D&B2016

Sounds like you need a K1 and K2 visa. With the K1, you have to marry your boyfriend within 90 days of arrival. The K2 is for your child. When applying, you have to state your intent to be married within 90 days of arrival in writing.

Once you are married and you adjust your status, you can apply for an EAD card. This allows you to work while you are waiting for your permanent resident card (green card).

The CR1 can take longer and you obviously have to already be married. The employment visa has to be sponsored and your employer has to prove that they need to hire you over an American.

You get notified the same day if you signed up via text or email.

If you are asking about the paper notice, that takes a week or so to receive.

The K1 process is typically fairly quick as long as you sent everything you need to.

You only need to meet once and show that you have met. I know it's difficult to wait, but her getting applying for a Visitor visa is extremely difficult. She will need to show an ability to support herself, must own property, have strong family ties, own a car, etc. On top of that, they are going to want to know why she can't just wait for the K1 when it's already considered an expedited visa. By the time you process the Visitor visa, pay for everything, and she gets to visit, you are probably looking at a month or more anyway. 

Good luck! Stay patient and do research while you wait. It can get frustrating at times but in the end, it's worth it!

 

Any idea how can for someone get traceable money order from his bank account? 

Just go to your bank and ask for one...

I think what has been stressing me out is the lack of "touches." It was touched once the day after the interview and then again Monday. Most others have said their dates kept updating, but the status was the same.

We were approved at the Manila Embassy on 07/11/2016. There was no denial or additional info needed and the Consul told my fiance everything was good and to wait 7-10 days for the visa. The case sat on "Ready" and case open until 07/18. Now it's just sitting in Administrative Processing. From my understanding, approvals are usually only in this status for 1 - 2 days total. It's so frustrating being the exception! Hope to see an update soon!

Disclaimer: All dates are Manila dates.

D&B2016 you are spot on...I just called back and got my case number and invoice number...Thanks!!

One question, what is the invoice number used for?

I never needed it. I honestly don't know.

If they received it today, you can roughly figure out what your case number will be. Since mine is Manila, it starts with MNL. So it's your Embassy Initials + Year + (Julian Date + 500) + Case number received that day. So, Manila, it would be MNL2016700001 for today. This might help you get a rough idea of where other cases are around yours when checking the CEAC website. Good luck!

We just finished a lot of this. Interview with the USEM was yesterday.

The NVC letter took around 1.5 weeks to arrive at my house in California. My fiance never received anything.

As for our file, it took one week from the date I was able to get the receipt number to get to the embassy. This could be rare though.

We were asked for the NVC letter from St Luke's AND during the interview. We didn't have it for the medical and they accepted a screenshot from the CEAC website showing that the NVC received the case.

Once I received the letter from the NVC, I faxed a copy to my fiance. She was asked for it during the interview process. I'm not sure if it was required, but she had it since I sent her a copy, so it wasn't a big deal.

Hi everyone,

Please not the message below.

Reply_Lockbox@dhs.gov

"Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS California Service Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number WACxxxxxxxxxx. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit www.uscis.gov where you can check the status of your case using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status."

Would this be the 1st NOA (NOA1)?

Does accepted mean it has been opened (according to the VJ flowchart, NOA1 is when the packet has been opened)?

It's been almost a month and have not received the official Receipt of Notice (Form I-797).

I am concern at this point.

Thank you all, in advance, for your input.

05/16/2016: I-129F packet sent

05/19/2016: Accepted and routed to USCIS in CA

Waiting....

Yes, that is the NOA1. You should have received the I-797C in the mail. If you don't get it within 30 days of when you are notified, call the USCIS and ask about it.

As for the case being opened, it would have to be for them to notify you. How else would they get your phone number and email address? I'm not sure if that is what you mean...

It's really helpful to register on their website with the USCIS Case Number. You should have received this when you were first notified.

~Moderator note: Personal identifiable information redacted~

Well not to much longer!! :-D

Yup! Can't wait! Excited!

On VJ it says based on my timeline my case should be adjudicated between May 5 & May 7, should I be concerned ?

THanks all

How are other cases looking around your day? Are there still several left? I'm confident mine took longer than others from my day because of my fiance's name. It could take longer for South Africa to assist with background checks if there is a common name involved. It could also just be that your adjudicator is very slow.

I've also read where one is working on it, then it gets moved to another and just takes longer. This was from someone who worked there in the past. Honestly, from what I have read, expect 8 months, be excited with 5, and feel really lucky if it's less. I know a lot of people are getting theirs now, but I wouldn't lose hope.

Congrats!!

We have known each other for such a long time! Six years! This feels really amazing. We were friends before anything else.

Just got the approval text! I'm shaking with excitement!

How many approvals today? NOA2

From my date, I saw one...

I don't know about others.

I wish we could but the RFE went to his office and not to my fiancé's address. You need to attach the RFE slip with the documents. Sigh. hoping they are kinder and let that one page slip through.

This lawyer really sounds like an idiot. I am not trying to be mean. I am just being honest.

Maybe calls the USCIS yourself and ask them. Let them know a lawyer is representing you and they sent that back only? It would suck to have it denied or get another RFE because he doesn't understand.

Happy 100 days! Every day is a day closer

That's what I say too. Still hopeful! I've seen a couple of RFE's go out today already for my day. Hopeful they reach mine soon!

Today is day 100 waiting for our NOA2. Positive vibes, please!

Birth certificate or ALL pages in passport. Seriously fire that lawyer wast of money you can do this yourself

Agreed!

My lawyer asked for both. However, he doesn't have the birth cert. Can it be just his passport? My lawyer is asking for that one page of the passport which is the ID page however I have read on here that you are supposed to send ALL passport pages. I'm confused.

Well, here is the thing. In order to get an American passport, you have to submit a birth certificate and your social security number. So when you get a job here, if you have a passport, that's all they can ask your for because it's legally vetted that you are in fact a citizen.

What I would say though is, submit both and be safe. Remember they want every single page of the American passport, front to back. Even blank pages. Literally, it should be front cover to back. Yes, even the covers.

Also, the birth certificate should be front and back. Even if the back is blank.

I am astonished the lawyer didn't catch this. I sent the passport and the birth certificate to be safe.

I'm still waiting, but I have a feeling it's because my fiance has such a common name in the Philippines. It will take longer to get a background check done for her.

I am SOOOO UPSET with my lawyer. We have received our RFE and it's missing a BIRTH CERTIFICATE & PASSPORT!!! How can they miss a vital part?

Sulking in disappointment. I can't help but write him a letter of dissatisfaction. I hope he won't mess up our case now. I did word it very nicely. I also said that I'd like to restore my faith in his company.

If only I can get a refund. I'm gonna be researching everything myself and double checking his work from now on!!!! GRRRR

They want both or one or the other? If they asked for both, that's odd.

That's a bummer. I know people around here who calls everyday none stop until they get help. If it helps, I have checked and have been keeping an eye on receipt numbers filed the same date as mine and have noticed a pattern. A lot have been approve but the ones that aren't are all getting RFEs one after the other. I feel like they have kept us on hold so they can send it out in a bundle. We are waiting for the hard copy to know for sure where it went wrong. Keep trying to call. I'm sure they can't always be 'unavailable'.

Thanks. I am happy with my RFE. At least it's something how are you holding up?

I don't have anything planned like you do, so I am just trying to be patient.

We have been friends for so long, and I've waited so long for this, I just have to say to myself...what's a few more weeks? It sucks to keep waiting. There is just nothing I can do but be hopeful every day!

Each night when I see ours wasn't approved, I say to myself. Today wasn't our day. Maybe tomorrow! I am very happy for people when they get approved. I have to say though, I am also a little jealous!

It's okay though. I just wait, look forward to the day, and really try to send the good vibes for others!

Thanks. I'm Including you (specifically) and everyone else on here in my prayers. Hang in there.

Congrats!

Thank you! I sure do hope so. I haven't heard anything at all so far. My anxiety, desperation and stress has fortunately died down. I think I've accepted that it won't come any time soon (or at all). I'm considering plan B because at this point, I don't think my visa will be out before our wedding. I have everything booked (at that time I thought this visa thing wouldn't take TOO long, I gave it almost 9 months allowance). However, since I'm the beneficiary, my bridesmaids and everyone on my side is flying in for my November wedding but I think I'll tell them I'll move it to March 2017 instead just to make sure they don't fly for nothing. They won't be coming in for a second time if ever. I know November is a long way, but with me being half a world away, I have other people to consider before they book flights. I'm not really sure what to do. I'm holding off any decision until July 26 (my visa's 5th month of waiting).

I'm just glad my anxiety is done with. Instead of sulking in misery and thinking about how sad it would be when everything I've worked hard for and planned for November is going to waste (It's a BIG wedding), I'm just thinking of happy thoughts and convincing myself that a plan B wouldn't be SOOOO bad especially if the ultimate goal is to finally be with your loved one. So I'm done with my negative thoughts, accepting reality as it is, deal with the cards I've been dealt because I'm blessed enough to have something that's rare.

Stay positive, no matter what.

I wouldn't lose hope. Everything will happen, it just sometimes takes time. Eventually we will have our NOA2, then visa, and we will all look back on this wait and consider it was really worth it.

I'm trying to train myself not to check the app and the USCIS page 5,000 times a day. lol. It's difficult to wait and see people from the same country who applied after you get their visa first, but it is what it is. We just have to wait and really be patient.