February 2017 I-129F Filers

[O.C 160]

11 hours ago, TexasHeartsIndia said:

What kind of things can we start gathering now? I just had a second visit with my fiancé so I am going to print more pics, my visa, and itinerary. Anything else I can do?

As eastcoastgroove mentioned below, it is specific to the embassy. As they have done, I have also ordered by long form BC, have been setting up doctor appointments  to catch up with vaccines and I have filled out the I-134 (saved as editable PDF) for my US fiance and have been instructing him on what he needs to save/gather for me.  I am waiting for the NOA2 for background check and to complete DS160. I have told my fiance to save pay stubs from his job, and since it is tax season now, to make sure to copy his return / get transcripts.  We also need to provide proof of his domicile in the U.S so I have advised him to save mail from the bank, work, etc.. 

 

Since you just came back from visiting, photos and itinerary are great, did you happen to keep any receipts of purchases that both of you made in the same place/same time? See if there is a country specific checklist. I am only finding Packet 4 for India, https://in.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2017/02/ND-K1-Packet-4.pdf, not sure if that's the correct one, but have a look and see how you can prepare.

 

11 hours ago, eastcoastgroove said:

Im not sure what is embassy specific (In canada you can download a checklist), but I ordered my long form birth certificate, am making sure my vaccines are up to date, made photocopies of my biographic passport page and birth certificate.  I am going to get my police record done once I get my NOA2 I think since in Canada you get it quite quick. I also went online and practice filled out my DS-160 to make sure I have all the info required.  It saves there for a month but I think I read you could save it to your computer (I didn't try yet).  You can also download the form for support and get an idea of what is needed for that (although wait for NOA2 to start gathering).  I am going to have a small sample of.evodence for my relationship, but apparently it is very rarely asked for in Canada.

I believe its done in the same day, but it costs $50 or more for the police record.. bah. Anything stand out for the DS160 that you wouldn't already have? For my I-129F application, I may have overloaded them with photos ( 7 pages of 4 each 3.5x5" pics) along with14 pages of chat evidence from the last 5 years... soooo I think I will do a little less 'evidence' for the interview, more photos and hotel/receipts/bus tickets than I will chat logs / phone logs.

[O.C 160]

16 hours ago, eastcoastgroove said:

I saw someone post last week about Montreal, saying there was interview slots available every wednesday from march 22 (today!) Until the end of April.  Another Canadian posted today they have an interview the middle of April and they also just booked recently, so I would be happy with that wait time if it keeps up!!  I have been keeping myself busy too and trying to work a ton.  I keep telling myself that if I can't be with my fiance, at least I can get enough funds saved up in order to keep paying my leftover Canadian bills while im in the US and cannot work.  

I think I may have missed that post, but good to know! Looks like I have an extra long weekend to look forward to if the Wednesday pattern keeps up lol. Yeah I know, just trying to calculate how much I need to save in order to cover everything for those few months where I don't have income is like .. turning my brain to mush. Along with all the additional expenses for the actual process itself. 

 

By the way, I just read this on here a few days ago, in the Canadian EI forum; if you move to the U.S to marry but your last job was in Canada, you may be able to get E.I. If that's something of use, check out the related forum.  I think my employer may want me to do some work after I move, but still be paid in CAD and the money will go to my Canadian bank account. Hopefully this is allowed? 

[Alysia&Luis 522]

I received the same email from USCIS six times in a row.  This was just correcting my birthdate that I noticed the year was wrong on NOA1. I mean with all that love they should just go ahead and process my petition!!! HAHAHA 

[Alex2017 34]

5 hours ago, pattyandvern said:

I got my fiance's I-134 Form (and co-sponsor's), just told them to skip the Box with the date so I can fill it before the Interview. Also I took fiance's letter of intend also without the date, some pictures, letters of employment from employer, pay stubs from fiance (co-sponsor will send that later), also they are fixing their taxes now and send it soon. I think that is it from them. I myself am thinking about making vaccines earlier, still didnt make my mind yet. I got my birth certificate already and will make my police check later cause it is valid only 6 months I guess and its easy to get, I can get it same day. Im not doing nothing else earlier than I get my noa2, cause it will be still over a month after I get it to fill all the paperwork so it is plenty of time.

I thought the police report was valid 12 months?

I got my report on March 15th or does it depend on the country?

[glmg21 330]

Just now, Alex2017 said:

I thought the police report was valid 12 months?

I got my report on March 15th or does it depend on the country?

Depends on the country, for Germany it's 12 months! Link to the checklist here: https://de.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2016/05/Instructions-for-IV-and-K-Visa-Applicants.pdf

[pattyandvern 282]

4 hours ago, Alex2017 said:

I thought the police report was valid 12 months?

I got my report on March 15th or does it depend on the country?

Yes, it depend on country. I might be wrong though, to my previous visas they required it not older than 6 months but they might changed it.

[KimchiLumpia 315]

Hi February 2017 filers!  

I'm a November 2016 filer and wrote this post because I've been getting a lot of questions regarding what happens after you receive your NOA2 approval and your case goes to the NVC.  There are a lot of questions and confusion on what happens 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:

 

At this point, many of you will be waiting for a number of more weeks for your NOA2 petition approvals.  Once you receive your NOA2 approval, your case will go from the USCIS to the NVC for processing.  Once received and processed at the NVC, they will mail your foreign fiance your NVC#.  This can take up to 4-6 weeks to arrive in the mail.

So instead of waiting, many VJ members will call the NVC after about 2 weeks from receiving their NOA2, and ask if their case has an NVC#.  The NVC phone agent will need your WAC#, your birthdate, and your foreign fiance's birthdate to look up and confirm your case.  My fiance and I called after 2 weeks, but, an NVC# wasn't given to us until 4 weeks.  

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

[doggieandsam 765]

hello all, did the first scan for k1s filed in feb today. results below. thank you to @geowrian for sharing his scripts!

 

Total number of k1 petitions received for the whole month of February, excluding all cases already marked rejected: 3,714

 

Cases for February updated today 24-March: 15

Approved: 1

RFEs: 1

Other: 13

 

Raw data here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7wWQs77fPiIZmJPYUZUenlaZWs

 

Disclaimer: I am not committing to posting an update everyday. I will scan if and when I can. =)

Edited March 24, 2017 by iamdegie

[GazLisa 1,168]

1 hour ago, iamdegie said:

hello all, did the first scan for k1s filed in feb today. results below. thank you to @geowrian for sharing his scripts!

 

Total number of k1 petitions received for the whole month of February, excluding all cases already marked rejected: 3,714

 

Cases for February updated today 24-March: 15

Approved: 1

RFEs: 1

Other: 13

 

Raw data here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7wWQs77fPiIZmJPYUZUenlaZWs

 

Disclaimer: I am not committing to posting an update everyday. I will scan if and when I can. =)

yikes scrolled all the way down to bottom of page our case should be on next update lol,filed march 2017

[eruiz3 24]

Filed early Feb, no update on my case. I'm taking it as no news as good news. 

Edited March 24, 2017 by eruiz3

[O.C 160]

3 hours ago, iamdegie said:

hello all, did the first scan for k1s filed in feb today. results below. thank you to @geowrian for sharing his scripts!

 

Total number of k1 petitions received for the whole month of February, excluding all cases already marked rejected: 3,714

 

Cases for February updated today 24-March: 15

Approved: 1

RFEs: 1

Other: 13

 

Raw data here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7wWQs77fPiIZmJPYUZUenlaZWs

 

Disclaimer: I am not committing to posting an update everyday. I will scan if and when I can. =)

Thanks for this   I am wondering if 3700+ cases for a month is low, high, average? 

[doggieandsam 765]

15 minutes ago, Orit.d said:

Thanks for this   I am wondering if 3700+ cases for a month is low, high, average? 

i have read somewhere in the other month's groups that nov was about 4500 and december at 4000 cases so this is lesser. but i do not know what the monthly average is though, it could very well be that previous months were lower on average and what we are seeing for nov-feb *could* actually be on the higher end of the spectrum. somebody also commented that there was an unusually high surge of applications in nov-dec with people trying to beat the increase in fees plus uncertainty with the new trump administration. and then you have the people who planned to submit their petitions in nov-dec but did not make it in time or those ones who submitted it but had to refile due to their first submission being rejected for sending incorrect fees - these people could be driving the numbers up for jan and feb.

 

 

[doggieandsam 765]

1 hour ago, eruiz3 said:

Filed early Feb, no update on my case. I'm taking it as no news as good news. 

so far i only saw 2 cases with meaningful updates from the feb group - one rfe last week and one approval today, both likely expedited cases. i don't think they have even really started with the jan filers! so don't worry, that's good news i would say. =)

[Alex2017 34]

22 hours ago, glmg21 said:

Depends on the country, for Germany it's 12 months! Link to the checklist here: https://de.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2016/05/Instructions-for-IV-and-K-Visa-Applicants.pdf

Thanks!

[pattyandvern 282]

5 hours ago, iamdegie said:

hello all, did the first scan for k1s filed in feb today. results below. thank you to @geowrian for sharing his scripts!

 

Total number of k1 petitions received for the whole month of February, excluding all cases already marked rejected: 3,714

 

Cases for February updated today 24-March: 15

Approved: 1

RFEs: 1

Other: 13

 

Raw data here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7wWQs77fPiIZmJPYUZUenlaZWs

 

Disclaimer: I am not committing to posting an update everyday. I will scan if and when I can. =)

My CN is not there  received Feb 3rd

 

edit: nevermind, found it

Edited March 24, 2017 by pattyandvern