November 2017 Filers K1 VISA I-129F (merged)

[Morgan89 47]

Approval came on the new site!! NOA1 was November 6th on the old site! ❤️

 

Sooo happy! I was certain that the 6th has been forgotten or that I would get an RFE. Best of luck everyone  

[CCCCCF 174]

4 minutes ago, Morgan89 said:

Approval came on the new site!! NOA1 was November 6th on the old site! ❤️

 

Sooo happy! I was certain that the 6th has been forgotten or that I would get an RFE. Best of luck everyone  

Congrats!!!!

[hassan247 38]

30 minutes ago, Morgan89 said:

Approval came on the new site!! NOA1 was November 6th on the old site! ❤️

 

Sooo happy! I was certain that the 6th has been forgotten or that I would get an RFE. Best of luck everyone  

congrats I was November 1st old site November 3rd new site and I got an RFE the same date. I'm hoping to be joining you soon in the approval department 

[Jerome2031 6]

3 hours ago, Naes said:

I didn’t know anything about this process thinking I would have the visa by March so I could plan after that... so the venue is there but didn’t do anything else...(nothing till visa on hand! As we may have to move the wedding between countries!!)

 

so so we are having a picnic themed wedding... dress code: sundress

I knew nothing at the start as well.  We are using an attorney.  When I first spoke with the attorney in September, she said the process was taking about 7 months.  My fiancé and I had a trip planned to Thailand for October.  Our attorney advised not filing until after we returned from our trip with lots of new evidence to bolster the petition.  We did not submit until February. I asked attorney when she thought interview would be so I could save vacation time for that.  Attorney replied that it is now taking longer than 7 months.😬🤷🏻‍♂️   Kind of rotten but everything happens in life when it is supposed to.

[x_driven_x 1,778]

5 hours ago, hassan247 said:

Yeah as am I. But if that's the reason for the rfe is there anything I can do to prove it to them? Because I feel like if that was the reason for the RFE and it's such a strict requirement then they should have just denied it all together, right? 

They won't deny it outright yet, because they want to give you a chance to prove you met within 2 years. If you can't prove that, the denial would come later.

 

In all honestly, it is a strict requirement, which you guys knew about, and you should have held off applying until you could meet the requirement. I'm really sorry for this news, but not sure you're going to be able to get around it.

[hassan247 38]

2 minutes ago, x_driven_x said:

They won't deny it outright yet, because they want to give you a chance to prove you met within 2 years. If you can't prove that, the denial would come later.

 

In all honestly, it is a strict requirement, which you guys knew about, and you should have held off applying until you could meet the requirement. I'm really sorry for this news, but not sure you're going to be able to get around it.

even though I put on there for religious reasons because I am a practicing Muslim and that's why we have to wait to get married to actually be together. I had spoken with an attorney in the past and he said that the religious reasoning would be fine because they can't argue religious protocol 

[x_driven_x 1,778]

Just now, hassan247 said:

even though I put on there for religious reasons because I am a practicing Muslim and that's why we have to wait to get married to actually be together. I had spoken with an attorney in the past and he said that the religious reasoning would be fine because they can't argue religious protocol 

Religious reasons might be your one saving grace there, yes... but I'm guessing they have lots of practicing Muslims that still were able to meet the requirement, right? I think it's possible, but will be tough. Just relax, wait for the RFE and then tackle finding a way to give them what they want. If it is about the meeting, then I think the religion reasons strategy will be your best bet, but I don't think it's a guarantee. 

 

I found this: 

 

if it is established that compliance would result in extreme hardship to the petitioner or that compliance would violate strict and long-established customs of the K-1 beneficiary’s foreign culture or social practice, as where marriages are traditionally arranged by the parents of the contracting parties and the prospective bride and groom are prohibited from meeting subsequent to the arrangement and prior to the wedding day.” INA § 214.2(k)(2

 

Does that apply to you? Do the majority of Muslims from Egypt appllying for K-1 also not meet within 2 years? 

 

Also, it's going to be hard to argue religious reasons when you did in fact, already meet... just not within 2 years.  They will ask how did you meet the first time that the religious reasons didn't apply?  It seems to be more about money, and not religion and I think they are going to sniff that out. I'd consult with a lawyer.

[Ann and Meet 95]

1 hour ago, Morgan89 said:

Approval came on the new site!! NOA1 was November 6th on the old site! ❤️

 

Sooo happy! I was certain that the 6th has been forgotten or that I would get an RFE. Best of luck everyone  

Congratulationss!!!! and thank you for sharing. I am November 8th on the old website and Nov 10th on the new one. I really hope I will hear something next week. 

[Steve_Sherl 14]

12 hours ago, Naes said:

Whatever California is on at the moment it is, so I believe pacific daylight at the moment.

thanks, I thought so but this whole process seems like such a mess right now wanted to make sure from somebody.

[Olisant 65]

4 hours ago, Naes said:

I’m just hoping my CO’s will read all about this wedding on the weekend and at least feel some emotions for my Monday interview!

Sending u my prayers God be with u

[Jeffreyyu 303]

3 hours ago, Morgan89 said:

Approval came on the new site!! NOA1 was November 6th on the old site! ❤️

 

Sooo happy! I was certain that the 6th has been forgotten or that I would get an RFE. Best of luck everyone  

Congratulations.... Did you receive email notification?

[Olumide & Funlola 73]

We got an email and text message at 3:40 AM that said they took action our case. I logged in and found out we were approved!!! It's such an amazing feeling after waiting 198 days.  Our NOA1 (old website) was Nov. 2nd. (No updates on the old website). I'm just posting it now cause I was waiting for my fiance to get home so to tell him. He's started crying tears of joy!!! It's about time!!!!! 

I've been following the visa journey threads daily since USCIS was working on May filers and as I constantly stalked the threads I learned how the system worked. It was sooooo disappointing when they finally got to November and things just went differently for us. But over the past couple weeks as we were waiting, we learned a lot. USCIS has slowly stopped using the old website and are focusing on the new. So the scans that we so highly rely on everyday (And thanks to @x_driven_x for taking the time to do them) are starting to become irrelevant. I'm sure there are waaay more approvals than we know but we're just not seeing them. We'll start to understand how the new site works in time but it'll probably be more beneficial to future months. Anyway, what I'm trying to say to everyone is be patient and hopeful. You're approval is coming!! 

 

 

[Koko & Crescent 11]

Hello, November filers!  Long time lurker here.  Just wanted to let you all know to check your mailbox!   I have USPS Informed Delivery and saw the envelope in my email today.  I received the NOA2 in the mail today.  It was a silent approval.  No notifications on the old website, new website or apps.  Received date: November 27  NOA1 November 30.  NOA2 on May 15.  Good luck to all! :-)

[Morgan89 47]

2 hours ago, Jeffreyyu said:

Congratulations.... Did you receive email notification?

Yes my fiancé received the notification via email. 

[Cheddar Cheeze 15]

We got approved! NOA2 May 18 on new website. K1 received Nov. 30 and NOA1 Dec. 1. Old site and app still says received. It took 168 days. For a while I was confused that I was a December filer, but found out I am a November filer. Hang in the guys, they are moving and grooving with November applications. Good luck, it will come! And congrats for those approved!