alli

Looks like they put their working hats on yesterday! I also got approved.

Here's my timeline:

Sent I-751: 5/5/09

NOA1 date: 5/6/09

Biometrics: 7/3/09

Approval: 8/12/09

hello guys,I am renewing my driver's license,what proofs should I show to DMV? Is the extension letter will be enough to be able to renew it?If i don't have an extension letter yet what else can i show to DMV? I don't have anything from USCIS,we just moved a month ago ,I used my in laws address for the mail , I got something but i don't know what it is yet,she mailed it to our previous address she forgot that we moved out, we may have to go the post office to get the letter in time otherwise they will mail it back to sender.My driver's license expires on july 16,2009 and my greencard as well.We have an immigration appointment this coming wednesday July 15,2009,we're thinking to cancel it once i get my extension letter in time, what do you think guys? should i cancel it? or go ahead get a sticker or whatever to show to DMV.PLease if you have experienced about this Please do share. Thank you so much.

I took my 1 year extension letter, passport and permanent resident card along with the renewal notice from the DMV. They gave me trouble with it though, saying that they needed the approval notice to issue me a new license. After I yelled at them they took all the documents, gave me a temporary slip that lasts until September and said that their main office would need to process my documents and make the decision.

If I were you, I'd keep the immigration appointment, get the stamp and then go to the DMV with you passport and card. Even if the letter is the extension letter, the passport stamp isnt going to hurt you any. Better to have too much proof than not enough.

Good Luck!

Congratulations Michelle you've waited waaaay too long for this!!

I was told at my medical not to take the x-ray to Sydney, it just needs to go to the US with me.

Good luck for tomorrow Lisa Let me know how it goes!

I bought mine the day we received NOA2 approval!

Luckily everything has gone to schedule and I have a month up my sleeve after the interview before I actually leave.

My ' packet' was interview letter and check list. Should I have received a DS-230 pt 2? or does Sydney not bother?? Is it given on the day? I was planning to download it and take it along anyway.

secondly, If I was wanting to show any cash/ assets of my own, do I fill in a seperate I-134 ( I have an affidavid of support from my fiance) or do I just show the evidence on the day?

Cheers guys

Hi Lisaf,

I should get my packet 4 next week sometime (hopefully! P3 was returned yesterday by express mail) So I will let you know if DS-230 pt 2 is in there.

Not sure about the financial evidence, I was also going to take along a bank statement to show my funds but wasnt planning on filling out my own I-134 for it..

Just called NVC and spoke to a person. My case does not appear in their system yet. The guy said that it can take 60-90 days to appear in their system!! That is strange! Does that mean the case might be there but not entered in their system for 30-60 days? Any comments?

Looking at your timeline sig, you were touched on the 12th, which could have been when CSC sent your petition to the NVC.

It usually takes 1-3 weeks after NOA2 before your case appears in the NVC system, so hang in there. Call them again next week and see if they have any more info for you.

good luck

Do you think it has anything to do with the country the beneficiary is from???

I wouldn't be surprised, I read somewhere that the Consulate in the beneficiary's country gives the NVC permission to hand out a new case number when they are ready to receive new petitions. I'm not sure if this info is correct, but it would explain why some people have had to wait a lot longer than others.

Our case received a case number the day it arrived at NVC, and was sent out 2 working days later, which seemed the norm for Australian petitions.

Good luck, I hope you receive news of your case soon

michelle, I have a document about police checks that i got from the consulate, I will try and PM it to you..

You'll need I-134 Affadavit of support (can be downloaded from the web) and the supporting evidence that is listed at the back of the form.

I hope your NOA2 will arrive soon, it's long overdue!

good luck!

I have read that receipt numbers don't work in the system? Or do they? And what is the best number to reach this folks at? Does emailing them work?

Thanks!

the automated system doesnt seem to be updated, so you should speak to an operator when calling (press 1 for english, then 5 for operator, dont need to wait for the prompts). I cant remember the phone number but its posted on the boards somewhere. Emailing them works but they arent very quick to respond.. it took them 5 days to respond to mine.

Who was approved on Aug 28? from CSC?

and who reached NVC already?

I emailed NVC last wednesday.(6th Sept).and they havent even emailed me back yet..

whats the longest people waited for an e mail reply?

we were approved aug 28 from CSC, and the petition reached the NVC yesterday (8th Sept). Yours will most likely be there also..

give them a call, speak to an operator and they will give you your new case number.. they will ask you for your CSC case file number, the beneficiary's name and dob.

good luck

Call them in 2-3 weeks, as CSC seems to be slow on sending them out to the NVC.

good luck

CSC seems to be slow sending the petitions to the NVC lately.. We were approved (K1) 28th Aug and as yet our petition has not been 'received' by the NVC.

scrap that, they got it today

grats you guys have waited far too long for this!

CSC seems to be slow sending the petitions to the NVC lately.. We were approved (K1) 28th Aug and as yet our petition has not been 'received' by the NVC.

Hang in there, could be another 2 weeks till they get it.

good luck

Melbourne doesnt do K-1, Sydney is the only place he can have the interview.

...

It's important that when he calls, he talks to a live operator. The automated system won't be enough.

is the automated system not updated regularly?

We were told that you shouldnt not mention your finacee as they can see a visa processing and might think your trying to hold info from them....

Does everyone think I should just say.... I am on holiday visiting friends?

Thanks!!!

I wasnt engaged to my fiance when I entered the first time and we had not sent in the K-1, so I was telling the truth

You should always be truthful at the checkpoint, dont give up information that they dont ask for, but never lie to them or you could end up in a much worse situation.

sabaidee: I've wondered the same thing about jeopardizing the K-1 if you overstayed being reason enough.. plus the fact that if you did marry your SO on your visit and attempt to stay, you'd have a hell of a time proving that it wasn't your intent when you entered the country.

Thanks for yours advice!!! Did they ask why you were visiting.... and if so what did you say?

He only asked how long my stay was for.. I had filled in the immigration form as "visiting family and friends" so I guess that was enough for him to not ask that question.

When I went over Christmas I ticked "holiday" as my reason, which was met with a barrage of questions from the Officer about what exactly I was there for... I told him I was there to see LA, Vegas, and visit some friends - He asked what nationality my friends were.. I said American.. after that he welcomed me to the US.

I visited my fiance late July/early August without a problem (POE was LAX). Took a letter from my employer, as well as a current bank statement and payslip just in case, but the Immigration Officer only asked how long I would be the US for.. didnt want to see any evidence and never mentioned the K1.

As long as you can prove your ties to the UK (if requested) you will be fine..

Also watch the Immigration Officers while you're waiting in line, you'll get a good indication of whether you will need to produce evidence from the amount of time they spend with each person. Some will just stamp, fingerprint, photograph and push people through, others take a good 5-10 minutes asking questions.

Congrats!

We got approved today also =)

Hoping the other VJ'ers get their approvals soon!

A little progress is better than none. At least we know they're doing something

touched 3,4,5 July

Michelle,

My fiance was also over here in April for 2 weeks, and can not get anymore time off work. We both have no desire to jeopardize his employment, so if he can't get a day or two off in August to fly to Melbourne and file, we can't take the DCF route.

I don't think IMBRA will affect the DCF though, as you will be already married. IMBRA from what I understand is there to protect women before the marriage takes place. They have no control over couples who have already done the deed.

His misdemeanor may be investigated, it may not (they may have no interest in his history as the petition is for you), it might be worth sending another email to the consulate and asking.. I've included in my email the fact that neither my fiance or I have prior marriages/children or criminal history, and asked if that will make our application any quicker, so I'll let you know if they comment on that.

I also don't think that they will consider it suspicious dropping the I-129F after all this IMBRA c-r-a-p. It's conceivable that quite a few people have considered DCF a viable and quicker solution to the problem, irrespective of their criminal history.

I'm in the same boat atm. My fiance sent in the I-129F mid-May in the hopes we would be finished by end of year. It's not looking too good with all the IMBRA stuff going on, so I had a look at DCF.

I'll be heading over to see him July 21st for 2 weeks, and am considering taking the DCF route as it seems quicker. I suggested we have a quickie wedding in California when I arrive, and he could come back with me to Australia and file early August in Melbourne (I'm from Adelaide). Upon speaking with the consulate though, my mother (I couldn't call as at work) was told that DCF takes just as long as the I-129F... I was under the impression that without all the Service Centre/NVC it would be a faster option.

How long does the consulate/embassy take to approve I-130's from USC? and what sort of timeline am I looking at for being able to go over and live with him? I've read that packet 3 can no longer be sent out to the beneficiary before I-130 is lodged, so it will take a bit longer than it used to. What type of wait time is there on interviews for the Aus citizen once the checklist has been received back by the consulate?

Also is there any sort of time limit on how long you need to be married before you can file? We'll have only been married for 2 weeks when he lodges the application if we decide DCF is the way to go.

Thanks