Greg and Karen

yes indeed.

Thanks for the quick response. We will be sending in the mail today.

We received notification that our packet 3 was mailed from the Montreal embassy. My fiance is currently visiting me in the U.S., so we are not able to get the actual form from the mail. We have completed all of the requirements in the packet 3 and would like to send back to the embassy while she is in the U.S. If mailing from here is this the correct mailing address to send the packet 3 for the Montreal Embassy?

Mailing address:

315 Place D'Youville Suite 500

Montreal, QC

H2Y0A4

Thanks in advance

I know this has been asked a million times, so here is a million and 1.

I called the embassy and they said that packet 3 was mailed out today. Does this mean we can go ahead and fill out the forms and return the packet 3 checklist to them?

Or do we have to wait for packet 3 to be received in the mail and send it back with the original notice?

Thanks in advance

They requested the same thing from me. However, I sent them 27 photos with date stamped on the front, they told me that they want me with my handwritting to write on the back of each photo the date and place. I did so and I also sent a copy of my passport along with Entry/Exit airport stamps at Cairo Airport. In addition, I sent a copy of my itinerary and my boarding passes. They updated my status from RFE to RFE Response Review on 9/12/12. Hopefully they'll be satisfied with this and get NOA2 soon.

Yeah, that was the other thing I sent, I also sent copies of passport pages with the stamp showing entry into Toronto. I did read the RFE letter over 100 times at it stated that at a minimum it would take 14 days to process. So not including the recent holiday it took us about 12 days after getting the update that it was received by them. I have looked at other timelines at that seems to be the average time to get a response. Good Luck on your journey. I am sure it will get approved.

What was your RFE about?

They wanted additional evidence that we met in the last two years prior to the date they received our application. I actually sent this the first time with flight confirmations, email conversations between the two of us confirming travel arrangements, and photos showing us together during that time frame both in Toronto and here in Atlanta. Apparently, that was not enough. So I sent additional pictures, emails, tickets from attractions we visited in both locations, and an affidavit from both my mother and sister confirming our relationship and us meeting prior to the date USCIS received our application. This seemed to satisfy their requirement and we finally got the approval.

This whole time it felt like we was holding our breath, and once we saw the approval we was able to breath air again. I know everyone on this site can share the same feeling.

After receiving the RFE, I kind of stayed away from the site. Today at exactly 4pm we finally received an update on our application. APPROVED!!!! Such a weight of our shoulders. Now we just need help from anyone willing to assist on what we need to do next. I know there is the guides and I have gone through them before and even following it, still ended up with a RFE. I would like to ensure the rest of the process goes better.

Thanks,

RFE issued 8/14

RFE notice Received 8/25

RFE notice sent back 8/27

RFE notice received by USCIS 8/28

Approval 9/17

Just sent RFE back to VSC today by overnight, so they will be getting it back tomorrow. The senator office contacted me and requested my tracking number for the package so they can track its arrival to VSC and make an inquiry about the processing of the application once it is delivered to them. Hoping they will have some influence on getting this finally approved.

REMEMBER: When responding to a Request for Evidence it is extremely important that you place the blue coversheet on the top of the response you send to them. The VSC receives thousands of pieces of correspondence each day, if the blue coversheet is not on the top of the response it will be placed in “general” correspondence and NOT sorted as a priority, which may delay your case.

Thanks Kennard for the advice. SInce we ended up getting a RFE I definitely have read the notice over a hundred times and noticed in the instructions that it was mentioned to place the original blue notice on top of what is sent in. I have been working on this information all day by combining information I already sent over to them with additional information. I decided to get affidavits from my mom and sister just to make sure I had an item from each request option they provided. Now I will be overnighting it to them tomorrow so they can get it by Tuesday. Senator office has been tracking my file and they asked me to notify them when I send the response back so that they can contact USCIS and make sure it is processed. Not sure how much that will help. Hopefully we will get a clean response.

I just received my RFE notice yesterday. They are requesting additional information that we met in the last 2 years prior to them receiving our application. I am pretty sure I sent this with itineraries, boarding passes, passport stamps and photos, but apparently it was not enough. I admit the photos did not have date and place handwritten on the back of each photo.

I do have a question for everyone so I can make sure I do this right. THe notice states I need to send evidence of us meeting and that is should include, but not limited to:

-Own statement which include the date, place, and circumstances of our meeting supported by additional evidence

-Copies of travel documents (itineraries, tickets, etc)

-Photos with date and place handwritten on back

-Letters written to each other after each of our meetings with each other referencing the specific data and place

-Photocopies of our passport showing we were in the same location at the same time

-Affidavits from friends, neighbors, or other knowledgable associates that can swear to us meeting each other at a specific date and place.

Do we need all of the above, or just as much of the evidence that meet the above criteria? For instance, If I can corroborate us meeting using my statement, photos, passport, photos with date and place written on them, text messages, emails, tickets from attractions we visited in her city and mine, itineraries, and boarding passes. Do we still need the affidavits from other sources?

The include but not limited to part is not clear on whether we need all of those items bulleted, or if we just need items that fit the criteria but could provide additional evidence that falls outside of those categories.

Thanks for everyone's help and responses in advance.

Hopefully, it's something simple and they'll approve the petition quickly once received.

In the small batch I'm following there have already been two RFE's.

Aug 22

Feb 14 RFE X 2

Well I am definitely one of the RFEs for the 14th. How long does it take to receive the RFE notification in the mail? Being that I am in Georgia I am hoping the close proximity to Vermont would mean I would get it by Friday being it was mailed today. Is there a chance that it was mailed yesterday and they are just now updating me on it being mailed?

Just received RFE this morning. Really pissed because I literally sent every thing (pictures, flight itineraries showing completed trips to each other, receipt for engagement ring) and cannot think what could be the reason for RFE. It is really frustrating to have waited all this time only to be given an RFE. They could have told me this months ago.

I couldn't resist it so I called USCIS this morning after 5 months and 3 days. I was expecting worse but the lady was really kind and she told me they are still working on January petitions and she can't put a service request for me before another 30 days. I just wish VSC would just go ahead and update their processing times to a more accurate timeframe. Anyway it's a new week indeed. So hopefully it will be full of actions and many petitions will be approved mostly from January so they can reach our petitions. Good luck everybody

I think the misconception about the processing time is that everyone thinks 5 months is when you reach the 5 month mark. I contacted my senator to request assistance in expediting my application thinking my 5 month processing window was reached, but USCIS considers 5 month processing to include a full 5 months. If you filed February 1st, then 5 months is reached on July 1st but they consider that 5 month window to be completed before heading into your 6 month. Technically the 5 month window would be before August 1st and not by July 1st.

Yeah, it is much easier to remain patient when you know they are processing applications on a first come first serve basis, but that is obviously not the case when applications from other countries are being processed at a much faster rate than others. I can understand if a few applications take longer to process, but when it is every application from the same country that is taking longer than everyone else, to me they should break the processing timelines out by country and not generalize it giving a false perception that all applications are processed within the same timeframe.

What adds fuel to the fire is that Vermont was ahead of processing applications compared to California, now California is almost a month ahead of Vermont. I know we do not have a choice but to wait for a response, just hate to see the inconsistency in the way they are processing applications.

I was just wondering what determines which applications get processed first. I noticed in the timeline that there is a pattern of applications where the applicant is from a certain country gets approved before applications from other countries. I am assuming that within each service center the processors are organized into different groups responsible for certain regions. Just wondering what is the method for them processing applications cause it is a little disheartening to have filed 1-2 months before someone else and see their application approved before yours.

Too late for him to correct anything The petition has been sent.

I wouldn't worry about an RFE until it actually happens... and if it does... well, at least you'll know why you got it. This process is stressful enough as it is, don't over stress about things you cannot control yet What's done, it's done!

Yeah, you are right. I am not going to stress over it. I am hoping they are in a good mood when they do review it and accept the evidence of us meeting (plane tickets and photos) and allow her to describe how we met during the interview process. Plus I have seen some RFE's get sent back and the NOA2 come back 2 weeks later, so that is some good comfort to know that if it does happen it will be delayed just a couple more weeks. Knock on wood! hoping is does not RFE. Thanks for your help.

I was reviewing the I-129f that I submitted and noticed that I did not fully answer question 18. I did check that we met within the last 2 years, but misread the question where it asked us to explain how we met. I initially thought the question was asking us to explain how the relationship was established if we have NOT met. After reading it again today, I noticed it was a two sided question. So, basically even though I answered Yes to us meeting within the last 2 years and a submitted proof of us meeting (photos, passport stamps, airline tickets, etc). Will not answering this question cause an RFE, or will we just be asked to provide this information during the interview in Montreal?