BINATIONAL SAME SEX COUPLES !! Show up!

[TicoLover 17]

hello guys..

im kinda freaking out now.. its been awhile since i got my NOA1, i already did the biometrics 3 weeks ago and still nothing..

this waiting is killing me.. and i cant even check my case status because my account in uscis is locked.. (wrong password). ug..

oh well, i hope everybody is having a good day though..

one question, who is adjusting from a turist visa???!!

lets stay positive and keep waiting.

My husband is adjusting from an expired tourist visa. We applied on 08/09/13 and received a text message and email last week that EID is in production, but still no word on when the interview is. From looking at other timelines it doesn't seem unusual to wait even as much as 4 weeks for word on the EID production.

[TicoLover 17]

Past interviews I read they took a few photos. For us they took all 50 4x6 prints!! My wife made a photobook with dates, places, comments. The IO completely looked through it and then asked if we had copies which we gave. In our original application we only sent my wife's tax returns, pay stubs, naturalization certificate, employment letter etc. We took lots of other stuff when we went for the interview. I am pasting below my experience that I had posted in trackitt so you know how it went. In addition to what we gave we took retirement accounts beneficiary designations, life insurance beneficiary designations as well but officer said we had submitted enough. Here is our time line:

Filed: July 11th 2013

Receipt Date: July 12th 2013

Biometrics Notice Received: July 22nd 2013

Biometrics Date: August 13th 2013 (not aware that you can do walk-in)

Interview Notice Received: September 3rd 2013

EAD Approval: September 10th 2013

EAD Received: September 18th 2013

Interview Date: October 3rd 2013. Approved and Passport Stamped.

I-130 Approved: October 3rd 2013

GC Card Production Ordered: October 8th 2013

EAD it took 60 days for approval. GC it took 84 days for approval.

Our Experience:

We had a 10 am appointment in Houston. We arrived at 9:00 and the waiting area was pretty empty. Had some tense moments navigating the heavy Houston traffic but made it on time nonetheless. Waited for our lawyer who showed up promptly at 9:30 (a note: I really loved the fact that we had a lawyer as it gave some modicum of assurance). We submitted our interview letter and sat chatting. At 10:05 we were called in by the immigration officer (Mrs.P.J). She was pleasant but not smiling exactly. Our lawyer conversed with her when navigating the maze of rooms to her office whilst my wife and I mutely followed with our suitcase looking divided folder binders, one with originals and one with copies. Have to compliment my wife as she took care of organizing the originals and copies. We were sworn in and then we sat down and the IO started looking through the file. She asked for our Drivers's License and my immigration documents (H1B,I94). She then asked me to state my wife's name, address, DOB, our wedding date. Repeated the same with her with regards to me. Then she started on the application. Asked me about any criminal record, out of status situations etc and I answered in the negative to all. She then casually asked where we met and my wife jumped in and gave her a short history to which she smiled. She then asked about previous marriages and we both gave her a short account of our previous hetero marriages. My wife delved into her previous arranged marriage and said she knew her ex-husband only 5 days before they were hitched and the IO said wow and became more involved in the interview. She asked my wife for her naturalization certification and when she said she would make a copy we immediately jumped in and said that we had copies of everything and gave it to her (please make copies of everything). That made things even better. She then asked us for something to show we had a bonafide marriage and we gave her copies of the following: bank accounts, estate planning documents, car loan document, car insurance with both vehicles and both names, county appraisal district house information with both names, joint tenancy, water bill, cable bill. We offered more, but she said that was enough. My wife put the nice photo book she created on the table and the IO wanted to see it. She went through all the pics. Asked us if we had copies and we gave her 50 4x6 prints of what was in the photo book that also had pencil written notes of place and time and event at the back. She gladly took the entire bundle. Asked how our families were handling the situation and we explained that it was not easy but my wife's parents were fine and were currently visiting us. She said that was sweet. She then said interview was complete unless we had questions. We were at the 20 minute point. Our lawyer at that point jumped in as asked what would happen next. She said she would approve and that it would be two weeks. We looked disappointed and she then said she would approve the next day and that they had Same Sex Case training at 1PM (guys, I think its a Texas thing). I interjected and said that my grandmother was sick and that I had not seen her since 2008 when I last came in and also had a plane ticket (all this is true and I would have shown here the ticket if she had asked). She seemed sympathetic and said that if we waited for her to complete two other interviews she would see what she could do. She asked for my current passport which I handed over. We went out and waited. Surprisingly by 11:05 she called us and congratulated us and gave me my stamped passport!! My wife said "We are so grateful" to which the IO broke into a smile and told us she would order card production latest by the next day. Anyways, it ended well for us and I wish the same for each of you.

Congratulations!

[tropical island 1]

Somebody from Texas, his fiance (same-sex form Indonesia) just got approved his K1 visa interview in the embassy in Jakarta.....What a news....It really gives us hope.....He filed somewhere July 10th and today his fiance interview in the embassy and got approved.....It's a lot faster than what I thought before to file K1 visa.....Congratulations guys.....

[djv-tco 29]

Somebody from Texas, his fiance (same-sex form Indonesia) just got approved his K1 visa interview in the embassy in Jakarta.....What a news....It really gives us hope.....He filed somewhere July 10th and today his fiance interview in the embassy and got approved.....It's a lot faster than what I thought before to file K1 visa.....Congratulations guys.....

Yep, this is Keith and Haris' timeline (I-129f was approved in 55 days from NOA1 date):

Service Center :

Vermont Service Center

Transferred?

Texas Service Center on 2013-08-07

Consulate :

Indonesia

I-129F Sent :

2013-07-10

I-129F NOA1 :

2013-07-17

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 :

2013-09-10

NVC Received :

2013-09-19

NVC Left :

2013-09-24

Consulate Received :

2013-09-28

Packet 3 Received :

2013-10-01

Packet 3 Sent :

2013-10-02

Packet 4 Received :

2013-10-03

Interview Date :

2013-10-10

Interview Result :

Approved

link: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=163981

---

A few other couples who have similar timelines:

S and R (I-129f was approved in 41 days from NOA1 date):

Service Center :

California Service Center

Transferred?

No

Consulate :

Vancouver, Canada

I-129F Sent :

2013-07-05

I-129F NOA1 :

2013-07-12

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 :

2013-08-22

NVC Received :

2013-10-08

NVC Left :

2013-10-10

link: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=164741

---

Peter and Bonieke (I-129f was approved in 78 days from NOA1 date):

Service Center :

Vermont Service Center

Transferred?

Texas Service Center on 2013-08-09

Consulate :

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I-129F Sent :

2013-07-03

I-129F NOA1 :

2013-07-10

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 :

2013-09-26

NVC Received :

2013-10-07

link: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=165089

---

Sarah and Nichelle (I-129f was approved in 70 days from NOA1 date):

Service Center :

Vermont Service Center

Transferred?

Texas Service Center on 2013-08-12

Consulate :

Amsterdam, Netherlands

I-129F Sent :

2013-07-18

I-129F NOA1 :

2013-07-23

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 :

2013-10-01

link: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=165674

---

Based on these timelines, it seems like USCIS have granted early to mid-July filers their NOA2 in the last 2-3 weeks. Hopefully this is a good indication of the approval trend for same-sex I-129F applicants.

I figured it's so much easier to compare these timelines when they're all in one place. I hope the members don't mind me putting these up here. If you do, please let me know and I will take it down.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS AND GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

[FulanoDeTal 19]

Yes, things are moving along! We arrived in Rio today for some "quality time" that we had previously planned, and because we have the case number we've been able to schedule the medical exam here for next week. One less thing to worry about before we go for the interview, which we think will probably be in December or January. Being together again is so nice, and reminds us that all of this paperwork is definitely worth the effort. Good luck to everyone as the process continues!

Peter and Bonieke

[Nikkosan 127]

Based on these timelines, it seems like USCIS have granted early to mid-July filers their NOA2 in the last 2-3 weeks. Hopefully this is a good indication of the approval trend for same-sex I-129F applicants.

I figured it's so much easier to compare these timelines when they're all in one place. I hope the members don't mind me putting these up here. If you do, please let me know and I will take it down.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS AND GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

WOW! And I thought I was organised!!! Good job!!!

[hklad 9]

I am a late July filer and we received our NOA2 on Oct 4. We got the hard copy yesterday. We will start calling NVC for a number next week.

[Cometz 0]

Sent my RFE back to CSC. I got a RFE because I left the question for if I have been convicted for any crimes BLANK. At first I marked NO, then I went to the VJ guide and look at the I-129F sample...I don't see any answer so I assumed and white out my NO and left it BLANK. DO NOT leave any questions unanswered. Hopefully, once they review my RFE...they will approve my case.

[Sarah---Nichelle 1]

I figured it's so much easier to compare these timelines when they're all in one place. I hope the members don't mind me putting these up here. If you do, please let me know and I will take it down.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS AND GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

No Problem at all!

I'm glad things are moving along for people - Our case was just sent to the embassy, so hopefully we will be getting Packet 3 soon!

Hope the rest of you hear some good news soon too!

[TicoLover 17]

Congratulations to New Jersey same-sex couples (Strati & Darwin) where marriage becomes legal on Monday!!!

[Denis81 1]

Hey, maybe someone experienced the same: we filed for a K1 Visa late June and after only two (!) month we received NOA2 on September 9,2013. Now the next step should be that NVC receives our paperwork. But NVC keeps saying that they do not have anything received so far. It's been almost 6 weeks. That's really frustrating. NVC and USCIS keeps saying that in can take up to 8 weeks for the file to be forwarded. Both keep saying that before 8 weeks from NOA2 they do not start investigating.

Anybody who experienced the same?

[Sarah---Nichelle 1]

Hey, maybe someone experienced the same: we filed for a K1 Visa late June and after only two (!) month we received NOA2 on September 9,2013. Now the next step should be that NVC receives our paperwork. But NVC keeps saying that they do not have anything received so far. It's been almost 6 weeks. That's really frustrating. NVC and USCIS keeps saying that in can take up to 8 weeks for the file to be forwarded. Both keep saying that before 8 weeks from NOA2 they do not start investigating.

Anybody who experienced the same?

Ours was sent to NVC within a couple days after approval - however we were at TSC and you are at CSC. I've been reading that apparently CSC gives approvals quite quickly, but then lets the applications sit around for a while after before sending them to NVC - which is unfortunate.

So I think you're kinda stuck at the moment and hope that they send it to NVC soon - I would call and/or email CSC to try and get the ball rolling and have them send your file to NVC.

[SM & EF 41]

Hi everyone from Ft Lauderdale. So excited reading everyone's stories. My husband and I are getting ready for our interview in a month. We'll keep you posted,

[Susan53011 14]

yeah your def right. got my nao2 in 42 days and it took another 45 days just to get a case number at NVC. I think it all evens out in the end so don't lose hope. I drove myself crazy waiting and calling everyday. but now....we are anticipating packet 3 and 4 to be complete and scheduling our interview by next friday!! well worth the wait and the headache. Just start gathering docs for packet 3 and be ready to go, just in case CSC gets off their butt and starts moving again! good luck

Ours was sent to NVC within a couple days after approval - however we were at TSC and you are at CSC. I've been reading that apparently CSC gives approvals quite quickly, but then lets the applications sit around for a while after before sending them to NVC - which is unfortunate.

So I think you're kinda stuck at the moment and hope that they send it to NVC soon - I would call and/or email CSC to try and get the ball rolling and have them send your file to NVC.

[mm82 3]

I just like to say this thread has been inspiring for me. I am in a same-sex relationship with my fiance who is from Korea, I will call him Mr. Choi. I'm happy for all the couples that have been granted their visas and green card ... congratulations to you all. I'm still compiling my I-129F petition.

I think I maybe the first or first few cases of same-sex couple petitions for Korea. I wish to be with him soon.