SilverMonk

You are not alone. There are few of us january filers getting left behind. I'm a Jan 16th filer.

My congresswomans office got a reply from USCIS saying it's pending review by an adjudicator and to wait 30-45 days. 

We filed an inquiry and they said they're doing a security check. 

I'm starting to the same thing is happening to you might be happening to us. I'm gonna ask my fiancee go schedule an infopass.

Does anyone know how far out the Boston office is for infopass sessions?

28 minutes ago, JayHouser said:

What the? I didn't even get a paper confirmation? Just the email. Only paper is NOA1. Nothing for denials of my expedites or processing time requests or answers.

Would you want to get your responses via mail and not email? Because by mail you only find out when it gets to your house as per email it's immediate. My inquiry was answered on Tuesday and I'm still waiting for something to come.

1 hour ago, vickacy2002 said:

Received email and text notification this morning that an action was taken on my case. Checked the new site and I was approved. Thanks everyone hope your approval comes soon. We are so happy. The almost 8 months wait was worth.😊

When are your NoA dates? It would help a lot of people and yourself if you created a timeline.

13 minutes ago, PSMB said:

Yeah, my Fiance already called last aug 20 and filed an inquiry. Im surprise they told him that we should hear something by sept 4. 

Lets hope that they're able to give you meaningful information and not that you're case is being adjudicated or undergoing background checks and that you'll hear something in 30-60 days.

22 minutes ago, PSMB said:

Still nothing on our application. 220+ days

Not good lol. Have you filed an inquiry or have you been calling them?

We filed an inquiry on the 15th. They mailed us the response instead of emailing it lol hopefully we'll know that the response was early next week.

Hopefully this long weekend will recharge USCISs energy so they can get around to us that were left behind.

So out of the more active members: @I.Kat, @JayHouser, @Snuffles and myself are the only ones who have not heard anything from USCIS yet? Be it even an upcoming RFE lol.

Another week, or should I say month down the drain and no news from USCIS 😔

39 minutes ago, theatregirl24 said:

November 24th per my NOA1 letter. Still waiting. We filed an inquiry and received an email saying it's being adjudicated and we should have a response in 45 days. Beyond frustrating. I'm ready for my love to be home with me!!!

What I've been noticing is that they only seem to have 3 cookie cutter answers. "Your case was received" " your case is undergoing security checks " " your case is being adjudicated" and all ask to wait anywhere from 30-60 days.

Have you tried contacting your congressman or senator to see if they can get a little more information than usual from USCIS?

I know the feeling. I just want my happy ending! Lol

Can she/he cancel the petition and then resubmit? You'll lose money but at least you won't lose months of your life waiting. Or can that not be done?

Hello there November filers,

Just wanted to ask if there is anyone here that hasn't received their NoA2 yet? I'm a January filer at day 226, I know it's not as long as some have to wait, but since I'm out of processing time and USCIS can't give any information as to what is happening to my case besides that " it was received". I wanted to see how things are going in other months and the excuse that USCIS keeps sending out.

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

Let's look at this logically. Let's say there is something in your background and if your case is adjudicator prior to the background check at what time does the background come into play? Not at NVC as their responsibility is to assign a case number after checking to see their is a billet left for your Embassy. If you get as far as the Embassy interview and still no-one knows you have a issue in your background and the Embassy reviews your file and sees that issue in your background then look at all the resources that have used thus far not to mention the money you have spent.

 

So in my opinion it's going to be done first and then the adjudication. Because till the issue in the background gets resolve why spend the time to look at all the evidence.

True. That's more or less what I said the other day and was thinking here. That the more logical way is to background check and then adjudicate. Although I was wishing it was adjudication and then background checks. That way I can have the hope of hearing something soon lol Bc if my case is still at background checks. Then I shouldn't expect to be adjudicated anytime soon 😔 And idk why mine is taking so long. We're a young couple, no kids, no ex's, no travels other to each other's country, met in person, no arrests ever, not even a parking ticket. So idk what the deal is. I know people with previous arrest records getting approved while we wait.

There's also an argument to be made the other way around. Why do background checks if the adjudicator might deny a case. But they probably deny more cases during the background check phase than any other, that's probably why its first lol.

But thank you for your insight. I appreciate it.

16 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

 

 

It's your lucky day. Greenbaum has information that may set you free. Just leave a nickel in the cup.

 

https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_uscis_ibbcs.pdf

 

As part of its benefits adjudication process and as required by law, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts background checks on petitioners and applicants who seek certain immigration benefits. These background checks consist of four separate checks against systems within Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In order to facilitate the collection and transmission of information necessary to complete background check processes, USCIS maintains five information technology electronic systems: the Fingerprint Masthead Notification System (FMNS), the Customer Identity Capture System (CICS), the FD-258 Tracking System - Mainframe (FD-258 MF), the Benefits Biometrics Support System (BBSS), and the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) Manifest. USCIS is conducting this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because FMNS, CICS, FD-258 MF, BBSS, and IBIS Manifest collect, use, and share personally identifiable information (PII). This PIA replaces the previously published USCIS PIA for the "Background Check Service (BCS)" which describes planned background check-related systems that were never implemented. Upon publication of this PIA, the BCS PIA will be retired.

 

And two days ago I posted an interview that was taken from an XUSICS agent who spoke about his job as adjudicator and what steps they took to come to a conclusion. Go back a few tabs and you may find the link.

Hey there Greenbaum. Yeah I had read that interview with the xuscis agent and the background check process with the different agencies. Sadly, it doesn't inform when the background checks take place (at least i was not able to find anything) within the adjudication process. Do you know if the security checks are done before an agent sits down to analyze our petitions? Or does an agent first adjudicate a petition and then sends it off for background checks?

12 hours ago, Juliette2784 said:

yes It did thank God but I did call the USCIS and spoke to an officer who explained to me how that works when you send a supplement so I was confident about that after a while but in the beginning I was outraged and I did hire another attorney for the second part of our visa lol when you pay all that money you should not have to do nothing but be in love and wait and be able to ask questions throughout the  process

I now know that if you have a lawyer that does not make you happy then get another one because this is peoples marriage but thank you for asking about that

Yeah, my fiancee keeps wanting to go with another lawyer but we paid for the entire K-1 visa process already. So if we choose to go with another lawyer then we'll lose a lot of money. But were still debating on what we should do. Our case is still pending and were worried, mad, sad, frustrated lol 

On 3/28/2018 at 9:21 PM, Juliette2784 said:

The same thing happened to us I was divorced and they had my divorce decree and when they sent a copy of my 129f I seen it was not there and I called and they said I had to wait and they would send it as a supplement and they did two weeks later but I have heard nothing we filed feb 13th 2018. They acted like it was no big deal that it would only hold up two weeks if anything but we the same paid a lot of money and have been together a long time with all the delays and then this If I could turn back time I would never have hired a lawyer but I have a busy career and thought I could trust in an immigration attorney who has done this for 22 years . Unbelievable I wish you all the best and my issue is we planned a wedding and that the final preparation for the wedding I planned we would be together and with a RFE that would really be upsetting time wise and to be an error on the attorneys end is just so horrible I just hope they receive the supplement but I will be calling and finding out if there is a way I can know 

Hey there, I saw you got your noa2, im still waiting on mine. So I take it that your divorce decree make its way to your file after all?

25 minutes ago, PaddyH said:

I have been ringing and asking to talk to a Tier 2 nearly every day. Most days you get the usual scripted story but if you get someone that seems helpful i always try to push them on where exactly in the process my case is:

 

Is it still in background checks?

Is it at the adjudication step? 

Is there an RFE?

When was the last activity on my case?

When should i expect to hear from someone?

 

Sometimes they give you a little more insight, previously an agent told me that i had passed all initial background checks (8/9) and that it should be smooth sailing from there but that it was still in background processing, he did however have to pull up some separate database to view this. I think after today a good idea is to ask what exact date your case was last updated, they definitely have that information available to them.

Yeah I wished my fiancee did that too but she's more of the type "Ok. Thank you. Bye"

Have you gotten answers to any of those 5 questions you used as an example because I'd like to know the answer to all of them too lol.

Maybe from calling you know if the adjudication step is after the background check or before?

Yeah I'll pass onto my fiancee all the information you just gave me. It's a little frustrating talking to her about this tho because I'm the type that does what is needed to get things moving and she's more the type that waits it out and says calling wont do anything and that it's "wasting her time".

13 minutes ago, PaddyH said:

I am at day 222 mark since NOA1. My timeline is: 

 

Advised that case in background checks 8/9

Outside Normal Processing Time 8/18

Filed Inquiry 8/20

Assigned to another agent 8/21

Congress Rep Requested Update 8/24

 

After calling and being transferred to a Tier 2 agent twice today and being disconnected, the third time was a charm. The update I got was that the last day my case was touched was when it was assigned to an agent 8/21. They were unable to provide any additional detail around if the background checks were complete and it was in adjudication. 

 

Has anybody else had any joy with figuring out where in the process the case is from talking to Tier 2 (especially those that call every day) ?

If you read my post from yesterday you'll see that were in the same situation "security checks" and we have more or less the same dates (day 225 old site).

And about your question, some seem lucky and are able to get an agent that goes the extra mile to help them and others get agents that just tell them the first thing that shows up on their screen. Which is that are case is still processing lol.

If on 8/9 you found out that your case was in background checks that's already a good sign because I had to make an official inquiry to find that out. But how were you able to find that out btw?

Update on our case:

We filed an online inquiry on August 15th. On August 24th our inquiry was assigned to an officer for response. Today, August 28th, are case was completed and our inquiry was responded. But for some reason they decided mail the response and not e-mail the response. So my fiancee called to see if we could find out what was in the response and a tier 1 was nice enough to inform her that the response to the inquiry was that they are doing a security check and that's why it's taking long. But didn't inform us when we should receive some form of action on our case. So yeah, you guys know as much as I do now.

Idk if I should be content with that response or sad. Because if they're still doing security checks on us, that means that they have yet to actually adjudicate our petition right? Or are security checks the last thing to be done? I would hope they (security checks) were but I know that they're probably the first thing to get done so an adjudicator can then look at our case.

So yeah, that's it.

This might be a dumb question but I rather ask than not now. 

So we have an attorney representing us and all, she sent in form g-28 and everything with our petition. But we think we'll get an RFE.

My question is, can my fiancee (petitioner) reply to the RFE herself or will the lawyer need to send the RFE in? We wanted to do it ourselves since we lost trust in their service but we don't know if that is okay. 

30 minutes ago, LuFlolady said:

yes every time I call I speak with a tier2. I normally don't give a story. once they go thru their normal script and elaborate as to what they are saying is the final answer... I just say pls can I speak with someone else because I know there is more info available on my case....and they just transfer me without any further questions

Oh okay. I'll just let my fiancee know that. I told her that she can just flat out say she wants to talk to another agent but she doesn't want to get on USCISs bad side lol.

Have you been telling the first agent that you know there's more information on your case even when you didn't know there was more information. 

Have you received your RFE btw?

5 hours ago, LuFlolady said:

Me TOOOOOOOO! LOL how r u my friend any new news? I got an email yesterday saying they r still working on my case and there are no new updates and the last update was Aug 13th so of course I called and they said the same thing that an RFE has been requested but not generated.... I vow to call everyday

Hi LuFlolady, when you call every day do you always talk to a tier 2? If so, what excuse do you used go get them to transfer you go a tier 2? Because my fiancee had only talked to a tier 2 on two occasions and then seem kinda rude to her.

And on top of that she was telling me that when the tier 2 would call back to talk to her. That they would say back to get the excuse that the tier 1 officer put in and that was registered in their system. So I just wanted to know how you manage to get through to them if you're talking to a tier 2.

4 hours ago, JDY said:

Not update in site. My fiance  got an email he is the petitioner. He called and tried to talk to someone but of course they couldnt say nothing about it. He tried to get it fax, but they say only if we had 60 days and we didnt received it on mail, they could do that. Im just curious because I seen that a lot have waited a lot for the mail to come with rfe’s. 

Wait, he got an email saying that you guys are getting an RFE but it hasn't updated on the site? Give it a day and the notice will show up. That's what I've seen happen. But it's USCIS so you never know anymore.

60 days so they can fax it? That's crazy! Ask him to call again because I've seen them state that can only fax it after 15 days, but not 60. 

6 hours ago, Mary Oberte said:

We are still waiting too.. I hope we ll get it soon! noa 1 - December 29, rfe - July 22.. it is so hard to wait for so long.. 

Your times are still reasonable compared to others. Just your RFE at around 200 days was an excellent sign in my eyes. Means that your case isn't lost or forgotten by an adjudicator or something. I'm at 223 days without any news.

33 minutes ago, JDY said:

Finally, I got a rfe after 228 days. I have no idea what it could be. I have a question, do they always send it to petioner? Or they can send it to applicant? I hope it something easy and doesnt have to do with my divorce. 

Did it update on the site for you guys?

And no, the beneficiary does not get a copy. Only the petitioner and your attorney (in case you filed out a form g-28)

3 minutes ago, JayHouser said:

Hey your time frame is shorter than mine at least. The email for me said 60 days

I don't really believe in these days and numbers from USCIS anymore. Two weeks ago they said they took action on my case on July 18th. Now today they're saying that they last took action on my case on June 18th. How does that even make sense?

So these "30-45" or "45-60" days, are probably just their default answers to inquiries and they probably use either or. Idk what to think or to do at this point.

26 minutes ago, SilverMonk said:

My fiancee contacted her congresswoman's office Friday and today they emailed her with the response they got from USCIS, which is basically what @JayHouser and every else gets. Which was:

 

“Your constituent’s case is pending review with an adjudications officer. Your constituent should receive a notice of action on his case within 30-45 days. Please contact us again if the timeframe has expired and the constituent has not received a notice of action* from USCIS. 

 

*A notice of action may be in a form of Approval Notice, Denial Notice, Transfer Notice, Request for Evidence, Notice of Intent to Deny or Notice of Intent to Revoke.”

 

I was thinking of now contacting the ombudsman, but on its site it says to contact them only if we're 60 days past processing times. Should we go ahead and try contacting them anyways?

And what do they mean by "pending review"? Does that mean that mean they have yet to even touched or case? Lol

Edit: We also got another automated email today saying they last took action on our case on June 18th. BUT two weeks ago it said they last took action on our case on July 18th. So idk what's up with these dates.