K1 September 2014 Filers (TSC)

[Ethline 17]

I really hope that happens. Hopefully some of our applications are approved in early February. an unrealistic scenario to me would be approvals late January, but who knows what can happen.

If it was not for this forum I probably would have lost my mind already. Honestly for me it's not even the long wait. I am more annoyed with the inconstancy of processing times between the two service center. To see one center process application in a little as 14 days while the other takes 7 months. No logical explanation can be provided. Then the randomness to approve a November app while June has yet to be touch. Those are the kind f things that really get my blood boiling.

[av8or1 246]

From my experience in the federal workforce, things grind to a halt by mid December and really don't pick up again until mid January. Not to be the bearer of not-so-good news, but I'm anticipating the full 7 months, which means early April for us September filers. If anything happens before that I'll feel lucky, especially in my case.

That is bad enough, but what disturbs me even more than that is the delay at the NVC. That's a classic bottleneck problem that doesn't seem likely to get better anytime soon. But who knows...

Edited December 15, 2014 by adair

[msbau764 245]

From my experience in the federal workforce, things grind to a halt by mid December and really don't pick up again until mid January. Not to be the bearer of not-so-good news, but I'm anticipating the full 7 months, which means early April for us September filers. If anything happens before that I'll feel lucky, especially in my case.

That is bad enough, but what disturbs me even more than that is the delay at the NVC. That's a classic bottleneck problem that doesn't seem likely to get better anytime soon. But who knows...

basically I need to brace myself for my son to be born abroad. Ugh. Talk about stress and MORE forms to fill out.

[av8or1 246]

basically I need to brace myself for my son to be born abroad. Ugh. Talk about stress and MORE forms to fill out.

When is your approximate due date? The short answer to your question is yes. If it makes you feel any better, though it probably won't - lol, I'm in the same boat with you. Our date is mid-April.

I've been researching CRBA and trying to get a game plan together. That's tough to do however in light of the great big unknown date of I-129F approval. I'd still love an approval that came ASAP even if she can't travel for a while, due entirely to the large delay that I anticipate at the NVC and the at-least-a-month delay at the embassy in Moscow.

Ps-and don't forget the second interview that you'll have too! And associated fees. Lol

Edited December 15, 2014 by adair

[msbau764 245]

When is your approximate due date? The short answer to your question is yes. If it makes you feel any better, though it probably won't - lol, I'm in the same boat with you. Our date is mid-April.

I've been researching CRBA and trying to get a game plan together. That's tough to do however in light of the great big unknown date of I-129F approval. I'd still love an approval that came ASAP even if she can't travel for a while, due entirely to the large delay that I anticipate at the NVC and the at-least-a-month delay at the embassy in Moscow.

Ps-and don't forget the second interview that you'll have too! And associated fees. Lol

Her due date is approximately May 7, give or take a week. I pray that she can be here in time to give birth. It'll make everything easier. If she were here, I could take off work a day before she is due as opposed to timing the birth and leaving work a week in advance. Not to mention after giving birth she would need to wait 6 weeks before flying with the baby (meaning I'll have to leave them both to return to work)

what is your absolute, drop-dead date for your fiance to travel? If she were due, for example, on April 15, and you have the visa in hand on April 1, would you book a ticket?

I guess your situation may be a bit different considering the distance from Russia to Texas. For my fiance the flight would be 1 hr 45 minutes. I don't know if it makes a difference.

[k1visajourney 2]

Hi, everyone!

I am a September filer as well.

I do have a question. Since some of the September filers got approved does that mean that TSC is looking at the September filers right now or are these approved cases just lucky ones?

Good luck to us all!

Thanks.

[sandra3711 52]

Hi, everyone!

I am a September filer as well.

I do have a question. Since some of the September filers got approved does that mean that TSC is looking at the September filers right now or are these approved cases just lucky ones?

Good luck to us all!

Thanks.

Hey there! The approvals that have been made concerning September at TSC have been mostly beneficiaries from the Philippines. They are expedited due to the typhoon that occurred last year, and to the best of my knowledge, TSC is still working on June files.

[k1visajourney 2]

Oh I see...Thanks a lot sandra3711! We will be probably getting the approvals starting February! Hopefully...

[av8or1 246]

Her due date is approximately May 7, give or take a week. I pray that she can be here in time to give birth. It'll make everything easier. If she were here, I could take off work a day before she is due as opposed to timing the birth and leaving work a week in advance. Not to mention after giving birth she would need to wait 6 weeks before flying with the baby (meaning I'll have to leave them both to return to work)

what is your absolute, drop-dead date for your fiance to travel? If she were due, for example, on April 15, and you have the visa in hand on April 1, would you book a ticket?

I guess your situation may be a bit different considering the distance from Russia to Texas. For my fiance the flight would be 1 hr 45 minutes. I don't know if it makes a difference.

You mean in the scenario that the approval came much earlier, we made it through the NVC in record time and got a lightning quick interview date at the embassy? Lol

Oh no, even in that scenario our cutoff date is the end of January, or approximately week 28. Beyond that you need written permission from an MD to fly, at least on the airline we use. It might vary depending on the airline but I wouldn't think by much. I don't think flight duration factors into their policy much, but I could be wrong. As a former airline jock I wouldn't want any woman aboard who was that far along and I suspect the airline itself wouldn't either, from a liability perspective if nothing else.

Nope, due to the unreasonable difference in processing times between the two centers this is the hand we've been dealt. This is why I took the time to send emails and letters to my federal representatives. If we had the processing times of the CSC then we wouldn't be in this situation, which raises the unfair factor by a few orders of magnitude.

But it is what it is. I'm trying to stay positive, I mean there are a lot of our military families who face this hardship routinely. So if they have to do it, then I shouldn't complain too much I suppose. At least I don't have someone shooting at me to boot. Lol

That said, I'm sure that they'd agree with us that it's a crappy situation.

Would your fiance even be willing to fly with only two weeks prior to delivery? I know mine wouldn't.

[msbau764 245]

You mean in the scenario that the approval came much earlier, we made it through the NVC in record time and got a lightning quick interview date at the embassy? Lol

Oh no, even in that scenario our cutoff date is the end of January, or approximately week 28. Beyond that you need written permission from an MD to fly, at least on the airline we use. It might vary depending on the airline but I wouldn't think by much. I don't think flight duration factors into their policy much, but I could be wrong. As a former airline jock I wouldn't want any woman aboard who was that far along and I suspect the airline itself wouldn't either, from a liability perspective if nothing else.

Nope, due to the unreasonable difference in processing times between the two centers this is the hand we've been dealt. This is why I took the time to send emails and letters to my federal representatives. If we had the processing times of the CSC then we wouldn't be in this situation, which raises the unfair factor by a few orders of magnitude.

But it is what it is. I'm trying to stay positive, I mean there are a lot of our military families who face this hardship routinely. So if they have to do it, then I shouldn't complain too much I suppose. At least I don't have someone shooting at me to boot. Lol

That said, I'm sure that they'd agree with us that it's a crappy situation.

Would your fiance even be willing to fly with only two weeks prior to delivery? I know mine wouldn't.

United says that through the first 8 months of pregnancy, no documentation is needed. Beyond that, a doctor's note with 72 hours of departure. Thus my drop-dead date, so to speak, is right around 8 months. I think I would still be willing to rent a car and drive her to Houston though. I would feel much more comfortable knowing that she were on my employer's health insurance.

[SincerelyMeike 52]

My fiancé and I are applying to universities because either way we won't be staying in Florida. We're applying to UT Austin, Brighton University in the UK, and Hamburg University in Germany. Technically speaking, more than likely we would find out where we're going before our school starts, I'd just really REALLY like to have to time to get ready before we leave. Best case scenario I get my approval in February, worst case I get my approval in April :x

I'm actually thinking of switching from the Trinidad embassy to the German embassy. I heard getting the packets go by so much faster in Germany.

[av8or1 246]

United says that through the first 8 months of pregnancy, no documentation is needed. Beyond that, a doctor's note with 72 hours of departure. Thus my drop-dead date, so to speak, is right around 8 months. I think I would still be willing to rent a car and drive her to Houston though. I would feel much more comfortable knowing that she were on my employer's health insurance.

Yeah I concur, but it's not gonna happen for us. You'd need one quick marriage too; you'd have to get the license and get to a JP in short order, then make a call to your HR office ASAP after that. It'd be tight, but you could probably do it.

Again, unless a miracle happens, which it won't, Elena and I are out of luck. Although the difference in medical technology is considerable between the two respective countries, I'm trying to remember that lots of babies are born in Russia everyday, so we should be ok. That is unless ours is a premie or there are other complications. Then I dunno. I'll be praying like crazy in that scenario. But so far, our son is healthy and all tests have come back normal thus far, to include a special test that can only be conducted in the USA, dontchaknow. Lol ... so we're optimistic for a normal birth, but aren't counting the eggs too fast just yet.

So you're in Houston huh? Singapore Airlines has a direct flight to Moscow out of IAH, so that's what we use when we travel. We'll have to do lunch next time I'm down that way.

Edited December 15, 2014 by adair

[SincerelyMeike 52]

Quick question guys! At what point after the marriage do you need to send in the pictures of the wedding? I was honestly considering flying in, get quickly married and then having the wedding a few months after and then sending the pictures in.. or nah?

[av8or1 246]

My fiancé and I are applying to universities because either way we won't be staying in Florida. We're applying to UT Austin, Brighton University in the UK, and Hamburg University in Germany. Technically speaking, more than likely we would find out where we're going before our school starts, I'd just really REALLY like to have to time to get ready before we leave. Best case scenario I get my approval in February, worst case I get my approval in April :x

I'm actually thinking of switching from the Trinidad embassy to the German embassy. I heard getting the packets go by so much faster in Germany.

You seem like an astute individual, so I'm sure you're aware that the NOA2 is just the end of one wait and the beginning of another, right? The NVC wait is considerable right now and unlikely to change, or so it would seem.

Y'all should definitely come to UT. Great place Austin is, you'd like it for sure.

[SincerelyMeike 52]

You seem like an astute individual, so I'm sure you're aware that the NOA2 is just the end of one wait and the beginning of another, right? The NVC wait is considerable right now and unlikely to change, or so it would seem.

Y'all should definitely come to UT. Great place Austin is, you'd like it for sure.

Yeah :x I'm counting like a good 9 month wait from the time I got my NOA1. A good 6 months for my NOA2 (hopefully), a month for NVC, and 2 months for the packages and what nots. I really hope this doesn't take TOO long.. because I really don't want to waste a whole year doing nothing.