sseymour34

Hello DB,

You are correct in the documents that are required for a step-child. I petitioned for my 5-year old step-daughter as well and that is what I sent. A police record is only required for people age 16 or older or have been arrested. In my case, my husband and step-daughter's cases were processed simultaneously so it was easy to connect them. In your case, I would probably send the marriage certificate as well just to prove the connection to your step-daughter. Better safe than sorry, if you ask me! Just remember to send a photocopy so you can get it back! Good luck!

Happy anniversary, Soloenta! I am so sorry that you are not with your hubby yet. I pray that you hear some good news today. That would be the best anniversary gift!

I need help, I can't think and the tears in my eyes doesn't let me see the screen very well. I need a link for I-864A sponsor now they are saying I made a mistake on part two item 13 my father is supposed to sign they said and put my husbands name and a letter stating why my mother didn't file taxes which I sent and have a copy of. I can't believe this so please someone help I can't think.

I'm so, so sorry, Soloenta. I think you have every right to raise hell and demand an exception to the 60-day review. They have put you through a roller coaster of emotions and it's time they let you off the ride! Maybe one of your congress people can help? Good luck to you and big hugs.

No, I did paper work that I sent through the post office.

By the way I asked for an interview date and I got no answer. Todd said that I will just have to wait ugh.

Seems like Todd got to be the deliverer of good news today. He was the one that told me about my case closed too! Congratulations!

congrats..... hope to join you this week. fingers crossed

Thank you!! Good luck to you!

O.M.G SOOOO HAPPY CONGRATULATIONS !!!! HOPEFULLY REST OF US HEAR SOON!!!!

Thank you so much! I'm hoping too! Best wishes for smooth sailing!

Cool! My husband is from Southern California (Los Angeles) and our apartment is in Orange county. I really can't complain about there, even with the dry weather.

Yeah, Jamaica has its unique scenarios and life style which I loved! Lucky you to go there once a while visit your husband's family

Yes, but SoCal is going to be in a world of hurt if we don't get some rain since a lot of their water comes from NorCal through aqueducts. Orange county might be okay because they use recycled sewer water. Yuck! http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/world/from-toilet-to-tap-water/ Anyways, pray for rain!!

Wowaa that's an amazing news and it's Monday!! Hopefully it's gonna be a superb week! Way to go Nvc!!!

Thank you! Representative Todd said that it was actually closed on Saturday but I don't think I believe that.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CONGRATULATIONS SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU.

Thank you, Soloenta!! I love how positive you are. You can still be happy for others, when you have been given the run-around for so long. I admire your spirit. Keep your chin up! We are all rooting for you!

Heeeeeeey! Congrats!!!!!!!! Seriously, Soloenta will have the most celebrated CC ever seen on this VJ when her time comes (hopefully it will be soon).

Many many congrats and hope your interview will be soon.

Where in Jamaica are you from? My hubby and I went ther last year and stayed at Negril. OMG, time of our lives! )))

My profile pic was taken there, btw!

Thank you! I am actually the petitioner and I'm in ol' dried up northern California but my hubby is from Sandy Bay, Jamaica. You probably went through it on your way to Negril from Sangster Airport. I love Negril too! Beautiful cliffs and beaches.

Congratulations sweetie.

Thank you so much!

I got a case complete today! Scan date was August 18. I am sooooo relieved to be done with the NVC phase but I am also sad for people like Soloenta, who have been waiting so long. I wish everyone the best and hope that you get yours soon! One love!

Hi all,

I have an expedited case with the NVC and I received an email saying that review of my paperwork (AOS & IV) will take up to 60 days. My question is, does my expedite affect the review process at all or will I have to wait the 60 days?

Thanks in advance.

I have had the same problem so I'll tell you what a supervisor told me. She said that some embassies want to have all documents reviewed before they are sent to them and others don't have that requirement. Unfortunately, I was one of the unlucky ones. I had my expedite approved August 4 and I am still here waiting for a CC. I even sent my IV docs to PI Supervisor, as was instructed, and it has made no difference at all. In fact, my docs were received by the NVC on August 8 but they weren't scanned in until the 18th. How's that for expediting?? The only thing that may be expedited for me is the interview date. I'm not holding my breath though.

I sure hope you are one of the lucky ones. Best of luck to you!

Hi I just got my expedite request approved. I already sent my AOS & IV Package, paid the bills and completed the DS 260..

I called in NVC on what to do next & they told me that I need to wait still for my packages to get reviewed as it is received.

I just don't get it... what's the sense of having it expedited?

I called in 2nd time, this time I got a nicer agent, & she transferred me to a supervisor... same thing she says, we still need to wait for our documents to get reviewed before sending it to the embassy...

Thanks a million!!! Fingers crossed. Let's see what happens.

Best for you guys as well. Stay in touch!

Just an update on expedites. I just spoke with a supervisor and she has told me the reason why some people get their files sent directly to the embassy, while others (like us) have to wait for their docs to be reviewed. It all depends on the embassy. She said in my case, the embassy in Kingston is really strict on wanting complete packages sent to them. She also confirmed what we all have heard, that the packages are reviewed in the same queue as the others, even when it says "ATTN: PI Supervisor". She said it didn't used to be that way but it changed recently. I don't know about you guys but I'm sick to death of all the ways to speed things up (I-129F/K-3, expedite requests, congressional inquiries) that mean nothing! I've tried them all and nothing has helped.

Hahahaa I know huh, don't know what happened was like I was possessed just couldn't stop! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: But thanks to you and MoBar for rubbing it in.

Finally! I've been quietly following and I'm so happy you finally got your cc! I hope you have smooth sailing for the rest of your journey!

Yeap! They need to get their stuff together. I just paid for my IV bill and I'm kinda glad I didn't get forwarded to the embassy. Saves me some money! Keep me updated. I'm waiting the 60 for my AOS. I was told the very same thing they told you. I'm just waiting for my husband to mail me the IV docs and when i send it to them and it gets scanned I will call again to see if they can expedite the process.

I just spoke to Nicki and asked her about the IV docs getting sent to the PI Supervisor. She said that it IS processed separately from the others and that it should be quicker! Best of luck to you!

my expedite request is now under review. how many days do i have to wait for the decision?

Our expedite request is also "under review". Not sure if we need to contact the embassy to check on it or the NVC. Also not sure how long it takes for them to review it.

The expedites are approved by the embassy, so it will probably be different timing for each one.

Yes, I have a similar situation! I had my expedite approved and the email said to send the docs to PI Supervisor, which I did. I called awhile back and a representative said that I had to wait for the AOS packet to be approved since they had already been sent when I requested the expedite. He told me that the IV docs should be approved quickly since they were sent to the PI Supervisor.

I just called today to find out if my AOS was reviewed and the representative said it was on Monday but now I had to wait the 60 days for the IV docs to be reviewed. I said that I had sent them to the PI Supervisor and she said they are all reviewed the same way! WTH! I thought about calling a 3rd time get a tie-breaker between the two different stories but I emailed the expedite people instead. I will let you know what/if I find out anything.

its hard not to feel this way after being a USCIS for so long and now to have too being going through this its just too much.

I'm not sure wen USCIS shipped the case out but I had called NVC on the 20th of June and they told my husband that they hadn't received the case, he called again two days in a row constantly the line was busy wen he finally got thru on wensday they said that they still have not received it and that he shud scan the N0A2 and email it to them which he did and we have yet to receive an email back from them.

I know it's hard, but try not to get too down. If it makes you feel any better (and I know it won't), I was at USCIS for two whole months longer than you with no RFEs. I would call the USCIS and ask when they sent it to start with and then just keep calling the NVC. You have to keep re-dialing until you get through like if you were calling a radio station to win something! Keep your chin up!

Really, USPS said mine arrived today as well sometime after 11am

11:53 for me too! Go Jamaica!!

Yes we are.. My husband did the I-864 just praying its ok and no checklist

I will keep my fingers, eyes, and toes crossed for you , ok?

I'm with you guys too!!! I've been quietly following but I think I may need someone to commiserate with. USPS says my I-864 just arrived today. Good luck to us for perfect forms!

Hey there,

Congrats

Thank you!

Congrats! when did you file the service request?

Thank you! After many, many attempts, I was finally able to file one on Monday. The Congressman requested information from USCIS about a week and a half ago. I really hope you get your approval soon. It truly is a huge relief when it happens. All the best!

FINALLY! The service request and Congressman must have paid off! I got the approval notice for both my husband and step-daughter today at 1:00. Here's hoping that the rest of you waiting get your approvals very soon. Hang in there. Wishing you the best!

I think that is all really strange, personally. There is no way VSC is processing Sept 30th PDs right now. I was approved on April 11th (almost a month and a half ago) and my PD is Oct. 1st. Plus, look at all the other people on the October spread sheet with PDs all over October who were approved a long time ago. And if you are at VSC, it shouldn't matter anything about the processing times for NBC. I don't know why they'd even bring that up. Who knows, maybe they changed their policy, but could it be your case is more complicated somehow?

Oh- and I wanted to add, I also could not do it online back then either. It gave me the same error message you got. Which is why I called up to do it.

I'm sure that mine has been slowed because of the USCIS initially sending my husband's and step-daughter's petitions to different service centers (his went to California and hers went to Vermont). Like you, I initially tried to put in a service request online first and then called when I got the error message, but they told me that I had to wait 60 days from the transfer date and when I explained that it had been transferred twice, they still refused. Since then I have tried both ways many more times to no avail until Monday when Sergio cheated it for me. I was not trying to say that Vermont is processing Sept 30th PDs right now. What I was told is that since my receipt numbers start with MSC, which is the prefix for NBC receipts, that their system defaults to NBC's processing time, which does say September 30. My theory is that they must have had one system in place to deal with all of the transfers and now that they have reached the petitions that were sent directly (which started October 21, I believe), they have changed it. Just a theory. It's just that now I know that I'm not the only one that has experienced this exact same scenario.

My PD was also October 1st and my prefix was MSC and I was able to file a service request at a little over 6 months. I called up, Tier 1 rep said, yes since you are at the VSC (I had been transferred from NBC) now 6 months is over their processing time so no problem. She gave me a confirmation number and everything.

I have serious doubts about what the rep told you was true, because their system was obviously able to file a request for me and I have exactly the same PD and prefix as you. Something doesn't make sense about what the guy told you.

Well, I can't tell you what the disparity is between your case and mine, but it could be that there was a change in their system. Previously I tried several times to file the request online and it used to tell me, "Routing could not be determined due to an invalid receipt number" even though I copied the number straight from my profile. Now when I try, it says, "Your application or petition is currently within the posted processing times. An inquiry may not be created at this time. Further information about recent processing times can be viewed on the uscis.gov webpage." (I kept snippets to show the Councilman.)

I had called about 4 times prior to talking to Sergio and each of the reps had said that the last completed petition was on September 30 and that I was within the processing time, just like they told AaronOmaha. If you look at the processing time for NBC it says:

Field Office Processing Dates for National Benefits Center as of: March 31, 2014 Form Title Classification or Basis for Filing: Processing Timeframe:

I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record Initial issuance or replacement of a Form I-94 2.5 Months

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 September 30, 2013

Also, when you go to the processing times page, it even says "National Benefits Center (also known as MSC)". Maybe you happened to get someone that knew how to cheat the system like Sergio did. Whatever the case, you are lucky to have jumped the USCIS hurdle and I am still waiting.

Welcome! Have you received anything regarding your daughter's petition? It could be just they are waiting for both your husband and daughter's petition to get finished.

I did wait the requisite hour for a tier 2 rep just to make sure that the two petitions are now linked since they were initially sent to different service centers. The rep said that they were linked now but didn't have any more information for me. I was really upset about the 2nd transfer because my husband's petition was initially in California but they sent his to slow-azz Vermont where my daughter's was instead of sending hers to speedy California.

Been following along in this forum for several months but this is the first time posting because I'm so frustrated now.

Filed I-130 as U.S. Citizen for spouse and received NOA1 on Oct. 7

March 11 case was transferred to TSC

May 2 I received notice that case was transferred AGAIN this time to VSC, but online it says it was transferred to "local office" (I live in Omaha). When I called Customer Service the recording says that my case was transferred to Mesquite, TX. I talked to Tier 2 and they said that it was in Vermont with no explanation for the conflicting data.

Also, the USCIS website says that processing times at VSC is 5 months so today I called and tried to make a request since I am over 7 months and the rep started to file the inquiry but couldn't because she said VSC was currently working on cases from Sept. 30!!! Then why does the website say 5 months.

I am so irritated with these people and just wondering if anyone has any input or has experienced similar issues.

A little background on our case if it helps: Not that it should matter but I will mention that I am filing this for my same sex spouse. He is from Mexico and we have been together 15 years although we were only married 2 years ago. He took a voluntary departure last year to avoid deportation because he had overstayed his original Visa. All this waiting is very hard on both of us, we just want to get the process moving because we know that we still have a long road ahead of us until we are together again.

Thanks for any input.

Hello AaronOmaha,

I have been following this thread for a few months as well but I felt compelled to join so I could tell you what I found out yesterday. My PD is October 1 and I have been trying to file a service request for awhile now and I found out what part of the problem is. A very nice rep named Sergio told me that their system would not let them file a service request because my receipt # starts with MSC, which is the prefix for the National Benefits Center. Since your PD is 10/7, my guess is that yours was sent to the NBC before being transferred to a service center like mine. If you look at the NBC's processing time for USC filing I-130 for spouse, it says that the last one they finished was September 30, 2013. That explains why we can't file one online as well. He was kind (or smart) enough to cheat the system by changing my PD to September 29 so that it would accept it. It worked, however, I just received an email that says:

"Recently, you or your representative contacted USCIS concerning your I-130, to notify us that you believe your case is outside of our normal processing time. Below is a summary of what we found and how the issue has been or may be resolved.

Your petition is still pending consideration. We regret that we are not able to give you a timeframe for when we will complete the review of your petition.

What You Can Do

Please see the "Online Services" below to check the status of your case in the near future. We apologize for the delay.

We hope this information is helpful to you."

Grrrr....NOT HELPFUL AT ALL, USCIS! Mine has been transferred twice because my step-daughter's petition was initially sent to a different service center than my husband's. I am very frustrated as well, so I feel your pain! I have even requested assistance from my Congressman, which has proven fruitless as well. I even have a hard time looking at this forum anymore because almost everyone has moved on to NVC and I'm still waiting. *SIGH*

Good Luck to you and everyone else still waiting!