I-129F March 2017 Filers

[SamWasi 15]

15 minutes ago, TearsOfBabylon said:

Hey girls and guys - greetings from Germany!

Am I the only German here, filing in March?  

We've sent our i-129f to the PO box in TX on March 14th and are now patiently (him) and impatiently (me!!!!) waiting for the first baby step named NOA1.

Glad I found this forum and looking forward to share experiences with you!

I just saw in another post that someone forgot to write the name on the photo and realized: We forgot as well! Might this cause a RFE?

Have a great day everyone!

If you have attached (e.g, paperclip) the photo to the correct G-325 form, you should not worry

[TearsOfBabylon 1,680]

1 minute ago, SamWasi said:

If you have attached (e.g, paperclip) the photo to the correct G-325 form, you should not worry

Thank you! Dank je wel!
Each pic is in a little zip bag, paperclipped to the G-325!

Ugh, then I'm relieved!
 

[CubaAndChill 389]

17 hours ago, SamWasi said:

Funny how nerve wracking this process is. We count days to the receipt confirmation, while at least 5 months of wait is ahead of us. But hey, luckily we have each other here with the assurance that many others are in the same boat.

 

It really is nerve wracking. All this waiting just to be with the one you love. I try to calm myself down with the mindset of, yes it's at least 5/6 months of waiting from sending in the I-129F packet, but we have a lifetime of being together and getting on each other's nerves,,, with love lol

[CubaAndChill 389]

16 hours ago, MD&MC said:

I get to go see my fiancée! I bought a plane ticket for the end of April. This will be an all new adventure for me. I've never been on a plane, never seen the ocean, never been out of the country. It's all kind of scary but I cant wait!

Aww, I'm so happy you get to go see your fiance! Don't be nervous, everything will be just fine! Flights, are nothing.. It's all the waiting at the airports that'll make you go almost insane I don't know if you're a praying person, but I'll be praying for your safe travels.

[CubaAndChill 389]

5 hours ago, KimchiLumpia said:

Hi March 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/months 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!

Thank you for this!!

 

I've heard...read.. that you can schedule your medical and interview right after the DS-160 is submitted, the status just has to be ready by the interview date. Is this also true?

[nephthys 41]

16 hours ago, KULtoATL said:

Actually I am really hoping to move there by December 2016. Then I can start my new life with my new husband (then) by ushering in a new year. It is all so exciting.

Are you a time-traveller?  Seriously though – I'm hoping the same thing, that my partner can move here before this year ends!

[KimchiLumpia 315]

2 hours ago, CubaAndChill said:

Thank you for this!!

 

I've heard...read.. that you can schedule your medical and interview right after the DS-160 is submitted, the status just has to be ready by the interview date. Is this also true?

Hi! I like your VJ screen name! 

That is generally the case.  Once you use your NVC# to check your status on the CEAC website and it shows your status is "Ready", you can submit your DS-160 and start scheduling your interview.  Now remember, every country is a bit different on when to submit your DS-160 and how to schedule your interview and medical appointments.

I did a bit of research for Cuba.  According to the US Cuban Embassy government website, their checklist is directly on their website:
https://cu.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/family-based-immigration/the-interview/

 

Being a March 2017 filer, you have some time before the NVC receives your case.  Before receiving anything, I'd recommend referring your Cuba K1-Visa related questions to another VJ member named @forena99.  She is another November 2016 filer whose case is at the NVC stage now.  

She started a very informative and current thread regarding her Cuban K1 Visa experience here: 
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/625353-2017-post-noa2-for-cuba-k1-getting-ready-for-interview/
 

 

Edited March 24, 2017 by KimchiLumpia

[CubaAndChill 389]

22 minutes ago, KimchiLumpia said:

Hi! I like your VJ screen name! 

That is generally the case.  Once you use your NVC# to check your status on the CEAC website and it shows your status is "Ready", you can submit your DS-160 and start scheduling your interview.  Now remember, every country is a bit different on when to submit your DS-160 and how to schedule your interview and medical appointments.

I did a bit of research for Cuba.  According to the US Cuban Embassy government website, their checklist is directly on their website:
https://cu.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/family-based-immigration/the-interview/

 

Being a March 2017 filer, you have some time before the NVC receives your case.  Before receiving anything, I'd recommend referring your Cuba K1-Visa related questions to another VJ member named @forena99.  She is another November 2016 filer whose case is at the NVC stage now.  

She started a very informative and current thread regarding her Cuban K1 Visa experience here: 
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/625353-2017-post-noa2-for-cuba-k1-getting-ready-for-interview/
 

 

Thank you!

 

Yup, I've started following that thread a little while ago. It really helps that there's some VJ members that have fiance's in Cuba that I can kind of follow after and learn from. Thank you for all your resources and sending me that Cuban Embassy link, I really appreciate it

[KozmicBlues 592]

I just mailed our packet!! Ahh, I have never been so relieved and so nervous at the same time. I must've checked everything 20 times, but I keep feeling like I forgot something. I suppose all that's left to do now is to sit back and prepare myself for a long road of waiting to hear an answer. Good luck to all of the other March filers!  

 

[MD&MC 39]

8 hours ago, CubaAndChill said:

Aww, I'm so happy you get to go see your fiance! Don't be nervous, everything will be just fine! Flights, are nothing.. It's all the waiting at the airports that'll make you go almost insane I don't know if you're a praying person, but I'll be praying for your safe travels.

Thank you very much, prayers are always welcome. Fortunately if there are no delays then travel will be under 7 hours. Since October she has came several times and we've spent over a month in all together but this is my first time going to see her.

[KozmicBlues 592]

2 minutes ago, MD&MC said:

Thank you very much, prayers are always welcome. Fortunately if there are no delays then travel will be under 7 hours. Since October she has came several times and we've spent over a month in all together but this is my first time going to see her.

Wow...super jealous of that travel time!! That will be a breeze, don't even worry at all! Each way it takes me about 20+ hours of flight time alone just to get to my fiance! Last trip I clocked about 36 hours in-flight and layover time...one-way!  Super happy for you and other couples who can easily see each other though. Enjoy!  

[KULtoATL 1,551]

6 hours ago, nephthys said:

Are you a time-traveller?  Seriously though – I'm hoping the same thing, that my partner can move here before this year ends!

I wish I was  It would nice to be able to share the holiday season together. His family been asking when they can see me again. 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

1 hour ago, KozmicBlues said:

I just mailed our packet!! Ahh, I have never been so relieved and so nervous at the same time. I must've checked everything 20 times, but I keep feeling like I forgot something. I suppose all that's left to do now is to sit back and prepare myself for a long road of waiting to hear an answer. Good luck to all of the other March filers!  

 

I checked and checked too before I overnight the stack of documents to my fiancé. I was so afraid about missing some questions and signatures on USCIS forms. When it got to my fiancé, I had him check everything again page by page a few times 

[dkmfan85 832]

My packet has been mailed today as well! Tracking info shows delivery scheduled for Monday. Now the ride begins! Good luck to everyone!

[KULtoATL 1,551]

4 minutes ago, dkmfan85 said:

My packet has been mailed today as well! Tracking info shows delivery scheduled for Monday. Now the ride begins! Good luck to everyone!

Woohoo! First step is done. Good luck to you too