Hiya...Please don't yell at me anyone, but when I sent the I-130 to London, I didn't send it recorded delivery. (No where on the Embassy website did it recommend doing that - Common sense now says that I should've done it that way...) I sent it on March 7, of this year, and sent a cashiers check from my credit union in the States, so I have no way of tracking that either. So far, I haven't had any acknowledgement that they've even received it, so I called that number that charges you an arm and a leg, and they said to wait a few more weeks, then re-file. Is there any other option out there for me? Because I'll be out the $190 (the cashiers check is void after 180 days, so I'll have to wait that long to recoup the monies lost there....). Any suggestions at all?

Did you mail it from the USA? And have you mailed to London any packages or letters to SO or friends and do you know the turn around time of them gettting the parcels?

Secondly, If you have a visa application number (I am not familiar with the DCF process ) I would shoot them an email and ask if they received your packet? It would not be as costly as the call to the embassy.

From the day you mailed it is only 9 days and not sure that would be enough time for it to go overseas have been entered into the system.

Sorry not much help and wishing you good luck.

Mary

Sorry, I should have said. I live here in England, and the Postie said they should get it between 1-2 days, which would have it arriving on Thursday, March 9th. I don't have any application number...I assumed that once they sent confirmation that my case has been accepted, that I would get one. But since I don't know whether they even received it, I don't know what to do!

kids, kids, relaaaax!

Packages do not get delivered and immediately entered into 'the system'. Your package could very well be there physically (delivery confirmation would've told you that). It's too early to talk about refiling (and don't ask those pay-to-call folks anything, really!)---remember what I said about it taking a couple of weeks for a rejection notice to come? They get a lot of paperwork there and have limited staff.

I really think you need to give this another week or more before you start contacting anyone, but if you must contact someone, contact the USCIS Field Office where you submitted your forms. The pay-to-call line is nothing to do with them (different agencies altogether).

I agree with meauxna on this.

Okie dokie.....I'm sorry if I'm over-reacting. I've just read on some other London DCF timelines that they've received their NOA1 within days of mailing off their I-130. I'm just really, really kicking myself on the you-know-where because I should've sent it through registered mail to begin with, then I wouldn't be worried about whether or not it's been delivered!! I'll give it a few more weeks, as Meauxna suggests. But if I've heard nothing by then, I'll be back here bothering you yet again!! Thanks so much for the quick answers from all of you. I don't know what I'd do if this site wasn't around to keep me sane!!

One of the downsides about looking at timelines is that things change. Sometimes things move fast and other times they move slow. It is also dependant on who has your application, by location and the actual person working on your account. The timelines are good for reference, but definitely not set in stone. This is something I constantly have to remind myself of, especially on the days when I am feeling really down.

I really appreciate your patience with me. I know you're all going through something like this, so I don't have to explain myself, but I just don't like everything being up in the air. I just want to know that things are moving in the direction they should be, and that I've done all I can to make it happen. Whether it takes a couple months, or more, I don't care, as long as it's moving!! If I would've put the stupid extra postage on in order to get registered mail, I wouldn't have even had to post this!

lol, it's moving---it's doing exactly what it's supposed to. Royal Mail is not Bwanaland Mail (or even the blessed Greek postal system) so I'd think you could be very confident it reached its destination. Now you just have to wait on their mail room.

If it makes you feel any better, I've realized that I did NOT keep a photocopy of DS-230 I or II!!! I can't believe I've survived this long without it, but I'm making the DAH ask for a copy at his next interview.
I'm *sure* I won't get into Heaven if I dont have a copy of that for my file, and I don't care that it was submitted 4 years ago!


C'mon, you just have to laugh sometimes.

Meauxna, you make mistakes too?? My goodness, we are all human here, aren't we?!

Mickndarcyjo, you sound so very familiar to how I felt about a month ago. It took 20 days for me to get a response from my first mailing and "everyone else" had recieved their notice within 3 - 10 days. I was just sick becuase I knew that the process wouldn't even be started until I heard from them. I felt helpless and increasingly hopeless . . . Eventually I did get my NOA1 sent to me, but it did take longer than the timelines I had read. It is incredibly frustrating, but just hang in there. It will happen. They may have just had a rush because of a holiday or something similar. In the meantime, this is a great place to come and find support. At least I've found it to be.

Strength to you!

Thank you all so much...I'm feeling much calmer now than I was a few hours ago! I appreciate everyone taking the time to add their replies. I'm trying not to post all my worries and concerns over the entire internet, but sometimes it's good for me to get a virtual slap in the face, and be told to get ahold of myself!! I know I was jumping the gun with my panic, and I think I just needed to be told that....I will Definitely let you know if and when I get that darned little postcard in the mail!!

Oh hell *yeah* I make mistakes too.. why wouldn't I? None of this stuff was any less confusing 4 years ago, I have just read it over and over again and read good interpretations of it and I can share my own mistakes so you don't have to make them.
And, when you've been reading up on several different methods, it's easy to mix them up.

One of the best things about a DCF case is that there is more human interactions---as demonstrated here, the worst part is waiting without knowing what's happening and having no one 'official' to ask questions of. Of course, if they stopped to answer all of our questions, they'd never get their actual jobs done, so we must help each other out by sharing our experiences.

But the system is probably a lot more forgiving than what you imagine---each family is different and their evidence will be a bit different, their circumstances etc.. you will do the best when you understand what the CO needs to give you a 'yes', and you proceed to make it easy for them to say YES.

Have either of you two found your way to the archived forums? You'll find a much deeper pool of posts to read from about your respective Consulates and what is needed.
[url=Archive of DCF Forum]http://www.visajourney.com/forums2/index.php?showforum=82[/url]

"deeper pool" is right . . . I tend to get a bit lost in it, actually. With the little time I have to spare I get a bit caught up if I'm not too careful. And to be honest, since I've started DCF Sydney things have been pretty smooth. The Consulate there is so incredibly helpful I'm tempted to bring them "thank you" cookies in two weeks! I'm sure I will dig into those archives before I fly, though, just to make certain I've got all I need with me.

Ahem....I just want to say - WOO HOO!!! I called my credit union, and they were able to verify that the cashier's check was cashed on the 14th of March!! So at least I know that it arrived safely..... Sorry for all the smilies, but I'm kinda excited...Lol....Imagine what an idiot I'll act like once I actually hear from the Embassy/Consulate/whatever!! Thanks to all of you for your reassurances, and for telling me just to calm down and let things happen!!

Darcy x

It's on it's way! Congrats and good luck!