The.Fab.Ella

On 9/25/2017 at 11:34 PM, The.Fab.Ella said:

My husband was finally able to talk to a LIVE USCIS representative a few minutes ago to follow up our petition which is past the normal processing time.  However, he cannot put in a service inquiry as he has sought the help of his congressman prior, and the congressman's office put in an inquiry last Sept. 18.  USCIS has until Oct. 3 to respond to the congressman's inquiry.  My husband was told that he can make another service inquiry on Oct. 19 but I really do hope he won't have to by that time.

So Oct. 3 has passed and USCIS has not sent a response to the congressman's inquiry.  Somehow I am not surprised.

I actually put in a a separate online inquiry and the USCIS response is they will get back to me by Oct. 10. That's just a few days from now so I will wait.

Nov. 28 PD here, almost one year waiting. I try my best not to think about the wait anymore and try to focus my attention on other things.  It helps that we see each other often as we travel a lot, but I can't imagine the pain of those who are not able to travel due to economic, visa or time reasons.  I pray that the 2016 cases be completed the soonest possible time, especially us November filers and those who filed ahead of us.

52 minutes ago, Jejejen said:

Hi guys, well I have some concern that I believe somebody here can possibly explain about it. Here it is, I did a scheduled appointment 20days after my interview in USEM. Why I booked 20days after is because... I just want to make sure that I've already have my passport and visa on hand during that time. Fortunately, USEM took only not more than 10days to delivered my documents. So, I want to go in CFO earlier than Oct. 20th, I thought will it be possible to reschedule my appointment? Thanks.

Call their office and ask if you can get an earlier schedule (+632) 552-4700.

6 hours ago, tiyyo said:

I just received 4 text messages stating that my case status changed. When I go into the app it says that my case was sent to the Department of State and to wait 6 weeks from today to get in touch of the NVC to find out our case number. Really?? 6 weeks????

Congratulations, tiyyo!

31 minutes ago, tiyyo said:

As you all remember, I called and talked to a tier 2 IO at USCIS last Wednesday where she responded that our application has not even been assigned to anyone yet. Well 305 days later, I get home and guess what waiting for me in the mailbox!!! YES!!! NOA2!! APPROVED!!! And of course dated, September 21, 2017, The day AFTER I called!!! Thank the Lord!!!!

I am beyond the moon!!! Now if I can just wake up my husband and tell him!!!!!!

BTW, NOTHING is updated online OR in both APPS!!!! WTG USCIS!!!!

Finally!  Congratulations!

1 minute ago, Sundee said:

I don't even know if congressmen help when it comes to uscis. I don't know anymore..

Well, I don't think there's a fool proof way to get this thing approved the soonest time so we just do what we can do, and hopefully someone somehow can move our case forward.  It's been 10 months, and I thought this would be a breeze for someone from the Philippines but alas, we are stuck. Nothing else to do now but wait, and hopefully hear some good news soon.

My husband was finally able to talk to a LIVE USCIS representative a few minutes ago to follow up our petition which is past the normal processing time.  However, he cannot put in a service inquiry as he has sought the help of his congressman prior, and the congressman's office put in an inquiry last Sept. 18.  USCIS has until Oct. 3 to respond to the congressman's inquiry.  My husband was told that he can make another service inquiry on Oct. 19 but I really do hope he won't have to by that time.

1 hour ago, Sundee said:

I don't know why either. Maybe someone needs to go there and tell them that Nov Comes before Dec.. Such unorganized people.. It would be real nice if they would transfer case loads to even it out but that would be too simple for them to do.. You think???

You would have thought that the increase in the fees would go towards adding more people to work on the cases or to whatever improvements it would take to make the process faster.  More disheartening is seeing cases looked into almost a year after submission, then being asked for an RFE.

There has to be a more systematic way of doing this, like assigning cases in chronological order and putting a cap on the number of days that an officer will work on a case (exceptions : delay in reverting with the RFEs).  That way, whatever disparity in the approvals will be minimal rather than seeing 90 day old cases being approved ahead of the 300 days in waiting.

On 9/21/2017 at 2:03 AM, Yhwinnie said:

Our I-130 interview is this Friday early in the morning!!! Please pray for me!!!!! I am nervous!

Good luck!  Will pray that you get approved!

On 9/17/2017 at 5:34 AM, Sundee said:

I swear uscis is against us Nov 2016 filers. First we get stuck in HELL in Nebraska and then no update... 😡😡😡😡

The update is out. Nebraska is processing cases as of Dec. 9.

Still waiting though. But at least we can submit an inquiry.

Nebraska update :  Processing cases as of December 9.

Still waiting, Nov. 28 PD.

No update yet on the processing time :-( 

My husband has already sought the help of his congressman.

12 minutes ago, Cindy1215 said:

Any Nov 28th approved yet? 

Not me :-(

Nov. 28, 2016 PD here.  The next thing am looking out for is the USCIS processing times update this month, so I can finally inquire outside of normal processing time (assuming of course that they have at least moved forward by three days from the last update!).  Hubby and I were fortunate to be together the last two and a half months for a vacation and sadly, we didn't receive any highly-anticipated notice while he was away. So much worrying for nothing.

I do hope those whose cases are still pending, to finally get an approval this month.  It's been too long! We filed I-130 for me and my daughter and followed up with an I-129f (as it was free anyway). I humor myself that they haven't touched our cases as they're thicker than most.  

On 8/4/2017 at 11:07 AM, The.Fab.Ella said:

Still a waiting game and frustrated to see cases before and after mine being approved.  Which makes me wonder if our having an application for myself and my child makes it slower than the rest? May I know if those whose dates have been bypassed have a single application or filed simultaneously with their child/children?

Hmmm, so far, three of us filed both I-130 and I-129f and one with a single application. No one filing simultaneously with a child. Can't really say if having a I-129f filed is a factor.  

Still a waiting game and frustrated to see cases before and after mine being approved.  Which makes me wonder if our having an application for myself and my child makes it slower than the rest? May I know if those whose dates have been bypassed have a single application or filed simultaneously with their child/children?

Hello again! Congratulations to everyone who's been approved in the 6 weeks (or so) that I have not been posting here.  The last time I did, I worried about not being able to get our approval notice since we will be traveling. Hahaha, turns out I didn't have to worry, no movement on our case at all! Nov 28 PD here, and to think I was hopeful that we'd do it faster based on approvals for the Philippines.

10 hours ago, Dilorena said:

Oh lord seven months already and nothing? that's crazy. We are both stuck in Nebraska and it's especially unfair to see how other service centers move faster and there's nothing we can do about it. I'm so sorry, I thought I knew the feeling, but I can't even imagine what it's like with kids involved  I was going to say there is no stability in this process whatsoever, you can't really plan anything ahead. I have to say, checking VJ /USCIS apps non stop sometimes does more harm than good, give yourself a full day to not think about it (hard I know) pamper yourself, catch a movie, get a massage, something that makes you feel better and give you the chance to enjoy it. Sending you a big hug from Mexico, we're in this together <3 

Thanks, Dilorena.  It helps knowing there are others with the same predicament as me, some have even waited for a longer time.  It is also great to see approvals here, no matter how scarce.  I do tell myself not to check my status everyday but so far, am unsuccessful.  I am praying we get approved this month.  Good luck to you too!

7 hours ago, Dilorena said:

It's really rough, it would be different if at least it was a stable, logical process. but it is all over the place, some wait 3 months, some wait 10, 12, 20... it is beyond terrible. We are all wanting to do things the legal way and follow the rules, but missing our loved ones is incredible sucky, and there is nothing we can do about it  thank you <3 it means a lot, the support! 

That's right. Easier to understand and bear if it was stable and has a logical order.  I have been waiting for almost 7 months and to think I was really optimistic at the start seeing that cases from the Philippines usually get approved fast!  I am floating in limbo. Just paid for my child's tuition and she starts school this week, I wonder if we need to transfer or whether we can wait til the end of the school year in March (and if both are even possible).  I would like to start going back to work too in September but that too, is iffy.  Hubby knows am getting stressed out so he'd rather we not focus on this and he's the type who'll just wait for this process yo take its natural course.  I am getting crazy checking out VJ and two other USCIS apps numerous times in a day :-(

14 hours ago, pushbrk said:

If the name was correctly entered on the forms, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thank you.

Hi. Would anyone know if it's alright to be missing a person's second name in NOA1 or should we amend it now? My daughter was born out of wedlock and carries my maiden family name and as such, she does not have a middle name.  For example, if her name is JENNIFER ANGELINA BRADY, in the notice it just says JENNIFER BRADY, but her name is actually JENNIFER ANGELINA (two first names). Thanks in advance.

3 hours ago, EvdH said:

Aaah, not funny ;-) come on Nebraska!! ;-) I wish I understood the sequence in which they approve cases! Isn't it strange that some cases with PDs of Nov 9 and 10 are getting approved before Nov 7 for example? 

Hahaha, there is no sequence. Maybe they look at the stack of files and select the thinner submissions first as they're easier to go thru?  I am just trying to amuse myself here as I have been waiting too long compared to most cases from the Philippines.

5 hours ago, LuckyNoSeven said:

Seems like they don't really work today..lol

Seems like! Haven't heard of any approvals today :-(

2 hours ago, RO_AH said:

This is an amazing post and great insight into the cultural differences.I will also say that your asawa is very lucky to have someone so insightful and willing to grow and change.

Thank you for your kind words, RO_AH.

3 hours ago, argothiusz said:

Some stats for everyone

 

- PD Nov 9

- Approved on June 2nd. Found out via USCIS.com on June 3rd

- Received approval via mail on June 5th.

Congratulations!

Many of you are right referring to "tampo".  Know also that after "tampo", the Filipina woman usually expects a "suyo", which means you've got to "woo" her back. These are concepts that are difficult to understand in the Western world where people are more straightforward and tell it like it is, as opposed to Filipinos who are normally shy and afraid to speak their minds, and hoping that by their actions, their husbands will pick up and read their minds.  Of course, this is bad for a relationship as this usually means mind games and emotional blackmail.  This is not an excuse for the Filipinas.  But know that our culture, our upbringing and a myriad of other things contribute to that.

On the brighter side, I would also like to share that most Filipinas are eager to please their partners and can easily adapt, and so, there can be ways to reduce (or eliminate) this "tampo" in the long run. I am no expert but let me share what we as a couple are doing about it.  The husband, though a Filipino, has been in the US for two-thirds of his existence, therefore, has adapted to the American way.  I, living in the Philippines,  am guilty of "tampo" (my version is just being quiet, not talk to him) and of expecting he would read my mind and do what I am expecting him to do, and he clearly doesn't like that.  So we sat down and discussed it.  He made me understand that I should speak my mind and he would not be offended by it, as he would rather know exactly what I feel and need and shouldn't be held guilty for missing a "paramdam" (I am not sure if "sending feelers" is the right term for this?).  Me, on the other hand, because there is really no excuse for this behaviour, has resolved to recognize a "tampo" in its early stages and nip it in the bud. Usually, what works is asking myself "Is this really worth throwing a tantrum for?" plus always going back to the thought that I should only be thankful that I found someone who is very good to me. That usually solves it, my mind focuses on the positive and the desire to change for the better.  We have also agreed that if my silent treatment persists, he would just give me a hug and ask what he could do to make me feel better and that I should just hug him back and say I'm sorry so we can start discussing what's bothering me. Thankfully, we didn't have to do that for a long time now.

I hope you find the right fix that suits both of you.  A heart and mind in the right place can overcome any challenge.