No NOA1, filed in Frankfurt

[droplets 2]

My experience is that I am still waiting to find out if our petition was approved or not. It's been over 6 weeks now.

I sent in my petition packet, but on the top of it was the form asking to be e-notified of anything. I haven't received any e-mails thus far.

Is that seriously the NOA1? I had no idea, but we received that about a week after we sent in the paperwork. So I guess we have our NOA1, but we still don't know if the stupid petition was approved or not.

*Edit: Just checked. We received that stuff on May 26, 12 days after we sent in the packet.

Yes, that was definitely the NOA1. It's simply the general letter stating they received your petition

[veronicavonn 7]

Woohoo Fortitude! Congrats! You'll be headed to the USA in no time!

[veronicavonn 7]

OOOHHH, you know what? I just checked the paperwork that we received (the NOA1, now that I know), and it's date stamped May 15, 2013. So I can add those 10 days to my "wait" now. That makes me feel a bit better. haha

[Alvanx 0]

Everything went great, her visa was approved.

That is great!! What a relief to have it all over!

[droplets 2]

That is great!! What a relief to have it all over!

I'm so relieved. I've been worried up until now. The interview wasn't that hard at all, especially since we had our 2 year old son there. Good thing I took my son's birth certificate because that sealed the deal.

Woohoo Fortitude! Congrats! You'll be headed to the USA in no time!

Thanks! Yes, as soon as I can get a flight we can afford. We're poor right now

[Alvanx 0]

I'm so relieved. I've been worried up until now. The interview wasn't that hard at all, especially since we had our 2 year old son there. Good thing I took my son's birth certificate because that sealed the deal.

Thanks! Yes, as soon as I can get a flight we can afford. We're poor right now

We got 5 tickets, 2 adult, 2 children (same price as adult) and an infant ticket all for 2400€ leaving Oct. 15th from Nürnberg to Dallas. We used a travel agent and it was 1000€ cheaper than the online price! Would you like her contact information? I bet she could get 3 tickets at a great price.

I will remember to bring our 3 kids and their American birth certificates! Did you submit your sons' birth certificate before? I wondered if they would write asking to see them since they are listed on the petition, but born in Germany.

[droplets 2]

We got 5 tickets, 2 adult, 2 children (same price as adult) and an infant ticket all for 2400€ leaving Oct. 15th from Nürnberg to Dallas. We used a travel agent and it was 1000€ cheaper than the online price! Would you like her contact information? I bet she could get 3 tickets at a great price.

I will remember to bring our 3 kids and their American birth certificates! Did you submit your sons' birth certificate before? I wondered if they would write asking to see them since they are listed on the petition, but born in Germany.

Oh, I would really appreciate that. You can private message me her contact details.

I submitted his birth certificate with the I-130 because I thought maybe it would help with the approval time. I don't know if it did or not, but it was approve in a little over a month. But the officer at the interview asked if I had my son's birth certificate so he didn't have it on hand, that's why I'm glad I took it. It probably saved us some trouble because he wanted to verify something on it.

[Alvanx 0]

Hm...Hopefully it doesn't slow it down that I didn't submit the kids'. I am kicking myself in the butt for it now!

Messaging you the contact info now!

[veronicavonn 7]

Hm...Hopefully it doesn't slow it down that I didn't submit the kids'. I am kicking myself in the butt for it now!

Messaging you the contact info now!

Adding the USA birth certificates of your children to the petition definitely is a huge plus and could possibly speed up the process! (Says the girl who's been married for almost 5 years with a German/American son, that's been waiting 6+ weeks for an answer.. haha)

[atenea26 5]

Hi Alvanx!

Something my husband and I thought about in case we lost the tickets we already had was that we could get one of those offers for vacation to the US and just don't use the ticket back. For that you can always check Urlaubspiraten.de and Urlaubsguru.de.

Also, I just happened to read yesterday that Condor airlines has an offer on flights to the US. You can get a good deal for 500 euros a person from Frankfurt to a few cities in the US. I don't know if the city you need to go is included on the offer, but for example, you can fly to Fort Lauderdale FL for 369 a person, and then take a low-cost airline flight

Here's the link: http://www.condor.com/ibe/cfi/de/offersLong/flightOffersListView.xhtml?dwSessionId=6A3689C4A4BDEBD4FAF84A24996C3C2F.content01

Hopefully you'll find something affordable soon!

Cheers!

[droplets 2]

Hi Alvanx!

Something my husband and I thought about in case we lost the tickets we already had was that we could get one of those offers for vacation to the US and just don't use the ticket back. For that you can always check Urlaubspiraten.de and Urlaubsguru.de.

Also, I just happened to read yesterday that Condor airlines has an offer on flights to the US. You can get a good deal for 500 euros a person from Frankfurt to a few cities in the US. I don't know if the city you need to go is included on the offer, but for example, you can fly to Fort Lauderdale FL for 369 a person, and then take a low-cost airline flight

Here's the link: http://www.condor.com/ibe/cfi/de/offersLong/flightOffersListView.xhtml?dwSessionId=6A3689C4A4BDEBD4FAF84A24996C3C2F.content01

Hopefully you'll find something affordable soon!

Cheers!

Yeah, I've noticed they have a really good deal. And even without the deal, they are the cheapest I've found. So if a travel agent can't find any cheaper, I'll go for Condor.

[marlex 0]

Hm...Hopefully it doesn't slow it down that I didn't submit the kids'. I am kicking myself in the butt for it now!

Messaging you the contact info now!

Hi Alvanx,

I submitted an I-130 for my wife in Frankfurt on the 17th of June. We still haven't heard anything from USCIS on the status of it and we're on day 55. They said it can take between 60-90 days and we've been hoping to be closer to the 60 day part of it. My wife and I were just wondering if you'd heard anything back from Frankfurt (since your petition was submitted close to the same date as ours)? Thanks!

[Alvanx 0]

Hi Alvanx,

I submitted an I-130 for my wife in Frankfurt on the 17th of June. We still haven't heard anything from USCIS on the status of it and we're on day 55. They said it can take between 60-90 days and we've been hoping to be closer to the 60 day part of it. My wife and I were just wondering if you'd heard anything back from Frankfurt (since your petition was submitted close to the same date as ours)? Thanks!

Hi,

I just talked to them on Thursday and it is still pending status. Really stinks!!! I know a woman who only took 2 months and she applied a month before. So I guess we are looking at the 90 day mark!

[harrisonthai 1]

just so you know if you filed via in person you will not get an NOA1. thats what my friend did and he didnt get one, when he filed in Frankfurt in person. the receipt you got is essentially NOA1. its nothing more than them saying that you had everything needed to start the petition, and that they are working on it for approval. also people who are looking for cheaper flights, there are many many military travel agencies that offer cheaper flights (eg. SATO). there is no need for proof of service, as for its from service members and family. the only down sides is that the carriers is always American Airlines, its an outdated Boeing 767 (meaning youll be bored for 10+ hours), and there will be many service members aboard the flight. its cheap , so you get what you pay for.

Edited August 11, 2013 by harrisonthai

[marlex 0]

Can you please keep us updated if you hear anything? Hopefully it'll be at least a couple weeks less than 90 days. Good luck!!!