Not approved and Waiting patiently

[Carol and Steve 1]

We submitted our application in December 2012 to the Vermont Service Center. Due to the fact that the fee was from a UK bank they sent it back and told us to send it to Texas. We did and that was received on Jan 14, 2013. We have been waiting for a decision to find out that Texas had sent it back to Vermont and now we received a I-797 stating it went back to Texas. I spoke with someone at the National Service Center who submitted a form to expedite the decision. Last night I received an email not really saying anything other than there are many applications and we could hear in 180 days. If we have not received a notice in 45 days to call them. I spoke with someone again this morning at the NSC and she said I probablly wasn't approved to have our case expedited. I can try to submit another one on Tuesday.

In the meantime we have the venue booked for a wedding on July 27th. Family and friends are coming across to the US for what is supposed to be a happy occasion. We find out that he may not be able to come across as the application has a red flag on it due to the processing of the application. Why is this taking so long. It is not fair that my application was held up in a lock box or on someone's desk for so long. We did what we were supposed to do. Other's are getting their's approved when they filed in March.

How can I be a happy bride when I am not really getting married.

We have dated for 5 years. We met on line. He has been traveling back and forth for a few year and staying for the required length of time (less than 90 days), I traveled to visit him as well. We sent pictures of our trips, we now have a house here, he is retired and does not need US money to live. He is keeping his flat in Scotland. What is wrong with this picture? I am at a loss and I need help!!!

[lost_at_sea 995]

We submitted our application in December 2012 to the Vermont Service Center. Due to the fact that the fee was from a UK bank they sent it back and told us to send it to Texas.

FYI, it wasn't sent back because of the fee. It's sent back because you cannot file I-129f directly with a processing centre - everything goes to the Dallas Lockbox first (as per the instructions).

As for the rest, there is nothing wrong with the picture. Processing is just woefully slow. There are a bunch of folks right now in the same boat as you who had their file in Vermont and had them moved to Texas. Take a look at this subforum for topics with TSC in the title: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/128-k-1-fiancee-visa-case-filing-and-progress-reports/

Also - you mention you found out about a red flag - what was this red flag and how did you find out about it?

[h_m 12]

What lost_at_sea said. Many applications at VSC from December through late-January were transferred to the Texas Service Center (not the same as the Dallas Lockbox) to help with VSC's backlog. I'm one of those and still waiting for NOA2, but many have received their NOA2s, especially this week. No, it isn't fair that March applicants are getting approved, but it is what it is. I know it sucks, but consider that there are some at VSC from November and late-January who haven't heard a word either, and their cases weren't transferred to Texas. At least Texas is moving, and that gives me hope that approval will be soon.

As for the wedding on July 27th...one of the most important pieces of advice is to never book anything until you have the visa in your passport. I'm sorry that this may not work out for you, but I think most people here would have given you that advice. That's what my fiancee and I are doing; we're waiting to book anything until we know for sure that the visa is in her passport.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Some explanation--

You mailed to Texas because that's where the "lockbox" facility is for receiving all I-129F petitions. After contractors organize the file, deposit the check, and issue the receipt, they ship it off to be processed at either Vermont or California Service Centers.

It got rejected and they told you to mail it back to Texas meaning the lockbox in Dallas.

You started over and got the money right so they shipped it to VSC, as they should, for processing.

But VSC was way behind in processing so a decision was made to take some of their load and start processing at the Texas Service Center....a center that had not been doing I-129F petitions recently.

Yours was one of the many cases that went to TSC, so they notified you of the change. It did not go back to the "lockbox" in Texas, but to the proper Texas Service Center. Lockbox and Service Center are different places in the Dallas, Texas metropolitan area.

Once you get the petition approved at TSC, it will take maybe another 3 months to get to the interview in London and the visa issued.

[NikLR 13,220]

***moved to progress reports ***

We submitted our application in December 2012 to the Vermont Service Center. Due to the fact that the fee was from a UK bank they sent it back and told us to send it to Texas. We did and that was received on Jan 14, 2013. We have been waiting for a decision to find out that Texas had sent it back to Vermont and now we received a I-797 stating it went back to Texas. I spoke with someone at the National Service Center who submitted a form to expedite the decision. Last night I received an email not really saying anything other than there are many applications and we could hear in 180 days. If we have not received a notice in 45 days to call them. I spoke with someone again this morning at the NSC and she said I probablly wasn't approved to have our case expedited. I can try to submit another one on Tuesday.

In the meantime we have the venue booked for a wedding on July 27th. Family and friends are coming across to the US for what is supposed to be a happy occasion. We find out that he may not be able to come across as the application has a red flag on it due to the processing of the application. Why is this taking so long. It is not fair that my application was held up in a lock box or on someone's desk for so long. We did what we were supposed to do. Other's are getting their's approved when they filed in March.

How can I be a happy bride when I am not really getting married.

We have dated for 5 years. We met on line. He has been traveling back and forth for a few year and staying for the required length of time (less than 90 days), I traveled to visit him as well. We sent pictures of our trips, we now have a house here, he is retired and does not need US money to live. He is keeping his flat in Scotland. What is wrong with this picture? I am at a loss and I need help!!!

Rebook your venue.

You should not be having a "wedding" before your visa is approved and your fiance is in the USA. That will void your K1. You would have to reapply as a CR1.