Hey everybody! We are January filers too!
They sent us the NOA1 a week after we sent the package! that went fast. i wish (just like all of you) that the next step would go that fast!

Welcome Cecile and Bryan! The more the merrier I say.

We got our NOA1! Woo!

They misspelled my surname! Boo!

Seriously, how the hell did they misspell my surname? It's five letters long, it's one of the most common English (and American) surnames and it's also a colour! It was right on the forms, too. Alex's surname is Russian and unusual, but it seems they can spell that.

Anyway it's been corrected and they say we should receive confirmation of this within 45 days. Hope it doesn't delay our application...

Wow! I didn't realize there was a January filer's thread already. Cool. Welcome newbies! good luck to you all.

Thank you! Always good to have supportive posts from older members. Good luck with your interview in February!

Cheers!

No NOA1 today.

I know, I know... but I can't help but be nervous!!

Don't worry psiprez, it will be alright. I'm sure you'll receive it soon!

Have you checked with your bank to see whether or not they've cashed your check?

I mailed my application and received my NOA1 like a week later (on January 9th). I noticed on my online bill pay that the cash checked and when I looked at the back of the check, my Case ID number was on there. Good luck!

Sent out the petition again, this time the check was in a zip lock bag and paper clipped to the blue paper that they gave me saying they never received the check I also canceled my other check that they lost. I hope everything goes smoothly from here on out

Best of luck to you!

thank you!

Hi everyone. I am new to this board and finally got my K1 forms forward to VSC today. Fingers crossed for the rest of us January filers!

Hello Smashrox! Good luck to you too!

Whoot! got my NOA1 today!

Step one completed. Now it's time to hunker down for the (hopefully not too) long wait...

I think if you stay busy, you'll see that the months will pass by fairly quickly.

Well, if we've survived the past waits between visits, we can certain survive the wait now.

Afterall, each day that passes is one day we NEVER have to wait again!

I mailed mine on January at 12 at the all night post office. Im waiting for someone to tell me something as well.

Welcome Leona!

Yes, I believe those periods of waiting help "train" you for Uncle Sam's BS! Sasha and I have endured 6 priods of separation so far. The first was the worst. 8 months. Then we just kinda vowed to never wait so long again. And each wait has gotten shorter and shorter. And we're now finally only 31 days from the interview.

That's how I view it!

Last year we were apart for 11 months...and knowing that we'd only be reunited for a short time was horrid! We may have to wait another 11 months (or even longer!) now, but at least when we meet again we'll never have to part again.



Welcome to the january filers thread! Glad there's more of us

Hello All,

Add us to the January filers, WooHoo ..

As a kind of side note. I mailed our package I-129F Saturday the 19th Overnight delivery. I was expecting no delivery Sunday, and again no delivery for Monday as it is a holiday according to the postal clerk who took the package. I entered our tracking number tonight so I could put the paper away and have loaded here on the computer. Much to my surprise, it came up ::

delivered on 01/20/2008 at 01:58 PM in SAINT ALBANS, VT 05479 to P NOVAK.

Apparently they are working there on Sundays? Is this something new?

I am just waiting (not so patiently) for the Royal Mail to send the paperwork from D so I can send the I-129F to VSC!!! I SO want to be a January filer!!!

Dawn

Yes that is very true. Same for us. Our longest wait was 13 months. This time, I hope it will be shorter but even if it isn't shorter, it doesn't really matter becuase it is the final wait.

Who is planning on visiting their fiance before they get the K1 (or having their fiance visit them)?




We started to gather everything the second week of December and I really wanted to be a December filer!!! and we missed it by only 2 days (we sent the I-129F on the 2nd of January)

I am visiting my SO at least three times in Ireland before he "officially" moves over here in the Fall....Who would have thought adding a travel budget as part of your wedding budget? ***sigh*** thankfully we don't have to travel back and forth for much longer.

Lucky you!

I will only get to see my SO once more before the permanent move, sometime in May.
God knows I wish it could be more often, and we originally thought it would be. But time off from work is an issue, as well as saving money for the months spent waiting for his EAD to come through. I'm a divorced mom relying on my alimony to pay the mortgage now, so those months will be tough on us.

Also, it somehow costs twice as much for me to fly to London, as it does for him to fly here, on the exact same flights (grrrrrr). So my going there isn't really an option. But it would be nice to be able to meet more of his family in person.

In good news, I finally found an officiant who does what he calls "show-up ceremonies" (lol). You get your marriage licence a day ahead of time, call him to arrange the time, and for $200 he show-ups and you are done in 15 minutes.
Yep, that works for us!
(New Jersey doesn't have Justices of the Peace, so that is the quickest and cheapest way!)

It's hard to believe I mailed ours off 2 years ago yesterday. I remember being in the same boat as all you January filiers.

I wish you all good luck and a speedy journey.

One day, it will all be just a memory for you too!

Who is planning on visiting their fiance before they get the K1 (or having their fiance visit them)?


I plan to visit Bella in Bogota in February, if I can get my visa renewed.. I also plan to attend the interview with her

Joe

They got my petition again today hopefully this time the check gets cashed!! hehehe I'll check tomorrow

I'm visiting D in late March early April for a week; and hopefully get to see him again in the summer...how can everyone afford visiting frequently? It's taking almost all my savings to make those two trips...

Any tips on cutting travel costs?

I was worries too. Filed on the 7th and got NOA1 a week later. Hope everything else goes this fast.

I don't know any tips...
I'm currently trying to decide if I should go back to the US before I get the visa, or if I should save all that money for after we'll be married. It's hard to make such decisions sometimes!

hello to all January filers,

I mailed my k1 application on the 14th to VSC. They received it on the 15th. I got a I-797C, NOA yesterday saying that USCIS has received it and the notice type says: Receipt Notice. Is this what is called the NOA1 and meaning the case is opened ? It doesn't seem to be asking anything from me.

I took the receipt number from this notice and created an online account at USCIS so I can track further progress. Is there anything else I should be doing at this point ?

Thanks and Regards,
gujara

I have money automatically deposited into my savings account with each paycheck and that's how I make sure I have enough put away for trips to see my SO. As far as saving money, I try to avoid doing too many trips during the "tourist season," which in Ireland, is the summertime. I once paid twice as much for a flight in July vs. a flight in November. I am constantly monitoring travel sites as well and find the best prices are usually 2-3 months before my trip.

yea buy the tickets in advance as much as you can and you can save hundreds of $$

Hiya all! Lending my own post in the fray - we sent out our application to VSC on the 17th and tracked the progress to the destination via USPS. It says it reached them on Friday before MLK day. So, here we wait with fingers crossed! Good luck all!

I am visiting Marco on February 8th! We found that any travel during February to Europe was much much cheaper than we've ever seen. My ticket (round trip) was only $457. He'll be here sometime in March. We were hoping to time it that he gets back to Germany and doesn't have to wait too long for his interview...around June/July...

Good luck to everyone!


As far as travel tips, I'd assume you are using websites like www.expedia.com, and www.travelocity.com to find out who is offering the cheapest airfare. Once you identify the airline, go directly to their website to book. This will save you $5-$10. Also, I REALLY HOPE EVERYONE IS GETTING FREQUENT FLYER MILES! With all of our long trips, these can REALLY add up!

While on the subject of buying cheap airline tickets, this article on purchasing Consolidator Airline tickets might shave off another couple hundred dollars for some people. I've hit a couple consolidator sites and have seen one-way ticket prices from Moscow to San Francisco as cheap as $724. Compare that to the $1,200 or so some of the big name sites wants for the exact same ticket. Also, you can usually shave off some more by flying Tues-Thurs.

Anyone looking to travel after the beginning of May (the start of the US summer travel season) should try to book as soon a possible. The price only goes up the closer we get. My SO changed his arrival time from the first weekend in May to the last weekend in April and saved $200.

If you plan to travel anytime in July, prepare to pay more no matter what.

Booking directly with the airline, instead of a ticket site, usually saves money and may earn a frequent flyer bonus for doing so.

And check out the price difference if you arrival/depart on different days of the week. My SO usually leaves London on Saturday (arriving here in Sunday), and departs on a Monday. Big difference. And we get an extra day together!

Our check was cashed this evening!!! w00t! No NOA1 yet though...

That's great! I hope they cash mine this week too!

Funny how exciting a check cashing event becomes when you play the visa waiting game!

i'm worrying again it got there on the 22nd in the afternoon and still the check wasn't cashed I don't want a repeat :S ahhhh I would feel so crushed and depressed

positive vibes susie! (deep breath in, deep breath out)

Yes, don't worry too much Susie. It can take a few days sometimes.

Nerve wracking to say the least... All the very best on yours - it should happen any day now!



It took some 3 working days for ours to get cashed... You took the right precautions this time, all would be fine, and hopefully you'll hear something today! *fingers crossed*!

My fiance should have recieved my part of the paperwork today and file the I129F on Monday.

I'm from Nottingham in the UK, and he's in Florida. I'm going out to visit again in March. I can't wait to see him again. It seems such a long time since I was there at Xmas.

I'm just hoping it all goes smooth and no RFE's!!

What part of Florida if you don't mind me asking? I live in Fort Lauderdale.

YAY! Got our NOA1 in the mail today dated 1/22/08. Never thought I'd be so happy to get something that clearly states on it in various ways that it means nothing...gotta love the USCIS disclaimers. Good luck to the rest of the January filers!

still no noa1...... watch me never get it , It shouldn't be taking so long it's so frustrating . I started this whole ordeal almost a month ago and I haven't made any progress

Susie - my package was sent off the same day yours was and I have not received NOA1 yet either, nor has my money order been cashed. We lost a day this past week with MLK Day. Besides Imtay had 10 days from mailing to receipt of NOA1. We are still within the timeline. Hang in there!