January 2018 Filers

[John & Rose 7,239]

6 minutes ago, lilit829 said:

 

Also THANK YOU for coming by to our thread and giving us some hopeful words to stand by. 

We old timers know how stressful this can be at times.  You will have it much easier than us.  I was always afraid that some of our stories will make you concerned.  We are longer than any other group in recent history and things are getting better everyday.  You filed at the perfect time.

[RambaCat 643]

6 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

I know it will happen.  I just don't want later filers to get discouraged.  We really are an anomaly and USCIS is working to fix itself.  I hope the January filers start seeing numbers under 6 months.  

Thank you for your optimism! it's really nice to see, especially as you and your family have been waiting for so long yourselves. <3 You really are an inspiration, I really hope you get that approval ASAP. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

2 hours ago, lilit829 said:

Also guys, informed delivery tells me that my NOA1 hard copy arrives today! It seems they sent a nice batch of documents a couple of days ago because some July filers have received NOA2 through the mail today. Also, related questions: the form only asked you to put biograhical info (as in hair color, weight, etc) for the petitioner, right?

 

Also, I'm wondering about something regarding the I-134 since I want to start preparing for that. Except, I'm having a bit of trouble ( @Naes maybe you know of something??). I'm currently in my senior year of college and have been working the same part time jobs in two language departments--but I know that overall I'm not making more than 4,000 a year in income so I haven't had to file taxes (my parents are co-sponsoring). Anyways, I was wondering what I needed to include for the supporting documents since I know that (even if you're using a cosponsor) the petitioner has to send in proof of income/lack of income as well?

 

Another question: for my jobs I've always signed contracts with the specific language departments I work for in college. So when I wrote my job history on the I-129F I put the specific departments as my employers. However, I just got the W-2 for 2017 and notice that the employer in the W-2 shows up as Trustees of ___ College (duh, as the college is the one who is paying me). I was wondering if that was going to be an issue for when the I-134 rolls around...

 

How can I explain the fact that the departments are the ones who hired me but the employer shows up as the college because it's college funds that are paying me? Sorry for the long question, but now I'm worried about this becoming a problem. 

Congrats on the NOA1!

 

You should prepare the petitioner's info along with the co-sponsor's.  You will not need that until the interview but if you present this to the CO like you did here, they will understand.  Just have it all available and be ready for some questions.  You should be fine.  The COs are well trained and they have seen all this before.  Just be honest and you will be fine.  There are no real red flags there.  Be prepared to answer questions and be open and honest with the CO (but don't offer more info than they ask for).

[John & Rose 7,239]

5 minutes ago, RambaCat said:

Thank you for your optimism! it's really nice to see, especially as you and your family have been waiting for so long yourselves. <3 You really are an inspiration, I really hope you get that approval ASAP. 

Thank you so much.  I envy the January filers!  You are going to be much smoother than we were.

[SilverMonk 194]

Thanks for the information and positive feedback @John & Rose! It's much appreciated. Hope you petition gets approved soon!

 

And to any vets or person who might know more than I do. How does USCIS process these cases? By that I mean, is there a pre screening of the petitions? I ask this because we send them in sealed packets and we get NoA1's back which contain the petitioner's and beneficiary's name and birth date, which means that they look for that information on the form.They also cash in checks and money orders and also check if the form current, properly filed and signed or else we would get NoA1's saying that out form was rejected (I concluded this because I saw 100 case numbers below and above mine and noticed that some had already been rejected due to wrong fee, wrong form, or not signing the form).

 

So it makes me wonder if different officers (idk how to refer to them) touch our petitions in different stages as a form of triage to look for missing documents and whatnot.

 

I'm just saying this because our lawyer forget to send my fiancée's proof of citizenship, so now we started doubting if the form was properly filed and we're worried that we're gonna wait for the NoA2 just to see that our case was rejected lol. But right now we'll be satisfied with just a RFE.

 

Just trying to gather more information here and see what everyone knows about their processing style.

 

Take care guys.

 

 

[John & Rose 7,239]

There is a Q&A thread here with a former Adjudicator.  It is a few years old but there is some insight into the process.  To oversimplify...

 

Texas opens and takes the checks and sends the petitions to California.  There the petition sits until it is assigned and the Adjudicator generally only looks at it for 10 to 15 minutes.  If no red flags it gets approved.  

 

Yep, months of waiting for a very short look.  The US Citizen does get a quick background check.  If something hits that is a real concern the petition is transferred to Virginia.  

 

You may get an RFE but that is not really a bad thing.  They hold those petitions to the side and once they are satisfactorily answered, they are approved.  That is usually just a few days from receiving a satisfactory response.

Edited January 26, 2018 by John & Rose

[Duane & Haney 95]

update: I-129F sent 1/20, delivered 1/22, received both text and e-mail this afternoon and fee was deducted from bank account

 

hope someone is helped by that information, 5 business days to NOA1

 

Thanks!

Duane

 

 

 

[Nayely1 4]

Text and email today from USCIS. Mailed the 22nd, delivered the 23rd and I am guessing this is NOA 1 on 26th. Case transferred to California processing center.

[Amnazaid 46]

I29f sent 19jan deliverd 23 janury.. still waiting for noa1 

[SilverMonk 194]

3 minutes ago, Amnakhan89 said:

I29f sent 19jan deliverd 23 janury.. still waiting for noa1 

Did you send in the e-notification form? 

[Amnazaid 46]

10 minutes ago, SilverMonk said:

Did you send in the e-notification form? 

Yes i did

[LuFlolady 881]

We just sent our packet off today! Should be there on Monday....good luck everybody

Edited January 27, 2018 by LuFlolady

[Jlomartin 71]

• I-129F package was sent out January12
• NOA1 e-notification received on January 19
• NOA1 hard copy received January 26
• Dates on the hard copy as stated:  Received date was January 12 and notice date was January 18

Based on this what date should I put on the timeine?  The date USCIS actually received the I-129F  package, the e-notification date, the notice date on the hard copy or the date we received the actual hard copy of the NOA1?  

 

Thanks a bunch everyone!  

[RambaCat 643]

4 hours ago, Jlomartin said:

• I-129F package was sent out January12
• NOA1 e-notification received on January 19
• NOA1 hard copy received January 26
• Dates on the hard copy as stated:  Received date was January 12 and notice date was January 18

Based on this what date should I put on the timeine?  The date USCIS actually received the I-129F  package, the e-notification date, the notice date on the hard copy or the date we received the actual hard copy of the NOA1?  

 

Thanks a bunch everyone!  

Received date is what you put!

[EMB145 5]

Paperwork filed Jan 25th. Probably one of the last newbies to post here but good luck to everyone and I'm hoping for a (relatively) quick and painless process.

 

Same sex couple here, we met while I was on layover in Germany (I'm a pilot).