I-129F Filers, March 2015 NOA1 date! TSC only!

[Cristina375 7]

Yes, that is very true. It's actually gained a sort of nickname because of it, and some people call it Fayettenam. I personally think the nickname is in poor taste for a number of reasons, and so I don't use it myself, but I've seen it used enough by others.

Oh he never told me that and yeah I agree, it is in poor taste. We will live there at first at least, Chris is in school so he needs to finish it before we decide on a different place. We have talked about settling down someplace else but all in due time

Edited September 14, 2015 by Cristina375

[Mad & J 25]

Perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but I feel "back online" doesn't imply "back to work."

In any case, it's been a while since we've checked in on each other to make sure we're all doing ok.

Personally, I've had better days, still trying to overcome a deep depression and anxiety that this whole process (coupled with other life events) started making me feel over the summer...things are looking up, but it's a slow recovery. I've also begun my graduate studies, and while it's exciting, it would be more exciting if Harel were here with me. He's doing good, too. His job in Mexico is keeping him so busy we hardly have time to talk these days, but he'll be able to move to a new apartment in a couple weeks that's closer to his job and, best of all, free of the overbearing landlord he has to deal with now (which, I saw when I visited last, is quite an uncomfortable situation he's in). It seems we're all set to have our petition move forward, just still waiting for anything to change... I'm of the philosophy life will always be challenging (I'm a realist at heart), but it'll be nice when we can face all these challenges together.

So how have all of you been? If you're still waiting, what's making the time go by? And if you were approved, what's the journey looking like now?

Wishing you and Harel an approval very soon, and a smooth journey onwards. I'm hoping that several March filers will get their NOA2 notice tonight, it's been so quiet since the middle of last week. There had to have been some approvals since then that just haven't made it to the system yet due to the IT issue that they seemed to have.

We were lucky to be approved at the end of August, and got our case number from NVC today. Very grateful to have made it this far, but getting more impatient than ever. Montreal is notoriously slow at doling out interviews... by the time we can schedule, I suspect November will be fully booked, pushing ours to December. I expect that some of those who are still waiting for their NOA2 may get interviewed before I do, as things move much quicker at other embassies. I can't wait for this entire process to be over!

[cook511 3]

Hey everyone came back to this thread to pass along some advice for after NOA2.

1) Calling the NVC to get your case number is a pain. You have to call many times just to get in the line as there phone system can only handle so many active calls at one time. Once you do get in (took about 10 to 15 continues tries in my case) be prepared to wait about an hour to get to a live operator. They are open until midnight eastern which is nice. I just called and put it on speaker once I got through and it wasn't that bad.

2) When you're scheduling an interview, if there is a date open, take it! My partner and I had to continually refresh the page for several days until a block of appointments opened up. We were lucky and got the first appointment on Dec 1st but the appointments were half gone after only the first day. Each embassy only has a certain number of appointments per day and in our case they went quickly. The Ankara Embassy is VERY busy because it deals with Turkey, Iran and a lot of Syrian Refugees so maybe you'll have better luck than me.

Good luck everyone!

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

Only 4 Approvals yesterday. . . . this shortly after a zero day approval. . . We KNOW They're not lacking for files to adjudicate.... Some that have been waiting 230+ days. . . .So how do they justify their paychecks...?

[Steve and Ash 0]

I saw this morning...it is quite demoralizing

[ant330ci 8]

I was so excited at the beginning of the month. Look so promising for March filers. There were so many March approvals on the first week. After the first week. No so much. Seems like they forgot how to do their job after Labor Day.

Edited September 16, 2015 by ant330ci

[eagleowl 2]

The VJ processing times estimate shows TSC as currently processing March 6th applications. That is our NOA1 date! I keep checking the USCIS case page multiple times a day which is only adding to my frustration - but it's difficult not to.

Seems so close yet it *could* still be far away...

[Egyptian m7tas 1]

and u know what is really funny ? that yesterday a march filers updated his profile on vj as he got NOA2 .. it's kinda awful

[hampguy 9]

Only 4 Approvals yesterday. . . . this shortly after a zero day approval. . . We KNOW They're not lacking for files to adjudicate.... Some that have been waiting 230+ days. . . .So how do they justify their paychecks...?

Tom et al,

After ths process, is it worth it to try to make this unfair and frustrating(and many more adjectives) process easier for others by reaching out to DHS? It escapes me why they do things the way they do and it seems as if there is no oversight. Upon calling DHS, the first option the phone system gave me was to report and illegal alien. The second option was for immigration issues so i pressed 2. It freakin brought me back to the USCIS 800 number.

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

Tom et al,

After ths process, is it worth it to try to make this unfair and frustrating(and many more adjectives) process easier for others by reaching out to DHS? It escapes me why they do things the way they do and it seems as if there is no oversight. Upon calling DHS, the first option the phone system gave me was to report and illegal alien. The second option was for immigration issues so i pressed 2. It freakin brought me back to the USCIS 800 number.

28 Years ago in South Korea, I was a young man who refused to let anyone or anything get the better of me. Smaller than the average soldier, I pushed myself hard so that I could out perform all who were around me. When I was there, a phone call from my folks back in Texas cost an amazing (and awful) $3 per minute. Today, my Fiancee' is there in South Korea, and I can send her a text, a photo, a video clip or a voice mail . . . from the telephone/computer/camera the size of a pack of playing cards that I keep in my pocket. Using Skype, My fiancee' and I spend a couple of hours each day having face to face chats. When I want to try preparing a Korean meal, I carry my laptop to the kitchen and set it up on the bar, with Skype on, and Soogyeong helps me cook with step by step instructions. A Lot has changed in 28 years.

A couple of years ago, I was using an electric hedge trimmer to trim the bushes in front of my house. I was on a step ladder. I was just trying to make them better, neater, and not so tangled. The trimmers sawed into a Hornet's Nest. They were the big Grey and Black ones... the Mean ones. The Hornet's nest was bigger than a basketball. They all came out to register their objections to my actions. They REALLY got to the point. Over and Over again. I fell off the ladder, and rolled across the yard, with the clippers still going (locked trigger), and barely managed to come to a stop without losing a finger. I can't say as much for the electric cord... Those Hornets chased me around the house, and I did even more damage to my body in my frantic effort to escape. I was stung dozens of times, and I am here to TESTIFY, that the Hornet is the King of Sting. They even Trumped some Scorpions I have encountered.

A Cautionary Point: After approval, there still remains NVC, Embassy, Consulate, POE, and after that, the AOS, followed by the 2-year Green Card Probation and a Request to make it permanent for another 10 years. At each marker sits a human being with the power to delay or even derail our journey.

This electronic age allows data to travel around the world in a nano-second, and leave footprints all along the way.

NOTHING to me holds a higher level of importance than a smooth and successful process of bringing Soogyeong here, marrying her, and making her stay permanent, at least until we decide to move to South Korea, and then it will be MY turn to be a Card-Carrying Alien, I do not wish to find myself black-balled somewhere along the way, because of some scarlet letter attached to my name or file.

Until this Journey is over. . . . I may seek out ways to make some suggestions to the right people in the right places...

but I Do NOT Want To Saw Into Any Hornet's Nests, and so any suggestions I make will be offered with the utmost politeness.

Will Rogers said, 'Never Squat with your spurs on, and never slap a man who is chewing tobacco.'

Words to live by. Good Advice.

Edited September 16, 2015 by Tom and SooGyeong

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

^{I pulled the timelines of 100 petitioners who were Approved in the months of July and August, then peeked at their timelines one by one.}

^Snapshot:

^{a majority of files leave TSC for NVC in about 7 days after approval.}

^{a majority of files arrive at NVC (from NOA2) in about 14 days, ( so 7 days of travel)}

^{a majority of files are given their new NVC number 3 days after arrival}

^{a majority of files leave NVC for their respective consulate 3 days after getting their number}

^Summary:

^{all files have different sequencing, but on the whole, the best guess is NOA2+14+3+3}

^{or if there is a delay in a file leaving TSC, NOA3 (sent to DOS) +7+3+3}

^{That should give you some idea of when to mark your calendar to begin calling for your number, if that is what you wish to do.}

Edited September 16, 2015 by Tom and SooGyeong

[Unshakable Faith 493]

Tom, you're great! You speak so eloquently and it is refreshing to read your posts!

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

Tom, you're great! You speak so eloquently and it is refreshing to read your posts!

(blushing)... thank you so much! Stories that are well told, and have a good message are easily remembered.

(tip of the hat)

Tom

[dsldesch 27]

Oh he never told me that and yeah I agree, it is in poor taste. We will live there at first at least, Chris is in school so he needs to finish it before we decide on a different place. We have talked about settling down someplace else but all in due time

Hopefully, once you're here and my fiance is here, we could all get together! That would be exciting. And even if it doesn't come to pass, I hope your journey is swift. NC really is a beautiful state, for all the things I wish were different (like I love having four seasons, just not all in the same week lol).

Wishing you and Harel an approval very soon, and a smooth journey onwards. I'm hoping that several March filers will get their NOA2 notice tonight, it's been so quiet since the middle of last week. There had to have been some approvals since then that just haven't made it to the system yet due to the IT issue that they seemed to have.

We were lucky to be approved at the end of August, and got our case number from NVC today. Very grateful to have made it this far, but getting more impatient than ever. Montreal is notoriously slow at doling out interviews... by the time we can schedule, I suspect November will be fully booked, pushing ours to December. I expect that some of those who are still waiting for their NOA2 may get interviewed before I do, as things move much quicker at other embassies. I can't wait for this entire process to be over!

Thank you for the good wishes, and I'm so glad to hear you were approved! I don't think I'd realized that sooner.

After ths process, is it worth it to try to make this unfair and frustrating(and many more adjectives) process easier for others by reaching out to DHS? It escapes me why they do things the way they do and it seems as if there is no oversight. Upon calling DHS, the first option the phone system gave me was to report and illegal alien. The second option was for immigration issues so i pressed 2. It freakin brought me back to the USCIS 800 number.

Yes and no. I think it's our right, as citizens (or potentail future citizens, or our spouses' rights as citizens) to be a part of the political process, and I never think it hurts to write letters and raise awareness about injustices like these if done from a sincere place without turning to personal attacks, threats, or unbounded anger. However, the effort might not be worth it: for the people in charge of these things, they think the problem is fixed--they don't see any problem, despite all the hardships and unequal treatment we've faced as part of this journey, and may continue to face as part of this journey. It's also really hard to raise support for changes to this part of the immigration system: People unaffected by immigration see it as a luxury or a privilege that's not worth complaining about ("deal with it" is a common attitude I face when explaining things to others, or worse "it's your own fault for being in a binational relationship"), and people affected by immigration see how relatively fast, inexpensive, and painless bringing a fiance/spouse it is to the US, and so they have no incentive to act for change (then the attitude I see is more akin to "you already have it so much better than me, and now you want more?"). So I say, if it makes you feel better to speak about it, do it. But just be prepared for the very real possibility that nothing will change and other people will personally attack you for speaking out. I know it's all happened to me--and a lot of it happened on VisaJourney too.

[naddy 14]

I have been following visa journey and immifairy still, and it upsets me to see so few approvals while so many still waiting. What is going on at TSC the last week or so?? They should make I129-F apps a priority to finish, you would think they would now that they are almost there. I consider myself very lucky and know that it is somewhat a lottery of sorts on who gets approved when. Hope they pick up the pace next week and you all hear something soon. Finally was able to get through to NVC today, and got a case number. Only about 2 weeks since NOA2, things seem to move much faster now that we are out of the TSC hellhole.