How to Shake Your NOA2 Loose from the CSC

[rebeccajo 14]

The information provided, the relief conferred merely as a result of our FINALLY having reached someone sympathetic and supportive, and the mood that we project as we convey the information and relief to others can go a long way in maintaining romances during the infernal NOA2 marathon. Si, man.

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't get the correlation to knowing what's going on with your case to maintaining a romance. If your SO is going to ####### out on you or get ticked off because of a delay that you, the USC, cannot control - well then, what's up with that?

[rupa 2]

Just for my own edification, can you tell me tomorrow if you got a touch from this? Some people report their cases were touched when they called, and some people report no touch. I'm operating under the theory that when you call the National customer service center, no touch is generated. But when you call the actual service center, a touch is always generated.

Hi Mox,

no touches. I'm pretty sure we just missed their office closing and got kicked through to the national customer service. We will try calling again in a few weeks and give another update when we do.

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Just for my own edification, can you tell me tomorrow if you got a touch from this?

We called the other night and got 'touched'

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

I'll bet you spoke with the service center, and not the national call center, right?

Got it in uno!!!!

[LuciansGirl 0]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is where the idea that sometimes a call generates a touch and sometimes it doesn't comes from. The national call center doesn't generate a touch, the service center does.

I'm just a regular Sherlock Holmes, dontchaknow!

Mox....a bona fide mixologist/sleuth extraordainare!! LOL

[bakofoil 27]

They are not processing petitions in the order they are received. People who filed the same day I got my NOA2 are being approved. If that's the marker then it will get really silly. You are asking people to use it reasonably but if I had filed mid-January you can bet I would be wanting my NOA2 now too. Would I use the RFE trick? No, because I've been around here long enough to know the system is unfair and based on a fair amount of luck. I don't begrudge the lucky ones at all, I envy them and wish I had been them. But, I fail to see how calling the RFE line will help change the system. It's not like they feel compelled to make their customers happy.

You would?

I don't know whether that's a rhetorical question or not. Smileys confuse things sometimes. So apologies if you meant 'that's a no brainer' or somepin.

The point I was trying to make, if it was in fact confused, was that people are currently reporting between 7 to 28 days between filing and NOA2 without any expedite circumstances. If people start expecting this to be the 'norm' and start badgering USCIS for touches and ultimately approvals then it's gonna get silly.

But I have also seen people here who, once their cases got to the consulate, called the Dept Of State EVERY SINGLE DAY for an update. I honestly do not understand that logic, I'm sorry. The best part was those of us who questioned that logic were called out as insensitive and that we weren't as concerned about our cases as those who called every day were. :lol: That had to be one of my most frustrated moments here on VJ. And I'm not sad to say that the main culprit in all of that (and proponent of the 'badger them once daily' routine) is no longer here.

Yes, we all want to know what is going on with our cases - but isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? That doesn't apply in this situation, obviously, but I make this point to show you how far this can go down the wormhole. Everything in moderation. Hopefully most folks will remember that.

I agree with this completely. I actually think it can drive you insane calling up that frequently. I know checking the case update online thing drove me bonkers at one point.

[TracyTN 237]

I don't know whether that's a rhetorical question or not. Smileys confuse things sometimes. So apologies if you meant 'that's a no brainer' or somepin.

The point I was trying to make, if it was in fact confused, was that people are currently reporting between 7 to 28 days between filing and NOA2 without any expedite circumstances. If people start expecting this to be the 'norm' and start badgering USCIS for touches and ultimately approvals then it's gonna get silly.

That wasn't rhetorical - I was VERY surprised to see that. When I look at the processing times on this site, the shortest time I saw was 102 days. So it seemed WAY premature to me for a January filer to already be expecting NOA2. Even if there are several being processed at that clip, I would still not call if I were in that position. Mainly because it'd be rare for ALL cases to experience the same thing.

Are these 'quickies' mainly through one service center, or is it happening at both?

Edited February 27, 2008 by TracyTN

[BlakeandOlha 0]

I don't know whether that's a rhetorical question or not. Smileys confuse things sometimes. So apologies if you meant 'that's a no brainer' or somepin.

The point I was trying to make, if it was in fact confused, was that people are currently reporting between 7 to 28 days between filing and NOA2 without any expedite circumstances. If people start expecting this to be the 'norm' and start badgering USCIS for touches and ultimately approvals then it's gonna get silly.

That wasn't rhetorical - I was VERY surprised to see that. When I look at the processing times on this site, the shortest time I saw was 102 days. So it seemed WAY premature to me for a January filer to already be expecting NOA2. Even if there are several being processed at that clip, I would still not call if I were in that position. Mainly because it'd be rare for ALL cases to experience the same thing.

Are these 'quickies' mainly through one service center, or is it happening at both?

These quickies are happening through VSC - of course - and there's only been a couple. One was a Jan 3 Noa1, I'm not sure of the other. Of course the approval caused a great deal of excitment for the VCS side of the January filing community - I'm a CSC guy, so I know there are no quick approvals in my future. The only thing that can happen to me is that I'll be pleasantly suprised. Unrealistic expectations create emotional rollercoasters ya know. Remember the Stockdale Principle.

[TracyTN 237]

LOL Thanks for clearing that up, BlakeandOhla. Our case went through CSC in 128 days when the VSCers were experiencing 3 week turnarounds as the norm. Sickening!!!

I figured the VSC would slow down some after the new filing rules -- more cases coming in = more time to adjudicate. If there have only been a few quick ones, then I wouldn't think a call using Tbone's suggestions would be warranted for a January filer.

FWIF, if the quick ones had beneficiaries from Cuba, then I'd completely write them off. They are routinely fast through the service center (because they are SLOW at the consulate).

*edited for clarity*

Edited February 27, 2008 by TracyTN

[BlakeandOlha 0]

LOL Thanks for clearing that up, BlakeandOhla. Our case went through CSC in 128 days when the VSCers were experiencing 3 week turnarounds as the norm. Sickening!!!

I figured the VSC would slow down some after the new filing rules -- more cases coming in = more time to adjudicate. If there have only been a few quick ones, then I wouldn't think a call using Tbone's suggestions would be warranted for a January filer.

FWIF, if the quick ones had beneficiaries from Cuba, then I'd completely write them off. They are routinely fast through the service center (because they are SLOW at the consulate).

*edited for clarity*

I like Tbone's approach, if only for the thought that "It's doing something other than sitting around waiting" that can drive us to distraction. There's no way I would call before the end of May, however, it'd just be a waste of my time and the good folks over at CSC - who have better things to focus on like clearing up actual RFE's so those files can be adjudicated (which moves me closer to my goal, after all).

[TracyTN 237]

I like Tbone's approach, if only for the thought that "It's doing something other than sitting around waiting" that can drive us to distraction. There's no way I would call before the end of May, however, it'd just be a waste of my time and the good folks over at CSC - who have better things to focus on like clearing up actual RFE's so those files can be adjudicated (which moves me closer to my goal, after all).

[bakofoil 27]

I don't know whether that's a rhetorical question or not. Smileys confuse things sometimes. So apologies if you meant 'that's a no brainer' or somepin.

The point I was trying to make, if it was in fact confused, was that people are currently reporting between 7 to 28 days between filing and NOA2 without any expedite circumstances. If people start expecting this to be the 'norm' and start badgering USCIS for touches and ultimately approvals then it's gonna get silly.

That wasn't rhetorical - I was VERY surprised to see that. When I look at the processing times on this site, the shortest time I saw was 102 days. So it seemed WAY premature to me for a January filer to already be expecting NOA2. Even if there are several being processed at that clip, I would still not call if I were in that position. Mainly because it'd be rare for ALL cases to experience the same thing.

Are these 'quickies' mainly through one service center, or is it happening at both?

Since the 22nd February, so less than a week, there have been 7 (not a 'couple')january filer approvals reported through VJ. All through VSC and with no expedite circumstances. In my experience (albeit only over the past six months) this is an unprecedented amount of quick approvals given that usually only Cuban or military expedites are seen so quickly.

My point was actually the same as yours, that I wouldn't be calling if I were in that position because I know this to be unusual. When I raised this point originally it was actually in reference to the idea that it was ok to call if you were seeing a number of approvals around your date. Who defines what this 'number' should be. On VJ 7 approvals in 5 days has been significant, therefore one might assume that January filers, unaware of the plight of some July and August filers might think that it is ok to use the RFE line.

So, what if they do? Well, each to their own but the context of my original post was in reference to the comments made by a July filer stuck in AP who finds it difficult to see people expecting their own approvals so soon in the game. I empathise with her, that's all.

[bakofoil 27]

I like Tbone's approach, if only for the thought that "It's doing something other than sitting around waiting" that can drive us to distraction. There's no way I would call before the end of May, however, it'd just be a waste of my time and the good folks over at CSC - who have better things to focus on like clearing up actual RFE's so those files can be adjudicated (which moves me closer to my goal, after all).

Totally agree with that.

LOL Thanks for clearing that up, BlakeandOhla. Our case went through CSC in 128 days when the VSCers were experiencing 3 week turnarounds as the norm. Sickening!!!

I figured the VSC would slow down some after the new filing rules -- more cases coming in = more time to adjudicate. If there have only been a few quick ones, then I wouldn't think a call using Tbone's suggestions would be warranted for a January filer.

FWIF, if the quick ones had beneficiaries from Cuba, then I'd completely write them off. They are routinely fast through the service center (because they are SLOW at the consulate).

*edited for clarity*

yep, Cuban approvals would not be counted in this instance, nor military expedites. These are 'normal' petitions. But time will tell whether it is the 'norm' at VSC. This is, after all, only the last 5 days.

[TracyTN 237]

Since the 22nd February, so less than a week, there have been 7 (not a 'couple')january filer approvals reported through VJ. All through VSC and with no expedite circumstances. In my experience (albeit only over the past six months) this is an unprecedented amount of quick approvals given that usually only Cuban or military expedites are seen so quickly.

My point was actually the same as yours, that I wouldn't be calling if I were in that position because I know this to be unusual. When I raised this point originally it was actually in reference to the idea that it was ok to call if you were seeing a number of approvals around your date. Who defines what this 'number' should be. On VJ 7 approvals in 5 days has been significant, therefore one might assume that January filers, unaware of the plight of some July and August filers might think that it is ok to use the RFE line.

So, what if they do? Well, each to their own but the context of my original post was in reference to the comments made by a July filer stuck in AP who finds it difficult to see people expecting their own approvals so soon in the game. I empathise with her, that's all.

I understand now - I missed that point in your previous post.

I DO hope that VSC is picking up speed again - but if these turn out to be exceptions rather than rules, well, I guess only time will tell that for sure.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

I DO hope that VSC is picking up speed again - but if these turn out to be exceptions rather than rules, well, I guess only time will tell that for sure.

Your right, time will tell. Babbles, sorry I hadn't checked the VSC approvals for a couple of days. I'm not sure what's going on at VSC, there's still 94 VSC filers from 2007 still waiting for approval going all the way back to August. Those are the people who are probably spitting nails right now. Now they should probably be calling!!