USCIS does NOT send NOA1 responses to foreign addresses

[scandal 951]

Hey, I just wanted to share my experience with others since I haven't seen this mentioned previously (FAQs, related posts).

I currently live overseas (in Israel) and will be relocating shortly back to the US prior to my fiancee's arrival there. She lives in Thailand.

As far as I can tell there is absolutely NO restriction on US citizens not currently residing in the US to file for K1 fiancee visas. Obviously by the time the visa is approved and she can travel, I would need to be resident in the US to marry her and file AOS.

I filed I-129F for my fiance (K1) on Sept 5. My check was cashed 6 days later on Sept 11 (my Receipt number is NOT shown on the back of my check, by the way).

On the I-129F I provided my Israeli mailing address in Part A "Information about you".

In Part B Item 14 I provided the US address in Chicago where we will live after I relocate back there.

As of Oct 7 I had not received the NOA1 at the Israeli address where I expected it. I called them and they were able to provide me with my receipt number over the phone.

Also, she told me that USCIS DOES NOT mail to non-US addresses. (Then why do they ask for info like 'State or Country', clearly anticipating foreign addresses!!??) They had apparently sent the notice to the Chicago address I listed in Item 14.

Since my name is not yet on the mailbox there (it's a rented apartment), the Post office returned it to sender.

After I logged onto USCIS website with my case number I saw the following notice:

Receipt Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Application Type: I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: DOCUMENT OTHER THAN CARD OR TRAVEL DOCUMENT BEING HELD FOR 180 DAYS SINCE RETURNED AS UNDELIVERABLE

On October 1, 2008, the post office returned your document I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E) as undeliverable. We will hold it for 180 days from October 1, 2008 to allow you time to contact us. If you do not contact us at 1-800-375-5283 within 180 days, this document will be destroyed and you will need to file a new application or application for replacement with fee.

In short- if you are filing I-129F and you don't live in the US, MAKE SURE you provide a valid US address where your mail will be delivered!!!

I'm not even sure what the status of my application is right now. Is it in queue dating back to September when I filed and they cashed the check? Or was it in limbo till I called them 3 days ago and now reactivated? Or is it still in limbo now??

I plan to call them again to find out......

[payxibka 10,048]

That has been the standard advice given on this board for quite sometime... Your experience is yet another confirmation....

Regardless of the que date answer... you need to get on it ASAP... Most likely the file is in suspense and will return to the que once it resumes normal processing