Alysia&Luis

Today we are celebrating one month since our NOA1 receive date! One down....fingers crosses only two left to go!!!

Today we are celebrating one month since our NOA1 receive date! One down....fingers crosses only two left to go!!!

Hi! We didn't receive any text/email notification.. but just earlier, I asked my fiancé if he can check his mailbox.. happens that he never checked it since last week  we got the hardcopy! What a relief ? I think you can call them if it has been cashed. :)) or maybe your hardcopy is on the way already. 

Congratulations to everyone who got their NOA1!
Those who haven't yet - I do hope you get them soon.
 
Anonymous Whiners sounds like a perfect name!  
It's great to have a company to share your worries with, support each other and talk about dresses (or hoodies). I'll probably need both because we are planning a courthouse wedding and a picnic in the park.
 

Wahooooooooo!!!!!
Need to sneak online!!!!
I just got a pic of the letter!!!
He just got home from work and NOA1 was in the mailbox!!

Omg I'm so relieved now that it's not lost! *dance on table*

A big, relieved hug out to all you fellow waiting anonymous whiners!
Thanks for hanging in with me!

HOLY MOLY!! A LANDSLIDE DAY FOR USCIS!
3 cases approved in one day for Nov 3rd! 
HAPPY DANCE! HAPPY DANCE!
 
* Note the exaggeration, but yes, I am happy for 3 cases approved by all means its better than 1 case last week!  * 

.....Approved!!! You guys been keeping me sane! Thank you 

Thank you so much ?

New updated...I just got text message that my case was APRROVED ??

Just got my NOA1!! I guess Lewisville didn't want me going up there to bug them LOL & mine was routed to CSC too. I wonder was the Texas Service Center isn't processing any of them.
 
Sorry @TearsOfBabylon I had to share my excitement.

It will all be worth it  Vegas wedding sounds amazing!!
 
Ahh complete opposite!  I think I have settled on a light blue dress...I still have a couple months to change my mind though!

...approved!

My favorite explanation so far on how USCIS works cases! 

My favorite explanation so far on how USCIS works cases! 

I completely agree on a micro level. Cases should be processed in the order they arrived as stated.
 
However, from a macro level, what they're doing makes sense from a process flow. Think of it like a supermarket with 10 registers open and 100 customers...
The lines very likely won't be exactly equal to start with. Some cashiers will go faster than others. Some people will have more items than others. Some people will have items that won't scan, or require somebody to look them up by hand. Some people won't have sufficient funds, or pay slowly. Assumption: Once you pick a line, you cannot move to a new line.
 
In this scenario, 9 times out of 10 there will be a line moving faster than your own. The 5 people in line #1 could get checked out while your line sits there on person #1 still.
 
Is it the cashier's fault for some people taking wayyyy longer than others? The store's? To make it more fair, should they have cashiers wait until all front-line customers are checked out before moving to the next? Should they put all the low-item count/exact change/etc. people at the front (or use a dedicated line)? unfortunately, there's not really a solution that works best for everybody, and all the 'fair" solutions are just inefficient. This line/queue management process conundrum comes up in all sorts of process flows, and there simply isn't a generic solution...just ways to prioritize certain aspects (fairness, fastest average time, optimal customer experience, etc.).

137 days from posting the i-129f (7th November) to visa in hand (today - 24th March 2017)
 
It took only seven and a half weeks from NOA2 approval to visa in hand - so if you are still waiting for your NOA2 be aware that everything can be pretty quick after that! (About five weeks from getting our case number from NVC)

hello all, did the first scan for k1s filed in feb today. results below. thank you to @geowrian for sharing his scripts!
 
Total number of k1 petitions received for the whole month of February, excluding all cases already marked rejected: 3,714
 
Cases for February updated today 24-March: 15
Approved: 1
RFEs: 1
Other: 13
 
Raw data here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7wWQs77fPiIZmJPYUZUenlaZWs
 
Disclaimer: I am not committing to posting an update everyday. I will scan if and when I can. =)

Hi February 2017 filers!  

I'm a November 2016 filer and wrote this post because I've been getting a lot of questions regarding what happens after you receive your NOA2 approval and your case goes to the NVC.  There are a lot of questions and confusion on what happens after the NVC processes your case and what to do when you receive your NVC #.  Since I just recently completed the process, its fresh in my mind and would like to share my experience. 

I hope this helps clarify things for everyone:
 
At this point, many of you will be waiting for a number of more weeks for your NOA2 petition approvals.  Once you receive your NOA2 approval, your case will go from the USCIS to the NVC for processing.  Once received and processed at the NVC, they will mail your foreign fiance your NVC#.  This can take up to 4-6 weeks to arrive in the mail.

So instead of waiting, many VJ members will call the NVC after about 2 weeks from receiving their NOA2, and ask if their case has an NVC#.  The NVC phone agent will need your WAC#, your birthdate, and your foreign fiance's birthdate to look up and confirm your case.  My fiance and I called after 2 weeks, but, an NVC# wasn't given to us until 4 weeks.  

Once you have your NVC# you can use it to track your case on the CEAC website here:
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==

Once your case is received at your fiance's foreign embassy and says "Ready", you will be able to start scheduling your medical and interview.  This is where it gets a bit tricky and country specific.

Before you are able to schedule a medical or interview, your foreign fiance's embassy will mail a step-by-step checklist of items required to be completed first.  This checklist is what is loosely known as "Packet 3".  I say loosely, because every country is different.  Some countries literally call it "Packet 3".  Some countries call it a simple "Checklist".  Some countries call it "instructions".  Some countries have no name for it. 

Regardless of what it is called, this Packet 3 checklist will be mailed to your foreign fiance.  However, some VJ members report they never received their Packet 3 checklist in the mail.  Fortunately, many countries have this Packet 3 checklist available on their US Embassy website.  Realize however, every country does this differently.  

For example:
Canada's Embassy website provides a downloadable Packet 3 checklist PDF: https://ca.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee/
Ukraine's Embassy checklist is directly written on their website:  https://ua.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/fiancee-visa/how-to-apply/
 
This Packet 3 checklist generally includes: Submitting your DS160 online, getting your affidavit of support evidence, getting your police records report, and other information required at interview. 
 
Now remember: THIS CHECKLIST IS COUNTRY SPECIFIC!!!!
 
If you read the links above:
In Canada, you are to schedule your interview first THEN schedule your medical.
In Ukraine, you are to schedule your medical first THEN schedule your interview.

So when a VJ member gives you advice on what to do, make sure that advice is geared specifically to your foreign country.

If your foreign fiance's embassy website has the Packet 3 available, and your CEAC status shows ready, you do not have to wait for the official Packet 3 letter to arrive in the mail before you can start scheduling your medical and interview.

This has been confirmed by many VJ members, including myself.  My Canadian fiance and I scheduled her interview and medical 2 weeks before receiving our Packet 3 letter in the mail.  

Some feel more comfortable waiting for their Packet 3 checklist to arrive in the mail before starting scheduling their interview and medical appointments.  That's perfectly acceptable too.  Do what makes you most comfortable.

I took my time to write this post because I had a ton of questions myself regarding what to do with my NVC#.  Fortunately, I connected the dots with the help of the VJ members here.   And, I want to help others answer the same questions I had. 

If you've received your NOA2 and are waiting for your NVC #, I recommend checking your foreign fiance's embassy website and see what their packet 3 checklist requirements are.  Your fiance's foreign embassy will have the latest information, fees, and forms as well.

Remember, your CEAC status must first be "Ready" before you can schedule your medical or interview.  Just make sure you take the proper checklist steps that are specific to your country prior to scheduling your medical or interview.  

According to some member's profiles, VJ has been around more than 14 years.  I don't think there's a immigration scenario the collective members here hasn't read, seen or gone through personally.  So if you're uncertain or need help, just ask!  

 If any Canadian filers have any questions, let me know!

Hope this helps...and good luck to everyone on their Visa Journey!

Approved!!!! Yayyy  Now I know USCIS was doing some work yesterday even if they didnt update their system!
Hang in there....Approvals are on their way!  
94 Days for me!

Hey March filers, a couple of new VJ members asked me for some tips about the process.  So here are a few:
 
Update your timeline and profile.  It helps the VJ community give better specific information if we know which country your foreign fiance is from. Once you input your country, look for the "Portals" tab.  The "Portals" section will have a wealth of information regarding your country's consulate, timetables, embassy reviews, and more. I recommend viewing VJ on a laptop or regular computer.  The information on VJ is jumbled on cell phones and does not show user's signatures after they have posted.  In my signature, like many others, I've posted a detailed timeframe of my VJ experience.  When you view VJ on a regular computer, it looks much different than on your cell phone. When replying to posts, keep it informative and good natured.  Moderators will delete posts that are offensive or feel do not contribute positively. Some of the information on VJ is old and may not be currently applicable.  Use the guides to help, but, double check with the government websites to get the latest forms, instructions, information and fees.  And ask VJ members from your foreign fiance's country their input as well.   You must have patience.  The immigration process is not quick.  You will have ups and downs, worrying, and will envy seeing other VJ members receive their petition approvals while you continue to wait.  In our fast paced, gotta have it now world - having patience is truly a virtue in the visa process. Sometimes the VJ timelines aren't accurate.  I recommend following the Nov 2016 filers thread.  I will give credit to @geowrian once again.  He created a script that he posts nightly in the Nov 2016 filers thread which updates the dates K1 visa cases are being "touched".  Currently, late Nov to earl Dec 2016 cases are at the bulk of K1 cases being reviewed.   Contribute!  I know there are a lot of lurkers on VJ.  But, this community is only as good as the contributions given by its members.  A great quote I once heard, "When we teach, we learn twice".  So ask questions, give advice, get acquainted, and welcome!

Good luck to everyone and our Visa Journey!  

Indeed! I will probably need info about local DMVs when its time to apply for a drivers licence.

Awesome!! That sure is right now the road

Oh, looks like we'd practically be neighbors! I am headed for Arlington, VA! ☺️

Congrats!!  I will be following your journey to see how things go with the Lima embassy   We just filed last week so we will hopefully be just a few months behind you!