January 2018 Filers

[J&D09 63]

Wow it’s seems like nobody here was approved yesterday 😔😔😔this is disappointing 

[SalishSea 17,847]

21 minutes ago, microcebus said:

When is it an appropriate time to get my congressperson involved?  I filed January 9th (203 days ago), so I am now either 201 days (old site) or 196 days (new site) since NOA1. 

 

We set December 1 as our wedding date months ago and already paid deposits to our vendors.  Since my fiancee's family would be coming from halfway around the world and they would not be available to make the trip again until another 6 months later, they need to book their flights while knowing that they're not wasting their money.  It would be about $10k+ USD down the drain if they book their tickets and the wedding isn't happening yet.  Or they could wait to book their flights, but that could get very expensive.

 

I also wonder if I have a reason to expedite (due to financial hardship) since my business went entirely dead during my recent 5-week trip to see my fiancee and I am now looking for another job.  Business was dead for a couple months before the trip too since I foolishly told potential clients that I would be traveling overseas.  I might have some new projects starting soon, but they won't be substantial enough to pay the monthly bills that I expect after marriage.

I am sure that it is fine for you to contact your congressperson/senator at this point.  They are only able to do an inquiry as to the progress with your adjudication.  However, I would doubt that you would be qualified for a financial hardship expedite, if you voluntarily gave up working/business to spend 5 weeks with your fiancé.  If that was an option, we would all do it! 😉

 

As for the wedding and travel plans, all you can do is hope.

Edited July 31, 2018 by Jorgedig

[Greenbaum 12,259]

35 minutes ago, microcebus said:

When is it an appropriate time to get my congressperson involved?  I filed January 9th (203 days ago), so I am now either 201 days (old site) or 196 days (new site) since NOA1. 

 

We set December 1 as our wedding date months ago and already paid deposits to our vendors.  Since my fiancee's family would be coming from halfway around the world and they would not be available to make the trip again until another 6 months later, they need to book their flights while knowing that they're not wasting their money.  It would be about $10k+ USD down the drain if they book their tickets and the wedding isn't happening yet.  Or they could wait to book their flights, but that could get very expensive.

 

I also wonder if I have a reason to expedite (due to financial hardship) since my business went entirely dead during my recent 5-week trip to see my fiancee and I am now looking for another job.  Business was dead for a couple months before the trip too since I foolishly told potential clients that I would be traveling overseas.  I might have some new projects starting soon, but they won't be substantial enough to pay the monthly bills that I expect after marriage.

I see you kind of have yourself in a pickle. It's like taking one step forward and getting two steps backwards. Going with your current situation, I don't see much that will change. The target keeps moving and no one can say for sure when you will be able to predict with any certainty when you'll be able to execute your original plans. But here is some info on expediting your case. Second link is old 2011 but it does give you a little more insight on what you are facing/or can expect.

 

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-expeditedappointment.asp

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, Boki & Nem said:

Hi,

You mention old and new websites. I think I missed out on something at some point. What is the new website?

Thanks

There is an old website that was used for a number of years and now they are transitioning over to a new website. Seems it is becoming more reliable each day and the old is sometimes not working. I suggest you forget you ever heard about the old website and just follow your case here:  https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov

[Suny & LeLe 174]

😭😭💔 

 

Where are our approvals?? Seriously all the prior months have had avalanche approval but we have only had a few approvals here. I hope we get our approvals soon! 

 

Tomorrow will also be a super slow day because it usually is RFE day! 😫

[Stefannievs 267]

17 minutes ago, Suny & LeLe said:

😭😭💔 

 

Where are our approvals?? Seriously all the prior months have had avalanche approval but we have only had a few approvals here. I hope we get our approvals soon! 

 

Tomorrow will also be a super slow day because it usually is RFE day! 😫

Calm down there is no "RFE" day is all about each petition. Be positive. Think you're in the final time apart of your live. You got this 😁 

[microcebus 40]

43 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

I see you kind of have yourself in a pickle. It's like taking one step forward and getting two steps backwards. Going with your current situation, I don't see much that will change. The target keeps moving and no one can say for sure when you will be able to predict with any certainty when you'll be able to execute your original plans. But here is some info on expediting your case. Second link is old 2011 but it does give you a little more insight on what you are facing/or can expect.

 

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-expeditedappointment.asp

 

 

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

I am sure that it is fine for you to contact your congressperson/senator at this point.  They are only able to do an inquiry as to the progress with your adjudication.  However, I would doubt that you would be qualified for a financial hardship expedite, if you voluntarily gave up working/business to spend 5 weeks with your fiancé.  If that was an option, we would all do it! 😉

 

As for the wedding and travel plans, all you can do is hope.

Thanks, this helps.  I think I will call my congressperson tomorrow if I don't hear anything today.

 

About the expedite request: there may be a solid case here:

• The school where my fiancee teaches needs to know when she is leaving, and the December 1 wedding date is common knowledge at the school.  So the status of her job is unknown.  The school may have already found her replacement and given that person a start date.  We should find out very soon about this.  So if she has to leave her job soon even if the wedding can't be in December, she would be in a situation where she would have to find a temp/substitute job for several teaching terms, possibly with lower pay and no benefits.  Meanwhile, my fiancee is helping pay for her family to travel and has financial obligations each month in her original home country.
• My business hasn't really done well since 2016.  For 2017, my income fell far short of expectations but still met FPL.  Because I am self-employed, I had already overpaid on my taxes based on my original income estimate.  My trip was funded through the large tax refund that came from that.  (I also have a lot of assets I can use for an Affidavit of Support.)  But potential clients have been denying me work since about March, saying that they'll just do the projects when I'm back.  That mostly hasn't happened.
• New jobs in my field (and a related one) are hard to get in the area where I live now.  So I need to determine both where we are going to live (my current state, another state we are considering, or Australia) and where I am going to work.  If I have to relocate, I would have to take more time off from a new job around the wedding without any paid leave accrued because the wedding is already scheduled to happen at my current church.  That time off request alone may make companies deny me a new job.

 

@Greenbaum - In the example here, the person got an expedite request approved even though the financial hardship was only worth one week's pay.  For us, it could cost up to 6-9 months' pay, between the two of us. (Edit: Does the first link you sent apply for K-1's?  It says that you can't request an expedite to go to a wedding or graduation, but it doesn't mention financial hardship or jobs.) 

Edited July 31, 2018 by microcebus
Added question about the first link that @Greenbaum sent

[Suny & LeLe 174]

8 minutes ago, Stefannievs said:

Calm down there is no "RFE" day is all about each petition. Be positive. Think you're in the final time apart of your live. You got this 😁 

hehe i dont think you have been here long enough to know that on Wednesday's we see more RFE's then approvals. I know there is no such thing as an RFE day... it was just an expression!  😛 

 

Okay, let me be positive.....I will get approved Tomorrow...on RFE day heheh!! JK ...i am just teasing you  

[Stefannievs 267]

3 minutes ago, Suny & LeLe said:

hehe i dont think you have been here long enough to know that on Wednesday's we see more RFE's then approvals. I know there is no such thing as an RFE day... it was just an expression!  😛 

 

Okay, let me be positive.....I will get approved Tomorrow...on RFE day heheh!! JK ...i am just teasing you  

Hahaha Im a June filler so I will have to wait like 6 more months . Makes me excited to read how people get approved 😁😁😁 good luck. I know you will !!!!!!! 

[SalishSea 17,847]

23 minutes ago, microcebus said:

 

Thanks, this helps.  I think I will call my congressperson tomorrow if I don't hear anything today.

 

About the expedite request: there may be a solid case here:

• The school where my fiancee teaches needs to know when she is leaving, and the December 1 wedding date is common knowledge at the school.  So the status of her job is unknown.  The school may have already found her replacement and given that person a start date.  We should find out very soon about this.  So if she has to leave her job soon even if the wedding can't be in December, she would be in a situation where she would have to find a temp/substitute job for several teaching terms, possibly with lower pay and no benefits.  Meanwhile, my fiancee is helping pay for her family to travel and has financial obligations each month in her original home country.
• My business hasn't really done well since 2016.  For 2017, my income fell far short of expectations but still met FPL.  Because I am self-employed, I had already overpaid on my taxes based on my original income estimate.  My trip was funded through the large tax refund that came from that.  (I also have a lot of assets I can use for an Affidavit of Support.)  But potential clients have been denying me work since about March, saying that they'll just do the projects when I'm back.  That mostly hasn't happened.
• New jobs in my field (and a related one) are hard to get in the area where I live now.  So I need to determine both where we are going to live (my current state, another state we are considering, or Australia) and where I am going to work.  If I have to relocate, I would have to take more time off from a new job around the wedding without any paid leave accrued because the wedding is already scheduled to happen at my current church.  That time off request alone may make companies deny me a new job.

 

@Greenbaum - In the example here, the person got an expedite request approved even though the financial hardship was only worth one week's pay.  For us, it could cost up to 6-9 months' pay, between the two of us. (Edit: Does the first link you sent apply for K-1's?  It says that you can't request an expedite to go to a wedding or graduation, but it doesn't mention financial hardship or jobs.) 

Well, it doesn't hurt to try!  All they can do is deny the expedite.  Honestly, with your NOA1 date, you are so close now.

 

I am not sure if the NVC portion can be expedited, but recent cases have been taking 10-14 days to get case #s, so that you can book your fiancee's appointments.  AND it is to your advantage that the consulate is Singapore, because I believe they are known for being competent and efficient.

 

Tough spot to be in.  I am sure that when you booked the wedding to be just under one year from filing, it seemed reasonable, as K-1s were not taking as long then, overall.   Good luck!

[SilverMonk 194]

59 minutes ago, Suny & LeLe said:

hehe i dont think you have been here long enough to know that on Wednesday's we see more RFE's then approvals. I know there is no such thing as an RFE day... it was just an expression!  😛 

 

Okay, let me be positive.....I will get approved Tomorrow...on RFE day heheh!! JK ...i am just teasing you  

Have you noticed that us Jan filers have been receiving practically no RFEs? When the scans used to work and when they were on previous months ( December and back), I would see a lot of RFEs. Now I see a lot of people saying they got approved but hardly any RFEs. I've seen like one or two. I wonder why.

[SilverMonk 194]

1 hour ago, Suny & LeLe said:

hehe i dont think you have been here long enough to know that on Wednesday's we see more RFE's then approvals. I know there is no such thing as an RFE day... it was just an expression!  😛 

 

Okay, let me be positive.....I will get approved Tomorrow...on RFE day heheh!! JK ...i am just teasing you  

But you're still well within the time frame lol you haven't even reached your estimated timeline here in VJ. Give it at least 200 days like I'm trying to lol

[Suny & LeLe 174]

8 minutes ago, SilverMonk said:

Have you noticed that us Jan filers have been receiving practically no RFEs? When the scans used to work and when they were on previous months ( December and back), I would see a lot of RFEs. Now I see a lot of people saying they got approved but hardly any RFEs. I've seen like one or two. I wonder why.

I knowwww... it is really weird, it also might be that since we no longer have the scans we don't really notice how many RFE's are sent out. i wish we had the scans again. 

[microcebus 40]

55 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Well, it doesn't hurt to try!  All they can do is deny the expedite.  Honestly, with your NOA1 date, you are so close now.

 

I am not sure if the NVC portion can be expedited, but recent cases have been taking 10-14 days to get case #s, so that you can book your fiancee's appointments.  AND it is to your advantage that the consulate is Singapore, because I believe they are known for being competent and efficient.

 

Tough spot to be in.  I am sure that when you booked the wedding to be just under one year from filing, it seemed reasonable, as K-1s were not taking as long then, overall.   Good luck!

Her consulate is Sydney, Australia.  That's the closest one to where she lives now.  She is from Singapore and still a citizen there but a permanent resident of Australia.

[Suny & LeLe 174]

3 minutes ago, SilverMonk said:

But you're still well within the time frame lol you haven't even reached your estimated timeline here in VJ. Give it at least 200 days like I'm trying to lol

heheheh I know 😔that too but i feel jealous that some people got approved at 180-183 days and i am 185 already. It also worries me that i might be on of the unlucky ones to lurk here for 250 days...so as each day goes by i get more anxious. 200 days seem sooooooo far away. the bad part is that us with a brazilian fiance( maybe you are the fiance) it takes about 3 more months for the NVC process.