Major Problems with USCIS - anyone else?

[CaMic 0]

I haven't been on here in a while because, well, nothing has happened with our application. I'm beginning to feel we are jinxed.

Originally sent our K1 packet on 10thNovember, received at Vermont around 16th November. Returned for 'incomplete documents' around 20th December because fiance's divorce paper wasn't certified. Returned all that before Christmas, not sure when it was received though. Called USCIS helpline on 14th January and were told NOA1 was being sent out. Early February my fiance received someone else's NAO1 with the same exact name, except they were from Arizona. My fiance called USCIS and was told to return it, his had gone to the guy in Arizona and would be sent out again once it was received back. Then the bad weather happened. He called last week and was told our packet had never been returned and they were going to assign a new number if the packet was not received that day from the guy in Arizona. He called again Wednesday and was told our packet had been received at last and they were going to check it and assign a new number - and would put a rush on it, call back later. He called back on Thursday to get the case number and was told to call back later, same on Friday. So, from 10th November to 27th February we still have no NOA1 and have no idea if our application is progressing at all or if it's still at the bottom of the pile.

Anyone else had such problems? Any idea who we should complain to? We are about ready to give up and apply for a UK visa for my fiance instead.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

They returned the package just because of the divorce decree? They should have just sent out an RFE like they did for me..but I don't know. Sounds like the the VSC needs to pull their head out and get it right.

[CaMic 0]

no-one have any suggestions what we can do?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Under the circumstances I would get in touch with your Congressman or Senator and ask them to step in and find out 'what is going on' and see about getting your problems sorted out quickly. You have been very patient.

I know for one of the many documents I received from USCIS over the years, one time I had someone else's receipt stuck to mine. This person was out on the west coast. I debated about returning it to USCIS but in the end I just forwarded it directly to the person involved telling them I found it attached to mine.

You think they would take more care about attention to little details like that, wouldn't you? So, contact your Congressman or Senator and let their immigration staff work on your behalf.

Good luck.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Kathryn41

[CaMic 0]

wow, thanks. I didn't realise that congressmen/senators had people to deal with immigration stuff. I will tell my fiance to give it a try this week. If it had been me, I'd have forwarded the package to the other 'Joe Bloggs' and requested he do the same but my fiance sent it off before we spoke about it. Confuses me as to why they can't just give us a case number though so we can check if there is ANY progress in 3 & 1/2 months.

[K and L 27]

FWIW, the UK visa is a ton faster. I don't know if it's cheaper, but my friend and I started our visas at the same time (mine to bring L here, her to immigrate to the UK) and she moved to the UK before we even got our NOA2, and we had a *fast* NOA2. Though, she was from Aussie, so there may have been Commonwealth-related stuff to speed it up...

Edited March 1, 2010 by K and L

[Darnell 8,479]

FWIW, NOT HAVING an NOA-1 will not STOP the approval process at the service center.

and - yer casefile number (from the NOA-1 ) would have been on the RFE , as well.

The 'normal' wait time for the NOA-2 (approval notice) is between 5 to 6 months, if :

1. no RFE or

2. no AP .

Good Luck !

[Yoink 7]

patience, bad weather prob slowed things down... at least you know you have a NOA1

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

I haven't been on here in a while because, well, nothing has happened with our application. I'm beginning to feel we are jinxed.

Originally sent our K1 packet on 10thNovember, received at Vermont around 16th November. Returned for 'incomplete documents' around 20th December because fiance's divorce paper wasn't certified. Returned all that before Christmas, not sure when it was received though. Called USCIS helpline on 14th January and were told NOA1 was being sent out. Early February my fiance received someone else's NAO1 with the same exact name, except they were from Arizona. My fiance called USCIS and was told to return it, his had gone to the guy in Arizona and would be sent out again once it was received back. Then the bad weather happened. He called last week and was told our packet had never been returned and they were going to assign a new number if the packet was not received that day from the guy in Arizona. He called again Wednesday and was told our packet had been received at last and they were going to check it and assign a new number - and would put a rush on it, call back later. He called back on Thursday to get the case number and was told to call back later, same on Friday. So, from 10th November to 27th February we still have no NOA1 and have no idea if our application is progressing at all or if it's still at the bottom of the pile.

Anyone else had such problems? Any idea who we should complain to? We are about ready to give up and apply for a UK visa for my fiance instead.

The NOA1 is a completely useless document. It is a receipt. It says they have your case. You already know that. It gives you a case number. You already know that. What are you worried about? You will never again, andnever did, need that piece of paper and it has nothing to do with the processing of your case.

Of course you can go to your congressman, and they can probably get your fiancee mailed a copy of the NOA1 and then he can send you a copy of it...and then...what? You wait for the NOA2 just like anyone else. That will happen in 4-6 months in general terms, that is about average, sometimes sooner, but your "countdown" doesn;t start until you returned the properly completed I-129f. Be glad if they rejected the document and didn;t send an RFE, that goes faster than an RFE. Sounds to me like you got an RFE though from the timing you describe.

all you need to know is this...and nothing else

1. What date did the post office deliver the package with the correct divorce decree? You have this from your delivery confirmation information

2. when did they cash your check?

Consider the date your check was cashed the NOA1 date, you can get the case number off the back of the check. Your fiancees bank should show check images online and he can ask for a copy of the check if he wants at his bank.

Relax and get ready for the interview.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

The NOA1 is a completely useless document. It is a receipt. It says they have your case. You already know that. It gives you a case number. You already know that. What are you worried about? You will never again, andnever did, need that piece of paper and it has nothing to do with the processing of your case.

Of course you can go to your congressman, and they can probably get your fiancee mailed a copy of the NOA1 and then he can send you a copy of it...and then...what? You wait for the NOA2 just like anyone else. That will happen in 4-6 months in general terms, that is about average, sometimes sooner, but your "countdown" doesn;t start until you returned the properly completed I-129f. Be glad if they rejected the document and didn;t send an RFE, that goes faster than an RFE. Sounds to me like you got an RFE though from the timing you describe.

all you need to know is this...and nothing else

1. What date did the post office deliver the package with the correct divorce decree? You have this from your delivery confirmation information

2. when did they cash your check?

Consider the date your check was cashed the NOA1 date, you can get the case number off the back of the check. Your fiancees bank should show check images online and he can ask for a copy of the check if he wants at his bank.

Relax and get ready for the interview.

The issue is not the lack of the NOA. The issue is that it should have been forthcoming shortly after the holidays indicating case processing has begun. Instead the case has languished due to a mix-up of names of petitioners.

This is USCIS error and may qualify the petitioner for an expedite. Personally I would give them a couple of weeks to see if they expedite on their own (as they have verbally indicated). If not I would file my own request for expedite.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

The issue is not the lack of the NOA. The issue is that it should have been forthcoming shortly after the holidays indicating case processing has begun. Instead the case has languished due to a mix-up of names of petitioners.

This is USCIS error and may qualify the petitioner for an expedite. Personally I would give them a couple of weeks to see if they expedite on their own (as they have verbally indicated). If not I would file my own request for expedite.

The issuance of an NOA1 is not necessary to start processing on a case. USCIS is in error. It is not an error of consequence to the processing of the case. The OP is free to smash their heads against as many walls as they like, it simply isn't necessary.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

The issuance of an NOA1 is not necessary to start processing on a case. USCIS is in error. It is not an error of consequence to the processing of the case. The OP is free to smash their heads against as many walls as they like, it simply isn't necessary.

Why don't you ask your friend the VSC Director if an adjudicator is going to work on a case that is missing documents.

I think you know the answer to that question.

[CaMic 0]

So my fiance got in touch with his governor's office last week and we found out today from them that USCIS has lost our file. That's it. That and they'll issue a refund within 30 days. I'm completely gutted. In tears. We've lost some of the originals of our evidence of meeting along with the file (I couldn't access a photocopier n sent some original boarding cards etc). 4 months of waiting and that's it, lost, nothing they can or will do about it apparently. I dunno, I feel like the unluckiest person on the planet right now.

[TracyTN 237]

Honestly the fact that you're getting a refund is unheard of - in that sense, you're lucky.

Beyond that, I'd make a record of the refund by keeping any documentation they send you from here on out. For the documents you cannot recreate for your second petition, I'd state such in a letter referring to the lost petition and related documentation to that effect. You could document trips using passport stamps if either of you have those.

I would also find out if you can expedite the second filing. They don't do that often, but in the event it was their mistake, they have been known to.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5957423_file-visa-...te-request.html

[CaMic 0]

I would also find out if you can expedite the second filing. They don't do that often, but in the event it was their mistake, they have been known to.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5957423_file-visa-...te-request.html

Thanks for that, I'll take a look. Just don't know how much more I can take. This was our 2nd supposed application, the first one being an online scam that took us months to figure out - wasn't until I came on to VJ and started reading and I realised we hadn't been asked for half of the documents needed that the penny dropped. I've literally been waiting for this to happen for us for over 18 months so it's pretty devastating.