November 2015 l i-29f Filers

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

Case approved!!! Best Xmas gift ever

Congratulations. I imagine it is....

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

During the weekend I had this vision of the processors enjoying their Christmas... erruhhh... I mean "Holiday" celebration at work. Them eating their sloppy food while using our petitions as place-mats.

I decided to call a friend of mine who works in a federal job. He does not work at USCIS but was very involved in INS years ago. So he has a few contacts.

Long story short... (this is third-hand information) he did some inquiring. Some of this confirms what we already know or suspected (if accurate). The majority of the agents are cross-trained. Meaning they have the ability to process whatever type of case that comes across their desk. They are assigned cases and that case stays with them for the duration or in our case, when forwarded to NVC.

This part might explain your delay. Certain cases (primarily K-1 applications) now considered "higher-risk" have recently been assigned two sets of eyes, meaning they are checked and approved, then parts of the petition are handed to a second person for reevaluation and then returned to the original processor. The second look currently is adding roughly 7 to 10 days to the final approval before being routed to NVC. I suspect this is probably the result of the recent incident in California (among other things).

Perhaps some good news for you/us: The word is that Tuesday the 15th through Wednesday the 23rd is 95% staffed. Apparently they are under pressure to clear out as many cases as possible before the 23rd. The majority of new cases coming in will not be processed until January placing emphasis on current workload. He couldn't find out anything about my petition, I am guessing they have strict rules on that. The encouraging words I was told was that if we have a NOA1 date of 11/25 or before, most likely we will see approvals this week even if our case had a second look. I think that is evident based on the recent approvals.

This was the Reader's Digest version. Apparently, now it does matter where the fiance is from.

Thanks! That is somewhat reassuring.

Although I have a sinking feeling that perhaps my petition is in fact being used as a placemat at a outdoor picnic, or as fire starter.

During the weekend I had this vision of the processors enjoying their Christmas... erruhhh... I mean "Holiday" celebration at work. Them eating their sloppy food while using our petitions as place-mats.

I decided to call a friend of mine who works in a federal job. He does not work at USCIS but was very involved in INS years ago. So he has a few contacts.

Long story short... (this is third-hand information) he did some inquiring. Some of this confirms what we already know or suspected (if accurate). The majority of the agents are cross-trained. Meaning they have the ability to process whatever type of case that comes across their desk. They are assigned cases and that case stays with them for the duration or in our case, when forwarded to NVC.

This part might explain your delay. Certain cases (primarily K-1 applications) now considered "higher-risk" have recently been assigned two sets of eyes, meaning they are checked and approved, then parts of the petition are handed to a second person for reevaluation and then returned to the original processor. The second look currently is adding roughly 7 to 10 days to the final approval before being routed to NVC. I suspect this is probably the result of the recent incident in California (among other things).

Perhaps some good news for you/us: The word is that Tuesday the 15th through Wednesday the 23rd is 95% staffed. Apparently they are under pressure to clear out as many cases as possible before the 23rd. The majority of new cases coming in will not be processed until January placing emphasis on current workload. He couldn't find out anything about my petition, I am guessing they have strict rules on that. The encouraging words I was told was that if we have a NOA1 date of 11/25 or before, most likely we will see approvals this week even if our case had a second look. I think that is evident based on the recent approvals.

This was the Reader's Digest version. Apparently, now it does matter where the fiance is from.

Thanks! That is somewhat reassuring.

Although I have a sinking feeling that perhaps my petition is in fact being used as a placemat at a outdoor picnic, or as fire starter.

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

Hi all ! not sure if i should be here or the October filers page, we sent in our petition on October 27 an got our NOA1 on October 30th .. I'm noticing a lot of later November filers getting their NOA2, just wondering if there are any earlier November filers are waiting still like me ??

A whole bunch. Check the earlier part of this thread, you'll see the numbers and %. November 2 is still at 40% reviewed, and the VJ guessimate date came and went a week ago.

I've noticed a lot of October 27-29 filers are in the same boat. I didn't check before those dates.

[tyler007 26]

I decided to call a friend of mine who works in a federal job. He does not work at USCIS but was very involved in INS years ago. So he has a few contacts.

Long story short... (this is third-hand information) he did some inquiring. Some of this confirms what we already know or suspected (if accurate). The majority of the agents are cross-trained. Meaning they have the ability to process whatever type of case that comes across their desk. They are assigned cases and that case stays with them for the duration or in our case, when forwarded to NVC.

This part might explain your delay. Certain cases (primarily K-1 applications) now considered "higher-risk" have recently been assigned two sets of eyes, meaning they are checked and approved, then parts of the petition are handed to a second person for reevaluation and then returned to the original processor. The second look currently is adding roughly 7 to 10 days to the final approval before being routed to NVC. I suspect this is probably the result of the recent incident in California (among other things).

Perhaps some good news for you/us: The word is that Tuesday the 15th through Wednesday the 23rd is 95% staffed. Apparently they are under pressure to clear out as many cases as possible before the 23rd. .

Ted, that is an amazing bit of information. What a great source to have. Keep feeding that Fed chocolates or whatever it takes. A flurry of NOA's coming this week for sure. You and Jaime are a must! Looking forward to seeing you all at the NVC stage.

[Shawn&Jaque 11]

Tyler. So happy for you. Makes me more anxious though since you have the same timeline as me. But makes me hopeful that it will happen before Christmas. Ted also.

[Ted & Janine 31]

Ted, that is an amazing bit of information. What a great source to have. Keep feeding that Fed chocolates or whatever it takes. A flurry of NOA's coming this week for sure. You and Jaime are a must! Looking forward to seeing you all at the NVC stage.

Thank you for the kind words.

Was debating giving out that information because in the even that there are no more NOA2's until February... I might be on a different type of stage, victim of a VJ hanging

I really hope that my source is correct and the NOA2's come pouring in this week, for Jaime and many others. We really don't have any idea what will happen (if anything) with the K-1 visas or when.

It might be better for me if mine comes in around the second week of January. Currently dealing with layoff #2 this year and 2015 tax return will be marginal.

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

I finally got through on the phone (4 day/nights of constant calling) to Aisha for about 3 minutes before getting cut off. The rioting in Ethiopia has impacted her area. Phones have been down or are getting re-routed to other phones.

All is well, which is all I needed to know. Drama and excitement maybe good for her to not be thinking about when is the Visa going to move along.

Russell Crowe's movie "Master and Commander" there is a minor actor's part of a Officer who believes he is cursed.

In some respects I have felt a somewhat kinship to this as it seemed that whenever I got involved in something went haywire. What that something was most times I had nothing to do with, just in the wrong place at the right time. Thus Aisha's comment to me of her observations of my life as she had seen it, never mind what she had not seen; courageous girl to be willing to join me.

And now since the date I submitted the K-1 petition, in a month, what has happened?

Paris, California, and now Ethiopia. Nothing happens in these places. Especially where Aisha lives, who has ever heard of Oromo? Before now no one really knew much of K-1, other than the few who watched the reality tv show 90 day fiancé. And before there was no talk of pausing all Muslim (Aisha is Muslim) visas.

Is there a connection? I'm pretty sure I have below zero influence on the goings on in the cosmos. But I sure do feel more like that guy, more than ever before. No worries, I have no intention of jumping into an ocean with a cannon ball. Just an observation.

Edited December 16, 2015 by Jaime & Aisha

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

Thank you for the kind words.

Was debating giving out that information because in the even that there are no more NOA2's until February... I might be on a different type of stage, victim of a VJ hanging

I really hope that my source is correct and the NOA2's come pouring in this week, for Jaime and many others. We really don't have any idea what will happen (if anything) with the K-1 visas or when.

It might be better for me if mine comes in around the second week of January. Currently dealing with layoff #2 this year and 2015 tax return will be marginal.

No hangings will take place. It is the best info available, and better than the wild a-s guessing.

They will get to us trouble makers soon enough.

My time table for completion of the Visa is still good for end of March, for Nov 2 filing.

It might be better for me if mine comes in around the second week of January. Currently dealing with layoff #2 this year and 2015 tax return will be marginal.

You will be in prayers to resolve the layoff, and press forward. Hope this has no impact on completing the Visa....

[Ted & Janine 31]

If I had a lot of spare time I would write a book titled "Best of Visa Journey"- A collection of comical thoughts, opinions, and stories by good people hanging on the the window ledges of K-1 Visa. Perhaps a better title would be "Notice of Action". Regardless of the title, some of your posts would be found in more than one chapter.

My projection was and still is April or May. The only change is I am no longer living the life of "champagne wishes and caviar dreams". It's more like "Oscar Mayer lunches and Perrier reality".

Thank you for the prayers. I will reciprocate. I don't believe you will have any problems getting her here. Six months from now? Might be a different ballgame.

[tyler007 26]

Tyler. So happy for you. Makes me more anxious though since you have the same timeline as me. But makes me hopeful that it will happen before Christmas. Ted also.

Thanks Shawn one day later and still floating in this dream. Yes you might be tonight or tomorrow. Did you give USCIS your cell so they can Text you updates?

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

Update: Starting to see Nov 17 NOA2

Data from December 11
Percentage of applications that have received NOA2 with NOA1 date of:
Nov 2 : 39%
Nov 6 : 23%
Nov 12: 7%
Nov 17: 0%

Data from December 14
Percentage of applications that have received NOA2 with NOA1 date of:
Nov 2 : 39%
Nov 6 : 35%
Nov 12: 15%
Nov 17: 0%

Data from December 15
Percentage of applications that have received NOA2 with NOA1 date of:
Nov 2 : 40%
Nov 6 : 39%
Nov 12: 19%
Nov 17: 1%

Thanks!

[Shawn&Jaque 11]

Yes they have my number, they texted me for my NOA1. I live on the East Coast and i always have to remind myself that the California center is 3 hours behind. So if i hear something, it will probably be later in the day.

[Kl30morg 7]

I know this question is asked time and time again- but still have to ask it! My fiance is visiting after Christmas (we haven't gotten our NOA2), but since he has to go back to Sweden and finish graduate school (graduation is May), we have enough evidence and proof of his return to Sweden. BUT, we want to go to Canada while he is in America... will Canada give us any trouble? I'd hate to have him come here, then get stuck in Canada! Any and all advice is welcome!

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

Sweden is a Visa waiver country for 90 day tourist stays in North America. Not sure if the latest issues impact this program at this time. Shouldn't. Heck, if I could get a similar job as I have now in Sweden I'd be going there

Sorry. If this were 3 months ago it would be easy to say no problem. Just have to go back to attend interview in Sweden.

[imekai 0]

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! I can't believe it! APPROVED!