Gamboli

On 3/7/2018 at 10:47 AM, Michael2017 said:

Hi Guys,

 

just a fast heads up in regards to NVC processing times for F2A.  There are multiple threads for CR1 and K1 visas but non for F2A.

My documents where received and scanned by NVC mid February and today March 7 we got case completed and approved by NVC.

My wife and I are very happy, will have a glass of Champagne later on  

 

However, this shows that NVC does process F2A in the same speed as they would for CR1 and they are much faster than the 11 weeks they state on their website. Good luck everyone. Hope everyone will be with his partner soon!

Congratulations man! Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any progression for December 2016 or January 2017 yet. It's been over 14 months now, I'm so stressed out.

Saw some NO2 movement for December people.

13 minutes ago, Binna said:

Hey, I am in the process of considering applying for GE, you mind providing timeline from application ---> conditional approval ---> Interview ---> Approval. Thanks.

The whole process for me took 1 month, but I know it all depends on the demand, and availability of the local offices.

1- The first step is to submit all the document so they can do a background check (This processes shouldn't take long, unless you have name similarity with people on the watch lists) 

2- If you got approved you have to schedule an interview, some regions have multiple different offices you could choose from, you could select from the available slots (This could be the lengthiest part, it could even be months before they have slots available)

3- You go to meet with the officer who'll do the interview, they're very good at reading people, especially since they have all your records in front of them, if there is no red flag, you should get your card within 2 weeks. The interview was very brief in my experience. 

1 hour ago, Binna said:

You will be surprised to see all your entry and departure there. Check and let us know

 

Thank you! It works!

13 hours ago, mcdull said:

In the past 4 years, I’ve entered at least 20 times through BOS, JFK, SFO, DFW, YYZ,LAX EWR, not once did they stamp my passport. 

 

Interesting. Yeah, as for me I always got stamped, and I thought that was normal!  

BTW, if you don't mind sharing with us, how long the whole N-400 process took for you? 

Just now, shomer said:

I doubt it, because, like I said, until fairly recently no one ever requested to see a passport in the Global Entry line.  Chalk it up to airport differences, I guess. 

What I was trying to say is maybe its because my country of origin? But regardless, I don't think the OP should worry, if they ask I think providing the itinerary from the ticket should suffice. 

Just now, shomer said:

Strange.  I've had Global Entry for several years and they never stamped my passport.  I just hand over the print-out and walk away.  Until this year, they didn't even ask to see my passport.  They do now, but no stamps.

I have it since 2016, but my passport always got stamped upon giving the receipt to the officer. As a matter of fact I remember one time it didn't get stamped and the officer came looking for me to stamp it!  Unless there is regional differences in how they handle this (which I doubt it is) it could be the passport! 

5 hours ago, mcdull said:

4 months later, I finally received my rescheduled n400 interview date after USCIS wrongfully scheduled an interview for me on a Saturday.

 

Since I have filed N400 last June, I have travelled to Hong Kong, Taiwan and France.

 

However, I have no record of these trips.  I entered HK with my HK ID card using Smart Gate, my passport was not stamped. Taiwan does not stamp our passports, and I was waived through at CDG upon entry and departure. When I returned to the US, I used Global Entry kiosks and there was no stamp in my passport either.

 

I will be updating the examiner my trips, however, I have no proof of these trips. I reckoned it may cause confusion? Does anybody have similar experience? Should I bring my trip itinerary?

 

 

I have used Global Entry to enter the country just a few months ago, in my experience you take the receipt to the officer just before you leave the luggage area with your stuff, there should be a line for Global Entry people prior to existing the area. They always stamp your passport (in my experience). 

Also one thing you should know is that airline that you use always report your departure to the Homeland security. 

Any December 2016 approval? 

I initially thought that the reason for these delays might have something to do with the volume of applicants, but unfortunately that is not the case.

2017 had the lowest number of approvals for extended family visas since 2000. When Reuters looked at the number of I-130s approved for relatives who were not immediate family members, they saw it fall by 70%, dropping from more than 108,000 in the first nine months of 2016, to 32,500 in the same period last year.

2 hours ago, Tenreyro said:

Hi Gamboli, March Visa Bulletin was published already a few weeks ago, you can check the official dates here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-for-march-2018.html

Thank you! Sorry, I actually meant to ask about the ones that are coming up in March for April  Sorry for the confusion!  

On 2/7/2018 at 11:01 AM, mcdull said:

that's the reality, US employers will not look at your foreign degree (perhaps except some Canadian and big name UK schools), let alone a degree from a developing country.

 

I graduate University of Hong Kong and University College London, had 15+ years of experience in finance and architecture and couldn't land a darn job in Boston for months. Do you have connections to anyone working in tech?  Perhaps go through an agency?

It depends on the City/State that you're in, demand for that specific industry as well as how good you really are. My first employer didn't really care about my degree, but the second one really did, but then again third one didn't... I've worked for some of the world's largest companies, and I never had trouble finding a job, as a matter of fact I landed my first job months before I graduated from a University in Malaysia. 

One thing that many people need to understand is that, they need to be realistic about where they start, for example I would have liked to start in Seattle, but Houston was a much better choice because there are a lot of jobs there, the cost of living is lower, etc. I'm no longer living in Houston (can't stand the weather), but that was my stepping stone. 

One final thing, once you land a job with an American-based employer in the U.S. you're gonna have much, much more easier time getting other opportunities. I keep getting new opportunities from recruiters almost every week, but I ignore them all because I'm happy where I am.

This approach worked well for me, but it may not work for everyone, therefore plan where you're going and make sure you can survive for at least a few months in case you couldn't find a job immediately, and please don't go work as a waiter or other unrelated jobs, job hunting is a full-time job on its own.  

Hi guys, 

Anyone has the prediction for March yet?

Ok. Some good news. Crisis might have been averted. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/us/politics/congress-budget-deal-vote.html?action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=Trending&version=Full&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

11 minutes ago, PD3 said:

Oh no...Why it is happening? 

Government Shutdown

2 minutes ago, Navg62 said:

What does it mean? 

Based on this text it could mean that Visa Bulletin might not get updated. We'll know by 15th.

Here we go again:

19 minutes ago, remyfk said:

ATLANTA FIELD OFFICE

N400 sent:                          May 26, 2017

N400 PD:                             June 1, 2017

N400 received NOA 1:       June 5, 2017

Biometrics NOA 2:             June 10, 2017

Biometrics Appt:                June 27, 2017

Case in line for interview: August 22, 2017

Interview scheduled:         January 29, 2018

Interview NOA 3:                February 5, 2018

Interview:                            March 9, 2018

Oath ceremony:                 (Pending)

 

My 6 year old daughter and I are thrilled to know the long wait is finally coming to an end. Does anyone know how long it takes for NVC to upgrade F2A to IR1 after my husband's citizenship interview & oath? When will they schedule our IR1 interview?

Based on your timeline you're already very close to an interview. I don't think it's going to make a difference unless the Visa Bulletin stops moving for the next 2 months. 

57 minutes ago, Michael2017 said:

Currently it only looks like a 3 weeks movement till 22. March, 2016. I hope we get one more week and I would post here if so. For now only 3 weeks which is less than expected

Just a few months into the new fiscal year and only 3 weeks movement?  

You have to provide them with all of the information anyway. So you technically going to spend the same amount of time filling out the forms, maybe even more so with the lawyer because you have to double check everything they did to make sure no mistake was made. 

Lawyer would come in handy if you have a rather complicated case, and want to reduce possibility of errors. 

Although I have to tell you that most of the lower level details going to be handled by the paralegals, and competency of the paralegal assigned to your case depends on the firm that you choose.

On 1/25/2018 at 10:23 AM, Tenreyro said:

We get it, it's an anniversary all of us would rather have it already with our GC.

 

My wife and I now reached the 1 year, 1 month and 1 week milestone, and still not even a response from the i-130. It's just absurd.

Hopefully you'll hear from them any day now.

1 minute ago, dawning said:

I live in California and know enough about the labor intensive agriculture here to know that it would grind to a halt without undocumented workers.  I can't answer your question about the economy as a whole, whether it would collapse, but I do think it would be seriously shaken if they all disappeared tomorrow, and the food supply could be impacted for sure in the short term.

I don't think it could collapse, but I believe a lot of smaller businesses that can't afford to pay wages that would attract Americans would go out of business or be absorbed by bigger players, and bigger companies would more likely resort to automation (There are already robots available that could pick, and sort fruits with higher efficiency than humans). There could be a short-term price-hike tho, but in medium to long-term it could even lead to lower prices.

4 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

One impact of " fixing" the US Health system would be that approx 7 out of every 10 people working in the health care sector...from medical, administration,insurance etc, would become unemployed . Go to the Dr here and you will see upwards of 7 different people providing a part of the service..,other  similar countries , such as Australia , you would see 3 at the most..,reception, nurse, Dr. 

Also U.S. Doctors on average conduct far more tests than doctors in countries before making a diagnosis, insurance companies know that as well.

Since cost of medical tests are higher on average than rest of the world, it could be expected that it could lead to higher premiums as well. After all health insurance companies are a business. Realistically speaking each individual is responsible for their own health, while genetics is an important factor, diet, exercise and taking the preventive care seriously could bring the cost of healthcare down. 

8 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

Or maybe address the ridiculous price of healthcare in the US. This would solve many more problems. The same medicine that costs $60 in Canada costs over $600 in the US. This is a much more pressing problem. 

Believe me I understand where you're coming from (I have traveled quite a lot), but fixing that issue in the U.S. would require huge technological disruption and policy changes, both sides have a lot of valid arguments. It's really a long discussion.

To narrow the scope of discussion to the topic at hand, I think most people are just concerned about having to pay for someone else's "stuff", and I think holding the sponsors responsible for both private and public debt would be the fastest way to address the concerns that most people have. It might also help reduce the prices a bit, I believe Emergency Rooms treatments are expensive due to taking into account the losses they may incur due to people not being able to pay (both legals and illegals). Average cost of ER visit is about $1,200 after all, one way this could be addressed is by correcting consumer behavior as well. Avoid ER like the plague unless absolutely necessary, go to Urgent Care instead, most of them would see you for $120 or so dollars which is quite close to cost of ER visit in Australia for example (about $118).

9 minutes ago, missileman said:

and insurance information is asked for before any treatment unless the patient is unconscious..

I had to go to ER about a year ago after my car got t-boned. I was asked to fill out paperwork before I was admitted, but they didn't ask for my insurance (at least I can't remember) until after I was about to be released. But I remember having to provide not only my healthcare insurance, but also the information of the driver that hit me with their car (it was their fault) before I was let go. 

1 minute ago, missileman said:

Absolutely false......unless the relative signs an agreement for financial responsibility..

Ok then great. When you sponsor someone it should be included that you have to pay up for anything they can't pay up then. 

For life.