February 2017 I-129F Filers

[mkm1993 92]

Awesome!! This helps a lot... I'm so glad you weighed in about the embassy thing because I was for sure worried about the mailing of the visa... I'm going to try and get about 2 weeks off if I can a week at the least... I for sure want to be there when the interview is done. It makes me nervous to think that the administration process could take longer than a couple of days because I've read where it took weeks for some cases. So this would be the best idea.. plus a few days in Rio? Hell yeah!!! Haha! Some people only dream about going there. I was thinking we could rent a car and drive back to where she lives but it's a very long flight and honestly I was looking at plane tickets and I think from Rio to where she lives is less than a hundred USD. That's very cheap compared to flights here in the USA. This is all helpful thank you. What part of Brazil are you in? 

[tomohime 15]

4 minutes ago, mkm1993 said:

Awesome!! This helps a lot... I'm so glad you weighed in about the embassy thing because I was for sure worried about the mailing of the visa... I'm going to try and get about 2 weeks off if I can a week at the least... I for sure want to be there when the interview is done. It makes me nervous to think that the administration process could take longer than a couple of days because I've read where it took weeks for some cases. So this would be the best idea.. plus a few days in Rio? Hell yeah!!! Haha! Some people only dream about going there. I was thinking we could rent a car and drive back to where she lives but it's a very long flight and honestly I was looking at plane tickets and I think from Rio to where she lives is less than a hundred USD. That's very cheap compared to flights here in the USA. This is all helpful thank you. What part of Brazil are you in? 

I strongly don't recommend you drive from Rio to the northeast of Brazil. Our roads are nothing compared to your roads and it can be dangerous. About flights, they indeed can be cheap, if you buy them in advance. Not knowing dates makes everything harder and more expensive...

Also, I don't want to give you the impression that Brazil is all bad, but I wouldn't trust a passport mailed to the northeast region. Maybe a trip to Rio could be your honeymoon in advance? There's lots to do and see there, and the peace of mind to get the passport in person is totally worth it.

I'm from Sao Paulo! I can't remember exactly your fianceé is from, I just remember it's in the northeast region.

[mkm1993 92]

11 minutes ago, Natalie & Thomas said:

I strongly don't recommend you drive from Rio to the northeast of Brazil. Our roads are nothing compared to your roads and it can be dangerous. About flights, they indeed can be cheap, if you buy them in advance. Not knowing dates makes everything harder and more expensive...

Also, I don't want to give you the impression that Brazil is all bad, but I wouldn't trust a passport mailed to the northeast region. Maybe a trip to Rio could be your honeymoon in advance? There's lots to do and see there, and the peace of mind to get the passport in person is totally worth it.

I'm from Sao Paulo! I can't remember exactly your fianceé is from, I just remember it's in the northeast region.

No I totally understand and appreciate you... she was in Salvador but has moved to a more rural area... I know this will sound bad but I can't even pronounce it... Ipiaú.. It's 6 hours from Salvador. I was thinking of doing a round trip ticket for me to Salvador and then flying the both of us to Rio and back to Salvador where her mother is... I rented a car last time and could drive to where her father is because 6 hours is not much at all... her mother is in Salvador and her father close to Ipiaú... She lives with her aunt and uncle at the moment.

[tomohime 15]

25 minutes ago, mkm1993 said:

No I totally understand and appreciate you... she was in Salvador but has moved to a more rural area... I know this will sound bad but I can't even pronounce it... Ipiaú.. It's 6 hours from Salvador. I was thinking of doing a round trip ticket for me to Salvador and then flying the both of us to Rio and back to Salvador where her mother is... I rented a car last time and could drive to where her father is because 6 hours is not much at all... her mother is in Salvador and her father close to Ipiaú... She lives with her aunt and uncle at the moment.

I know it's hard and it's something I have to keep reminding myself - but until we get the NOA2, there's not much we can really do. We'll have plenty of time to think and plan.

So my advice is: leave that decision for when you have a better idea of which month things are going to happen. Prices will change a lot depending on when and how far in advance you can buy tickets. So don't overthink it, and when the time comes, we will help you with this decision!

 

[Canada856 21]

I've been following but just joined today. Feb 22 filer... waiting just like all of you! Any other Canadians?? 

[eastcoastgroove 329]

7 hours ago, mkm1993 said:

Also to start a new conversation besides all of us obsessing about why they aren't processing cases as fast as usual (because we all know it drives us insane lol) what are some ways that y'all are preparing for your significant others to arrive to the states... your  savings goals, your housing goals, your short term goals, your marriage goals etc. What are some discussions you and your sweeties have had about this? How do they think America will be especially if they live somewhere other than the continent of North America?  

I am the beneficiary and luckily from Canada, so I have visited the US many times, including 3 visits to Dallas (where my fiance lives) and culture wise, it's basically the same as here.  I think the hardest parts for me is that Texas is quite conservative and they love their guns.  Also, the idea of not having good healthcare (and paying a large chunk of money for basic insurance) really freaks me out;  Pretty much all my worries revolve around healthcare.  For short term (possibly up to a year) we are going to live with his parents so that we can save money and pay off any debts we have so we can start fresh.  They have a rather large house so I'm not too worried about it being cramped.  After that we will get our own place but unsure if it will be a house or an apartment.   We have both been working extra to save money for my move and so that we have a cushion of money when I first get there since I won't be able to work for awhile.  We will just have a civil ceremony with us at first and then his parents will have a reception for us and some of my family will come for that.  I have been married before, so I left it up to my fiance on what he wanted to do. I just got back from visiting my fiance today and I have slowly been moving stuff in an extra suitcase each visit and this time we moved a bunch of my things into his closet, so it is starting to feel real!!! Hopefully we will all start seeing some movement in the next few weeks.

Edited May 9, 2017 by eastcoastgroove

[FindHerKeepHer 244]

So I am also the beneficiary from Trinidad ... fiancé lives in Miami presently originally from Missouri, met through a friend and kept contact been to the US 6 times since November, she's been to Trini twice. (Y'all vacation time sucks) lol I'm in IT project management and she works at BMW but is in grad school studying psychology. I'm curious, not sure if this is rude to ask but how much do y'all think is a safe amount to move to The US with in savings (for the beneficiaries) cuz that makes me uneasy. I'm definitely clearing off all my debt home before I move. Also I'm a feb 1st NOA1. :))  and we'll be renting, she presently lives on her own. 

[mkm1993 92]

1 hour ago, Williamsnelson said:

So I am also the beneficiary from Trinidad ... fiancé lives in Miami presently originally from Missouri, met through a friend and kept contact been to the US 6 times since November, she's been to Trini twice. (Y'all vacation time sucks) lol I'm in IT project management and she works at BMW but is in grad school studying psychology. I'm curious, not sure if this is rude to ask but how much do y'all think is a safe amount to move to The US with in savings (for the beneficiaries) cuz that makes me uneasy. I'm definitely clearing off all my debt home before I move. Also I'm a feb 1st NOA1. :))  and we'll be renting, she presently lives on her own. 

Interesting... I'll be short and brief... my goal is to have between 12,000-15,000 saved up by the end of this year... this includes every hour of over time that's hid away in my house and what I have in the bank 😁 I currently have close to half of that already.... my goal of 10,000 USD is to buy plane tickets, a wedding ring for me and her (no I haven't bought a ring yet but have been looking), a small ceremony with her family, along with a little bit of cushion for when she gets here... I'm hoping I won't have to touch my bank account besides for bills... I'm very tight with my money and crunch every penny... take my lunch most days, don't go out hardly... the only hole in my wallet is cigarettes lol but I will be quit before she gets here... it's all a matter of timing... my 10K budget was planned out through December but if the whole process comes before then I won't have that and will have to make what I have work... but she's worth it so I'm not worried a bit 

[eastcoastgroove 329]

2 hours ago, Canada856 said:

I've been following but just joined today. Feb 22 filer... waiting just like all of you! Any other Canadians?? 

I am a Canadian- I'm from New Brunswick.  mine was received on Feb 14, NOA1 was dated the 16th.

[mkm1993 92]

1 hour ago, eastcoastgroove said:

I am the beneficiary and luckily from Canada, so I have visited the US many times, including 3 visits to Dallas (where my fiance lives) and culture wise, it's basically the same as here.  I think the hardest parts for me is that Texas is quite conservative and they love their guns.  Also, the idea of not having good healthcare (and paying a large chunk of money for basic insurance) really freaks me out;  Pretty much all my worries revolve around healthcare.  For short term (possibly up to a year) we are going to live with his parents so that we can save money and pay off any debts we have so we can start fresh.  They have a rather large house so I'm not too worried about it being cramped.  After that we will get our own place but unsure if it will be a house or an apartment.   We have both been working extra to save money for my move and so that we have a cushion of money when I first get there since I won't be able to work for awhile.  We will just have a civil ceremony with us at first and then his parents will have a reception for us and some of my family will come for that.  I have been married before, so I left it up to my fiance on what he wanted to do. I just got back from visiting my fiance today and I have slowly been moving stuff in an extra suitcase each visit and this time we moved a bunch of my things into his closet, so it is starting to feel real!!! Hopefully we will all start seeing some movement in the next few weeks.

You are one lucky gal!! Texas is a great state... the old saying is that everything is bigger and better in Texas and that includes their 2nd amendment right 😂😂... I think you will love Texas... I live in North Mississippi right at the state line of Tennessee and about 30 minutes from Arkansas. Don't worry to much about healthcare... there is an attempt going on at this very moment for the reform of obama care. I feel good about it but many will disagree with that... we will save the politics for another time in another forum 😆. We don't plan on a big wedding... we are both young and simple... I'm an old soul, conservative in my finances and honestly think that Love and covenant is more important than a huge wedding. We want to relish in the moment of our union and don't need a bunch of people there to do it lol. Cheers to coming to America... the dirty south is a whole different kinda world... I'm known for my thick accent and my love for country music lol!! In fact I lived in northern Cali for a few months and while I had a job everyone always told me that I had to be from the Deep South and I told them yes. You will hopefully love "God's Country" aka Texas because as the country song goes " God blessed Texas
With His own hand Brought down angels from the promised land. Gave 'em a place where they could dance. If you want to see heaven, brother, here's you chance. I've been sent to spread the message
God blessed Texas."

[MariaBaker 50]

15 hours ago, D&J said:

HI, can you please tell me what app you are using?!

hey iam sorry late for respond, i choose this app on my android (already installed at the top on the list)

 

 

 

[doggieandsam 765]

Rough day today.

 

Feb cases touched 9-May: 56

 

Approved: 0

RFE: 53

Others: 3

 

Total cases approved so far: 48 (1%)

Touched but not approved: 54 (4%)

Withdrawn: 5 (0%)

Untouched: 3,505 (94%)

Grand total: 3,712 (100%)

 

Raw data here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7wWQs77fPiIaHVVbVhmdEV3OFU

[Angel&Eric 185]

4 minutes ago, iamdegie said:

Rough day today.

 

Feb cases touched 9-May: 56

 

Approved: 0

RFE: 53

Others: 3

 

Total cases approved so far: 48 (1%)

Touched but not approved: 54 (4%)

Withdrawn: 5 (0%)

Untouched: 3,505 (94%)

Grand total: 3,712 (100%)

 

Raw data here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7wWQs77fPiIaHVVbVhmdEV3OFU

December and January filers are reporting delayed reporting of approvals so it may not be as bad as it seems.

 

It does look like a lot of RFEs.  I am curious if something changed.

[Angel&Eric 185]

Well thats depressing!

 

Just checked the processing times... CSC now say 101 days.  

[doggieandsam 765]

1 hour ago, Angel&Eric said:

December and January filers are reporting delayed reporting of approvals so it may not be as bad as it seems.

 

It does look like a lot of RFEs.  I am curious if something changed.

I hope you are right but so far no additional cases show a delayed updated date of 8-May.