How long do you have to respond to an RFE?

[paddington_bear 30]

Hi All:

While my fellow Feb filers at CSC are getting approved at rapid rate (yay!), I'm still stuck in the dreaded waiting process for the NOA2. I have to go to the UK for 1.5 months from early May to mid June for required research, but I'll also get to visit with my fiance and do some traveling (EVEN MORE YAY).

My visa timeline has moved my estimated adjudication date from March / April to April / May to now May / June. While I will be leaving all of my documents with my mother before I leave, and I'll have someone watching my mail in case the NOA2 comes (I have electronic notification too), I am worried about what will happen if I receive an RFE for the 6 weeks abroad. Does anyone know how long you are given to respond to the RFE before your application is denied? I would guess it was a decent amount of time, since some people may need to get more paperwork mailed internationally etc....but I was curious.

I suppose I could still have a friend mail my RFE papers to my mother, who could then assemble the package for me--and I could mail her any original signature things i would need. Does the RFE notice that needs to be attached to the package require my signature?

THANKS for sitting through this rambling story/questions--any advice would help!

[Hypnos 6,579]

You typically receive 87 days to respond to an RFE. Documents submitted to USCIS must contain original signatures, not photocopies.

Edited April 5, 2014 by Hypnos

[corvusheart 163]

I would just like to clear up something. I got an rfe for not having beneficiarys statement of intent. So he wrote one up, signed it, faxed it over, then I sent this faxed copy to USCIS. And in 5 days, boom approved. Not everything has to be an original.

[paddington_bear 30]

Yes, I was told sometimes the adjudicator takes the copy, sometimes s/he demands the original. Thanks for the timeline, though--I'll be gone under 50 days, so even if I can't send what may need to be sent from the UK, I'll be back in time to reply.

[corvusheart 163]

In the I-129F instructions it clearly states that photocopies may be used unless otherwise specified.

[Harpa Timsah 13,263]

I would just like to clear up something. I got an rfe for not having beneficiarys statement of intent. So he wrote one up, signed it, faxed it over, then I sent this faxed copy to USCIS. And in 5 days, boom approved. Not everything has to be an original.

So after all that help we gave you, walking you through how to write a letter, where to get a pen, how to print things, what size paper, you just risked a denial for yourself.

You should count your lucky stars you were not denied. A letter of intent does need to have an original signature. The instructions state that photocopies of documents that you need for other things, like birth certificates, can be copies, but that things made especially for USCIS need to be original, like the forms and the letters of intent.

I guess the adjudicator was in a good mood that day.

[Tina and Johan 206]

My visa timeline has moved my estimated adjudication date from March / April to April / May to now May / June.

Hi there. I was looking at your timeline and I'm wondering... did you put Texas service center originally because that's where you mailed it, then put "transferred to the CSC" because that's where it then shipped? If so, and you fix it, I think you're timeline will adjust accordingly.

[paddington_bear 30]

So after all that help we gave you, walking you through how to write a letter, where to get a pen, how to print things, what size paper, you just risked a denial for yourself.

You should count your lucky stars you were not denied. A letter of intent does need to have an original signature. The instructions state that photocopies of documents that you need for other things, like birth certificates, can be copies, but that things made especially for USCIS need to be original, like the forms and the letters of intent.

I guess the adjudicator was in a good mood that day.

I just wanted to say that I signed up for this site only three days before sending in my paperwork to ask some general questions about staples and random little things. I did not realize there were guides. I used guides from a different, obviously inferior site, when putting my packet together and did follow the same logic as CorvusHeart of "they said unless specified, all original signatures." When it came to the letter of intent instructions in the actual USCIS I-129F, there was no indication it had to be original. After seeing this site's guides post-NOA1, I made sure my fiance brought his originals with him when he visited just in case. The person you're critiquing may have gone through the same thing--but whether s/he did or not, I do not think it's a blatant slap in the face of the help you and everyone here so kindly offers....you don't know if s/he was as unlucky as I to stumble across the guides later. Seems a bit harsh. But I do hope I am as lucky--knowing my luck, I doubt it. I know many of us are thankful for your help, though...

Tina and John, I'm not entirely sure what there is to "fix"? It was transferred to CSC, and it looks like the CSC transfer people are getting NOA2s more sporadically than original CSC filers, who seem to be receiving them in chronological order (weird pattern, eh?) -- What should I fix? BUT, my estimate has moved up again to April 30 - June 2.....

[paddington_bear 30]

Sorry double posted...

Edited April 6, 2014 by paddington_bear

[Tina and Johan 206]

This is what I am meaning. Here is my email from USCIS notifying me of my NOA1:

"

Feb 7

Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS California Service Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number..."

So, I put this for my timeline:

K1 Visa Event Date

Service Center : California Service Center

Transferred? No

You have this as your timeline:

K1 Visa Event Date

Service Center : Texas Service Center

Transferred? California Service Center on 2014-02-13

MY question is, did you first get TSC on your NOA1 and then they transferred it to CSC? Or are you mistakenly putting TSC as your service center because you sent your petition to Texas (like everyone else does)?

Edited to reformat the post.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Tina and Johan

[paddington_bear 30]

Well, on the actual timeline platform it says something along the lines of (and I am quoting loosely but accurately) Service Center: "input the original place you sent your petition" and then for Transferred? it lists "input if your case has been rerouted for processing from the center above," which is what happened. It makes more sense, too, because my adjudication estimate is past due if I change it to what you're suggesting...I think my input may be accurate? I could be wrong, though, in which case, if the estimates are on the accurate side, I won't have to wait until May/June for the NOA2 or even an RFE notification--I hope you're right!

[corvusheart 163]

Like you, I did not come across the instructions till later and when I did it said that "unless otherwise specified, it does not need to be an original and that photocopies are accepted". I do not think I "got lucky" the adjudicators go by the book I believe and that was by the book. The reason why he did not send the original over was because there was a bunch of mail delays all over the state I live in (due to endless blizzard weather) which would've made it take forever to get here and we wanted to get things rolling faster.

[kitthekat 1,317]

Like you, I did not come across the instructions till later and when I did it said that "unless otherwise specified, it does not need to be an original and that photocopies are accepted". I do not think I "got lucky" the adjudicators go by the book I believe and that was by the book. The reason why he did not send the original over was because there was a bunch of mail delays all over the state I live in (due to endless blizzard weather) which would've made it take forever to get here and we wanted to get things rolling faster.

In your previous threads, you mentioned that your fiance was not able to send an original over as first he did not have access to a printer, and then he did not own/could not buy a pen so that he could simply handwrite the letter. Now it is because of mail delays? Ok.

Regardless of all that, it is not helpful to go around saying that a copy is acceptable because a number of people have gotten RFEs for not submitting an original signature on the letter of intent to marry. If copies are accepted "by the book", then why do so many people receive RFEs for them? You personally got lucky that your adjudicator accepted the copy. A different adjudicator may not have been so lenient. You didn't mention that your fiance also got the letter notarized, which may have helped your case.

One VJ member had a chance to ask a USCIS adjudicator some questions. See his answer on faxed/email signatures:

Fiancee intent letter? Signed or unsigned? Signed.

What about a faxed or emailed signature? When I was adjudicating, if I could see a signature, I accepted it, but many adjusicators will not. Signed is better.

From: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/220499-k-1-petition-information/

[corvusheart 163]

In your previous threads, you mentioned that your fiance was not able to send an original over as first he did not have access to a printer, and then he did not own/could not buy a pen so that he could simply handwrite the letter. Now it is because of mail delays? Ok.

Regardless of all that, it is not helpful to go around saying that a copy is acceptable because a number of people have gotten RFEs for not submitting an original signature on the letter of intent to marry. If copies are accepted "by the book", then why do so many people receive RFEs for them? You personally got lucky that your adjudicator accepted the copy. A different adjudicator may not have been so lenient. You didn't mention that your fiance also got the letter notarized, which may have helped your case.

One VJ member had a chance to ask a USCIS adjudicator some questions. See his answer on faxed/email signatures:

From: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/220499-k-1-petition-information/

He ended up handwriting his out since he did not have access to a printer and yes it was notarized. And the notary faxxed it here.

[Abby & Andre 27]

Well, on the actual timeline platform it says something along the lines of (and I am quoting loosely but accurately) Service Center: "input the original place you sent your petition" and then for Transferred? it lists "input if your case has been rerouted for processing from the center above," which is what happened. It makes more sense, too, because my adjudication estimate is past due if I change it to what you're suggesting...I think my input may be accurate? I could be wrong, though, in which case, if the estimates are on the accurate side, I won't have to wait until May/June for the NOA2 or even an RFE notification--I hope you're right!

I think what Tina is trying to say is that EVERYBODY sending the I-129f sends their application to the Dallas, Texas Lockbox or Lewisville, TX if sending by Express mail. Then, depending on which state you live in (which you are in Indiana like I am so we are sent to CSC) your petition gets sent to a service center. You were not sent to TSC, then transferred to CSC. You were simply just sent to CSC to begin with. It will state this on the NOA1. Hope this helps!