UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[E-N 48]

i think many people don't really know how to do their timelines and it throws of the stats between service centers. Per se, ChasUno has their timeline listed as a 'transfer' between svc centers when indeed they were routed originally to CSC (related to their location most probably filed from the westcoast). People put their timelines as being a transfer when they were never transferred from TSC to CSC. I was apart of the real transfer group that occurred August 2014. I filed originally at TSC as I live in North Carolina then on 8/11 was transferred to CSC. I think for those that need a good visual of 'true' time lines it would help if people update their timelines accordingly and they reflect true values ect

[ChasUno 101]

^{Thank you Vicks5721 and Nich-Nick for enlightening me. And Nich-Nick, my partner received the quoted text in my message via email and a shorter version via phone text. It didn't say "NOA1" hence me not being sure, though I kind of thought that it must be. I've updated my signature and timeline, and if the I-797 states anything different I will of course make any necessary changes.}

^{After reading so many car crash scenarios of the TSC dealing with K1 visas, I am so relieved that ours has gone to CSC!}

[ChasUno 101]

i think many people don't really know how to do their timelines and it throws of the stats between service centers. Per se, ChasUno has their timeline listed as a 'transfer' between svc centers when indeed they were routed originally to CSC (related to their location most probably filed from the westcoast). People put their timelines as being a transfer when they were never transferred from TSC to CSC. I was apart of the real transfer group that occurred August 2014. I filed originally at TSC as I live in North Carolina then on 8/11 was transferred to CSC. I think for those that need a good visual of 'true' time lines it would help if people update their timelines accordingly and they reflect true values ect

When I updated my timeline, I read the following guideline:

USCIS Service Center (Original):

The Service Center your petition is sent to for processing (if you filed at a lockbox for forms I-129F or I-130, USCIS will notify you what Service Center

your case is sent to for final processing).

This is the original Service Center that processed your case even if your case is later transfered.

I feel that maybe the above is a little ambiguous (at least for me it was on first glance), and people may well be getting confused with "routed" and "transferred". At least that's what I took it to mean. I have re-updated my timeline accordingly.

My partner filed for our I-129F from Ohio. Luckily for us, that region is dealt with by CSC. Also it is worth bearing in mind the people do look at each other's timelines and signatures, and certainly all the recent signatures I see show a MUCH quicker process when dealt with via CSC. The fact that there is a forum thread, and that a member of the forum has filed a formal statement to the USCIS, regarding the large discrepancy between processing times of TSC and CSC indicates that this issue is more than just a few isolated cases.

Hence I am just relieved that our case has gone to CSC rather than TSC.

Edited March 5, 2015 by ChasUno

[DaveNot 55]

Here now and settled in at home finally. It took me ages to unpack lol. POE was very simple, besides the wait in line. No secondary.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

i think many people don't really know how to do their timelines and it throws of the stats between service centers. Per se, ChasUno has their timeline listed as a 'transfer' between svc centers when indeed they were routed originally to CSC (related to their location most probably filed from the westcoast). People put their timelines as being a transfer when they were never transferred from TSC to CSC. I was apart of the real transfer group that occurred August 2014. I filed originally at TSC as I live in North Carolina then on 8/11 was transferred to CSC. I think for those that need a good visual of 'true' time lines it would help if people update their timelines accordingly and they reflect true values ect

I agree that people don't have a consistent way of doing their timelines. Many people think Texas or Dallas Lockbox that receives all K1 petitions is the same as Texas Service Center. Some leave it at that even after they find out the Lockbox assigned them to CSC. Some think they got a transfer to CSC when they never were actually assigned to TSC. They went straight to CSC from the Lockbox.

The timelines were originally set up back when we filed as Filing Location...either Vermont or California. You mailed directly there according to your state. There was no Lockbox. Then with the advent of the Lockbox which happened to be in Texas and the use of Texas Service Center, it got confusing.

The use of transfer at that time was more of an AOS thing. You either got routed to your local office for an interview or you got notice of transfer to CSC which meant no interview. I think the VJ timeline fields can't quite separate and indicate all the changes and various transfer options now so the timeline predictions and such are just plain off statistically.

[E-N 48]

yep i always thought of it as a rot (rule of thumb) if you live midwest to west, you are routed to CSC,Texas and eastcoast north and south TSC ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[chrismorrison 96]

Visa approved!!! Yaaaaay!

So happy for you! Dying to know what you ended up choosing to wear!

What kind of questions did they ask you? Just trying to see if it's just a basic standard set based on other's answers.

[-Shana- 152]

So happy for you! Dying to know what you ended up choosing to wear!

What kind of questions did they ask you? Just trying to see if it's just a basic standard set based on other's answers.

Thank youuu! <3 Next step - wait for passport then FLIGHT!

You know what? Nearly everyone was in casual clothing! I saw a few guys in suits and thought of your man . I went with skinny blue jeans and a plain V-necked grey jumper. It was pretty cold so I actually kept my black coat/scarf on. Didn't seem to make a difference at all!

I typed up a review of the day, here it is (questions included!):

I took the bus 73 from Victoria station to Selfridges and hobbled my way to the embassy (had a knee injury) which was about a 5 minute walk. There was already a queue when I arrived so I joined in. This was probably 7:10.

At about 7:30 embassy staff began to put out signs and ask people what time their appointments were. Eventually a girl asked if there were any immigrant visas. I stepped forward and she signed my interview letter and told me to go stand in a small queue near a Chinese man (hah!) Turned out there were actually 2 lines that fit this description so I ended up in the wrong bloody Chinese man line. The man who was working the wrong queue asked me what time my appointment was and told me to stand in the line to the left of the tent that was set up (this I discovered later was incorrect information). It was a pretty long line so eventually suspecting I'd been jipped I asked the same girl and she apologised and said "I'm sorry, I already signed you in, stand in that line there closest to the barrier." If she had been that descriptive to begin with I would have been in quicker, so I was a little annoyed but didn't show it.

When waiting to go through I saw a girl come out the security booth with a pair of scissors and had to throw them away, causing a lady behind me to comment on how silly she was for having scissors. Then another lady came out with what looked like a perfume bottle, the woman said something along the lines that it was stupid too because "no liquids are allowed in." Turned out to be false in my case, I got in with a bottle of water and some perfume. Could have got lucky with the perfume since it's a glass bottle.

Anyway. At 7:50 When I reached the front of the queue a man called me up and checked my passport, interview letter and DS-160. I stood in a smaller line then got called in to a little security booth where I took off my coat, scarf, put my folder in a basket and put my bag on the conveyor belt. All was fine and I went through the extremely heavy door and turned right. I exclaimed to a girl who had heard my conversation about the perfume (I was bricking it that I'd have to store it) and we had a brief chat walking up to the embassy doors around the corner. Guess she was a solitary type since she didn't give the impression she wanted to talk when we got inside!

I went through the doors and gave my DS-160, interview letter and passport to the nice lady behind the desk. She gave me the number I915 at 8:03 exactly and I took a left, up the stairs and went into the long waiting room. There's a giant screen at one end and loads of seats facing it, with post office style windows on the right and a passage leading to more of them on the right too.

At 08:45 I was called up and went to my window and a nice American man was there and congratulated me for my engagement. I very happily said thank you and he proceeded to talk me through what was needed. I made copies but he didn't want them, so for anyone reading this you don't need copies to give to them but better had make copies just to be safe! At 08:50 I was done and told to sit back in the waiting room until I was called up again for the interview. At one point a woman in a window forgot to turn off her announcement mic so got to hear her going through the process with someone. Oops!

At 09:25 I was called up for my interview. It was an older, fair haired lady who I had trouble hearing at times. She made me swear my oath (tried hard not to smirk since I found it to be all too serious) and she began the interview. She asked me:

Who put together this application?

When did you meet? (I said 13 years ago online and she said "oh, wow!")

What website did you meet on?

When did things get serious?

Have you met his dad (looking at affidavit)?

Does he have any siblings? (1 sister)

Does she have kids, is she married?

What does his mum do?

What does your fiancé do right now?

What did he study at university?

Is that his career goal? (He did film like me, couldn't help but see her grimace when I said yes)

Who's his favourite film director?

Who's your favourite film director?

Have you lived abroad? (Yes - Japan)

What did you do in Japan?

So you'll be living with his parents? What's your plan? (Living with them for a while then moving to New York)

Not LA? (He doesn't like LA!)

She then said everything looks fine and she's happy to say my visa has been approved! She gave me back my originals and said my visa will take 2 weeks to get to me. I said "wow it's the end of a journey!" And she said "well...almost!"

I took the door that was behind me (which is on the other side of the entrance) and was done at 09:30.

All in all, it was fine, the start of the day was a bit annoying because of the whole queue mishap, but I was happy once I got inside.

Edited March 5, 2015 by shana.mike

[E-N 48]

this is so exciting! we are next week!!!

[chrismorrison 96]

Wow, you guys had a proper chat! I am so happy it went well for you, though. So it looks like about 2 hours and a bit. I think Kas is going to take a 'sick' day with that one, I'm afraid as he's chewed up all his holiday leave visiting me/me visiting him this past year. Oops!

[-Shana- 152]

Wow, you guys had a proper chat! I am so happy it went well for you, though. So it looks like about 2 hours and a bit. I think Kas is going to take a 'sick' day with that one, I'm afraid as he's chewed up all his holiday leave visiting me/me visiting him this past year. Oops!

It does sound like it was a chat, though for some reason she made me feel on edge! I was casual and didn't panic though, I knew she was just making sure everything was in order. Yeah, I think it would have been faster if I'd managed to get in the right line in the morning! Haha, aw, I'm sure he won't mind pulling a sicky considering how important it is. So based on your profile picture are you on the left or the right?

[chrismorrison 96]

For sure. I think the nerves are particularly strong just because it's like, you're having to prove your relationship to someone in a packet/few words----something most couples don't have to endure. I'm sure anyone would get nervous if we all had to submit to an interview in order to continue living our lives.

He doesn't mind pulling a sick day, we both are just getting antsy and anxious for this step to be done.

I am on the left.

[-Shana- 152]

For sure. I think the nerves are particularly strong just because it's like, you're having to prove your relationship to someone in a packet/few words----something most couples don't have to endure. I'm sure anyone would get nervous if we all had to submit to an interview in order to continue living our lives.

He doesn't mind pulling a sick day, we both are just getting antsy and anxious for this step to be done.

I am on the left.

Well said. It is a bit strange having a quiz about your relationship. I know how you both feel, even though I know there's AOS to go through and then eventually citizenship, I feel like this is a huge step towards being able to spend my life with the person I love. If I'm with him then it won't feel so bad!

You guys look like such a cute couple!

[Kimberley95 10]

Cases are in the car! Leaving at 3am for the airport! Congrats on all approvals!!

[Pheebs1201 269]

Visa approved!!! Yaaaaay!

CONGRATS!

Here now and settled in at home finally. It took me ages to unpack lol. POE was very simple, besides the wait in line. No secondary.

Yay!

Wow, you guys had a proper chat! I am so happy it went well for you, though. So it looks like about 2 hours and a bit. I think Kas is going to take a 'sick' day with that one, I'm afraid as he's chewed up all his holiday leave visiting me/me visiting him this past year. Oops!

Haha cheeky, gotta love a casual visa sicky

Cases are in the car! Leaving at 3am for the airport! Congrats on all approvals!!

Woohoo! Travel safe!