OurHappyEnding

We are approved!!!! Feels amazing to be done this part

Yayyy so happy to hear great news from all of you!!!

Nice!! Is your at 8 am?

Yes, my appointment is also 8am

My is schedule for june 4th - so happy to be finished with this part and start packing up to move!

I have an interview on the same day June 4th maybe I will see you there!

We finally got our interview date - June 4th

I GOT MY NOA2 TODAY WHILE AT WORK!!!! APPROVED AT LAST!!!

Congrats!!!

It depends on each couples circumstances, but it would be reasonable to split the costs or for the USC to pay the initial petition fee and the Beneficiary to pay the actual visa fee (both about the same amount) and share the rest of the cost. Of course this also depend on whether you both work and make an income.

Thank you, this whole process is becoming so frustrating!

Could any body let me know what fees are to be paid next up? I understand there is a fee to submit packet 3, then a fee for the visa.

This end a fee for a police certificate and medical examination.

Then once over, $1000 for adjustment of status. Have I missed any off?

I dont think there is a fee to submit packet 3. Only a fee for the visa which is currently $350 but if you book your interview on or after April 13th the fee will reduce to $240 :dance:

I got my police certificate for $40 and I think the medical will be $215 (in Canada). But in UK the medical fee is £227.

AOS is about $1070.

You mean send some email to ask them to make it quicker??? to where should I send this?

Thank You !!

You would need to call USCIS after 5 months to submit a service request because it would then be outside their processing goal.

You have a long way to go before you can even think about calling them. Submit your petition as soon as possible and then fill in your timeline to get an estimate on when you should get your approval notice.

Honestly, it is luck of the draw. Unless you get a RFE for missing documents you should be expecting it with the 5 month mark. I know that isn't what you want to hear but USCIS at this stage doesn't do anything special other than to confirm that the USC is eligible to petition for you. USCIS checks background of the USC for criminal record as well as previous petitions and proof they are free to marry.

As long as your petition is not complicated (previous petitions, still married, recent divorce, previous overstays) then you should expect it within 5 months or less. After 5 months you can submit a service request to USCIS and they generally try to work on any backlog as quickly as possible.

When we initially sent in our petition, we didnt start checking anything until about 3.5 months into it for our own sanity. Then when it hit 4 months we were checking daily. Then 4.5 months we were checking 2-3 times a day lol It was crazy.

We got out email/text in the middle of the night on a Thursday when I was asleep (12:45am) and USC got his text (10:45pm)

As long as you meet the minimum requirements, you shouldn't get denied outright. You may get an RFE (request for evidence) if they are missing something from you.

Important things you need to include with I-129F peition to avoid denial

- meet your partner within 2 years of filing the petition (boarding passes)

- must not be currently married (divorce decree)

- be engaged and willing to marry your partner (letters of intent)

- include pictures and other evidence of relationship

Important things you need after NOA2 (petition approval)to avoid denial

- income must meet requirements for 2 people ($18,912)

- Proof of income (tax returns, pay stubs)

- must not have contagious diseases (or have proof of treatment from Dr.)

- no criminal background/or provide documents regarding record

I think those are it and if you have all that, you should be able to get the 1-129F approved. Also check the guides for exactly what to include...I am too lazy to type out everything lol

Good luck!

Daily calls (we signed up for unlimited talk plans Canada-US) and text messages. It is tough but if you keep yourself busy with work, friends and family...time really does fly by.

Also knowing that there will be end date to the long distance helps a lot.

is montreal open today?

only a day difference but, wasn't friday too?

No it isn't open today, but I called DOS and they told me that MTL received it lol

Generally people say to wait to send P3 until you have confirmation from DOS that your case has been logged and P3 has been sent to you.

You could give DOS a ring and see if they have logged your case at Montreal and if they have you could send P3. If Montreal hasn't logged your case and you send P3 too early its a small risk of being held up while they figure out where your file is and try to match your P3 to it.

Oh I didn't know there was a difference between "petition arrive at the MTL consulate" and "petition has been logged at the consulate". But I will call DOS again tomorrow to find out.

Thanks!

Hey guys,

I am just wondering how soon I can send packet3. Montreal received our petition today but they haven't sent packet3 yet. I was thinking of sending it within the next few days (today is Monday, thinking of sending it Thursday).

Since they have our case number in the system, will they get confused if I send it to them before they send me the instructions?

Thanks!

Hi guys i need help:(

3rd week of March I called USCIS and told me to wait for our "Service Request" before April 7. April 5, we received their mail stating that we have to wait at least 60 days for their reply to our RFE. Earlier I called them, and told us to wait 90 days! since we had our service request last mar.30. I don't get it. The moment we call USCIS.. they consider it a service request and move our case longer?... this is driving me insane. It's taking too long.

Im so sorry you are going through this tough RFE process I am sure that it will not take 90 days but USCIS likes to give itself lots of extra time to get things done. Hang in there!

After the NOA2 the entire process moves very quickly so there is something to look forward to.

I have been trying to fill out form DS-156 for about an hour and everytime I try it gives me an error message. Is this normal? I have tried with the following computers:

Windows (IE and Firefox)

Mac (Safari and Firefox)

Tablet (Android OS)

I am out of ideas. I hope it isn't secretly submitting all these forms that I filled out. But still no luck in printing it with the barcode

Any help would be great (I have gone over older threads and tried their fixes but didnt work)

Im sure it depends on the consulate, but my Fiance and I haven't visited each other frequently due to my work schedule and his business schedule. And when we do it is rare that it is longer than a week and we live only 3000 miles away with no ocean between us lol

I also have to agree with jaejayC, the CO may question why there was only 1 trip and that is the trip you got engaged. If possible (financially) make another trip and gather as much evidence as possible.

Thank you Saylin!!! You are awesome. Now I am not so worried about the interview process and lining up at the wrong door

Yea, we just got our NOA2 on Monday, 26 March at 9:30 PM PDT by email communication.

Hang in there, yours will be coming shortly. CSC has been blasting through petitions (I know....it is a relative kinda thing)....

Good luck.....

Yayyy Congrats!!! :dance:

I am so glad that many of the October filers have gotten their NOA2... for the rest that are still waiting, you will get your approval soon! Keep us updated

Congrats!!! The hard part is now over lol

Wow that is great news for us all!

Why not pay the fee at the interview and save some money? Does the consulate in Uganda require you to pay the fee before you book?

If you pay before April 13th = $350

If you pay on or after April 13th = $240

I read that if your I-129F or CR1 petition expires the consulate will just extend the validity of it if you haven't been able to schedule an interview or the interview is far into the future. So nothing to worry about!

pocheros, thank you for the fast reply!

If the co-sponsor doesn't have an employer (as he is retired) would it be fine to have 3 years tax transcripts. Also is it required to have bank statements if he meets the income requirements?

Thanks!

We got our NOA2 yesterday and are working on gathering all the evidence for the interview.

Unfortunately, my fiance cannot be at the interview with me but I read somewhere that the Montreal Consulate requires original USC passport and birth certificate? Not just a copy of it. Is this true? (I am worried about him mailing them to me)

Also, if we decide to use a co-sponsor which would be his father (who is retired military veteran) what evidence is required from the co-sponsor?

So far I have made a list of what will be needed from me:

- birth certificate

- passport

- medical docs

- police certificate

- copies of forms (packet 3)

- interview letter

- evidence of relationship docs

- new letter of intent (30 days of interview)

Am I missing anything?

Thanks