August 2018 I-129F Filers

[JMEngland 438]

30 minutes ago, celie&joseph said:

The lady i spoke to from uscis on friday told me they typically ship out the day after they are approved but looking at the timeframes here i think either she lied or NVC is overloaded and they sit in their office for weeks before they get to it.

Yea, I think their definition of "shipped out" means sent to the mail room or something. when I got my RFE, I was told it "shipped out" on the 18th, but after calling and talking to a level 2 on the 25th, he stated that was the date that the RFE was signed and it was being "prepared for shipment" at that time, but it wasn't physically sent out, as in handed to USPS, till the 24th.  I just really doubt they're shipping these packets out one at a time, I'm sure they're getting sent out in bundles. I would just like to know how often, but it seems that there's no method to their madness. 

Edited February 3, 2019 by JMEngland
misspelling

[Greenbaum 12,259]

1 minute ago, JMEngland said:

Yea, I think their definition of "shipped out" means sent to the mail room or something. when I got my RFE, I was told it "shipped out" on the 18th, but after calling and talking to a level 2 on the 25th, he stated that was the date that the RFE was signed and it was being "prepared for shipment" at that time, but it wasn't physically sent out, and in handed to USPS, till the 24th.  I just really doubt they're shipping these packets out one at a time, I'm sure they're getting sent out in bundles. I would just like to know how often, but it seems that there's no method to their madness. 

There is a method and it is theirs's to use and the madness is yours to bare. No one has figured this out (how the agency work) if they had it would have been posted here on VJ a long time ago. It's best to go with the flow and your process will continue, as they have designed their process and it's for their needs not ours. There is an old saying "the man with the gold gets to make the rules". This is a game of who has more patience. You or USCIS.    

[MsNina 184]

44 minutes ago, celie&joseph said:

The lady i spoke to from uscis on friday told me they typically ship out the day after they are approved but looking at the timeframes here i think either she lied or NVC is overloaded and they sit in their office for weeks before they get to it.

With all the recent quick approvals...NVC is definitely overloaded..

[MsNina 184]

9 hours ago, Rau88 said:

I'm with you guys, I hear October filers being approved, and I'm still waiting for NOA2 from Aug 13/14😩

Its coming..another august 13 was approved yesterday. You are the last one on my watch list. 💙

[Jay Jones 261]

2 hours ago, celie&joseph said:

The lady i spoke to from uscis on friday told me they typically ship out the day after they are approved but looking at the timeframes here i think either she lied or NVC is overloaded and they sit in their office for weeks before they get to it.

I agree.  I don't want to sound ungrateful but I was approved on 9 January but my approved petition didn't get shipped to the NVC until 24 January.  I found this information out from a Tier 2 agent.  Maybe they are overloaded at the NVC.  I know it's hard to sit back and be patient but we all have to sit back and let the ship run its course.  This is just the start of our journey

[Jay Jones 261]

2 hours ago, Blondie0216 said:

Does anyone have experience visiting their USA fiance for a month or more at a time while k1 visa is being processed? Is it a possibility or does Border services monitor our trips more closely? 

In my case, my fiancé and I have been living together over 3 years now here in the Philippines.  She has been to the US twice on a tourist visa.  We traveled there together with our daughter.  We have traveled to Thailand twice and Malaysia once.   I don't know if that sped up our petition and I don't know if that raised any red flags.  Our petition was approved in 147 days.

[Blondie0216 93]

1 minute ago, Jay Jones said:

In my case, my fiancé and I have been living together over 3 years now here in the Philippines.  She has been to the US twice on a tourist visa.  We traveled there together with our daughter.  We have traveled to Thailand twice and Malaysia once.   I don't know if that sped up our petition and I don't know if that raised any red flags.  Our petition was approved in 147 days.

Oh interesting.  Are you going to live in the states?  

[Jay Jones 261]

Just now, Blondie0216 said:

Oh interesting.  Are you going to live in the states?  

Yes.  We are going to live in Texas.  In the Dallas area.  I'm going there next week to buy a house.  This will also help me to show proof of "intent to re-establish domicile".

[Blondie0216 93]

Just now, Jay Jones said:

Yes.  We are going to live in Texas.  In the Dallas area.  I'm going there next week to buy a house.  This will also help me to show proof of "intent to re-establish domicile".

Hey that's awesome.  Thats where I will be living when we get approved.!!

[SalishSea 18,148]

2 hours ago, Blondie0216 said:

Does anyone have experience visiting their USA fiance for a month or more at a time while k1 visa is being processed? Is it a possibility or does Border services monitor our trips more closely? 

My husband (then fiancé) came over from NZ for 3-4 weeks after we filed.  In fact, he was here when we received our NOA2.  He definitely still had ties to NZ that he had to return for.....leased house, car, kids, jobs etc.  Of course he also had a return ticket.  I don't think they really delved into it too much when he arrived for that trip.  

[mepck 197]

13 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

For those of you have missed my posting of this information here it is again and it will try to answer "why are others before me are getting approved", " I just don’t understand what’s taking so long", "I don’t understand why they are approving cases of September if some cases of June, July and August still show as received; what’s the order?" etc. etc. etc.

 

WHY?

1. If you are really super curious about more details in the process check out this linked article that has a PDF with tons of detailed information regarding the background check process. It's quite fascinating and awesome, all the work law enforcement, DHS, DOS, NVC, USCIS does and there is literally nothing wrong with being curious about the work they do.  https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=8915 and PDF https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=8915

 

2. As part of its benefits adjudication process and as required by law, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts background checks on petitioners and applicants who seek certain immigration benefits. These background checks consist of four separate checks against systems within Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In order to facilitate the collection and transmission of information necessary to complete background check processes, USCIS maintains five information technology electronic systems: the Fingerprint Masthead Notification System (FMNS), the Customer Identity Capture System (CICS), the FD-258 Tracking System - Mainframe (FD-258 MF), the Benefits Biometrics Support System (BBSS), and the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) Manifest. USCIS is conducting this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because FMNS, CICS, FD-258 MF, BBSS, and IBIS Manifest collect, use, and share personally identifiable information (PII). This PIA replaces the previously published USCIS PIA for the "Background Check Service (BCS)" which describes planned background check-related systems that were never implemented. Upon publication of this PIA, the BCS PIA will be retired.

 

Additional screening and background checks based on country of birth, citizenship, or residency in the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” (T-7) list: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria; or from the “List of 26”: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Yemen. This is a mandatory stop list and allegedly takes 2 to 4 days, thanks in part to the partially rolled out PATRIOT (Pre-Adjudicated Threat Recognition and Intelligence Operations Team) system managed by ICE, but often take 3 to 6 weeks and if there is a hit who knows how long.

 

3. From USCIS: USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely manner while also ensuring public safety and national security. A small percentage of applications and petitions have unresolved background check issues that temporarily delay adjudication. Although USCIS makes every effort to resolve such cases promptly, USCIS is unable to speculate when the background check will be completed. 

 

If a background check reveals an issue that may impact an applicant’s eligibility for the requested immigration benefit, further inquiry is needed. The inquiry may include an additional interview and/or contact with another agency for updates or more comprehensive information. Upon gathering and assessing all available information, USCIS will adjudicate the application as quickly as possible. 

 

USCIS realizes that the constituent may be frustrated by the progress of their case. However, the agency must balance individual inconvenience against broader issues of public safety and national security.

 

4. From the visa petition stage to post-entry applications for immigration benefits, USCIS works closely with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), other U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components, and other partners to ensure that those seeking to lawfully enter and remain in the United States are screened and vetted thoroughly at multiple points and by multiple agencies in accordance with laws and regulations.

 

Security and integrity are central to USCIS’ mission. In the course of applying to enter the United States, being admitted, and gaining lawful permanent resident status, the fiancé(e) of a U.S citizen will undergo four to five sets of comprehensive background and security checks. Each case is reviewed by multiple agencies. USCIS and our partners continually work together to enhance our tools and procedures for identifying those who threaten our homeland or attempt to gain benefits through fraud. For example, recognizing its potential value, USCIS is exploring an expansion of the use of social media as an additional vetting tool in the background and security check process.

 

From <https://www.uscis.gov/tools/resources-congress/testimonies-and-speeches/hearing-vows-visas-investigating-k-1-fiance-fraud-senate-committee-judiciary-march-15-2017>

 

https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/testimony/the-fbis-visa-name-check-process

 

Even thought this next information is rather old, it still gives you the proper outline on what takes place in background checks.

 

https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_uscis_ibbcs.pdf

 

I know it really sucks to have waited so long, but the best way to get through this is to lower your expectations and try not to compare your timeline to anyone else's. Don't forget that the people here on Visa Journey represent a tiny percentage of all the petitions the CSC has to work through! When someone gets to your file you'll hear from them. Stay busy, talk a lot with your fiancé about non-visa stuff, don't forget to hang out with your friends, take up a new hobby, go to sporting events, and your time will come! Good luck

Thanks for this! Unfortunately I am from Indonesia, so would expect additional background check due my country is in the list of 26:( however, hopefully my track record holding B1/B2 and been visiting 3x to the US prior I-129F petition would be considered obey the law. Fingers crossed.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

17 minutes ago, mepck said:

Thanks for this! Unfortunately I am from Indonesia, so would expect additional background check due my country is in the list of 26:( however, hopefully my track record holding B1/B2 and been visiting 3x to the US prior I-129F petition would be considered obey the law. Fingers crossed.

I respect and appreciate your positive outlook on this process. Yes I too feel you should have a very fair interview and with great promise I wish you success.

[mepck 197]

43 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

I respect and appreciate your positive outlook on this process. Yes I too feel you should have a very fair interview and with great promise I wish you success.

Thanks a lot! Try to be positive, it was started when they missed placed our application which supposed be received on aug, we only received the NOA1 after 2 months, so we belong to October filers instead. I hope the good karma will be ours this time for NOA2😀 

[Rau88 23]

11 hours ago, MsNina said:

Its coming..another august 13 was approved yesterday. You are the last one on my watch list. 💙

Thank you! Your words always make it easier ❤️

[sarahw907 47]

On 1/30/2019 at 4:59 AM, Mer and Matt said:

Soooo, we were waiting for a RFE because we didn’t send the intent to marry letters or how we met but we got approved today.

 

We are so excited!!!! 

Congratulations!!!! How long did it take for you from when you found out they asked for a RFE to the approval.