Calling USCIS & Employment Status - Canada

[Kathryn Baer 1]

So my Fiance & I got our NOA1 on November 28, 2016 and we have not received our NOA2 yet (it's been 92 days so far). We had really hoped that the VJ timeline prediction would be accurate but we've now gone past the estimated time. Just wondering, would calling USCIS about our K-1 petition slow down our petition? Is calling them a good idea? I know I (the beneficiary) can't call them but my Fiance in Idaho can. What kind of information do they disclose when you call? I've done all the research for our K-1 Visa, my fiance knows almost nothing about it so we just need some pointers as to what to ask and what to expect if he does call in about our petition. 

 

Also, due to the fact that I would eventually be leaving my job to get married my boss has decided to replace me already. I will be working 2 days a week for the next month with my last day being April 5, 2017. It really upsets me, but I understand his reasoning behind it. So, I was wondering, if I were to draw EI, would this have any effect on our petition? I am the beneficiary living in Canada, not the sponsor. Also, my fiance is employed but work has been slow for the past month and he's barely been able to take home one pay check. Will this have a drastic effect when proving that he can provide for me? Can I prove that I could also provide for myself even though I will have been laid off? I will be seeking employment elsewhere once I am done at my current job until our Visa has gone through. 

 

We're both just having a really hard time not having received an update on the status of our petition yet, it's pretty disheartening. Once we receive our NOA2, it will help us to know that yes, it is making progress and not simply sitting on someones desk. 

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

He can call and try to inquire. Not sure exactly how much info he would get honestly. Have him try to get tier 2 person.

 

The timelines here and on USCIS are just that, estimates... your case file may have ended up somewhere in a stack on someones desk who took vacation for 2-3 weeks and hence the delay or just they are backed up/slower than others.

 

As to his employment, it could affect the process come the interview as they like to see previous tax returns/W2's and current pay stubs to show income. He needs to be able to show he can provide consistently for you.

 

As to you "showing you can support yourself", they do not care about what you do for work or your potential even really, your money(savings, assets, whatever) are not taken into account for the K-1 process. What you do for work now does not matter either as you will be unemployed as soon as you leave for the US and unable to work for at least 2-3 months once you're here (while waiting for AOS if you were to marry and apply right away).

 

It's tough, but those are the hard facts about the process....

[Kathryn Baer 1]

Also, can anyone explain to me how to read/understand the USCIS Processing Times? It says at the top "Field Office Processing Dates for California Service Center as of: December 31, 2016" and yet for I-129F it says "Processing Cases as of September 16, 2016."

[misshepburn 52]

8 minutes ago, Kathryn Banman said:

Also, can anyone explain to me how to read/understand the USCIS Processing Times? It says at the top "Field Office Processing Dates for California Service Center as of: December 31, 2016" and yet for I-129F it says "Processing Cases as of September 16, 2016."

The whole thing is a bit of a black box... meaning that they put processing times up and there is no way to know if they are accurate or not. They have been moving a whole bunch of cases around lately and there have been big delays throughout the whole system. 

 

That being said, you should look at the line that relates to your case the I-129F.

[Dutchster 1,106]

They last updated the processing data on December 31st. So on that date they were working on September cases, according to the website.

With all K-1 starters comes the hope that they will be just as fast as other cases they have seen. You will learn in the end to not focus on data or other cases too much. Your case is not the same as someone else's nor is data always completely reliable and the same goes with the USCIS phase. Expect five months, be happy with three. You guys background check might be taking a little longer than other people's back ground checks etc etc.
If you call the USCIS, they will guarantee tell you you are within normal processing time (which is five months).

[Scandi 3,979]

If 5 months have passed since your NOA1 you're outside normal processing time and have the right to make a service request and talk to a Tier 2.

 

If it has been less than 5 months then you're still within normal processing time and all you can do is sit back and wait.

[KimchiLumpia 315]

If you don't already, follow the November 2016 filers forum:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/625960-i-129f-november-2016-filers-part-2/

A member named @geowrian wrote a script that he posts nightly regarding the status of November 2016 filers.  It can give you an idea how many people received NOA1s the same day you did, and if their cases were processed or not.  

Also, if you are worried about your fiance's financial situation, I'd recommend having a co-sponsor ready to go as well.  Better to be over prepared than under.

 

[Kathryn Baer 1]

Random & unrelated, but would it work to process a work visa for my fiance to work in Canada while we are waiting on the fiance visa?