non-issue

21 hours ago, Jenerii said:

 

So everything brought to the interview don't have to be original? 

Here are the official USCIS instructions as it relates to the Form I-129F:

Quote

Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of documents requested, unless the Instructions specifically state that you must submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at the time of filing or at any time during processing of an application, petition, or request. If USCIS requests an original document from you, it will be returned to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs your original.

NOTE: If you submit original documents when not required or requested by USCIS, your original documents may be immediately destroyed upon receipt.

REF: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f , Instructions, page 2

What do the DOS Packet 3 instructions for the embassy/consulate state regarding original vs. copies of document submission?

On 1/6/2020 at 8:44 AM, Dhilman2 said:

Early onion this process, I came across a link regarding how to organize documents and evidence for mailing. I can't seem to locate it now. Does anyone know of such a link? TIA

Found through a simple Google internet search, using the search terms "USCIS mail filing tips". Google can also be your friend.

https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

On 12/31/2019 at 6:11 AM, Greenbaum said:

You can attept to call USCIS and ask for a copy but it's really not needed for anything. Most people do not have a problem at POE when traveling on a WWP. I'm not sure why you are concerned but be it as it may, you shouldn't have any problems. Besides, if needed they can access it from their systems if needed and will be able to ascertain that you are indeed applying for a K-1 Visa.

Agree with Greenbaum. 👍

Some folks get both the electronic NOA1 and the paper NOA1, others get one or the other. It really is of little consequence. As far as your immigration journey is concerned, the Form I-797C, Notice of Action, USCIS acknowledges receipt of your I-129F petition, payment of fee, and you get a receipt number. That receipt number is vital for useful for for follow-up discussions with USCIS. When the approved petition gets to NVC (the handoff to DOS), the petition will then get a DOS Casefile number for its sojourn through the DOS portion of your immigration journey.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

On 12/30/2019 at 9:35 PM, WhyUSoMadFor said:

I have a receipt number however the paper NOA1 appears to be lost, USCIS says you can call them if you do not receive it by Jan 5 (for me), has anyone called and had the NOA1 reissued and sent out before? Would this cause any slowdowns in my case?

I would like the official NOA1 so that I can bring it to the POE when I visit using the Visa Waiver Program, to prove to the officer that we are doing things legally if he asks about it.

How did you get your NOA1 receipt number?

5 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

Totally understandable. I don’t believe <10 days (which your case is at, as of today) is a normal processing time to receive NOA1. From what I read the wait is usually around 4 weeks and over the holidays probably a bit longer.

It seems that USCIS has quietly been increasing the acceptable time range for receipt of NOA1 for many of the common visa processes to 30 days, telling folks not to call if less than 30 days minimum.

15 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

 We don't plan to travel out of the US again until he has his GC.

 

You are likely already aware of this, but I recall someone in the ROC forum, who due to the length of time > 2 years waiting for AOS processing, received a 10-year GC. That might effectively obviate doing ROC. It may work out, since the delay was solely due to USCIS inability to adjudicate the AOS in a timely manner. It is well known in the ROC forum, to be stuck for years awaiting ROC processing, to go ahead and file their N-400 for USC, and getting it. The kicker is that they are often approved for USC, and then USCIS has to go back retroactively and approve ROC. What a strange turn of processing.....

4 minutes ago, Erin86 said:

I am in the US, that's why we're asking to expedite the AP, I just want to join him and be able to sell the house I'm living in now... I am not going to leave without the AP because of that risk exactly.

2 minutes ago, Pitaya said:

Sounds like you are literally between a rock and a hard spot. 

It sounds like maybe you do need to get your AP document pronto. 

I know this is similar, but different......when Xia were courting, I traveled to China three times. This was due to the fact that, at that time, a single Chinese female trying to get a visitor visa to the US was next to impossible to obtain. However, it was much easier for me to get a Chinese visitor visa. The eleven hour-plus transit time from Seattle to Beijing got to be kind of brutal. Though, I don't even want imagine going to Kiwi-land. We managed to do a lot of travel in China, off of the beaten path, literally. But I came to despise Beijing Capital Airport....  nothing runs on time, and I was certainly a stranger in a strange land...... Oh well, those days are now a memory...

Just now, Erin86 said:

I am in the US, that's why we're asking to expedite the AP, I just want to join him and be able to sell the house I'm living in now... I am not going to leave without the AP because of that risk exactly.

Sounds like you are literally between a rock and a hard spot. 

Just now, Jorgedig said:

17-19.5 months for family-based!

Well I am amazed, you can almost apply for a tenure-track position. 

I sincerely hope for your sake that you get a reasonable IO. The IO that snagged us when had our AOS interview in Tukwila was a real jerk, right from the get-go. I had to hold Xia back a couple of times, she wanted to cuff him more than once, for some of his antics and some of his statements. Do you recall the ten or so questions on the I-485 dealing with CIMT-type activities, you know the ones that you answer "No" to? Well, he said he had to ask her again each of those questions and she had to respond to each of them separately. He got down to asking her about the one related to  prostitution, she didn't understand the term in English. He kept pressing her for an answer, I finally did a quick visual/verbal picto-style explanation. She came out of her chair, I thought she was going to clock him, I am not sure what she was loudly saying at him in Mandarin, but I had an idea... and he would have deserved it. He was insulting. Wow, the whole family was so glad that we got through that interview and process successfully...... YMMV....meaning I hope that you have a good interview.

31 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Exactly.  14 months and counting now for our AOS interview date....

So, since USCIS has shuffled the files yet another time in yet another vain attempt to even out the workflow.... What is the projected AOS adjudication timeframe for the Seattle LFO?

5 minutes ago, Erin86 said:

I saw that infopass appts are no longer available online. Have people been able to call and schedule?

I saw some postings awhile ago that InfoPass appointments are available, if you are overseas. Not really sure how that works though, considering USCIS has been closing down their offices in US embassies/consulates all over the world (evidence trying to do DCF is tough, even in Manila. So they do appointment via phone? Sounds like another reduction in service to me. 

And then Cuccinelli, acting USCIS chief, wants to increase fees, in some cases double-digit increases.....and the beat goes on......

11 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Exactly.  14 months and counting now for our AOS interview date....

Oh that's right, a lot of folks got shafted when they stopped doing AOS interview waivers. Now you are at the mercy of the scheduling minions in Alexandria, VA. and the sloths "toiling" in the Tukwila DHS fortress, AKA Seattle LFO.  Did you ever wonder why that new Federal office building area is designed to minimize the likelihood of a car-bomb, or a frontal attack, or demonstrations (peaceful or otherwise)? I know that I have spent more than my share of time down there cooling my heels, watching the grass grow, and the flowers in those skillfully arranged huge concrete plant containers.....  

Just now, Erin86 said:

Well, usually after marrying a person, the time apart comes to an end...

 

Exactly, I know they do... they've had it for over 2 weeks, so why haven't they cashed it yet?

That is often the million dollar question, isn't it?  I swear that so many times in our journey, the waiting was like watching paint dry, or watching the grass grow. Sadly, there really isn't much you can do about it. Contact the Customer (Dis)service Assistance Line? ...worthless.  InfoPass appointment?...those are getting as scarce as hen's teeth. All you can do is take up a hobby and wait.....

10 minutes ago, Erin86 said:

Delivered Dec 13. Check not cashed.

Follow the money. It is a bit akin to criminal investigations. USCIS likes your money, and they would like it sooner than later.....

Just now, Erin86 said:

😂 I'll get right on that. No special treatment for anyone though 🤣

Oh, but of course.....

3 minutes ago, Erin86 said:

I understand I am not the first person this has happened to. I was just expecting a more fair and efficient initial processing before the long wait even begins.

 

I hope so. 

In retrospective, each step can be a "long wait."  This entire process is not a sprint race, but rather it is a marathon. Many folks have found the key to sanity with these processes is being able to pace yourself. 

1 minute ago, Erin86 said:

I would love to.

Here is your opportunity for an expedited EAD too: 

https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/hiring-event

5 minutes ago, Erin86 said:

Wouldn't have had a problem if others who filed after me were also waiting. Or do the holidays not apply to all cases?

Again, it sounds like you have some great organizational ideas that could improve their operational efficiency. You should consider applying for a job with them, get that bureaucracy running in a more orderly manner. 👍

8 minutes ago, Erin86 said:

Correct based on what or who? I filed my packet in this way following an infopass appointment where an officer advised me to write my expedite request in the original packet.

 

I do not need to justify my request for expedite here. Obviously I have read all of the information from USCIS, I have spoken to an officer about this in person to explain our situation and was advised to apply for it. To clarify, I am not requesting to expedite my AOS or my EAD, just my AP. I wasn't asking for any justification, merely asking how, so that a few thousand (or more) similarly situated folks, like yourself, could also possibly avail themselves of this service opportunity as you claim to have.

 

If there are mountains of work to be done, I would think dealing with them by date would be the most efficient way to not get lost in it all and create a mess. Sounds like a great employment opportunity for you, just expedite your EAD too. I am sure that they could use your help.

And I am all for immigration enforcement as I think everyone like me here who is legally immigrating should be. You are preaching to the choir here.

BTW,  Has the check cashed/ or credit card debited?  Sorry if I missed that earlier in your messages.

1 hour ago, Erin86 said:

Of course, but they accept the package and pass it on, so something is not working properly along the way. My issue is not with processing time once the case is received, but I just want to know that it was received and will be attended to fairly. Not to mention my package clearly stated at the top "Expedite request" but apparently that makes even less of a difference to anyone there. I don't see a reason to justify their incompetence. 

 

Help a few people understand just exactly how you filed and your rationale  for expedited service. I say a few, likely more closer to thousands of cases (or more) that would love to hear about your idea.  Here is the USCIS statement on expediting service:

Quote

How to Make an Expedite Request

In General

You may ask USCIS to expedite the adjudication of an application or petition for an immigration benefit.

USCIS:

• Considers all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis.
• Requires documentation to support a request.
• Has the sole discretion to decide whether to grant or deny a request.
• Does not consider expedite requests for applications or petitions that have Premium Processing Service available. 

USCIS may consider an expedite request if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s or applicant’s failure to:
  1. File the benefit request or the expedite request in a reasonable time frame, or
  2. Respond to any requests for additional evidence in a reasonably timely manner;
• Urgent humanitarian reasons;
• Compelling U.S. government interests (such as urgent cases for the Department of Defense or DHS, or other public safety or national security interests); or
• Clear USCIS error.

When considering severe financial loss to a person: If the expedite request relates to an application for employment authorization or student status, the need to obtain employment authorization or student status, standing alone without any evidence of other compelling factors does not warrant expedited treatment. 

All expedite requests claiming severe financial loss, regardless of the immigration benefit sought and regardless of whether the claimed loss is to a company or a person, must be documented to establish the loss and that the requestor is not able to withstand the temporary financial loss that is the natural result of normal processing times.  

For more information, see USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part A, Public Services, Chapter 5, Requests to Expedite Applications or Petitions [1 USCIS-PM A.5]. 

You can generally request expedited processing by contacting the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY for the deaf, hard of hearing, or those having a speech disability: 1-800-767-1833) after you have obtained a receipt notice. The USCIS Contact Center will not be able to refer the expedite request to the appropriate office without a receipt number. When you call to request expedited processing, the USCIS Contact Center creates and forwards a service request to the office with jurisdiction over your application or petition. 

After receiving the service request, the reviewing office may request additional documentation to support expedited processing. A decision on an expedite request is not an approval or a denial of the underlying benefit request. The expedite decision simply informs the requestor  whether USCIS will take the benefit request out of date order and issue a decision (approval or denial) faster than the normal processing time.

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/how-make-expedite-request

I daresay it is not necessarily incompetence, more likely to being a huge government bureaucracy, that is woefully understaffed, with mountains of work to be done. Yet, the responsible politicos are more interested in immigration enforcement and wall building than in immigration adjudication. 

Maybe things will get better in the new year....start praying.....

5 minutes ago, praisejourney said:

We are actually saying the same thing.  I was referencing to what is needed for NOA2.   I still need to know the timing off when to get the bank statements prepared.  Does it have to be current as the month you are preparing the affidavit. The VisaJourney Guide says to prepare them as soon as you get NOA2.

As payxibka previously stated (emphasis added):

2 hours ago, payxibka said:

No where in the i129f instructions does it mention the i134.   Read the instructions carefully,  interpret literally,  do not add or subtract words from what is written

Get the most current documents as you can.

3 hours ago, rbhambha said:

Thank you for your reply!

 

 Given that the interview is only a week away at this point, what would you recommend? I assume the form you linked to is not something we take with us to the interview and hope they’ll release those documents right then and there. You can ask, if not you know the form number.....
 

Should I pay for a rush certified translation of my wife’s birth certificate, and have my parents mail me my original birth certificate via express mail? It is a little late in the game for that, maybe they won't need it, because they already have it? You will have to play it by ear, bring in what you have, explain the circumstances. IOs have seen it before, it is likely not their first rodeo. However, it is your first....The worst is that they give you a RFE for documentation, and address it promptly. For the future, suggest that you get several certified copies of any important documents, i.e., birth certs., divorce decrees, marriage certificates, etc.....

 

 Thank you for your guidance!

One final note, keep in mind about item 4 on your appointment sheet. For our interview, we brought every shred of paper that we had accumulated during our immigration journey until then. It was a good thing. The IO asked me to produce a copy of my divorce decree, claiming it wasn't in the file. That was a bit odd? If I didn't send a copy in with the original K1 petition, I would have gotten an RFE the year before and would have corrected it. We did the original copy in the page saver and color laser copy deal for the IO, he took the copy...and no RFE. 

Happy New Year !! 🥂🍾

They should have those documents in their files, however, that is not the best way to handle those types of documents. You really should have gotten several certified copies of these important and hard-to- obtain documents. When my wife and stepson were still in their home country, my wife had five certified copies of both of their birth certs, and her divorce decree; and several certified copies of his school transcripts. The rationale being that you didn't know who was going to require a certified copy (of course, she was judicious as to who she gave a certified copy versus a good quality copy), and it later on in our immigration journey it would likely be very difficult to obtain additional certified copies. Heck, we even got ten certified copies of our marriage certificate. However, we were purposefully stingy with certified copies. At our AOS interview, we took in an original copy of whatever document, stored in a plastic presentation sleeve, and several good double-sided color laser copies of the document. If the IO asked to see any particular document we presented the original and a copy for comparison, encouraged the IO to inspect the original and accept the copy for their files. It worked out fine. 

There is a procedure and a USCIS Form G-884, https://www.uscis.gov/g-884, that is to be used to request original document return. I have not heard how useful and successful people have been using this process. 

Good luck on your immigration journey, and your upcoming interview and Happy New Year!! 🍾🥂

48 minutes ago, rdm0141 said:

I am currently putting together my K1 visa petition packet and I have a few questions. First question is about photos. We are currently going through all out photos (we have had 5 trips in the last 2-3 years) and we are wondering how many photos should we add? Second question is about plane tickets/itineraries. Will sending copies of all my flight itineraries (included pricing) be good enough or do I need to also send boarding passes? I don't really have boarding passes saved as now you can use them on your phone instead of a physical boarding pass. I am sure these questions have been asked a million times but thanks for any feedback!

Photos are often considered secondary evidence, some folks have been approved without providing any photos. Send in around ten of them, don't put them in a fancy album. Itineraries can be to easily altered and are not as preferred as boarding passes and passport stamps, etc. Nah, these questions haven't been asked a million times, with your inquiry that would make it one million and one times these types of questions have been asked. As a direct consequence, the VJ step-by-step Visa Guide is an excellent source for answers to most all questions that have been asked a million and one times,   I would suggest that your best petition package should contain a good sampling of ALL of the types of evidence mentioned in the Vise Guide, https://www.visajourney.com/guides/k1-fiance-visa/ . As a matter of fact, to take some time to review the various sections of this site, there is a treasure of good information. All it takes is to let your fingers do the walking. Here is a USCIS link on filing tips that will likely be of use to you, https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips.

Another good source of current information that you should be sure to utilize is to review the latest couple of pages of the forums that are pertinent to your current journey. It is uncanny that so many of the same, almost verbatim questions have recently been asked recently.

Good luck on your immigration journey, and Happy New Year!! 🍾🥂