Hi All,

Using the RFE trick, I spoke with a rep at the California Service Center and was told that my I-129F and I-130 applications have now been taken "Off the shelf" and have been assigned to an adjudicating officer. She said that I should receive a decision on my case in next 3 weeks. She also gave me an Alien # which was generated for my spouse. She said this would be her Alien number until she becomes a US citizen. Based on this information, would be it be safe to assume that they are about to approve my I-130 and I-129F applications? Has anyone been in a situation where they are waiting for approval from USCIS but have already found out the Alien # for their spouse who has never been to US before?

Timeline:
I-130 Processing:
4/21/07 - Mailed I-130 to Texas Service Center
4/24/07 - Received by Texas Service Center
5/24/07 - Check for $190 cleared
5/24/07 - Touched
5/26/07 - Received NOA1 for I-130
7/2/07 - Touched
7/3/07 - Touched
7/6/07 - Touched
7/26/07 - Touched


I-129 Processing:
6/13/07 - Mailed I-129F to Chicago
6/15/07 - I-129F package received at Chicago
6/18/07 - Check for $170 cleared
6/19/07 - Received NOA1 for I-129F
6/20/07 - Touched
6/25/07 - Touched
6/26/07 - Touched
7/9/07 - Received Transfer Notice indicating I-129F sent to NBC (Missouri)
7/12/07 - Touched

Congrats
Getting your case assigned means your are close to the end with this phase of the process. I received my NOA2 3 days after I called and found out it was assigned to an adjudicator. Now, getting an A# does not mean that you are already approved or more likely to get approved. You might still face an RFE or denial if your petition warrants.

A# are sometimes given on rejection letters too if USCIS believes a subsequent petition might get approved and they want to track the circumstances of the beneficiary.

I hope you receive your good news soon! Our applications also have been assigned an "A" number. This is the Identity for your spouse. But, I have been told when the applications is approved USCIS will assign an "E" for the final approval...

An "E"? Where did you hear that. I am not sure that I know anything about an E# for our approved petitions. We do have an A number for Layla.

I had spoke to adjudicator in length the other week. When an application is approved an "E" is assigned. The "A" is assigned when its with an adjudicator and placed in the "A" folders with the official. But, when the case is approved you have an "E" So, my friend you have an "E". I hope very soon we will also have our "E"...

An A# is the Alien Registration number and follows the beneficiary all the way to their Naturalization Certificate. An A-file contains the history of that alien and should begin with the filing of the petition for that alien. An A-number is associated with the A-file but is usually not given to the beneficiary or petitioner of spousal visa petitions until they are approved. Whether the "A folder" that you are mentioning (and also was mentioned by former NSC adjudicator Huskerkiev on VJ) is the same as the A-file and comes with an A# or this is something different, I am not totally sure.

The E# may be some internal number that they use, but I have not seen it on anything, have never heard the old timers on the board mention it, nor come across it in my other research. Bottom line, A# is something that is important and will get more use. It will appear on the visa, the green card, maybe the I94? etc. (and you will have to provide it for the AOS/EAD forms so it is something that you should know).

http://www.rootlaw.com/index2.php?option=c...pdf=1&id=34

I'll take a W, or K, or J... or Z... just something to let me know it's being looked at and hopefully approved soon...

Gogo,
My prayers are with you. Hope you bust through those security checks and get to the next level

Urge, I was told our applications are in the "A" folder and have already been assigned the Alien Registration number because I have seen the Alien Registration number already because it was documented on the RFE. Our applications have been sitting on the Official desk since October 31, 2007. So, not exactly sure what the "A" folder is but, I hope A is for the approvals!!!
thank you for the listing on the Alien Registration information.

Good luck. I am praying for your fast approval!

I think they assign each an "A" number when they start putting it in the folders... in order to sort it for them (a catalog, perhaps??)

take a look at this:

http://www.rootlaw.com/index2.php?option=c...pdf=1&id=34

What is the A# and the Alien Registration Number? Are they the same thing?
Yes, these are two terms for the same thing. The A# is a case number that USCIS assigns to certain people, and then
(usually, for exceptions see below) stays with you for the rest of your life, much like a Social Security Number. Most
people get their A# when they apply for adjustment of status. It is also assigned if you apply for an employment
authorization document (such as an F-1 OPT), a V visa, find yourself in deportation proceedings, and in a number of
other situations.
Many USCIS forms ask for the A#. If you do not have one yet, simply write "None".
There actually are four separate types of A#. You can tell them apart by the number of digits and the first digit. The first
kind is an eight-digit A#. These are manually assigned at local offices. If you have one of these numbers, simply treated it
as if it was "0" plus the number. Nine-digit A#'s that start with the digit 1 are used for employment authorization cards,
usually related to students. Nine-digit A#'s that start with the digit 3 are used for fingerprint tracking of V visa applicants.
All other nine-digit A#'s (these actually always start with a 0) are permanent A#'s and remain permanently with you for
life.
Therefore, the rule is: if you are asked for an A# and have one, always give this A#, regardless of whether it starts with a
0, 1 or 3. If you have both a 0-A# and a 1-A# or a 3-A#, then use the one that starts with a 0.

gogo, I just posted that link like 5 posts up in the thread!

oh, haha.. sorry about that..

Here's a new one for you :

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1106360

An Alien Registration Number is given to someone by the INS when that person is entered into their records for the first time. This number is then quoted on all forms that 'Alien' files with the INS.

in other words.. you got taken for a ride.. =( the A# is just something for them to keep track of your case when (if) they enter it in their system...

Also, thank you gogo! My husbands A number:

His begins with O + 8 other digits.

All other nine-digit A#'s (these actually always start with a 0) are permanent A#'s and remain permanently with you for
life.

When I was finished with the conversation from the adjudicator the other week. She told me to look back on my RFE information and the A number was right on the top. So, I can only hope we are near the end of this nightmare. But, this is a very important number for my husband. I already had spoke to him about this...

well, guess no approvals for us today... I know it's still early... just placing my bets.. another 2 1/2 hours, but they are probably taking a long lunch now.. then taking a long afternoon nap... followed by a early afternoon tea.. early dinner, perhaps??

I'll be adjusting my signature for tomorrow... =(

As always Urge I really appreciate your support!! We have all gone this process together and also we are all looking forward to the next step with our VJ members....

Thank you Urge To Race!! Hopefully we will hear something soon... Hope your trip out of CSC and going into NVC is much faster (although I think the estimate is around 5-6 weeks now , instead of 5-6 days like before)... at least you are past the 1st step..

I sent to 18 congressmen/senators/governor/California US attorneys/Attorney General now.. so I really hope to hear something in the next few days.. One of them already sent a letter to my home stating he will help out...

Thanks gogo. We are already at NVC. So are jordanluvr and chabo. SilverFuel, supernova have already been sent to their embassies. All of us were approved around the same time in mid/late October. The good news is that when you get your NOA2, you should make it NVC in about 2 to 2 and half weeks. The time is actually coming back down!

We are tracking progress to NVC over here

yay.. that is good to hear... thank you... so back down to 2 1/2 weeks now... but that will be good to know once we get past this 1st step.. haha...

Hello my friends still waiting My Honey, gogo, nerdette, jrmach1, waitingwife, johnandwendy, and if there is someone else.
Please hang in therre, you are next.
Dont give up.
My prayings are with you.

When you called them did you pretend you were inquiring about an RFE or did you just ask about your case?

Kathryn,
Basically what you do is follow the prompts to indicate you received a request or mailing from USCIS that you do not understand, which gets you transfered to VSC in your case. Tell the person who answers that you have waited for X days, and since it has been so long, you are wondering if they need anything else from you, was anything missing from your file, has a request for evidence been generated or sent (it should be close to or over the 180 days mark if you expect them to really do more than just try to get you off the line with a you should expect a decision in 180 days statement). If you get a nice person, they will say "Let me have a look at your case" and come back with some info like its with an adjudicator or not, approved today or something if your really lucky. Then the person might try to reassure you that if anything is missing you will surely get something in the mail
Thats what I did when I used the trick and I managed to get nice people who gave me good info and were very reassuring.

I spoke with a rep at CSC service center and she was very very nice and reassuring. I didnt have to tell her why I was calling infact she herself said "Let me see what the status of your case is" and then she said both I-130 and I-129F are in hands of an adjudicator. The next day, my I-130 application got "touched"!! Dear God....please please please approve soon!!!!!!!!!

I-130 Processing:

4/21/07 - Mailed I-130 to Texas Service Center
4/24/07 - Received by Texas Service Center
5/24/07 - Check for $190 cleared
5/24/07 - Touched
5/26/07 - Received NOA1 for I-130
7/2/07 - Touched
7/3/07 - Touched
7/6/07 - Touched
7/26/07 - Touched
11/14/07 - Touched


I-129 Processing:

6/13/07 - Mailed I-129F to Chicago
6/15/07 - I-129F package received at Chicago
6/18/07 - Check for $170 cleared
6/19/07 - Received NOA1 for I-129F
6/20/07 - Touched
6/25/07 - Touched
6/26/07 - Touched
7/9/07 - Received Transfer Notice indicating I-129F sent to NBC (Missouri)
7/12/07 - Touched

waitingforwifey,
The touch was probably the telephone call to USCIS. I hope it was more for you but, most likely the telephone call made the touch..

My Honey is probably right, the touch was from the call. But don't fret. You are with an adjudicator, you should be approved this week or next! I was approved without being touched. You might be a little slower than my 3 days after the call because of the holidays (Veterans' day, and forthcoming Thanksgiving both might hit you). Best of luck!

thank you urge.. as always, u are full of good stuff

Good luck waitingforwifey Lets hope they adjudicate your file as quickly as possible

My Honey, Faith, Gogo, JohnWendy, Nerdette, jrmach1 and all others waiting, my thoughts and hopes are with you all.

I called them, no RFE has been sent and they're not even looking at my case yet .. i'm still under an inch of dust

Hi Everybody!

What's RFE trick? The wait is very depressing; any indication the application is being processed would be a morale booster!

Thanks.

Thanks Divine Mercy! Missed reading your explanation of the "RFE trick" earlier. Very helpful! Will employ it tomorrow. Best wishes to everybody still waiting.

Both I-129F and I-130 touched today! please please please no RFE, please please please APPROVE

I-130 Processing:

4/21/07 - Mailed I-130 to Texas Service Center
4/24/07 - Received by Texas Service Center
5/24/07 - Check for $190 cleared
5/24/07 - Touched
5/26/07 - Received NOA1 for I-130
7/2/07 - Touched
7/3/07 - Touched
7/6/07 - Touched
7/26/07 - Touched
11/14/07 - Touched
11/15/07 - Touched


I-129 Processing:

6/13/07 - Mailed I-129F to Chicago
6/15/07 - I-129F package received at Chicago
6/18/07 - Check for $170 cleared
6/19/07 - Received NOA1 for I-129F
6/20/07 - Touched
6/25/07 - Touched
6/26/07 - Touched
7/9/07 - Received Transfer Notice indicating I-129F sent to NBC (Missouri)
7/12/07 - Touched
11/15/07 - Touched

2 days of consecutive touches are usually generated by the RFE trick call. But a touch on the I129F (especially if you did not give them that receipt number when you called) might indicate something more than the standard RFE trick touch. Good luck

waitingforwifey, any news on your approvals?

No approvals or touches since 11/15 My last call to CSC rep (using rfe trick) was on Nov 13 and since I was told that I should be hearing about a decision within 3 weeks, I will call them on Dec 4th. Hopefully I will have a decision before that. I used to check the case status several times a day but now I have stopped doing that. Just trying to practice patience.

I-130 Processing:

4/21/07 - Mailed I-130 to Texas Service Center
4/24/07 - Received by Texas Service Center
5/24/07 - Check for $190 cleared
5/24/07 - Touched
5/26/07 - Received NOA1 for I-130
7/2/07 - Touched
7/3/07 - Touched
7/6/07 - Touched
7/26/07 - Touched
11/14/07 - Touched
11/15/07 - Touched


I-129 Processing:

6/13/07 - Mailed I-129F to Chicago
6/15/07 - I-129F package received at Chicago
6/18/07 - Check for $170 cleared
6/19/07 - Received NOA1 for I-129F
6/20/07 - Touched
6/25/07 - Touched
6/26/07 - Touched
7/9/07 - Received Transfer Notice indicating I-129F sent to NBC (Missouri)
7/12/07 - Touched
11/15/07 - Touched

Keep your hopes up, Waitingforwifey Your approval will come and once you get past this step, it is much smoother sailing

You should hear from them in the next couple of weeks. It is not uncommon to be +/- 3/4 weeks from the average. Some officers are slower or are more backlogged. it will come.

waiting for an approval here too... so sad..