January 2014 TSC Filers

[Roman Y Suany 6]

Me too...our NOA1 was on Jan 7th...I officially hate Jan 7th...

My fiance sent an email to both senators, but they asked to send a formal letter, which he did, but no answer..

and the most frustrating part is that all cases after mine got an answer either an RFE or approval...197 days today...6months and 16 days..

Everyday is a new day...let's not lose our hopes...hope is the only thing that keeps me sane and alive..

I am jan 6th 2014 and no word yet either so dont fret!! stay strong!!! We are Next!!!!

[shootersix66 33]

hey guys, sorry for the delay in the checklist. I just got super busy at work and I don't want to half @$$ it. Work has got me running to different states this week. I have the checklist written on paper, but I just have to type it. Look forward to it this evening or tomorrow at latest.

Really hoping for you early filers to get your NOA2 asap.

[bmorgan 11]

Really hoping this is a big week for all of us january filers! I know I am nearly at my breaking point with this process. But sadly there is nothing to do. I contacted my congressman back in June, and his office called and gave me the whole "your packet has been pulled out and given to an officer and you should hear in 30 days"… well that 30 days is up tomorrow. Frustrates me to see people getting their noa2s when they just filed in june. I will continue to pray that this nightmare is over for us all soon!

[deleteddd 35]

Hey guys, I'm hitting 6 months in few days and I think it's time to write a letter to my senators. I remember someone put a sample letter in this thread, but I can't find it. I went through all 70 pages, and searched on Google as well, but can't find it. Anyone remember what page was it? I really appreciate it.

I know using a sample is faster but express yourself about how you feel.. That's what my fiancé did. He was very polite and formal and expressed his concern and desire to get married to me.. Reading the letter he had sent really brought tears to my eyes. I loved it..!

[jfgk1987 303]

hey guys, sorry for the delay in the checklist. I just got super busy at work and I don't want to half @$$ it. Work has got me running to different states this week. I have the checklist written on paper, but I just have to type it. Look forward to it this evening or tomorrow at latest.

Really hoping for you early filers to get your NOA2 asap.

I'm home sick, I can post my checklist since I gathered everything about a month ago, then we can compare to see why yours weighs so much

[lorella 65]

Guys I am usually quite upbeat, but I am drowning. Sent my package on jan15th and nothing yet. Super happy to see people update their respective timeline, but out of all honesty our time is way past due and I have nothing to update. ??????

don't lose hope!! most people are receiving approvals in the 180-190 day range. of course there are a few who get approvals before or after - but most are somewhere in the 180s. you have to be getting close!

[shootersix66 33]

I am grateful my NOA2 came, but it also boggles my mind on why people who have NOA1's way before me aren't approved yet. I am just wondering.

My application was very simple, no RFE, no kids, no prev marriages, no address change, everything was very simple.

For the people who aren't approved, did you have any special conditions in your applications?

[jfgk1987 303]

Hmm, apparently I'm not allowed to upload word docs. Well, here's a long post of it! I added extra info because while some things don't apply to me, they might apply to you

TA-DA! A checklist of documents for the Petitioner to gather to send to the Beneficiary.

The Petitioner needs to mail these items to the Beneficiary if they aren’t going to the interview with them:

• A new letter of intent written within 30 days of the interview. I typed up a draft and put a reminder to update it when the interview is confirmed.
• Form I-134, aside from the physical form:
  1. A letter from your bank, typed on official bank stationary or with the company letterhead. This letter needs:
     • The date your bank account was opened.
     • The total amount of money deposited in the account within the past year (i.e. if today is 7/22/14, ask the bank for total deposited between 7/22/13-7/22/14).
     • The current balance of all your accounts.
       • For me, this letter took 2 days to arrive in the mail.
  2. A letter from your employer on official company stationary or with the company letterhead. This letter needs:
     • The date you were hired, and your job title/what you do.
     • Your annual salary, plus any bonuses if applicable.
     • If your position is temporary or permanent.
       • My boss had me type mine up and he signed it.
  3. **This step only applies if you are self-employed, however I had to include the bolded item because the Montreal Consulate wants it for “Proof of Domicile”. It couldn’t hurt to have these handy anyway, you can never have too much proof of income!**
     • A copy of your last income tax return (I included two copies actually). I have copies of my W-2s, but I also went to http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript. This is the official IRS website where you can get FREE copies of your Tax Transcript. Apparently W-2s are easy to manipulate but a Tax Transcript is an official document. You can print or have them mailed, I had mine mailed. It took 3 days to arrive.
     • “Report of commercial rating concern”.
  4. A list containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds and name of record owner(s). I Included:
     • Savings bonds – I made copies of these and included the date purchased, the date of maturity, and the current worth of each bond.
     • Proof of 401K showing current amount.
     • Company stock options showing current investment amount. (This helps with proof of income too!)
• Proof of the petitioner living in the United States/being a US citizen. I included:
  1. A copy of my lease (Mine is 20 pages, lucky for me they gave me 3 copies when I moved in. You might be able to request a copy from your landlord if your lease is huge and you don’t want to scan 20+ pages)
  2. Copies of my last two tax returns, included W-2s and Tax Transcripts.
  3. Scanned copy of my driver’s license.
  4. Scanned copy of birth certificate.
  5. Scanned copy of the biographical info in my passport, even though they should have a copy already (never hurts to be extra prepared!)
• Proof of ongoing relationship between Petitioner and Beneficiary. I included:
  1. Copies of plane tickets (my fiancé visited 3 times since I filed).
  2. Copies of my credit card bill showing that I paid for those tickets.
  3. Text message logs dating back to the date I filed the petition. If you have Verizon these are available online but they only go back 4 months.

• I DID NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, BUT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE THESE IF YOU HAVE THEM.
  • Photos (we’re just not “picture people”).
  • Chat logs from Skype or whatever mode of communication is used (we just use video so I don’t have this available but I know lots of other people do). Get them starting from the date you filed the petition until present time.
  • Snail mail letters between the two of you, if you have them!
  • Engagement ring receipt – if available, optional: I would’ve included it but I’ll be present at the interview so they’ll see it.
  • Wedding plans (don’t have a date set in stone on this proof, just show the plans!). If you don’t have a set plan, just write up a draft of whatever you’re imagining for the wedding.

• Apparently you should send an entire copy of the I-129F package with all the proof that you sent to USCIS to your fiancé(e), if you made a copy before you sent it. Don’t worry if you didn’t because the embassy will have it. I made copies but I’m not going to bother including them personally. If you have it, it couldn’t hurt to include it.
• The following red text does not apply to me, but it might be good for your fiancé(e) to have these documents in case they are asked about these during the interview:
  1. If you were married, make copies of the divorce papers and include them!
  2. If you were ever convicted of a crime, include copies of the related paperwork (citations, court records, etc).
• THIS ONLY APPLIES IF YOU ARE ATTENDING THE INTERVIEW WITH YOUR FIANCE(E):
  1. I am bringing original documents of all the copies I made, EVERYTHING. All of it. ALL THE THINGS.
  2. I am keeping the original documents in a separate binder so I don’t accidentally hand them off with the copies. Sometimes the consular officer will request to see the original documents.

..aaand I included a picture of how much this stuff weighs, cause I'm a putz! It will be twice that amount with the original docs included

Edited July 22, 2014 by jfgk1987

[lizascissors 65]

Blergh. 179 days for me today. ANY FRIGGIN SECOND NOW TSC. C'MON MAN!

[jfgk1987 303]

It posted twice, no idea why...

Edited July 22, 2014 by jfgk1987

[morx61 25]

Hmm, apparently I'm not allowed to upload word docs. Well, here's a long post of it! I added extra info because while some things don't apply to me, they might apply to you

....

Good lord!! thanks man. This is extremely useful, thanks for taking your time putting it together.

[jfgk1987 303]

Good lord!! thanks man. This is extremely useful, thanks for taking your time putting it together.

No problem, I already had the document so I could keep track of everything, I just added the bold text and commentary.

shootersix66 please post your checklist too!

[bmorgan 11]

Hmm, apparently I'm not allowed to upload word docs. Well, here's a long post of it! I added extra info because while some things don't apply to me, they might apply to you

TA-DA! A checklist of documents for the Petitioner to gather to send to the Beneficiary.

The Petitioner needs to mail these items to the Beneficiary if they aren’t going to the interview with them:

• A new letter of intent written within 30 days of the interview. I typed up a draft and put a reminder to update it when the interview is confirmed.
• Form I-134, aside from the physical form:
  1. A letter from your bank, typed on official bank stationary or with the company letterhead. This letter needs:
     • The date your bank account was opened.
     • The total amount of money deposited in the account within the past year (i.e. if today is 7/22/14, ask the bank for total deposited between 7/22/13-7/22/14).
     • The current balance of all your accounts.
       • For me, this letter took 2 days to arrive in the mail.
  2. A letter from your employer on official company stationary or with the company letterhead. This letter needs:
     • The date you were hired, and your job title/what you do.
     • Your annual salary, plus any bonuses if applicable.
     • If your position is temporary or permanent.
       • My boss had me type mine up and he signed it.
  3. **This step only applies if you are self-employed, however I had to include the bolded item because the Montreal Consulate wants it for “Proof of Domicile”. It couldn’t hurt to have these handy anyway, you can never have too much proof of income!**
     • A copy of your last income tax return (I included two copies actually). I have copies of my W-2s, but I also went to http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript. This is the official IRS website where you can get FREE copies of your Tax Transcript. Apparently W-2s are easy to manipulate but a Tax Transcript is an official document. You can print or have them mailed, I had mine mailed. It took 3 days to arrive.
     • “Report of commercial rating concern”.
  4. A list containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds and name of record owner(s). I Included:
     • Savings bonds – I made copies of these and included the date purchased, the date of maturity, and the current worth of each bond.
     • Proof of 401K showing current amount.
     • Company stock options showing current investment amount. (This helps with proof of income too!)
• Proof of the petitioner living in the United States/being a US citizen. I included:
  1. A copy of my lease (Mine is 20 pages, lucky for me they gave me 3 copies when I moved in. You might be able to request a copy from your landlord if your lease is huge and you don’t want to scan 20+ pages)
  2. Copies of my last two tax returns, included W-2s and Tax Transcripts.
  3. Scanned copy of my driver’s license.
  4. Scanned copy of birth certificate.
  5. Scanned copy of the biographical info in my passport, even though they should have a copy already (never hurts to be extra prepared!)
• Proof of ongoing relationship between Petitioner and Beneficiary. I included:
  1. Copies of plane tickets (my fiancé visited 3 times since I filed).
  2. Copies of my credit card bill showing that I paid for those tickets.
  3. Text message logs dating back to the date I filed the petition. If you have Verizon these are available online but they only go back 4 months.

• I DID NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, BUT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE THESE IF YOU HAVE THEM.
  • Photos (we’re just not “picture people”).
  • Chat logs from Skype or whatever mode of communication is used (we just use video so I don’t have this available but I know lots of other people do). Get them starting from the date you filed the petition until present time.
  • Snail mail letters between the two of you, if you have them!
  • Engagement ring receipt – if available, optional: I would’ve included it but I’ll be present at the interview so they’ll see it.
  • Wedding plans (don’t have a date set in stone on this proof, just show the plans!). If you don’t have a set plan, just write up a draft of whatever you’re imagining for the wedding.

• Apparently you should send an entire copy of the I-129F package with all the proof that you sent to USCIS to your fiancé(e), if you made a copy before you sent it. Don’t worry if you didn’t because the embassy will have it. I made copies but I’m not going to bother including them personally. If you have it, it couldn’t hurt to include it.
• The following red text does not apply to me, but it might be good for your fiancé(e) to have these documents in case they are asked about these during the interview:
  1. If you were married, make copies of the divorce papers and include them!
  2. If you were ever convicted of a crime, include copies of the related paperwork (citations, court records, etc).
• THIS ONLY APPLIES IF YOU ARE ATTENDING THE INTERVIEW WITH YOUR FIANCE(E):
  1. I am bringing original documents of all the copies I made, EVERYTHING. All of it. ALL THE THINGS.
  2. I am keeping the original documents in a separate binder so I don’t accidentally hand them off with the copies. Sometimes the consular officer will request to see the original documents.

..aaand I included a picture of how much this stuff weighs, cause I'm a putz! It will be twice that amount with the original docs included

Thank you for this! i just printed it off and added it to my giant pile of papers I am gathering in hopes that my noa2 arrives soon!

[Julie+Matt 84]

Thank you for this! i just printed it off and added it to my giant pile of papers I am gathering in hopes that my noa2 arrives soon!

I need to give him proof that I'm a USC? shouldn't they already know that since I filed & it should be established when we *ever* get the noa2?

[jfgk1987 303]

I need to give him proof that I'm a USC? shouldn't they already know that since I filed & it should be established when we *ever* get the noa2?

I made a comment somewhere about Montreal and Proof of Domicile, I should've extended it to this piece too. I think in most cases you don't have to do this.