People seem to be getting them pretty quickly but I have no idea about the wait

I think that the box is not truly lost but USPS & Fedex are unable to determine where exactly it is even thought it might be safely on its way.

In my case I was unwilling use USPS and luckily some relatives were flying to Mumbai in December'07 and I sent the package with them.

I would give it another week before starting to assemble another packet. You will have to include a written & signed statement stating that certain irreplaceable originals were lost during shipment and include your USPS receipt to back up that claim. I beleive apart from your boading passes & receipts, all others docs like employment letter, bank letter can be replaced.

This has been a hard process for all of us and these setbacks only add to the misery. But take heart, you are almost there.

We are approved!!!!!!! We got an email from CRIS today, our approval notice has been sent!!! Go VSC!

I actually thought I'd never see the day...

Now the next chapter of the journey...

Yay!!!

You shouldnt need originals of any of that stuff, other than the notarized and signed I-134. The boarding passes and W-2's, paystubs, all that can be copies. It will cost an arm and a leg, but go to UPS or Fedex directly and have it sent with a tracking number. It is what I did, and the extra money is worth it for my peace of mind.

CONGRATS!!!! Seeing approvals always give me hope coz it means they are indeed working

I wonder if it would have made a difference if you sent it directly via FEDEX without passing through USPS... USPS is good if within the US soil but once it leaves US you really don't know how sucked up postal services are in other countries (like the Philippines-- our postal service here is just... SIGH).

When would the transfer from USPS to FEDEX supposedly occur.. still within the US or when the mail get's to your SO's country? If the transfer would happen when the mail gets to your SO's country, well.. i'll just hope they are not like the postal service here coz here they would let it sit in their mail room for a couple of weeks first before sending it out (in your case, transferring it)

I'll pray you get good news soonest.

Thank you! Just keep having faith... it'll happen when you least expect it!

This scares the sh!t out of me. Just sent all of my documents to Sasha for the interview, using DHL. It seems to be the preferred method for Russia, as the postal system there is about as useless as a puppy with an Ipod. 106 dollars to send a less-than-one-pound package. Good luck to Franseth. It still may turn up. Dont give up.

Thank you guys for your support. Since I made copies of everything I now have what I need to get again. I am going to give it the week before I try to send again. I'll keep you posted!

hi, i dont know where u sent them to in india but when i sent some documents to perviz i did it thru ups........it got to india in three days but from that point on it was a nightmare.........took about twenty days to reach kashmir and it was off the scope after reaching dehli .......... they had no idea where it was because after reaching dehli they contract it out it is not even ups that handles it after that point........i was promised here in the usa it was all ups all the way ...... i do not know if fedx or dhl do the same or not all i can offer u for comfort is keep beating up the usa side of it until someone finds it...when it is time to send the documents for his interview......if we are ever get our NOA 2 we have decided that one of us will hand deliver them its just to much of a chance of it happening again......oh yes and we had paid for the express delivery.....just about one hundred dollars.......we are praying that they reach were they are suppose to go and all goes smooth for u

Hi All,
Happy Wednesday...

Sorry, i posted this in another forum, but i'm still waiting on responses.... And since we are talking about mail...

For those of you that have already received your consular packets (3 or 4),
how does the consulate send them out? Do they use just regular local mail? Or do they use a trackable carrier?

Also, what if they come and no one is there to sign for the packet?

Thanks!
hz

We got a letter in the regular mail to go to the embassy and pick up the packets. But I think each embassy is different.

Dont worry about it Jason, as I recall Sasha lives in Moscow, and DHL works very good in Moscow. I use UPS to ship to Sochi, because they have a hub in Sochi, so UPS handles it all the way. DHL is the same in Moscow. It will be with them the whole time, so I dont think you will have any problems. Plus, you should have a tracking number so you can keep tabs on it the whole way. Thats what I do. By the way, UPS was $138 to ship to Sochi.

Hello. Yes, it seems like different.
In Japan, I got a thin regular mail that includes DS230 and some forms for medical exam. Postal system here is reliable, so they use the easiest way, I think.

K

Are no approvals yet? i hope we could see approvals from filers of any month soon! Seeing approvals is like vitamins to those who are waiting.. it gives hope that somehow, uscis are really working and are getting to our papers soon.

Thanks everyone...
Hope they don't use regular mail in Morocco.

I saw a DHL package online headed to Casablanca earlier in the week, and was so excited because I wished it to be mine! But then I called DOS and they said nothing's been shipped yet...

So much for me counting my chicks before they've hatched,
hz

Hi all!

FYI, I haven't had time to tweak the program, so even though I'm doing the sorting by the sent date, I still do the timeline search based on NOA1 date. This just means that if you haven't entered your NOA1 date, then you won't be listed here yet.

Good news on the box front! I got an email today telling me they had tried to deliver the box but had to leave a notice... at my house! My local post office has no clue what went wrong.

Needless to say I rushed to pick up the box. It looked like an elephant had been using it as a stool. I repacked everything and drove it over an hour away directly to Fed Ex (bypassing USPS). I wasn't able to find a DHL center that would take international packages (I live in the boonies of PA) and UPS and I are not on friendly terms due to them incorrectly shipping a box to India as a commercial package and my fiance had to pay over $100 to get the box out of customs. Fed Ex was great today. The told me that it is not the first time they have heard about the transfer from the post office to Fed Ex not being smooth.

I've been checking tracking like a mad dog and the box is already on a plane.

Thank you for all your support, advice and prayers!



PS. Happy Valentine's Day! Next year this day will be extra sweet for all of us!

Hello everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS LORA!!! ...and all others approved this month! I didn't check the site for almost a month and the first thing I did when I logged on from home was to see if you and all others who have been waiting had any good news. It made my heart leap to see that finally so many of you are on your way to starting your new lives with your love! Congratulations. I know there are a few of you left waiting... I wish I had words but there are simply none left. I do pray this ridiculous process is a distant memory for all of you very soon.

I'm just back from three glorious weeks with my love in NZ! Such a long, expensive trip but the memories...not to mention holding on to my sanity... are so worth it. My mother joined me on this trip so that she could meet Russ's family...and we learned that they will be flying here for our wedding! We will file on April 11th (the very day I have my divorce decree) and were contemplating another trip in May/June but by the looks of the VSC we could be approved in as little as 3 months now and the NZ consulate is good at cranking out those packets and expediting the interviews so we may just save the money. R/T tickets to NZ are $2,000+ depending on the season, not to mention the 20+ hours of flying and arrangments for my children... so it's a big decision. Any of you statistical junkies have an opinion on this?? Looking back in time (before the influx of petitions) being approved in just a couple of months was common. Do you all think that trend is going to continue now that it seems they're finally catching up? I'm just really interested in the opinions of the experts here at vj.

Anyway...congratulations again to all of you!

Thanks so much Kim........We are waiting now for the packets and interview date.....I am so glad you had a great trip.....I also was in Peru for the first time since the June filing in January...only for 6 days but we really needed it......I think the way they are approving October filers now it is a pretty good bet they will get yours done much quicker then the group that filed in May/June last year.......I feel so upset about Virgil and Ric's wait.....there is absolutely no excuse for this that VSC could possible come up with that would be good enough for this ineptiness....It is so unfair to them....I can only hope this wait has made there life afterwards with there SO's that much better and appreciated....I know that is how Oscar and I are feeling about it now....but unless you have experienced that rollercoaster ride there is no way to understand how bad it really is.......anyway.....glad you are back.....this thread has been pretty dead for a while now........Hope for your input........good luck......Lora

HAPPY VALENTINE'S dAY TO ALL..........EVEN IF YOU CAN NOT TOUCH YOUR LOVE.........FEEL THE LOVE YOU SHARE IN YOUR HEART, SOUL ANd MINd


BLESSINGS TO ALL FOR QUICK HAPPY REUNIONS WITH HAPPY LIVES IN THE FUTURE...........LORA and OSCAR

Thanks for your reply, Lora. I'm so glad you got to spend some time in Peru with your love. It certainly does help us keep things in perspective! Things should go fast for you now...and before you know it he will be in your arms for good!

I suppose the fact that this thread is 'dying' is good news really. Perhaps i'll post my question in a new thread. I realize nobody can offer a definitive answer and that there are others waiting longer than 4 months still but if the progress in the past couple months is any indication we can be approved a lot sooner than we thought. Funny how just knowing that helps keep my head above water.

I too feel for those left. There is no excuse for it.

Do keep in touch! I know you'll be sick of coming here once Oscar is home with you but I look forward to the day I can share my elation with you! ....May sounds good!

This should be the last Valentine's Day all of us spend without our loved ones. I cant wait to spend all of the future holidays with my lovely Sasha. Good luck everyone.

I said the same thing to my sweetie last night!

Just an update from us....our packet went through the NVC center within a week and was sent out on the 13th...YEAH...
but when I was talking to the guy at the NVC center he said....yes, it was sent to Mntreal on the 13th....WHAT>>>
my fiancee is in VANCOUVER...it was suppposed to be sent there.....CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS!!!!!!

I ask him what I should do....he said he did not know!
GREAT...now what????????

I called and had fiancee call VanCouver embassy and tell them the issue and the guy said "call back in a couple of days
and I will see what I can do"

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE....

VIRGIL AND RIC....WHERE ARE YOU AND HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING YET???????

My case hasn't been touched since the 5th, and it seems everyone on the January thread is getting touched daily...should I be worried?

Ummm.....you only filed 19 days ago. I think you shouldn't worry until 4-5 months pass without hearing anything. You have to be patient. There are still vermont filers waiting from June (maybe even May!) Try to relax. Its gonna be difficult but you'll make it. I wouldnt expect to hear any news on your case until at least April. I'm sure you'll be fine..........

Nope. Not a thing. Maybe next week. *sigh*

I thought after that touch on the third it would have been soon...I do hope it is next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe there are still some May filers waiting... Unbeleivable. Unacceptable.

It's nice seeing the process moving faster now with people getting their NOA2's in 2-4 months but it's unfathomable to know that there are still others who have been waiting so much longer. It's just criminal and something should be done.

Yes, you should be worried that you do not have enough patience to survive this process.

Do not worry about being touched. Most meaningful touches are registered very late in the process either just prior to approval or when a RFE is issued. In addition, some petitions are approved without a touch ever being recorded.

Chances are that you have a while to wait yet before anyone looks at your petition. In the meantime, try to relax. When you start seeing people getting approved who filed at VSC the same time that you did you can begin to watch things more closely.

Follow the huskerkiev link in my signature to learn more about the process.

Not as impatient as I am perplexed...does a lot of touches mean a possible RFE maybe? I guess if this process was a little more transparent, the waiting would be a little easier...

I also agree, May filers still waiting is unacceptable...I firmly believe that everyone should be processed in the order in which they were received...I'm praying for all of you!

Thank you trinner, it certainly is helpful...and hopeful...to have the stats!

Looks like your turn is right around the corner! Much luck to you!

I think you may have magic powers... RIGHT after I read this message from you, I went to check the USCIS website (like I do a bazillion times a week)... and OMG OMG OMG it showed a touch on 2/17!! (The first update I've seen since sending it in.)

I'm hoping that this means that my approval is coming in the next few days...

It has been over 5 months since I've held my love... this process is cruel.

FASTER journey to us all...

Hmmm ... we got a touch, too on 2/17. Since this was a Sunday, and I didn't receive an e-mail about this touch, I assume this was just a computer thing.

Was anyone else's case touched yesterday ?

Regards,
Daniel

You will not receive an email about a touch and touches are not a computer thing. You get touches when somebody had touched your application, either just moved it from one desk to the other or worked on it. You will receive an email when they make a decision but some people dont even receive an email about a decision, they might just send you a mail.

Good luck

trinner...i'm not superstitious BUT i'm replying again with the hopes that it brings you more luck! I can't even file until April so i'm living vicariously through all of you until then!

I don't want to get your hopes up (although what more do we have than hope?) but the more recent approvals all seemed to have been touched (scanned) right before their NOA2's. I wish the same for you and everyone else who has been waiting!