January 2018 Filers

[Stuart5000 24]

We’re on 191 days, 12 Jan old site, 18th new, and although I’ve had no choice but to book travel already!.., I know there’s no need to panic quite yet. Once NOA2 has been issued, I understand that we have to have visas in-hand within 4 months of that happening. I’ve read on this that some early January submitters (4th on NOA1) have only just been approved. Like someone said, there’s no real distinguishable pattern to all this. Someone with the same dates as me got approved last week.. it doesn’t seem quite right or fair that these petitions are not being processed in the order they are received but we have zero control, so let’s all just chill I say ☺️ 

[jakejon 1,197]

Hey Janubees!! 

 

Wishing you you all the best of luck. Congrats for all your approvals and for those still waiting...you will get your day any time now when you leave expect it!! I wish I had spent the time at this point last month researching the next steps. It’s all good as I got up to speed quickly. Hope the USCIS powers through your month ❤️👌🎉

Edited July 22, 2018 by jakejon

[kmza89 57]

1 hour ago, Stuart5000 said:

We’re on 191 days, 12 Jan old site, 18th new, and although I’ve had no choice but to book travel already!.., I know there’s no need to panic quite yet. Once NOA2 has been issued, I understand that we have to have visas in-hand within 4 months of that happening. I’ve read on this that some early January submitters (4th on NOA1) have only just been approved. Like someone said, there’s no real distinguishable pattern to all this. Someone with the same dates as me got approved last week.. it doesn’t seem quite right or fair that these petitions are not being processed in the order they are received but we have zero control, so let’s all just chill I say ☺️ 

I feel you. We set our wedding date nov 11. Crazy I know. We dont know if we will make it or not .. if we don’t oh well we can move it. Haha. Just going with the flow and try not to panic. It is useless since it is out of our control.

[ashmed246 78]

I-129F was mailed out January 10th and was received by January 12th 2018. NOA was mailed out few days after that and since then, the online status has been “we received your application”. Read that waiting time for California service Centre is about 5-7 month and I’m approaching the 7 month mark. Just wondering if any January filer in California service Centre has been approved yet. 

[Snuffles 394]

28 minutes ago, kmza89 said:

I feel you. We set our wedding date nov 11. Crazy I know. We dont know if we will make it or not .. if we don’t oh well we can move it. Haha. Just going with the flow and try not to panic. It is useless since it is out of our control.

We originally set ours for Nov 3. But have since moved it to Jan 12. But even now am wondering about just dropping the date completely and see what happens which is really hard for me to do haha. But it feels like the right thing but also a really hard thing to do. We had our hearts set on a wedding, a normal one, and I know we still can do it. But figured it’s less stress just leaving the date to ensure I’m there with decent time together. 

It is certainly hard that’s it all out of our control. Have you booked anything yet or just chosen the date? 

[Lucy&Jason 807]

1 hour ago, ashmed246 said:

I-129F was mailed out January 10th and was received by January 12th 2018. NOA was mailed out few days after that and since then, the online status has been “we received your application”. Read that waiting time for California service Centre is about 5-7 month and I’m approaching the 7 month mark. Just wondering if any January filer in California service Centre has been approved yet. 

All K1 now goes to CSC. And yes @ashmed246 there are already few January filers who got approved.

[kmza89 57]

1 hour ago, Snuffles said:

We originally set ours for Nov 3. But have since moved it to Jan 12. But even now am wondering about just dropping the date completely and see what happens which is really hard for me to do haha. But it feels like the right thing but also a really hard thing to do. We had our hearts set on a wedding, a normal one, and I know we still can do it. But figured it’s less stress just leaving the date to ensure I’m there with decent time together. 

It is certainly hard that’s it all out of our control. Have you booked anything yet or just chosen the date? 

We booked a venue already but they are flexible so we can just move it to the next available date. so no biggie  

[JayHouser 209]

Good morning everyone. Just hit the big 200 today. I never wanted to see that number 😭. Sometimes I see some of the november and october filers at 250 plus days and it absolutely terrifies me. I wish things were not like this

Edited July 22, 2018 by JayHouser

[VickeySis 318]

53 minutes ago, JayHouser said:

Good morning everyone. Just hit the big 200 today. I never wanted to see that number 😭. Sometimes I see some of the november and october filers at 250 plus days and it absolutely terrifies me. I wish things were not like this

😭😭 praying for you @JayHouser that you will be getting that NOA2 approval soon!!!! We are at day 179. My biggest fear is exactly what you mentioned being above 220 days GOD FORBID!

[JDY 74]

1 hour ago, JayHouser said:

Good morning everyone. Just hit the big 200 today. I never wanted to see that number 😭. Sometimes I see some of the november and october filers at 250 plus days and it absolutely terrifies me. I wish things were not like this

I know exactly how you feel Im at 191 days today and its frustrating. Im seriously expecting this week good news if not I will be soo frustrated. I hope we can see that USCIS really takes action and have lots of approvals for everyone in January! 

[JayHouser 209]

Thank you! Prayers to everyone. I seen some people with 300 plus wait times due to vague security checks. It doesn't look like theres rhyme or reason to their actions 

[VickeySis 318]

2 hours ago, JayHouser said:

Thank you! Prayers to everyone. I seen some people with 300 plus wait times due to vague security checks. It doesn't look like theres rhyme or reason to their actions 

I didn’t realize there are security checks at this stage. I was thinking t was at NVC step.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

3 hours ago, JDY said:

I know exactly how you feel Im at 191 days today and its frustrating. Im seriously expecting this week good news if not I will be soo frustrated. I hope we can see that USCIS really takes action and have lots of approvals for everyone in January! 

I bet those in the December group feel differently. They are more 220 days. They are approving Dec and Jan but just hang in there. There is no reason to be frustrated. I know, I've been there. I just went about my life and when it happened then I was able to move on to the next step.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

12 hours ago, Stuart5000 said:

We’re on 191 days, 12 Jan old site, 18th new, and although I’ve had no choice but to book travel already!.., I know there’s no need to panic quite yet. Once NOA2 has been issued, I understand that we have to have visas in-hand within 4 months of that happening. I’ve read on this that some early January submitters (4th on NOA1) have only just been approved. Like someone said, there’s no real distinguishable pattern to all this. Someone with the same dates as me got approved last week.. it doesn’t seem quite right or fair that these petitions are not being processed in the order they are received but we have zero control, so let’s all just chill I say ☺️ 

May I inquiry why you find necessary to book travel now before you are even received your case number? Quitting a job or booking air travel before having your visa in your hands is not a good idea. I am aware of some who even had their visa returned to the Embassy after they were approved for some further security checks that were missed. Took her 3 more months before it was released. You just don't know. Good luck.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

13 hours ago, Snuffles said:

And THERE is probably where I read it. I know I’ve visited the guides multiple times. I will follow Greenbaum’s comment and take those guides with a grain a salt. Like I said, I’ve been trying to read everything on this process 😂  I was thinking from now on, to photocopy *everything* just as a reference for us; just in case etc. 

You bring up a great point. I set up a Dropbox (free) account (there are others just do a Google search) where I made folders and scanned different forms, documents and other items of importance (pictures) and placed them the correct folder for easy retrieval. Since I had a K-1 and 2 K-2's I had to be organized. My wife had the login information and she did the same thing with her documents and I was able to view them. This was a way for us to keep organized and to share information. If you attach it email you can easily lose it in with all the emails. My wife also used a thumb drive and duplicated everything from the cloud down to the Tdrive so she could have it with her in the event she needed to print off a document, form or letter. She also made paper files using dividers in a notebook. That way no matter what appointment she was at or what government agency she would have the document asked but not necessarily did she know that she needed that document. We have used that system for the AOS and ROC plus the renewal of her passport at her Embassy in Wash DC.