January 2017 I-129F Filers

[Estibaliz 3,037]

Just now, Kenneth and Guada said:

I called immigrant and non immigrant. Still same answer. 😢 This is too much. Weve waited in our NOA2 almost 5 months then now wait  for 90 days again for case number😭

Very sorry to hear that. I just knew of people being told the same thing, until they talk to someone dealing with the new electronic system.

Can't you email them some kind of inquiry being past the six weeks deadline? Still waiting for the NOA2, so not really that familiar with NVC yet 

Again, sorry it's been that hard for you too.

[Kenneth and Guada 18]

On 6/30/2017 at 3:12 AM, Vince-Rina said:

My fiance said just one CENOMAR, a recent one should do.  Not sure why they would say two. Her interview is 7/7

 

34 minutes ago, Estibaliz said:

Very sorry to hear that. I just knew of people being told the same thing, until they talk to someone dealing with the new electronic system.

Can't you email them some kind of inquiry being past the six weeks deadline? Still waiting for the NOA2, so not really that familiar with NVC yet 

Again, sorry it's been that hard for you too.

Everytime i called, i asked about the new sytem but they always say "Yes i checked already"  😭    We've waited for our NOA2 before for almost 5months. And its pain in the asss.

[Emmz 154]

13 hours ago, HazeyHaze said:

Alright, I have procrastinated long enough. I better write a full review of my interview before I forget most of the questions the CO asked me. Ha!

 

My interview was scheduled for July 12 at 6:40 am. When I got there just a little before 6 am, there were already a bunch of people outside. Most of them are companions of the applicants. 3 lines of hopefuls were standing under the rising sun, patiently waiting for the guards to let them in. They were lined up pretty far from the embassy entrance, though. I showed my appointment confirmation to the guard and he told me to go to the longest line, which is the line for those scheduled at 6:40 am. Batch numero uno.

 

The 2 other lines are for those scheduled at 7 something. I didn't really pay attention as I was already sweating, both feeling hot and nervous as heck. I couldn't pull out the reviewer I made from my clearbook for it would've caused my other documents to fly out and away from me. I couldn't risk losing them. I really wanted to review, though. I kept repeating my fiance's address, phone number, the number of tattoos he has and what they are, and even the number of moles on his face and which part they were placed. Mole on his right cheek. On his nose. He has a bunny tattoo on his right arm. 2 skeletons on his left calf. I must... remember!

 

After fifteen minutes, the guard told us to walk to the front of the building where there was a tent and two employees waiting. I thought to myself, oooh that pretty fast. Wrong. We stood under the tent for half an hour. My back and feet were killing me. I shouldn't have worn my new pair of shoes. My sweat was slowly erasing my makeup. I worked so hard on making myself look presentable. Damn, I shouldn't have put my blazer on yet. I couldn't take it off because I was holding my clearbook and my bag. Despite the discomfort, I tried very hard to remember everything I wrote on my reviewer. We've come this far, I must not fail. 

 

Finally, at around 6:40 am, they started letting people in. They gave us a ziplock bag to place our most recent passport in, asked for our DS160, put a sticker on it, gave us a laminated card with a letter and some numbers that correspond to the area we're supposed to go to for pre-screening. My card was A something something. As soon as I got inside, the usher guided me to the A area and the A area usher instructed me to go to window 43, where a serious-looking Filipino man was waiting for me. I greeted him good morning with a smile and he said it back, still looking serious. He asked for my DS160, NBI clearance, CENOMAR, and birth certificate. He didn't ask for my medical results because SLEC forwarded it to them since I went through psych evaluation. After a few seconds of typing, he started asking me his pre-screening questions.

 

Have you ever traveled outside the country?

What is your fiance's name?

When is his birthday? How old is he now?

Where did you meet him?

When did you start talking? When did you officially become

How many times has he visited you? When?

Where does he live?

Do you have photos together? Can you show me? (I showed him 10 pages of photos with a STORY in every page. He read some of the pages and didn't ask me any questions about the photos.)

What does he do for a living? Where?

Do you plan to work when you get there? (Don't say yes! I told him we haven't talked about it yet because right now all we wanna do is get married and that he really wants me to prepare food for him because he hasn't had a home-cooked meal in a long time. This made the Filipino guy smile.)

 

He asked quite a lot of questions but this was all done in less than five minutes. He wrote the time on my DS160 (6:46 am) and gave it back to me. He then instructed me to go to the next window, window 43, for the fingerprint scanning. A pretty strict-looking American guy was telling an old lady to put more lotion on her hands, so he let me do the fingerprint scanning first. Took about 30 seconds and then I was off to the interview section.

 

The usher asked me to take a seat next to this middle-aged Filipino lady because the consuls aren't there yet. I went from 15th (I think) in line to the 2nd, because the other applicants were taking a long time in the pre-screening stage. Some were old and slow and some had incomplete/incorrect documents. 20 minutes later, the line for the interview was already getting long. Still no consuls. We waited for around 5 to 10 more minutes, and then the usher asked the first 3 in line to go in front of the interview windows and wait for one to open. A few minutes later, an American man called the first person in line. Shortly after, I saw window 59 open, but I couldn't see if there was someone behind the window because it was in the corner. I walked up to it to check and a tall, slim American lady probably in her late twenties opened her arms wide with a cheeky smile as if she was saying, "Do you want to come here or nah?". I smiled and said good morning. She greeted me back. All my nervousness went away instantly because she seemed super cool and nice. She was kinda dorky, and she talked really, really fast. She too my DS160, asked me to take the oath, and began asking me her questions.

 

Where did you meet your fiance?

How did you two start talking?

Why him and not the other guys from OKCupid? (I told her I didn't message my fiance because he was in Japan at the time and I thought he wouldn't be interested, but he saw me visit his profile because he was online and he messaged me saying "HOW DARE YOU NOT SEND ME A MESSAGE, WOMAN!" and I thought that was funny so I responded. The consul and the 2 Filipino employees behind her laughed. xD)

Why was he in Japan then? (I told her he was in the military.)

Is he still in the military? (Nope.)

Where does he work now and what does he do? (My fiance works at Delta Airlines. She was interested so she asked me a few follow-up questions.)

Does he get free tickets to fly anywhere? Has he used them to come see you? (I said he hasn't because he just started working at Delta this May.)

How many times has he visited you and when were those?

What did you do the first time he came to see you? (I told her we mostly ate and that I took him to Manam where they serve the best sisig, and she asked me where that is because she loves sisig, too.  At this point, I already felt that she was going to give me an approval. Haha!)

Where will you be living when you get to the states?

 

She then asked me to put my 4 fingers on the scanner. She joked that she remembered to do the fingerprint scanning this time. She was so proud of herself. Haha! I and the 2 Filipina employees laughed. She then asked a few more questions.

 

Has he been married before? How about you?

Does he have kids? And you?

 

And then, STAMP! Music to my ears. She said "Well, I'm all good. I don't see any reason not to approve you, so congratulations and good luck to you!". She gave me the slip that tells me how to register my address online and told me my passport will be sent back to me in a week. She gave me the mandatory pamphlet and let me go home. I was stunned. I couldn't believe this was actually happening. It's all over! We made it! I'll be with my love soon! 

 

The consul asked more questions than the Filipino guy, but since she talked really fast and I answered each question very quickly, the interview was over after five minutes. I passed by the first woman in line who was still being interviewed. The consul looked very serious and she was leaning close to the window as if she was having a hard time comprehending what the consul was saying. I hope she got approved. She's a nice lady just wanting to be with her love. 

 

Anyway, I couldn't feel my entire body - heck, even my soul - as I walked out, but I sure as hell felt like a champ. 15th something in line, 2nd to be interviewed, first to be approved. I ran to my mother who was waiting outside to tell her the good news. She was so happy and sad at the same time. I checked the time on my phone, 7:53 am. I sent my fiance a message to tell him we have been approved and I messaged some of my friends, too. 

 

As soon as we got home, I passed out (I didn't get any sleep the night before because I was so nervous and I couldn't stop reading denial stories online lol) with the biggest smile on my face. No more stressful nights worrying if fate wants me to be with the love of my life.

 

I hope you enjoyed my review... erm, story. I sure talk a lot for an introvert.

 

thanks for sharing the interview experience its helpful congrats

[eastcoastgroove 329]

1 hour ago, Kenneth and Guada said:

I called immigrant and non immigrant. Still same answer. 😢 This is too much. Weve waited in our NOA2 almost 5 months then now wait  for 90 days again for case number😭

Have you specifically tried option 5 though when calling immigrant?? (Instead of option 7).  A lot of us had luck with that (including me), although my fiance got an email with my case number about 5 weeks after NOA2.

Edited July 15, 2017 by eastcoastgroove

[PR&PR 325]

1 hour ago, Kenneth and Guada said:

 

Everytime i called, i asked about the new sytem but they always say "Yes i checked already"  😭    We've waited for our NOA2 before for almost 5months. And its pain in the asss.

Send an email inquiry as you are past the 6 weeks mark!

[Kenneth and Guada 18]

1 hour ago, eastcoastgroove said:

Have you specifically tried option 5 though when calling immigrant?? (Instead of option 7).  A lot of us had luck with that (including me), although my fiance got an email with my case number about 5 weeks after NOA2.

Hmmmm, no. I did not. Everytime i called i press 2.  So when i press 5 whats next?  Need help pls.

50 minutes ago, PR&PR said:

Send an email inquiry as you are past the 6 weeks mark!

I did, but they didnt response yet. 😢

[PR&PR 325]

55 minutes ago, Kenneth and Guada said:

Hmmmm, no. I did not. Everytime i called i press 2.  So when i press 5 whats next?  Need help pls.

I did, but they didnt response yet. 😢

Same but they know better about the new process.

[eastcoastgroove 329]

49 minutes ago, Kenneth and Guada said:

Hmmmm, no. I did not. Everytime i called i press 2.  So when i press 5 whats next?  Need help pls.

I did, but they didnt response yet. 😢

It's just a different division but make sure you are calling the immigrant line, as it's not an option for non immigrant. We were told finally after almost 5 weeks we were a "pivot case" and to use that option.  The regular people couldn't see our case, only people in option 5 could, as it's those being processed in their new system.  I would call that option and maybe just say you were told to call this line to see if your case is in there.

[eastcoastgroove 329]

3 hours ago, Kenneth and Guada said:

I called immigrant and non immigrant. Still same answer. 😢 This is too much. Weve waited in our NOA2 almost 5 months then now wait  for 90 days again for case number😭

To add to this - @glmg21 had the same issue (he was in the new system) and he inquired about his number and received an answer by email  weeks later saying they still hadnt received his petition yet, although he already got his visa that day!! They clueless 🙄

[goodlulck52 69]

8 minutes ago, eastcoastgroove said:

To add to this - @glmg21 had the same issue (he was in the new system) and he inquired about his number and received an answer by email  weeks later saying they still hadnt received his petition yet, although he already got his visa that day!! They clueless 🙄

How would one know if their case is in the new system or not? Thanks!

[eastcoastgroove 329]

22 minutes ago, goodlulck52 said:

How would one know if their case is in the new system or not? Thanks!

I only knew for sure at almost 5 weeks when one of the agents on option 7 told us, but I had pretty much figured out after reading about other Canadians (and some non canadians) longer than normal waits. I think give it at least 3 weeks calling the regular line, as most people will here "received" this way and in a normal time frame. 

 

I was always told not received (NOA2 May 19) but I found out on June 20th (through option 5) that my petition had been there since June 6.

[glmg21 330]

2 hours ago, goodlulck52 said:

How would one know if their case is in the new system or not? Thanks!

Typically speaking, it seems that K1 visas that are going through embassies and consulates that can handle the electronic processing of other visas are the ones that are being trialled. That list is here, and both Canada and Germany are on it which would explain why so many have had delays: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Submit_documents.html

 

I can confirm that as @eastcoastgroove mentioned I got an email from NVC on the day of my Visa approval this week saying they hadn't received it, while my fiancee received the same email just a few hours ago! Hopeless stuff!

Edited July 15, 2017 by glmg21

[goodlulck52 69]

2 hours ago, eastcoastgroove said:

I only knew for sure at almost 5 weeks when one of the agents on option 7 told us, but I had pretty much figured out after reading about other Canadians (and some non canadians) longer than normal waits. I think give it at least 3 weeks calling the regular line, as most people will here "received" this way and in a normal time frame. 

 

I was always told not received (NOA2 May 19) but I found out on June 20th (through option 5) that my petition had been there since June 6.

 

5 minutes ago, glmg21 said:

Typically speaking, it seems that K1 visas that are going through embassies and consulates that can handle the electronic processing of other visas are the ones that are being trialled. That list is here, and both Canada and Germany are on it which would explain why so many have has delays: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Submit_documents.html

 

I can confirm that as @eastcoastgroove mentioned I got an email from NVC on the day of my Visa approval this week saying they hadn't received it, while my fiancee received the same email just a few hours ago! Hopeless stuff!

Thanks Guys!

 

So electronic processing includes both online and email?

 

Online processing: BNS, FRN, HNK MTL, RDJ, SYD

Email processing: AKD, AMM, BGH (except I-730 petitions), DMS, GZO

 

If so, hopefully AKD is not Auckland  since the Auckland airport is called AKL...

 

[glmg21 330]

33 minutes ago, goodlulck52 said:

 

Thanks Guys!

 

So electronic processing includes both online and email?

 

Online processing: BNS, FRN, HNK MTL, RDJ, SYD

Email processing: AKD, AMM, BGH (except I-730 petitions), DMS, GZO

 

If so, hopefully AKD is not Auckland  since the Auckland airport is called AKL...

 

No problem.

 

So, to clarify, visa applicants in categories like CR-1, IR-1 and F1 follow a different process to K1 and are required to submit documents to the NVC rather than to their respective embassies or consulates. Some embassies and consulates are able to process this document submission electronically, which is known as email or electronic processing. Long story short, if the consulate you're going through for a K1 is able to handle electronic processing for other visa types, by virtue of being on that list, there's a chance your K1 information may be transmitted to them digitally and as such go through a different process at the NVC. The end result is the same, but it just means your information goes from USCIS > NVC > Embassy in a slightly different way.

 

Looks like AKD is Ashgabat and Auckland is ACK. There is a full list of all the embassy codes here: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/family/spouse-citizen/u-s--embassy-consulate-general-specific-information.html

[goodlulck52 69]

31 minutes ago, glmg21 said:

No problem.

 

So, to clarify, visa applicants in categories like CR-1, IR-1 and F1 follow a different process to K1 and are required to submit documents to the NVC rather than to their respective embassies or consulates. Some embassies and consulates are able to process this document submission electronically, which is known as email or electronic processing. Long story short, if the consulate you're going through for a K1 is able to handle electronic processing for other visa types, by virtue of being on that list, there's a chance your K1 information may be transmitted to them digitally and as such go through a different process at the NVC. The end result is the same, but it just means your information goes from USCIS > NVC > Embassy in a slightly different way.

 

Looks like AKD is Ashgabat and Auckland is ACK. There is a full list of all the embassy codes here: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/family/spouse-citizen/u-s--embassy-consulate-general-specific-information.html

Thanks a lot for clarifying!!! 

And great to know that ACK is not in the list of the trial!!!