CEAC status is ISSUED, safe to buy ticket?

[notantifun 196]

Hello.

 

I had my interview last Friday and CO approved on the spot. My case was on Admin Processing from Friday, Sept 1 to Sept 5. This morning, the status changed to Issued. I've tried tracking it on the 2Go website but it's not coming back with anything so it looks like my Passport hasn't been forwarded to them yet.

 

My question is, should I wait until I can track my visa on the courier's tracking system or should I I hold off buying my plane tickets altogether until I have my visa in hand?

Tickets are becoming pricier as days go by thus my question. BTW, I just live in Metro Manila so delivery should just take 4 days max. 

 

Thank you for your feedback.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

The golden rule is wait until visa in hand.  You literally are almost there.  A few more days is nothing.  

If it were me I would wait.  My then fiance called me as soon as he stepped out of the DHL office.  The minute I knew he had it in hand I booked flights.  

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

We waited until visa was in hand to book too.  But if you're willing to take the small risk, go for it......

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Best to wait till you get your visa in hand. Anything can happen between now and then. Prudence should always be exercised when it comes to US immigration Congratulations on the visa approval!

[Ben & Judy Mae 54]

I took the risk of booking the flight two weeks after my fiancee's interview.  She had her interview on August 24, and I booked the tickets for this Friday (Sept 8).  In hindsight, I would wait until the visa is in hand to book the tickets as I spent $1,200 on mine and her tickets and was worrying the whole time whether we would have the passport in time.  But thankfully it only took 6 business days (passport received Sept 6) for the passport to get picked up.

 

I would suggesting booking them at least 3 weeks away if you are gonna do it, but waiting to actually receive the passport is a much better option.  Good luck!

[star26 17]

32 minutes ago, notantifun said:

Hello.

 

I had my interview last Friday and CO approved on the spot. My case was on Admin Processing from Friday, Sept 1 to Sept 5. This morning, the status changed to Issued. I've tried tracking it on the 2Go website but it's not coming back with anything so it looks like my Passport hasn't been forwarded to them yet.

 

My question is, should I wait until I can track my visa on the courier's tracking system or should I I hold off buying my plane tickets altogether until I have my visa in hand?

Tickets are becoming pricier as days go by thus my question. BTW, I just live in Metro Manila so delivery should just take 4 days max. 

 

Thank you for your feedback.

Best to wait your visa before getting tickets. Congrats on your visa approval,but want to ask when did you file your case and how long have you waited for approval?thank you.

[notantifun 196]

Looks like the consensus is to wait for my visa in hand.

 

I'm flying to the US by around 2nd week of October which leaves me plenty of time. Except, I will be flying first to Australia and I already saw the cheapest flight on September 30. I actually like the suggestion below but of course I'm still anxious if I should proceed. The thing is I can only start booking my accommodations in Autralis and plane ticket to the US once I've booked my ticket to Australia. I get that we wanna be careful but what are the chances of my getting delayed at this point? Issued means the visa has been printed right?

 

5 minutes ago, Ben & Judy Mae said:

I took the risk of booking the flight two weeks after my fiancee's interview.  She had her interview on August 24, and I booked the tickets for this Friday (Sept 8).  In hindsight, I would wait until the visa is in hand to book the tickets as I spent $1,200 on mine and her tickets and was worrying the whole time whether we would have the passport in time.  But thankfully it only took 6 business days (passport received Sept 6) for the passport to get picked up.

 

I would suggesting booking them at least 3 weeks away if you are gonna do it, but waiting to actually receive the passport is a much better option.  Good luck!

 

[notantifun 196]

19 minutes ago, star26 said:

Best to wait your visa before getting tickets. Congrats on your visa approval,but want to ask when did you file your case and how long have you waited for approval?thank you.

NOA1 was January 6, 2017 and I was Approved September 1, 2017. I got held up due to the dreaded sputum test. It's 238 days 

[star26 17]

1 minute ago, notantifun said:

NOA1 was January 6, 2017 and I was Approved September 1, 2017. I got held up due to the dreaded sputum test. It's 238 days 

Wow it's been 8mos,but happy for you guys! Btw your approval dates was the same or closer to your visa journey estimated approval dates given?

[Ben & Judy Mae 54]

3 minutes ago, notantifun said:

Looks like the consensus is to wait for my visa in hand.

 

I'm flying to the US by around 2nd week of October which leaves me plenty of time. Except, I will be flying first to Australia and I already saw the cheapest flight on September 30. I actually like the suggestion below but of course I'm still anxious if I should proceed. The thing is I can only start booking my accommodations in Autralis and plane ticket to the US once I've booked my ticket to Australia. I get that we wanna be careful but what are the chances of my getting delayed at this point? Issued means the visa has been printed right?

 

 

The CO told my fiancee after her interview that the passport would be ready in 5-10 business days.  And from my observations on VisaJourney, its seems that is correct as MOST filipino k-1 applicants do receive their passports within 2 weeks of the interview.  Booking your tickets now is a small risk, but it is still a risk.  I would suggest that you don't book any tickets if you cannot afford to lose the money.  If my fiancee's passport was not received in time it would be upsetting, but I was still in a position where I could book another set of tickets just in case.

[notantifun 196]

2 minutes ago, star26 said:

Wow it's been 8mos,but happy for you guys! Btw your approval dates was the same or closer to your visa journey estimated approval dates given?

The initial VJ estimate for NOA2 was April 1-6 but we got our NOA2 May 8, 2017. We sent in our i129F on January 3. There are still a few January filers who haven't gotten their NOA2.

[notantifun 196]

5 minutes ago, Ben & Judy Mae said:

The CO told my fiancee after her interview that the passport would be ready in 5-10 business days.  And from my observations on VisaJourney, its seems that is correct as MOST filipino k-1 applicants do receive their passports within 2 weeks of the interview.  

That's what I was thinking too that's why I thought why not book now.

 

6 minutes ago, Ben & Judy Mae said:

Booking your tickets now is a small risk, but it is still a risk.  I would suggest that you don't book any tickets if you cannot afford to lose the money.  If my fiancee's passport was not received in time it would be upsetting, but I was still in a position where I could book another set of tickets just in case.

You're definitely right. It is a small risk but still a risk. 

And I definitely don't want to lose money but if you think about it I am already losing money since tickets are becoming pricier for each day that passes 

[LionessDeon 2,060]

34 minutes ago, notantifun said:

Looks like the consensus is to wait for my visa in hand.

 

I'm flying to the US by around 2nd week of October which leaves me plenty of time. Except, I will be flying first to Australia and I already saw the cheapest flight on September 30. I actually like the suggestion below but of course I'm still anxious if I should proceed. The thing is I can only start booking my accommodations in Autralis and plane ticket to the US once I've booked my ticket to Australia. I get that we wanna be careful but what are the chances of my getting delayed at this point? Issued means the visa has been printed right?

 

 

I've been on this forum for a few years.  Let's see, I've read all kinds of crazy things happening...DHL delivery truck robbed and all passports/visas were stolen, embassy visa printing inability, etc.  Albeit rare instances but it seems you don't want to wait so.....

Good Luck!

[notantifun 196]

1 minute ago, LionessDeon said:

I've been on this forum for a few years.  Let's see, I've read all kinds of crazy things happening...DHL delivery truck robbed and all passports/visas were stolen, embassy visa printing inability, etc.  Albeit rare instances but it seems you don't want to wait so.....

Good Luck!

Not that I don't wanna wait, more like weighing my options based on people's experiences and suggestions.

I would actually go with wait til visa is in hand. 

[geowrian 22,337]

31 minutes ago, LionessDeon said:

I've been on this forum for a few years.  Let's see, I've read all kinds of crazy things happening...DHL delivery truck robbed and all passports/visas were stolen, embassy visa printing inability, etc.  Albeit rare instances but it seems you don't want to wait so.....

Good Luck!

Yup...it's been crazy. The more common one I've seen is that the sealed envelope is damaged during shipping/delivery, and needs to be sent back to the embassy to re-seal, which can add a week or 2 to your timeline.

Edit: Or there's a mistake on the visa itself....i.e. a misspelled name, wrong DOB, etc.

Edited September 6, 2017 by geowrian