Hi guys.

This is my first post, but I've been reading a lot, and I want to say thank you for all of the great information that everyone has posted.

I sent in my I-129F packet on July 21st, and it was confirmed delivered on July 23rd. Nothing in the mail, nothing in e-mail, no notices.

So today on my lunch break I called the USCIS customer service line (who by the way, were very very helpful...I must have just gotten lucky and got some good people). They said that the receipt might take a while to make it to my place, but were able to give me a case number over the phone, and tell me that it was sent to the California Service Center (I originally mailed it to Nebraska).

I checked the case number on the USCIS site and it says "On August 1, 2007, we received this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E), and mailed you a notice describing how we will process your case.", and then it says "Last Updated: 08/03/2007"...where does this put me as far as a timeline might go? Should I consider this NOA1?

- Josh

That would be NOA1. CONGRATS!

Yes, its an NOA1. 08/01/07 should be the receipt date. and 08/03/07 is a touch. Probably cashing a check or putting your case in the computer or something. You were lucky to get this info.

hell yeah Josh! congratulations!

i wish I could get someone helpful when I call customer service....all they told me was that "it could take 45 days to receive it. if you dont, then call back".


what info did you have to give them to get your case number? what did you say to get them to give it to you?

God. You guys are awesome, thanks very much.

JCochran, the first person I spoke to said to me "since it's been longer than 15 days and you haven't gotten any receipts, I'll transfer you to someone that might be able to check if your case is in the system." He then transferred me to another guy who took my fiancee's name, confirmed my name, and then said "You're in the system..."

From there I just asked for the case number so I could check updated online, and he gave it to me, and said that I should expect a decision by December or January, at the rate they are processing them now.

Key words to mention: 15 days, "in the system", and receipt number. I wish I could give you the prompts that I pushed to get this information, but unfortunately my cellphone doesn't save any numbers after the call has connected.

Hey Josh.

I mailed my I-129F on the 23rd, overnight, but never got my confirmation of delivery from the USPS. I was starting to worry if it got lost, or wasn't picked up at the Nebraska PO Box. Then, USCIS cashed the check this last Saturday and I could barely make out the receipt number. Though, I got our NOA1 in the mail yesterday, so things are in motion now.

You should be getting your NOA1 in the mail any time now.

December or January??? Is that the normal "cushion" response they give to cover their @sses on processing times...or do you think it will really take that long for NOA2s??

- Josh,

"NOA1" is the notice that has been mailed to you. It should be a Notice of Action of type Receipt Notice.

Yodrak

Welcome to VJ and congratulations on beginning your visa journey. Good luck

I think the VJ estimates are going to be a lot closer than the 'official' ones... as you say, I think they're covering their arses with those predictions

I just called USCIS customer service number and asked if they could tell me if my package was received and if they could give me my reciept number...they said there is NO POSSIBLE WAY to give me the receipt number.

They also informed me that they were "told" to tell customers to expect to wait approximately 90 days for receipt notices!!! WTF is this?? The woman said it was because of them receiving so many applications before the fee increase.

I wish I could have just gotten ahold of a decent and helpful person like you did. Anyone else have any recommendations???

Should I just call again and hope for a different person?

Is this 90 day thing just bullsh!t because I see other people have gotten their NOA1s already.

Ive never had a person not courteous. I've only called 3 times total though.

Regards,

The woman was courteous....just not helpful as in the post above. She basically just said there is no way she can help we, but according to the above post, she IS able to help me.

i just want a receipt number....i shouldnt have paid by money order

Keep calling, my man. I feel for you. Just keep calling. Try the RFE trick. Try everything. I'd just keep calling. Eventually you'll get someone who will take a moment to investigate. And if NSC got rerouted to CSC it may actually take until December, though i think that woman was covering her butt.

NSC definitely reroutes applications to CSC. They've been doing that for awhile now from what I gather. That should only add on a couple days for processing though...it only takes a couple days to mail the the application there.

I think I will call, and call, and call, and call until someone helps me

So I just tried call number 2 for the day...this is what I was told this time....

"There is a huge backlog of applications that have not even been opened yet. USCIS is telling customers to expect to wait 90 days before inquiring about receipt numbers."

When I asked her how anyone else would have called just yesterday to obtain a receipt number, she told me the policy just went into affect TODAY. I can't believe this sh!t. This can't be real.

How is someone supposed to wait for 90 days just find out if their application was even RECEIVED! Assume someone's app didnt get received, they would have to wait 3 months just to find out that they their application NEVER moved ANYWHERE.

What can I do? Is there anyone I can beat up?

2-3 wk ago my boyfriend called to immigration for ask for the case number. He only had the mail receipt and he said it number to the person who attended him and the person checked the case. Next, my boyfriend ask him for the number case. My boyfriend explained him that he need this case number for check the advances on the case himself in the USCIS page. The person gave him the number, he had not any problem... He had to explain why he was calling. He said because he had not any news about the case and it had passed already a lot of time... Have you your receipt from the post office where you sent the package? You could try it one more time... Good luck

Just remember, anytime you call to ask something they will enter that as a touch, it does not mean anything was done on your case, just that they spoke with you cause you called. Plus, it has been said on other threads....the more we call, the more we tie up personnel that could be working on our cases, so if it is not an emergency, please do not call them, use the RFE trick etc. It is hard to sit tight I know but we can do it with the support of everyone here.