E & S

I am a august filer to. I recently moved and updated my new address with Uscis and also requested usps mail forwarding. I heard that even though we update our new address with uscis they sometimes send letters to old address lol. I am little worried if that would be our case unfortunately because I noticed that usps mail forwarding is not working perfectly

either (they missed some of our mails)

if I call uscis customer service, would they know if I am approved or rfe? or would they just read off the same uscis case status which I can see from their website?

We'd filed an AR-11 recently and when we were at the USCIS service center to get my wife's i-551 stamp they said you have to call after filing an AR-11 to make sure it actually takes effect in a timely manner. According to them things may still get sent to your previous address otherwise.

Does any other person check the website like 1000 times a day or look out for the mailman everyday even on Sunday?!#$!#$*& I guess waiting is getting to me

Maybe not 1000 times a day, but at least 2-3 times.

Grr, my wife applied for her condition remove on 2015/08/10, got NOA 2015/08/11, and her bio appointment 2015/09/11 (yeah, inauspicious, but meh), and like many others we've still got no response from VSC.

And of course we're in the process of buying a house, and are now having to re-explain to the ignorant doc checkers at the mortgage company that the combination of the Green Card with the i-797 that extended it for a year is not technically 'expired' despite the date printed on it... :/

On the plus side, after much hunting around FL USCIS offices in InfoPass, we got a June 1 8am appointment and my wife got an i-551 stamp in her passport with Pending i-751 written above it. On the bonus side, they mentioned that our case is actually being processed right now. *crosses whatever body parts can be crossed*

Mine has been approved on May 27th. I am a VSC filer

Congrats! If you don't mind, what was your NOA date?

Grr, my wife applied for her condition remove on 2015/08/10, got NOA 2015/08/11, and her bio appointment 2015/09/11 (yeah, inauspicious, but meh), and like many others we've still got no response from VSC.

And of course we're in the process of buying a house, and are now having to re-explain to the ignorant doc checkers at the mortgage company that the combination of the Green Card with the i-797 that extended it for a year is not technically 'expired' despite the date printed on it... :/ The initial doc checkers seemed to understand, but whatever twit they have doing 'final review' is doing a lazy Sunday through the queue... On Memorial weekend of course while everyone that I can directly talk to is off for the day and Monday...

At VFS do you submit all documents at once or someone asks you for each document one by one.

For us they apparently went through and took the required forms and would have taken the medical results if we'd had them ready. They did not take the evidence of relationship or the i-134 and told my fiance to bring them with her to the interview.

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

We just called as soon as we received our appointment letter. We waited since we'd never gotten our packet 3 and so had little confidence in receiving packet 4. Scheduling the appointment was probably the most quick and painless part of the process so far.

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

Congratulations on your success. Praying my fiance has similar good fortune this Tuesday!

Do you happen to remember what questions were asked? We're reviewing our last bits of evidence and such. After 2.5 years together we're pretty confident, but reading some of the reviews, especially regarding interracial engagements and K-1 visa, had gotten us a bit nervous.

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

I'd definitely recommend the Sofitel Mumbai BKC if you can afford it. It's a very short walking distance to the consulate and a relatively quick autorickshaw ride to Lilavati Hospital for the medicals. It's an Accor hotel so if you're a member of Le 'Club (formerly A Club) you can book with points. It was also available for us to pay for using american airlines miles.

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

Even in VFS its that strict?

I can at least attest that VFS Mumbai wouldn't let me (the petitioner) in with my fiance (applicant) when we went earlier this week. Each VFS office appears to be different as we've gone into VFS's Bangalore office together before without issue.

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

PSK office in Ahmedabad has their own rules. They strictly ask an evidence which states that PCC is required by an immigration office or provide an interview letter issued by Mumbai Consulate to apply for PCC certificate. So We are going to provide PCC issued by local DSP police office which requires only NOA2 to issue PCC for NVC application.

I'm surprised they wouldn't accept a Packet 3 or 4 letter along with a print out of the appropriate "Instruction package" as all of these ones clearly state the requirement: (Package 3 - K1, Package 3 - K3, Package 4 - K1, Package 4 - K3 ).

*shrug*

My spouse lives in Ahmedabad. PSK in Ahmedabad said that they need an interview letter or a letter from immigration office to indicate they have officially requested PCC for immigration process.

This thread was just posted this morning saying NVC will waive PCC requirement if your file will be sent to Mumbai consulate.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/368087-passport-office-police-clearance-for-mumbai-consulate-confirmed/

I will ask NVC once my file has reached into their system. If you have already got your NVC case number, then I would definitely suggest to call them and verify this information and see all operators are giving the same information. Also share your findings on these thread so others will benefit from your query

Not sure about Ahmedabad PSK, but Bangalore PSK didn't require any proof that it was for immigration purposes. You just had to apply / schedule from the Passport Seva Project site. If you had already had police clearance done when your passport was issued, and it was issued by the same regional passport office (RPO) they may be able to finish things the same day as your PCC appointment; Otherwise the may ask you to come back after the police have completed a check.

Since my fiance's passport was from another RPO they had to do the full check. This involved the PSK forwarding the request to the police station near where we live (took 2 days for station to receive). They contacted my fiance and asked for a couple local references. After the local police station was done they forwarded it to the Bangalore police commissioners office who did some final check before forwarding the clearance on to the PSK. For us it took 2 weeks to get the PCC after the original appointment at the PSK.

Enjoy,

Erik

I would suggest Email once more packet 3 OR

If there is someone who could print the documents and drop off to the nearest VFS Office ? Usually VFS will give a receipt and we can track using that receipt.

My suggestion regarding resending the docs are because it has been 4 weeks since u guys have sent packet 3. It is possible interview date has not been set but , DOS should have an update that consulate received Packet 3.

We dropped our packet 3 off at VFS Bangalore Office (luckily a short autorickshaw ride away for us) on 4/26. When we did they said they only give receipt if you're dropping of a packet 4 (and the receipt is for the courier fee). The VFS phone support folks generally haven't been trained up on immigrant visa process yet from our experience. The VFS email support folks are a bit slow to respond but will usually get back to you after they ask and get a response back from the consulate. We also had trouble getting an answer from them and DOS about whether or not the consulate had actually received our packet 3.

In other news, The Mumbai consulate released updated interview schedules on May 22nd (same day we received our packet 4, lol) and again on 23rd morning (and now the June schedule appears full). You may want to check if you now appear on the list.

Best of luck.

Enjoy,

Erik

So far I just been calling them every evening. So far nothing. Yesterday they told me they are not scheduling interview now they only do it first week of each month. I think it's false as I read on guide by saylin but I guess keep calling daily.

Not sure about other locations, but for Mumbai at least they released the first draft of the June schedule around May 10th with roughly half the dates covered (not my appointment) and then released an update that included the rest of June on May 22nd (which includes my appointment). If you aren't on the schedule yet, then hope for next month.

Enjoy,

Erik

Wrong. Earlier, there was Chennai consulate too, but from Jan 2012, this particular consulate has stopped processing immigration visas and all cases of this particular consulate have been moved to Mumbai. So now, it's Delhi and Mumbai only for IVs, where as for all nonimmigrant visas, it's still Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. As for VFS, they've been working hand in hand with the consulates for a very long time now, and from personal experience, I'd say they've been very helpful. VFS doesn't have anything to do with your interview scheduling. If you need info about your interview schedule, you'll need to call up NVC/DOS. These are the only two bodies who can help you in this regard.

Pl check your information before you post it, for it can be very misleading.

Ok, I forgot some got migrated to New Delhi, but I clearly specified "immigration" visa. I'm very familiar with this as our case was moved from Chennai to Mumbai. VFS only recently took over the email and phone support for immigrant visa at the mumbai consulate. I suggest you check http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/immigrant_visas.html where it clearly states:

Important Announcement: Effective Wednesday, February 01, 2012, all immigrant visa inquiries will be handled by VFS. Please direct emails to infousmumbai@vfshelpline.com or call 0120 6611411 for questions and inquiries.

As far as VFS's capabilities, the first couple times I called that VFS # the folks didn't know about immigrant visas, and the next time a month later they gave inaccurate information that was corrected by someone at a the VFS Bangalore office.

Might I suggest you also check your information especially before stating "check your information before you post it, for it can be very misleading".

Well, unfortunately they recently reorganized a bunch of stuff so that all the other Indian consulates immigration visas have been consolidated to Mumbai and outsource phone/email support to VFS whom so far have proven to be fairly useless and inefficient.

All can suggest is email an inquiry to infousmumbai@vfshelpline.com (with subject "Request for Specific Information" and wait the week or so to get an actual reply (you'll get an auto response immediately, a standard form reply 2 days later, and then wait another 3-5 days for the real reply).

Enjoy,

Erik

It estimated I'd get my NOA2 about 3 months before I actually did. So YMWV

We're in a similar boat. Me being an older divorce and her being younger, but I'm not letting it worry me because I know we have plenty of proof of a real ongoing relationship and family approval. Just take the red-flags as an indication that you'll need to have either provided or provide additional proof about the validity of your relationship.

In our case we've got the photos (and ticket stubs, etc.) from over 2 years of being together, taking trips together and showing our siblings/parent's meeting, and not just at our engagement. We're making extra sure that she knows details about me, my family and my past just in case any questions arise during the interview.

And as catknit mentioned, just view it like a legal case. The stronger the supporting evidence (in quality, not necessarily quantity) the better.

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

I have friends who are employers who use Craigslist. They use it primarily for entry level or low level positions since it's not necessarily cost effective to advertise on the others for those positions. Whether you are using it or any site to find a job caution is advised. If it sounds to good to be true, then it is. If they require a fee or confidential data upfront, run...

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

Congrats!! :dance:

If you didn't sign a form and fax/send it back to your Senator they did nothing and it was just your time to get reviewed. This is all a waiting game.

The 2 business day count was from when they received the privacy form I'd faxed back...

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

• Monster - Good all-around
  
• Dice - Decent for tech field
  
• LinkedIn - Good all around professional networking / job hunting site
  
• Craigslist - Be cautious on this one, but it does have legit postings
  

Hope it helps...

Enjoy,

Erik

Congratulations!

We just got notice of our approval as well!!!! Soo happy!!!!

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

Great news everyone, USCIS Vermont Service Center (VSC) finally got it's act together and approved our I-129f Fiance Visa petition!!!!!

I don't know, if it's because I contacted an US Senator or what. However, like magic, 2 business days after filling out the appropriate paperwork for his office to take a look. Boom, we had approval! Only took 200 days after our NOA1...

Now it's on to the next steps.

Thanks everyone for all your support! Yay!!!!!!

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik

They apparently do post an update every month; however, they sometimes update it with old data. Note the updated 'Posted' time versus the "as of" dates.

So, for both VSC and CSC it currently list "Posted: January 25, 2012" and then the content is "as of: November 30, 2011".

Thanks and Enjoy,

Erik