GarryAndMarie
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Posts posted by GarryAndMarie
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On 10/11/2017 at 2:24 PM, MarksMate said:
Well, on the bright side, 2 days till Hola and Amigo day!
An exciting event! Especially when we see who is first to knock them out of the Number 1 position, followed by scrolling off the list completely 😁
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Counting down to NOA2... ALSO counting down to what my fiancee and I call "Hola and Amigo Day" -- October 14, when Hola and Amigo are no longer the Number 1 entry at the top of Igor's List
- Hadassah123, KBA, Lisa & Jorge and 1 other
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On 9/22/2017 at 8:30 PM, Luyen said:
Well folks, I tried to look for any open slot, but absolutely nobody has an open slot
https://www.passport.gov.ph/sites/site
Any advice?
She lives in Cebu, but if needed we could go to Manila, but as it seems, they don't have an open time slot either.
I ran into a similar situation last night, my fiancee's passport expires in March and we want to be prepared for the 6 month window -- the Puerto Princesa DFA office has lots of immediate availability for appointments, so I booked her flights to PP and her passport renewal appointment is next Thursday Oct 11. I noticed that they have availability for Oct 5 too, but couldn't find flights available to get her there sooner. Hope this info helps!
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On 8/11/2017 at 2:23 AM, Elaine282017 said:
Does anyone think we will qualify for the expedite? I did call USCIS yesterday, but they said they can only talk to the petitioner, but my fiance is underway, and going through all this without him is just very stressful!
Just my opinion, but yeah I think you have a really good chance at an expedite approval - provided your fiancee can submit the request in writing along with a letter from his CO - see this link, they give a hotline number that may provide you with additional assistance: http://immigrationroad.com/blog/tips-on-expediting-uscis-processing-for-military-personnel/
Also the Navy's legal agency (I'm an Army veteran, we called it JAG but the Navy might call their legal agency something else) might be able to help out, especially since your fiance is underway right now - I believe legal advocates are allowed to communicate with USCIS on behalf of petitioners
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Imagine being a USCIS reviewer and having to explain how so many fakers were approved, related to this guy's conviction -> https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/stamford-resident-admits-operating-extensive-immigration-fraud-scheme
I am only speculating, but I imagine this conviction & sentencing cause a cold chill in the reviewer worker pool to be extra cautious. A few bad apples... hurts the rest of us.
They should include in his sentence a requirement to answer calls from irate/worried/stressed I-129f filers for 16 hours per day during his time in jail.
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On 7/18/2017 at 0:23 PM, jwlussow said:
Here's to a pick up in the number of files processed soon!!!!
Right on! Here's to hoping
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Just checking in -- NOA1 was June 5.
I've had some financial setbacks, including an emergency driveway repair -- I live in a very rural area, and a landslide resulted in an unexpected $8700 repair bill and I was already out another $17k for an unexpected house problem in April. So I *very* sheepishly submitted an expedite request through the USCIS customer service folks via telephone, based on extreme financial hardship. My fiancee doesn't work right now, so I'm paying for both of our households, and naturally it would be much easier during all of this if the process could be expedited. These are temporary but very stressful circumstances, financially. I know from a couple of other stories here in VJ that financial hardship can sometimes result in an expedite approval. There's more to my own story, but the landslide repair was the capstone moment where I thought an expedite request would justify asking to jumping the line.
The expedite request was submitted on June 30, and was denied today July 14.
There are some other relevant facts that might help others in similar circumstances, or at least provide some interesting details others may find useful:
1. My initial telephone request resulted in a quick email response & was posted to the USCIS status update site fairly quickly
2. I received an email 3 days later requesting additional information, which I faxed back on July 6. The USCIS fax line took a few attempts before the fax finally got through, but I did get a "success" confirmation report. The fax was 9 pages.
3. I called USCIS on July 12 to make sure they'd received the fax -- the phone rep told me the fax had been received on July 4 (what???) and I asked her to confirm that 3 times, I was incredulous because I didn't send it until July 6.
4. Yesterday July 13 I received an email from USCIS saying they weren't able to determine if my fax had ever been sent, as it never got to the right person.
5. The USCIS fax line for CSC 949-389-3441 was again not answered by their fax machine or service, whatever they're using. My last fax took 18 attempts over a 24 hour period before it finally went through. I used two different fax machines on two different lines, as well as two different web-based fax services to try to get through -- so I know the problem wasn't on my end. I even called the USCIS fax line by cell phone, it just rings & rings with no answer or fax pickup.
6. After the last attempt (via fax service), I called USCIS customer service & got put through (on a callback) to a Tier 2 immigration officer, who provided me with an email address to use an an alternative means of getting the fax to them. He was incredulous that there was any sort of problem or issue with the CSC fax line, but I assured him there was no answer on their end.
6. Oddly, right after I sent the email as directed by a Tier 2 officer, I got a notice from one of the fax services I'd used, that the fax finally got through. This all happened this morning.
Then, just a few minutes ago, I received the denial of the expedite request. It was about an hour after my fax got through, about an hour & 15 minutes after I'd sent the email as per what the Tier 2 officer told me.
I'm actually ok with the denial, at least there's no waiting to hear on that. I'll be financially stressed through October, there are a lot of unexpected repairs on a house I didn't even know was mine until recently... long story. I had a fair chance to make my case, but it didn't pass muster -- it is what it is.
... now I'm back in line, with everyone else, and if this experience can help anyone else, well then, good.
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10 hours ago, Stemar said:
Hey there everybody! Question, what are you guys doing while waiting on NOA2? Is there anything I (beneficiary) can prepare while waiting? What will be the next steps to do and forms to file?
I've been digging through USCIS reports, manuals, & appeals cases - just to see what's tripped up other folks as well as to bide the time. There are a *lot* of people who forgot to include (or even sign) the statement that says they will get married within 90 days - or their beneficiaries didn't sign a statement. And a number of people who met in person *after* their filing date. All had their I-129f's rejected if they didn't send in the corrected docs with their appeal. One poor guy even had 4 kids with his beneficiary, finally decided to get married, but since he hadn't seen the mother of his kids in person for just over 2 years before the filing date, his I-129f was rejected.
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Since we all have such a long wait to the NOA2 stage at this point, here's a "little light reading" to pass the time -> a GAO audit report on USCIS's $3 billion computer system upgrade: https://www.gao.gov/assets/680/678461.pdf
For those not interested in reading the 130+ page report, here are a few excerpts:
QuoteUSCIS’ mission is to provide accurate and useful information to its applicants, adjudicate immigration and U.S. citizenship benefits, promote an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensure the integrityof the immigration system. According to DHS, on an average day, USCIS completes 23,000 applications for various immigration benefits; welcomes 3,200 new citizens; answers 44,000 phone calls to its toll-free customer service line; serves 9,500 custo mers at 84 local offices; fingerprints and photographs 15,000 applicants at 136 application support centers; conducts 148,000 national security background checks; and processes 2,040 petitions filed by employers to bring foreign national workers to the United States.QuoteIn 2006, USCIS embarked on a major initiative — the Transformation Program — to enable electronic adjudication and case management tools that would allow applicants to apply and track the progress of their application online. USCIS planned to complete this initial effort no later than June 2014 at a cost of up to $2.1 billion. In May 2015, we reported that USCIS expected the program to cost up to $3.1 billion and be fully operational no later than March 2019.The program reported expenditures of nearly $1.2 billion (in then- year dollars) through the end of fiscal year 2014. Since that time, the program’s monthly performance reports to DHS reported additional expenditures of $192 million through February 2016. According to USCIS, as of April 2016, the program had deployed functionality to support the processing of approximately 2.3 of the 7.3 million applications processed by USCIS each year, or about 31% of the total workload. The USCIS Electronic Immigration System (USC IS ELIS) is the main component of the Transformation Program. You asked us to examine USCIS’s effort to modernize its paper-based application, case management, and adjudication systems and processes. Our objective was to assess the extent to which the USCIS Transformation Program is using information technology (IT) program management leading practices. To do so, we assessed the extent to which USCIS is implementing Agile software development for USCIS ELIS; adhering to leading practices and agency guidance in system integration and testing; following leading practices in monitoring the largest Transformation Program contractors; and developing a life cycle cost estimate for the Transformation Program consistent with our cost estimating guidance.QuoteThe goals of the Transformation Program are to modernize the paper-based immigration benefits process, enhance national security and system integrity, and improve customer service and operational efficiency. Established in 2006, the program comprises many systems,each of which provides a service to facilitate operations, such as identity management and risk and fraud analytics. The objectives of the Transformation Program are to allow- applicants to establish an account with USCIS to file and track the status of the application, petition, or request online;
- USCIS ELIS to apply risk-based rules automatically to incoming applications, petitions, and requests to identify potentially fraudulent applications and national security risks;
- adjudicators to have electronic access to applications, petitions, and requests, relevant policies and procedures, and external databases;
- USCIS to have management information to track and allocate workload; and
- USCIS ELIS to have electronic linkages to other agencies, such as the Departments of Justice and State, for data sharing and securitypurposes.
The main component of the program is USCIS ELIS, which is to provide c ase management for adjudicating immigration benefits. USCIS ELIS relies on and interfaces with other systems that provide additional capabilities, such as user authentication and scheduling, to deliver end-to-end processing. Applications are ingested into the system either through the Lockbox for paper applications, or an online interface for electronic applications. Figure 4 provides a simplified depiction of the steps involved in the filing and processing of immigration benefits and citizenship applications under the Transformation Program. -
13 hours ago, Estibaliz said:
I didn't know they were trying a new system, but anything that shortens the processing times will be welcome sure enough, even if we don't benefit from it.
We filed 03/30, but have the same received and notice dates. Hoping the estimates are accurate and we can get approved in around 3 weeks from now. But yep... We'll see
Here are some articles related to IT services & upgrades going on at USCIS:
https://americansecuritytoday.com/nci-wins-43m-agile-devops-order-suppor-uscis/
https://www.law360.com/articles/883696/uscis-naturalization-software-too-error-prone-report-says
https://www.fedscoop.com/watchdog-urges-continued-shutdown-online-immigration-application-system/
https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-467
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On 6/24/2017 at 5:49 PM, Estibaliz said:
That's weird, because usually the scans work by date, as the numbers are assigned in an orderly by date manner mostly (not always).
And they are supposed to be working around mid March... So I don't understand how they can be in April, not to mention end of the month.
Puzzled and clueless, lol
EDIT. Did you know for a fact they are forms i129F? Because there's other types that they get approved faster.
EDIT2. Not to mention the tracker doesn't really update for approval except once in a blue moon... RFE'S are the thing to look for to know where they are working at...
Sorry, my logical mind kicking in and trying to find an explanation
I have a sneaking suspicion they are randomly pulling some files to test their new computer system upgrade, and the successful "trial" files are getting approved in a 2 month turnaround time (their goal with the new system) - and any unsuccessful trials just get processed on the normal 3-4 month workflow. I mean, it certainly seems like a random select few are getting bumped more quickly. So maybe a random sample of guinea pig cases.
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2 hours ago, Jaybird225 said:
I really want the best for both of us. How can I make this work or move on without him being nasty to me? He has a really good way of putting me down and making me feel bad. It's a bit unhealthy really.
Apart of me wants to get really upset and angry and just take him to the airport and be done with it. He left his family and life behind for me.. But sometimes I feel like I have to bend over backwards just to make him happy because he came here to be with me. Just tell me if I'm in the wrong about all of this. If I could talk to him about things then it would be easier. But I think that's the real issue. Poor communication so its not going to work.
There are some points you bring up in your post that sound a little like codependency, and the alcohol use underscores that possibility. Have you looked into the signs of a codependent relationship? I'm not a psychologist, but was involved in a codependent relationship with a narcissist for 9 years & got help from a therapist. Here's a link, you might see if any of this fits your situation -> https://www.recoveryconnection.com/top-ten-indicators-suffer-codependency/
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21 minutes ago, AnxiousCitizen said:
I sent my June 1st and was rejected due to incorrect petition!
Ugh, I was so caught up in the details of the supporting documents I failed to check the petition again. has anyone else been rejected and advise if I can disassemble my old documents that were sent back to me as back up?
Did you send the old I-129f form then, or another type of form?
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Some people use a personal check so they can see when the check is cashed. I used a postal money order though, sent mine via USPS Priority Express with a signature waiver. Sent in on a Friday, and it was signed for on Monday. A few days later, the NOA1 hardcopy came in the mail, also dated that Monday.
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52 minutes ago, adam@jen said:
Noa1 march 7
Noa2 june 14
Congratulations!!!!
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20 hours ago, daleguthery said:
Another June filer here! Sent off my petition on June 1st and got the NOA1 on June 8th. Sent to the California service center.
Good deal! I read the backstory, you worked on this since 2015?
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Just now, Lilly2302 said:
If things keep going like that our time frame is 90-120 day. I look the others lists to be informed of what to do step by step. Thank God for this site.
I think there was some kind of changeover back in Nov/Dec/Jan that resulted in a big backlog for the CSC, and they may have started to pull ahead of it in the last few weeks... just trying to read the tea leaves in what *might* be initial trends. Kind of hoping the 13 week NOA1>NOA2 drops to 9-10 weeks by the end of July.
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1 hour ago, Lilly2302 said:
That's true.
I've been going trough March and April forums and in March they have been receiving noa2 and interviews scheduled 😍
I do that too -- as well as playing around with different settings for the K1 graphs and lists
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2 minutes ago, Lilly2302 said:
Wich app do u use to track the progress of your cases for android???
I just use the USCIS website, because unless I am mistaken, that's where all of the update info comes from anyway -- so why use an app that pushes ads, or pay for an ad-less ap when the info is freely retrievable?
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21 hours ago, MAT126 said:
Yes. I lost my passport and didn't know what to do for a time.
Is it worth attempting to cross, just in case it is somehow overlooked?
You would be setting yourself up to look like an attempted repeat offender, which would most likely hurt your chances at getting a waiver approved.
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1 hour ago, Depressed247 said:
I wish he would though. I am a Christian and we go to church on Sundays, I believe that if he tries maybe he can. He treated me like a queen in the beginning, but things started changing when we started living together. He wants to decide everything for me, and without my input. I will feel guilty if I leave and anything happens to him health wise. Through the entire process we did all the filing and research together, but he keeps saying as soon as we get divorce I would have to go back home. I would hear him making appointments to see his Lawyer, so maybe he told him I won't have enough evidence to stay here.
Just a thought, but since you both go to church, have you considered speaking with your pastor, priest, or reverend? Many times people have disagreements on the How's and What's in life, but if they are still aligned in the big Why's (core beliefs and values), they can begin to overcome the other differences by rebuilding the foundation of the relationship & on the things that brought them together in the first place.
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21 hours ago, Hank_ said:
Only suggestion I can add is; Contact the embassy about getting the letter/email for requiring the PC ... I seem to remember one other being able to do this.
As the saying goes -no harm in asking.
Here is contact info for the embassy (do be patience the embassy is not quick replying, but they eventually do... more emails do NOT help)
Hey, thanks! This was exactly the kind of advice I was looking for (how to speed up the process) - very helpful!
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1 hour ago, Dee elle said:
Just hit the report button on the posting and it wil be flagged for Moderator attention.
Done!
QuoteReport message: "Another user started a June 2017 I-129f Filers thread before mine, but put it in the main forum instead of the subforum. Request that you move the earlier thread to this subforum, then merge this thread into that one -- thanks! See quoted message for details."
K1 interview - Failed
in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports
Posted
Hi Annie, I've been reading your thread here & thought maybe this might help you in some way for identifying the reason for the denial -> https://www.google.com/search?q=cambodia+k1+visa+denial+reason+site:www.visajourney.com
Specifically, the search revealed this discussion thread -> link
You'll see this partway down in it:
"This is a killer at every consulate in southeast Asia. An immigration lawyer in Saigon who is fairly well known on this forum refers to this scenario as "Uncle Boom Boom". The uncle introduces an American friend to his niece for the primary purpose of helping her to immigrate to the US."