alexvandv

Dear members,

I had my K-1 visa interview at the Rio de Janeiro Consulate with a pending J-1 visa waiver (INA 212(e) Two Year Home Country Residency Requirement) on July 19th.

The Waiver has been approved September 7th, and sent the Approval Notice to the Consulate. They confirmed they received it on September 14th.

I've been checking my Status on CEAC since then. It was first Refused due to the pending waiver. On the following day (09/15), the CEAC stated Immigrant Visa Application Ready and later, either the same day or not, it changed to Immigrant Visa Administrative Processing. On September 16th, NonImmigrant Visa Application Administrative Processing.

It's now September 21st and it's still stuck on that status. I've heard that K-1 visas in Brazil approved on the interview day usually goes like this: IV Ready --> IV Administrative Processing --> NIV Ready --> NIV Administrative Processing --> Issued; all within 10 days, and between NIV AP and Issued, taking only 2 days.

My fiancée called the Consulate and they have let her know that: (1) my visa hasn't been approved yet, (2) the process can take weeks up to six months, and that (3) I'm not under Administrative Processing from the 221(g), the bad one. - The given timespan seemed like one of those standard answers you always hear from the USCIS.

So I would like to know if anyone in the forum has gone through something similar? Having a J-1 waiver pending, sending the approval notice shortly after. How long did it take for the visa to be issued?

After a lot of stress and irritation, my case has finally got approved - and I'm sure it was with the Brazilian Consulate's help. So, If you are Brazilian and your No-Objection waiver is delayed, I strongly suggest contacting them. Here is my nightmare-material timeline:

Filed DS-3035 with the DoS: 03/03/2016

Obtained the No-Objection Letter from CAPES: 04/28/2016 - They are so messed up that I needed to beg for my mother to beg them for the letter. I was trying to obtain it since early February.

Obtained the No-Objection Statement from the Brazilian Government: 05/02/2016

All Documents Received by the DoS: 05/19/2016

DoS granted Favorable Recommendation: 06/22/2016

USCIS received I-612 (Filed by the DoS, no need to file yourself in a No-Objection case): 06/27/2016

USCIS NOA1 issued: 07/06/2016

------> Here comes the 61 day nightmare<-----

USCIS Approval: 09/07/2016

USCIS NOA2 Arrival (to an US Address): ?

Just an update to the timeline:

Received the Notice of Approval through the mail (US Address): 09/12/2016

J-1 Waiver based on No Objection statement:

- Recommendation Sent (to USCIS) August, 31 2016

- No Objection Statement Received July, 22 2016

- Fee Received July, 19 2016

- Form DS-3035 Received July, 19 2016

- Form DS-2019 Received July, 19 2016

- Passport Data Page Received July, 19 2016

- Statement Of Reason Received July, 19 2016

Still haven't heard from USCIS.

It took me about 20 days to hear from them with a US address. With a Brazilian address, it took me 30 days. - All after the recommendation was sent.

What I did is for today; I gave my fiancee number for call back request. And she is gonna pretend like me on phone today.

Make sure you are online with her in a Skype conversation. The USCIS is okay with someone else speaking on your behalf as long as you are "present." You may be able to work around that using this strategy.

After a lot of stress and irritation, my case has finally got approved - and I'm sure it was with the Brazilian Consulate's help. So, If you are Brazilian and your No-Objection waiver is delayed, I strongly suggest contacting them. Here is my nightmare-material timeline:

Filed DS-3035 with the DoS: 03/03/2016
Obtained the No-Objection Letter from CAPES: 04/28/2016 - They are so messed up that I needed to beg for my mother to beg them for the letter. I was trying to obtain it since early February.
Obtained the No-Objection Statement from the Brazilian Government: 05/02/2016

All Documents Received by the DoS: 05/19/2016
DoS granted Favorable Recommendation: 06/22/2016
USCIS received I-612 (Filed by the DoS, no need to file yourself in a No-Objection case): 06/27/2016
USCIS NOA1 issued: 07/06/2016
------> Here comes the 61 day nightmare<-----
USCIS Approval: 09/07/2016
USCIS NOA2 Arrival (to an US Address): ?

Hey folks

How did you make it ? To talk with someone USCIS regarding to i-797c receipt notice number on phone?

Everytime I call them, an agent is forwarding my call to another one because they are not capable to give that information apperantly. but that new agent's line is always busy. And they keep asking me to schedule a call back request but no one is calling me back?

Is there any trick to share with me for this?

Thanks in advance

Heck, I've sent an Online Inquiry for Processing Time taking longer than the usual. Their system displays that my inquiry has been taken care of, and a response emailed, but nothing shows up in my email's inbox and neither the spam folder... It doesn't surprise me they are being incapable of calling back.

Someone once told me in a case like this, tell them someone in your household accidentally threw your I-797C away. They should give you your receipt number. - Not sure if that's the right way to do it though.

Uptade on my timeline for the J1waiver

********************************************************************************************************

J1 waiver timeline based on non-objection

Documents received by DOS - February 17, 2016

No Objection Statement - March 08, 2016

Incomplete Information Letter - March 21, 2016

Update documents received - April 13, 2016

Favorable recommendation sent - April 21, 2016

I-612 received by USCIS Vermont Office - April 26,2016

Final approval by USCIS I-797C Notice of Action (NOA) - May 20th 2016

Received at my address in US the I-797C Notice of Action (NOA) - May 25th 2016

*******************************************************************************************************

I am also a former CNPQ scholar from Brazil.

Good luck to all.

Less than a month?! See, mine is taking way too long! It's been 44 days today since the USCIS received it!

Alex,

I misunderstood you. I thought your interview was coming but it already happened. So, you are so close to get your visa.

Let us to know when you get your documents.

Thanks.

Yup, I will let you guys know

Dear alexvandv and plinioandrade,

I have filled for the K1 along side with the Waiver too, and my interview is scheduled to 15th September. My plan was to go with the final decision in hands already, but that seems more difficult to happen. I changed the address and the USCIS didn't confirm it yet, which worries me. Also, I hope that the American Consulate accepts the scanned letter (if I ever receive it).

Please let me know if something happens,

My lawyer has sent me a scanned copy of the NOA1 she received for the I-612. I've printed it and handed it during the interview alongside a copy of the Favorable Recommendation from the DoS. - Which means, yes, they do accept copies. The consulate also asked me just to email them when the I-612 is approved. No need for scanned documents. I believe the only thing that matters to them is the case number.

Dear both larissaf and plinioandrade,

I'm also a former exchange student from the Science Without Boarders program. I'm also waiting for my I-612 to be approved by the USCIS since their NOA1 date July 6th. It's August 17th and nothing has absolutely happened. I received the NOA1 at my Brazilian address after 3 weeks. I've also been working on the case with a lawyer, so the lawyer received a copy of the Notice of Action at her office about a week after it was issued. I will keep you guys posted If I get the approval any time soon. It seems to be taking way too long compared to other timelines I've seen online for the I-612.

Unrelated: I tried to run the waiver process along side with with my fiancée's I-129F which was approved within 3.5 months after it has been filed. I've had my consulate interview at the 19th, and the only thing pending for the visa approval is the no-objection waiver. - CAPES, the incompetent government agency who financed the program, took about 3 months to issue an no-objection letter to the Brazilian embassy.