I129F April 2017 filers

[A_F 172]

17 minutes ago, Rickey&Aiza said:

I just called USCIS and the guy that answered the phone sucked at life. He was miserable beyond anything I've ever encountered before. I've called 3 times now in 4 months, all with a reason and not just to check a case status and the other 2 call takers were nice and helpful. This guy however made me so mad, I didn't say anything to him for fear that he would mess with my case. After this process is over and she is here,  I have his employee number and I will be calling back specifically to talk to him and let him know how much I don't appreciate him at all. 

If the officer was truly that awful of a human being and you're worried about him somehow affecting your case, perhaps the best course of action would be to file a complaint wherever it is that you do that instead of calling back and trying to speak to him. After all, we will have to deal with them again for AOS and ROC and perhaps Naturalization or GC Renewal. I would hope that a Tier 1 person at a call center would not have the authority/power to mess with a case, but they definitely take notes and pass information onto Tier 2 Officers for when they call you back. They might have more capability to affect your case. Better safe than sorry.

[tcovington 175]

This is a bit off the wall, but when can our OH apply for a SSN. What's the process? Does anyone know?

[Chris2870 721]

2 minutes ago, tcovington said:

This is a bit off the wall, but when can our OH apply for a SSN. What's the process? Does anyone know?

They can apply once they make entry into the US. Go down to local SS office with passport and apply. Then after marriage go back and change name. Or marry first then apply

Edited August 22, 2017 by Chris2870
Not finished

[Rickey&Aiza 21]

14 hours ago, shawndee said:

I wish that I had an exact answer. I'm going to have to find out my self. I found this post awhile ago on VJ and saved it. It tells what we have to do. Good luck. Have faith and wait it out. I know it sucks but it will come!!

 

Post I found:

Here is what I did. Please feel free to absorb and apply as you see fit.

Step 1:  Obtaining Your Case Number
The average number of days it takes for a file to arrive at NVC after NOA2 is around 3 to 5 business days.  Begin calling on day 3.  The best time to get through is after 6pm (EST) on weeknights.  They remain staffed until 10pm (EST).  The number is (603)-334-0700.
If the first thing you hear is a voice, it will be a recording with a message that says there's a large call volume and then (eventually) hangs up.  Continue to hang up and call again until the first thing you hear is a ring.

After this, you'll need to press two buttons:
1 for English or 2 for Spanish... and then 7 to ask a question.

Special Note:  When you first get into the loop, you can hit 1 (wait 1 second) and then 7- no need to listen to the spiel in between numbers unless you have a burning desire to.

You could be on hold anywhere from a minute to an hour.  Hopefully the hour would be absolute worst case scenario- just don't plan to do this when you only have 5 minutes of time to spare!

When a CSR is ready to speak, you will hear their phone ring.  They will ask you for
your case number. The number to give them is the USCIS number that you have been monitoring for the past few months, it should begin with WAC2017...

When you tell them your number they will put it into their system query.  Likely, on your first call, they will say that your file is not there yet, and then tell you that it can take many weeks to arrive.  If your file isn't there, thank them and tell them cheerfully that you will call again tomorrow.  

The mail only runs once per day, so multiple calls in a single day will only irritate them.  Call after 6pm.  If your file has arrived at NVC that day, it will be there.  If not, then call the next day after 6pm.

When you give them your case file and they ask you for additional information, it means that your file has arrived!!!  You must then tell them the petitioner's full name (that's yours) and birthdate, and the beneficiary's full name
and birthdate.  This is their security check, so know this information before you call.

They will then tell you your Case File Number if it has been assigned. Sometimes it takes several days to have a case file assigned- sometimes it is assigned the same day.

Your case number will have a 3-letter Prefix relative to your Beneficiary's Embassy City, followed by 2017, and then two 3-digit numbers.

(Fun fact:  The last three numbers are what order the cases were assigned that day.   For example, if your last three digits are 029, you were the 29th case assigned that day.)

This number will stay with your file for the rest of this journey.  Write it down!

Step 2:  Checking your CEAC Status
After many calls to NVC and short eternities of horrible on-hold music (haha), you finally have your case file.  Enjoy the stroll from here on out, it can go by very quickly!!

You can now check your case status at: https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

Under Visa Application Type- Select Immigrant Visa
Under Immigrant Visa Case Number- type in you newly minted Case File Number.

Step 3:  The Last Steps
Now, you will have one of a few answers to you query.  At NVC, In Transit, Arrived, or Ready.  "Ready" is the magic word.  That means that not only is your case at the Embassy, but it is already entered into the system.  After paying your visa fee, you can submit your DS-160 and schedule your interview!!!

On many Embassy websites, you can download your packet 3 instructions and help your fiance prepare what is needed before the interview.  These are country-specific instructions.   For my fiance's country (Nigeria), the packet was on their website.  They also eventually emailed it to me, but I didn't wait for their email since I obtained it from their website.  This packet will give you instructions about the medical exam and the police report that is needed before the interview.

 

Some of you may want to be present for your fiance(e)'s interview.  Some countries do not allow the petitioner to enter into the embassy for the interview with the beneficiary.   Nigeria is one of those countries that do not allow it, but I was present on the property for the interview and he took my passport inside with him to show that I was there!

It is suggested that you take additional evidence to the interview.  The embassy will have the copy of your petition and any documents that you sent along with it.  My suggestion is that you take proof of your relationship from the time you submitted your petition until now.  We took copies of call logs, excerpts of WhatsApp chat logs and additional pictures.  Also, don't forget the updated Intent To Marry documents as well as the Affidavit of Support (I-134).

Personally speaking, in preparation for our interview, I read all of the consulate reviews for Nigeria.  That was possibly a little overboard but Nigeria is a high fraud country so any preparation is beneficial.  I wrote down all of the questions that were asked to the beneficiaries and my fiance and I practiced them thoroughly many times- there were about 100 different questions between all of the reviews.  We had a lot of fun preparing and it was a good opportunity to hear some of the answers that he would give if he was asked certain questions!  This will help to build their confidence and to iron out any details in answers that they may not know.

This can be a very exciting time but can also be very stressful on both parties.  Be understanding, be loving, and be supportive!  Remember that your loved one is facing, in most cases, leaving everything and everyone they've ever known to travel to a country that they may not have ever been to.

 

 

12 hours ago, shawndee said:

No problem. Good luck!

 

 

10 minutes ago, A_F said:

If the officer was truly that awful of a human being and you're worried about him somehow affecting your case, perhaps the best course of action would be to file a complaint wherever it is that you do that instead of calling back and trying to speak to him. After all, we will have to deal with them again for AOS and ROC and perhaps Naturalization or GC Renewal. I would hope that a Tier 1 person at a call center would not have the authority/power to mess with a case, but they definitely take notes and pass information onto Tier 2 Officers for when they call you back. They might have more capability to affect your case. Better safe than sorry.

Making waves is a way to noticed in a negative way. I'll just sit back and wait until I know it's safe and then I'll make my complaint. I'm not about to mess this up over a complaint. 

[tcovington 175]

3 minutes ago, Chris2870 said:

They can apply once they make entry into the US. Go down to local SS office with passport and apply. Then after marriage go back and change name. Or marry first then apply

They have to actually go in office. They can't file paperwork with me when I submit to change my name?

[Chris2870 721]

3 minutes ago, tcovington said:

They have to actually go in office. They can't file paperwork with me when I submit to change my name?

I believe they need an original signature 

[Estibaliz 3,037]

4 minutes ago, Chris2870 said:

They can apply once they make entry into the US. Go down to local SS office with passport and apply. Then after marriage go back and change name. Or marry first then apply

Definitely get it before getting married, and change the name afterwards if you want to (I'm not changing mine).

I've seen people having trouble trying to get it after getting married, and having to wait for the EAD. I think this happens because once you are married the visa is not valid anymore, so you don't have a document to prove your legal status. I think some people tried with the NOA1 from AOS, but not sure if that always works.

 

We can apply as soon as the i94 is updated, so we don't even need to wait the two weeks they used to wait before, until the system was updated upon our entry in the country.

So, all in all, I think getting the SSN is best done first thing after arriving

[tcovington 175]

Just now, Chris2870 said:

I believe they need an original signature 

So we can mail it in?

2 minutes ago, Estibaliz said:

Definitely get it before getting married, and change the name afterwards if you want to (I'm not changing mine).

I've seen people having trouble trying to get it after getting married, and having to wait for the EAD. I think this happens because once you are married the visa is not valid anymore, so you don't have a document to prove your legal status. I think some people tried with the NOA1 from AOS, but not sure if that always works.

 

We can apply as soon as the i94 is updated, so we don't even need to wait the two weeks they used to wait before, until the system was updated upon our entry in the country.

So, all in all, I think getting the SSN is best done first thing after arriving

Thank you kindly! I'll be submitting it as soon as his visa is in his passport. 

[Chris2870 721]

1 minute ago, Estibaliz said:

Definitely get it before getting married, and change the name afterwards if you want to (I'm not changing mine).

I've seen people having trouble trying to get it after getting married, and having to wait for the EAD. I think this happens because once you are married the visa is not valid anymore, so you don't have a document to prove your legal status. I think some people tried with the NOA1 from AOS, but not sure if that always works.

 

We can apply as soon as the i94 is updated, so we don't even need to wait the two weeks they used to wait before, until the system was updated upon our entry in the country.

So, all in all, I think getting the SSN is best done first thing after arriving

This in an important question actually because I've seen some couples planning a Vegas wedding upon entry. 

[tcovington 175]

2 minutes ago, Chris2870 said:

This in an important question actually because I've seen some couples planning a Vegas wedding upon entry. 

We were planning on getting married the day after he gets here. We're planning his flight around our wedding. So this really helps. 

Edited August 22, 2017 by tcovington

[Chris2870 721]

1 minute ago, tcovington said:

We were planning on getting married the day after he gets here. We're planning his flight around our wedding. So this really helps. 

Worth a call to your local SS office to make sure.

[Estibaliz 3,037]

3 minutes ago, Chris2870 said:

This in an important question actually because I've seen some couples planning a Vegas wedding upon entry. 

That's true! I guess best thing to do is check with the SSN itself, because maybe there's a way to do it. 

[lon552 437]

You can't get a marriage license in Florida without an SSN. I'm planning on taking her down to the Social Security Office within 2 or 3 days of her arriving so that we can quickly get our marriage license. It takes 3 days to get the marriage license and I want my daughter, who is coming down from Wisconsin to be here when she arrives, to be a witness to the marriage before she has to go back.

[Estibaliz 3,037]

6 minutes ago, tcovington said:

So we can mail it in?

Thank you kindly! I'll be submitting it as soon as his visa is in his passport. 

The i94 doesn't update until after POE. But usually is fast, like maybe 1 day.

[_Mia_ 348]

1 minute ago, Chris2870 said:

This in an important question actually because I've seen some couples planning a Vegas wedding upon entry. 

I might sound really really stupid now but what is the benefit of getting our SSN before our AOS? I always thought I'd get this after AOS an when I'd be allowed to work..