You are right of course, Sarah. I agree that the timelines suggest they are going by NOA1 dates (though why can't they just say that on the phone?), and that we'll see more approvals in the next weeks. Fingers crossed.

They are definately doing this by NOA1, that's why it's not going by first come first served.

Your NOA1 is when the clock starts ticking .... sadly the latter end of 2007 got caught up and their NOA1's were delayed.
You've got a January NOA1 date, well, they're working on those.
I'm thinking there's a couple of adjudicators .... they will be allocated boxes from the processing of our files at Chicago Lockbox .... in there will be willy nilly dated files, but all will be roughly around the same time for their NOA1's .... whether they'll be October filers or December filers is not important, these guys have pretty much the same NOA1 date in most cases.

This is why the approvals looked willy nilly to us with no way of telling who will be next ... as if we were in on the roulette table .... they weren't going by filing date, they were going by NOA1 dates and those around the time of that date.
Sure, there have been a couple of anomolies, but that was pure luck for being slung in the box with an earlier NOA1 date .... maybe their particular box was over flowing ?? and so got plonked into one that wasn't so full.

If you look at Delicia's spreadsheet again, you will start to see some form of pattern.
The December NOA1's are nearing the point of being cleared .... whoever has that box, well done.
The January NOA1's are about a quarter or so done, I guess the guy with the December NOA1 box will soon be moving onto another box, which will be either January NOA1's or February NOA1's .... it will depend on what he has been allocated.

Amastar was a February NOA1, so it is possible we will see some more February NOA1 dates being approved ... remember he had no touches, and his approval was simply emailed out of the blue .... therefore please do not panic about not getting touches .... touches means they are working on your file, but does not mean you won't get approval if you don't get touched.

Hang in there guys xx

One thing I noticed about my NOA1. I went home and looked at it after we had that discussion about which date VSC uses. I showed a "received date 12/29/08" One day after my package arrived at the service center. BUT then again the date of my NOA1 and the date online showed 2/19
Sooo I dont know if that matters at all since it really seems like they go by the date the NOA1 was sent.

I think I just confused myself.

You are right of course, Sarah. I agree that the timelines suggest they are going by NOA1 dates (though why can't they just say that on the phone?), and that we'll see more approvals in the next weeks. Fingers crossed.

One thing I noticed about my NOA1. I went home and looked at it after we had that discussion about which date VSC uses. I showed a "received date 12/29/08" One day after my package arrived at the service center. BUT then again the date of my NOA1 and the date online showed 2/19
Sooo I dont know if that matters at all since it really seems like they go by the date the NOA1 was sent.

I think I just confused myself.

No worries Amastar, we're just really pleased you got your good news.
I too have my received date on my NOA1, but the actual NOA1 date is February.
The pattern is definately showing NOA1 date approvals, in which case there is a possibility you are the start of the February box .... God I hope so

Jelena, yes, I totally agree with the approvals coming not long after those who've been touched .... I've been watching your touch timeline avidly as you appear to be the 1st VSC February NOA1 (forget filing date) that has these amount of touches .... once you're approved there will really be hope for the February NOA1's. I hope my file is in your box.

As far as on-line payments and James' shortcuts, just follow my thread here and start getting your stuff together ASAP!
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=124755

You'll need to get your documents in order and ensure your DS-230 is filled in and ready to rock as soon as you're approved, I'm just holding off on the police certificate as the UK ones only last 6 months, just incase my approval is delayed by whatever.
There is a list of crap you'll need to get together, I've tried to make it all as user friendly as possible.
On-line payments and James' shortcuts will be dealt with as and when, but at the moment, you just need to be ready to use them

Don't forget the photographs!!! the US sizing is in my list .... you'll need a few, so it's best to find someone who'll do them where you live.

Hello Sarah,
I really want to thank you for trying so hard to help us. I read this and I'll be sending those forms to my husband asap.I can see that James shortcuts and on-line payments reduce time spent at NVC and I stopped caring whether my I-129F will get approved or not.
About those pictures: Do I need to send them to my husband for NVC stage or they are needed for interview stage?Do I need to send him anything else besides those forms?
Thanks again dear friend and good luck!
Jelena

Youre right Sarah,
I think it does go by the NOA1 date. Which should be a great sign for everyone!!
Trust me when I say this, there is nothing special about me or my case. I REALLY think that VSC will start shooting out approvals now. I cant wait to see everyone else's "YAY! WE GOT APPROVED!" posts.

Yep, I think Sarah may be on to something. I am a VSC filer and have never posted because I always see the all elusive 02/24 date when I check the USCIS site. But today I checked and saw a new date, 05/04/2008.. I was blown away.

After I saw Amastar approved, I started to get hope... and now hopefully something is happening. I hope for all of us, we start to see the floodgates opening at VSC... especially those who have been waiting since Oct/Nov last year and before...
Wishing all of us the best!

OMG. My I-130 got touched on 5/4 as well and hadn't been touched since February. I wonder what is happening????? I'm a December filer with a Feb NOA1.

OMG. My I-130 got touched on 5/4 as well and hadn't been touched since February. I wonder what is happening????? I'm a December filer with a Feb NOA1.

Congrats.... Hopefully it means something good is to happen.
I'm a December also but NO ACTIVITY!!! I've been praying for some sort of sign but to no avail. I constantly check on the USCIS online crap in case the e-Mail alert doesn't work
I sure as heck hope something will happen this week. Back to praying....

Chet, I know what you mean, I too check the USICS online crap also, I too have my email to my phone, and check all the time too. God, hear us please, make our emails and phone work, give us that direct hot line from USICS saying approved. Amen.

P.S. I'm not knocking religion, Sister Mary Treasa would beat with me with ruler if she knew I wrote that.
Paris Heart

Let's pray for the floodgates to open up tomorrow morning!!

Let's pray for the floodgates to open up tomorrow morning!!

Let's pray for the floodgates to open up tomorrow morning!!

I don't want to see anymore K-3s. I want to see only I-130s for CR-1s and IR-1s.

C'mon Vermont!

Did you blow on the dice before you rolled, cmoncada? It works better that way I hear.

I did notice though, Vermont is a little stingy on the free drinks.

225 days and waiting. I will get approved today along with other Sept filers at VSC.

225 days and waiting. I will get approved today along with other Sept filers at VSC.

man. this sucks.
i dont know how you do it.
Im about to die over here and Im an Oct. filer.
arent we just the lucky ones??

I am also like everybody else, impatient, frustrated, depressed, angry and helpless.

One thought that keeps me going is, if my wife doen't come here, then I will go to her. My wife and I have given ourselves until Dec 31, 2008 for her to come here. If that doesn't happen, then bye bye USA!!

You really think you will get approved today? If you do I should. So I really hope you think that. =)
Wouldnt it be GREAT!!!!

Its rediculous isnt it?
I dont understand why this is happening to us. I am so sorry for you and me and everyone else that is waiting through this mess.
We dont really have another option, do we??

to answer briefly:
NO the Government does not care

One thing that worries me is that I did not make a copy of the back of my birth certificate. Will I get a RFE? I have known people who did not do it and got an approval. I guess we will see. Did everyone else send a copy of the back of their Birth certificate? I thought I had all t's crossed and all I's dotted. I guess not.

OMG. My I-130 got touched on 5/4 as well and hadn't been touched since February. I wonder what is happening????? I'm a December filer with a Feb NOA1.

Your touch on your file with a February NOA1 is very good news as it obviously means that someone has your file .... and if someone has your file, then Amastar's February NOA1 approval may not have been a fluke, and it is very possible that 'someone' may just have been allocated some February NOA1 files ..... come on VSC adjudicator, let's see some more February NOA1 approvals this week.

It's possible that someone is working on the January NOA1's as they have definately been started and maybe someone else has started the February one's ... super news!!
Cuppa, please keep us updated as and when you get touched and approved.

Hello Everyone,
Maybe if we just say "good" things about VSC maybe our luck will change, our slamming them have not helped. Im going to try to be pisitive and say good things about VSC. I'll start: Um, okay, will post good thing later.
Paris Heart

I got touch yesterday (sunday) on I- 130 after 2/24/08 .Sunday touch what does that mean ??I checked status its still pending??Curious is VSC working on sunday too?? How soon i get an approval?anyone has idea??

Just spoke to VSC, she pulled my file said "I DIDNT NEED RFE" and that its still "PENDING" and that file looks "GOOD"

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

so why dont they approve it?

duh, caz its "PENDING"

Cmoncada, if it makes you feel better, I not only did not copy the back of the birth certificates nor any other certificates, but I also did not put the photos in plastic bags .... nor did I takes copies of the petitions.
I admit the whole thing was thrown together as I was very tight on time, so I expect an RFE to top it all off.
However, I've been made aware that sometimes they don't bother RFEing for that stuff, it just depends on the adjudicator.
All stuff possible which I could be RFE'd for is being prepared this week just incase, so that I can have it sent and waiting in the US to save panic and time.

Yeah maybe it was way too easy to just approve it, there is a government mandate that doesn't allow government workers to approve things too easy. U DIDNT KNOW THAT?