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

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

Next Breadcrumb

Ok, so after many calls to NVC and short eternities of horrible on-hold music, you Finally have your case file.

Now What? This is the beginning of the Down-hill part of this Journey. The highest Hurtle is past. Enjoy the stroll from here on out. Laugh a little, Smile a LOT.

Time for a new place to check on your case status.

When you were at TSC, you checked here: https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

Now that you have your new case file, you check here:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=WwjqOlbeRYzCYubaSQI+RA==

Under Visa Application Type, Select Immigrant Visa

Under Immigrant Visa Case Number type in you newly minted Case File Number. Ex.~ SEO2015764012 is mine.

Now, you will have one of a few answers to you query. At NVC, In Transit, Arrived, Ready!

'Ready' is the magic word. That means that not only is your case at the Embassy, but it is already entered into the system, and after paying your visa fee, you can submit your DS-160.

On many Embassy websites, you can download your packet 3 instructions and help your Beneficiary prepare all things needed before the interview, except for the Medical in some cases, and uploading the completed DS-160. With just this simple CEAC Case Status Check, you will know very easily when you can launch into fast-tracking your case through your Beneficiary's part of this Journey.

Please keep in mind that different countries have little differences in their systems, and you may well have to jump through different hoops than my Fiance'e did, and there may be other procedural delays beyond your control.

The next breadcrumb I will offer is how it may be possible for you to track your case package from NVC to your Embassy. It is no more informative than the CEAC status check, and will NOT speed up the delivery... but it is a LOT more fun to see the different places your file is at any given time. Personally, I found this tracking to be a HUGE stress diluter, and helped to evaporate the pent-up frustration of TSC like the morning sun dissipates last night's fog. Very Beneficial for my nerves.

TTFN

Tom

[rms171 20]

Tom is correct as it is fun eye candy watching your file as moves from the NVC to your beneficiary's country. Tom and I emailed during the day when we saw package movement.

Tom is also correct in that embassies have different practices so it so VERY important to know yours. My file is in the Dominican Republic, and status was set to "ready" before the file arrived in the embassy. I didn't know that and wasted four days wondering why it said "ready" if my file wasn't in Santo Domingo. In this country there is no Packet 3, only Packet 4, which comes after you've scheduled your interview, so basically you find what you need exploring the website because packet 4 has nothing that otherwise isn't obtained anyway.

And I was the dope who screwed up the appointment and changed it too many times. A more than $500 mistake for me. Caution there is be damn sure when you want your interview as you only get two changes thereafter. Botch that and the receipt number locks and you have to pay again.

[Tom and SooGyeong 87]

As Rubin so appropriately named it, Here is the eye-candy breadcrumb.

While I cannot say what shipping company is used for all of the destination countries, I do know that Packages going from NVC to Egypt, Dominican Republic, Vietnam and South Korea are all traveling via DHL. So, if you don't know which one will be used for your country, perhaps you can ask the NVC CSR when they tell you your case number. For those going via DHL, Follow me into the link below...

http://www.dhl.com/en/express/tracking/shippers_reference.html

On this site, we will be using (left side of the page) Express/Tracking/Track by Shipper's Reference.

That brings you to a center box. (the above link will take you directly there, but knowing how to get there is handy.)

IMPORTANT TIP: Your package actually leaves 1 or 2 days before the date that CEAC Case Status reflects.

For Example, My CEAC date had my case shipment date as September 24th. However, DHL picked it up and scanned into their system on the 23nd, then shipped on the 24th. Another friend's was 2 day's earlier.

So, when checking your CEAC Case Status (previous breadcrumb), on the date that it reflects as "In Transit", your actual shipment scanning day is likely the day before that. The box will have 5 slots for input. Rather than give many lines of explanation, I am going to simply list the 'Prompt' in Black, and My answer (in red) for My Case file. If you are with me this far, I think that surely you can simply copy the format, substituting Your data in place of mine. DHL tracking Input and Results JPGs (for my shipment) are attached to this post.

~to avoid the inevitable 20-questions~ I will add (some format explanation in blue)

Remember, My CEAC 'In Transit Date listed Sep 24th. My file was going to Seoul South Korea. You will want to include tracking from the day before your shipment, until the date that you are currently checking the shipment's progress.

Shippers reference: EXP 23 SEP 2015A (Express September 23 2015)

Date Range for Shipment - From: 22 10 2015 (2 days before the CEAC listing)

Date Range for Shipment - To: 26 10 2015 (example day that I was checking on my package)

Account Number: (intentionally left blank, [a must])

Shipment Destination: Korea, Republic of (Fiance's country from a drop-down menu)

This was my own experience that I copied and modified from another VJ member, who passed through these shark-infested waters on this Journey in 2011. Each one may be different, so you may have to play around with the numbers (dates) a bit to make it work.

TTFN

Tom

Edited October 8, 2015 by Tom and SooGyeong

[Kyle and Linh 64]

Well Documented Tom. Only days now for you mate....

[hampguy 9]

Well Documented Tom. Only days now for you mate....

Congratulations Kyle and Linh!!! I am so very happy for you both. Welcome to the USA Linh and son.

[jess100 53]

I see that many of the March Texas filers have been appoved already. Congratulations to all of you. (do I need to feel bad that I want to cry when I say that?)

Some that sent their packets in a week or so after ours have already finished the process, and our application has not been touched. To my knowldedge no one has even looked at it.

Who is still left waiting for an NOA2 from Texas?

I'm going to call my Senator tomorrow and would like to be able to back up what I say about Texas. If you're still in the black hole please respond so I can mention numbers (not names of course). That is I'd like to be able to say that I know of x number of people who filed in March and have not received the NOA2 yet

Jess

[jess100 53]

Can someone also tell me where to find "normal processing times" so I can mention this to my Senator as well?

[hampguy 9]

I see that many of the March Texas filers have been appoved already. Congratulations to all of you. (do I need to feel bad that I want to cry when I say that?)

Some that sent their packets in a week or so after ours have already finished the process, and our application has not been touched. To my knowldedge no one has even looked at it.

Who is still left waiting for an NOA2 from Texas?

I'm going to call my Senator tomorrow and would like to be able to back up what I say about Texas. If you're still in the black hole please respond so I can mention numbers (not names of course). That is I'd like to be able to say that I know of x number of people who filed in March and have not received the NOA2 yet

Jess

We are March 9 filers. I have done service inquiry, contacted senator and got a reply that petition on desk, that was it. The service request submitted by a tier 2 officer was replied to on the last day and said that petition is on adjudicator's desk and will need another 60 days due to the time it took to research status of petition. PM me and i can email you what was sent to me. It is utter BS to the max. Regarding "normal processing times"- ha ha ha. In my opinion there is no such thing!! They make it up as they go.... as far as telling them about friends' petitions they will give you their regular spiel that they cannot comment on any case other than yours.

It absolutely sucks believe me.

-timothy

I see that many of the March Texas filers have been appoved already. Congratulations to all of you. (do I need to feel bad that I want to cry when I say that?)

Some that sent their packets in a week or so after ours have already finished the process, and our application has not been touched. To my knowldedge no one has even looked at it.

Who is still left waiting for an NOA2 from Texas?

I'm going to call my Senator tomorrow and would like to be able to back up what I say about Texas. If you're still in the black hole please respond so I can mention numbers (not names of course). That is I'd like to be able to say that I know of x number of people who filed in March and have not received the NOA2 yet

Jess

Jess,

Did USCIS also change the date of your NOA1 on their website?

[jess100 53]

We are March 9 filers. I have done service inquiry, contacted senator and got a reply that petition on desk, that was it. The service request submitted by a tier 2 officer was replied to on the last day and said that petition is on adjudicator's desk and will need another 60 days due to the time it took to research status of petition. PM me and i can email you what was sent to me. It is utter BS to the max. Regarding "normal processing times"- ha ha ha. In my opinion there is no such thing!! They make it up as they go.... as far as telling them about friends' petitions they will give you their regular spiel that they cannot comment on any case other than yours.

It absolutely sucks believe me.

-timothy

Jess,

Did USCIS also change the date of your NOA1 on their website?

No, did they change the date of yours?>That really sounds fraudulent. I will try to figure out how to PM you

[jess100 53]

According to the USCIS website they are processing Jan 19, 2015 applications at TSC. Many of you here filed in March and have already had your interviews so that is clearly bullshit.

[jess100 53]

and also according to their webiste petitions for brothers and sisters (which are prioirty 3) are being handled faster than us (and we are priority 1)

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister February 20, 2015

[jess100 53]

I hope this won't be such a long process to endure with the Texas Service Center but we can always support one another through it!!!

I'm looking at your timeline. Have you recieved the NOA2 yet?

[jess100 53]

A light at the end of the horrible TSC tunnel perhaps?

I've started tracking all TSC 129F petitions electronically and updating them in real-time to provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of TSC processing times: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/548621-finally-real-time-data-on-tsc-129f-receipt-numbers-src/.

Please let me know if you want to get the updates.

i signed up and thanks for doing this. If it weren't for all of you on VJ I would be looking for a bridge.

[Bon25 1]

March 3rd NOA1. Still no NOA2.

My fiancé called TSC in late September and was told they were processing January 19th application.

Our application will be processed within next two months. But I don't think this is true. The operator is just a operator and they don't know anything. The information he gave was from the website and the information is as of July 31 " not the newest. Usually they update information at least once a month. So I am expecting they will release the Field Office Processing Dates for Texas Service Center as of: August 31, 2015 soon. Operator should know no one calls the office in order to get two months old information( January 19th) ....

I think since end of August, they slow down a lot. They used to process 5-8 applications in order with some exception but now I see one or two March or older applications approval per day at visa journey website. I assume as most cases are now transferred to CSC, less people are working on k1 application in Texas? I was expecting I would be with my fiancé in U.S. now Long long way to go ......

[dsldesch 27]

Tom, thank you so much for your informative replies. I cannot express how gracious I am for all your kindness and support.

Can someone also tell me where to find "normal processing times" so I can mention this to my Senator as well?

I have the sour feeling that TSC updates their "normal processing times" with the oldest date such that all petitions prior to that date have been approved, so that all outstanding petitions fall within their listed normal processing times. It's infuriating and borderline unethical, but it limits their accountability and almost entirely strips us of any recourse regarding our petitions, so it makes sense why they would do it if we're not a priority for them.

However, with that being said, it seems random how they're approving cases, so while I suspect most everyone here will be approved within the next month or two (seriously, how could they drag it out onger than that? though I don't really want to know), the order in which people will be approved appears at best random.