Awaiting NOA2....KMON KMON ALREADY!!!

[Scottish Mernymph 514]

"Mr Hartoonian is teaching me how to be impatient!"

The attorney advised we should expect to have our NOA2 in October.......Oh my goodness I don't know how we're gonna make it rhough this month pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease make it sooooooooooooooooooooooon.....how do y'all cope?

[LukeU 413]

20 minutes ago, Scottish Mernymph said:

The attorney advised we should expect to have our NOA2 in October.......Oh my goodness I don't know how we're gonna make it rhough this month pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease make it sooooooooooooooooooooooon.....how do y'all cope?

Swearing, profusely. 

Checking, continuously. 

 

But in all seriousness, it's not easy to cope at all! We try to video chat/call as much as possible and over the past couple of weeks (we're expecting NOA2 approximately late December when I'm visiting for Christmas!) starting getting vaccinations and selling things and just doing any little thing to make it seem like I'm actually helping the process along. 

 

It's good to see another soon-to-be-Michigander, all the best! 

[Scottish Mernymph 514]

Hi Luke, thanks for your kind reply, yup it's tough this waiting, & yeah same here just trying to do whatever I can to be passing the time in any kind of constructive way so when the time comes I can make a run to him.

Michigan is such a beautiful part of the States I'm so happy about that, living in Scotland I'm used to being pretty spoilt for amazing locations/scenery.

Best of luck to you & yours with everything 🐵

[LukeU 413]

11 minutes ago, Scottish Mernymph said:

Hi Luke, thanks for your kind reply, yup it's tough this waiting, & yeah same here just trying to do whatever I can to be passing the time in any kind of constructive way so when the time comes I can make a run to him.

Michigan is such a beautiful part of the States I'm so happy about that, living in Scotland I'm used to being pretty spoilt for amazing locations/scenery.

Best of luck to you & yours with everything 🐵

That is the exact same here any little thing to make it quicker at the end. 

 

Also it is worth noting, flights are on sale currently (through until August 2019) from a lot of Airports (Aberdeen being one of them), it is worth checking Skyscanner out, I managed to get a London - Detroit return direct for under £500 over the Christmas period! 

 

I've often said to my fianceé Michigan is like the Scotland of the states with all the scenery and the cold! 

 

All the best, I'm sure we'll see each other post again in the future 

[AmandaandChayne 734]

9 hours ago, Scottish Mernymph said:

"Mr Hartoonian is teaching me how to be impatient!"

The attorney advised we should expect to have our NOA2 in October.......Oh my goodness I don't know how we're gonna make it rhough this month pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease make it sooooooooooooooooooooooon.....how do y'all cope?

Ha it gets worse when you see people with dates later than yours approved. Trust me I know. Every day I try to do something, anything toward being ready for the next stage or getting rid of my

life here. Helps with the morning optimism which each day is replaced with apathetic resignation that another day has passed without approval. 

My heart my stop if I ever see anything other than “my case was received” 

[carmel34 3,639]

It's surprising how many times we see posts like this here on VJ.  Someone is surprised at the long wait because an attorney or visa service they paid a lot of money to said it would be a specific number of months.  No one  knows for sure how long it will be in a specific case, but there are estimated and average wait times on the USCIS website and on this site, based on actual VJ members.  The actual data is usually much longer than attorneys or visa services tell people it will be.  Some people have posted that they actually thought that using an attorney or company like "Rapid Visa" (very misleading brand name), would help speed up the process, but in reality it does nothing at all to speed up the process, and in some cases, slows it down because attorneys or their staff are not as motivated to send documents quickly.  Your timeline says November 14 to November 19 as the likely NOA2 date, that is a month away, and it could be longer.  So we wait, we wait, and wait some more....  it sucks, but that's the process and there is nothing we can do but lots of visits and lots of video calls or whatever you can do to cope as best you can in the meantime.  Being apart for long periods of time is the worst part of this process, but it is worth it to be with the love of your life!  Hang in there, try to be positive, cry when you feel like it, and your time will come!  All the best.

[DJClaire 134]

I couldn't agree more! This last bit of waiting for the NOA2 seems to be the hardest! Even though there is still so much more to do to before we actually get that visa in our hands!  I wonder how accurate on the whole, the VJ timelines have been.  I am now less than a month away from our predicted adjudication date and it's unbearable!  I have spent my time researching stuff, selling stuff, shipping boxes to the US in readiness and generally seemingly spending my whole life on Whatsapp video chat! 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

On 10/18/2018 at 5:53 AM, Scottish Mernymph said:

The attorney advised we should expect to have our NOA2 in October.......

 

please remember those are ESTIMATES and not ACTUAL PROMISES OR DATES. Our NOA1 is mid may and we will be lucky to hear anything by the end of nov. patience is a virtue and a necessary one during this process.

[Scottish Mernymph 514]

20 minutes ago, debbiedoo said:

 

please remember those are ESTIMATES and not ACTUAL PROMISES OR DATES. Our NOA1 is mid may and we will be lucky to hear anything by the end of nov. patience is a virtue and a necessary one during this process.

Aye, fosho, still we're watching for the postie like a wee kid awaiting the sound of sleighbells on the run up to Christmas!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

In all my years being here helping others the most common denominator is how high people set their expectations and when they are not met how disappointed they are. Then, they spend the next week stomping their feet and telling everyone on VJ that will listen how unfair this process is. After all they are single, had no run in with the law, do not have children etc. etc. and etc. so why is it taking so long. So, when is it a good idea to set high expectations for yourself? And when can high expectations shoot you in the foot? In this process, you're much better setting your expectations low and then the out come will give you greater satisfaction.

[Scottish Mernymph 514]

15 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

In all my years being here helping others the most common denominator is how high people set their expectations and when they are not met how disappointed they are. Then, they spend the next week stomping their feet and telling everyone on VJ that will listen how unfair this process is. After all they are single, had no run in with the law, do not have children etc. etc. and etc. so why is it taking so long. So, when is it a good idea to set high expectations for yourself? And when can high expectations shoot you in the foot? In this process, you're much better setting your expectations low and then the out come will give you greater satisfaction.

Coupla things to mention on this.....

The process is the process, we accept that, it's 'fair' in that it's the same for all across the board but it is tough going when we just wanna be together it sucks to be apart....for our situation, in addition to this process we already have had an extra year of waiting as in 2017 we would have already been started through this back then(one whole year sooner) but for being unable to cope with any extra stress whilst I was going through treatment for cancer(we were unable to see one another for the entire time of my treatments also)....it's like we've had a year of our life together taken from us already, that's freakin hard! I'm very pleased to say I'm now in remission, but going through cancer changes things, our sense of mortality, stark realisation our time on this earth is fleeting, finite & the  final curtain can fall at any time. I try to make the most of the life I'm grateful to have but that's not always easy when all I want is to be with the man I love & whom adores me.
We understand fully the attorney made an estimate of the timing, we are hoping & praying & willing for the NOA2 to appear, in the meantime I'm interested very much in exchanging thoughts on how other folks deal with getting through the waiting.
 

Edited October 21, 2018 by Scottish Mernymph

[Greenbaum 12,259]

1 hour ago, Scottish Mernymph said:

Coupla things to mention on this.....

The process is the process, we accept that, it's 'fair' in that it's the same for all across the board but it is tough going when we just wanna be together it sucks to be apart....for our situation, in addition to this process we already have had an extra year of waiting as in 2017 we would have already been started through this back then(one whole year sooner) but for being unable to cope with any extra stress whilst I was going through treatment for cancer(we were unable to see one another for the entire time of my treatments also)....it's like we've had a year of our life together taken from us already, that's freakin hard! I'm very pleased to say I'm now in remission, but going through cancer changes things, our sense of mortality, stark realisation our time on this earth is fleeting, finite & the  final curtain can fall at any time. I try to make the most of the life I'm grateful to have but that's not always easy when all I want is to be with the man I love & whom adores me.
We understand fully the attorney made an estimate of the timing, we are hoping & praying & willing for the NOA2 to appear, in the meantime I'm interested very much in exchanging thoughts on how other folks deal with getting through the waiting.
 

I'm sorry to hear of your bout with cancer. I can sympathize with what you have been through has I am a cancer survivor three times now. I know the ultimate goal is to be together. I get that. But it still goes back to not setting your expectations too high. Let me offer some tips so that you can "manage" your journey.

 

Greenbaum's Tips: 

 

1. It's advisable that once you receive your NOA2 that you contact NVC via https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html to update your email address as well as your beneficiary's email address.

 

2.  Use the tools here in VJ to answer "when I am going to get etc. etc." question. Near your picture, there is a link to your timeline. Select it and once you're on the next page near your picture you will see "follow similar timelines" and it will populate 12 other couples who are near your dates. Scroll down and you will see a "spreadsheet" style page showing all the variables for measurement for when others from your Embassy are getting the same notice of approval or action.  Try it. It really works!

 

3. And if you want to follow those from other countries that have similar timelines as yours there are several tools available to you. Go up to Immigration Timelines on the blue ribbon above and select it. Once you are on the next page looked to your left and you will see a box that states, "find similar timelines" and select it. A list will populate with those who are processing close to your timeline. When they start to change you will soon be behind them.

 

I followed those that were in my group to give me an idea where they were in processing so I could judge if I was ahead or behind.  It's pretty accurate, maybe within a day or so.

 

If you choose to follow those twelve members then you will get an email every time their status updates. In my opinion this is a much better way of managing your progress hence your expectations.

 

Good luck and God's speed. I hope you reach all your dreams.

[Ryan H 3,813]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[Scottish Mernymph 514]

Greenbaum, thankyou so much for your tips, that's really helpful. It definately helps knowing & sharing with others in a similar situation.

I take my hat off to you on going through cancer & coming out the other side 3 times, I'll say a wee prayer for us both that we never have any further visits from  that particular spectre again!

Best energy to you & yours.

[BJ & Christine 1,392]

On 10/18/2018 at 6:37 AM, LukeU said:

That is the exact same here any little thing to make it quicker at the end. 

 

Also it is worth noting, flights are on sale currently (through until August 2019) from a lot of Airports (Aberdeen being one of them), it is worth checking Skyscanner out, I managed to get a London - Detroit return direct for under £500 over the Christmas period! 

 

I've often said to my fianceé Michigan is like the Scotland of the states with all the scenery and the cold! 

 

All the best, I'm sure we'll see each other post again in the future 

Personally have found flights cheaper using www.faregeek.co.uk when flying from U.K. To Detroit. Most the time there well under 500£