Takeo

After further research, I found that to schedule with the Tokyo embassy, my fiancee needs to email them requesting the interview date. She sent it out yesterday, we'll see if she gets a response. Any information from those of you who have gone through the interview process in Tokyo will be appreciated. We hope to get an interview on August 12.

Hi all,

My fiancee paid online for the Visa last night and tried to choose an appointment date on the Travel Doc website, but when she gets to the calendar section, all days are greyed and it says something about Interview Dates are Unavailable. Did any of you have this? Is there a few days for the Travel Doc website to open up the calendar so that she can choose a date? Appreciate some feedback. My fiancee will obtain her police certificate and schedule her medical evaluation so we are getting there, but being unable to schedule the interview after paying was an unexpected hurdle.

Congrats Ramsey, glad your case is moving along. I'm ending a 9 day trip to Barcelona with my fiancee, and will spend our last night back in Japan before I return home and we resume the visa process. It's been great being with her after this challenging visa process and am fired up to complete it. Enjoy you time with your fiancee buddy, well deserved!

Hi Ramsey, Congrats!! I'm currently in Japan visiting my fiancee and got the email notice that you responded and I read the good news! It's been a journey but you are almost there. We slowed things down cause of this trip but will schedule the embassy interview soon. Our NVC to embassy step was fast. Aloha my friend!

Aaaahhhh I FINALLY GOT THE NOA2 !!! THEY JUST SENT ME AN E-MAIL A FEW HOURS AGO!

Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity

On June 20, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

This is a beautiful day, good luck to those who haven't received their NOA2 yet http://static-forums.visajourney.com//public/style_emoticons/default/kicking.gif%C2'>

My photos didn't have a date stamp, but I made sure that I listed who was in the photo and exactly where it was taken. The photos coincided with airline boarding stubs and passport stamps. If you feel it may help, here is the link on how to add dates to your photos. I used the Photoscape becaues it takes he file info and then allows you to stamp the date, it's not faking, just printing exactly when the photo was taken. I will use this for the embassy interview evidence. http://www.ehow.com/how_7839700_add-time-stamp-digital-photo.html

Well that's kind of of stupid lol.does this happen to everyone?.and how long from when they first say they have mailed it out,do they actually Decide to mail it?

It is very stupid, it confuses people every single week. Try do a search for "Two RFEs" and you'll see that this topic is posted all the time. I guess it would be too much to ask the USCIS to have a first notice saying, "We have decided to mail you an RFE" and another one which says, "Your RFE has been mailed" and "here is your tracking number". Who knows how long it is before it actually gets placed in mailbox. Someone here had stated that his friend worked for the USCIS and said that it all depends when the "assistant" gets the actual RFE mailed, how's that for efficiency? What if the assistant is sick or on vacation? Some people get their hard copy in a few days from the second notice, I have seen others wait over a week. Pray that you are one of the lucky ones and don't waste time sending it back if you want it processed quicker. Many send it back Express Mail or FedEx/UPS overnight. I tracked mine to make sure they got it, even if it cost me $$$.

Nobody can tell you exactly how long an RFE to approval will take, but if you look at Igor's list, you can see the time between RFE and NOA2. You can also click on the timelines of individuals who had RFE and check their dates to see how long it took between RFE Reply and NOA2, it's a good gauge, but not a totally accurate predicator as every case is unique.

There are usually two notices of RFE, one when they decide to do an RFE, and one when they actually mail it. They both say the same thing, that it "has been mailed", but the first one really doesn't mean it was actually mailed. Lots of people get confused because they get two notices or their RFE dates change, this is why.

As for the average time to get NOA2 after the RFE is received, it varies from a few days to even over a month. There have been some members who got it in two days, I would guess the average that I have seen by reviewing Igor's list is about 2 weeks. Good luck with your RFE!

For the I129f process, the petitioner has to prove with "primary" evidence that he/she has met the beneficiary in person. Pictures, emails, facebook messages are not considered "primary" evidence of meeting in person. They really can't confirm that the people in the pictures are who you say they are. If you don't have plane or train stubs to prove you two met in person, submit proof that you were in Canada like receipts, ATM withdawals with your name on it, bank statements showing transactions in Canada. You can also submit evidence that your fiancee came to US by submitting similar evidence. Good luck on your journey, you should be approved very soon!

We received our NOA2 yesteday, just wondering what exactly happens when the NVC receives the package from the service center. Do they just forward it on to the embassy? Do they set up the interview date? Just curious what goes on at this step.

Thanks!

Your petition will be assigned a case number. You can call the NVC number, make sure you have your receipt number and your fiancee's birthdate. By the time I called, my case number had been assigned and was mailed out to the embassy that day. With that date, I was able to go to the DHL website and track the case using tricks that others figured out. There is a thread about it. I found my case by the ship date from NVC and knew when it arrived at the embassy, two days later my fiancee got her Packet 3.

Hi there, my (soon to be) fiancée and I run an online business together and we met at a job where we were working somewhat illegally in another country (where neither of us are from). I'm wondering how many of those items will be potentially damaging to our success in this process and if we should hire an attorney to help us explain what we need to include in the best light possible?

I'm just starting to fill out the I-129F now.

Specific questions/concerns, any advice greatly appreciated:

1. I'm worried they'll think we're getting married just to do business - is this a valid concern? We've lived together, traveling the world for the past 2 years and are very much NOT doing it for work reasons (as I think the tax implications are worse when we're married anyway!)

2. I don't want to lie on our application about how we met in any way shape or form. So if we met working in another country, will our employment situation be questioned? It was just an unofficial job, nothing against the law for us but the company could get in trouble. But are they concerned about these issues in this process?

3. We've been traveling and working, sometimes on tourist visas (but usually on work visas). Are they concerned about this?

4. I'm having a hard time finding out what police records suffice for where we've lived for longer than 6 months to a year at a time (or more). Anyone have any tips or examples?

Probably one of the best resources is reading up the threads on this forum. Use the search method, I'm sure someone has had a similar situation. From what I've read from other members, lawyers have been expensive and not better informed than the educated forum member here. There are resources here like checklists, sample forms, even timelines from members to help you gauge how fast things are being processed. Read as much as you can here before you even try to complete your I129F packet.

We have been approved!!!

Talking to my fiance now, not sure who is crying more; so happy cannot control it.

Post Decision Activity

On June 4, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

Awesome! I got chicken skin just reading it! I know there were times when you questioned when this day would come, no thanks to your incompetent lawyer. Take time to celebrate, then get back on track, there's a whole new bunch of things to do. They will mail your petition to the NVC, you can call there to find out when they receive it. By the time I called, it had already been assigned a number and was sent off to the Embassy. There is a trick to tracking your case from the NVC if you know the exact date it ships and which embassy it's going to. I tracked my package and sure enough, 2 days later my fiancee got her packet 3 which she is working on. We have been through these rough times together, let's all keep in touch through the next stages if we need support!

Praying for the others who had April RFEs!

JD&Coconut, thanks for asking buddy So, after speaking with a Tier 2, apparently these is a "glitch in the system that many applicants are experiencing". He said that I should disregard that status update and to wait until I get my RFE reply. What I sent them was very simple, and straight-to-the-point. Basically 2 letters of intent, signed by my fiance & I. Hopefully the fact that they are that simple makes them process it faster. I'm just really bummed that I would get 2 RFE's....I think that's a very rare occurrence and should never happen if the CSC officers knew what they were doing.

Any updates on your RFE reply?!?

Glad to hear that Ramsey! Hopefully you'll get your long awaited NOA2 in less than 2 weeks.

Hey everyone,

So I just wanted to give you an update on my case. Unfortunately, the USCIS and CSC continue to be highly incompetent on my case. I received my 2nd RFE on Saturday, and just sent it out this morning (apparently this time they want a letter of intent). I don't understand why they wouldn't just say that in the first RFE and save me about a month of nerve-racking frustration. Anyways, they should be receiving my reply by noon tomorrow so that's not a problem. The problem is that I just received a text/e-mail saying that they updated my case status and when that happened, I went to check My Case Status on www.uscis.gov and this is what I found:

On June 3, 2013, the post office returned your document I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E) as undeliverable. If you do not contact us at 1-800-375-5283 within 180 days from June 3, 2013, this document will be destroyed and you will need to file a new application with fee.

What on earth are they talking about? What could be the meaning of that? Is this just an error? or did they mistake me with someone else? I am on hold right now to speak with a Tier 2 ISO to clarify what happened but it just frustrates me so much how a branch of the US government could be this stupid.

I was happy to hear that you finally got your hard copy for the second RFE. I can't believe they didn't ask for the letter of intent during the first RFE. Didn't someone say they hired new workers to help with the CSC backlog, if so, I can only guess how many errors the new workers are making.

That message you go it weird, just when you thought, okay, second reply done, you get that! I really hope you get answers today. Hang in there! Keep us updated.

I used this tracking method and after figuring out the spacing to input the reference number, found my package arrived at the counsulate on 5/28 and sure enough, my fiancee got her packet 3 on 5/30! thanks for sharing!

I have never receive packet 3. Its been 12 days. What should I do?

Your timeline does not indicate that your case has left NVC and received by the embassy, has it? If you called NVC and found out when it left, there is a trick to use the DHL website to guess when your case may have been received by the embassy.

Mine took 9 or 10 days, but it was a simple one, missed a question. Others have waited weeks, sometimes longer than a month unfortunately. There really isn't any consistency. It's generally less than 2 weeks, but there have been exceptions. I started an April RFE thread, there are still a few member there still waiting.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Takeo! I am trying to be as patient as I can. I sincerely hope that it is just a computer glitch and that they actually are still reviewing my RFE (almost 3 weeks now since they got it). I contacted the USCIS 2 times so far today to speak with a Tier 2, the first one was completely unhelpful, mean and so rude, she closed the phone in my face and I was being so nice and reasonable. The 2nd Tier 2 I talked to (keep in mind I waited about 1 hr 30 min each time) was a lot more helpful and understanding, however he could not really tell me if this RFE is the same as the original that was sent in or if it is actually a new RFE. He said that he worked in the CSC before and that if I got a reply saying the received my evidence, then they are definitely reviewing it. If it is a re-maling, then that doesn't mean the notice is a deal breaker, it is just that the office assistant has to send those out when I make a request.

I'm still pretty confused but at least he helped me a little bit. I am praying for a quick adjudication/decision so that I may move on to the next step of the process.

Takeo, has your package arrived in Tokyo yet? My uncle was telling me it is a good idea for your fiance to do all her medical exams before the interview so she can schedule it right away.

Hi Ramsey,

When my I129F was delayed, I never called because I never heard of a successful phone call. It almost sounds like their job is to tell people, that they are within the processing times, or, it hasn't been 60 days yet, yada yada yada. They have outiright lied to people and I just knew it would be more frustrating for me to call. Contacting my Senator's office wasn't much help either. At first they appeared very helpful, but in the end, they really weren't.

As for my case, I read about how to track the case from NVC to the embassy using the DHL website. I guess people have figured out a way to guess which is your mailing if you have the ship date. NVC said 5/22, so I did the search and found 1 package leaving the NVC on 5/22 to Tokyo. It arrived on 5/28, not sure if it's Japan date or US date, but either way, it's at the Tokyo embassy.

My fiance is flying later this year, probably September, so there is no immediate rush for her to get the interview ASAP. In fact, I think if she does her medical eval later, it may also be used for the green card process, so she says anyway. I'm visiting in a few weeks, so I will hand carry the financial support statement, letter of intent, copies of the NOA2, etc. It's nice to take a breather and not feel so rushed.

Response time varies, some folks get approved in a few days, others have waited weeks. Unfortunately, there is no consistency. The 60 day response just gives them time to not have to explain why they are taking so long. You can read other threads on RFE response times, or go to Igor's list and check approved I129Fs to see how long others waited for their RFE. Hope you are one of the lucky ones and gets your RFE soon, the wait can be a bit stressful, so close yet so far. Good luck!

Hey lovelylovegia, glad to hear you are making some progress, please do share the e-mail address with us because I am very curious. There was an update on my case status last night saying that I was mailed an RFE (again) which is so weird, this is the 4th time they say that I was e-mailed an RFE. I'm just very confused myself and very sad I don't know what to think of this...I will be calling the USCIS at 8:00 AM so I can speak to the second level to sort this out. Thanks for your insight.

What are they doing with your case??? Geesh, I'm praying that it's a computer problem and the notice will finally be a Post Decision. Hope you get answers soon, I know how agonizing it is to not know what the heck is going on. If there is any silver lining to this, the patience I have learned from this grueling K1 process is also helping me in my relationship and the whole planning the wedding thing. After K1, there's still the green card process...but as I said before, it is all worth it! My happiness is worth it!

Finally!!! NOA2

Congrats!!!

Nothing yet, my friend, and I understand your frustration, I am getting equally mad & sad about it... It's been 15 days and pretty soon it will be 3 weeks and we haven't received our NOA2 yet what's even worse is that so many people around my WAC# have received their NOA2's already....I hope that means that we're getting much closer. I'm praying so hard that I receive it in the next few days. We have to keep the faith alive!

Good luck to you too buddy! My case has been forwarded to the Tokyo Embassy yesterday but I keep dropping in to make sure my fellow April RFE friends get their NOA2 soon! Keep the faith!

Case status updated at 1 AM to RFE review, cross your fingers!

Good luck!

I called the CSC today and they said that leaving out the consulate was an error on their part. They said that they will send me a new copy in at least 15 days~ Easy peasy~

Yay!

Just checked it right now, nothing yet....Any news on your end?

When I got my notice, it was 9:00 PM California time. I actually checked status, and saw the Post Decision, then a few minutes later, I got a text, and then an email. Praying you folks get approval soon! Hang in there!