Angela M.

I would love to know what goes on in the centers...how many petitions they receive, how many people actually work on those petitions, etc. From the types of petitions accepted at VSC, I am assuming that VSC is at a larger facility and has more workers than CSC. It is very discouraging to see people from March get approved in CSC while people from oct are still waiting at VSC. (That does not take away from any of us being happy for those whose time came before ours.) I have only been waiting since April (almost 8wks), but it sucks to see that CSC will soon move into April while VSC is doing most of Jan now.

I don't know how much budget has to do with it or if VSC and CSC have different budgets, but most of the time it all comes down to money. Without the money, less people can be hired, and with less manpower work will be done at a slower pace. What I really don't understand is the weeks that VSC cranks out decisions and then goes back to their slow pace a couple of weeks later. What was the difference during those weeks? (I know that VJ is only a small percentage, but here, I am including people I know outside of VJ that are also in the process.)

Whatever the case, it is just a matter of luck not first come first serve. The same way that I could receive NOA2 next month I could also receive it in November. Let's just hope that VSC at least speeds up to a 5 month timeframe for ALL of us (minus the complicated cases as it has always been).

Congrats to all those who have received NOA2 and Good luck to all of us who are still waiting (be it 1 weeks, 1 months or 1 year!)

congrats!

Good Morning

I have a question once the case is approved what is the next step I was told there is a visa fee is that true I just need to know what the next step would be.

Thank You

The next step is wait for NVC to receive which could take a couple of days to a couple of weeks. People normally wait until they receive the NOA2 hardcopy to start calling NVC for your new case number. They will be able to tell you once your packet has left for the embassy and the visa specialist will be able to tell you when your interview is set for. I advise that you guys start gathering all needed paperwork for interview, look on the links under guides to find out what is needed and also look under your specific embassy.

Good luck!

well once ure case is approved u have to pay the AOS fee which is so far 88dollars and then the IV fee which is by far 404dollars

bring your foreign wife/husband to the US

nop that is just for cr1/ir1 the OP is i129f (fiance).

Hi everyone.

I decided to call USCIS customer services (1-800-375-5283) because I haven’t received my I-797 notification (NOA1 hardcopy). First, a guy asked me what type of application was and if I had the receipt number, if I was the petitioner or beneficiary, and which is my service office. After answering, he notified me that my status was on "initial review" and I should wait until arrive in the mail any notice. I told him my situation that I had not received I-797 (NOA1 hardcopy) and I wanted to check why. The guy informed me that he going to put me to another officer who could help me. I waited a few seconds and a woman answered, asking my name, receipt number and my alien number. I told her I don’t have any and she said "Fine ". Also, asked for my fianceé's name and date of birth. She told me that my status was in "initial review"... (same as the first guy) and if I have any questions. I told her I had not received my I-797 hardcopy. Immediately, she checked and asked my address. By telling my address, she replied me that it was not. Then, I said my residential address and she said that was correct and that they sent my notification in that address. I told her that I typed on a separate sheet and even use post it! the explanation that my home address is NOT the same as the mailing address. She gave me no excuse, just said the same thing and add to not be worry that they gonna re send it in my "new " direction.

She asked me if I had another question and I told her that I would like to corroborate that information was correct in the I-797 (names and beneficiary’s country). Kindly she gave me the information and everything was OK thanks to God. She even asked if I had more questions and told me if I do not get the NOA1 harcopy in two weeks to call back.

I wrote this first experience calling USCIS, for two reasons. First, for those who are in a situation like mine, I recommend to CALL. No reason to take so long to receive NOA1 harcopy and Yes they CAN reissued.

Second, I wonder why the forms are asked to add an explanatory sheet with extra information (if required) if they do not read it?

I noted with this that they go directly to the forms and do not verify the extra information added (at least in my case). Thanks to everyone for this wonderful site and my advice is to call for any doubt, even when here is provided valuable information. Not everything here is said and each case is unique. Thanks a lot. Happy journey.

I am glad that worked for you. I had two people tell me that they cannot reissue a hardcopy. That makes me want to call back and tell them off... lol...okay maybe not but you get me. This just proves that they don't know what is going on and what they can and cannot do...so disappointing.

They never ask even if you clearly fall under a criteria lol. Have him call today and tell them to do it! Make sure they log in under the correct reason (Out of normal processing time). If you have any questions run a search on here because a few other people have been successful at it lately!

Have you tried to put in an expedite because you are out of normal processing times? Call in and speak to tier 2 and tell them you want to put it an expedite request.

Well April filers, it seems that a few March filers have been getting their NOA2's. Lets hope that this trend keeps up for April filers as well.

The HUGE difference is that they are all CSC filers. Our timelines are moving up though so I do feel good about that. As long as VSC keeps up the pace they had a couple of weeks ago then we can be looking at early Aug approvals. From VSC, it is Feb filers that are getting approved, but they still have oct-jan that they are working on. I just hope for a speedy process!

It feels like not alot of people filed for April. It is quiet on here, I guess once we get closer the chatter will commence! lol

How are you guys doing? I'm at a month and a half and i am going crazy, lol.

I believe that since your documents will be in spanish they do not need to be translated for the interview in costa rica...they will, however, need to be translated for AOS in the US.

Congrats!!!!!!!!

I think that just saying the truth is the best answer. I am sure he is not marrying her because she is older. Love does not have an age limit and therefore, it is completely okay to fall in love with someone younger/older than you. Tell him to answer truthfully because simply age is nothing but a number.

actually the national avg has been 13.6 for a very long time...since I started checking back in dec...i'm not quite sure how that is possible though if both centers are at "5" months...dotn worry about it too much though!

Hi guys. I received my NOA1 by text message and email in April,3. I have my case number from Vermont that starts with EACXXXXXX. My question is that I haven't receive the NOA1 hardcopy. Its been more than 40 days and I am still waiting. Is necessary to have the hardcopy (to present in the interview or for something important)? or I can just do OK knowing my case number without the hardcopy?

Thanks and enjoy the weekend

Don't worry USCIS does not even reissue NOA1...I never received mine either (NOA1 4.7) and when I called (twice) they said they don't reissue. The actual hardcopy is useless but for some reason I feel more secure having that than just having a case number sent by email/text (call me old-fashioned).

Seems like you have everything that you need!

Send that package in so you can join us on the wait...lol

Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear about your loss

In regards to your question, I believe you cannot get an extension on your visa. Once the 6 months are up that is it.

(If this is incorrect please correct me)

Have you made sure through tracking that it was received? If so, don't worry, it is normal for some to wait upto 2-3 weeks for the NOA1. I think that the official uscis rule is to wait 30 days for an email/text/hardcopy. If you have not received it by then you are probably going to have to re-send. Don't worry though just give it a week or so. I know this is supposed to be the easy part (waiting for NOA1) but don't worry yet.

I think most people stay at El Hotel de Los Jardines (i think that is what it is called). From what I have heard it is right around the corner and the cheapest place around. Look at the reviews for the embassy in DR, I believe alot of VJers mention it in there.

Good Luck!

I really do hope that at some point they go back to how it was a year or two ago where NOA2 were issued in 3-4 months...We won't benefit from that since we are already in this mess but for the future love birds out there. There is nothing worse than this wait, especially for those of us who cannot fly over all the time (even though I consider myself very lucky to have seen him aug-sep, jan-feb and again now june-july). I am really glad to see things moving along and i will be okay if I receive NOA2 in the 5 month (but of course would be ECSTATIC to receive before).

It all depends on the consulate that you are assigned to. Typically VSC takes 5-6 months for NOA2 while CSC is seeming to take 4-5 months. To that, add about a week of two for NVC to receive and send out petition to the consulate. I don't know how it works at your specific consulate but from the looks of it most send out a packet 3 which you fiance needs to send some stuff back and then packet 4 is sent out with the interview date.

Try to post this in the regional forum and maybe you will have more luck getting a specific answer. You can also use the k1 visa timelines and narrow your search specific to your consulate and look at the data there.

Good luck with everything!

The requirement is that you get MARRIED within the 90 days...you can do AOS anytime after then. Preferably you should do it soon after because the longer you take the longer it takes for your fiance to become a permanent resident. Also, remember that after the visa is issued there is a 6 month window in which the visa holder has to travel. If you feel you are going to cut it close to the 90 days just wait a couple of weeks for your fiance to come into the US and "activate" the 90 day marriage period.

I am sooo happy that vsc is picking up the pace...there is nothing more encouraging than seeing them actually doing their job!

Good Morning,

I never received the hardcopy of the NOA1 (4.7.2011). I had called about 2 weeks ago and the robot told me I had to call back when the 30 days were up. I just called and the lady said they don't send duplicate NOA1 even if it was never received...I thought they did? I know I don't really need the hardcopy for the rest of the process but it still be nice to have it as actual proof just in case anything happens...can anyone verify that they actually do not re-send the NOA1.

Also, for those of you who are waiting for NOA2, I asked her what dates they are currently working on and she said they cannot specify a date and that they do it by month and it takes 5 months,...bla bla bla...so no luck getting a date for you guys

It's hard to believe that a month has gone by already since we filed. It seems so short, yet like such an eternity. Let's keep those timelines updated. It helps to give others an idea when they might get their NOA2's.

I feel the exact same way...I still never received NOA1 hard copy so I will call tomorrow and request a duplicate. This month went by so fast yet at the same time not fast enough. I woke up with that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach....mssing him so much...ugh...but it's okay because vsc is speeding up and if they keep the pace up we are looking for an end of august early sept noa2...

They tell you when you call them. And they also send a letter to the petitioner when they send the package to the embassy.