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Is that an African or European swallow?

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

Is that an African or European swallow?

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

This is not a place to debate drug laws, in my opinion. What they decide is best for their family is none of our affair.

Marijuana has been decriminalized in many US states, the petitioner is aware of her fiance's habit and is accepting of it. Many people use it medically (fibromyalgia, cancer, migraine, MS, and other people suffering from diseases which cause pain). Not all people who use them need rehabilitation, although if this was an issue with say Heroin, or Cocaine, I'd entirely agree with you. We also do not know if Marijuana is legal in the beneficiary's country. Many countries it is legal, and he may be concerned about the process where it acceptable and legal in his own. May not have even considered it, as it's not something he'd normally have to consider!
OP:
If your fiance smoked for medical reasons and can prove thus its not an issue, however its rare that the medical doctor will test unless your fiance tells him that he uses drugs or it was posted in your I-129F that he used drugs. Your stepson should not be barred from the K2, however they may not allow him to travel without his father. I would recommend to speak with an immigration attorney, they often offer free consults.
For your fiance, have him drink lots of water, a gallon a day. It will flush his system out, the drug stores itself in fat cells, so if he's very slender and has a high metabolism he should be fine. Unless you live in a state where it's decriminalized I would recommend for both of your sakes, that you quit the MJ until it's legal.

U.S. States only have a ban on marriages between first cousins (e.g. the children of two siblings) not second cousins (e.g. the children of two first cousins). There is no known increased risk of birth defects between second cousins, and there is only a 3-4% increased risk between first cousins (the same as a woman giving birth at 41 versus 30). [source 1] [source 2] [source 3]
OP: Your partner's country is difficult enough to get a K1 visa for. I would recommend that you put together more than enough evidence to prove that it is a valid relationship. Personally I think, if you move & work there for a year after your studies and build a life together whilst you're there it will be an excellent source of evidence. If the K1 is denied you can always marry and go the CR1/IR1 route. If you prefer not to take any risks of a denial and further processing time, I recommend you get married and file for the CR1/IR1 visa.

For those debating the CR1 vs the K1 here's some info:
K1 visa (Fiance(e) Visa)
Typically takes 5-8 months until you can move to the U.S.A. This is typically sooner than the CR-1 visa. You'll have to qualify financially to sponsor. You will have to have met in the last 2 years from the date you filed. Fees are greater in the long run. Once you're in the U.S.A. and married, you'll have to file for an Adjustment of Status (AoS) to get a green card (GC). If you want to work while waiting for your GC you'll have to file for your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or work permit and your Advance Parole (AP) with your AoS, this can take an additional 3-6 months before the EAD and AP is granted (will not effect the AoS processing). If you've been married less than 2 years when you are granted your AoS you'll have to apply to remove conditions in 2 years, which is additional fees and paperwork.
CR-1 Visa (Spousal):
Can take upwards of a year before you can move to the U.S.A. You'll have to qualify financially to sponsor. Fees are less in the long run. Once you enter the U.S.A. you get your green card and can start working immediately. If you've been married for more than 2 years at the date of entry to the U.S.A. on a CR-1 visa you will not have to apply to lift conditions. Check the Administrative Processing for your country to get a better idea of a timeline.

For those debating the CR1 vs the K1 here's some info:
K1 visa (Fiance(e) Visa)
Typically takes 5-8 months until you can move to the U.S.A. This is typically sooner than the CR-1 visa. You'll have to qualify financially to sponsor. You will have to have met in the last 2 years from the date you filed. Fees are greater in the long run. Once you're in the U.S.A. and married, you'll have to file for an Adjustment of Status (AoS) to get a green card (GC). If you want to work while waiting for your GC you'll have to file for your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or work permit and your Advance Parole (AP) with your AoS, this can take an additional 3-6 months before the EAD and AP is granted (will not effect the AoS processing). If you've been married less than 2 years when you are granted your AoS you'll have to apply to remove conditions in 2 years, which is additional fees and paperwork.
CR-1 Visa (Spousal):
Can take upwards of a year before you can move to the U.S.A. You'll have to qualify financially to sponsor. Fees are less in the long run. Once you enter the U.S.A. you get your green card and can start working immediately. If you've been married for more than 2 years at the date of entry to the U.S.A. on a CR-1 visa you will not have to apply to lift conditions. Check the Administrative Processing for your country to get a better idea of a timeline.

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

Looking for a job is hard, they always say, it's easier to find work when you have a job then when you don't! If you can find some part time work doing anything that looks better to any employer than having nothing. There are several volunteer opportunities that while it isn't a job it would look really good to an interviewer, and later on can lead to a career opportunity! Some of those are:
Volunteer firefighter Neighborhood watch Animal Rescue Shelters National Parks Food Pantries Habitat for Humanity Local Libraries Political Campaigns Art Museums YMCA Retirement Homes Red Cross Some of these volunteer opportunities have perks, contact the local office that handles the chosen volunteer work, and ask if they require a citizenship, and how start! Some (such as a volunteer firefighter) require a citizenship, depending on the town/city. Others do not! My state and city do not require a citizenship to be a volunteer firefighter, but I know New York City does!

When you're looking for work, it can be hard, jobs are more competitive, and things can get very "cut-throat". If your English could use work, I'd recommend looking into lessons. How you present yourself will either land your application/resume in the reject list, or the accept list. You can get called back for 2nd, 3rd, even a 4th interview! Don't put all your eggs in one basket (that means don't count on one thing), keep your options open. Isolating yourself to a specific field, or salary requirement may end up working against you. You can always get a job outside your field, a part-time position, or below your salary requirement, and still look for a better opportunity. Remember above? It's always easier to find a job when you have one! Also if you're breaking into the US job market, or a new field don't dismiss an internship!

For anyone looking for a job I, personally, recommend the following:
Go to your local unemployment office and sign up for FREE classes on how to write a resume and interview. It's hugely informative for people trying to break into a new field, re-enter a field, breaking back into the job market after a long break (or newly unemployed after being with the same company for a long time) and those who are new to the US. There are many cultural expectations you may be unaware of, and times change! You do not have to be a citizen, just legally able to work in the US. After you get those classes have your resume reviewed by a resume specialist (also FREE). After your resume is reviewed submit your resume to 3 or more of the major job search databases: Monster.com, CareerBuilder, LinkedIn, GlassDoor, Indeed, etc. There are many to choose from, a simple Google search will link you to the major ones. Check out Robert Half International. It's a temp agency and they have offices all over the country, typically have work in many different office fields. If you're more of a blue collar worker, you can visit http://www.tradesmeninternational.com/ Pick out your interview outfit, you want to go in dressed appropriately for both the dress code of the company, but also for interviewing. Below I have dress code tips, if you need help! Have a friend who's brutally honest interview you. You need honest criticism not someone who'll play nice. When a company or recruiter contacts you, look up the company's website. Inform yourself of who they are, and what they do. Check them out on GlassDoor, find out their employee reviews, it's always impressive when you've done your research on a company and makes you stand out from the hundreds of other applicants. Write down a list of questions to ask them at the interview. Intelligent, well thought out, and relevant questions make you stand out. Examples are: What can I expect in my day-to-day tasks in this position? How would someone succeed at <company name> in a <position title> position? What are your favorite things about working here? What kind of hurdles will I need to overcome at this job? What is the long term goal of this new position? This is the best way to prepare yourself for an interview, and I have always been complimented on my skills on interviewing. Rarely do I interview without the company offering me the position, and have always interviewed well!

Dress code DO'S:
If they are business formal: LADIES: suit pants or skirt, a nice blouse or button down shirt, pumps or dressy flats. MEN: a well fitting suit, button down shirt, a nice tie, and dress shoes. If they are business casual: LADIES: suit slacks/skirt, a nice shirt, a blazer, and pumps with a low heel. MEN: slacks/dress khakis (NO CARGO PANTS), button down shirt, dress shoes that are comfortable. Tie is optional. If the company is casual (jeans allowed): LADIES: clean dark jeans (no holes, no stains, no faded spots), a blouse, plain t-shirt, or button down shirt, a blazer, and pumps or dressy flats. MEN: clean dark jeans (no holes, no stains, no faded spots), a plain t-shirt, or button down shirt, a blazer, and dress shoes. Always be well groomed: freshly shaven/trimmed facial hair (men); clean, freshly trimmed hair; natural hair colors, light & natural looking makeup (women), minimum jewelry. Always make sure your clothes and shoes are clean, ironed/wrinkle free, free of holes, stains, tears, and in good condition (no scuffs, fading, etc). Keep in mind knowing what the dress code at the company is, is hugely important. Call HR, and if in doubt, go business formal! Wear clothes as if you're going to be judged on your appearance! Keep is dress code appropriate, wholesome, and tidy! Dress code DON'TS: LADIES: Do not wear short skirts! You should always wear a skirt that is at least at the knee. Not above... at. That is for a club night, not an interview! MEN: Do not wear sneakers! That is for the gym, not for an interview. LADIES: Do not wear low cut blouses and shirts, you should never show more than 1" of cleavage! That is for a date, not an interview! MEN: Do not wear graphical t-shirts. No sports jerseys, no printed shirts. That is for at home, not an interview! LADIES: Do not wear sneakers, clogs, sandals, open toed shoes, or very high heels... keep the pumps to 3" heels, and make sure they look professional, clean, and not too beat up, ballet flats and Maryjanes are okay! MEN: Do not wear work/bike/cowboy boots! Those are far too casual for an interview! LADIES: Do not wear heavy makeup! Keep it natural! Foundation, blush, mascara, lip gloss and a little naturally colored eye shadow. You want to look like you woke up fresh and dewy, not as if you're going out on a date! BOTH: Do not wear heavy cologne, or perfume. Some people have allergies and this can leave a bad impression. Clean skin is all you need! BOTH: Do not wear heavy jewelry! Keep it simple, excluding your wedding rings, keep it to 1-2 necklaces, a nice watch/bracelet, and one additional ring on your right hand. Men: no earrings. Women: Nice diamond/CZ studs. BOTH: Do not wear facial piercings! Remove them all, for the interview, you don't know how the interview will respond to them, and better to leave a good impression than a bad over something as small as a piercing! Job to AVOID:
Door-to-door salesmen jobs. They usually offer "a guaranteed amount" but this is only if you do "x" amount of shows per week, and they'll avoid scheduling you with that many shows if they can! Any job that requires you to purchase a kit, pay a fee, or otherwise invest money into it. This does not count for jobs which require a license, permit, or formal education. Any job that says "Earn $xxx a day/week/month" That is typically a "pyramid scheme" type job. Not many people succeed at those, and it would be a waste of your time and effort. Unsolicited email jobs: Especially one that requires you to process payments. Chances are it's some shady person hoping you'll process unauthorized payments so they don't get caught and you take the fall! "We made a mistake". Example: You're told you have been hired and will be paid a weekly salary for an online marketing job. Then, the company sends another email saying that there was a mistake and they had accidentally sent four times the amount of your paycheck. You're told to wire the rest of the money to someone else when you receive the check. If anyone asks you to send money back to a 3rd party, it's a money laundering scam. RUN!!! Work from home jobs: Unless you're in IT and working as a freelancer, these are typically scams or very hard to make a decent living. Don't even bother. Under the table: This is illegal, and can mess with your immigration if you get caught! Not to mention you often get paid much less, and are expected to work harder. You can't use them as an employment reference, and if they violate your rights, you can't really file a complaint! Best to avoid these jobs. Options to CONSIDER:
elance.com : This is a website which allows people to post short term "contracts" up an for potential contractors to bid on the contracts. Being in the US typically gives you an edge on these postings! there are jobs from data entry, to programming, to graphic art, to marketing, to translation services or even writing! Elance works as the middleman to ensure everyone gets paid for the work they do! freelancer.com : much like the above. Temp Agencies: Great way to get your foot in the door at a job, many will hire a contractor and if they like them, they'll hire them full time when their contract runs out! Recruiters: They have access to jobs which are not posted! Try contacting several recruiters and send your resume to them! Ask your friends and family if they know any and can refer you! Many times recruiters offer bonuses to those who refer someone who is hired! Online search engines: These are a huge database of job postings, it can be confusing at first, but if you use the "advanced search" you can really narrow down a job. Search for job titles, or skills, and narrow it down to your local area. Expand the area if you find nothing. Craigslist: Keep in mind the jobs to avoid, but there are some legitimate job postings on craigslist. Most search engines charge companies to post their jobs there... craigslist doesn't.

221(g):
The document issued by the Department of State under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is for the most part used for requesting additional information from the beneficiary such as missing documents, additional evidence, or advising them of not being able to issue their visa due to pending name/security checks i.e. Administrative Processing However, Section 221(g) is also used by the Department of State when returning petitions/applications to the USCIS for further review ultimately recommending revocation.

Why are Petitions/Applications Returned to the USCIS by an Embassy/Consulate Under Section 221(g)?
Petitions/applications are returned for a variety of case specific reasons. Returning a petition/application to the USCIS means that the embassy/consulate refuses to issue a visa to the beneficiary, but they do not have specific evidence to actually deny a visa application. So the next best thing to do is return the petition/application to the USCIS office where the petition was originally filed requesting further review and ultimately recommending revocation.

What Happens When a Petition/Application is Returned to the USCIS by an Embassy/Consulate?
221(g) is issued to beneficiary at conclusion of the interview stating the application and/or petition is being returned to the United States. Petition is returned to the United States by the interviewing consulate for "further review" Returned petition is received by the NVC. It is reviewed and entered into the fraud database by fraud management. Returned petition is sent to the local USCIS service center where the petition was originally filed and approved. Local service center receives returned petition. Local service center who processed the original petition sends a notice of receipt to the petitioner. Local service center reviews the returned petition and consular officer notes on the case. Local service center then sends either a NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny) or NOIR (Notice of Intent to Revoke) to the petitioner also asking for more proof of the relationship, many cases have specific consular objections to rebut. Petitioner is given 30-60 days from date of NOIR/NOID (depending on the service center) to respond with additional evidence of the relationship or other specific evidence. The timeframe to respond will be provided in the letter. Local service center receives evidence...if in the timeframe given (30-60 days) the case is reviewed and either original approval is reaffirmed or the petition is officially denied. If the petition is denied the local service center sends the petitioner an 'official' denial letter. This can be officially appealed if the denial letter states such. If the petition is reaffirmed the local service center sends the petitioner an official notice of reaffirmation. Local service center sends the reaffirmed petition AND its evidence provided in the rebuttal directly to the consulate along with a recommendation to issue a visa. Consulate notifies the beneficiary of a new interview date. Beneficiary has interview for the reaffirmed petition and the visa is either issued, or the case in placed in Administrative Processing which after cleared a visa is issued, or worst case scenario it is denied via Section 221(g) and returned again to the USCIS with a recommendation for revocation.

Case Transfers
Current as of July 2013.

Many posts are being made about transfers, and what these emails/notifications mean.
(I dropped a post in the K1 Forum but it has to do with Service Centers, so I'll post one here too)

If you filed a K-1 petition received a notice that looked like one of the following, your case has been transferred to another Service Center.... NOT your local office. Local offices do not process I-129F petitions. The method of transfers applies to all case types, however whether it was transferred to your local office depends on your case type. You should receive an Notice Of Action Transfer (NoA-T) in the mail telling you where your file was transferred within two weeks of the electronic notification or case update on the USCIS website.
This transfer is usually a good thing. A transfer will occur when a Service Center is backlogged and cannot keep up with the influx of petitions, so they transfer the backlogged cases to another service center so those people can be processed in a timely manner. If you were told you have to wait another 180 days -- this is incorrect. Many Tier 1 Immigration Officers (the first people you talk to when you call the customer service number) are given a script to read from, which more often than not contains misinformation. They do not have access to any information that you, yourself cannot find online by either checking your case status or what is available on the USCIS website. Your case will be processed by receipt date, at the speed of the adjudicator processing it, and influenced by the complexity of the case.
In many cases there will be three notifications when a case is transferred.


The first notification will contain something like this:

This means that USCIS has sent your electronic file to the other office. Every time your file is handled by someone they have to scan it (to track where it is and who last handled it so they know who is responsible if anything come back with an issue), when they scan it if there are updates regarding your case (transfer, RFE, typographical error, inquiry, etc) there will be an accompanying message.


The second notification will typically be a few hours after and will contain something like this:

This means that USCIS has mailed your physical file to the Service Center that will be processing your case moving forward.


The third notification will be about a week later and will contain something like this:

This means the Service Center that is processing your file has received the physical file and will begin processing once the adjudicator picks up the batch (based on received date).

Within a week you should receive an NoA-T in the mail, which will look like this (private information has been supplemented by sample info):



What does this mean for me?
This means that for most straight forward cases you may see your NoA2 or an RFE within a month or two. If your case is not straight forward or your case got flagged, it may take longer. Keep in mind every case is different. If you are outside the standard processing times you should contact the USCIS Customer Service line and ask to speak to a Tier 2 Immigration Officer. You should make sure your case wasn't lost in the shuffle, and that it is being worked on. Find out if you missed any notifications or if there is something that you can do to help move it along. Some immigration officers can be quite rude, so always remember to be as polite as possible. These people are overloaded with work and they're just people too. Be clear, concise, and to the point. They are busy people and their time is valuable.

So I can expect to get approved in a month or two?
This is the United States Government. Nothing is a guarantee. You might hear back in a month or two... You might not. It might be an approval, it might be an RFE, it might even be a denial. A lot of cases which were transferred in the past from the VSC to the TSC were adjudicated within 4-6 weeks. Follow the forum posts stay alert, and watch the progress of people within your Service Center to get an idea of what is going on. The speed of who is getting their cases adjudicated has to do with the complexity of the case, whether you're beneficiary is in a high fraud risk country, and the speed in which the adjudicator themselves work.

I am a <Month> filer from that Service Center and I didn't get transferred, should I be worried?
No. The Service centers tend to transfer people in batches. Your case may have already been assigned to someone, or they transferred files between X date and X date, and your file was not within that range. Many times when the files are transferred approvals from both service centers are soon to follow. Don't worry until you're outside of the standard processing time. You can see when your case was last touched, and if it was touched prior to the transfers, chances are you were already assigned.

How do I check to see if my case was "touched"?
If you haven't created an account on the USCIS website you can do so here. If you have you can log into your profile from here (make sure you choose "Customer" for the user type). Once you're logged in you'll see a page that resembles the image below. The "last updated" date shown below is the last time your file has been "touched".



How do you know what the messages mean regarding the electronic and physical files? Nothing in the messages indicates this.
I called a Tier 2 Officer and asked him to explain the transfer process. He explained that for transfers the first email you get is the electronic notification, the second was the actual mailing of the physical files and the third was when the Service Center your files are being transferred to has received the physical files.

Case Transfers
Current as of July 2013.

Many posts are being made about transfers, and what these emails/notifications mean.
(I dropped a post in the K1 Forum but it has to do with Service Centers, so I'll post one here too)

If you filed a K-1 petition received a notice that looked like one of the following, your case has been transferred to another Service Center.... NOT your local office. Local offices do not process I-129F petitions. The method of transfers applies to all case types, however whether it was transferred to your local office depends on your case type. You should receive an Notice Of Action Transfer (NoA-T) in the mail telling you where your file was transferred within two weeks of the electronic notification or case update on the USCIS website.
This transfer is usually a good thing. A transfer will occur when a Service Center is backlogged and cannot keep up with the influx of petitions, so they transfer the backlogged cases to another service center so those people can be processed in a timely manner. If you were told you have to wait another 180 days -- this is incorrect. Many Tier 1 Immigration Officers (the first people you talk to when you call the customer service number) are given a script to read from, which more often than not contains misinformation. They do not have access to any information that you, yourself cannot find online by either checking your case status or what is available on the USCIS website. Your case will be processed by receipt date, at the speed of the adjudicator processing it, and influenced by the complexity of the case.
In many cases there will be three notifications when a case is transferred.


The first notification will contain something like this:

This means that USCIS has sent your electronic file to the other office. Every time your file is handled by someone they have to scan it (to track where it is and who last handled it so they know who is responsible if anything come back with an issue), when they scan it if there are updates regarding your case (transfer, RFE, typographical error, inquiry, etc) there will be an accompanying message.


The second notification will typically be a few hours after and will contain something like this:

This means that USCIS has mailed your physical file to the Service Center that will be processing your case moving forward.


The third notification will be about a week later and will contain something like this:

This means the Service Center that is processing your file has received the physical file and will begin processing once the adjudicator picks up the batch (based on received date).

Within a week you should receive an NoA-T in the mail, which will look like this (private information has been supplemented by sample info):



What does this mean for me?
This means that for most straight forward cases you may see your NoA2 or an RFE within a month or two. If your case is not straight forward or your case got flagged, it may take longer. Keep in mind every case is different. If you are outside the standard processing times you should contact the USCIS Customer Service line and ask to speak to a Tier 2 Immigration Officer. You should make sure your case wasn't lost in the shuffle, and that it is being worked on. Find out if you missed any notifications or if there is something that you can do to help move it along. Some immigration officers can be quite rude, so always remember to be as polite as possible. These people are overloaded with work and they're just people too. Be clear, concise, and to the point. They are busy people and their time is valuable.

So I can expect to get approved in a month or two?
This is the United States Government. Nothing is a guarantee. You might hear back in a month or two... You might not. It might be an approval, it might be an RFE, it might even be a denial. A lot of cases which were transferred in the past from the VSC to the TSC were adjudicated within 4-6 weeks. Follow the forum posts stay alert, and watch the progress of people within your Service Center to get an idea of what is going on. The speed of who is getting their cases adjudicated has to do with the complexity of the case, whether you're beneficiary is in a high fraud risk country, and the speed in which the adjudicator themselves work.

I am a <Month> filer from that Service Center and I didn't get transferred, should I be worried?
No. The Service centers tend to transfer people in batches. Your case may have already been assigned to someone, or they transferred files between X date and X date, and your file was not within that range. Many times when the files are transferred approvals from both service centers are soon to follow. Don't worry until you're outside of the standard processing time. You can see when your case was last touched, and if it was touched prior to the transfers, chances are you were already assigned.

How do I check to see if my case was "touched"?
If you haven't created an account on the USCIS website you can do so here. If you have you can log into your profile from here (make sure you choose "Customer" for the user type). Once you're logged in you'll see a page that resembles the image below. The "last updated" date shown below is the last time your file has been "touched".



How do you know what the messages mean regarding the electronic and physical files? Nothing in the messages indicates this.
I called a Tier 2 Officer and asked him to explain the transfer process. He explained that for transfers the first email you get is the electronic notification, the second was the actual mailing of the physical files and the third was when the Service Center your files are being transferred to has received the physical files.

221(g):
The document issued by the Department of State under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is for the most part used for requesting additional information from the beneficiary such as missing documents, additional evidence, or advising them of not being able to issue their visa due to pending name/security checks i.e. Administrative Processing However, Section 221(g) is also used by the Department of State when returning petitions/applications to the USCIS for further review ultimately recommending revocation.

Why are Petitions/Applications Returned to the USCIS by an Embassy/Consulate Under Section 221(g)?
Petitions/applications are returned for a variety of case specific reasons. Returning a petition/application to the USCIS means that the embassy/consulate refuses to issue a visa to the beneficiary, but they do not have specific evidence to actually deny a visa application. So the next best thing to do is return the petition/application to the USCIS office where the petition was originally filed requesting further review and ultimately recommending revocation.

What Happens When a Petition/Application is Returned to the USCIS by an Embassy/Consulate?
221(g) is issued to beneficiary at conclusion of the interview stating the application and/or petition is being returned to the United States. Petition is returned to the United States by the interviewing consulate for "further review" Returned petition is received by the NVC. It is reviewed and entered into the fraud database by fraud management. Returned petition is sent to the local USCIS service center where the petition was originally filed and approved. Local service center receives returned petition. Local service center who processed the original petition sends a notice of receipt to the petitioner. Local service center reviews the returned petition and consular officer notes on the case. Local service center then sends either a NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny) or NOIR (Notice of Intent to Revoke) to the petitioner also asking for more proof of the relationship, many cases have specific consular objections to rebut. Petitioner is given 30-60 days from date of NOIR/NOID (depending on the service center) to respond with additional evidence of the relationship or other specific evidence. The timeframe to respond will be provided in the letter. Local service center receives evidence...if in the timeframe given (30-60 days) the case is reviewed and either original approval is reaffirmed or the petition is officially denied. If the petition is denied the local service center sends the petitioner an 'official' denial letter. This can be officially appealed if the denial letter states such. If the petition is reaffirmed the local service center sends the petitioner an official notice of reaffirmation. Local service center sends the reaffirmed petition AND its evidence provided in the rebuttal directly to the consulate along with a recommendation to issue a visa. Consulate notifies the beneficiary of a new interview date. Beneficiary has interview for the reaffirmed petition and the visa is either issued, or the case in placed in Administrative Processing which after cleared a visa is issued, or worst case scenario it is denied via Section 221(g) and returned again to the USCIS with a recommendation for revocation.

I feel the need to add to this, if you all don't mind.
It is highly recommended that anyone who is coming in on a K1 visa to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before their marriage.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Agents are easily confused by the K1 Visa, and may (wrongfully) assume that now that you're married, you're no longer a K1 visa holder, and no longer qualify for a SSN. It is best to apply for a SSN in the name which is on the immigrant's I-94 and passport to avoid this potential headache and several trips back & forth.
With the I-94 going electronic, there is also no need to wait anymore. Their systems are updated instantly the moment of Point of Entry (PoE).
When we applied for my husband's SSN we waited 4 weeks to hear from them about the issuance, and got a letter in the mail informing us it is being mailed and will arrive within 2 weeks, so I would also advise people to anticipate a 4-6 week wait, until it's in your hands.

I've managed to (relatively) safely escape from an abusive relationship with a very controlling man.
He would never accept any responsibility for his part in a fight, argument, issue, etc. It was always my fault, and I was a horrible wife/mother/lover/etc. I was lucky to have someone as good as him, love me despite my faults, and no one could ever love me as he does. He would get angry with me over the silliest of things, and "punish" me by ignoring me, or exploding at me. I never knew what to expect and was always on the defensive. We would be having a wonderful day (for once) and he would pick a fight based on a look I (apparently) gave him, or an attitude.
Does that sound familiar? That's called emotional abuse and manipulation. Most abusers are very much aware of what they're doing. Why do they do it? Because it's easier to manipulate you into what they want than to actually put forth the effort into a real relationship.
With how unstable your relationship is now, a marriage won't fix it. It will only make it worse as she'll no longer be on her "good" behavior (and yes, that is the "good" behavior she's showing you). Once she has that ring, that "guarantee" of a commitment, the good behavior will go away and you'll see her true self.

A marriage is a partnership of two equal people who want to SHARE in each other's world. It sounds to me like the relationship you're in is very far from a partnership.

If you genuinely want to try and make things work, go to relationship counseling, personal therapy, and have her get a psychological evaluation PRIOR to any engagement.

If you're fed up, walk. It won't likely get better. People don't change unless they want to.

I've managed to (relatively) safely escape from an abusive relationship with a very controlling man.
He would never accept any responsibility for his part in a fight, argument, issue, etc. It was always my fault, and I was a horrible wife/mother/lover/etc. I was lucky to have someone as good as him, love me despite my faults, and no one could ever love me as he does. He would get angry with me over the silliest of things, and "punish" me by ignoring me, or exploding at me. I never knew what to expect and was always on the defensive. We would be having a wonderful day (for once) and he would pick a fight based on a look I (apparently) gave him, or an attitude.
Does that sound familiar? That's called emotional abuse and manipulation. Most abusers are very much aware of what they're doing. Why do they do it? Because it's easier to manipulate you into what they want than to actually put forth the effort into a real relationship.
With how unstable your relationship is now, a marriage won't fix it. It will only make it worse as she'll no longer be on her "good" behavior (and yes, that is the "good" behavior she's showing you). Once she has that ring, that "guarantee" of a commitment, the good behavior will go away and you'll see her true self.

A marriage is a partnership of two equal people who want to SHARE in each other's world. It sounds to me like the relationship you're in is very far from a partnership.

If you genuinely want to try and make things work, go to relationship counseling, personal therapy, and have her get a psychological evaluation PRIOR to any engagement.

If you're fed up, walk. It won't likely get better. People don't change unless they want to.

Is that an African or European swallow?

I believe the visa expires 6 months after the medical exam. I think you should just be careful depending on what country your fiancee is from. In some countries, a religious ceremony is considered legally binding.

I also used both of Mrs. T-B.-to-be's surnames. I would either underline the father's name (in your example, Garcia Gomez) or capitalize it (GARCIA Gomez). Either way leaves no doubt.