TearsOfBabylon

Just received our NOA1!!!! ahhh yayyyy 

greetings March Filers .. Hows everything ..?
Saw some Post in one Visa Group in Facebook . Visa Approved. There's February fiLer who got her NOA2 already. 

31 days since NOA1 😂 pray it's only 60 days or so till NOA2 🙃🙃🙃🙃

Just got my NOA1 yesterday. Sent out on the 27th. Received on the 29th. It seems like they may send them out in bulk as I've noticed a few other folks got theirs at approximately the same time I got mine. I understand what you're feeling.

I got questioned when I arrived in the US at the end of November last year with two big bags, but I think that's more because I was staying 88 days on an ESTA so they wanted extra proof that I was actually going to leave. They didn't believe that I could take that much time off work.
I've been lucky though, I have spent more than 6 of the last 18 months in the US with my fiancee, so I at least know that homesickness won't be an issue for me! I'll miss my friends and family but I much prefer being in the US to Australia so the day to day side of things is easy for me.
 
I've started selling my belongings too - it gives me something to do that feels productive while I wait for this NOA2 to finally arrive. The annoying thing is going to be to try and sell my car quickly once the visa has been approved!

Hey everybody, I was surfing through the VJ site trying to pick up some tips and I came across this: http://www.visajourney.com/content/adjudicator-q-and-a
 
Seems old but it gives some great insight into how the whole adjudication of petitions process works behind the scenes.  Whether it's still that way, who knows, but it's a great read for curious people like me. lol

I literally just got a text a minute ago. I am so happy. Thanks

Just got my text and e-mail for NOA1

Welcome Mootak to our crazy March group.  Glad to have you with us for the process and we can help keep each other sane. My fiance and I are on day 21 now. 
 
My sentimental belongings are coming with me but those are little knickknacks and stuffed things mostly. I honestly don't have much at all. I lived in Northern Manitoba for 14 years and when I finally moved back south to the city to be closer to my parents as my stepdad was very ill. In that move I purged EVERYTHING, furniture, knickknacks, etc. The only stuff I brought was an antique coffee table, a huge cat tree, my computer, my clothes and my two cats. When I moved in with my Mum two years ago I again purged and took lots to the homeless shelter that I knew they would use. I did pick up some furniture though and moved my bed and computer desk. However in my move down south to the states I plan on only bringing my computer table and computer for big items. I gave my Mum my bed and lamp which are currently in the basement anyway as a spare room for guests.  Then after I leave she will have two spots for people to stay specially at Christmas. I have a big family if you include my stepsisters and their families. The other day my 11 year old niece said to me "Auntie when are you moving to Colorado?" I said "Oh maybe in October depends on the government." She said "Will you be here for my birthday?" I said "Um maybe" Her birthday is October 25th and I missed it last year on a trip to Wisconsin to visit my best friend and a cousin who lives there. She has told me though that she sees how happy I am and that makes her happy because family being happy is important to her. My niece is a very empathetic soul and maybe too much at times. I will likely try and stay for her birthday and leave afterwards and hope that winter doesn't hit early but then I am Canadian and I am used to driving in wintery conditions. lol
 
Although I think I would be less homesick then a lot of you from overseas due to the fact that I am in Canada and I am only moving a 15.5 hour drive south of where I am now. Getting my AP is important to me though as my last living grandparent is 95 years old and will be 96 when the AP comes in most likely.

WORD!!
I'm glad I could create a worth acronym for us hahaha

I'm a pro whiner as well!

My fiancé is in the military, so you never know about leave. I hope he will come over here soon! It might be the last time for long, until he can come back to potato land. 
I won't travel until my K-1 is issued. 

But harder times will come up... I have told my boss today, that I'll quit later in the year, so they can find a replacement for me. Tomorrow I'll go to the other boss... then it's out.
A very hard moment that was.... many tears. Been there for 10 years. It's my replacement family. 

I guess the time has come, where I realize that I am going to change my entire life. It's for a good cause, but it's very hard.

 

Welcome to the Anonymous Whiners!
Good luck with your journey!
It's good to hear they're good on the way with the petitions, time goes by faster than I thought!

Yeah, I'd advise you as well to bring some binding ties.
Would be a giant bummer if you'd flew so far and then got a problem.

We've decided either he will come here (which is unclear, because he's got to request leave at the army, and they're so slow that he already decided to skip April if he gets approved, because tickets are getting super expensive), or we'll just wait until I come for good and take his leave together than. For this little side effect of a wedding, haha!

Have a nice day everybody!

Welcome to the Anonymous Whiners!
Good luck with your journey!
It's good to hear they're good on the way with the petitions, time goes by faster than I thought!

Yeah, I'd advise you as well to bring some binding ties.
Would be a giant bummer if you'd flew so far and then got a problem.

We've decided either he will come here (which is unclear, because he's got to request leave at the army, and they're so slow that he already decided to skip April if he gets approved, because tickets are getting super expensive), or we'll just wait until I come for good and take his leave together than. For this little side effect of a wedding, haha!

Have a nice day everybody!

Hey girls and guys!
I'm a March filer and snuck in to your thread to see how it looks once the NOA2's starting to pop out! 
It looks amazing!!!

Congratulations to all of you, and good luck for your journeys!

I hope our thread will look the same "soon"

All the best for you!
Bine

Not an April filer but would like to wish everyone luck
 
When you receive your NoA1, check all the details listed of the petitioner and beneficiary. Contact USCIS if there are any mistakes for the names, dates of birth etc. USCIS has a e-Request portal here https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do
 
After receiving your NoA1 hardcopy, don't forget to update your VJ timeline. Refer to the hardcopy's notice date.
 
For your information, all I-129F submissions are sent to CSC now so your service center should be updated as CSC on your timeline. Your NoA1 will bear a WAC receipt number. If your case is transferred out of CSC later, you will then receive a new and subsequent notice (not the NoA1) stating where it is transferred to. 
 
Consider signing up for a myUSCIS account here https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/displayLogon.do. This page is useful when you want to check your case status. However, there's not much to see at the NoA1 stage as there won't be any updates until they start adjudicating it. At NoA1 stage, it just tells you the same thing as the text, e-mail and hardcopy. But if your case is transferred out, there would obviously be an update online (corresponding with the new notice) in between the NoA1 and NoA2.
 
While waiting for your NoA2, refer to the VJ guide http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide to find out what documentation you need to prepare for the K-1 stage.
 
Always refer to the official websites to download or complete the latest forms as well as to find out about the fees. 
 
USCIS forms: https://www.uscis.gov/forms
 
USCIS fee schedule: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
 
DS-160: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
 
Best of luck and congratulations in advance on your NoA1 and subsequently, your NoA2.

Hi All, Joining the group late with the March filers.
 
I'm travelling all the way from NZ to visit fiance at Easter, because I'm travelling with a large crowd, I want to take advantage of the 'two bags per passenger' allowance and bring as much stuff as possible. Saves me on freight bring my stuff, when we finally get approved! I am worried customs will think I'm planning on staying with the amount of luggage we're bring for a short stay  should I be? 
 
Oh and to all those selling your belongings.... I read somewhere, one good way to help homesickness is to make sure you have some familiar things. Could be worth bearing in mind, that'll you want some of your own things in the new foreign country. Or unless, your thinking you'll breeze through the homesickness stage like a charm. I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts on how they're preparing to manage that. Because I know I'm going to miss NZ but want to make the best of new life with hubby! 

Yes I did sign everything. I checked and double checked. I am so anxious and now that I know I have made this mistake it has delayed us. So I will wait. They are flying through January so I pray they get to March within the next 60 days. Thank you. 

Awww I hope you don't have to rehome the guinea pigs or the rabbits. I am lucky that I can bring my cat but when I do move down there my fiance is coming up with his van and we will drive down together. I live a 5 minute drive from the border. Anytime I have flown out to see him I drive down to a town in North Dakota and fly to Denver. I just submitted my application for my passport finally the other day. Living so close to the border I just never bothered as I have my enhanced driver's license which allows me to use land crossings without a passport.

Awwww, you're really lucky!!
I'm happy for you! I wish I could move back in with my mom as well, even just to save money for rent. I'd have space enough there, but it would mean I'd have to drive an hour per day to work and back, and that eats up what I'd save for rent. So I stay here.

I'm glad I told at work already, but only the bosses and some well picked allies know yet. I'm in HR for a big part, in charge for production staff, and I'll tell officially once NOA2 comes. 
Though I'm sure it'll leak out before
I've had some cryers already as well, also myself, haha. But after 10 years in this madhouse of a company... there are more tears up to come. 

 
 

You're speaking my mind... TOTALLY!
My fiance is kind of the same. He's got plenty of his stuff in storage, and is living very.... "humble". I keep picking on him for being actually able to live in a tipi for the rest of his life, as long as there's wifi, haha

 
 

Yeah it gets more hard everyday, since I have so much stuff, and it feels like it's increasing hourly. I want to travel "light" as well, but.... so many things have to come.

And one of the worst parts: I have two guinea pigs and no clue what to do with them
When I got them 4 years ago, I didn't consider moving to another continent. Sighs. 

I feel you.  Fiance has two rabbits.  He wants to bring them, but I fear he will have to rehome them

I suggest just waiting for the RFE.. If you send it now, it could end up in someone else's hands that isn't handling your file and you may receive the RFE anyway.
 
RFE may delay it a bit, but it shouldn't delay it too long (maybe a few days) especially if you send it to them immediately after getting the RFE.

Congratulations and good luck for your journey!

I'm trying to get rid of my belongings, so I can move after the visa is issued without having to get rid of everything I own in a way too short time!

Awwww, you're really lucky!!
I'm happy for you! I wish I could move back in with my mom as well, even just to save money for rent. I'd have space enough there, but it would mean I'd have to drive an hour per day to work and back, and that eats up what I'd save for rent. So I stay here.

I'm glad I told at work already, but only the bosses and some well picked allies know yet. I'm in HR for a big part, in charge for production staff, and I'll tell officially once NOA2 comes. 
Though I'm sure it'll leak out before
I've had some cryers already as well, also myself, haha. But after 10 years in this madhouse of a company... there are more tears up to come. 

 
 

You're speaking my mind... TOTALLY!
My fiance is kind of the same. He's got plenty of his stuff in storage, and is living very.... "humble". I keep picking on him for being actually able to live in a tipi for the rest of his life, as long as there's wifi, haha

 
 

Yeah it gets more hard everyday, since I have so much stuff, and it feels like it's increasing hourly. I want to travel "light" as well, but.... so many things have to come.

And one of the worst parts: I have two guinea pigs and no clue what to do with them
When I got them 4 years ago, I didn't consider moving to another continent. Sighs. 

Yes same here CubaAndChill. Only my dream was the opposite. I got an email stating my package was so well put together that your visa had been approved. 

I think I was lucky because almost 2 years ago I got a really great job at a public library near where I grew up as a child so when I moved from the city I downsized considerably and already had when I moved there 3 years ago. I moved in with my Mum, at the age of 38, until I could get back on my feet and find an apartment luckily though I just stayed with her paying her a little bit of rent. I have already gone through the boxes I brought down that were still in the closet(kitchen and bathroom things mainly). Asked my Mum what she wanted because most of the stuff I did not need to bring as my fiance has everything already in his apartment. So I have everything that I am not using already packed and labelled ready for going across the border in the future. The last things to pack will just be my computer and my cat and my clothes. I am hoping things will speed up soon. I am hoping to have an interview in September because then my Mum can take her vacation and we will go for a week and do my medical and interview and some sightseeing since neither of us has been yet.
 
I am looking forward to chatting with you all as we go through this process. mojordan I sure hope you can get things straightened out. HUGS
 
I told my boss and co-workers a month or so ago and then when we had a board meeting I announced to the board that I was quitting and why. They all cried and were so happy for me then one said but you can't commute from there. LOL I am giving them two months notice so that they can get an ad out and so that I can train the new person coming in. They were saying I was awfully generous but that is how I am.

hello everyone!
we just got NOA1 yesterday, april 4 th. praying for this months to pass quickly!!
what are your next steps ? how do you guys prepare for it?