R&RM

Hi guys,

I really wish I could give you my NOA2 approval because I just got mine and I won't be needing it :-( As I had said a while back, we broke up in May but I opted to stay on for the sake of helping others in the future figure out average times from NOA1 to NOA2. It's been tough going and something about getting an approval and knowing how much I had dreamed of this day coming and starting a new countdown to when we would be back together really has me messed up right now. There are tears but they're not the tears of joy I had hoped for.

Anyway, hang in there guys, you're so close to having everything you have ever wanted and so much deserve! May your cups overflow with love and blessing, praying for approvals all round.

Best regards to all, my time here has now come to an end.

Rose

Hi gang,

It's a sad day for me, the day this journey becomes irrelevant to me. We broke up today. There's been one major issue I've been waiting for him to make up his mind about and he finally has and it qualifies as an irreconcilable difference sadly. Heartbroken doesn't begin to describe it, I'm in that phase, I can't stop crying, i won't be able to sleep, it'll be tough going for a really long time. Plus I will have my son to break the news to and that is the worst of part of it all. I've already started re-initiating him to our "just-the-two-of-us" theme. I also have practical matters to attend to as I begin to reconsider the direction of my life. In a strange way, I am still so glad because I have read too many sob stories on here, I didn't want to be one of those people who find themselves stranded in a foreign country because something went awry so when this issue came to my attention, I opted to deal with it head on so that no matter what, there are no surprises in the future. So, I'm a wreck right now, but thank God, I'm a wreck in my home country and I will figure it out. I just had to let you guys know, you will inevitably be hearing a lot less from me but I will all the same update my timeline when NOA2 comes in for the benefit of other members in the future.

I wish all of you so much joy and happiness in your lives, the visa is just the beginning, I'm praying most of all that the rest of your lives be filled with love and peace as He intended for us.

Oooh, a VSC approval just got posted from someone who sent the petition Jan. 6 (and got NOA1 Jan. 23: can't tell why that took so long...is that the hard copy arrival date, or did the petition just travel to the lockbox by way of Mexico, or something? I'd prefer the latter!)! And it's another Nairobi couple!

Awesome!!! I have a good feeling about VSC Feb filers, I think it's very likely a lot of you guys will get NOA2 no later than mid-June if they keep up the pace. Miracles might happen at CSC too but it's VSC I have a strong feeling about. I'm good either way, it will just be so exciting to see NOA2 approvals come in for people I have been patiently waiting with. I think the first 3 months are the absolute worst and couldn't have pulled through those without you guys. We're almost there gang and whoever gets there first, I'm gonna be thrilled to see it happen!

:dance: :dance: :dance:

Totally awesome Wishing you both the very best on the rest of your journey.

I hope you're right, Rose! And yes, I am starting to think about the next phase, too. I'm kind of hesitant to get Aaron working on the police clearance this early (I believe it's good for 3 months? it might be tempting fate to assume anything right now), but I have definitely been being more mindful about creating evidence of our ongoing relationship. We're talking on the phone and texting a lot more often, and I've even sent him a few things through the mail (remains to be seen whether they'll ever get to him!).

And in other news, I don't know WHAT was going on yesterday at CSC, but I like it!

Yeah, I just noticed, waaaaaaaaaaaay to go CSC , here's hoping you keep it up! Yeah, Joy, I wouldn't get the police clearance just yet either. I am getting my Kenya police clearance when I get NOA2 (only takes 3 weeks to get anyway, just as long as the NVC process). I am starting the process of getting the Chinese one now because I am fairly certain it will take a while.

How's everyone doing?

Just a bit of encouragement for everyone, I was looking at the USCIS processing chart trends and noticed that May 2011 had the highest number of completions (approvals or denials) that year. So if that trend holds true then we should be seeing a lot of action this month and with any luck, I hope some of that action comes our way. I am personally starting to get my act together. I need police clearance from China and given the unknowns in that equation, I need to start working on that this month. I think things like evidence of an ongoing relationship are things to be thinking about too...at least to start listing what it is you intend to include. Come June, I will become fully conversant with all the paperwork so that come July when the approval comes in (or if I'm lucky, June), it's pretty much touch and go. My continued good wishes to everyone on this journey and hereafter

I have to say that I am really sad that this thread turned into something for bashing the US. It is not right to bash any country. The fact is every country has its good and bad and we should respect each country, especially if you are actually planning to move there. Wherever my fiance and I go, that will always be my outlook, to treat that country that we are calling home at that time with respect, to accept the good with the bad. For those with strong sentiments against the US (I have no strong sentiments either way), I do think it is very much worth discussing it further with your partner because it sounds to me like it will be tough to have a happy marriage when there is such a strong hate for the country you will be living in. If there is anything good to come from all of this, perhaps it is for people to reflect the course of their lives and if they can be content with the direction it is heading in. I loved this question that remained unanswered:

Question for you - Are you moving to a country (USA) or relocating to join your loved one???

In a way it is both but I think the focus had better be on how great it will be to be in one place with our loved one. We all have preferences, not just about countries but about many things (and we are entitled to these preferences) but what should be at the top of all those things is our commitment to our relationship with the person we are moving to be with. I just want to start a life with my fiance and wherever we are, to be filling each other's lives with love and enjoying the good times and holding on through the bad. This is what I think about the most, not which country has won my heart the most. I am coming to the US with the very best attitude, to add value to it as I believe I have my home country and to make the most of things there and that is my general plan for any country I will live in.

I hope I don't further agitate anyone with these closing thoughts but I felt I had to say this. If anyone is offended by my statements, I apologize in advance, it certainly is not my intent.

I wish all of you and all the countries you represent the very best on this journey and more importantly, life's journey.

I believe Americans have a hugely inflated idea of how many other people want to come here. While it is a LOT in raw numbers it is nothing in percentage of worldwide population.

Yeah, our long-term goal (my fiance and I) is actually to move to Asia and later on to Europe. I visited the US, I was not overly impressed. I'm sure it is wonderful and being the birth home of my beloved, I will always accord America and Americans with respect as I expect him to respect my home country of Kenya. However, having lived in both Asia and Europe, if it were entirely up to me, we would be moving to Europe not the US. It's just that right now,the US is the most pragmatic choice. So yeah, OP, we are not all just dying to move to the US and to live and die there. As I said, it's a great place I'm sure but man, there are incredible places outside of the US and my personal bias is Europe, all you have to do is go to France or Italy to figure that out.

Aww thanks I really do feel blessed to be able to spend so much time together. He's a teacher and has a lot more time off work than most people with "regular" jobs. His boys are amazing and I think they just see how happy we are together. Their mum has some anger issues and wasn't very nice to any of them. Kids just know when they have a loving family. I was worried at first, but it's just natural now. Did I read it right on your page, you moved to China to be with your fiance? It's hard to read things like that and understand how the officers could ever think we're not true or dedicated. Best of luck to you as well! Hopefully we'll all be RFE free

Yeah, I moved to China to be with my fiance. It was really something to make that decision and a lot of my family members did not get it but chose to support my decision or didn't get it but butted out anyway, it was so important to me that I know that I know that I'm making the right decision. It was a big deal to move to another country (but then it would be an even bigger deal to say "I do"), especially China of all places but I'm really glad I went because our soon to be family got so much out of it. My favorite thing was seeing my son form a bond with my fiance, he went from calling him "dad" because I told him to to one day all on his own screaming "daddy's here!"! It was a risky move in many ways because I had to give up everything but I just thank God it was a worthwhile risk. Don't know what more I can do to convince the CO either if he/she doesn't buy our story but I trust that all will be well. I am so happy the boys are going to get a good mom now, family is just everything to kids. Having a dad has transformed my son so much already, so much happier and confident, I know having a mom like you will do wonders for those boys too. Yay, practically a week away to hitting that 3 month mark!!! Definitely been a big help having fellow Feb filers to wait with.

As you can see from my signature, our long journey has finally come to an end. A little over 4 years after meeting, we have our 10 year GC in hand. Just over 3 years from first filing for K-1. We filed as early as possible at every milepost and lucked out at every turn it seemed. Not a single hiccup the entire way except one lost letter that temporarily extended her GC. We had to get another copy so we could travel.

I know the journey is a lot more of a headache for others and I realize how much good fortune we've had. Everyone here has been great with advice along the way! We'll be married for three years this summer and we have a beautiful daughter who is almost two years old. It doesn't get much better!

Awesome! You are some of the good ones who give us so much hope. What impresses me most actually is your clearly very happy family life, that is what I wish for more than just smooth sailing with USCIS

@R&RM re: "Worst case scenario, you get an RFE and a couple of weeks later you're in the clear. That's how I'm choosing to look at it anyway, nothing I can do about anything right now." (sorry it didn't quote)

That's the best way to look at it. I am hoping we don't get RFE but probably will. I accidentally sent the wrong pile of copies and included copies of the forms, not the originals. Wanted to cry when I saw what I did, but not much I can do to change things. We're just waiting and hoping they don't notice

Let's hope for the best. By the way, I just love your story and how much time you have been able to spend not just with your love but his kids as well. It is really cool that you are all obviously getting along really well. I think that was my biggest concern was how my fiance would get along with his new dad and I just love that it doesn't look like his kids are in any way objecting to your relationship nor are you objecting to them. I truly wish you well on this journey and look forward to reading your NOA2 notice and then visa in hand one of these fine days.

Hello fellow February Norway filer! Why are we not at the same service center, I wonder. I guess it is luck of the draw.

The service center your application goes to depends on what state your USC fiance(e) is from not what country you're from. I hope your NOA2 comes in in June as predicted, that would definitely be something

Did you guys submit a separate sheet of paper explaining how you met in person with your fiance(e)? Or some of you just answered that question on the space available on the application?

Thanks

I submitted a separate sheet detailing every occasion when he or I had traveled to be with each other or with family. I've heard it's not like that's necessary though, just erred on the side of caution. Unfortunately, I forgot to include passport stamps (I'd already lost boarding passes) that would prove these trips so unless God smiles real big at me, there's a chance I will get an RFE since pics are considered secondary evidence. I included travel itineraries but those don't carry much weight I later found out because lots of people who have itineraries never actually travel so all it really proves is the intent to travel. If you think there is something you didn't do right, I wouldn't worry about it. Worst case scenario, you get an RFE and a couple of weeks later you're in the clear. That's how I'm choosing to look at it anyway, nothing I can do about anything right now.

And more on 4/26! CSC is zooming along with the approvals right now. (And good call on TSC: hopefully they will change that eventually! Bringing the absence of Kenya as an embassy option to their attention worked, at least.)

And yay, I volunteered to make an airport run tomorrow when our Nairobi embassy-mate and her fiance make their triumphal procession out of the POE (mostly because I want to live vicariously through her)! (Okay, okay: also because I have a car and want to be nice/helpful.) It makes it seem so real! Someday, not too far from now, it WILL be NOW for us, too. Just hang on.

You have a heart of gold Joy, it's great you can be there for them...and yes, good practice for the real deal coming up soon! It's kind of why I love reading NOA2 approval threads, you just know someday that's gonna be you posting :-)

Finally!

After four months of a duplicate petition roller coaster and recent congressional inquiry, we got our approval!

AWWW YEAH!

:dance: :dance: :dance: Congratulations!!!

I was just looking through the recent "Texas Service Center" approvals, and there are 3 more somewhat recent ones from VSC (yay!):

• Sent Nov. 20; NOA2 Apr. 23
  
• Sent Nov. 27; NOA2 Apr. 10
  
• Sent Dec. 9; NOA2 Apr. 12
  

I wish VJ would remove TSC as an option for K-1s!

Yeah, I've tried to agitate for TSC to be removed as an option for K-1s, even wrote to Captain Ewok as I was advised to (because he's an administrator) so maybe some day that will be done. If they even disabled it now, it would make a difference to those beginning the process now. And yay, I was so psyched to suddenly see 6 CSC approvals for 4/25...they are alive and well after all

Hello, everyone! So, I have a confession to make; I've been one of those creepy lurkers reading this forum without actually posting anything, so that comes to a stop now! Just a quick intro - I'm Dan, live in NYC. My fiancee is Lindsey. We met here while she was attending grad school, but she had to move back to South Korea once her student visa expired. It was only until after that she left that we realized that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with each other, so we've started this whole process. We've been making this long, long, long distance relationship work for nearly a year now. But we know that it'll be worth it in the end.

During the whole process of getting the I-129F together, this whole site was a tremendous help. Anyways, just wanted to say hello and commiserate that all this waiting is the worst!

Also, I wanted to share this link with you guys:

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/

It provides data for the various USCIS offices for the various forms, and you can play with it to see if you can spot any trends and whatnot. I was hoping it would be updated each quarter or so, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Anyways, hope everyone is well. I'll mostly be online, but Lindsey may post occasionally as well.

Welcome aboard! Thanks for sharing the link, I had seen it before and found it quite confusing actually. I don't know what they mean by receipts and by "all other pending". Doesn't make sense to me that there are 18,000 pending cases from January 2010 for instance. And yeah, the data would change significantly if it was updated more regularly I'm sure.

Another one came through at CSC! Some people just don't update their timelines very promptly. But yes, nothing to do but wait. Beaulahluo's fiance is going to be here sometime this weekend, and I can't think about that very much without feeling a twinge of jealousy. Soon it will be me, right? (Please?)

Yes, you're coming up soon! I do have a good feeling about VSC and as long as you fall into the majority group (which you will), you will be fine. :)That's great for Beauhlahlo :-) She must be super excited.

Its been too quiet for the past couple of days. No approvals from CSC, but we are just a small fractikn of the petitions sent in so hopefully others out there afe getting apprivals from CSC. Just a ciuple more months guys, keep your heads up high.

Yeah, I didn't want to say anything but definitely has me going to see no approvals on CSC side these last couple of days. Very odd that the last approval was April 19 that's why I really didn't buy whatever theoretical delay VSC is claiming because it seems to me like it's the CSC that's slowing down or rather halting. Yet when all's said and done, nothing to do but keep being patient At least we are certain come next year, we will have moved on with our lives with our loves so yes, let us do keep our faith and hope alive.

Captain Ewok

Great, I will try and contact him( or her). Thanks everyone

this is what i see:

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I could be wrong but looks like it might have been a glitch...over here it still says 5 months:

VSC Processing Times

I do echo sentiments that state not to worry, let us simply hope for the best because there is nothing we can do about anything anyway. All the best everyone!

Go to USCIS website and check processing time for Vermont Service Center that was updates just today, and you'll be shocked like me.

Okay, you're right but it doesn't make any sense at all ...seemed like VSC has been incredibly fast, been wishing I was with VSC myself. CSC processing times still says 5 months but that doesn't mean anything, might just not be updated. Either way, I say let's stay positive and do our best to be patient, nothing much else we can do or gain from worrying.

My Pinay Fiancee' has an illigitimate child (age 4) and after researching Philippine law, The Philippine Bureau of Immigration does not require a release from the father of the child. Does the United States require a release from the father??

The Nairobi Embassy required that I prove sole legal custody of my son or attend the interview with his biological father so that he can state in person that he has authorized travel for my son. I opted to file for sole legal custody in which case as the sole custodian, the embassy did not require consent from the father since he has basically legally given up his rights as a father by not even contesting sole custody. I would expect that the US embassy policies are generally the same however, I can't be certain and perhaps others more familiar with your embassy can assist. If it is like the Nairobi embassy, then your fiancee should be ready either to attain sole legal custody or attend the interview with the father. All the best!

I've noticed that there are still quite a few people who join VJ and then list the Texas Service Center is the center processing their I-129F for the fiance(e) visa yet it is my understanding that this center no longer processes this type of applications. I have no idea who to ask but seems to me it would be easiest if TSC wasn't even an option when someone is filling their info so that we get more accurate data on here. Is there any way to easily get this done? Just feel like right now, despite VJ's best efforts, incorrectly filling in service centers is impacting the usefulness of statistics. Thanks!

I think it's complicated. It is very unfortunate that there are scammers out there and I don't think it is that simple to just figure out who's who. I agree that especially when the petitioner is a woman, there are a lot of men who perfectly capable of acting like your dream man all the while feeling nothing for you. Though some female beneficiaries are just as bad, I think it's on the whole a lot easier for men to pull off scams of that sort. That said, reading these "return to sender" kinds of posts always leaves a bad after-taste for me because the fact is, sometimes the marriage just failed and the USC can't face it and begins to conclude this person never really cared for them. There are some cases where it is rather obvious what the partner's intent was (to just gain immigration benefits) and in those cases it is absolutely in order that something be done about it. However, it is very hard to know sometimes how sure the USC can be that this is not just an unfortunate case of marriage gone bad like it might have with any other USC. For my case, I have actually been extra careful to make it clear that I do not NEED to live and die in the US. I would have been just as happy if my USC partner came to live with me in Kenya. We also do not intend to live and die in the US...there is a whole world out there and we hope to get around quite a bit and expose our kids to different cultures to avoid that all too well known attitude that America the great is the be-all and end-all to everything. America is one great country. There are others. There are many others. Given all of these discussions and arrangements, in the event (however minimal) that our marriage did not work out...I will be very shocked and very devastated to find my fiance talking about "sending me back" as if my one goal in life was to nail an American, get him to marry me so that I can live in his great country forever and ever. If the marriage failed, honestly, I will be enough of a wreck, I won't be needing immigration benefits hanging over my head.

Yet again, I repeat, it is complicated and I very much sympathize with the many who have genuinely been taken advantage of. It's only human that when things fall apart and especially when it is clear you have been so thoroughly used, to want to do something about it and with the immigration process as it is, that is exactly the chance you get. I would just advise that the USC be very sure before acting on their "instinct" that they have been used...and beneficiaries, please, it is so unfair to use anyone in any country and any guise at all, if you're out there, please step back from this process now, it's just WRONG to do so.

On a final note, I think another danger lies in the fact that as beneficiaries begin to understand at what stage their immigration status becomes more than less final...they will then be sure to act the ideal partner until they have their 10 year green card. So either way, danger lurks. I pray that no one reading this has to endure such pain and for those of you that have already had to endure it, to somehow be able to heal and move forward.

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: I think this is the visa approval that has made me the happiest yet!!! So glad for you guys, feel like it was my own case that had turned around and got a happy ending. I love it when love conquers all :-) Wishing you guys an absolutely wonderful marriage and life ahead.