March 2018 I-129f Filers

[Orientalelf 50]

7 hours ago, MontanaEllie said:

So since we still haven't heard anything at all we decided to call USCIS on Friday (NOA1 March 26th). Well, as we expected we just got the standard answer of still being "within normal processing times" and that we're having to wait until 7,5 months have passed to start the inquiry. We will try the online inquiry on Tuesday anyways, as that is the date that we can start the inquiry according to the USCIS website processing times. I'm so frustrated at this point. Why is the website stating a different date for inquiry than they will tell you on the phone and why are May filers being processed now and we're being left behind? I used the tools from VJ to estimate our NOA2 date and it was way off, we should've long received our NOA2. 

 

Does anyone know if it makes a difference to do the online inquiry vs just calling them, do both generally have the same outcome? 

 

Here is to hoping that next week will be the week for all remaining March filers, if there are any left besides us 😩

We're still waiting (Feb 28/March 05), and went through the same concerns as you. 
We called once, made 1 inquiry, called again, then again, but the same standard answer always applies even though we are over the processing times.  It's up to you which method you decide, but bear in mind, if you make an inquiry - you have to wait 30 days before you can call and ask about the status again.It's very stressful, but my fiance and I have decided to just "pretend we never applied" and wait the 7-14 months average. 

Edited October 28, 2018 by Orientalelf

[Greenbaum 12,259]

14 hours ago, MontanaEllie said:

So since we still haven't heard anything at all we decided to call USCIS on Friday (NOA1 March 26th). Well, as we expected we just got the standard answer of still being "within normal processing times" and that we're having to wait until 7,5 months have passed to start the inquiry. We will try the online inquiry on Tuesday anyways, as that is the date that we can start the inquiry according to the USCIS website processing times. I'm so frustrated at this point. Why is the website stating a different date for inquiry than they will tell you on the phone and why are May filers being processed now and we're being left behind? I used the tools from VJ to estimate our NOA2 date and it was way off, we should've long received our NOA2. 

 

Does anyone know if it makes a difference to do the online inquiry vs just calling them, do both generally have the same outcome? 

 

Here is to hoping that next week will be the week for all remaining March filers, if there are any left besides us 😩

Same outcome. Find a hobby. Keep busy. Set your expectations lower. It's just not going to get any faster.

[PP&MH 20]

224 days here checking in. Starting to feel kinda numb about it tbh. Hang in there people.

[Nikatnite92 29]

APPROVED OMG YES FINALLY YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 AHHHHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!

[A - J 45]

Hey Friends…

 

We’ve lurked for some time here on the Visa Journey and learned quite a bit from you all. You’ve given us hope, sometimes reason to (perhaps) be concerned, and most of all, reason to celebrate. Each passing day spent watching our fellow March filers receive their NOA2 notifications has taken us up and down the emotional roller coaster. 50 days, 100 days, 200 days, 230 days and nothing for us.

 

We didn’t use a lawyer. Was this a mistake? We didn’t provide documentation for the app we happened to meet on. Did we really mess up here? We didn’t write separate letters of intent to marry. Could this be the thing that causes an RFE? It’s stressful. But we remained hopeful. We dotted all of our I’s and crossed all of our T’s, then double and triple checked. One thing was for sure: we ALWAYS discussed our concerns with the process as rationally and calmly as possible with one another. We always supported one another through the long wait. We HAD to BELIEVE that it would happen for us. This is just too right for it NOT to happen!

 

But recently (around day 210) our patience began to wear a little. After reading your comments, I decided it was time to call to see if USCIS could give any information. They told me that I would have to call back later - that the process had been prolonged due to the volume of filers. So I gave them 2 more weeks and called five days ago. We became hopeful that, at the very least, SOMEONE would put their hands on our case, as it was “assigned to an officer for a response”. Five days later, on day 230, I was standing at work, got a notification on my watch that our status had been updated, logged in (fully expecting an RFE) and blinked several times at the words "Case Was APPROVED"!

 

As we’ve seen comments recently, we can say that (although it was in the back of our minds), as a same-sex couple, we do not feel we were treated any differently than any other couple. Nor do we feel we were expected to endure any more scrutiny. We just waited - a long time, like the rest.

 

With the longest part of the wait behind us, we look forward to getting on with the next set of tasks on our way to being together. And we want to thank you for giving us hope and sharing your experience! We wish you the absolute best and hope that every RFE, and every other case is decided upon as soon as possible. Have hope and believe - it WILL happen! Best of luck to you all! And now we wait some more, but with bigger smiles!

 

Alom and John

[Stefannievs 267]

10 hours ago, alomjohn said:

Hey Friends…

 

We’ve lurked for some time here on the Visa Journey and learned quite a bit from you all. You’ve given us hope, sometimes reason to (perhaps) be concerned, and most of all, reason to celebrate. Each passing day spent watching our fellow March filers receive their NOA2 notifications has taken us up and down the emotional roller coaster. 50 days, 100 days, 200 days, 230 days and nothing for us.

 

We didn’t use a lawyer. Was this a mistake? We didn’t provide documentation for the app we happened to meet on. Did we really mess up here? We didn’t write separate letters of intent to marry. Could this be the thing that causes an RFE? It’s stressful. But we remained hopeful. We dotted all of our I’s and crossed all of our T’s, then double and triple checked. One thing was for sure: we ALWAYS discussed our concerns with the process as rationally and calmly as possible with one another. We always supported one another through the long wait. We HAD to BELIEVE that it would happen for us. This is just too right for it NOT to happen!

 

But recently (around day 210) our patience began to wear a little. After reading your comments, I decided it was time to call to see if USCIS could give any information. They told me that I would have to call back later - that the process had been prolonged due to the volume of filers. So I gave them 2 more weeks and called five days ago. We became hopeful that, at the very least, SOMEONE would put their hands on our case, as it was “assigned to an officer for a response”. Five days later, on day 230, I was standing at work, got a notification on my watch that our status had been updated, logged in (fully expecting an RFE) and blinked several times at the words "Case Was APPROVED"!

 

As we’ve seen comments recently, we can say that (although it was in the back of our minds), as a same-sex couple, we do not feel we were treated any differently than any other couple. Nor do we feel we were expected to endure any more scrutiny. We just waited - a long time, like the rest.

 

With the longest part of the wait behind us, we look forward to getting on with the next set of tasks on our way to being together. And we want to thank you for giving us hope and sharing your experience! We wish you the absolute best and hope that every RFE, and every other case is decided upon as soon as possible. Have hope and believe - it WILL happen! Best of luck to you all! And now we wait some more, but with bigger smiles!

 

Alom and John

Oh my God the way you wrote, made me so sensitive and happy. Congratulations 😍😍😍😍 I'm so happy for you guys. I'm a June filler so I'll have to wait few more months but reading stories like this makes me keep going in a better way. 

[TiggerTB 6]

12 hours ago, alomjohn said:

Hey Friends…

 

We’ve lurked for some time here on the Visa Journey and learned quite a bit from you all. You’ve given us hope, sometimes reason to (perhaps) be concerned, and most of all, reason to celebrate. Each passing day spent watching our fellow March filers receive their NOA2 notifications has taken us up and down the emotional roller coaster. 50 days, 100 days, 200 days, 230 days and nothing for us.

 

We didn’t use a lawyer. Was this a mistake? We didn’t provide documentation for the app we happened to meet on. Did we really mess up here? We didn’t write separate letters of intent to marry. Could this be the thing that causes an RFE? It’s stressful. But we remained hopeful. We dotted all of our I’s and crossed all of our T’s, then double and triple checked. One thing was for sure: we ALWAYS discussed our concerns with the process as rationally and calmly as possible with one another. We always supported one another through the long wait. We HAD to BELIEVE that it would happen for us. This is just too right for it NOT to happen!

 

But recently (around day 210) our patience began to wear a little. After reading your comments, I decided it was time to call to see if USCIS could give any information. They told me that I would have to call back later - that the process had been prolonged due to the volume of filers. So I gave them 2 more weeks and called five days ago. We became hopeful that, at the very least, SOMEONE would put their hands on our case, as it was “assigned to an officer for a response”. Five days later, on day 230, I was standing at work, got a notification on my watch that our status had been updated, logged in (fully expecting an RFE) and blinked several times at the words "Case Was APPROVED"!

 

As we’ve seen comments recently, we can say that (although it was in the back of our minds), as a same-sex couple, we do not feel we were treated any differently than any other couple. Nor do we feel we were expected to endure any more scrutiny. We just waited - a long time, like the rest.

 

With the longest part of the wait behind us, we look forward to getting on with the next set of tasks on our way to being together. And we want to thank you for giving us hope and sharing your experience! We wish you the absolute best and hope that every RFE, and every other case is decided upon as soon as possible. Have hope and believe - it WILL happen! Best of luck to you all! And now we wait some more, but with bigger smiles!

 

Alom and John

Congratulations!  I know the wait is hard and frustrating, but so worth it when it finally goes through.  Best of luck for the rest of the process.

[DuddLee 34]

On 10/25/2018 at 3:04 AM, Greenbaum said:

 

He doesn't have to wait. If he would take 30 minutes of his time and read the information that I posted he would know exactly what is required and then they could move forward. Simple. The process in the Philippines is so easy and not like most Embassies.

I have recieved my email letter from NVC to proceed with medical and interview. She would like to do her medical this coming Monday and Tuesday and interview on Friday Nov. 9th. Will this be sufficient time to between medical and interview ?

Edited October 30, 2018 by DuddLee

[Greenbaum 12,259]

3 minutes ago, DuddLee said:

I have recieved my email letter from NVC to proceed with medical and interview. She would like to do her medical this coming Monday and Tuesday and interview on Friday Nov. 9th. Will this be sufficient time to between medical and interview ?

Yes that will work barring any additional testing at SLEC.

[DuddLee 34]

4 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Yes that will work barring any additional testing at SLEC.

So Tuesday till Friday is long enough ? We can always we reschedule if need it on interview?

Edited October 30, 2018 by DuddLee

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 minutes ago, DuddLee said:

So Tuesday till Friday is long enough ? We can always we reschedule if need it on interview?

Don't have do anything as you will hand carry the medical. Medical is the ify which is what will hold you back.

[DuddLee 34]

Just now, Greenbaum said:

Don't have do anything as you will hand carry the medical. Medical is the ify which is what will hold you back.

Thank you !!

[Hirotoyoto 36]

hello everyone,

 

so my fiance (beneficiary) and i (petitioner) have received the email from nvc saying they are going to send our petition to CDJ. my question is should she go ahead and do all the paperwork like ds160, etc already or should she wait until we get the actual letter? thanks!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

27 minutes ago, Hirotoyoto said:

hello everyone,

 

so my fiance (beneficiary) and i (petitioner) have received the email from nvc saying they are going to send our petition to CDJ. my question is should she go ahead and do all the paperwork like ds160, etc already or should she wait until we get the actual letter? thanks!

Did you check the P3? Did you ask in your countrys sub-forum? Did you check the portals here on VJ? ..

Edited October 30, 2018 by Greenbaum

[CaliforniaLovin 28]

On 10/13/2018 at 6:00 PM, BJ & Christine said:

Get a sponsor  and find a job. 

 

Ur no where near AOS part of this journey. But, u will need to show embassy that u won't become a burden on the government. 

 

Ha well getting a job is stating the obvious. He's hardly waiting around for someone to come knock on his front door and give him one. But it takes time, it you've ever been unemployed... To find another job. Your comment isn't very helpful. 

 

Anyway, since we received the NVC notification today we also realise we don't need a sponsor. The form requires tax documents/adjusted income and if the petitioner can show they are above the 125% above the poverty threshold on this year's taxes then it's fine. Something to note for others that may be in a similar situation. 

Edited October 31, 2018 by CaliforniaLovin