January 2012 I-130 filers?

[twocastles 26]

I am starting to get suspicious, could there be a conspiracy against certain applicants? Could they be reading these forums, and punishing the most vocal ones?

I'm usually up for a good conspiracy theory, but I don't think that is the case here. While I have been vocal on VJ, I didn't join until May 22, 17 days after my 5 month mark, and I am still waiting. So for whatever reason they are taking their sweet a** time with my petition, but I am pretty sure it's not for being vocal here.

I received my response for a service request on May 8, saying I should get something within 60 days. Today is day 38 out of 60. The response to my Congressman on June 13 was virtually the same, saying I should hear something "very soon".

193 Days so far without NOA2 at 4:02pm EST today. What frustrates me is that (using VJ timelines) 28% of December is still waiting, including myself. Yet January is 64% complete and February is 44% complete. Why does THAT happen? Those are answers I'd like to get. I could see some overlap due to DCF's, expedites, RFE's or just no two case processors are the same, and therefore work at varying speeds. But there is a large discrepancy. Out of all the completions filed after me (Dec. 5) at the VSC until March, 2012:

The longest wait time was - 157 Days

The shortest wait time was - 57 Days

The average wait time was - 113 Days

The median wait time was - 126 Days

I am currently at 193 days and counting.

I'm a pretty simple case...Natural born US citizen. No criminal record. Good income. Own my house. Nothing to hide.

She has no criminal record. Owns her condo. Worked for 23 years for 1 company, and 8 months at another before resigning when we got married.

There are others with very similar situations as us that are waiting even longer, and one of the most frustrating things is the lack of transparency. I am luckier than many in that my wife just came here on Sunday on a tourist visa. So she is with me, tentatively until August 12. Maybe she leaves earlier, maybe later. Anyhow, for me it's now principle...I just need to know WHY. I'll probably never find out and drive myself crazy if I dwell on it too long. To me, this is the biggest problem of the process.

[tamerlane 1]

I'm usually up for a good conspiracy theory, but I don't think that is the case here. While I have been vocal on VJ, I didn't join until May 22, 17 days after my 5 month mark, and I am still waiting. So for whatever reason they are taking their sweet a** time with my petition, but I am pretty sure it's not for being vocal here.

I received my response for a service request on May 8, saying I should get something within 60 days. Today is day 38 out of 60. The response to my Congressman on June 13 was virtually the same, saying I should hear something "very soon".

193 Days so far without NOA2 at 4:02pm EST today. What frustrates me is that (using VJ timelines) 28% of December is still waiting, including myself. Yet January is 64% complete and February is 44% complete. Why does THAT happen? Those are answers I'd like to get. I could see some overlap due to DCF's, expedites, RFE's or just no two case processors are the same, and therefore work at varying speeds. But there is a large discrepancy. Out of all the completions filed after me (Dec. 5) at the VSC until March, 2012:

The longest wait time was - 157 Days

The shortest wait time was - 57 Days

The average wait time was - 113 Days

The median wait time was - 126 Days

I am currently at 193 days and counting.

I'm a pretty simple case...Natural born US citizen. No criminal record. Good income. Own my house. Nothing to hide.

She has no criminal record. Owns her condo. Worked for 23 years for 1 company, and 8 months at another before resigning when we got married.

There are others with very similar situations as us that are waiting even longer, and one of the most frustrating things is the lack of transparency. I am luckier than many in that my wife just came here on Sunday on a tourist visa. So she is with me, tentatively until August 12. Maybe she leaves earlier, maybe later. Anyhow, for me it's now principle...I just need to know WHY. I'll probably never find out and drive myself crazy if I dwell on it too long. To me, this is the biggest problem of the process.

I thought spouses can't come to the USA on tourist visas, only until the process is complete. Did the immigration officer at the checkpoint not give her a hard time for it? I wanted to do this too!

[twocastles 26]

I thought spouses can't come to the USA on tourist visas, only until the process is complete. Did the immigration officer at the checkpoint not give her a hard time for it? I wanted to do this too!

There is no law saying they can't. The tourist visa is a legal document allowing her to visit the US. It gets 'sticky' because of "intent". The decision is made at the Point of Entry by the agent. It's a gamble, and can be an expensive gamble for many. We decided to take it. She came through Puerto Rico, and the agent gave her no problems.

He asked her why she was going to the States? She answered "to visit my husband."

He asked if she had an immigration case started? (Which I am certain he knew she did). She answered honestly and said "Yes."

He said something like "be careful not to stay longer than the expiration on the visa, or that will put your immigration application in jeopardy."

No hassle. But the problem is, it is subjective to each agent. And what was explained to me was that the agent could easily have said, it is not her "intent" to come to the US on a non-immigrant visa (the B1/B2), since we have an immigrant visa in process. That didn't happen.

She may get asked about it at the interview, but she is allowed to stay six months, and her return ticket is for only 2 months. So that shouldn't be an issue at all, and I'll have her bring all sort of documentation showing what we did during her stay.

If you decide to take the gamble, be sure your significant other answers HONESTLY and brings evidence that they will return home. Examples: Housing contract, Vehicle ownership, letter from employer, anything that states that they something back home to go back to.

I told my wife to bring lots of evidence that she would return, as well as reasons that she was visiting as a tourist, not just as my wife.

Here in Buffalo / Niagara Falls, we have the high wire daredevil, Nik Wallenda, attempting to walk across Niagara Falls tonight.

I sent her copy of her Jimmy Buffet ticket for a concert in Pittsburgh.

Links to print out for Finger Lakes wine tours. The Friendship Festival in July between Canada and US at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo / Ft. Erie.

I sent her other summer festivals in the area to print out that were significant in uniqueness or size also. Ultimately, she did not need any of it (except her return ticket). But I say better to be over prepared.

[benuk 18]

Congrats, so did I, on the same day

The feeling is just amazing!! :dance: :dance: Now waiting for NVC assign my case!!

[jaycali 415]

I thought spouses can't come to the USA on tourist visas, only until the process is complete. Did the immigration officer at the checkpoint not give her a hard time for it? I wanted to do this too!

Like twocastles said, there is no law against it.

If your wife already has a visa, it'll be a lot easier. Getting a visa while an immigrant petition is pending is much more difficult.

Twocastles: I'm not sure that they know about the pending petitions. I entered a few times on the VWP since my wife filed and they never seemed to ask about it. Second time I entered, the CBP officer actually never asked who I was visiting, just how long I was staying.

Edited June 16, 2012 by jaejayC

[AdRyan 0]

The feeling is just amazing!! :dance: :dance: Now waiting for NVC assign my case!!

I know, best feeling in the world, such a relief to be done with this part...hopefully NVC will be much faster. I called on Friday but nothing yet, gonna call again Monday. good luck, let me know when u get your case number.

[tamerlane 1]

Is anyone still waiting on NOA2? My NOA1 was on January 30, 2012.

[PleaseDeleteAcct 7]

Yup, still waiting... Jan 12th.

In other news, my husband is coming to visit tomorrow for 2 weeks (well, hopefully lol, ive read some horror stories!!). We realllllyyyy need this after all the ####### that's been going on with us, the visa, work, health stuff, etc.

I hope that finally seeing him can at least ease some of it

And maybe for those 2 weeks I won't be sitting around wondering why we still havent gotten our NOA2 yet...

LOL, well.. i did say MAYBE haha

Good luck Tamerlane and the rest of the Jan filers who are waiting with us!!

[tamerlane 1]

Have you tried calling your Congressman?

[PleaseDeleteAcct 7]

Have you tried calling your Congressman?

Contacted Senators office, they took all the information and then told me that I have to wait another 30 before doing anything... that was about 10 days ago or so, tomorrow I'm going to contact congressman with same information and see if that does us any good. I just dont want to do anything before tonight, can't afford to ruffle any feathers before my husband lands and gets through border patrol and all that. Once he's here with me for 2 weeks we can try to make some calls and see what we can do to find out what the heck is going on at VSC and why they think it is ok to completely neglect Jan and approve half of the Feb cases and some March cases already, ughh.

I just keep hoping, praying and crossing my fingers. there seems to be nothing else anyone is able to do for us right now.

[Egypts Girl 9]

Contacted Senators office, they took all the information and then told me that I have to wait another 30 before doing anything... that was about 10 days ago or so, tomorrow I'm going to contact congressman with same information and see if that does us any good. I just dont want to do anything before tonight, can't afford to ruffle any feathers before my husband lands and gets through border patrol and all that. Once he's here with me for 2 weeks we can try to make some calls and see what we can do to find out what the heck is going on at VSC and why they think it is ok to completely neglect Jan and approve half of the Feb cases and some March cases already, ughh.

I just keep hoping, praying and crossing my fingers. there seems to be nothing else anyone is able to do for us right now.

Im still waiting too......

[JLDNNYC 2]

Same here, still waiting, received NOA1 January 4th, and all we keep hearing is we should be hearing something soon. Well, how soon is soon? For the longest time I was being very patient but now I am really starting to wonder what's going on. Anyhow, hope we all get to hear some good news soon:)

[Egypts Girl 9]

Same here, still waiting, received NOA1 January 4th, and all we keep hearing is we should be hearing something soon. Well, how soon is soon? For the longest time I was being very patient but now I am really starting to wonder what's going on. Anyhow, hope we all get to hear some good news soon:)

What gets me is the Feb and March filers already being approved! What happened to the left over January filers? ughhhh

[troutcat 41]

I have a feeling that "no news is good news" is NOT true in this situation. haha

How is everyone, any more news?

I hope our time is coming soon...

Does anyone have any fun/new ideas of passing this time??

I hate spending so much time away from my husband... since we first met we've never been apart more than 8 weeks or so and right now we are at a little more than 14 weeks. It's crazy how much I miss him (as I'm sure everyone here knows the feeling!!).

We're just waiting here with our fingers crossed. Hopefully June brings a LOT more January approvals!

just updating the thread - I am a January filer:

01/11/2012 NOA1

05/22/2012: I-130 NOA2: APPROVED! (Approved 130 days from the NOA1 date)

NVC

06/11/2012: Case received at NVC.

06/20/2012: Case #, IIN # received.

06/21/2012 Emailed DS-3032

06/21/2012: AOS Invoice, made payment "IN PROCESS"

06/22/2012: AOS Invoice: PAID

It seems that once your case gets INTO the system at the NVC, the case moves with some speed. It truly helps to join the NVC forum for the current month for tips and advice and calming information from Saylin!

[PleaseDeleteAcct 7]

Yea, thats what is bothering me too... Feb and March approvals yet theres tons of Jan filers still waiting... And a handful of Dec filers too!