January 2017 I-129F Filers

[Buttaflyzoe 20]

18 minutes ago, glmg21 said:

They're all either name or date of birth updates, or expedite cases! It won't be long before January kicks into action though, they are making good progress in the December cases!

Ughhhh I hope so I'm still waiting for mine ..... I'm dec 27 ..... I noticed it said they are working on 12/24

[glmg21 330]

2 minutes ago, Buttaflyzoe said:

Ughhhh I hope so I'm still waiting for mine ..... I'm dec 27 ..... I noticed it said they are working on 12/24

Getting closer! I remember it feeling an age away when I filed back in Jan and it's nearly April already!

[HazeyHaze 221]

7 hours ago, glmg21 said:

Getting closer! I remember it feeling an age away when I filed back in Jan and it's nearly April already!

When's your received date? Mine's Jan 19th and it seems like I'm getting the NOA2/RFE cuz of OkCupid around May or June, hey. Progress has been too slow. :/

[PR&PR 325]

On 3/21/2017 at 5:49 PM, TiruRiru09 said:

Is your case expedited or are they touching January cases? This is exciting!

I thought K-1 visa could not be expedited? Is there a way, if so how and why everything we read says that they cannot. My fiancé and I would have been willing to pay the extra money not to have to postpone our wedding. Unfortunately we got told the process took 1-3months and well we are way behind now :(. NOA1 received on January 13, case received on the 10th.

[David&Femke 91]

23 minutes ago, PR&PR said:

I thought K-1 visa could not be expedited? Is there a way, if so how and why everything we read says that they cannot. My fiancé and I would have been willing to pay the extra money not to have to postpone our wedding. Unfortunately we got told the process took 1-3months and well we are way behind now :(. NOA1 received on January 13, case received on the 10th.

only for miletary members that have orders to get deployed.

[KimchiLumpia 315]

Hi January 2017 filers!  

I'm a November 2016 filer and wrote this post because in the next few weeks, some of you will be receiving your NOA2 approvals.  And there are a lot of questions and confusion on what happens next after the NVC processes your case and what to do when you receive your NVC #.  Since I just recently completed the process, its fresh in my mind and would like to share my experience. 

I hope this helps clarify things for everyone:

 

Many new VJ members mention that there is good specific information regarding how to file a K1 Visa I-129F petition, but, where is all the specific information on how to schedule an interview or medical in my country?  What do I do now that I've received my NVC #?  Where do I find this information?

Once you have your NVC # you can use it to track your case on the CEAC website here:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==

Once your case is received at your fiance's foreign embassy and says "Ready", you will be able to start scheduling your medical and interview.  This is where it gets a bit tricky and country specific.

Before you are able to schedule a medical or interview, your foreign fiance's embassy will mail a step-by-step checklist of items required to be completed first.  This checklist is what is loosely known as "Packet 3".  I say loosely, because every country is different.  Some countries literally call it "Packet 3".  Some countries call it a simple "Checklist".  Some countries call it "instructions".  Some countries have no name for it. 

Regardless of what it is called, this Packet 3 checklist will be mailed to your foreign fiance.  However, some VJ members report they never received their Packet 3 checklist in the mail.  Fortunately, many countries have this Packet 3 checklist available on their US Embassy website.  Realize however, every country does this differently.  

For example:

Canada's Embassy website provides a downloadable Packet 3 checklist PDF: https://ca.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee/

Ukraine's Embassy checklist is directly written on their website:  https://ua.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/fiancee-visa/how-to-apply/

 

This Packet 3 checklist generally includes: Submitting your DS160 online, getting your affidavit of support evidence, getting your police records report, and other information required at interview. 
 

Now remember: THIS CHECKLIST IS COUNTRY SPECIFIC!!!!

 

If you read the links above:

In Canada, you are to schedule your interview first THEN schedule your medical.
In Ukraine, you are to schedule your medical first THEN schedule your interview.

So when a VJ member gives you advice on what to do, make sure that advice is geared specifically to your foreign country.

If your foreign fiance's embassy website has the Packet 3 available, and your CEAC status shows ready, you do not have to wait for the official Packet 3 letter to arrive in the mail before you can start scheduling your medical and interview.

This has been confirmed by many VJ members, including myself.  My Canadian fiance and I scheduled her interview and medical 2 weeks before receiving our Packet 3 letter in the mail.  

Some feel more comfortable waiting for their Packet 3 checklist to arrive in the mail before starting scheduling their interview and medical appointments.  That's perfectly acceptable too.  Do what makes you most comfortable.

I took my time to write this post because I had a ton of questions myself regarding what to do with my NVC#.  Fortunately, I connected the dots with the help of the VJ members here.   And, I want to help others answer the same questions I had. 

If you've received your NOA2 and are waiting for your NVC #, I recommend checking your foreign fiance's embassy website and see what their packet 3 checklist requirements are.  Your fiance's foreign embassy will have the latest information, fees, and forms as well.

Remember, your CEAC status must first be "Ready" before you can schedule your medical or interview.  Just make sure you take the proper checklist steps that are specific to your country prior to scheduling your medical or interview.  

According to some member's profiles, VJ has been around more than 14 years.  I don't think there's a immigration scenario the collective members here hasn't read, seen or gone through personally.  So if you're uncertain or need help, just ask!  

 If any Canadian filers have any questions, let me know!

Hope this helps...and good luck to everyone on their Visa Journey!

Edited March 24, 2017 by KimchiLumpia

[Yaztalksalot 127]

4 hours ago, KimchiLumpia said:

Hi January 2017 filers!  

I'm a November 2016 filer and wrote this post because in the next few weeks, some of you will be receiving your NOA2 approvals.  And there are a lot of questions and confusion on what happens next after the NVC processes your case and what to do when you receive your NVC #.  Since I just recently completed the process, its fresh in my mind and would like to share my experience. 

I hope this helps clarify things for everyone:

 

Many new VJ members mention that there is good specific information regarding how to file a K1 Visa I-129F petition, but, where is all the specific information on how to schedule an interview or medical in my country?  What do I do now that I've received my NVC #?  Where do I find this information?

Once you have your NVC # you can use it to track your case on the CEAC website here:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==

Once your case is received at your fiance's foreign embassy and says "Ready", you will be able to start scheduling your medical and interview.  This is where it gets a bit tricky and country specific.

Before you are able to schedule a medical or interview, your foreign fiance's embassy will mail a step-by-step checklist of items required to be completed first.  This checklist is what is loosely known as "Packet 3".  I say loosely, because every country is different.  Some countries literally call it "Packet 3".  Some countries call it a simple "Checklist".  Some countries call it "instructions".  Some countries have no name for it. 

Regardless of what it is called, this Packet 3 checklist will be mailed to your foreign fiance.  However, some VJ members report they never received their Packet 3 checklist in the mail.  Fortunately, many countries have this Packet 3 checklist available on their US Embassy website.  Realize however, every country does this differently.  

For example:

Canada's Embassy website provides a downloadable Packet 3 checklist PDF: https://ca.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee/

Ukraine's Embassy checklist is directly written on their website:  https://ua.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/fiancee-visa/how-to-apply/

 

This Packet 3 checklist generally includes: Submitting your DS160 online, getting your affidavit of support evidence, getting your police records report, and other information required at interview. 
 

Now remember: THIS CHECKLIST IS COUNTRY SPECIFIC!!!!

 

If you read the links above:

In Canada, you are to schedule your interview first THEN schedule your medical.
In Ukraine, you are to schedule your medical first THEN schedule your interview.

So when a VJ member gives you advice on what to do, make sure that advice is geared specifically to your foreign country.

If your foreign fiance's embassy website has the Packet 3 available, and your CEAC status shows ready, you do not have to wait for the official Packet 3 letter to arrive in the mail before you can start scheduling your medical and interview.

This has been confirmed by many VJ members, including myself.  My Canadian fiance and I scheduled her interview and medical 2 weeks before receiving our Packet 3 letter in the mail.  

Some feel more comfortable waiting for their Packet 3 checklist to arrive in the mail before starting scheduling their interview and medical appointments.  That's perfectly acceptable too.  Do what makes you most comfortable.

I took my time to write this post because I had a ton of questions myself regarding what to do with my NVC#.  Fortunately, I connected the dots with the help of the VJ members here.   And, I want to help others answer the same questions I had. 

If you've received your NOA2 and are waiting for your NVC #, I recommend checking your foreign fiance's embassy website and see what their packet 3 checklist requirements are.  Your fiance's foreign embassy will have the latest information, fees, and forms as well.

Remember, your CEAC status must first be "Ready" before you can schedule your medical or interview.  Just make sure you take the proper checklist steps that are specific to your country prior to scheduling your medical or interview.  

According to some member's profiles, VJ has been around more than 14 years.  I don't think there's a immigration scenario the collective members here hasn't read, seen or gone through personally.  So if you're uncertain or need help, just ask!  

 If any Canadian filers have any questions, let me know!

Hope this helps...and good luck to everyone on their Visa Journey!

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this out. Very much appreciated. I've been doing a lot of reading about what to do for NOA2 and there is a lot of info on it - but  it's spread out across the site! So having all the information in one place is great! Good luck with the rest of your journey and thanks again! <3

[Reixa 0]

Wow lots of great information! 

Im new to VJ. My fiancé and I filed the 26th of January,  got our NOA1 on the 31st. Now just waiting.... And waiting.... Haha. I know we haven't even hit the three month minimum waiting time, but its just excruciating! 

I am very glad to find this great resource though, with so much information, and others going through the same thing.

[AkesAngel 585]

Cases for January updated 23st of March: 3 
Approved: 0
RFEs: 1
Other: 2 (1x Withdrawal Acknowledgement Notice Was Sent, 1x Document Was Mailed)

*Only cases starting with a receiving date of Jan 1 onward*

**There were no cases updated on March 22nd**

 

Details for January only: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1QbA9c-L-c1N3pINXZjR0VwRnM

 

Spoiler

Rec'd Date	3/23/2017	3/21/2017	Touched Cases
1/3/2017	2	2	0
1/6/2017	1	1	0
1/9/2017	5	5	0
1/10/2017	269	269	0
1/11/2017	84	84	0
1/12/2017	73	73	0
1/13/2017	97	97	0
1/17/2017	110	110	0
1/18/2017	342	342	0
1/19/2017	49	49	0
1/20/2017	143	143	0
1/23/2017	124	124	0
1/24/2017	302	302	0
1/25/2017	125	125	0
1/26/2017	95	95	0
1/27/2017	108	108	0
1/30/2017	247	247	0
1/31/2017	274	275	1

 

[TiruRiru09 49]

So it's been exactly 60 days since I received my NOA1. I'm hoping January filers start seeing approvals within the next four weeks. I have hope! And thank you @AkesAngel for doing the scans. It definitely makes me feel better when I see it being closer to January. You and @geowrian keep me sane. 

[Antriksh 12]

What are the chances of getting rejected at the visa interview after getting the approval in NOA2? 

[Danni.B 37]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with everyone here! @KimchiLumpia

 

I'm a January filer in Canada. NOA on Jan 11 to be precise. Wish us luck on getting NOA2 soon. And good luck on your interview!

[Nghi T Pham 35]

On 3/23/2017 at 6:01 PM, PR&PR said:

I thought K-1 visa could not be expedited? Is there a way, if so how and why everything we read says that they cannot. My fiancé and I would have been willing to pay the extra money not to have to postpone our wedding. Unfortunately we got told the process took 1-3months and well we are way behind now :(. NOA1 received on January 13, case received on the 10th.

 

On 3/23/2017 at 6:25 PM, David&Femke said:

only for miletary members that have orders to get deployed.

K-1 Visa CAN be expedite if you meet 1 of criteria requirement on USCIS website and military status is one of them. My case was experdited due to my military service but not about deployment, for any reason that you request for experdite just attach all documents as evidence and you will be good. My NOA1 was 23 January and RFE mailed on 08 March , I sent my response back on 17 March and USCIS received by 21, now I am waiting for their decision. Once again, if you think you meet their expedite requirement, just call them and ask for experdite request, it will not hurt your case but make sure you have all support document because they will send you email with Attention Code and Fax number when they ask for evidence ( this is not RFE and your case status will stay as Received )

[KimchiLumpia 315]

4 hours ago, Danni_xo said:

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with everyone here! @KimchiLumpia

 

I'm a January filer in Canada. NOA on Jan 11 to be precise. Wish us luck on getting NOA2 soon. And good luck on your interview!

Thanks for the greetings and well wishes! What part of Canada are you guys from?  We're here in Vancouver BC and are kinda bummed the Vancouver consulate stopped conducting K1 Visa interviews.  Would have saved us $$$ on traveling to Montreal!  Although we hear it's a great city.  

 

Good luck with your petition too!  If you have any questions about the process down the road, feel free to send me a message.

[glmg21 330]

6 hours ago, Antriksh said:

What are the chances of getting rejected at the visa interview after getting the approval in NOA2? 

Fairly low, providing you answer the questions truthfully and in a way that is consistent with your approved petition. Make sure you have all of your supporting evidence, checklist documents, signed paperwork, etc, and you'll be fine!