GarryAndMarie

Looking for some VJ Junie family feedback on photo requirements - both of our passport photos (taken back in May at a professional photographer's studio in the Philippines) were rejected by USCIS via RFE on Dec 12. My fiancee had another photographer take a new photo yesterday, and I am a little concerned that the background isn't quite right, though the new photographer says it's fine. So asking, before we submit this one, what do you all think? Is this good enough? I am unnecessarily worried? She actually went back to the original photographer first, who provided a second set of pixelated photos with digitally modified background (which is why we think the first set were rejected & caused the RFE), so she gave up on them & then went to a second one - who did the same thing!... before finding a third who used a high quality camera & natural white fabric studio background. So I'm really nervous about this, and she is frustrated but understanding of the importance in getting it right in our RFE response. Please advise... thank you!

Hey Junie fam: the RFE letter arrived yesterday in my mailbox (NOA1 Jun 5, RFE Dec 12) and it was because of photos. My fiancee and I had our photos taken by a professional photographer shop in a mall in the Philippines while I was visiting back in May this year, and said the photos were "US K1 Visa standard" - I was a little worried because the background was a very light pastel, and I guess it wasn't near white enough to pass muster. But sooooooo relieved that we have an "easy" RFE to resolve. 351880

12 minutes ago, Love Found said:

@GarryAndMarie did you use agency's service or did your packet by yourself? 

Did it myself, and think I goofed by using my US passport to establish identity: I didn't send copies of the blank pages, just the pages with stamps & my photo/info

30 minutes ago, Chriss2234 said:

Hello everyone. I'm a June 2 filer. I don't understand why there are so many approved around my number but mine remains. I'm 50158. Any answers or suggestions? 

I wrote my US Congressional Representative a little over a week ago - a staff member was assigned, and she called USCIS to get an update for me. Didn't provide much information other than that my case hadn't been assigned to an officer yet (June 5 NOA1), but I did get two emails and a phone call from the Representative's staff member and she said she would check every 2 weeks with phone calls to the USCIS until our NOA2 comes through. So the only advice I have, is write your Congresscritter... I mostly mentioned in my (one paragraph letter) correspondence that I'd like Congress to help USCIS get better at updating their website, providing accurate information to filers/customers, and by all means stop telling people that they are still "only" working on May 1 cases for weeks and weeks.

10 minutes ago, IshTre said:

June 5th, 183 days and counting . Congrats to all of the foks that have received their approvals today. But I'm feeling bummed.

June 5th filers here too - happy for everyone getting approvals, wondering where ours is!

So, June 5 NOA1 checking in... on Tuesday, I called USCIS customer service and was told the usual "Sorry, we are only processing May 1 right now..." that everyone here by now is used to. So I asked the rep, isn't that what your website says for September? She said well we're still working on May 1 then. I said, 6 weeks and still working on May 1? She said yes, we aren't working on any dates after May 1. I said thank you for the information.

Then I thought about this.

It's just not right.

So, I wrote my Congresscritter (US Representative): please find out why USCIS tells people they are working on May 1 cases for 6 weeks. Please find out why they think it's ok to spread disinformation. Please do something to improve USCIS customer service. And please check on the real status of my own file - but please do something overall about looking into improvements for USCIS customer service and what it might take to provide accurate, timely information to people.

2 hours ago, useful89 said:

I'm sure they're well aware of this forum, it's impossible that they don't know.

Um...  They have to be told repeatedly by K1 filers that Craigslist and Match.com are not an International marriage brokers 😁

30 minutes ago, Naes said:

can someone if they talk to a tier 2 ask if they want muffins? If this would help them? (So maybe we can get an approximate number of people working...but ask like it's for the muffins)

You might be on to something here... if everyone from VJ, after making their Tier 2 calls, asks if the USCIS would like any muffins... eventually they would ask someone "What's up with the muffins question? Why do so many people ask us about muffins?" and then we could tell them to visit visajourney.com for the answer -- and maybe just maybe a few people at USCIS would check in here once in awhile.

Maybe they can't do anything, maybe they could - but it would be nice to have some direct contact, reassuring that we know that they know we are all talking amongst ourselves about their daily work, updates, and grasping at whatever small bits of information we can find out about their process, why databases go down, why and when updates will be available.

Maybe some of them could share general trials and tribulations they have, when a truck delivers the fresh load of NOA1 files, how that one guy went on vacation and never came back and no one noticed the stack of files sitting on his desk for 3 weeks, or how an amazing adjudiciator of legend once singlehandedly approved 300 NOA2s in one day.

10 hours ago, CJE said:

Tnx for comment!We contacted the agent,i dont know is it Tier 2 pr not!they basically said the information from website!Can u tell me how should I contact Tier 2?

When you call, you get Tier 1 though they won't say that. Tier 1 is basically generic customer service, you have to ask them to be passed up to a Tier 2 rep or ask if the Tier 1 rep can request that a Tier 2 call you back. Same number you called though.

That is a good long time - have you tried calling and asking for a Tier 2 officer to give you a status update?

7 hours ago, useful89 said:

Holding pattern is definitely what it feels like 

 ♫ Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on... ♫

5 minutes ago, Naes said:

I'll give my noa to June filers if they give me first.. I promise... don't kick me out... we don't have much action in September yet... pleaaaase I don't want to get bored... 😭😭😭😭

Hahahaha -- you're always welcome! And I haunted the April filers for months before finally returning to the June filers

5 minutes ago, Naes said:

Please please please update us...

everywhere a chaos... i feel guilty as a September filer 😂

Intruder alert! Intruder alert!

5 hours ago, Naes said:

We we are expecting to see June the worst next week 

ITYM June the best next week, my friend!

16 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Did you file in the end of May and receive NOA1 in June?

No, I mailed it on June 2 via USPS Express & it was both signed for & NOA1 on June 5. I found it in the spreadsheet after downloading to me laptop, after not finding it with my phone, not sure why it "disappeared" from the spreadsheet on my phone.

2 hours ago, MarksMate said:

I've checked June and our number is not in there. Is the list only up to June 12th NOA1? 

I noticed that our number isn't in the June list as well, June 5 NOA1 EDIT: Yes it is, I should have opened the doc on my laptop, for some reason it didn't show up on my phone & skipped several other filings as well - weird

Annie, please be aware of the distinction between mere *suspicion* of fraud or misrepresentation, and bona fide evidence of fraud or misrepresentation. I think that's what some folks here might have confusion or just lack of knowledge about. Suspicion is serious too, and shouldn't be glossed over. I too wish you the best of luck in your endeavor to find out what's happened.

Here's one more thing that may help you in your search for answers:

Quote

"The Office of Visa Services (Visa Office) within the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issues advisory opinions in nonimmigrant and immigrant visa cases adjudicated at U.S. consulates.  Advocates and applicants may send email inquiries to LegalNet@state.gov to request case-specific responses regarding the interpretation or application of immigration law in visa cases."

Link with instructions and guidance on how to make an inquiry & what the Office of Visa Services can or can't do for you -> link

Also -> link

1 hour ago, NikLR said:

They would have to label that way and they didnt.  

I agree to a FOIA but not the doom and gloom others have posted in this thread.  Many have posted this exact same denial for the k1 on here and successfully done a CR1 next trip without a lawyer. 

 

However the OP has had lots of advice they should take into serious consideration and I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

I don't mean to sound crass or mean, but: Did you perhaps miss the part in OP's letter that clearly stated their petition was being returned for suspicion of fraud or material misrepresentation?

1 minute ago, John & Rose said:

The Grandmother/Aunt scenerio does sound like it could be an immigration setup.  That can be easily handled with the correct front loading of a new CR petition.  It may be tough for another K-1, though.

From further reading, it seems her fiance may have been accused of "material misrepresentation" which if so, really would be best addressed by an appeal and specific challenge - because material misrepresentation could result in a lifetime ban for him. If I were in her shoes, it would suck but time to lawyer up and have the attorney do a full inquiry to uncover the specific reason for denial, rather than risk another disappointment.