Texasav8r

While filling out the AOS paperwork at the bottom it says if the beneficiary is below 26 years of age, the USCIS automatically submits their name and information into the Selective Service registry. Therefore, I assume we don't have to manually submit it...

I believe that means they are notifying the service of an eligible person. I would still register if I were you to be on the safe side and I am thinking it is when you receive your green card or at least the formal notice of approval (the date on it). I am not stating facts, just a friendly suggestion to go ahead and do it to avoid any issues in the future.

My status changed to "Ready to Schedule" in July. We just had the interview today (12/10) if that gives you an idea of time frames. I was actually a little surprised it took that long, but then again, so did everything else

The interview is relatively easy. Make sure you have joint accounts or both names on credit card bills, lease agreements, mortgages, utility bills, etc. More pictures of you together and with family also help. Like Kay said, they will ask questions from the I-129F application (both of you) and then questions from the I-485 application (any drug use, trafficking, terrorist tendencies, military training, etc.). Only the Visa holder can answer those.

Good luck.

Oh, this might be bad...it takes 8 weeks for NY Marriage Bureau to mail it (we live in Nebraska, so low chances to get it in person). Maybe I should send USCIS the one I have and wait for the copies to keep.

I wouldn't recommend that. Always keep your original. Send a good, legible copy and at the same time, send off for several certified copies from NY. There is no requirement to send a certified copy so there is a good chance it won't matter. It is just a recommendation that you do. If you do receive an RFE for a certified copy, they will already be in process and possibly on their way to you. This way you kill 2 birds with one stone and you will need certified copies in the future anyway. Good Luck.

I'm so happy for you Texasav8r! It has been a very long journey for you. It's nice to get to read stories like this after following you for many months on this site.

Thank you Marco, much appreciated. It is nice to read all the stories of success, such as yourself, and many others. It has indeed been a long journey (for all of us) but good things come to those who wait

And with that being said:

APPROVED!!!!!!!!

Tanya had her interview this morning and was approved. It took all of 5 minutes after waiting at the embassy for about an hour. She called me at 01.45 my time and was on cloud 9. I will post a review of the embassy and also give a rundown of the events of the morning after she flies back home. We are both very excited and relieved.

Well both me and my fiance are trying to call them, but the number is always busy!

There is a trick to it I discovered. Call, when you receive the busy signal, immediately hang up and redial again without delay....repeat this about a dozen times (sometimes a few more...speed is the key because you are trying to hop in when someone hangs up) and you will get through. You will be on hold for 20 - 40 minutes though but you got through . Good luck.

Edit: I always called between 18.00 and 20.00 EST......

Congrats on all the recent approvals and interviews. A little update on me as it has been a while since I last posted.

Medical was Monday the 24th and she passed with flying colors.

Interview is tomorrow the 26th at 09.15 so I am not sure I will be able to sleep tonight

I broke the cardinal rule and booked our flights. I leave December 13th for Russia and we will be returning together on December 22nd with POE in Chicago.

I booked the flights because it is 3 weeks after the interview. My thinking is that will be enough time to resolve any potential 221g issues or to recover lost pony express packages, etc.

Regardless of the outcome, I will still be flying out and returning on my dates and I will adjust hers if necessary.

Fingers crossed that this will be a smooth ending to a very long and rough first phase.....

Hope everyone is well and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanks!

I'm the beneficiary, here's from my consulate review:

"When did you two meet?"

"When did you start dating?" - (forgot this one on my consulate review)

"How did you keep in touch?"

"Did you go visit him again?"

"Did he come to Brazil?" and seemed pleased to hear when I said "yes, 3 times"

"Did he propose?" I said we decided this was the best decision together, he seemed fine with it

"Well, are you ready to move to America?" kind of laughing, I said "yes, I know I look very young", he laughed (I am 20, I look 15)

Then he asked if I did my medical, and since I did it yesterday, he said the visa would be issued when the exams got there if everything is ok, but that I am approved, and said congratulations.

It wasn't a tense conversation at all, and I am a very tense person.

Congrats!! I am glad it went well for you and welcome to America soon. You will love living in Austin.

I've landed in the U.S this past Saturday. Everything went well, the flights were good even though it seemed like forever that I was stuck in the planes.

The first officer was very easy going. Took my paperwork and stamped my visa and I was on my way.

I was randomly selected by a customs officer and he asked to go through my stuff. When I told him I was on a K1 Visa after he asked me why I was there, he brought me to the front and went through my luggage quickly. Otherwise I would've waited in line to go through customs, it was very nice of him to do that.

He poked fun at me packing my PS3 in my luggage, noting that I have my priorities straight. We had a laugh at that and he said I was good to go. I went through the doors and it was finally over. The last time she had to come pick me up from the airport and the last time for a long time that I have to go back to that airport.

We started this in the summer of 2008, and now, 6 years later. There's no more thousands of miles between us.

Thank you everyone on this website, without VJ, this wouldn't have been as easy as it was. I will be for ever grateful.

It's nice to hear about the smooth entries. Congrats and welcome to your new home!!

Shipped one week.after NOA2 and NVC received exactly 2 weeks after NOA2. NVC shipped my case to the Embassy 2 working days later.

Once the case leaves the service center, it moves very fast. The case arrived at the embassy 2 days after it left NVC and went to "Ready" status that same evening. Now that is efficient. If only the TSC could be 1/2 that efficient....

I decided to contact my congresswoman about my petition because it has been 5 months (even though now they are telling us 6 months...) since filing.

Surprised by how quick it took - I went in this morning to sign a privacy release from and she just called me now saying that my background check has been completed and my petition is now "in transit to an examiner which can take up to 30 days"

Has this happened to anyone else? What is everyone else's experience with contacting their representative?

I am hoping that it will be a lot earlier than that and maybe her call flagged my petition in some way for a quicker approval. Wishful thinking but I just hate how I was one of the unlucky ones NOT transferred and am still waiting for USCIS to get their act together.

My call (at 6 1/2 months) resulted in a similar response except that it was pulled from the general pile, which they all end up in, and placed with an adjudicator. She said give it 30 days because they are working on several files. I opened a case with the ombudsman 10 days later and a service request 2 days after that and then 2 days later I had my NOA 2. So, after a little more than 2 weeks from my representative's call, I had my NOA 2. I think you will see something soon now that it is with an adjudicator....fingers crossed.

Congratulations on all the recent approvals!!!!

I have a question about the I134. (I was about to email the lawyers but they always complicate things and VJ is way more helpful!)

My fiance already has all the supporting documents from me I'm just filing out the form now. The last part says, " I intend/do not intend to make specific contributions to the support of the person named in item 3. If you check intend indicate the exact nature and duration of contributions etc..."

What am I supposed to put here? He's going to be my husband FFS....

I would be curious to hear the official answer on this as well as it is not in the instructions. I said "Do Not Intend" as it makes no sense for a spouse to agree to a fixed amount of financial support (except in a divorce decree...lol). I think that is more geared towards a financial sponsor (non fiance/spouse) or a co-sponsor for an applicant.

Hello everyone!!!!! We got NOA2 on October,24th!!!!!! As u tolled me I sent an e-mail to the ombudsman on Wednesday and Friday s morning got NOA2!!!!! So happy and excited about the next steps!!! Thank u all!!! I haven't posted much but read this topic every day since just got our NOA1, so like 8 months))) thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Ура Ксения!!! I am so happy to hear it worked for you. Now the process will move much faster Поздравляю!!

Just wanted to tell you all that my fiance had her interview today, and she was approved. Her POE will be December 9th Was really nice sharing all of these stressful and interesting times with all of you here!

Congrats!!

Does anyone know how soon I can expect an answer from them? It's been over a week already since I've sent the withdrawal letter...

Given the lightning fast efficiency of TSC, there is no telling. I would give them until the end of the week and then start the calling process (go straight to a Tier 2 rep). There is no harm that can be done even if it takes a few weeks and you happen to receive NOA2 in the meantime. You can still have it withdrawn or allow it to lapse either way. Although I am sure you want closure and want it done asap so I would call later this week. Good luck

I've been away quite some time, sorry folks. Lot's happening! Arrived safely, got my SSN (pre-married), had a BEAUTIFUL wedding next to a waterfall , got my SSN name changed, and sent my AOS/EAD/AP package 3 days ago. Let stage 2 waiting begin *sigh*

Hope everyone is well!

Long time no see. Welcome to the US and congrats on the wedding.

I am willing to bet the next stage of waiting will be much easier .

Medical passed!

Congrats!! Sooo close now. I am happy for you.

Congrats!!

Texasav8r, your russian translation of your timeline made me smile especailly Hard Copy/ жесткий диск

I just copied what was in Google translate so I can't take blame..lol.

What is odd is the same two words are different for NOA1 and NOA2...crazy language

Finally status changed to "ISSUED". Does that mean visa stamped? How long will it take to be available to pick up? Will i get any msg to go and pick it up?

I would imagine it does mean your Visa has been placed in the passport and ready for pickup or shipping. I would check with the India forum and see what the options are and how long it has taken in the recent past. Congrats!!

I am happy to say we were approved!!! I am so happy this part of the process is over. After all the prayers and anguish we will be together soon.

Congrats!!

Hello everyone! I just wanted to tell my story. I already tolled you that we wrote a letter to the congressman so we thought it's gonna help. His secretary answered very quickly and asked us to fill the form with wich they can ask the Texas center about our case. The Texas center never answered her so she asked us if we wanna expedite the case. We said yes. So... Last Friday my fiancé called to the uscis and they said they r working on the March 4th cases!!! But we r from the 3rd!!!! So the girl (guess just call center operator) said that only now she can send a form with wich we will get the official answer what is going on via mail!!!! Idk what's going on. Just hope they didn't lose our documents ??

I was March 4th and pretty much did the same thing as you. I engaged my congressman and they actually called and spoke with a liaison at TSC who found my case and placed it with an adjudicator. One week later, I opened a case with the ombudsman and then 2 days later I filed a service request online (I was able to when they changed the date to March 4). Two days after that I received my NOA2. I am not sure which method worked but all 3 seemed to play a role. Don't wait...get a case open with the ombudsman and file a service request. You are way beyond normal processing times and it is well past time for you to put pressure on them as much as possible. Udachi!!

Congratulations, you deserve it.

MY case was just received at NVC, I took 14 days from date of departure from CSC, most are taking 15 - 20, just so you know.

I do pray you can be together soon, I think Xmas may be realistic.

Please take some advise that was given to me early on, start putting together the information now your fiancée will need, and I mean start now if you have not done so, please read the POST NOA2 and NVC threads on what to do next.

Thank you kindly. My case should be at NVC by Tuesday which would be 12 days so that isn't too bad.

I have been gathering all the documents necessary for the past couple of months so that package will be going out some time this week. I am just trying to find the best (most reliable) method for shipping to Russia. Christmas does seem realistic if everything else goes smooth so that will be a true blessing.

I wish you all the best as well.

How do you know when the case was shipped to NVC?

I received a text and email about my case status being updated and when I went to the USCIS website, I had a new status stating it had been shipped.

Congratulations

Book flights?

Generally not a good idea until you have Visa in hand. Even with an approval, it can take days, weeks or even months (in extreme cases) to receive the Visa. Unfortunately, it can go to AP and stay that way for a while, or the Beneficiary can even be called back for a second interview. While rare, it can still happen.

Not trying to scare you OP...Congratulations!! The next step is to wait until it is issued. Did you request it to be held for pickup or will it be shipped to your address of record?

I never thought, in my wildest dreams, as a March filer, that I would also be hopeful for Christmas, but alas, here I am. Thanksgiving was a given back then...hahaha....silly me. Anyway, my NOA2 was 10/9 and my case was just shipped to NVC on 10/16 so I will begin calling Tuesday or Wednesday. After that long wait, I am going to push them every remaining step of the way

I believe you can just call the Embassy and request an extension. I have heard of many cases that were extended for one reason or another and yours should not be an exception. If they will not do it (grant the extension) over the phone, at the very least, they can tell you what you need to do to get one.

Btw, may I ask how you shipped the documents? I am curious what prompted Russian customs agents to reject a packet of papers (other than anti-American bias perhaps).

Good luck to you and hope it all works out (I am sure it will)