Confused About Expedite Message

[utrachel29 3]

I just found out at the end of last week that I will be PCSing to Korea in July. So, I called the USCIS military helpline to try to get our I-129F petition expedited. I got the following response by email yesterday:

"The status of this service request is:

Your case is currently under review. We understand that you have requested expeditious processing of your application. You should receive a decision or notice of further action on your application within 30 days of the date of this letter as your Form I-I129F, is already assigned to an officer."

I'm a little confused by the response. Does it mean that they are expediting it, and we'll have a response within 30 days? Or does it mean that they don't think it needs to be expedited since its already "assigned to an officer" and therefore should be done in 30 days? Also, does USCIS expedition affect the petition once it reaches the NVC?

If anyone has experience with this and could provide guidance, I'd really appreciate it!

[Demmy 6]

I haven't experienced that but it seems your case as been assigned to an officer and you should receive a decision in the mail soon.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

USCIS and NVC are different departments oF the government. Once it leaves USCIS, it's the Department of State for NVC and the embassy. A K1 is typically at NVC for only 3-4 days before it is forwarded to the embassy.

Start reading this thread so you know exactly what to do for your London part and won't hold yourself up. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/474161-london-k1-a-complete-guide/

You can request an expedite with London once the case gets there and you have done your part.

[utrachel29 3]

Demmy, that's how I read it, but I wasn't quite sure.

[utrachel29 3]

Nich-Nick,

Thanks for the link! That's a really great and complete updated thread on the post NOA2 stuff!!! We've already started to put that packet together, since we need this process to go as fast as possible. I've filled out the I-134, and it will just need to be updated once the NOA2 is received. We're using my Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) and a letter from my command to support my income, since this is my first year in the Army (no previous tax returns). He's got his long version birth certificate, photos, a fairly new passport, and his military records. We've ordered the police certificates. We're a bit concerned about the police certificate part, since he deployed a couple of times with the British military. I think his honorable discharge papers should be enough for those (since you can't really get a police certificate from a deployment). He's got an appointment in a month with the NHS to try and get the vaccines that he needs, since they can't provide him with a copy of any of his childhood vaccines. However, if he doesn't get them in time for the interview, hopefully he can just get them here from Tricare (Army healthcare system). I know he needs them for AOS, but he'll need them to come with me to Korea as well. How much of a pain is it to have to fill out the extra paperwork for AOS if he gets the vaccines here in the US?

I haven't seen anyone talking about specifically asking for an expedite from the London embassy? Do you know what all I need to do for that? I can't find any info about it on their website.

Thanks for all of the great support!!! We stalked this site for weeks prior to submitting the application, which was immeasurably helpful!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

A month off is a long time. Is there any way to go sooner or just ask for the practice nurse to help you? If you leave the shots until AOS, then a Civil Surgeon (specific list of names) has to fill out the immunization section of a new medical report I-693. The problem is some charge a lot. Some won't do it without doing the entire medical exam or TB test. Some are hours away depending on where you live. It could cost you hundreds of dollars. That's the reason we encourage getting it done and free prior to the UK medical.

Police certificate is fine without the deployment places I think. He was part of the military and not on his own taking up independent residence in another country.

Expedite London. I would have a letter prepared with a photocopy of the deployment orders and both your names and the new LND case number. As soon as your case gets near (shows "in transit" or "ready" on CEAC) mail the letter to the IV Unit requesting the expedite. Then you can later contact them via the online contact form to ask again and say you mailed the required proof of deployment on [date]. There is no normal email address or a way to attach a proof with the way they have "contact us" set up now is why I say get it mailed in at the soonest possible time. Then you can follow up online and say I have completed all requirements and am again requesting an expedite. I can come on short notice,

Going to Korea with you. That will be another hurdle. You have marry, see a civil surgeon, get your marriage certificate, file for AOS and again seek an expedite from USCIS on the greencard. He can't just arrive on a K1 and leave the for Korea. And depending on how long he will be gone, he may need additional documents. But that is another research project and an AOS topic. Or maybe the VJ military forum has good tips on that. Once you get London paperwork sorted, then while waiting for the interview, start filling out the AOS paperwork to be prepared to file that quickly. We married and filed by my fiance's 9th day in the country by planning ahead.

[utrachel29 3]

A month is a long time. Its the soonest he could get an appointment, though, since he isn't sick. We were hoping that if he couldn't get his vaccines done in time that he could get the military to do it here (which would be free) and then pay the civil surgeon (hoping that it would be cheaper without the shots). Otherwise, does anyone have any ideas of how to get the NHS to work faster?

I will definitely have that stuff ready for the expedite in London. We need him here ASAP to get on my orders (since you have to apply for Command Sponsorship in order for your spouse to accompany you to Korea). We also know that he'll have to get through AOS and Advanced Parole. I've read that when expedited, though, some people have gotten AOS in as little as 2 weeks. We're not counting on it, but we can hope! I've started trying to gather stuff for that as well. Otherwise, if it takes a bit longer after I leave for Korea, he can follow me there if he's on my orders.

Thanks again for your help! This is a very daunting process to try and speed through.

[utrachel29 3]

Just an update...

We still have not heard anything back from USCIS yet as far as a NOA2. I know that our case is no where near the estimated 5 month time-frame, but based on the email I got back about expediting, we should hear something by the 2nd of February. (Fingers crossed!!!)

My PCS orders have been changed now to Germany, which we are very excited about. I am looking forward to spending time in Europe, and my fiance is looking forward to being close-ish to family and friends. I'm not sure if this will affect our expedite or not, but this stage doesn't seem to have a real expedite at this point anyway.

My fiance was able to get an earlier NHS appointment. He got his vaccines updated for flu, Tdap, and MMR. We've gotten pretty much everything together to schedule his medical exam and send Packet 3 off as soon as the NOA2 arrives.

I'm anxiously checking the USCIS website everyday, which is driving me crazy!!! But, I guess I'll have to try and be patient.

[JbTin 51]

Hi. We received a somewhat similar message when we requested for expedite a few months ago. Although ours didnt say 30days in the message, the rep told my husband when he called back to follow up to wait 30days from the time we put in the request, and if we dont hear from them after 30days, give them a call again. We got the approval on the 24th day. So yeah, i hope you will receive some good news by next week

[utrachel29 3]

Hi. We received a somewhat similar message when we requested for expedite a few months ago. Although ours didnt say 30days in the message, the rep told my husband when he called back to follow up to wait 30days from the time we put in the request, and if we dont hear from them after 30days, give them a call again. We got the approval on the 24th day. So yeah, i hope you will receive some good news by next week

That's so great to hear! I was getting really nervous that the last minute thing was because of a problem or something. You're story helps me calm down a little bit. I'll definitely keep you posted as to if I hear something back!

[utrachel29 3]

Great news!!! I just got a text about 2 minutes ago saying that our case status had been updated. I went to the USCIS site and had this message...

"On January 27, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)."

On to the NVC we go!

[JbTin 51]

Great news!!! I just got a text about 2 minutes ago saying that our case status had been updated. I went to the USCIS site and had this message...

"On January 27, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)."

On to the NVC we go!

Yayyy! Told ya! Congrats!!! Happy for u guys!

[JbTin 51]

Oops! Sorry for the double post

Edited January 28, 2014 by krispykreme

[CharityRob 1]

We have the same case, my Fiancé who is an Army Officer wrote a letter and after 2 days we got approved!

[teanet 20]

I don't know how you did it with vaccines, but I was able to get all the vaccines, tb test and blood test on post and than just brought results to civil surgeon. Also on some post they have doctor who does medical exam and somewhere in this forum I read that every PCM can do that medical as long as he is dod employ.