Risk V Reward

Update it was definitely a scam as we just picked up the visa. What a relief.

Hello really looking for some guidance here and also sending this as a warning to others. We interviewed Wednesday at 830. Friday morning we received a text message that stated we had an undeliverable package. We clicked the link "tnt-express.com" Upon clicking it, it caused the Line App to open to a company "flash Express" (lower case f) , not TNT Express. We left them a message saying we were waiting for our passport and curious if they had it. They called back later that night and spokr with my wife. The staff asked her to download the Flash Express app and change several permissions on her phone for the app. Nothing came from the app but they then messaged my wife with a picture of a dark brown envelope with a bit of visible water damage. However, they blurred out there name on the envelope and after we hung up deleted it. The envelope looked quite thin. They told us they would deliver to us 9AM and that currently our envelope was in Ayuthaya but they would deliver in the morning. In the morning we actually saw Flash Express driver who didn't have our package. I finally called TNT Express this morning and the agent advised me that another customer had reported that URL as a scam. It was only then that I started to put the pieces together and started to see signs that this was possibilly a scam. Few questions if you could please help. 1. Did your status change to "In transit?" prior to delivery? Ours still says "Issued" which makes me wonder if it really ever even hit the mail yet. 2. Do you remember the color and size? 3. Did a courier like Flash Express or TNT Express handle your package at all or was it all done by Thai post? 4. Did you ever get any sort of tracking #?? Thanks any info you all can provide. At this point the worst case is we have a damaged visa and best case is it isn't even in the mail yet but wife is panicking. Feel really dumb I have never fallen for anything like this but being in a different country and so anxious about this visa we weren't thinking clearly.

We just had our interview today and we were curious on some of your timelines out there for how long it took for you to get your passport back in hand. We chose the option to have our passport delivered to the Lak Si post office because it was the closest to the embassy, but curious what experiences you all had so that we can try to plan accordingly thank you.

Officially approved today at the US Embassy! Just waiting for our passport to come back via Thai post and we’re out of here. Here is my timeline which I have been waiting to post until it was complete. Info: CR1, US CITIZEN Service centers: California and Texas Filed: May 9 2023 I-130 Approved May 28 2024 NVC Account created June 3 2024 DQ: June 22 2024 Appointment scheduled notice: July 30 2024 Interview at Bangkok Thailand: Sep 11 2024 Status: Approved Anyone filling in Thailand ever have questions just reach out.

I never even so much as had access to this counter everyone talked about because that part of accounr access went to my lawyer. I'm really glad I don't see that counter because it's well known that it's not based on real life and is never accurate or meaningful. It would only serve to frustrate and disappoint me. I just use the weekly email every sunday from VJ that gives you a more accurate date based on facts. It's sad that VJ provides more accurate data than our own immigration beareau does. Oh well, were getting pretty closer now anyhow right? I show April 5 for an estimated approval. Cheers all.

10 to 14 months for the first step. With any luck you’ll hear something in late March or early April and then be ready to proceed to the next step.

That makes me optimistic. I was at Texas and now I’m there with you at CSC. So we could start seeing things getting processed in 3-4 months.

And I hope no one thinks I'm being a downer, I just want to make sure everyone has expectations that are based on the majority and not anomalies. Right now 90%+ of cases are processing at 11 months from NOA1 to NOA2. For example, December filers from last year processed this November. You should look at the timelines for your embassy though, as some, like Thailand, are averaging 13-14 months. There are a lot of patterns out there as far as your spouses country. Your processing center doesn't make much of a difference now a day, as cases are constantly being transferred. I know mine has been transferred three times. This has resulted in very little difference between centers. The outlier cases that took just a few months are very far and few in between and you shouldn't pay any attention to those cases when trying to understand when your spouse can come to the US to be re-united with you. Some of you will have wait times for interviews that could be upwards of 6 months. Some of you will have longer NOA2's than others. Its very simple to estimate how long your case will actually take real-world. If any of you need help finding that info out, just let me know and I can look for you. Hope time is flying for everyone!

March through July the I130s will process. August 2024 through January 2025 for actual interview dates. This is based on a lot of research. Im flying back from visiting the wife and will put in my already typed up expedite request using my business and severe financial loss as the reason for expedite. I wrote it up just as if I was a lawyer making my case. You need to cover every possible angle. We have a valid reason for expedite but there's no telling what USCIS will do with the request. As per usual I wouldn't get my hopes up. But it's just one additional avenue worth exploring to see if you meet one of USCIS's four criteria for expedition.

Could you share the details on the service you are talking about? I couldnt find anything on that.

Have you checked out the VJ Thailand US consulate office reviews page? Worth a read if you haven't already. Helped me to understand what questions they'll ask her at interview and see a lot of relevant timelines...Or really anyone here who hasn't checked their consular office reviews page, go look.

I county myself lucky to be processing at TH also. I'd say expect late March to early April for I130 approval and then add three months for the DS and interview.

It wouldn't matter though. My point is that even if you didn't do the K3, or of let's say Lenny did it within two weeks of his I130, it wouldn't of changed what date either of you were or will be approved. USCIS: “If you are a U.S. citizen and you filed a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative for your foreign spouse who is abroad, you can also file a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). This is the first step for your spouse and his or her children to obtain a visa to come to the United States while you wait for USCIS to make a decision on the Form I-130. Historically, you and your family members might have been separated for some time while waiting for a decision on your Form I-130. Congress sought to resolve this problem by creating K-3 and K-4 nonimmigrant visas to shorten the time your family would need to spend apart. However, because USCIS now takes less time to adjudicate the Form I-130, the current need for K-3 and K-4 visas is rare.”

I would say no, it hasn't been shown to do anything. I have seen early approvals from people who didn't submit the I129 as well. While the majority of early approvals did submit a K3, that's because most people on these boards send both in, because why not, it's free! But there isn't any data showing a higher rate of early approvals for dual submitters than those without.

Nope! Dont expect it either. xD Generally you only see the AOS approvals coming this early. The rest of us still have a few more months until we hear anything. Most likely March theyll start rolling in heavy based on what I'm seeing.

Well I sent in my I129F and my lawyer sent in an updated I130 to fix some typographical errors (Wouldn't hire a lawyer if I did this over again) Maybe one of these will get my case on the right persons desk. Not holding my breath lol. Anyone else have updates?

Looking at your timeline. About 14 months for I-129F. Did it really take 4 months from your NOA3 until the Consulate received your case? Then three more months to get interview? That seems higher than a lot of other people. Any clue why?

I'm in Washington too! Maybe well need to meet up for a Singh and some Pad Kra Pao.

Congratz man. How long did everything take for you. How long after NOA1 did it take you to submit your second step, and then when was your interview? Any advice for the rest of us on what to do to cut down the times that we can control?

I’m seeing a lot of approvals on Facebook too for April May and June fillers. Good sign!

There’s no shortage of people who have been waiting over 8 months with the same message. I too have the message and it just means we need to continue waiting for normal processing times and expect to hear something by April. The people who are approved after getting this are the exception not the rule.

You’re not likely to get sympathy here if that’s what you’re looking for lol. Most of us have another 6 months to go still before we’re even at that stage.

Wow thats great! I don't check too much but I have noticed in most early I130 approvals, the beneficiary is already in the USA and so they are adjusting status or whatever you want to call it when they're here illegally. But I do see a few like yours, I might submit the K-3 later this month, I'll need to talk to my lawyer!! Ill be in Thailand next week and we'll see what we can do! Crazy were already four months into this though so at this point its probabaly best to wait it out. Until next time yall!

For those approved, is your spouse residing inside the USA and are you inside the USA when approval came?

And an RFE.