NOA2 hard-copy notice undeliverable

[EllinDiasporas 1]

Dear VisaJourney members,

I am somebody who just joined VJ as a member, as I've applied for a K-1 visa for my Greek fiancee.

I have followed this site in the past and it has been extremely helpful. I'm thankful to all of you for the insights you've shared.

Now, I'm confronted with a rather perplexing situation. We are actually part of the group whose petitions were transferred

from VSC to Texas. Luckily, we received the email notice of our NOA2 (petition approvded) on June 20. The USCIS website listed our status as "Decision".

I live in Ithaca, NY and teach at Cornell Univ. . This year, I happened to be on an academic sabbatical split between Spain & Greece.

I'm currently in Greece and will return permanently to the U.S. in mid-August. Hence, all my mail is forwarded via USPS to a friend.

All mail forwarding has operated smoothly, including the letter with NOA1 and the letter with the transfer to Texas.

Much to my frustration, the hard-copy had not yet arrived until yesterday morning. I called USCIS customer service and after multiple

attempts was able to speak with a representative who wasn't the most helpful. She insisted that they send me nothing additional in the

mail (???) and it's now up to NVC to send me all necessary material. I called NVC and after a 20 min. wait was able to speak to someone.

She asked for my receipt # and said that would be on my "notice". Not sure if this is NOA1 or NOA2. Unfortunately, after 2' the line was cut off ...

Finally, on Friday night, I received an email notice from USCIS with the following: "On July 5, 2013, the post office returned the notice we last sent you on this case I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E) as undeliverable. This may have serious effects on processing this case. Please call 1-800-375-5283 to update your mailing address for this notice to be re-sent." I'm presuming something happened with the forwarding service, much to my bad luck !

I wll call USCIS on Monday but both my fiancee and I are confused and frustrated. I was wondering if anyone had any insight on the following

questions:

1) Is the NOA2 letter sent certified and do I have to pick it up in person ? Or can someone else pick it up ?

2) Is this some large package that might have somehow confused the standard USPS forwarding process ?

3) When I call them to resend it, can I give them my friend's address and have them send it to directly to him ?

4) The USCIS website now lists my petition status back to "Initial Review". Does this *block* at all the process of issuing

the K-1 visa ? After looking at some other posts, it seems that the NVC proceeds independently and I would simply need

the NOA2 hard-copy when applying for Adjustment of Status. Am I correct ?

5) The NOA2 email notice indicated that we should follow "any instructions on this notice". Are there indeed any important

instructions on this paper that are critical for proceeding ? Should I simply continue collecting the material VJ and the USCIS website

recommend after NOA2 or would I be missing something ?

6) When I contact NVC, is the receipt number I would give them the same one as on the NOA1 ? Should I be expecting

something in the mail from them ?

7) What is the typical time between receipt of NOA2 and the receipt by the beneficiary from the local embassy (Athens, Greece

in our case) ? The VJ flowchart seems to suggest 3 weeks but I'm curious if anyone is aware of anything different ?

Any feedback is hugely welcome. Again, I thank all of you for your really interesting insights.

Best regards,

Pete

[Anonymous885 44]

Because the word " Return Service Request" on the package. It means only Return not Forward.

[EllinDiasporas 1]

Gotcha and many thanks ! I just realized it: All government mail has "return service requested" and such mail is normally not forwarded it.

It is just a little strange that they forwarded my NOA1 letter and the notice that of the VSC to Texas transfer.

If you or anyone else has any additional thoughts on the other questions I've posed I'd appreciate it.

Many thanks,

Pete

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

There are no important instructions on the NOA2, so no need to worry about that. You do however need to figure out a way to get the NOA2 sent to you because it is needed for AOS and you will also find the beneficiary's A# on it near their name. When you call, you need to ask that the call be escalated to an immigration officer(tier 2) because the tier 1 people that man the phones are not immigration officers, give out a lot of misinformation, and do not have access to any of your case info that you yourself cannot see on the USCIS status update page.

[Tony23 11]

Because the word " Return Service Request" on the package. It means only Return not Forward.

As a postal supervisor. I can vouch for that. Any mailed return service requested or do not forward is always returned.

[Anonymous885 44]

I am currently in France for while and I did forward my regular mail to my mom's address. However, I need to update my address online for USCIS. I am USC but still confusing how to answer their stupid questions.

There is a question that askes for Status in the US : Other, Permanent Resident, Student, visitor . I do not see the answer US Citizen, which choice I need to answer? Other?. Note that I was born in VietNam, do I need to choose Contry/ Region of Birth is VietNam?

Any thought? Thanks

[Anonymous885 44]

As a postal supervisor. I can vouch for that. Any mailed return service requested or do not forward is always returned.

Hi Tony,

Can I request to hold the mail at post office even " Return Service Request" mail?

[Tony23 11]

Yes You van hold your Mail Min3 máximo 30. If You go to Usps.com You can place your Mail on hold. Not doing so Carrier can pull the mail after 3 days And if not claimed after 10 days. All mail Will be sent back to sender a d your name or household will not receive mail

[Anonymous885 44]

I put mail on hold from 7/8 to 08/01. The mail will return to the sender after that day if I dont pick up?

[Tony23 11]

If you put your mail on hold no. Just make sure to pick it up after your hold expires

[EllinDiasporas 1]

Jay Kay and Tony,

A very big thank you to both of you for the insights ! I must admit the tier-1 officer I spoke with was clueless.

I will call them tomorrow and, hopefully, figure it all out.

Two other questions:

a) I'm assuming I'll run into the same problem with my address if NVC decides to send me any material ?

Should I contact them as well ?

b) When calling USCIS, beyond the trick of not pressing any button and having a Spanish-speaking rep. come on the line,

is there any more straightforward way of requesting to speak to an officer ? There seems to be no special button.

Again, many thanks and have a great rest of your Sunday !

[EllinDiasporas 1]

PS: Excuse the ignorance but what is the A# number ?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Yes, go ahead and call the NVC about it too.

Besides asking for English please, you could try this> http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/434364-how-to-reach-a-human-on-uscis-help-line/?p=6274427

Also, try calling early in the morning as soon as business hours start.

A# is Alien Registration Number, The beneficiary will need this number for everything from now on. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=515cfb41c8596210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=515cfb41c8596210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

[EllinDiasporas 1]

Fantastic and very informative !

Thank you so much ! This site is fantastic and all you folks are great !

Again, many, many thanks !

[Darnell 8,478]

so, the postal forward order has mucked up getting the NOA-2.

Got it.

how to fix?

call USCIS again, get a Tier 2 Human, an ISO ,

and

go over 'returned mail pieces' with the ISO.

expect a long wait on hold, after talking with the CSR and the CSR transfers you.

stuff to go over with an ISO:

1. confirmation of returned mail pieces

2. NEW address to send the returned mail pieces to. use an address that doesn't contain any postal forward order on it (suggest a parent or relative) and give this address to the ISO, and ask that the returned mail pieces be sent on to the NEW address.

---

none of this stuff slows down the processing between USCIS and NVC but

you need the NOA-2 for filing the adjustment of status casefile after marriage in the USA.

---

sorry you got a braindead human at USCIS the first time - do note that these folk are contractors with SERCO, aren't trained very well, and make sh|t up all the time in an attempt to get you off the phone. They can't see anything about your case other than what you can on the USCIS status portal but

an ISO can fix things for you. A CSR is useless.

----

Go Get Em, and Good Luck !