GlenAndLisa

Since you sent yours to Nebraska (the correct location for your state, I'm assuming), it will automatically be transferred to the California Service Center. CSC is swamped with all kinds of visa applications right now and seems to be having a massive slow-down. You'll likely get a notification of your receipt (NOA1) in the next couple weeks. It just takes a while for them to acknowledge it.

Like others have suggested, when they have cashed your check look on the back for an A#. You can then enter that number into this website to sign up for online notifications (though you may not be in there for a while): https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/logi...id=a4wC_JNOrKE5

Thank you so much, you're very helpful. I'll keep looking!

OOPS! Accidently posted before I was done! Disregard above post (won't let me edit for some reason...). Here's what I mean to say:

Yep, there is definitely a slow down. I've posted this in a few topics so sorry to the people who are reading it again, but my timeline has been: I mailed my petition on April 12th and it wasn't "received" (check cashed, number assigned, NOA1 sent) until May 1, 2007.

The USCIS site says my NOA1 was mailed May 1, I still have yet to receive it.

Also, my cancelled check happened to NOT have my receipt number on it, I had to call and get it and then register. It should be on the check, but mine wasn't for some reason.

I think a good rule of thumb is if you are around two weeks to a month behind where you think you should be, call USCIS. You can always call before then, but you don't want to bombard them.

Just keep comparing your timeline to similar ones to yours and if you seem way out of range, give a call. But of course, don't assume because one person got a NOA2 60 days after filing or whatever, you will too. Use the timelines as general guidelines.

My one experience calling was good, I talked to two people who both gave me the same answer and they were both nice. Call was quick. Just don't abuse it. You don't want to be "that" case that customer service dreads dealing with!

Don't panic! We're all in this together. You'll be fine.

Michele

Thank you soooo much!! It's so encouraging knowing others are in the same boat. We'll stay hopeful. We always do.

OK, so I've been reading that it takes an average of ten days to receive the NOA1. Well, then I read that there's some big delay and it's going to take longer. OK, fine. But I called immigration today just to get an idea of how long I'd have to wait and the guy had no idea what an NOA1 was and told me that it takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks, and not ten days before my check clears and I'll hear anything. He looked up my name and everything and said there was no record of me.

What's going on here?

What even is an NOA1 and am I supposed to get it soon or what? Please help!!

OK, am I being impatient?? We sent in our K1 application on April 26th, and we have heard NOTHING!! Is this normal? I thought it was only supposed to take ten days...

LOL ROTMFFL!!!! Normal?? nothing is normal with USCIS!!! You aren't even to one month!!!!! You want to feel good? Look at our ridiculous timeline. We just wasted 2 months becoz of incompetent Doctors! If you want a class in frustration, I can teach you all you need to know...lol

Don't worry, you'll have your approval in another month or two almost for sure!! almost haha

I'm beginning to see we are all in the same boat of impatience. LOL

We have only been able to meet in person four times in the past year and a half, and those visits have been so short. It's hard to wait!!

It's comforting to know we're not the only ones. Thank you!!

OK, am I being impatient?? We sent in our K1 application on April 26th, and we have heard NOTHING!! Is this normal? I thought it was only supposed to take ten days...

Yes, it can easily take that long, and longer. How did you send the application? If you sent it regular mail, it can take up to 10 days to even arrive. How did you submit payment? If you used a personal check, check to see if that check has cleared. Thats a clear indicator that they have received your application, as the first thing they do is cash the check. Also, due to the high amount of H-1B's being processed, the USCIS has announced that it is backlogged on NOA1s.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/H1...eipts051107.pdf

Be patient, and best of luck!

Hehehe, thanks... I tracked the package, and they DID receive it, but they haven't cashed the check yet. Arrgggh... why can't we be the most important ones?? LOL

You should be getting your NOA1 soon, but they probably are backlogged with all the H1B visa applications. So it may take a few days longer than normal to get your NOA1. If you used a personal check you can get the number off the canceled check, If you used package tracking, should should know when it was delivered.

I keep watching for the canceled check... it hasn't gone through yet.

Thank you!!!

OK, am I being impatient?? We sent in our K1 application on April 26th, and we have heard NOTHING!! Is this normal? I thought it was only supposed to take ten days...

This made me cry!! Thank you so much for sharing! Happy Mother's Day to you!!!!

And yes, I do have more than enough to provide for my family. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't. My kids come first. Thanks for all your help!

GlenAndLisa,

"I'm fairly certain" doesn't cut it with the government. They (your fellow citizens) are willing to backstop you, but not a non-citizen. If you can keep a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food on the table for your present family plus one more then you probably have sufficient financial resources to meet immigration requirements - the requiements are really quite low.

If you do not have sufficient resources to keep a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food on the table then immigration is the least of your problems.

Yodrak

I'm curious about your experiences with the financial aspect of all this!

In my situation, I don't meet the "25% above the poverty line" rule (because I have to claim two of my children as dependents), but I think I have enough money in savings to make up for it.

Although I'm fairly certain we'll be fine, I'm still a little nervous about being rejected. Was this a big problem for anyone?

Lisa...just in case this might help...you can use child support payments that you receive as part of your income. I used mine and we were approved. I sent in the page from my divorce settlement that stated the amount to be paid in child support and copies of the checks written by my ex. Good luck.

Will they count it though in this case:

I have four children, but I only claim two of them on my taxes. I have 50% custody of all of them. So do they look at that as four dependents or two? And if they only count two, do they still count my child support as income? Do you see what I'm saying?

GlenAndLisa,

"I'm fairly certain" doesn't cut it with the government. They (your fellow citizens) are willing to backstop you, but not a non-citizen. If you can keep a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food on the table for your present family plus one more then you probably have sufficient financial resources to meet immigration requirements - the requiements are really quite low.

If you do not have sufficient resources to keep a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food on the table then immigration is the least of your problems.

Yodrak

I'm curious about your experiences with the financial aspect of all this!

In my situation, I don't meet the "25% above the poverty line" rule (because I have to claim two of my children as dependents), but I think I have enough money in savings to make up for it.

Although I'm fairly certain we'll be fine, I'm still a little nervous about being rejected. Was this a big problem for anyone?

What I mean when I say "I'm fairly certain" means that I have loads of money in savings which will cover it, from what I've read. I'm not just guessing on this, believe me!

That's what I thought. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone with that much money that would be willing to sponsor him.

His family and friends are not U.S. citizens, but is it possible for me to accept money from them as gifts in order to bring my savings up? Or do they look at my income/savings over a period of time?

Like I said, I'm fairly certain we can do this on our own, but it will be good to know what my options are, just in case!

So does the co-sponsor need to prove they can financially support me, my kids, plus my fiancé, or just my fiancé?

I'm curious about your experiences with the financial aspect of all this!

In my situation, I don't meet the "25% above the poverty line" rule (because I have to claim two of my children as dependents), but I think I have enough money in savings to make up for it.

Although I'm fairly certain we'll be fine, I'm still a little nervous about being rejected. Was this a big problem for anyone?