I129F April 2017 filers

[Estibaliz 3,037]

6 minutes ago, Keith & Monica said:

Estibaliz, I just had to quote you again.  I love this statement.  We are almost at 60 days waiting for the NOA2.  Only about 30 - 40 more to wait 

Yay, good for you!

Day 50 since NOA1 here (55 since received date), so hoping to be at least half way through it, considering the average is 90-120 days. With our luck I wouldn't be surprised to get stuck in the 120-150 days batch... or even worse 😱 But still hoping for the best

[Keith & Monica 986]

I am with you on that, always hoping for the best.  I am hoping to go see her again in July, about the time the NOA2 should be coming.  If possible I am going to try and stay for awhile and work remotely there.

[Estibaliz 3,037]

3 hours ago, Keith & Monica said:

I am with you on that, always hoping for the best.  I am hoping to go see her again in July, about the time the NOA2 should be coming.  If possible I am going to try and stay for awhile and work remotely there.

Oh, so exciting. I'm not seeing my fiancé until I get the visa He will come to Spain so we can properly say goodbye to my family, since they won't be attending the wedding. Plus also to help me out with luggage and for moral support at the POE

 

I hope you can manage to have someone checking your mailbox meanwhile, just in case the electronical notifications are still not working by then. Must be great to get the good news while being with your SO

[Dutchess 76]

Hey guys!

 

I've been lurking here for awhile, also an April filer. We sent our petition somewhere in March, but USPS lost our mail and we ended up being April filers.

Received NOA1: April 6th.

 

So I want to visit my fiancé from July 15th to September 4th, and the estimate for NOA2 here is around July 12th. I was wondering if we actually receive NOA2 around July 12th, would it be alright if I continued the process after I'm back home 2 months later? 

 

I'm about to book the tickets, but I'm not sure to pick an earlier date (August 9th, because those are the cheapest) but I would much rather stay longer! 

 

Thanks!

[Estibaliz 3,037]

6 minutes ago, Dutchess said:

Hey guys!

 

I've been lurking here for awhile, also an April filer. We sent our petition somewhere in March, but USPS lost our mail and we ended up being April filers.

Received NOA1: April 6th.

 

So I want to visit my fiancé from July 15th to September 4th, and the estimate for NOA2 here is around July 12th. I was wondering if we actually receive NOA2 around July 12th, would it be alright if I continued the process after I'm back home 2 months later? 

 

I'm about to book the tickets, but I'm not sure to pick an earlier date (August 9th, because those are the cheapest) but I would much rather stay longer! 

 

Thanks!

I think you'd be perfectly fine. First, you don't know if you will get the NOA2 in the estimate timeline, it could be sooner (quite unlikely, sorry), a bit later... or much later (I really hope that's not the case).

 

Then, after NOA2 you have to wait till the case is send to the NVC and processed there and then send to your Embassy. That's normally a minimum of 2-3 weeks for the first part... up to 6 weeks.

Once your case is ready at the Embassy, you don't have to do things right away, but have some margin to do so, because NOA2 is valid for a period of 4 months between approved date and interview, I think it was. I've read that deadline can be extended too.

 

Keep in mind the email notifications could not be working as it's currently happening, so you'd only know you have got your NOA2 by checking the mailbox or when the Embassy contacts you because the case is ready

 

[Dutchess 76]

Just now, Estibaliz said:

I think you'd be perfectly fine. First, you don't know if you will get the NOA2 in the estimate timeline, it could be sooner (quite unlikely, sorry), a bit later... or much later (I really hope that's not the case).

 

Then, after NOA2 you have to wait till the case is send to the NVC and processed there and then send to your Embassy. That's normally a minimum of 2-3 weeks for the first part... up to 6 weeks.

Once your case is ready at the Embassy, you don't have to do things right away, but have some margin to do so, because NOA2 is valid for a period of 4 months between approved date and interview, I think it was. I've read that deadline can be extended too.

 

Keep in mind the email notifications could not be working as it's currently happening, so you'd only know you have got your NOA2 by checking the mailbox or when the Embassy contacts you because the case is ready

 

I was hoping that there would be a tiny chance the NOA2 comes sooner  but I feel like that won't be happening haha.

 

Thanks! Visiting less than a month always feels like a waste of money  so I'll book my ticket now!

[Estibaliz 3,037]

11 minutes ago, Dutchess said:

I was hoping that there would be a tiny chance the NOA2 comes sooner  but I feel like that won't be happening haha.

 

Thanks! Visiting less than a month always feels like a waste of money  so I'll book my ticket now!

Well, of course that tiny chance always exists

Good luck!

[Keith & Monica 986]

1 hour ago, Estibaliz said:

Oh, so exciting. I'm not seeing my fiancé until I get the visa He will come to Spain so we can properly say goodbye to my family, since they won't be attending the wedding. Plus also to help me out with luggage and for moral support at the POE

 

I hope you can manage to have someone checking your mailbox meanwhile, just in case the electronical notifications are still not working by then. Must be great to get the good news while being with your SO

I am going to do my best to do the same thing.  Go there and come back with her for the same reason.  To come back with her and carry more luggage as well as see her family again.  Don't know if I will be able to stay that long, but will go back at that time.

[Chris&Princess 18]

On 5/30/2017 at 6:37 PM, Estibaliz said:

Welcome to the April filers forum

 

I'm sorry you are having to go through that kind of trouble so early in the process, but I think you will be fine. I haven't seen anywhere stated than NOA1 hardcopy is really that necessary or asked for at any stage of the process. It mainly gives you the peace of mind of knowing your case is received and provides you with your case number and dates, and also allows you to check if they registered your names and DBO's right. But it seems you already have that important information via the online system

 

Anyway, there's always the option of sending them an e-Request, if that gives you some extra peace of mind: https://egov.uscis.gov/e-Request/Intro.do

 

I guess that depends on what you want to do, but I think there's some more people that never received the NOA1 and that was no problem. Again, the important thing is you have your case number, know they have your petition for processing and also you confirmed the mailing address for NOA2, because that is a vital document to have since it's required for AOS after marriage.

 

On another note, I don't know if you are aware of the fact the online case status tracker is currently not working for approvals, so that makes even more important to keep an eye on the mailbox. Apparently only RFE's get updated... 

Also, you all, I've seen some people on January/February saying they were told upon calling USCIS that approvals will only be notified through the mail from now on  So yep, soon it will be mailman hunting season

Thank you for the warm welcome! 

 

We have received our case number through email and text message sent to my fiancee. It just felt weird that everybody I knew have received their hard copy NOA 1, however we have received none.

 

I visited the link you have provided (thank you so much ), sent our case inquiry and they advised us to expect a reply by June 22, 2017. Gosh even the reply takes too long.  

 

Hopefully by the time we are supposed to receive our NOA 2 (around August or maybe September), USCIS online case status tracker would already be working fine. Fingers crossed. xx

Edited June 1, 2017 by Chris&Princess

[Chris&Princess 18]

On 5/30/2017 at 9:16 PM, Unshakable Faith said:

Are you saying that you received it today or that you still haven't received it?

 

As stated above, you won't need the NOA1 for anything besides obtaining your case number and verifying names/ DOB.

 

Hopefully NOA2 will have less complications (this one you will need the hardcopy of).

I'm saying that we still have NOT received it. 

 

And yeah hopefully we'll receive the NOA 2 in mail (and that it won't be lost).

 

Praying for it.

[Estibaliz 3,037]

26 minutes ago, Chris&Princess said:

Thank you for the warm welcome! 

 

We have received our case number through email and text message sent to my fiancee. It just felt weird that everybody I knew have received their hard copy NOA 1, however we have received none.

 

I visited the link you have provided (thank you so much ), sent our case inquiry and they advised us to expect a reply by June 22, 2017. Gosh even the reply takes too long.  

 

Hopefully by the time we are supposed to receive our NOA 2 (around August or maybe September), USCIS online case status tracker would already be working fine. Fingers crossed. xx

Hope that works. Keep us updated, please

Good luck and lots of patience

[Chris&Princess 18]

2 hours ago, Estibaliz said:

Hope that works. Keep us updated, please

Good luck and lots of patience

Sure thing. I'll keep you all posted. 

[Sally08 198]

Hi everyone! My name is Rach and I'm the USC but I am filipina by blood, and my fiance is from the Philippines. I'm new to this thread and I just made this account. But I'm glad that we have this kind of "forum" or place online where we can discuss the same issue. April filer here as well.

 

April 5, 2017: Sent packet to USCIS

April 6, 2017: USCIS Received packet

April 11, 2017: Check cashed (Receipt date)

April 13, 2017: NOA1 E-mail

April 20, 2017: NOA1 Hard copy received

 

Current waiting time since receipt is 57 days for NOA2

Going crazy! lol but very nice to meet everyone. 

Good luck to everyone! 

[_Mia_ 348]

2 hours ago, Sallysyrup said:

Hi everyone! My name is Rach and I'm the USC but I am filipina by blood, and my fiance is from the Philippines. I'm new to this thread and I just made this account. But I'm glad that we have this kind of "forum" or place online where we can discuss the same issue. April filer here as well.

 

April 5, 2017: Sent packet to USCIS

April 6, 2017: USCIS Received packet

April 11, 2017: Check cashed (Receipt date)

April 13, 2017: NOA1 E-mail

April 20, 2017: NOA1 Hard copy received

 

Current waiting time since receipt is 57 days for NOA2

Going crazy! lol but very nice to meet everyone. 

Good luck to everyone! 

Welcome

 

[Keith & Monica 986]

2 hours ago, Sallysyrup said:

Hi everyone! My name is Rach and I'm the USC but I am filipina by blood, and my fiance is from the Philippines. I'm new to this thread and I just made this account. But I'm glad that we have this kind of "forum" or place online where we can discuss the same issue. April filer here as well.

 

April 5, 2017: Sent packet to USCIS

April 6, 2017: USCIS Received packet

April 11, 2017: Check cashed (Receipt date)

April 13, 2017: NOA1 E-mail

April 20, 2017: NOA1 Hard copy received

 

Current waiting time since receipt is 57 days for NOA2

Going crazy! lol but very nice to meet everyone. 

Good luck to everyone! 

Welcome to the party.  It is good to have others here to share their stories.  We are all in the same boat and taking it just one day at a time.