Iris & Mark

Hello everyone,

About two weeks ago I was so excited to find out that our I129F was approved, but since a couple of days ago, the excitment has completely blown over because I found out about the 2 Year Home Residence Requirement. From January till May 2010, I stayed in New Orleans as part of an exchange program. On my visa, it was stated that I am subject to the 2 year HRR and thus have to spend two years in Holland. Since those years won't be over until June 2012, I won't be able to get my visa until then... I was so sad when I read about this and am still upset because I don't know what to do now. I already applied for an Advisory Opinion at the State Department and am waiting for their answer now, but it will take four to six weeks. I have two very important questions though and was hoping any of you could please help me. First of all, how do they count the two years you have to stay in your home country? I went back to Holland on June 7 2010, but since I have once spent two weeks and once almost three months in the US. Do these count towards the two years or will I have to stay in Holland until the middle of September 2012 instead of June 2012 then? Second of all, does anyone have an idea how long the processing times to get a J1 waiver are? I just want to make sure whether it will be worth it to apply for one or not.

I really hope someone can help me because I am so worried and upset about this issue. I was so excited for our I129F approval, but now it just seems like it all does not matter anymore

Thank you.

Hello everyone,

About two weeks ago I was so excited to find out that our I129F was approved, but since a couple of days ago, the excitment has completely blown over because I found out about the 2 Year Home Residence Requirement. From January till May 2010, I stayed in New Orleans as part of an exchange program. On my visa, it was stated that I am subject to the 2 year HRR and thus have to spend two years in Holland. Since those years won't be over until June 2012, I won't be able to get my visa until then... I was so sad when I read about this and am still upset because I don't know what to do now. I already applied for an Advisory Opinion at the State Department and am waiting for their answer now, but it will take four to six weeks. I have two very important questions though and was hoping any of you could please help me. First of all, how do they count the two years you have to stay in your home country? I went back to Holland on June 7 2010, but since I have once spent two weeks and once almost three months in the US. Do these count towards the two years or will I have to stay in Holland until the middle of September 2012 instead of June 2012 then? Second of all, does anyone have an idea how long the processing times to get a J1 waiver are? I just want to make sure whether it will be worth it to apply for one or not.

I really hope someone can help me because I am so worried and upset about this issue. I was so excited for our I129F approval, but now it just seems like it all does not matter anymore

Thank you.

Hello everyone!!!! I've got some news too My fiance called his Senator yesterday and they promised they would check up on the case. A couple of hours later we got an email back from them saying that the called the USCIS and that we should hear something by January 15. And I just got an email saying that............... THEY APPROVED OUR 129F!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 OMG this is probably the best news I've ever had and the best Christmas present! I have just been sitting in front of my computer for an hour staring at the message lol. Now we will just have to wait for our interview, but at least we made one step in the right direction Thank you all so much for your kind words. I hope you will hear something soon too! Keeping my fingers crossed for all of you!!!

I know! Waiting for five months already feels like torture but there are many June filers and even May filers that have not been approved yet. So I guess I have no reason to complain yet The wait is just so hard. I also do not understand that people from October already get approved. I am really happy for them, do not get me wrong, but it just seems to be unfair. Ow well. Not much we can do about it Just stay patient.

My fiancé called USCIS yesterday because Wednesday was our five month mark waiting for NOA 1 (July 14). They told him that CSC is processing visas from June 16 now and we won't be able to put in a service request until they reach and pass July 14. I am just so sad because I was hoping for some good news or at least to be able to put in a service request. I guess no good news before the holidays for me

that suuuuuucks!

I'm sorry

Hope you get approved soon

Aw thank you! I hope so too I just miss my fiancé so much and especially with Christmas coming up, it is just so hard to remain patient and hopeful.

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that my fiancé and I passed the five months today for our NOA1. We called USCIS and they got an inquiry at the CSC and it said that they are currently approving cases from June 16. So I guess they are more than a month behind now We won't be able to put in a service request until they pass the July 14 mark. This wait is driving me crazy and I was hoping for some good news today or at least to be able to put in a service request... I just wanted to give everyone an update.

Good luck on your journey!

I am still waiting for my NOA 2 too, my NOA 1 date is July 15. This wait is driving me crazy! I hope all of us will be approved soon!!!

We filed July 14 and are still waiting for our NOA2 too. I know, this is a very emotional journey and I am starting to get really impatient. I miss my fiance a lot and can't wait to go home and be with him and start our life together

I wish everyone here good luck! My thoughts are with you all!

You are welcome.... I am jelaous too in a good way. My fiance is not goint to be able to be here for the Hollidays, hopefully he would be here for my birthday in January.

Sigh!!! This waiting is pretty bad... I am trying to be patience about it but sometimes It puts me down.

Aw I am jealous in a good way too, but very happy for you!

I know, it drags me down sometimes too But I try to stay positive and patient and realize that there is nothing I can do about it right now. In about a month, when we're passed the five month guideline I can start calling USCIS and drive them crazy lol. But right now, there is nothing I can really do.

I wanna go see that movie too!

Good Night Every Body!!!

I am very happy to see new members in this forum. It is good to know that there are more people helping to keep each other sane in this LONG AND BORING wait

I decided to do a summary to keep track of all of our forum member cases. I hope you like it. Please keep us informed if there are any updates in your case. If you are not in the list, please let me know to add you.

I-129F Sent

O'Fox TSV: 2011-11-07

NOA1

happyenaj25 CSC (June Filer): 2011-06-29

Berni & Moni VSC (June Filer): 2011-07-05

mseifman CSC: 2011-07-11

Jewel-8 VSC: 2011-07-12

az110965 VSC: 2011-07-12

Me&myLove VSC: 2011-07-14

az110965 CSC: 2011-07-15

Cyteen CSC: 2011-07-18

Tonga 'Ofa VSC: 2011-07-18

Angie&Steven VSC: 2011-07-19

niunia&me CSC: 2011-07-20

Donna & Paul VSC: 2011-07-21

Rebecca616 CSC: 2011-07-22

Royal+233 VSC: 2011-07-26

GringoD VSC: 2011-07-27

Love83 VSC: 2011-07-27

Louisa123 VSC: 2011-07-28

melanie ramos TSV: 2011-08-01

J and S CSC: 2011-08-02

RFE

NONE YET?

NOA2. Congratulations!

Rich&Vero VSC: 2011-10-18

ignacio VSC: 2011-11-04

Erica & Phil CSC (June Filer): 2011-11-10

NVC LEFT

Jewel-8 CSC: 2011-11-02

PACKET 3 RECEIVED

Ale & Marc VSC: 2011-11-01

INTERVIEW DATE. GOOD LUCK

yankeegirl79 CSC: 2011-11-21

Misha & Ira VSC: 2011-11-28

sheepp VSC: 2011-12-19

CMG&TCMG TSC (June Filer): 2011-12-20

DEAR VSC, TSC & CSC!!! WHERE ARE ALL OUR NOA2?

Please add me to your list too, I think it's a great idea! Thanks

Thank you all for your replies. I know it sounds a little bit stupid, but I am so happy with this forum. I have a lot of friends and family at home, but none of them are going through the same thing and know how it feels to be apart from your fiance and miss them and just feeling like your life is on hold for this stupid, but very important visa. I am so happy to have all of you here who know exactly what I am going through and to share experiences and thoughts and questions with. So thank you

My fiance and I aren't going to be together for Christmas either. He has to work and I don't want to risk not being allowed to enter the US because of suspicion that I am going to overstay. So I decided not to risk it. I am sad about it though and hope to get some good news to make the holidays a bit better

You and I have the same exact filing dates. I keep watching your name on Igor's list. I figure where your file goes, Mine goes.

I figure we're both sitting in a dark corner at USCIS, collecting dust...

Aw, really? Yes, we are visa buddies Lets not give up hope. It will all be ok. One of these days someone nice will come to the USCIS office and see our files in the dusty dark corner and decide to dust it off and start working on it

I haven't gotten a NOA 2 yet either It is so hard to be patient, especially with the holidays just around the corner and being apart from your loved one. I know that it is just a waiting game, but especially the last couple of weeks, I just get so impatient because those five months are coming up soon and I hope something will happen before that time.

I also had a question about the 'touched' thing on the USCIS website. I don't see a date on it at all on the bottom. The only thing it says it that the received my petition in July 14 and it is on initial review. Can someone tell me where I can see if it got touched? Thanks

Aw nevermind I just found it. My case hasn't been updated since July 18 I know it doesn't mean anything, but it still feels a bit discouraging.

I haven't gotten a NOA 2 yet either It is so hard to be patient, especially with the holidays just around the corner and being apart from your loved one. I know that it is just a waiting game, but especially the last couple of weeks, I just get so impatient because those five months are coming up soon and I hope something will happen before that time.

I also had a question about the 'touched' thing on the USCIS website. I don't see a date on it at all on the bottom. The only thing it says it that the received my petition in July 14 and it is on initial review. Can someone tell me where I can see if it got touched? Thanks

I think it should be enough as long as he is still currently employed

Yay it really seems like the people at CSC are back to work again

It seems like CSC has been approving some cases again the last couple of weeks My timeline could finally give me an estimate again. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope we will all be approved soon

I know it is so hard to be patient and it really seems like the CSC is not doing ANYTHING at the moment. However, there is nothing we can change about it until we passed that 5 month mark. So I think all you can do is be patient and try to enjoy your hopefully last months in your home country. That is what I'm trying to do. Good luck!

I know, this process is so nerve wrecking. Don't spend too much attention on those timelines though. My case was sent to CSC and in the beginning, it said it would be approved sometime early September. Now though it says it can't make an estimate because there haven't been any recent approvals and it's already October. The timeline gives you something to hold on to, but it most likely won't be right in the end. I have decided to check the timelines and this website once a week instead of everyday, because otherwise it will drive me crazy.

Good luck though! I hope your timeline is right and that you will get your visa soon!!

If he had a part time job and taxes were withheld it is almost grarenteed that he would get a refund of the amount witheld. Even if he was not "required" to file do to income level. If you dont file you dont get a refund.

Thank you all so much for your help! I hope his lack of work history is not going to be a problem. He makes around 35 000 dollars a year now, which is a lot more than the poverty guideline, so I hope it will all be ok. I have a really close friend in the US and she told me she wants to become my joint sponsor if I really need one, so we will be fine. Again, thank you!

Wow really? He had student loans, so that is how he paid for college. I am just so confused now because he told me he did not have to file any taxes.

If his income was small he should have filed a 2010 to get a refund of taxes that were withheld from his pay check.

If he was paid in cash there was not likely anything withheld. There is also no pay stubs or any record he even had a job. If his employer paid in cash I would be very surprised that the employer would now provide documentation of his pay.

He did not get paid in cash, but he only worked one or two months in 2010. Because of that, I thought he did not have to file taxes because he was under a certain income level. He is going to file taxes this year because he is above that income level and above the 125% poverty guideline now. I am just wondering if the Affidavit of Support, a letter from his employer who he works for now, his pay stubs and a letter explaining why he did not have to file taxes before will be enough for the Interview at the Consulate.

He should have some tax filings, what about before 2010? Letter from his employer and pay stubs should help, along with letter of explanation. See of others from Netherlands has similar experience and interview with Embassy. Review the economic guidelines listed for this process.

The problem is that he has no tax filings at all. He is only 21 years old and has always gone to college, so this is actually the first year he has been working full time and needs to file taxes.

Hi everyone!

I have a question about the interview at the Consulate and hope that you could help me.

My fiancé and I filed for a K1 visa in July and I am a little worried about the interview. My fiancé went to college in 2010 and he had a part time job, but did not have to file taxes because he was not making enough money. Now he does have a fulltime job however and he is going to file taxes for this year. I read though that for the interview at the Consulate, we need at least one year of tax return. And obviously we do not have that. We can complete the Affidavit of Support and he can get a letter from his employer, his bank and his latest pay stubs, that is not a problem. I am really worried about those tax papers though and wonder if it would be a problem if we do not have those.

I hope anyone can help me. Good luck everyone!

Iris