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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Lebanon
Timeline
Posted

First I want to thank everyone who contributes to this site. It is nice to know that we are in this together. Now, a little about my story. I use to come up here all of the time for encouragement and then I stopped after my petition to marry my fiance was sent back to the USA by a consulate for a "final decision." I was told to wait...wait, wait, wait, and waited I did. I made phone calls, wrote emails, and even got my Senator involved and the response was always "wait 180 days before you inquire again." And so I waited some more.

I finally decided, after being told to wait again by a customer service rep at USCIS, to schedule an INFOPASS appointment at my local USCIS district office. It was the best thing I ever did. The lady I met with put in an office-to-office inquiry and told me to expect a final answer of what was going on with my fiancé petition within two weeks. Keep in mind that I was emailed not even one week before to wait another 6 months for an answer....again. After a total of two years, I got the final answer after the INFOPASS appointment. My petition had BEEN CLOSED a long time ago and was sent to a storage facility for sent back petitions! I was DEVASTATED. USCIS not only never intended to let me rebut their crazy findings but I would have waited for my entire life and nothing would have happened. Two months later after finding out the real truth about my petition, the USCIS website still says they are reviewing my case and will let me know when it is done or when they need more info from me.

I know how everyone up here feels. I know the sadness and the loneliness and the fear and the wait. Do yourself a favor and take a day out of your busy schedules and schedule an INFOPASS appointment online and go to your nearest USCIS office for real answers. I sent in my new petition today. If I had not gone down there, I would still be running to my mailbox everyday with hope only to be crushed again. Thank you for listening and hang in there.

Filed: FB-3 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

First I want to thank everyone who contributes to this site. It is nice to know that we are in this together. Now, a little about my story. I use to come up here all of the time for encouragement and then I stopped after my petition to marry my fiance was sent back to the USA by a consulate for a "final decision." I was told to wait...wait, wait, wait, and waited I did. I made phone calls, wrote emails, and even got my Senator involved and the response was always "wait 180 days before you inquire again." And so I waited some more.

I finally decided, after being told to wait again by a customer service rep at USCIS, to schedule an INFOPASS appointment at my local USCIS district office. It was the best thing I ever did. The lady I met with put in an office-to-office inquiry and told me to expect a final answer of what was going on with my fiancé petition within two weeks. Keep in mind that I was emailed not even one week before to wait another 6 months for an answer....again. After a total of two years, I got the final answer after the INFOPASS appointment. My petition had BEEN CLOSED a long time ago and was sent to a storage facility for sent back petitions! I was DEVASTATED. USCIS not only never intended to let me rebut their crazy findings but I would have waited for my entire life and nothing would have happened. Two months later after finding out the real truth about my petition, the USCIS website still says they are reviewing my case and will let me know when it is done or when they need more info from me.

I know how everyone up here feels. I know the sadness and the loneliness and the fear and the wait. Do yourself a favor and take a day out of your busy schedules and schedule an INFOPASS appointment online and go to your nearest USCIS office for real answers. I sent in my new petition today. If I had not gone down there, I would still be running to my mailbox everyday with hope only to be crushed again. Thank you for listening and hang in there.

OMG ! ####### ! These CS reps are useless. What's the reason why the case has been closed ? I wish you good luck on your new petition. BTW would it make it easier if you just got married instead of filing for another K-1 visa ?

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Lebanon
Timeline
Posted

OMG ! ####### ! These CS reps are useless. What's the reason why the case has been closed ? I wish you good luck on your new petition. BTW would it make it easier if you just got married instead of filing for another K-1 visa ?

The reason that they gave me for it being closed was because it expired. That would have been a reasonable reason for me if they were not telling me that it was being reviewed and that they would tell me when the review was over. I expected an answer of why the consulate denied it and an opportunity to fight the findings and get the petition reaffirmed or something like that.

Getting married could possibly be an option but I have been there four times and I honestly can't go back for at least a few months. Also, I know the K-1 procedures much better now to not let myself be victim to this craziness again. Now I know exactly what to expect and how to fight.

As far as the CS reps, I think they are just doing their jobs. They can only tell us what they are allowed to tell us. That's why I suggest people take advantage of INFOPASS.

Posted

The reason that they gave me for it being closed was because it expired. That would have been a reasonable reason for me if they were not telling me that it was being reviewed and that they would tell me when the review was over. I expected an answer of why the consulate denied it and an opportunity to fight the findings and get the petition reaffirmed or something like that.

Getting married could possibly be an option but I have been there four times and I honestly can't go back for at least a few months. Also, I know the K-1 procedures much better now to not let myself be victim to this craziness again. Now I know exactly what to expect and how to fight.

As far as the CS reps, I think they are just doing their jobs. They can only tell us what they are allowed to tell us. That's why I suggest people take advantage of INFOPASS.

Hey TluvsA,

So sorry to hear about the ####### they're putting you through-I just wanna make sure I understand correctly before aligning your experience with mine;

Since its K3 you filed an I 129F I think right? Sorry since Im in the reply screen I cant tell if you went through DCF or filed in the US but did you find out the case was closed after Embassy or UsCIS gave you an approval on the I 129? Or did they never make a final decision or had your fiancee in AP and thats why you questioned the long wait? Im trying to decipher if my hubby is in a similar situation- we did DCF but through Cotonou, Benin in west africa thats where we're living together and he already got his approval on the I 130 in January 2012 and he interviewed in March 2012. Since then, I have been in close contact with the Embassy and call DOS in the US constantly and all I get is " the case is still in administrative processing". They have never mentioned to me that the case was closed for any reason or any other action besides that the case is being processed. So we might be in the same shoes. Are you at the USCIS stage or at Dept of State stage? I recall when I used to call USCIS about the status after we received the I 130 approval and right away they would inform me that their job is done the delay lies within dept of state and I have to call them and the embassy.

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Lebanon
Timeline
Posted

@tluvsa even if the case still at the embassy for ap you think people should go to infopass?????

I think for me it would depends on how long it has been at the embassy. If you are trying to find out why things are taking so long than yes. But if they say it will be a month and its only been two weeks than no, I would wait until the reasonable amount of time has passed.

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Lebanon
Timeline
Posted

Hey TluvsA,

So sorry to hear about the ####### they're putting you through-I just wanna make sure I understand correctly before aligning your experience with mine;

Since its K3 you filed an I 129F I think right? Sorry since Im in the reply screen I cant tell if you went through DCF or filed in the US but did you find out the case was closed after Embassy or UsCIS gave you an approval on the I 129? Or did they never make a final decision or had your fiancee in AP and thats why you questioned the long wait? Im trying to decipher if my hubby is in a similar situation- we did DCF but through Cotonou, Benin in west africa thats where we're living together and he already got his approval on the I 130 in January 2012 and he interviewed in March 2012. Since then, I have been in close contact with the Embassy and call DOS in the US constantly and all I get is " the case is still in administrative processing". They have never mentioned to me that the case was closed for any reason or any other action besides that the case is being processed. So we might be in the same shoes. Are you at the USCIS stage or at Dept of State stage? I recall when I used to call USCIS about the status after we received the I 130 approval and right away they would inform me that their job is done the delay lies within dept of state and I have to call them and the embassy.

It was actually a K-1, but yes it was an I129F and I filed it from the US. I found out the case was closed after the USCIS approved it AND after the Embassy interview. The petition was sent back to the US after the consulate at the interview decided that USCIS needed to look over my petition again...as such to say that USCIS missed something major when they approved it and they needed to decide whether to let us continue or deny it after it had been approved just months before. So I was way beyond the USCIS and Dept. of State point when this happened. USCIS got my petition back and they said they were reviewing it and they would let me know when the review was complete. I thought I was in close contact with the USCIS by calling and having my Senator's office here in Virginia make inquiries on my behalf but they even gave the Senator's office the same lie that they gave me. It was not until I went to the INFOPASS that an actual person saw that I was also a person with feelings. And that I came there for some real answers and they seem to honor that when you go down there. The people that you talk to there have access to the people that we can't get next to with a phone call to a customer service rep. It's the real deal.

If you have been in AP for as long as you have been, you should do the INFOPASS appointment. Whatever's happening, you will know undoubtedly for sure after that appointment. And it's free :)

Posted

It was actually a K-1, but yes it was an I129F and I filed it from the US. I found out the case was closed after the USCIS approved it AND after the Embassy interview. The petition was sent back to the US after the consulate at the interview decided that USCIS needed to look over my petition again...as such to say that USCIS missed something major when they approved it and they needed to decide whether to let us continue or deny it after it had been approved just months before. So I was way beyond the USCIS and Dept. of State point when this happened. USCIS got my petition back and they said they were reviewing it and they would let me know when the review was complete. I thought I was in close contact with the USCIS by calling and having my Senator's office here in Virginia make inquiries on my behalf but they even gave the Senator's office the same lie that they gave me. It was not until I went to the INFOPASS that an actual person saw that I was also a person with feelings. And that I came there for some real answers and they seem to honor that when you go down there. The people that you talk to there have access to the people that we can't get next to with a phone call to a customer service rep. It's the real deal.

If you have been in AP for as long as you have been, you should do the INFOPASS appointment. Whatever's happening, you will know undoubtedly for sure after that appointment. And it's free :)

Ok I think I understand where I got thrown off here: after the initial approval and interview in Beirut, the CO sent the I 129 back to make USCIS scrutinize the relationship further. BUT you were aware that this step had taken place correct? Or were you under the impression all those months that everything was just fine and your fiancee was in Administrative processing at the Embassy level? Was it brought to your knowledge that the embassy deferred the petition or did you find out by mistake when you went in at Infopass? Thats what I'm trying to distinguish. So sorry to be a pain, Im grateful for your post and sharing your experience with us since its so important to all of us. As you noticed , my hubby has been placed under AP after the interview in Cotonou. This is very common for petitions coming from MENA countries especially because my husband has lived in Benin for so long and they would have to do background check in Lebanon as well. I call the Embassy often and I get the same response; that its still in AP and its not completed yet. Up to this step, I had filled out paperwork and prepared for interview etc by myself. Since last month, Ive hired a lawyer to ask about the status of the case through the embassy lawyers. He got the same response and now we are threatening with a mandamus lawsuit if theres no decision on his file within the next month. However, noone has ever mentioned that the petition was ever sent back and we have even asked in so many ways to get the same response. Even the Co here at the embassy told my husband directly that he didnt doubt the validity of our marriage and his paperwork was complete but they would still have to do the necessary name checks, etc. I have also called UsCIS in the past while waiting for the case to finish and they have told me that since they have approved our I 130 already, they are no longer involved in the process and that I must speak to the Embassy at this point. I have jumped through hoops to get the petition this far from the beginning so Im more than willing to make Infopass and go in just to be sure the petition wasnt returned however Im living with hubby in Benin and wont be visiting the states again for next couple of months. Any luck with your fiancees petition? Have you reapplied or will you wait to be married then submit i130? If you need any help, let me know If I can be of any use:)

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Lebanon
Timeline
Posted

Ok I think I understand where I got thrown off here: after the initial approval and interview in Beirut, the CO sent the I 129 back to make USCIS scrutinize the relationship further. BUT you were aware that this step had taken place correct? Or were you under the impression all those months that everything was just fine and your fiancee was in Administrative processing at the Embassy level? Was it brought to your knowledge that the embassy deferred the petition or did you find out by mistake when you went in at Infopass? Thats what I'm trying to distinguish. So sorry to be a pain, Im grateful for your post and sharing your experience with us since its so important to all of us. As you noticed , my hubby has been placed under AP after the interview in Cotonou. This is very common for petitions coming from MENA countries especially because my husband has lived in Benin for so long and they would have to do background check in Lebanon as well. I call the Embassy often and I get the same response; that its still in AP and its not completed yet. Up to this step, I had filled out paperwork and prepared for interview etc by myself. Since last month, Ive hired a lawyer to ask about the status of the case through the embassy lawyers. He got the same response and now we are threatening with a mandamus lawsuit if theres no decision on his file within the next month. However, noone has ever mentioned that the petition was ever sent back and we have even asked in so many ways to get the same response. Even the Co here at the embassy told my husband directly that he didnt doubt the validity of our marriage and his paperwork was complete but they would still have to do the necessary name checks, etc. I have also called UsCIS in the past while waiting for the case to finish and they have told me that since they have approved our I 130 already, they are no longer involved in the process and that I must speak to the Embassy at this point. I have jumped through hoops to get the petition this far from the beginning so Im more than willing to make Infopass and go in just to be sure the petition wasnt returned however Im living with hubby in Benin and wont be visiting the states again for next couple of months. Any luck with your fiancees petition? Have you reapplied or will you wait to be married then submit i130? If you need any help, let me know If I can be of any use:)

No you are not a pain at all. I'm happy to share. I was indeed aware that the petition would be sent back to the states. The guy told my fiancé what was about to happen. The interview was on Oct. 5 and the petition was back in the states on Nov. 25...and then nothing. They kept telling me that it was in the process of being reviewed and to wait 6 months before I could ask about it again. If it were not for the INFOPASS appointment, I would still be waiting for a response today. They would not tell me what was happening. They just kept sending me emails to wait until they were finished. They had "finished" a long time ago but never told me.

I think the mandamus is an excellent idea since you already have a lawyer retained. Definitely do that. It is especially a good idea for you since you are far away and can't do an INFOPASS. I just reapplied for the K-1 since I was told that all other findings from the first one would be dismissed without prejudice. I hope they're telling the truth!

Posted

No you are not a pain at all. I'm happy to share. I was indeed aware that the petition would be sent back to the states. The guy told my fiancé what was about to happen. The interview was on Oct. 5 and the petition was back in the states on Nov. 25...and then nothing. They kept telling me that it was in the process of being reviewed and to wait 6 months before I could ask about it again. If it were not for the INFOPASS appointment, I would still be waiting for a response today. They would not tell me what was happening. They just kept sending me emails to wait until they were finished. They had "finished" a long time ago but never told me.

I think the mandamus is an excellent idea since you already have a lawyer retained. Definitely do that. It is especially a good idea for you since you are far away and can't do an INFOPASS. I just reapplied for the K-1 since I was told that all other findings from the first one would be dismissed without prejudice. I hope they're telling the truth!

Yep totally understand now. Initially I misunderstood your first post and thought that you had not been made aware that embassy had deferred the petition which would have been even more of an outrage. Im so sorry that you and your fiancee have to go through the wait and headache over again but its all the more sweeter when hopefully youre all finished and reunited in the states! Dont waver and stay persistent. We have seen it all in this immigration journey so I can somewhat understand what you're dealing with. After i moved here with my husband and establishes residency of 6 months in the country, immigration decides to cancel DCF for countries with no USCIS office in the country like here in Benin. We find out the embassy wont accept his I130 petition at the interview to submit all documents. I almost passed out right on the embassy floor when the CO informed me of the sudden change, it was practically overnight. The embassies got word in very short notice and in turn we find out the same day of applying! I wouldnt stand for what they did to us, I had to write many emails to the director of USCIS in Accra Ghana whose responsible for petitions in this country and the embassy here and plead with them my case to accept my husband's petition. After much haggling, we got an exception and were allowed to continue to file directly. So believe me when I say hopefully your persistence will pay off. Our journey is still hard; husband's still in AP for 19 months now. I hope this filing goes very quickly for you guys and if theres anything I can contribute, would be glad to. God bless you and keep us updated on your progress :)

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline
Posted

TluvsA - I'm sorry for your news of waiting, and what you learned.

This is posted at least once a quarter:

1. Returned petitions to VSC are never re-visited and

2. Returned petitions to CSC usually are revisited.

Good on you for submitting a new petition. Good Luck, and GodSpeed !

Sometimes my language usage seems confusing - please feel free to 'read it twice', just in case !
Ya know, you can find the answer to your question with the advanced search tool, when using a PC? Ditch the handphone, come back later on a PC, and try again.

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Congratulations on your approval ! We All Applaud your accomplishment with Most Wonderful Kissies !

 

 
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