TSC Anxiety Kicking In

[Dohan 133]

Wow! Thanks everyone for your answers.

As rescheduling won't be an option - for several reasons I won't enumerate here - I have some other options up my sleeve:

Option A: Cancel current submission and submit a new 129F with a California address (parents live in California and permanent address is there, PA is temporary) - then maybe routed to CSC and be done in 1 month with USCIS

Option B: Wait for TSC, if not done in time for the wedding, go with visitor visa, have the wedding reception, leave the country, wait for K1 to finalize, then fly on K1 and do a small civil "official" ceremony, then AOS and everything else

Option C: Cancel 129F, then more than 61 days before the wedding go with visitor visa, then apply for AOS from B2

Option D: Any other ideas out there?

Thanks for the help

Rather than cancelling the current I-129F, submit a change of address form, providing the CA address, that way you won't have to start from zero. And then your case will automatically transfer to CSC

You mean NOA2.

Yes NOA2, oops.

[acgmph 42]

Option C is fraud due to premeditation.

Edit: Unless you leave the country at the end of the scheduled stay. But I see nothing wrong with Options A & B.

Yeah, Option C was the least viable.

There is an option A1, but not sure if it would work: submit a change of address with the California address - would that kick in a transfer? Doubt it, but doesn't hurt to ask. Otherwise Option B seems most likely.

Rather than cancelling the current I-129F, submit a change of address form, providing the CA address, that way you won't have to start from zero. And then your case will automatically transfer to CSC

Yes NOA2, oops.

Are you sure that a change of address would trigger a transfer? That's what I'm afraid of

[charlieprince 24]

is anyone sure? that's the problem you're facing: THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES

except you will wait, and wait a long time.

That's why everyone has said, having a set hard date for an August wedding is very tough and very risky.. it's almost guaranteed to be impossible to be met

that's the only guarantee at this point

no matter which route you take.. you will wait.. it's a process

[acgmph 42]

is anyone sure? that's the problem you're facing: THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES

except you will wait, and wait a long time.

That's why everyone has said, having a set hard date for an August wedding is very tough and very risky.. it's almost guaranteed to be impossible to be met

that's the only guarantee at this point

no matter which route you take.. you will wait.. it's a process

I understand that - and I am not trying to cut corners, just trying to get this done as fast as possible - one less headache. From his answer, it seems that Dohan is pretty sure that a change of address would trigger a petition transfer to CSC. I just want to evaluate all options here.

[Megan & Luke 93]

I agree with others who've said that you should probably reschedule.

We have seen some VERY fast movers, expedites and Filipino filers move through TSC. The reality though is that you will wait 6-8 months for your NOA2. My NOA2 came 199 days after my NOA1, at almost 7 months waiting. That does not factor in the time it will now take for our case to get to NVC, then for my fiance to have his medical and his interview scheduled.. etc. You see where I am going with this. We tacked on another 4 months which will bring us to almost a year after filing. Granted, he could probably get here by March but that's still 8 months.

No one here wants to destroy the hope you have for your original plans, but the reality of TSC is that they are behind and don't seem to have any intention of fixing the problem. You'll have to roll with their punches for now. Sorry

Edited January 28, 2015 by Megan & Luke

[av8or1 246]

Option A is dicey for a couple of reasons. First, resubmitting the same petition under a different address could raise a flag, RFE if nothing else. Secondly, cancellation of an I-129F isn't as straightforward as you might think. The biggest problem is time. It will take time to cancel your petition and until it's officially cancelled, you won't be able to file another. So it kinda defeats the purpose.

The only real option you have is option B really. But that's just my $.02. Others may have a different opinion.

Let us know how it goes!

[acgmph 42]

I agree with others who've said that you should probably reschedule.

We have seen some VERY fast movers, expedites and Filipino filers move through TSC. The reality though is that you will wait 6-8 months for your NOA2. My NOA2 came 199 days after my NOA1, at almost 7 months waiting. That does not factor in the time it will now take for our case to get to NVC, then for my fiance to have his medical and his interview scheduled.. etc. You see where I am going with this. We tacked on another 4 months which will bring us to almost a year after filing. Granted, he could probably get here by March but that's still 8 months.

No one here wants to destroy the hope you have for your original plans, but the reality of TSC is that they are behind and don't seem to have any intention of fixing the problem. You'll have to roll with their punches for now. Sorry

Thanks, but there might be a way out of the TSC hellhole, at least for our case. Curious if changing the address to California would trigger a transfer to CSC. CSC means wedding in August would be no problem.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

I understand that - and I am not trying to cut corners, just trying to get this done as fast as possible - one less headache. From his answer, it seems that Dohan is pretty sure that a change of address would trigger a petition transfer to CSC. I just want to evaluate all options here.

I'm not convinced that a COA will trigger a transfer.

[TabeaK 517]

I agree about the transfer. I seriously doubt that. If that was the case, that'd be a pretty big loophole. I'd love to get out of the TSC hellhole too,

I cannot guarantee it, but I think once your petition is at a Service Center, it stays there unless the Service Center does a rare bulk transfer to ease the load. The address change is for them to know where to send the notices.

None of these options are viable. You cannot get married while a K1 is pending, it makes it null and void. You'd have to refile for CR-1.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, we have almost identical NOA-1s. I hope for a December wedding - but I am not planning anything until NOA-2. Which is gonna be July or later.

[msbau764 245]

Thanks, but there might be a way out of the TSC hellhole, at least for our case. Curious if changing the address to California would trigger a transfer to CSC. CSC means wedding in August would be no problem.

that would be a gigantic mistake. from what I understand your petition isn't guaranteed to go to the CSC just because you send it from a California address.

[JJ Day 22]

The service center your application is sent to has absolutely nothing to do with where you live so changing your address would be a waste of time and could very possibly raise red flags. Once again, the best advice is to WAIT until after you have a visa in hand to plan a wedding. Otherwise you will end up having to go the CR1 route, which will put you all the way back at square one. I know how difficult this waiting is, but you really have to get the idea of an August wedding out of your mind. You say it's not possible to reschedule, but if it's impossible to have a visa by then, then the sad truth is that you must find a way to reschedule.

[acgmph 42]

I agree about the transfer. I seriously doubt that. If that was the case, that'd be a pretty big loophole. I'd love to get out of the TSC hellhole too,

I cannot guarantee it, but I think once your petition is at a Service Center, it stays there unless the Service Center does a rare bulk transfer to ease the load. The address change is for them to know where to send the notices.

None of these options are viable. You cannot get married while a K1 is pending, it makes it null and void. You'd have to refile for CR-1.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, we have almost identical NOA-1s. I hope for a December wedding - but I am not planning anything until NOA-2. Which is gonna be July or later.

I agree that we cannot get married officially, but there's no one stopping us from having the reception and all, just not get a marriage license and certificate until K1 is in.

And why would that be a loophole? Not everyone has a readily (and legal) available west coast address.

The service center your application is sent to has absolutely nothing to do with where you live so changing your address would be a waste of time and could very possibly raise red flags. Once again, the best advice is to WAIT until after you have a visa in hand to plan a wedding. Otherwise you will end up having to go the CR1 route, which will put you all the way back at square one. I know how difficult this waiting is, but you really have to get the idea of an August wedding out of your mind. You say it's not possible to reschedule, but if it's impossible to have a visa by then, then the sad truth is that you must find a way to reschedule.

OK, thanks

Will go with Option B then.

[av8or1 246]

I'm not convinced that a COA will trigger a transfer.

Yeah, I'd agree. If that was the case, lots of people would be using relatives or friend's addresses that are in some state served by the CSC and getting the transfer. But it doesn't work that way. Heck if that was the outcome, I and many other TSC filers would have done it by now. But once you're in a service center, you most always stay there.

Sorry OP, but there isn't an easy way out of it. Mind you, if you had used your parent's address when you originally filed, that would have been a different matter. But you'd need a time machine for that now, unfortunately.

[acgmph 42]

that would be a gigantic mistake. from what I understand your petition isn't guaranteed to go to the CSC just because you send it from a California address.

99.9% of west coast petitions are assigned to CSC; 99.9% of east coast petitions are assigned to TSC - there are a couple of forum topics about that

Yeah, I'd agree. If that was the case, lots of people would be using relatives or friend's addresses that are in some state served by the CSC and getting the transfer. But it doesn't work that way. Heck if that was the outcome, I and many other TSC filers would have done it by now. But once you're in a service center, you most always stay there.

Sorry OP, but there isn't an easy way out of it. Mind you, if you had used your parent's address when you originally filed, that would have been a different matter. But you'd need a time machine for that now, unfortunately.

OK, thanks for your reply

[JJ Day 22]

Having a reception without the actual wedding is definitely the best idea. Then you can get legally married at a court house or something and nobody has to be the wiser. If you simply must get "married" in August because of plans you've already made, then this is absolutely your best plan of action. Happy day to you!