I've been gone for a week or so and fully expected to find my NOA2 hardcopy waiting at home for me, but still no dice!

Anyone approved around the beginning of May received the hard copy yet?

Mine was written on May 11th and I received it on the 17th..

It still isn't showing up on the uscis website though (still just a touch on there)

I'm a May 3rd NOA2er and we just got ours yesterday by snail mail. Took forever.

I called USCIS to ask and they said to allow 30 days to receive the hard copy. I said alrighty. What else can you do. Maybe I'll get it today or this week . . . .

Already got the NVC "we've got it now" letter and even that is a step behind since the case is already in London and Packet 3 supposedly mailed out already too.

I think NOA2s are being delayed due to the H1B processing going on right now. Sit tight and start getting your Packet 3 together, it'll keep you busy in the meantime while you're waiting for that copy to come through the mail.

Oh, we're well on our way with that stuff. I would just prefer to have a copy to send with him. Plus I don't want to let it go too long. I doubt the H1Bs have anything to do with them getting mail out in a timely fashion. They approved it already, so the work part is done. But, nothing to do but hang out. I'm certainly not watching the mailbox like I was pre-approval.

I was approved on 5/15/07 and received the NOA2 hardcopy on 5/17/07.

May 3rd, no e-mail, online update or hard copy... My theory (please note the sarcasm) is they printed out too many of the H1B's and have run out of paper. Occasionally they see an extra piece on the floor and go OOOH, I'll print out this approval, which is why some people have them One more week for the 30 days... Sigh!

Nothing here either, also a may 3rd approval. Looks like every approval batch has it's own peculiarities. strange that I've already gone through the nvc, wife's done medical, and we've sent the packet 3 back but still no noa2 hardcopy. oh well, I don't really think the interview requires it. nothing we've received asks that any notice of actions be brought.

May 1st approval, we received a hardcopy of NOA2 in mail a while ago (sorry don't know when exactly.)

Our petition was also approved on May 3rd and already entered and exited the NVC. We have received neither an NOA2 hardcopy, an email notification or even a USCIS online account update indicating our petition was approved. If it weren't for the NVC, I still wouldn't be convinced our petition was ever approved. Could you just imagine if the NVC was as screwed up as the CSC?

Daisy,

This is the exact notice given by USCIS regarding the delays:

WASHINGTON – Due to the unprecedented volume of recent H-1B filings, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is temporarily experiencing a receipting/data-entry (DE) front log at its Service Centers. In an effort to give our customers more accurate information about current receipting timeframes and USCIS service level commitments, we are providing the following projections for fee receipting and data entry processing for H-1B cap cases currently at our Service Centers:

Note: These projections do not apply to Premium Processing or I-129 H-1B (cap or non-cap) cases.

California Service Center

USCIS expects to provide in time-compliance for receipting of all form types by June 15, 2007.

Nebraska Service Center

USCIS is currently providing in time-compliance for receipting of all form types as of May 10, 2007

Texas Service Center

USCIS is currently providing in time-compliance for receipting of all form types as of May 10, 2007.

Vermont Service Center

USCIS expects to provide in time-compliance for receipting of all form types by June 2, 2007.

USCIS reminds the public that it may take additional time for a Service Center to complete fee receipting and data entry of an application or petition received and for the receiving Center to mail the appropriate receipt notice. USCIS recommends that persons who have filed a petition or application with USCIS wait at least thirty days from the applicable receipt processing timeframe noted above, before contacting USCIS with inquiries about form receipting. If a response is not received from USCIS within thirty days of the dates listed above, please check the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov or call USCIS customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for updated processing information.

– USCIS –

I guess this pretty much sums up the delays for the I-797's for everyone. What gets me is the last paragraph and when to call = CSC July 15th? Crazy...

I know it is a popular theory here at VJ - one that helps keep people happier as they wait too long for NOA2s - but I highly doubt one impedes processing of the other. Or the generating of receipts.

A much better guess: just as there are attorneys who specialize in processing employment-based visas and those who specialize in processing family-based visas, service center staff are likely assigned to different units with specific jobs to do. The analysis requried for H1Bs vs K-series visas is VASTLY different.

I think it's more likely there are just ample hiccups in the system.

Wrong. You need a copy of the NOA2 when filing your AOS. If you don't have it, you are required to pay $200 to get a copy.

After calling NVC out of a fluke, I discovered I was approved May 11th, case arrived at NVC May 21. I got no e mail, no hard copy, not even a blessed touch. I called USCIS and got the run around there. They said IF I do not get the hard copy in 30 days call them and * maybe* I would have to PAY for one to be issued !!!!! How's that for an answer?

You don't need the hard copy NOA2 for the interview. As devilette said, you will, however, need it for the AOS process. So there's some time to work. Two different steps we're talking about, the pre-K1 issuance interview, and the AOS process.

I have seen others say it costs money to get a replacement, however I think you can call and say you never got the first one once that 30 day timeframe passes and see what they say. That's what I'm going to do. I'll pass 30 days next week. I'll scope out what happens and let you know what they say.

Do we need the NVC letter for the pre-K1 issuance interview? I still haven't gotten ours (or the NOA2 but I know they're beind). I called the consulate in Ethiopia and they have recieved the hardcopy of our file from NVC.


I'm trying to hold off sending a package to Tewodrose until I get it the NVC letter, but I want to make sure he gets the package ASAP since his interview is next month.

-Dodie

I cannot speak for your Embassy, however, I have seen no requirement that those letters be present for London, nor seen mention of it for others here.

I believe that letter serves just to advise filers of the progress and the new case number.

You might want to search around here to see if anyone has posted copies of the checklist for your Embassy.

I still haven't received mine either! (I received the approval emails May 3rd too).

I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't gotten it yet but I would like to have it so I can send it for his interview as the Guide suggests...

We were approved May 4th and got the hardcopy in the mail May 16th, but it seems we are among the few lucky ones from this p.o.v.
Our "hiccup" appeared at nvc, whom we called several times (on the 23rd including) they said they haven't received our petition, and on the 24th a nice and less bored man told me of course they got it and already sent it to Bucharest Embassy... on the 23rd.
Kind of "Left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing...". When everything should be just one click away.

Our I-130 & I-129F were approved on May 21 (email), and NOA2 hardcopies were received on May 25 in mail.