can't sleep til NOA2

[ecce 20]

Here I am at 2:30 in the morning, awake and wondering why USCIS is taking so long...as usual. This has started happening every night. Ever since the 5 month mark that I hit 3 weeks ago, I have literally been a different person. Sleeping is impossible. My stomach is in knots. I have made myself sick, literally. Sometimes during the days I manage to distract myself and get something done. But every night it's the same. I just lie awake wondering how many more days I can stand this uncertainty, and how unlucky it feels because I know it wasn't always like this. I may have to cancel my august wedding, which of course is my own fault, but I never imagined there would be such bad luck coming our way and no matter whose fault it is, it doesn't make it easier to sleep. If only we'd known it would take so long. We had other options. If only the adjudicator who has my case knew what he/she was putting me through.

How are other people managing to get through this??

[FawkThisSite 13]

Here I am at 2:30 in the morning, awake and wondering why USCIS is taking so long...as usual. This has started happening every night. Ever since the 5 month mark that I hit 3 weeks ago, I have literally been a different person. Sleeping is impossible. My stomach is in knots. I have made myself sick, literally. Sometimes during the days I manage to distract myself and get something done. But every night it's the same. I just lie awake wondering how many more days I can stand this uncertainty, and how unlucky it feels because I know it wasn't always like this. I may have to cancel my august wedding, which of course is my own fault, but I never imagined there would be such bad luck coming our way and no matter whose fault it is, it doesn't make it easier to sleep. If only we'd known it would take so long. We had other options. If only the adjudicator who has my case knew what he/she was putting me through.

How are other people managing to get through this??

I feel your pain. Today marks day 146 for me and my SO. I can't even imagine what I will feel like after March 5th. Completely let down, my hopes are so high right now, and I am waiting every second for my text message or e-mail. Every morning I pray that our letter is in my mailbox. Every time I get a text message from anyone I get so excited because I think it just may be the text I have been waiting for. I thought that MAYBE, just MAYBE I wouldn't even have to wait as long as I have now. As I get to the end of this 150 day wait, I am getting anxious, nervous, worried, and all of the above. Being that you are already three weeks past yours, I can only imagine how you are feeling right now. As you can see, I am awake as well. Ever since I started this process I haven't slept normally. My natural 8-9 hours of sleep a night has been cut down to 3-4, and I am definitely feeling the effects of it. It has caused unnecessary stress on both my SO and I. I try to keep my head up and stay strong, not only for my own well being, but to give hope to my SO. Stay strong! We are almost there, we HAVE to be.

On another note, have you contacted USCIS?

Edited March 1, 2011 by xlbLoOdlx

[KLS2010 30]

Here I am at 2:30 in the morning, awake and wondering why USCIS is taking so long...as usual. This has started happening every night. Ever since the 5 month mark that I hit 3 weeks ago, I have literally been a different person. Sleeping is impossible. My stomach is in knots. I have made myself sick, literally. Sometimes during the days I manage to distract myself and get something done. But every night it's the same. I just lie awake wondering how many more days I can stand this uncertainty, and how unlucky it feels because I know it wasn't always like this. I may have to cancel my august wedding, which of course is my own fault, but I never imagined there would be such bad luck coming our way and no matter whose fault it is, it doesn't make it easier to sleep. If only we'd known it would take so long. We had other options. If only the adjudicator who has my case knew what he/she was putting me through.

How are other people managing to get through this??

There isn't a whole lot you can do about it. Yes it sucks - believe me I know - I'm not enjoying the prospect of being apart from my husband for maybe another 6months. All you can do is hold on to the fact that everyday that goes by is one day closer to being with your loved one permanently. Having said this I'm not at the 5months+ mark yet as you are so I may be feeling the same as you when I get there.

Just stay strong ok...and know that there are so many people here on VJ that are going through the same thing as you. For me that is some consolation..to know that I am not alone in this. So keep your chin up, and try to remember the reason you are doing all this. The prize is definitely worth the fight!

Take care.

[krisca 0]

i feel you, i'm a happy person but this stupid petition changed me. in 16days will be 7 months for us. Despite the fact that they keep telling us we should get an action on our case by the end of Feb. still nothing. It's so frustrating. I hope we call get some strength to get over this hell of a petition. Why have a freakin' system and processing timeframes if they can't commit to it. What sucks is when they reply to our emails at the bottom there's always "we stay committed yaddi yaddi yadda!"

just hang in there, i pray we all get approved while we are still sane. . .goodluck to all of us

[ecce 20]

Thanks xlb. Trying trying trying to stay positive (or at least sane!) You can bet I have contacted USCIS - at 9 am on the day I hit 5 months. I also contacted my senator. I was blocked by the tier 1 monkeys for a few days at UCSIS, but was able to put in a service request 18 days ago. My senator's office called me the day after I put in the service request to say that they had called the VSC and that my case was assigned to an adjudicator, and that they had 30 days to take action. I gave the senator's office another nudge last Friday, cuz I was getting nervous with the gov shutdown looming and all, but they seemed annoyed at me and I'm not sure if they made any more calls. I've also emailed, but that seems useless.

Since it was assigned to an actual person, every day I think "Today's going to be the day!" and I startle every time my phone makes a noise, but every day I end up blue at the end...

Anyway, you hang in there too. Here's to hoping this process starts to move faster.

btw does anyone know why this list seems to imply that wait times are getting shorter when they're not? http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1historical

We're not on sept 16 and I am solidly past 164 days...

i feel you, i'm a happy person but this stupid petition changed me. in 16days will be 7 months for us. Despite the fact that they keep telling us we should get an action on our case by the end of Feb. still nothing. It's so frustrating. I hope we call get some strength to get over this hell of a petition. Why have a freakin' system and processing timeframes if they can't commit to it. What sucks is when they reply to our emails at the bottom there's always "we stay committed yaddi yaddi yadda!"

just hang in there, i pray we all get approved while we are still sane. . .goodluck to all of us

Thanks. Wow, almost 7 months. I am hoping for you too...

[fixed6373 0]

Frustrating indeed! We will hit our 5-month mark in 15 days but with a system like this I think we have to brace ourselves for more waiting. Our lives have been on hold due to this waiting game and the thing is you dont have an idea till when to wait but we are keeping it together cause we know its worth the wait.

[Blob18 111]

Here I am at 2:30 in the morning, awake and wondering why USCIS is taking so long...as usual. This has started happening every night. Ever since the 5 month mark that I hit 3 weeks ago, I have literally been a different person. Sleeping is impossible. My stomach is in knots. I have made myself sick, literally. Sometimes during the days I manage to distract myself and get something done. But every night it's the same. I just lie awake wondering how many more days I can stand this uncertainty, and how unlucky it feels because I know it wasn't always like this. I may have to cancel my august wedding, which of course is my own fault, but I never imagined there would be such bad luck coming our way and no matter whose fault it is, it doesn't make it easier to sleep. If only we'd known it would take so long. We had other options. If only the adjudicator who has my case knew what he/she was putting me through.

How are other people managing to get through this??

I know how you feel. Try your best to not worry about it, and don't stop calling USCIS or your Senator. If the person who answers you at the Senator's office sounds annoyed, ignore them, their job is to serve you the constituant. It seems like VSC is catching up...somewhat as they are starting September now, making October and some September filers wait between 5-6 months instead of 6-7 which was common up until a week or 2 ago.

Honestly, I just make myself busy to forget about it. If you are into games etc, try playing them often to take your mind off things. Or if you have a hobby or interest, try doing that more often if you can. On sleep, I know Tylenol has a sleeping aid pill that doesn't 'make' you sleep but helps relax you or something to that effect (I haven't had to take it....yet). So it isn't the same a sleeping pill.

Frankly, after looking at igors list and how random petitions are at being approved, I firmly believe that there are several lazy @$$ed workers up in Vermont who have not been doing their job. They probably have a stack of petitions on their desk and aren't going through them like their other co-workers. If that's the case they should be fired asap, cause I sure know many people who would gladly apply for that job (any job), no matter how 'boring or mundane' it is and do their best every day.

[dogspot 90]

For those who are tired of waiting: WRITE YOU CONGRESSMAN.

On the Thursday before our five month mark (five month mark was Sunday of a holiday weekend) I faxed over the necessary release form and an accompanying letter to my congressman explaining our situation. Within an hour I was contacted by phone by my congressman's aide. She asked me to send her an email with some additional information about filing date, notice date, etc. She also said she already placed the request to USCIS for some answers but informed me that we were still within the five month processing time (this aide really knows her stuff). Sunday and the holiday passed and at 6PM on Tuesday I received the sms I had been waiting for so impatiently for.

I mention this because, whether or not it was coincidence or not, writing the politician made me feel like I was doing something to help our case. Hearing a response from the aide that she was taking action made me feel even better, empowered, like I was able to do something positive to move our case along. Receiving the approval gives me faith that something I did...she did...we did made a difference.

After congratulating us for our approval, the aide informed us of the rest of the process (quick pass through NVC and on to consulate) and told me to contact her if we hit any snags the rest of the way. I have her email address and she is there to help us if needs be. That's a good feeling.

[jingo 38]

We havent been waiting long, but have been long distance for 4/5 months and the stress of all this visa stuff keeps me up at night too. Its so stressful. What distracts me is just being busy with school, listening to music, and my sisters. Having your significant other reduced to a little skype box is really difficult too.