December 2016 Filers (merged)

[cumulonimbus 88]

56 minutes ago, Queen30 said:

Aight Cool. Imma just do tell bank draft as they stated 

 

Did you by chance get an interview scheduled yet and how long did it take? We have only received an email acknowledging receipt of packet 3/DS-160 and it was kind of vague. 

[Roger & Grace 198]

5 hours ago, keixjil said:

Yes!! To many callers are in line thats why your call couldnt get through. Try to call back!! Also you can call late at nigt or early in the morning eastern time  

us too!!!! 

[Josh&Nizzy 9]

5 hours ago, nealreal1 said:

Hello, quick question please, are you calling 603-334-0700?? Every time I call they say agents are busy and it hangs up?

Thank you

There will be a different number that theyll provide once you call that number. I belive thats ending in 0888 for Non immigrant Visa. And i'm calling them at 11pm EST so i dont need to wait on the line for 20 mins or more. I just got our Case Number yesterday. 

[BeccaM 34]

Guys, how long is it taking you all for to get numbers from the NVC? We were approved on 4/25 and they still haven't received our case. It's starting to freak me out a bit.

[keixjil 142]

15 minutes ago, BeccaM said:

Guys, how long is it taking you all for to get numbers from the NVC? We were approved on 4/25 and they still haven't received our case. It's starting to freak me out a bit.

Normally it might take around 3 weeks (21-22 days). Mine got approved on 27th and NVC received on May 19th (22 day of wait)

I had known one VJ guy and it took exactly 6 weeks to be delivered .. one of the bad lucks. Maybe you can start to call USCIS to ask whether they sent your petition? 

[Josh&Nizzy 9]

29 minutes ago, BeccaM said:

Guys, how long is it taking you all for to get numbers from the NVC? We were approved on 4/25 and they still haven't received our case. It's starting to freak me out a bit.

It takes me 3 weeks. I was approved May 8 then i just got my Case number yesterday 5/25. 

[amillimo 31]

UPDATE**** 

DS 160 is payed for interview date was chosen in June.. Medical not done yet but will be and the wavier we'll be filed next week!!! Working on this affidavit of support right now but I extremely nervous 😩Good luck and Congrats to everyone ❤️

[carloolive 68]

7 hours ago, BeccaM said:

Guys, how long is it taking you all for to get numbers from the NVC? We were approved on 4/25 and they still haven't received our case. It's starting to freak me out a bit.

Hopefully you get it soon! 

 

We were approved in 28/4 and we got our new case No from NVC on 18/5. Took us 20 days and it was sent to our embassy on 22/5. 

 

Hope it gets there soon, it isn't much quicker once it's there.

 

ive had my medical and interview is booked for 9/6, I am in uk and know different embassies work at different speeds.

 

definitely keep calling the USIC and the NVC.

[gtiorobertsf 72]

Good afternoon,

finally received approval or noa2. The news was extra sweet since I am on vacation with my fiancé when we got the phone call while we're together from the lawyer giving us the news. Countdown begins

[Kate + Evgeny 54]

Hey, everyone!

 

Well, we are December 22 filers with an NOA1 date of 1/3, and we FINALLY have an update! We got an RFE at last, with the tracker stating an RFE mailing date of 5/23. We were pretty nervous because we really didn't know what it might be. But the paper version was delivered yesterday (5/27), and we were actually kind of shocked because it was only a request for a better passport style photo of me! We're going to try to take this opportunity to add some extra photos, though, and maybe some letters of support from friends (we already have some from my parents). We really, really hope everything will go smoothly from here forward! We are SO thankful something is finally happening after so much time! It is actually sort of surreal now that it's really moving!

 

Our thoughts are with everyone else still waiting in this process, and we are particularly hopeful for those who still haven't had movement on their cases yet. Keep going!!! We believe in you all! <3

 

I am also running the weekly scan now. If the internet doesn't do something crazy it should be posted in the next couple of hours.

[baconmunch 16]

Hi folks, December 21 filer here and happy to chime in with our NOA2. We had a RFE that was received on May 16 and approved 2 days later. Similar to some others recently, we only received the approval notice by mail however the online case tracker is still not reflecting the approval!

[moosy 139]

How did you all get your medical envelope immediately?

 

I was told at the medical center to reschedule my visa interview at the embassy (which was a week later), because the blood and urine results would take exactly 2 weeks to come back from the lab (so tomorrow for me).

The doctor was angry that the embassy didn't leave 2 weeks in between "because they damn well know it takes 2 weeks!".

 

(I think that's actually my fault, as packet 3 read among other requirements that you needed to have scheduled a medical interview. But it could be read as "once you've had your medical" as well.)

 

I was quite disappointed. Luckily, it's been rescheduled for the 6th of June, so that's not too far away. I already booked a flight for end of June, so calculating in an extra month for everything, wasn't a bad idea after all.

 

If anyone from Belgium reads this:

They send you packet 3 by regular mail. It takes a few weeks. You then schedule that exact date and time, and pay for the ds160. They say Visa or MasterCard works, but it likely doesn't, so keep in mind that you might have to pay (online) through deposit. Payment goes through very fast.

 

Once you've sent back packet 3, packet 4 arrives in your email with an appointment date (it took 2 days for me. 1,5 really).

 

If you need to reschedule, just send them an email and they'll reschedule within 2 days. Please be nice as you'll notice they're not supposed to do it that way (says so in the automatic reply you'll receive).

 

Brussels appointments for medicals seems to be every Tuesday (before and behind me were someone going to Canada and someone to Australia). Call for an appointment, and clearly state which country you need it for when you say you need a medical for a Visa.

The Centre is easily found and very accessible by buses and trains.

Pay in cash because they have to split the money over the external lab etc (so paying with Visa is useless to them). It doesn't take long (20 minutes for x-ray and 30 minutes waiting for the doctor and 20 minutes inside) but you can definitely come earlier and cut in line for the lung check!

Don't pee right before as they need a urine sample (I made that mistake and had to wait until I could pee. Awkward.). There's a toilet downstairs, the desk ladies are super nice (and speak French, English, Dutch). Doctor is extremely nice, and he knows exactly how the American process goes, so don't worry. He speaks French and English (no Dutch). Have your regular doctor already print out your vaccinations and check what you need, and he will be very happy. If you have anything on the list of diseases/... you filled in, make sure to have original and translated document stating that it does not prohibit you from leading a normal life (I have epilepsy, and he just needed the latest statement that I'm reacting fine to my meds). He suggested adding the translation to the medical envelope myself (so I have hope they will seal it later, but I will have to check).

He fills in everything later, so there's no way you can get it that day. Plus, the blood test takes two weeks. You'll have to pick up the results there yourself, two weeks later.

I'll update this if they sealed the envelope already before I was able to get a copy of the vaccination stuff.

Edited May 29, 2017 by moosy

[Redheadguy03 505]

1 hour ago, moosy said:

How did you all get your medical envelope immediately?

 

I was told at the medical center to reschedule my visa interview at the embassy (which was a week later), because the blood and urine results would take exactly 2 weeks to come back from the lab (so tomorrow for me).

The doctor was angry that the embassy didn't leave 2 weeks in between "because they damn well know it takes 2 weeks!".

 

(I think that's actually my fault, as packet 3 read among other requirements that you needed to have scheduled a medical interview. But it could be read as "once you've had your medical" as well.)

 

I was quite disappointed. Luckily, it's been rescheduled for the 6th of June, so that's not too far away. I already booked a flight for end of June, so calculating in an extra month for everything, wasn't a bad idea after all.

 

If anyone from Belgium reads this:

They send you packet 3 by regular mail. It takes a few weeks. You then schedule that exact date and time, and pay for the ds160. They say Visa or MasterCard works, but it likely doesn't, so keep in mind that you might have to pay (online) through deposit. Payment goes through very fast.

 

Once you've sent back packet 3, packet 4 arrives in your email with an appointment date (it took 2 days for me. 1,5 really).

 

If you need to reschedule, just send them an email and they'll reschedule within 2 days. Please be nice as you'll notice they're not supposed to do it that way (says so in the automatic reply you'll receive).

 

Brussels appointments for medicals seems to be every Tuesday (before and behind me were someone going to Canada and someone to Australia). Call for an appointment, and clearly state which country you need it for when you say you need a medical for a Visa.

The Centre is easily found and very accessible by buses and trains.

Pay in cash because they have to split the money over the external lab etc (so paying with Visa is useless to them). It doesn't take long (20 minutes for x-ray and 30 minutes waiting for the doctor and 20 minutes inside) but you can definitely come earlier and cut in line for the lung check!

Don't pee right before as they need a urine sample (I made that mistake and had to wait until I could pee. Awkward.). There's a toilet downstairs, the desk ladies are super nice (and speak French, English, Dutch). Doctor is extremely nice, and he knows exactly how the American process goes, so don't worry. He speaks French and English (no Dutch). Have your regular doctor already print out your vaccinations and check what you need, and he will be very happy. If you have anything on the list of diseases/... you filled in, make sure to have original and translated document stating that it does not prohibit you from leading a normal life (I have epilepsy, and he just needed the latest statement that I'm reacting fine to my meds). He suggested adding the translation to the medical envelope myself (so I have hope they will seal it later, but I will have to check).

He fills in everything later, so there's no way you can get it that day. Plus, the blood test takes two weeks. You'll have to pick up the results there yourself, two weeks later.

I'll update this if they sealed the envelope already before I was able to get a copy of the vaccination stuff.

It depends on your embassy. In the Philippines you don't even get packet 3 most of the time. You just look online and see the requirements. You schedule your interview online and you get your medical results either the day of the exam or the next day.

 

Apparently, other embassies and medical facilities are a bit slower on the process. 

[Kuben&Tiffany 42]

Hi all. Glad to see some movement for some, and that the tracker is working now in some cases.

 

We've gotten absolutely nowhere with anyone. I spoke with a tier 2 officer on Friday, who told me I haven't given USCIS long enough to respond after their last email, which stated our case has been assigned to an officer and we'll be hearing something "soon." That was on May 9. When I pointed out to him that the call was not regarding an online inquiry and that I was seeking information on why the case is taking so long to be processed, he basically said he didn't know, couldn't tell me, and that USCIS is backed up. I explained that I knew very well that things are moving slowly, but that our case is being processed after many, many cases which were submitted after ours. I was careful to include that we are not asking for any special action on the case, simply for information about the delay. He reiterated that he did not know and could not find out, and also refused to provide contact information for anyone who might know. I then asked to speak to his supervisor, he put me on hold, and a few seconds later hung up on me. 

 

Besides just a basic update, I feel like it's important for people to know how USCIS is handling this situation (or not handling it, in this case). Of course we are just one case, and clearly the majority are being processed through, with delay in many cases. FYI, I have already attempted the congressman route as well, and I'm yet to receive any response at all from my congressman's office. 

 

Has anyone considered or taken legal action against USCIS? I know the best we could do would be to hire a lawyer and sue for a decision, but at this point I'm starting to wonder if that's going to be our only option. 

Edited May 30, 2017 by Kuben&Tiffany

[Redheadguy03 505]

6 minutes ago, Kuben&Tiffany said:

 

Has anyone considered or taken legal action against USCIS? I know the best we could do would be to hire a lawyer and sue for a decision, but at this point I'm starting to wonder if that's going to be our only option. 

Good luck with that. You can't sue the federal government without their permission. (weird right) 

 

Not to mention they could easily delay it more just for you ticking them off. It's the government, wait and be patient. I know it sucks, but trying to sue them will just create more issues.