mugen

Hey all,

Just wanted to chime in to give reference material to those who may be waiting.

We filed AOS (from K1) on June 8th, received green card with no interview on September 15th.

Good luck!

AOS package was delivered on June 28th... we attached the electronic notification form. Should I still be expecting that they send a text and/or e-mail? Curious how long it takes them to 'accept' the package. They haven't cashed the filing fee, either. :/

You will be fine filing AOS without the I-129F NOA2 approval notice

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/323385-filing-for-aos-with-lost-noa2/

Just send in your I-129F approval USCIS online case status, National Visa Center letter stating that the I-129F was approved, K1 visa copy ..etc

I see... that's another thing I've been wondering ever since they never sent me the NOA2 lol. Okay, I'm definitely not going to worry about it then... I can find far better things to do with that $405. Thank you.

Slightly off topic from this thread subject, but I was also wondering... I included copies of her passport Biography page and K1 visa, and also any page that wasn't empty (i.e. stamps from other countries, past visas, etc). That should be all I need, right? We don't need to include all of the pages, even blank ones?

-Jesse

Hey all,

I apologize if this is the wrong section for this inquiry. I am in need of a little clarification if anyone is able to provide it.

It is time to file the I-485 for my now-wife (huge thanks to this site for the process until this point!) next week, but I notice that we need the NOA2 "Approval" notice from the I-129F. I never received this notice, so will need to file an I-824 (much to my dismay after asking for alternatives at USCIS line since it's like this notice was never mailed...)

We also plan to include the NVC "Received approved I-129F petition" letter as a supplementary document and explain that I-824 for duplicate approval notice is pending on the AOS application. My question is, should we file I-824 with the I-485 AOS application or separately? I only ask because I noticed when looking at I-824 filing locations, it indicated if "filing I-824 with other documents, use the filing location of the other document(s)".

Again, I really appreciate any insight into this!

Thank you,

Jesse

Yesterday went great, despite a bit of mess having to clarify whether she was already an American, as her dad was born in California; not enough proof to meet those requirements unfortunately. Nevertheless, approved! ^^

The 'Visa Status Check' site is a bit confusing, as it says last updated today, the 23rd, but still indicates 'Ready' as it did when we scheduled the interview. Ah well, they said 5-7 days to get back the visaed passport. Finally turned all of that stress into excitement lol. :-)

Driving to Vancouver tomorrow for the Friday medical in advance of Tuesday's interview D: Lol I'm more nervous about it than she is.

Stressing... so... bad. Interview is on March 22nd. Driving up there (Canada) in a couple of days and staying until the interview and afterwards, hopefully, visa. Trying to put together everything that needs to be taken... does this look pretty inclusive?

The USC should call the USCIS and tell them that they never received the approval notice of action. See if they can send a new one without a fee... talk to a tier 2.

I did call in and informed them that I never received it; at that point I was told I would have to file an I-824. Do you know the best way to talk to 'tier 2'? Do I just ask for them?

We also received our NOA1 on Jan 14th and haven't heard any word on NOA2. No need to stress over it because doesn't change anything, just wait. Ours is K-1 process.

Ours is the K1 process as well. I mean we received our "NOA2", as in the case is approved, it's just that I have no official NOA2 hard-copy from USCIS. The case is now at the Vancouver consulate... we are nearing the end of the process to obtain the visa and I'm concerned we will need it at the interview.

Many people have been the similar situation as yourself. Several folks have successfully used the email notice of I-129-F petition approval in lieu of the official Form I-797 notice when subsequently filing their AOS paperwork. Do you still have a copy of that email notice?

Who knows the official Form I-797 notice (NOA2) may yet show up in your mailbox? That has happened too?

Review past forum threads for more information.

Good luck on you immigration journey.

Thank you for the information. I do not have an email notice... I suppose that was a mistake on my part for not including the form authorizing electronic communication. It sounds like either way, even if not (hopefully not) for the interview, we will need this I-797 NOA2 form for the AOS paperwork.

My I-129F petition was approved in mid-January, and after waiting the specified 30-day period, I still have not received the NOA2. We've already scheduled the interview at the Vancouver consulate and I'm concerned they will ask for this. I called and informed that I had never received the notice, and was instructed that I would need to file form I-824.

Looking at the instructions, the filing fee for this form is $405. That's more than the original petition filing fee. WHAT!?

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-824instr.pdf

This is ridiculous. Does anybody have any other insight into this process? Do you think I should just go ahead and pay it and hopefully have it by the March 22nd interview?...

-Jesse

Yay! Interview scheduled at Vancouver for March 22nd. Now I just need to make sure everything is together for it document wise. I get to go with her, though ^^

I actually have the month of March 9th through April 8th off of work, so I'm just going to drive up to spend some time before and after the interview, at which point we can (hopefully) drive back after with the approved visa. I wonder if it's any different as far as entry when driving; I've never crossed a border via ground and I wonder how much more so is involved with activating her visa there.

Good to see the other interview schedules and approvals in here

At some point she is going to need to get a new passport in order to travel outside the US. Why not just bit the bullet and get the new passport now? You are assuming that the interview will happen quickly for the visa. That may not be the case and her passport expires before her interview. Now what is she going to do? If time is an issue and not money, just have her go back to the PI and get a new passport.

The K-1 is a non-immigrant visa where they give you 90 days to get married. She will need 90 days of validity from her date of entry so she can leave the US should she not get married to you in the 90 days. If it was me, I would get the new passport either via the Embassy in Vancouver or by going back to the PI. That way you do not have to worry about the passport for a few years.

Dave

Thanks for the insight, Dave. It seems like she can receive a renewed passport much quicker by actually going back to the Philippines as opposed to using the embassy. I think we're going to go this route.

She will need to have at least 6 months left on her passport when she goes to her interview. Yes, she can fill out the I-160 with the current passport and take the new one with her to the interview.

This is also good information to know. Thanks for the input!

Hello all,

I'm in need of a little advice. We've overlooked the fact that my fiancee's passport expires in April (I know, major mistake...). The US embassy should have received our case from the NVC today. It seems that the fastest she could receive a new passport from the Philippine embassy (Filipino citizen, Canadian PR) in Vancouver is 1 month, but up to 12 weeks, according to whoever answered the phone.

I have a lot of questions but I think I've narrowed down what I need to know:

1) How long is the K1 case valid for; can it be extended if necessary?

2) Is the 6-month passport validity absolute for issuance of the K1 visa; can it be waived?

3) Can she go ahead and complete the DS-160 with her current passport and provide the new one at the interview?

I'm really not sure the best way to proceed here. I'd appreciate suggestions from anyone.

Thank you,

Jesse

So I called and found out that the NVC received our case yesterday, and took down the case and IIN numbers from them. From what I've read in this thread, it seems okay to go ahead and have her fill out the DS-160 as well as schedule the interview. Does anyone know if there is something extra for the Vancouver consulate that must be done for scheduling the interview or filling out the DS-160? Do they actually need to receive the case?

Thanks for the help guys This would be a pretty daunting task without the help here... especially considering how much more quickly the petition was approved compared to what I expected.

Ugh, I'm borderline panicked now.

I just got blindsided by an unpaid one month furlough from work before I can renew my contract for the next year there. Not only is it a struggle financially, as I haven't been budgeting for a month without pay, I'm concerned about it affecting the financial information that the embassy will be asking for. If her interview ends up being in March or early April, I won't have recent pay stubs or any statement showing much of anything in my bank account.

I haven't even received my hard copy of the NOA2 which was updated on the myuscis page on January 22nd, which is also stressing me out...

:'( I don't even know

Sorry to spam.

Guess no one else is really for sure in regards to the interview scheduling?

Hi I'm in the same step as u in the process of k1 but till now no letter from nvc got the approval January the6 . Hopefully I've will hear from them soon

I see, thanks for the info. I hope you hear from them soon also; I hope we both do!

Hello all,

The NOA2 date for our petition was January 22nd, 2016. I've not yet been able to obtain a case number with the NVC, but was wondering if anyone had recent experience regarding how long out the interview was scheduled at Vancouver from when the consulate received the case and returned checklist package.

On a side note, how long might I generally expect my case to spend passing through the NVC (a month?...).

All insight much appreciated,

Jesse

The most current year is required. If you weren't required to file an explanation why you didn't file is all that is needed.

Okay awesome. Thanks for the quick reponse!

Hey all,

Sorry if this is not the appropriate place or is a silly question.

I keep reading (literally can't stop - getting stressed during the wait about what's next) that as part of the 'evidence of support' documentation, 3 years are tax returns should be provided. I only have this previous year's tax return, as the two preceding that, I was a full-time college student and did not file due to not exceeding the minimum earned income to file a return.

Is this going to be an issue? Is there something else anyone thinks I'll be required to provide or that knows about this more in depth?

I really appreciate the help. Thanks!

-Jesse

Hi Jesse,

What you've read online is true for I-129F K1 visa applications. The DS-160 has replaced DS-156, DS-156K, & DS-230 for non-immigrant visa applications such as yours. Your fiance will only have to fill out an electronic DS-160 which is submitted online. The DS-160 is filled out before the consulate interview on the ceac website, https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/ . Once your fiance fills out all the information on the DS-160 and electronically submits it, they will receive a confirmation page with a bar-code which your fiance must print out and bring to the interview.

Cheers!

Hey,

Thanks much for the quick response. Well, that does sound a bit simpler at least! So then, from what I understand here: this is something that she should complete after the consulate has received the corresponding case from NVC. Should she wait until such time as she receives some sort of confirmation that the case has been received, then? How is the interview date determined (by this DS-160 form)?

Thanks again!

Hello all,

I apologize in advance if this is not the correct section of the forum to ask this.

We've received our NOA2 for the I-129F petition on the 22nd of January and I am now wondering about the embassy/consulate part of the process. I have seen several documents mentioned; DS-156, DS-156K, & DS-230. However, I've also seen it mentioned (just searching on the web) that the online DS-160 replaces these.

My question is: after the NVC has processed the package and the Vancouver consulate receives the case... will the aforementioned DS documents need to be submitted or the DS-160?

I'd very much appreciate some insight into this, thank you in advance ^^

-Jesse

P.S. I am blind and couldn't find a forum search function D: Sorry if this has been answered!

NOA1 notice date was November 18th, 2015. Our petition was approved on January 22nd, 2016, two days after they received the response to the RFE issued requesting to know the 'dating website' where we met (like instant!).

Now I'm stressing about the embassy part of the process, lol... like how long it will take to get an interview, anything special they'll need, etc. Dealing with Vancouver. D:

Hope all goes well for everyone