Dana-Kristen

A new week dawns...

Is anyone else hopeful for this week? Something about the fact that the eight month line approaches just makes me feel that the decision is close. Somehow I feel as though it's close, it's hard to explain really. I guess after so much anxiety and expectation you become slightly jaded or even numbed to the whole thing!

223 days. I really, really want to believe that this week is my week!

And yours!

And Mewbears!

And EVERYONE over 220 days at least! Please!

APPROVED

Ahhhh Dude!!! Congrats!!!!

How likely is it to have some approvals tonight? Do they work on Fridays over there?

Hopefully.

Hope you all have a great weekend! At least it's nice out and I have beer in my fridge.

So I'm 225 days in and I'm starting to kick up a fight. Calling and what not. So I've been in contact with my lawyer, and she said she's going to file and inquiry for me. They talked to a tier one and requested talking to a tier two. She said tier two will call back tomorrow, but she said "don't worry all immigration lawyers have a direct line to TSC and I'll get them to talk this evening." Basically she keeps telling me to calm my panties and she's got it under control with her super secret lawyer short cuts and strings. Idk.. I'm kind of not believing her. Your input guys?

I don't think that's accurate. My lawyer said she *has* to go by what the USCIS Web site says (August 23 processing; updated as of Feb 28) and she said she can't call to start making inquiries until they update that to show that they are past Sept. 23 with no approval on my end because technically, as per the Website timeline (even though it seems inaccurate to us because of the Sept/Oct approvals we are seeing here) they are within proper time frame. I'm not sure if that makes sense - I tried to word it as best as I could with my co-workers rap music blaring from her office..... I can't think.

Anyway - my lawyer has been really honest and genuine from the get-go. If she had a way to further help us (secret shortcuts), I do believe she would.

I share your frustration. It's hard when these approvals are from the same "region" as you, if that would make any difference at all. You come to the conclusion that they HAVE seen your petition, but for whatever reason just thought "Meh, I don't like this one." and tossed it to the side to be reviewed in the near future.

There was one couple who applied well after me and got accepted well before me, and out of curiosity I checked out their story. They met online through a dating service, and one proposed to the other, online, 5 days later. Now don't get me wrong, I judge no person or their story, but I would imagine that that could cause concern for USCIS for legitimacy issues, but nope. hunky-dory.

In all honesty, I can understand why my mother's case would take slightly longer. She lived in the US for some time, has already been married there and such. We had a life there before we returned to our homeland, voluntarily.

It's not much use getting worked up on the motives, for all we know they genuinely skipped or left aside our petitions, or confused the soft touch of the petition for toilet paper. $#!* happens, am I right?

Gotta make light of it, really. Oh and, 231 days. I'm running out of carving space on my walls.

Exactly. That's exactly how I feel - and because you can't contact them like a normal agency and inquire. Like, say you know your bank or insurance company has dropped the ball on something - you can call them and inquire and have it looked at and rectified. But with this, all you can really do is stand by and wait and hope for the best while you try to get through one huge bout of anxiety after another.

I also agree about the "legitimacy". Sure, we can't judge, but it's really frustrating since we know just how legit our situations are. I mean, for crying out loud...Nick and I have been online friends for ten years!! TEN!! We met over 3 years ago in person and our families have gotten SO close. Anyone could vouch for us. But then, as you said, some potentially illegitimate situation is approved and you are left suffering. Again, I don't mean to say that my love is more sacred than others but...frustration speaks. What can you do?

Thanks for the support, Vincent.

If this will help, Im on the same boat and feel depressed , but what can we do other than waiting...

this is for you Dana-Kristen

Thank you so much! That made me smile

What would I do without this place?

Oh yeah, I understood. 'Jest sayin'.

I want y'all to know I give you my support completely. The numbers just flat-out suck for the TSC at the moment. I'm praying for more approvals ASAP, with a focus on September...

Thank you for the support - it really means a lot. It just hit me so hard yesterday and, I'm not much of a crier, but I definitely had a breakdown yesterday and feel like I might today (thankfully it's Friday). Aside from this particular forum, I feel so alone in this. My fiancé doesn't stress and he always anticipates the best outcome; I'm just not wired that way. He does his best to make me feel better but sometimes I feel silly expressing my concern because to him, there is nothing to worry about. To me, the earth is crumbling!

I hope your fiancé and baby are doing well

Never had a problem with the "befores" getting their approvals prior to mine; the "afters" oh hell yeah ... but that's another story.

Yeah, totally. I worded that in an odd way. I guess what I was trying to say is that I feel surrounded by approvals. Full circle around me - and me on the middle just like, stressballin'. Blah.

For some weird reason today has felt tougher than most days.

I checked up on the folks with "similar timelines" to mine today and that basically just caused a meltdown; there are people with NOA1 dates before and after mine and I'm pretty much the only one still standing with no approval. It is so frustrating to see people with dates that are both before and after your own get approvals.

Well, I just got a text/email at 2:30pm EST..this is concerning, since we overloaded the file on the front end

On April 30, 2015, we suspended processing of your Form I-129F, Petition for Fiance(E), Receipt Number SRCxxxxx, because we need more information from you. Your notice explains what we need from you to resume working on your case. We will not take action on your case until we receive the evidence or the deadline to submit it expires. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your request for additional evidence notice by May 30, 2015,

But! Someone has touched your file! You know it wasn't lost or tossed, at least! Also, correct me if I'm wrong (and I very well could be) but an RFE just means the case is on hold until you send more information, right? And once you do, they continue on with it? I doubt the wait will be that bad! Keep your chin up; an end is close to being in sight for you.

My file still has the possibility of being lost or tossed.... haha

I'm at a point where I sometimes look at that other case number I found just to see its "My Case was Approved" message.

That'd be funny if it weren't so sad.

Hahhaha, we're descending into a state of madness! Curse you TSC!

I have this odd urge to get a job there one day and show 'em how it's done. If only they had people working there who WENT through this process before- maybe then there'd be a drop of compassion.

Ha, I do the same thing. I want to know what it will be like to see that message, but pretending just disheartens me more.

At the beginning of last week, things seemed so hopeful with the approvals that came in. I felt as though the next few weeks would be a bowl of cherries for us September TSC filers.

Boy was I wrong.

Now I can't help but go back to thinking about the worst case scenario.

219 days today. It's not even *my* amount of days that is bothering me, but more the lack of approvals in this forum; things are looking pretty grim.

I can't believe it tonight I was finally approved. I've been pretty quiet just reading and following this thread, every night I'd read and follow up and pray that everyone here including myself would be approved soon. Tonight was my night and I hope that many many more will also be approved tonight. This hasn't been easy and reading this thread was really what helped me get through the nights. Thank you to everyone and good luck to everyone on their journey!

Congrats! We have the same NOA1 date. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to start feeling hopeful or if I'm supposed to start wondering if they've lost my file.

But you! You go bask in your happiness.

Hey all! Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Fingers crossed for a productive week at the TSC and that this forum floods with approvals! They need to make up for last week!

It's not OK. And Yeah, an above average sense of humor is a basic requirement just to stay alive through this.

Seriously though, it's just not funny. It's NOT okay that families are kept apart, not because of the requirements for additional screening or even in the interests of security, but solely due to bad management, incompetence and complete apathy. These are people's lives. People are not case numbers or bar codes. We are real people with hopes and dreams.

What is also really sad is that this forum was for people to share information and experiences, have a safe place to vent and get support and understanding ... yet the system, NOT the people, have caused a deep and painful divide between CSC and TSC filers. It's like a 'them and us' situation. Poor case load management and glossing over of an ever growing problem has caused it to become progressively severe over time. It's like taking two kids, putting them in a room and giving one of them a bag of candy and a big box of cool toys and saying: "Have fun, but you can't share with your friend."

We are through TSC now, but I honestly still feel quite raw about the whole experience and how it affected me. It took a toll on my emotions, my family, friendships fell apart because people thought I was making things up as I went along and being hurt and super sensitive, I cut ties with them completely, family have been concerned, it took a toll on my health .... Anyone here feeling the same right now? There's nothing wrong with you and you're not weak. This is unnecessary torture.

Sorry, this is part rant and part "We know what you're going through". For what it's worth. You guys don't deserve this. Still hoping the pace picks up somehow at TSC. Still here and watching for your approvals.

Lee

Thank you for such a raw, honest and encouraging response. It's this, in this group, that helps me so much.

Up until February, it was a breeze only because our immi lawyer gave us Feb as somewhat of a checkpoint. She said if we didn't hear anything by Feb, she'd make a phone call. So from Sept to Jan I kept that in mind and had so many positive distractions such as American thanksgiving, which I was able to spend with Nick and his family, and then Christmas which we spent together. Once February rolled around and the lawyer told us how behind TSC was is when things just became very dark for me; I have been extremely anti-social. I have a food blog that I try to keep busy with because I hope to monetize it and work on it full time once I am settled, but other than that, I've had a hard time finding interest in anything. I can't get into any books I try to read; I can't even bring myself to go to the gym more than once or twice a week it seems. I'm fortunate that my friends and family are all very understanding but of course I feel kind of shitty about it.

Tomorrow is my bridal shower actually, and my in-laws are coming into town for it. My family has a sneaking suspicion that Nick is secretly tagging along to surprise me (he lives a lot farther from here than his family does). I hope so! But if not, I'm unfortunately feeling a little sad about having to face bridal things and questions and all of this wedding attention while in such a dark place emotionally. No one will know. I probably put on the best front ever when it comes to that...but I'll probably just come home and drown myself in leftover sangria and shitty snacks. Lol.

I think rants are healthy - and sharing the experience even more so!

Hahaha I saw this this morning. Thank you for the lol's

I 110% emailed the Ombusdman this morning and said,

"Good morning and happy Friday!

I was hoping to get some insight if you are able to help me out. As of today I have been stuck at TSC for 147 days. Monday I will hit the five month mark. We received a letter from USCIS (a few of us had been petitioning to have a caseload transfer) and we were excited that they finally decided to do it on March 27th. You can imagine how crushing it was when we found out that it was not an actual transfer of cases but only an assignment to CSC of cases submitted after March 27th. This leaves all new cases being approved in under a month and people in TSC still there after 200+ days. Just thinking of a wait of 250 days is unsettling. Is there anything that can be done on your end? It just seems that the decision to do this came to them at a bar after 1am."

I'm waiting for them to "lose" my file lol

Haha - hey, we might as well have a sense of humour about it at this point.

I've honestly had to push the idea of CSC's existence out of my head because it was causing me to go mad. Like, HOW IS THIS ACTUALLY EVEN REMOTELY OK?

I'm trying to calm myself by thinking positively - they are approving September files right now. Efficiently? No. But they are working through September. Within the next two weeks there HAVE to be more of us approved and things will HAVE to be looking better for people here.

Again, I am so thankful for this group right here. For a month I was just perusing the forums as a whole and I was not really digging some of the people or some of the things I was reading. I've been feeling a lot more at ease since stumbling into you folks

Loled so hard! I'm a regular gym member I've a very Ross and Rachel relationship with it right now though.. We might get back together, but we're on a break.. I've cheated but we were on a break..

Haha, I'm so glad I'm not alone! I mean yes, I'm disappointed in myself but whatever. I like fitness! Fitness whole pizza into my mouth!

For alternatives to yoga, I highly recommend

Ice cream

Chocolate

Wine

I've personally tried all of them and they each get a 5 star rating.

LOL! YES!

Actually pizza, Netflix and Smartfood popcorn have been my vices over the past month. Every time I drive by my gym now I just look and think, "I love you - but I've chosen darkness..." and keep driving.

So, surely the USCIS site is just not working. No NOA2s listed since 4/21. I wonder how many years this process is taking off my life. So much anxiety. eish!

Yeah, I feel like this stressful process is cutting my life short. I am so taking up ALL THE YOGA once I'm all moved and settled to try and make up for it. Haha. I need to try and get my body and mind into a state of zen.

I joined one of those facebook groups, for about 5 mins.

I don't need to see those filing a few weeks ago already approved.

Yeah, that's why I'm not even going there. I've decided I am happy with my little September TSC filers here, where we are all on the same page and stoked to see approvals within this thread. I do not need to see CSC people getting approved after 23 days; I do not need more of a reason to flip a table.

I'm in a couple Visa Journey-like Facebook groups and recently someone posted something like "waiting for NOA2. 20 days in right now, ugh."

And I'm just over here like ....bro.

LOL!!!

That made my day.

What is the group? I'd love to hit that up. Might as well p!ss and moan in TWO places.

Hi All,

Long time lurker, first time poster. It's been very comforting to see others going through this process as well.

Sitting at 224 days today.

Wishing everyone luck and quick approvals.

Welcome!

This thread has been my mental saviour. Haha.

Sounds like you're basically next. Here's hoping

Congrats on being a daddy! That's wonderful!

No approval here last night.

The idiom "a watched pot never boils" comes to mind.

Maybe I should just quit checking! haha

I feel like I should just quit checking too. At least for a week. I'm driving myself insane and becoming obsessive about it because I feel like it's coming, but at 212 I feel like I still have quite a bit of waiting to do since some people are at 226 days!

Maybe the first week of May for me.

I'm so bummed about the lack of approvals from last night. I love waking up to ecstatic September filers in here!

Here's hoping that there are a lot of approvals tonight! I was kinda disappointed with last night's numbers...

BTW, Elena did indeed give birth today. 7.5 lbs of baby boy! He came much, much faster than the doctor had projected. Headin' out tomorrow.

Anyway, I'll still be here monitoring and in support of y'all who are still waiting. Praying for you; know it's of little consolation, but ...

The biggest congrats!!!

Hello All September Filers ,

What is the next step after receiving your the approval ?

I'm not 100% sure as I'm not quite there yet, but there is a thread that has been started for people in this group once they get their NOA2 to continue the journey together - it's here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/543436-noa2-approval-september-2014-filers-tsc/

I'm sure you can get some info there from fellow Sept. TSC'ers.