November 2013 TSC Filers

[D&Wontheroad 3]

Congrats to all the recent approvals - really exciting to see some movement for November TSC-ers!!!

Quick update on where we are at:

Since NOA2 (March 21, after 6 months, 1 week), the pace has seriously picked up. Our case flew through NVC in 4 days and made it to the USEM in Qatar in 2! Seeing that it had been received, I emailed the Consular Section and they emailed back with Packet 3. Took us a few days to gather the last few documents, but R. dropped it off yesterday.

He received a call within a few hours (?!) informing him that he had been scheduled for his interview next Tuesday, 22/4!!!

With the long Easter weekend (in the Middle East anyway), I'll be able to fly out tomorrow and be there for the interview next week.

Exciting, nerve-wracking, and so so hopeful that we might soon be together (and done with this process)!

Any good vibes/prayers/mojo/happy thoughts that you can send our way on Tuesday would be much appreciated

Whoohaa! That's a fast train all of a sudden haha! Good for you! ours went fast after noa2, but not that fast hahah! Sending good mojos for Tuesdays, send me some back on Thursday we have our interview ion Amsterdam then

[TheFoxxy 76]

So I called USCIS this morning and put a service request in since we are outside the 5 month period. They said that a decision or update on my case will be made within 30 days from today..

I don't know if I should be glad or sad because I'm starting to worry something is wrong with our case. Even though I made sure we had everything and our case is fairly straight forward..

Maybe I am just being paranoid, anyways keep your fingers crossed for us guys.. thanks!(

[bunnygirl 86]

So I called USCIS this morning and put a service request in since we are outside the 5 month period. They said that a decision or update on my case will be made within 30 days from today..

I don't know if I should be glad or sad because I'm starting to worry something is wrong with our case. Even though I made sure we had everything and our case is fairly straight forward..

Maybe I am just being paranoid, anyways keep your fingers crossed for us guys.. thanks!(

I'm sure there's nothing wrong, Texas is just really slow at the moment.

Also, just wanted to point out that you don't hit the 5 month mark til Wednesday this week, it's 5 months from your NOA1.

[lorella 65]

I'm sure there's nothing wrong, Texas is just really slow at the moment.

Also, just wanted to point out that you don't hit the 5 month mark til Wednesday this week, it's 5 months from your NOA1.

is the 5 months based on receipt date or NOA1 date? i've heard people say both...

seems like it may be receipt date if that allowed her to place a service request?

[bunnygirl 86]

It's definitely from the NOA 1 date. You can post a service request any time you want, doesn't mean they'll look at it though

[SparklePony 238]

It's so frustrating to see many of you still waiting. :(

[TheFoxxy 76]

It's definitely from the NOA 1 date. You can post a service request any time you want, doesn't mean they'll look at it though

I was told on the phone by them that the filed date is the date they go off for 5 months. She asked me when I sent in my petition and then she told me it's outside the 5 month period..

Also, 5 months from my NOA1 date would be Friday April 25th.

Edited April 21, 2014 by TheFoxxy

[zhivago 5]

Yes, I also worried that something was wrong, since our case also seems fairly straight forward with lots of evidence and everything properly filled out as far as I know, but I was told that Texas had to train new people, taking cases from other service centers like Vermont, compared to California which had more seasoned officers, accounting for generally faster rates, and that we might be in a training batch, since files are handled in groups. Unfortunately, even though we are now at 5 months 2 weeks past NOA1, the congressional office said they can "facilitate" by finding out information about where the case is, but it was not yet far enough past the average time for them to "advocate", which I guess means pushing a bit more - very frustrating. Missing another holiday together was tough, but had a nice time speaking with my Russian family, and hopefully this week will be the one. I know my fiancée and I would be ecstatic, and I can't wait to be able to give her the good news. Fingers crossed for us all, especially for those who may still be waiting from October or earlier. Hang in there, guys!

Edited April 21, 2014 by zhivago

[sweetswinks 400]

Yes, I also worried that something was wrong, since our case also seems fairly straight forward with lots of evidence and everything properly filled out as far as I know, but I was told that Texas had to train new people, taking cases from other service centers like Vermont, compared to California which had more seasoned officers, accounting for generally faster rates, and that we might be in a training batch, since files are handled in groups. Unfortunately, even though we are now at 5 months 2 weeks past NOA1, the congressional office said they can "facilitate" by finding out information about where the case is, but it was not yet far enough past the average time for them to "advocate", which I guess means pushing a bit more - very frustrating. Missing another holiday together was tough, but had a nice time speaking with my Russian family, and hopefully this week will be the one. I know my fiancée and I would be ecstatic, and I can't wait to be able to give her the good news. Fingers crossed for us all, especially for those who may still be waiting from October or earlier. Hang in there, guys!

I am so sorry you are still waiting after 5.5 months!

Who told you that TSC was training? was it here on VJ? I am curious!

I truly hope you get your NOA2 soon. It's unfair to have been a November filer and still be waiting.

[zhivago 5]

I am so sorry you are still waiting after 5.5 months!

Who told you that TSC was training? was it here on VJ? I am curious!

I truly hope you get your NOA2 soon. It's unfair to have been a November filer and still be waiting.

Thanks very much, sweetswinks! I was given those explanations by my congressional office, which seems to be very familiar with the process and the different service centers, though who knows? There might be some other reasons that they don't know of. I wish there were more transparency, so that we could get a better idea of actual numbers. VJ of course is great, but it only shows statistics of those who have registered a timeline on the site, not all petitions at TSC and other centers. Yes, it is unfair, but I guess it's best to keep busy and not sit biting one's nails. Hope you will get your approval swiftly, and certainly it is possible, since many have. Ok, back to work!

Edited April 21, 2014 by zhivago

[Rebecca.V 24]

Case not received by NVC yet... Notice that it was shipped there 10 days ago. They say 4 - 5 weeks! Forget that...

[Shiawase 0]

My requests through my Senators' offices have not yielded any results. Instead, I've gotten the standard "We will make a decision or request for further information within 30 days" over the past couple months. USCIS isn't readily submitting service requests either (via Tier I officer or on the web), since they are still processing applications from October 22 according to their internal schedule (last updated on April 3, or so I was told). I was finally able to get through to a Tier II officer who did submit a request for my case and said I should receive a response to my service request by the end of next week..Hopefully that will provide some insight as to what's going on. I hope someone in this thread will hear something soon to at least confirm TSC is processing I-129F's... Because this graphic is alarming!

[None9876543210 1]

I was told on the phone by them that the filed date is the date they go off for 5 months. She asked me when I sent in my petition and then she told me it's outside the 5 month period..

Also, 5 months from my NOA1 date would be Friday April 25th.

I was told the same thing by TSC that they count the file date as the beginning of the five month period. Although I have read numerous times here it is the NOA1 that begins the five months, which makes sense. But if they let me file a service request at any time I will be doing it tomorrow. I won't be expecting a fast response but at least I will feel like I am doing something productive during this time of waiting.

[luxuguy 27]

I was told the same thing by TSC that they count the file date as the beginning of the five month period. Although I have read numerous times here it is the NOA1 that begins the five months, which makes sense. But if they let me file a service request at any time I will be doing it tomorrow. I won't be expecting a fast response but at least I will feel like I am doing something productive during this time of waiting.

Can you explain "count the file date as the beginning of the five month period." ??

[nina.mb 8]

We had our interview in Doha yesterday and we are......APPROOOOOOOVED!!!! Took us this long to pull ourselves together enough to post :PThe interview itself was absurdly simple*, just a few questions about where and when we met, when/how he proposed, if his family was supportive (he's Muslim, I'm Christian), and when/where we plan to get married. That was it. He told us Mbrok (congratulations!) and told us that my fiancé should be able to pick up his passport within the next few days!!!

Our CEAC status now reads Administrative Processing, which if I understand correctly means that they are in the process of prepping the entry packet and printing the visa (normal timeline ~ 2-3 business days).It still makes me nervous though, hearing horror stories of people that get stuck in AP for long periods without any updates.

With a verbal approval, there's no reason to think this would be the case, correct? I'd be especially curious to hear from others who had gone through the USEM in Doha, though I know there aren't very many...how long did their AP take?

I'm pretty sure this anxiety is largely due to the fact that I haven't yet rid myself of the neurotic habits developed during the NOA2 waiting period, so feel free to tell me to knock it off and celebrate!

Anyway, thank you to all of you thinking of us and sending good vibes our way yesterday

D&Wontheroad, shooting them back at you for tomorrow - good luck!!!!

*I, the petitioner, was in attendance, which I would encourage everyone to do if the Embassy allows it and you can swing it logistically. It was a HUGE stress-reducer to both of us and I think it really does help if the interviewer is able to actually see the dynamics between the couple.

Whoohaa! That's a fast train all of a sudden haha! Good for you! ours went fast after noa2, but not that fast hahah! Sending good mojos for Tuesdays, send me some back on Thursday we have our interview ion Amsterdam then