From what I understand, the district court in Atlanta issued a temporary restraining order that has since expired, so maybe the petitions were approved while the restraining order was in place...? Still doesn't seem fair to recall them though.

When our government screws up something this badly you can usually only blame nameless bureaucrats. But for an especially screwed up law like IMBRA, there is a name... Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state. Her manipulation of the legislative process (attaching a bad law like IMBRA to a good law to protect women, voice votes, false testimony to support IMBRA, etc) is what's causing a lot of good law-abiding US citizens and an equal number of foreigners immeasurable grief.

Service Center: Nebraska
App received: 3/23
NOA1 "received" date: 3/24
Online NOA date: 4/4

And NOTHING since - not one single touch

quick question

what's IMBRA????

Elunia28

There's lots of links in this thread and others explaining IMBRA

Ok, I am not sure if any of you have done a timeline search for all petitions getting an NOA1 date after March 6, 2006. I know there isn't much time between March 6 to now, but the results showed one person getting their Visa Approval and entering the US. I think the filed in person or something. I am going to try to keep track to see if any more get thru.

Here is a link to the one that I found:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showuser=2295

I posted this in the Nebraska thread but thought I should put it here as well:

Well some good news I think - a friend of mine just received an email that her approval is being sent out - dated May 16. Her application was sent on 3/3/06 and she received her NOA in the mail on 3/8/06. Since her dates are so close to the IMBRA cutoff dates, it's hard to know if she just made it in under the wire or if this is news of a post 3/6 approval.

She got a NOA2? What's her Service Center?

It was Nebraska. She got the email today saying she was approved dated May 16 and that the NOA2 is in the mail. Not sure what to make of it!

Since there hasn't been ANY NOA2's in weeks this is very good news. Sounds like Nebraska may have woken up!

I think they are lucky because the case went through very quickly before the recall instruction reach to the local Embassy... My Embassy told me they only received the instruction from D.C this Monday 15 May... And that's why they hold my case even they have approved my interview...

Wendy

Hi Gary....

You can add me.......

Jamaica
Filed-CSC
NOA1 received - 2-8-06
NOA2 received - 5-8-06

No appointment yet....still waiting for NVC.....

Name............K1/K3...Country..........SC......NOA1......NOA2...Returned..Interview...Canceled?....rescheduled

StellaR...........K1.....Australia.......NSC.....12/5......4/11
JamesT............K1.....Russia..........TSC.....12/07.....3/07..............6/05
PorknBeanz........K1.....Ukraine.........TSC.....12/12.....3/14..............5/31
papatel...........K1.....India...........TSC.....12/15.....4/13
Palak126..........K1.....UK..............CSC.....1/05......3/23..............5/11.........Yes..........5/17
sarah and hicham..K1.....Morocco.........CSC.....2/27......5/8
Larry and Maria...K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/01......5/08
ILovenalina4eva...K1.....India...........TSC.....3/02......5/01
bwaaderant........K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/03......5/08
Pnd629............K1.....UK..............CSC.....3/02......5/08
Larry And Maria...K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/07......5/08
Aquelunya.........K1.....Israel..........VSC.....3/08......3/22.....5/11.....5/15.........Yes
Iceyspots.........K1.....Algeria.........NSC.....3/10
globetrotter......K1.....UK..............TSC.....3/10......5/11
Nannygirl82.......K1.....Jamaica.........VSC.....3/10......3/20..............6/23
Mike1972e.........K1.....Vietnam.........VSC.....3/13......3/27
Sacha.............K1.....UK..............TSC.....3/13
GaryC.............K1.....Philippines.....NSC.....3/14
MyheartsinCanada..K1.....Canada..........TSC.....3/14
Dowd001...........K1.....Russia..........VSC.....3/20......3/24..............6/13
react.............K1.....New Zealand.....VCS.....3/23......4/11.....5/10.....6/13.........Yes
Carldecolorado....K1.....Colombia........NSC.....3/24
Michela...........K1.....Peru............NSC.....3/24
LuvaLimey.........K1.....UK..............NSC.....3/27
lt&gh.............K1.....Ecuador.........NSC.....4/18
vera77............K1.....Italy...........VSC.....4/18
cdngirl06.........K1.....Canada..........VSC.....4/18......4/24.....5/12
Luis&Laura.....K1.....Brasil......VSC.....4/19
Bluesurf..........K1.....Ukraine.........NSC.....4/21
billsgirl.........K1.....Canada..........VSC.....4/29
Igor Brukker......K1.....Ukraine.........VSC.....4/29

Name............K1/K3...Country..........SC......NOA1......NOA2...Returned..Interview...Canceled?....rescheduled

StellaR...........K1.....Australia.......NSC.....12/5......4/11
JamesT............K1.....Russia..........TSC.....12/07.....3/07..............6/05
PorknBeanz........K1.....Ukraine.........TSC.....12/12.....3/14..............5/31
papatel...........K1.....India...........TSC.....12/15.....4/13
Palak126..........K1.....UK..............CSC.....1/05......3/23..............5/11.........Yes..........5/17
kimlbs............K1.....Jamaica.........CSC.....2/08
sarah and hicham..K1.....Morocco.........CSC.....2/27......5/8
Larry and Maria...K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/01......5/08
Fixer.............K1.....Croatia.........CSC.....3/01
ILovenalina4eva...K1.....India...........TSC.....3/02......5/01
bwaaderant........K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/03......5/08
Pnd629............K1.....UK..............CSC.....3/02......5/08
Larry And Maria...K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/07......5/08
Aquelunya.........K1.....Israel..........VSC.....3/08......3/22.....5/11.....5/15.........Yes
Iceyspots.........K1.....Algeria.........NSC.....3/10
globetrotter......K1.....UK..............TSC.....3/10......5/11
Nannygirl82.......K1.....Jamaica.........VSC.....3/10......3/20..............6/23
Mike1972e.........K1.....Vietnam.........VSC.....3/13......3/27
Sacha.............K1.....UK..............TSC.....3/13
GaryC.............K1.....Philippines.....NSC.....3/14
MyheartsinCanada..K1.....Canada..........TSC.....3/14
Dowd001...........K1.....Russia..........VSC.....3/20......3/24..............6/13
react.............K1.....New Zealand.....VCS.....3/23......4/11.....5/10.....6/13.........Yes
Carldecolorado....K1.....Colombia........NSC.....3/24
Michela...........K1.....Peru............NSC.....3/24
kitkat1...........K1.....Mexico..........NSC.....3/24
LuvaLimey.........K1.....UK..............NSC.....3/27
KAA...............K1.....UK..............TSC.....4/05
lt&gh.............K1.....Ecuador.........NSC.....4/18
vera77............K1.....Italy...........VSC.....4/18
cdngirl06.........K1.....Canada..........VSC.....4/18......4/24.....5/12
Luis&Laura........K1.....Brasil..........VSC.....4/19
Bluesurf..........K1.....Ukraine.........NSC.....4/21
jen&darcy.........K1.....Canada..........NSC.....4/21
billsgirl.........K1.....Canada..........VSC.....4/29
Igor Brukker......K1.....Ukraine.........VSC.....4/29


Sorry, hit the wrong button.

It would certainly be nice if the couple who received the NOA2 fr. Nebraska recently joined the forum and posted their timeline....

You can add me to the thread

Shayrene K1 France VSC 3/13 4/17 returned 5/06

My petition was returned to NVC. I am not sure what day.

Agree!

Gary - you are doing a great job!

THIS IS GREAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING GARY...KEEP IT UP..

u can add us Gary so u wont be alone from Philippines!

Please add me..

K1
CSV
NOA1 3/13

Still waiting NOA2

Thanks Gary for taking this initiative! Please add me:

USMA..........K1.....Morocco..............NSC.....5/8......Waiting for NOA2.........answered Q18 that we met online (kicking myself to have known better than to answer that way )

Hey Gary My Notice date for the NOA1 is February 24th, 2006...I just checked it..and i recieved the actual letter in the mail on March 2, 2006..Sorry about the confusion...Thanks..


My NOA1 Notice date is February 24, 2006
My NOA2 Notice date is May 1, 2006
My NVC recieved ase date is May 17th, 2006

Once again sorry for the confusion...thank you

You can add me too!

Nebraska received my petition on March 7th! Still waiting for NOA2

For those of you that have been affected by this new law, my prayers are with you. For those of us who don't know if we will be affected, what shall one do? How do you find out if your case was shipped back? Does one just hope that their petition won't be affected, or should we contact someone to see if we have been affecter or will be? If you are to call and bring attention to this, maybe they will ship it back. Just like everyone else, I just want to know what is going to happen with our case. How has others dealt with this nonsense? Can't they just do the criminal check without returning the petition?

I think the affected couples are all being informed of the recalls, so if you get recalled you'll get info on it.

We first found out last week when my fiance emailed the Montreal Consulate to ask if our case was likely to be affected. They responded by emailing him a copy of the letter they'd sent us about the recall. He just received the actual letter yesterday.

I was thinking that myself. My NOA1 is Mar. 1st and we've filled out and faxed in the two Packet 3 docs and we're waiting for the interview date now... and I was told that Naples will contact you when Naples is ready to give you an interview date/packet 4, but I was thinking of calling (or e-mailing) and asking whether we're being affected by the IMBRA because I honestly wouldn't put it past Naples to send a person's documents back to the US, to Germany, to China, to the Moon, without informing them, based on what I've heard about how they operate over there. Part of me wants to know one way or another yes or no, will we be effected or not? But then part of me doesn't want to ... ya know... poke the sleeping bear awake, if you get my meaning.

For everyone who is being effected -- I hope everything works out asap and they stop all this nonsense

We found out about the recall on the 11th also...but I have not received a letter in the mail as of yet
What does the letter say? Any information?

Here's a copy of the text:


The U.S. Consulate General in Montreal has received a request from officials of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) stating that the I-129F petition you filed on behalf of your fiancé(e) must be returned to USCIS because of new procedures required by law. The new procedures provide that USCIS must collect additional information from petitioners. Therefore, as per USCIS instructions, we have returned the petition referenced above to USCIS.

At this time, the petition is not considered to be valid. USCIS officials will be in contact with you concerning the additional information required to validate the petition.

This Consulate has no authority in the petition validation/approval process. That authority rests solely with USCIS. We have no further details as to what information will be required by USCIS, or how long it may take in order for USCIS to validate the above referenced petition.

We regret that neither this Consulate nor the National Visa Center has any additional information regarding your petition. Any inquiries concerning the status of the petition should be addressed to the USCIS, telephone number 800-375-5283.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Chief
U.S. Consulate General
Montreal, Canada

WOW, I dont think think it can get any more vague than that! Well i guess we wait now....good luck to you, and to all of us in this situation.

Name............K1/K3...Country..........SC......NOA1......NOA2...Returned..Interview...Canceled?....rescheduled

StellaR...........K1.....Australia.......NSC.....12/5......4/11
JamesT............K1.....Russia..........TSC.....12/07.....3/07..............6/05
PorknBeanz........K1.....Ukraine.........TSC.....12/12.....3/14..............5/31
papatel...........K1.....India...........TSC.....12/15.....4/13
Palak126..........K1.....UK..............CSC.....1/05......3/23..............5/11.........Yes..........5/17
rusty_ash.........K1.....Philippines.....NSC.....1/12......3/7
kimlbs............K1.....Jamaica.........CSC.....2/08
ILovenalina4eva...K1.....India...........TSC.....2/24......5/01
sarah and hicham..K1.....Morocco.........CSC.....2/27......5/8
Larry and Maria...K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/01......5/08
Fixer.............K1.....Croatia.........CSC.....3/01
bwaaderant........K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/03......5/08
Pnd629............K1.....UK..............CSC.....3/02......5/08
MrMrsKnight.......K1.....Brazil..........NSC.....3/07
Larry And Maria...K1.....Russia..........CSC.....3/07......5/08
Aquelunya.........K1.....Israel..........VSC.....3/08......3/22.....5/11.....5/15.........Yes
Iceyspots.........K1.....Algeria.........NSC.....3/10
globetrotter......K1.....UK..............TSC.....3/10......5/11
Nannygirl82.......K1.....Jamaica.........VSC.....3/10......3/20..............6/23
Derek & Yun.......K1.....China...........CSC.....3/13
Mike1972e.........K1.....Vietnam.........VSC.....3/13......3/27
Sacha.............K1.....UK..............TSC.....3/13
shayrene..........K1.....Togo............VSC.....3/13......4/17.....5/6
GaryC.............K1.....Philippines.....NSC.....3/14
MyheartsinCanada..K1.....Canada..........TSC.....3/14
Dowd001...........K1.....Russia..........VSC.....3/20......3/24..............6/13
react.............K1.....New Zealand.....VCS.....3/23......4/11.....5/10.....6/13.........Yes
Carldecolorado....K1.....Colombia........NSC.....3/24
Michela...........K1.....Peru............NSC.....3/24
kitkat1...........K1.....Mexico..........NSC.....3/24
LuvaLimey.........K1.....UK..............NSC.....3/27
KAA...............K1.....UK..............TSC.....4/05
lt&gh.............K1.....Ecuador.........NSC.....4/18
vera77............K1.....Italy...........VSC.....4/18
cdngirl06.........K1.....Canada..........VSC.....4/18......4/24.....5/12
Luis&Laura........K1.....Brasil..........VSC.....4/19
Bluesurf..........K1.....Ukraine.........NSC.....4/21
jen&darcy.........K1.....Canada..........NSC.....4/21
billsgirl.........K1.....Canada..........VSC.....4/29
Igor Brukker......K1.....Ukraine.........VSC.....4/29
USMA..............K1.....Morocco.........NSC.....5/8

Hi Karen,

I'm from Italy, and I'm waiting for Package 3, my NOA1 is dated January 17th, and we got
on the 27th of April a letter from NVC saying that within 1 week they would have sent our
petition to Naples.......at the moment I havent heard anything by them.........and as you say
I'm so a concerned about Naples hearing how they operate......I wouldnt ask them by e-mail
if you have been effected by IMBRA, since I guess you & I (hopefully) because our NOA1
are dated before March 6th, probably won't be effected......if I were in your place I would
ask them kindly by email, when they are going to schedule the interview for your fiance.

As for me, if I dont hear from them by tomorrow by mail, I'll send them an email asking if they
received my fiance petition from NVC, without mentioning about IMBRA, (as you say, it is better
not to poke the sleeping bear awake.....).

Good luck for you & yr fiance, and I really hope for all of us already through the process
to make it.......it is so unfair to read some stories here........so sad...........lets hope in a short time
eveything can be solved.......


I hope to see a message from you that yr fiance got Package4, or he got a call for the
interview, so that would mean they are moving, slowly, but moving.............lets hope...........

Bye, Daphne







Gary, thanks for doing all this job for all of us, you can add my name to the list, sorry I tried to do it,
but I think I made a mess.....sorry

Daphne2109 Italy NOA1 JANUARY 17TH , NOA2 APRIL 7TH, FROM CALIFORNIA (CSC)

Thanks again, Daphne

Gary,

Thanks for doing this. You can add my info. wileastmot k1 noa1 3/23/06 Netherlands NSC. Still waiting for NOA2, like everyone else and praying that they are starting to move forward at Nebraska Service Center.

Hoping for the best for all of us.

Gary,


You can add me to the list

Hi Daphne! Congratulations and getting everything sent to the consulate! I'm glad to see someone else is going through Naples too. Naples didn't contact me either when all my stuff was sent there, but I e-mailed them and asked them to send Packet 3 to my fiance's mailing address (Italian version) and to e-mail me an English version (which is partially out of date, but whatever) and they sent packet 3 right away once I asked for it, so just shoot them an e-mail in a few days requesting it and you should get it soon. Naples has actually been pretty reliable about answering e-mails -- I usually get a response within a day or two, just make sure you write like "K-1 fiance' visa question" in the subject heading and write your case number and alien number in the e-mail too.

I've decided that I'm not going to ask them specifically about the IMBRA -- but my fiance' will call next week and ask about whether we can get an interview date (I found the consulate's direct line on VJ, so we're going to call that instead of the 899-expensive number -- if the number works and you need it, I'll send it to ya) and if our case has been shipped somewhere, they'll tell him then, I imagine. I called the switchboard number when all the IMBRA stuff first started happening about a week ago and the guy I spoke with had no idea what I was talking about but, with the way they run the show over there... who knows what's really happening?

PM me if you have any problems with Packet 3 or anything

Yeah and thanks again from me Gary. I have my interview scheduled 30th May. Man Sydney is quick. I think I will be OK though as our petition was posted so much earlier than the 6th of March. But then so was Palak. May help eventually with Y'all statistics though.

Good to see as yet no more cancellations but sorry things do seem to have slowed down in the NOA2 department.

Stella.

Good luck at your interview!
Will all of you on my list please keep us informed about any touches, NOA2's, returns and interviews? The more complete the database the better we can get an idea of the progress the SC's are making.
Thank you and good luck everyone!!

we got our NOA1-k1 at nebraska on feb 16!!!!
some people that have file very long after us, have already a NOA2..
i am here on day 92 and in the process to go crazy, my fiance call nebraska and not only got automated thing but also when he FINALLY got to talk to a human being, first thing they ask is "did you send us a petition?" -i was assuming all they recieve are petitions.. no?-
anyway..
nebraska seems to be sleeping for 2 weeks now, which is driving me nuts..
-end of rant-

Hi Karen,

thanks so much for yr reply, I feel like im not alone out there....I will follow yr advice in sending
an email for asking for Packet 3, should i tell them to send me the italian or english version? Which is the best one on yr opinion, so that means I should mention my address, or I could ask them to send me the
docs by email?

When u say to mention the alien number on the subject u mean beneficiary #? Is it the one
starting with "A......."?

That tel. number that u have might be useful to me as well, yes If it works can I have it?

I agree with you, when I sent them an email, they replied me the day after. I could really rely
on their fast reply the two times I sent an email. Unfortuantely everytime I called the switchboard
number I never got the chance to talk to somebody, it was just an answer machine.

I hope to hear from you, and I wish you all the best for yr case, lets keep in touch, thanks again.

It is all well and good to post timelines- but it doesn't fix the IMBRA, and bigger picture, USCIS problems.

Please, call your congressmen. Ask to speak to the immigration specialist on staff. If you live reasonably close, go visit them. Express your rage at the entire application process not only being stopped, but REVERSED! (interviews canceled, approvals reversed)

This is insane.

It drives me crazy to read posters say- Just wait. Be patient. Be a quiet sheep. That is crap- our rights as citizens to pursue happiness and love where and how we chose to was trampled by the IMBRA law.

There is no earthly reason a fiancee visa should take more than a couple months from application to approved visa. There is no excuse. People must be held accountable for this not happening.

Today I made my 4th call to my Congressman's office and I will continue to call them until somebody fixes USCIS.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't be a sheep! Make some noise!

I posted this to a different thread but the message needs to be communicated far and wide.

Gary I am on your list, my fiancee just received her packet 3, which was mailed on May 2. I am wondering if those of you who have been affected and petitions were sent back, if your online case status at the USCIS website has been updated saying something different than Approved. Can someone let us know as it may help the rest of us, if the do update the status on their site, so we can at least know if the cases are being touched, or reapproved.

I first met my fiance in person in Santa Monica when he was living here, and then we applied for a fiance visa.

Here's my info:

I-129F sent - 03/24 to CSC
NOA1 dated 03/26
NOA1 received 03/29
NOA2 ???

Here's a letter I received from an immigration specialist at the USCIS when I emailed to ask whether my application would be affected.

The IMBRA requires additional processing, forms and background
checks for individuals who used an international marriage broker
or
for individuals who had applied for multiple K1 visas. U.S.
Citizenship
and Immigration Services and the United States Department of State
have
encountered much fraud in recent years with numerous K1 visa
applications. Many of these I-129F's related to "mail order
brides"
and "internet romances". IMBRA now requires additional checks to
reduce
such fraud.

Since your niece did not use an international marriage broker
and she has not petitioned for numerous K-1 beneficiaries, she
and her fiancé should not be impacted adversely by these new
requirements.

USCIS maintains a web site at:

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

She can check on status of application based on her fee receipt.

Also - see attachment:

(See attached file: USCIS_gov Home Page.mht)

I think we will only find out once someone who had their petition returned hears from either USCIS or their Consulate.

Seems like USCIS did not receive any of the recalled petitions yet.

I wonder if for this new security check they will request every petitioner to fill out a new form, or even though they will perform this check on everyone, they will only request new information for those who met under an agency or internet...

I'm doing some research on google about this IMBRA law, and here's what I found out.

From this government site: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/wa02_..._mailorder.html

"Section 4: Changes in K Nonimmigrant Visa Process

Simultaneous Petitions for More Than One Foreign Fiancée Prohibited. IMBRA prohibits U.S. citizens from applying for a visa for a foreign fiancée while the citizen has a petition pending or a currently valid K visa for another foreign fiancée.

Criminal Background Information to be Provided to Foreign Fiancée or Spouse. DHS shall obtain from a U.S. petitioner, under penalty of perjury, the types of criminal history information IMBs are required to collect under section 2. DHS shall provide this information and criminal background information DHS has otherwise gathered under existing authority to DOS. (IMBRA does not provide additional authority to conduct background checks.)
DOS shall provide to the foreign fiancée or spouse a copy of the petition, and any criminal background information DHS obtained about the petitioner in the categories provided in section 2. The consular officer administering the K visa application overseas must inform the woman that this information may not be complete, and ask her whether (1) an IMB facilitated her relationship with the petitioner, and (2) the IMB complied with IMBRA.

Section 6: Effective Date

The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, except that Section 4 takes effect immediately and requirements regarding the informational pamphlet take effect 120 days after enactment."

The way I see it:

Those who have not met via an IMB will not be affected by the new law, only have their case delayed.
Well, that means we are already being affected...

Still.. someone needs to find out how long it will take for those petitions to be sent back to teh Consulates.