I just got back from a week in Florida with my fiance and it sucks to be back in the UK!

Come on VSC, give me my NOA2.........please!!!!

Welcome to VJ and good luck with your journey

hi everybody
hope things go well enough for you
I am really wondering what people mean when they say "touched" in their time lines ...
if someone can just explain me
thanks

Hi there
When you get your nao1 and get the reciept number you can check your status at the USCIS site, when the date changes that is what people call a touch, it can mean that your file was worked on, moved or anything but means that it has been looked at. It can also mean an approval is on the way.

Good luck with your journey.

This is very true. Thing is.. for me and many others looking at the USCIS site is um.. done probably way too often LOL.

Saffyre.. where did you visit in Florida? I moved out of the state a couple years ago.

Thank you very much, I thought about that but was not sure
Waiting is just so frustrating .. and for now, I don't see any changes on our case
Good luck to everybody

welcome to all the new feb filers and good luck...

saffyre...how did the house-hunting go?

Welcome to VJ and good luck with your journey

Ack forgot about that.. how did the house hunting go??? Kris and I hope to embark on that next year since I just renewed my lease where I'm currently at. I swear my blonde moments are increasing!!!

Our's was received in vermont on february 6 2008
ready and waiting

Ray & Lina

Now I know the normal thought and answer to this but I'm still scratching my head trying to figure it out. Since Friday my case has been 'touched' 3 times . I'm beginning to worry. It's still way too early for approval (at least that is what i keep telling myself of course) but still. I pray i'm not in for an RFE

anyone else have thoughts??

Hi Robyn,

Logically you already know that nobody has the answer for you but at 18 days in I think i'd be pretty pleased that someone was at least fondling me already!

And i wonder why i'm never touched!
I would like to be touch, i would like that CSC work like VSC... sigh...

Ok i have to think about something else

Don't panic, nothing bad, just means someone has been handling your file. Probably looking over everything to make sure nothing is missing, submitting the namecheck, etc. It is exciting though, because it means it's being looked at. My file was touched about 3 times within the 1st/2nd week it was received, then 2 weeks went by and it got touched again, and now nothing Most people at VSC have been getting quite a few touches in the first two weeks!

A lot of people don't even notice touches because they don't OC like the rest of us watching for it. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better not to have access to the USCIS site, it makes it much more anxiety filled, checking, and not seeing it touched, or getting excited because it got touched.

In the end, most people say it means nothing, other than your file is being handled, which doesn't mean anything more than that. Hope this helps a little!

Just think of it as progress ... you'll be fine!!!

I pray that the CSC starts working through the files faster!!!! And I hope everyone finds strength and patience during the process, whether slow or fast!!

Thanks guys.. my logical mind tells me its nothing big as someone is just fondling us (lol that term always cracks me up in reference to touches) but surprise couldn't be helped. it's true though. the ability to see our 'status' is both a blessing and a curse. Not to mention it's keeping me distracted from my writing and soon my editor is going to yell at me LOL

I signed up for the email alerts on the USCIS website. Do they send emails if the files were "touched" or only when something significant happens?

You won't get an email for a touch... Only for status change... (approval, RFE)

A VSC February filer (2/18-2/19) was approved today folks!

Sorry CSC's it's got to be difficult knowing you're in for a wait while others are being approved. My heart goes out to each of you.

In posting this I wondered if perhaps I should suggest one of you starting a VSC specific thread as the January filers have? Just a thought to show a little courtesy to the other filers.

I was in Haines City, near Orlando......and yeah we found a couple of nice places out near Polk City. I sure wish I hadn't had to come home

Ok.,. wow.. i'm impressed! It is a thought though.. I'm completely clueless on keeping up a spreadsheet though LOL

I thought you'd like that.

You dont need to start a spreadsheet. All of the same information is on the VJ timeline . You could just add that link to your sig for those who have trouble finding it.

Just PM me if you want/need some help with that.

I can't believe someone was approved in 19 days!! Yikes.

I keep hopefully checking the site every day now - they haven't touched my file since 24th Feb...

mine either hon

I'm very, very happy for the February filer who got approved.

However, as a CSC filer it also makes me very, very unhappy for myself. VSC filers who filed AFTER me have already been approved (19 days!!) and I'm looking at June if I'm very, very lucky to even start hoping to hear anything. I'm trying so hard to have patience with this process and it just isn't working.

Make me #3 on that count

I totally understand, doesnt seem any structure to what they are doing at all.

being touched really doesn't mean a thing so no need to worry about that.

Last year, because of the influx of petitions, most people from both offices were waiting SOooo long for their approvals. VSC certainly seems to have caught up, except with a few poor souls still left waiting for whatever reason. CSC has no excuse. At the same time they raised the rates, they also spread the states evenly between the two offices.

Historically, VSC has always been much faster than any other office. They are just getting back to what is their 'norm'. You would think the CSC would want to take some lessons from VSC because it is very unfair you folks have to wait so much longer.

I know it doesn't help to complain about it and get upset...but I've never been good at waiting, I think that whole phrase about "patience is a virtue" is really just a load of crap

So...I'm going to change the topic. I make enough to qualify as a sponsor, but I was thinking about having a co-sponsor anyway because it really can't hurt. My mom makes like 4 times the poverty level for her situation (Did you know that the poverty level for 4 people is about 20k? Seriously...I make more than that for just ME and I struggle sometimes. I looked that up last night and it floored me.) Do you think it is over-doing it to have a co-sponsor when I already make enough on my own?

If you are above the poverty level, then you don't need a co-sponsor. I mean you are right, won't hurt, but is it really necessary?

And I too have my days where I think that phrase is a load of crap

Wanting to be with loved ones is hard enough, then having to add in the immigration process just makes it unnecessarily painful at times! I feel like I'm going out of my mind

I made a thread for us February CSC filers. It's not that I don't have mad luvs for you VSC filers...but, y'know...as I said at the beginning of that thread...when you guys are getting ready for interviews, we CSC folks will be just getting our NOA2s. So...if you're a CSC filer...come play.

I can understand why you'd want a seperate place to chat - but stop by here from time to time too...

I would say its entirely up to you on that. Myself I"m just doing me but from what i saw I definately clear the min amount required so I'm happy with that. Im still unsure as what all to provide though. (seen different opinions) I have last 3 years tax forms, going to have a letter from my employer and recent paystubs when it comes down to it. That should be all I need (along with the form of course)

When it comes to sending off the packet 3, and the I-134, does Toby have to get some form of document to prove his income? Tax statements or something? I'm trying to find out what the next steps are so we can be prepared...

If you scroll down to the last part it gives pretty detailed instructions on what is required Visajourney K1 guide

Ahh thanks for that So you don't need tax returns then...

I think you should be fine without them as long as he has plenty of other evidence. I think that I'll probably do pay stubs, a letter from my employer, and the statements from my bank. Just my own instinct, so this has no basis in fact, I would say that the closer you are to questionable income level, the more evidence you should make sure is sent.

I'm a little unclear on poverty guidelines, but he earns $60k per year, so he shouldn't need to declare savings etc right? Then as proof if he gets a letter from his employer, some print outs from online banking, and pay stubs this should be ok?

Poverty guidelines are based on your income and how many people are in the family, however, unless you have a whole bunch of kids, you should be fine. He'll want the letter from his employwer (details are on that site, but I think it has to include yearly income, date of hire, and whether it's full time/part time and it has to be on company letterhead), the recent pay stubs, and the letter from the bank (on-line print-outs won't work...it has to be an actual letter from a manager stating the total deposits for the year, the current balance, and when the account was opened).

Thanks. That's really helpful, I dont think he even knows how to contact his bank since he's had the account since he was in the Marine Corps..

For me.. i think i'll stick with the paystubs, company letter and the tax forms I already have. Don't want to deal w/ the bank to be honest. My gross pay is more than enough for my household and him.

Likewise, I have 4 years of tax transcripts, will get a letter from my company and provide paystubs. I don't want to deal with the bank either!

I don't think Toby wants to deal with the bank either, maybe tax transcipts would be an easier option. Should he already have them or will he need to request them?

I went ahead and ordered the transcripts from the IRS. They are free and take about 7-10 business days to get in the mail. I waited until I filed 2007 taxes though to request them.

See this website: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html

If you qualify on earnings - don't go overboard and provide a lot of needless documentation. Go with what the guides say - Tax forms (transcripts), letter from your employer, pay stubs leading up to the interview. 4 years is probably overkill also - three years is fine. Make it easy for them to see what they need to see, so they can then move on to the next form.

Thanks for all your advice. I love this site - you guys are all awesome!

Also, I recommend checking with the embassy website for the country you will be. That will give you the specific information that particular embassy is looking for.

Good morning my fellow feb filers. Hope today brings many good things to everyone and gets us one day closer to being with our loved one forever.

Now if only this guy at work would stop causing me hell I'd be all good.

I posted a new thread on this in the forum, but I just got an email today that we were approved!

20 days

I hope everyone else starts seeing results soon!
i cant even explain how awesome it felt reading that email

I saw that Sarah... when i read it my heart went crazy for you. Your NOA1 date is only a couple days before mine!! I can only pray LOL