2, you'll be given the option of a callback within a few hours instead. Take that if you don't want to be hanging on the phone for a long time.

[sjs87 27]

Well I just checked my USCIS case number, and the number above mine (WAC1390493671) had their K-1 NOA2 approval on August 5th... and we received an RFE August 1st... so, I'm hoping that our RFE approval comes soon!!

[BLAKCAJUN 25]

any approvals???

[Vanitas 310]

Just an update on my complaint to the Ombudsman..

My email:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I write to you today to point out to you that the rate of I-129F petitions being adjudicated at the Vermont Service Center has slowed down significantly to the point where they are being dealt with exceptionally slowly. While I am aware that since July 29th all of these petitions are being re-routed to the Texas Service Center, according to the experiences of others as well as myself it seems a group of us have been left behind at the Vermont Service Center, effectively in limbo.

Since the transfers to Texas began, petitions from June, July and even the start of August have been approved, and this is also the case in California at their service center. I am extremely concerned that myself and my fiancée Amy as well as others who sent in petitions between April-May have fallen into a black hole of sorts by not being transferred to Texas along with other files. This occurrence is not unusual, as this has happened with the first wave of Texas transfers from Vermont in December 2012-January 2013.

While I appreciate that at this point our petition is within the official processing times, I would ask that you investigate the current procedures at the Vermont Service Center to ascertain why there has been a significant slowdown in the processing of cases and whether any cases currently still in Vermont can be adjudicated quickly, or as an alternative transferred to Texas and adjudicated quickly there. In our personal case, our receipt number is (redacted).

Sincerely,

(Me)

Their response:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your report. Our office values information from the field. We are aware if this specific USCIS action of transferring certain I-129F petitions between the USCIS Service Centers. I have forwarded this complaint to a manager to raise to USCIS.

With kind regards,

Office of the Citizenship & Immigration Services Ombudsman

Department of Homeland Security

Mail Stop 0180

Washington D.C. 20528

[aysidrak 2]

Just an update on my complaint to the Ombudsman..

My email:

Their response:

Thank you so much for sending that on our behalf. Much appreciated. My file is also still at Vermont in initial review and the case just before mine was approved a month afo at tge end of July.

[Vanitas 310]

Thank you so much for sending that on our behalf. Much appreciated. My file is also still at Vermont in initial review and the case just before mine was approved a month afo at tge end of July.

No worries. I would think it's a good idea to contact them yourselves as well just in case and make sure they're aware of you. Include your receipt number as well.

That goes to any May filer still stuck at VSC (so Blakcajun/Jeanne, that means you too!). While they've said they'll take my complaint to a manager who will then speak to USCIS, more of us raising the issue will mean they act on it more urgently.

cisombudsman@hq.dhs.gov is the email address.

[BryNef 4]

what's taking them so long on approving an rfe response!?!?! i was expecting it this week..but i notice most of the CSC filer under rfe are not being touch yet.was really hoping to be with him before thanksgiving..

[BLAKCAJUN 25]

I called USCIS again and was told they still have two months to process me but legally they can hold my petition for up to 11 months!!! she also stated that it is not certain if VSC will process the remaining petitions or transfer them later and that I will find out when a decision is made

[katndani 0]

We got our NOA2 this week!

It was approved on Aug 23rd and our NOA1 was from May 21st.

On the document we received it was saying the approved petition was forwarded to my consulate.

I wonder if USCIS bypassed NVC (meaning shorter waiting period) or if they just don't mention NVC to make it simple.