Nixando

On 7/8/2019 at 9:16 PM, C&C88 said:

Ours was received on July 3rd so hopefully we get our notification soon as well. 

Ours was received July 5th.  Fingers crossed for all July AOS filers that all goes smoothly.

18 hours ago, Loveofmyife said:

Thanks to everyone in this forum and thread, I was late to discover this forum,  but all the info and encouragement here helped during this unexpectedly long process. Thanks as well to Sarge and all the kind words in this long process and best of luck as well.   We were a May 2018 FILER too and it took us a year to get our approval for my fiance's visa, her interview was today and she got approved and she will be with me the soonest. We will get married her first week, after getting her SSN etc.. and will facilitate the AOS process as well.  We can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together and cheers to all. I'll see you guys in the May 2019 AOS thread, hopefully we make it that month. Kind Regards to all. 

Congratulations to you!  I was approved today.  Most exciting feeling.  Wishing you well 

1 minute ago, Snuffles said:

Yep. 2 weeks exactly. But it varies, some get it even the next week. 

But No, I didn’t have to provide anything extra. They do say it takes at least 10 business days. 

Thanks Snuffles.  Good to know.  Wish you all the best and congratulations!

17 hours ago, Snuffles said:

It sounds positive. But I wouldn’t get too excited until passport is back with the visa. My interview was in Sydney. I got asked a bunch of questions which I was prepared for and at the end he didn’t say ‘congratulations’ just ‘everything looks in order’. I know he said ‘congratulations, you’re approved’ to other people so it made me wonder but about 2 weeks later I got my passport and visa back 👍🏻 submit what you need to and keep an eye on your CEAC tracking, 

Hi Snuffles.  2 weeks for passport and visa?  Did you have other documents to provide?  I interview 30 April and was trying to work out a suitable time to travel after approval of course.  Didn't realise it could take up to 2 weeks to get visas and passports back.  

1 minute ago, jocelyn23 said:

Yeah its our fourth week of waiting nvc hopefully it will arrive this week 

Little bit demoralising when you see September filers getting NOAs approved at end of January and moving through the process quite smoothly (I mean good on them but it’s just a blow to us waiting).  And yes hopefully this week.  Good luck 

2 hours ago, jocelyn23 said:

Me too waiting for my nvc,my noa2 is jan 12..any news from you guys? 

Our NOA2 is Jan 11.  Still waiting on NVC. Fiancé has tried calling to get case ID but gets a recorded message about high volume of calls and not taking calls at present.  Would love to get the medicals started at least but can’t.  Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 

1 hour ago, Ethan & Shannon said:

What web browser are you using? You could try switching that up. If you’re using Chrome, try Firefox. Good luck, I’m filling mine out tonight 😅

Hiya.  Was using chrome.  Have now completed the second one again on Internet Explorer and using super fast NBN.  Much better.  Good luck!!! 

I can honestly say the DS160 online would be the most frustrating thing I've ever done in my life.  Even the 249 days waiting for K1 approval was more tolerable than the antiquated and flawed DS160.  I have 3 applications to complete.  Its taken me a total of 8hrs to get through two with it timing out and not allowing me to load the photo on the second application.   Ive tried clearing the cache, using someone else's machine and next stop is taking the laptop to a friends house to use their internet connection.  Any other suggestions? 

1 minute ago, Sarge2155 said:

There are a few of us still waiting for their NOA2, so consider yourself fortunate you are waiting for your reply to your RFE

RFE received 13/12 while I was in US with my fiancé.  He sent response 14/12.  Still awaiting NOA2.  And yes we are grateful we have an RFE.  Thinking of you @Sarge2155 and your fiancé. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 for all 

1 hour ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

Figured I'd check the numbers for May filer I-129F/CSC timelines again this morning.

We're currently at 122 unapproved (19 with RFEs), and 209 approved. So 63.1% with NOA2, and 68.9% have been acted on if you also count those with unresolved RFEs.

Good luck to everyone here still waiting.

 

We had the lengthy wait but on 16 Dec got an RFE in the mail.  Fiancé just needs to provide a certified final divorce decree. That was sent back to them yesterday.  I am currently here in the US on vacation with my fiancé.  We are feeling very positive now. Still need to update our VJ timeline.  Wishing everyone still waiting some answers very soon.  Fingers crossed 🤞🏻.  Thank you @DaveAndAnastasia

4 hours ago, brener69 said:

Laying in bed this morning texting Hue and I got an email from USCIS about my case. Logged in expecting an RFE but it was approved Dec 6th. Just hang in there Sarge. You will be soon.

Congratulations @brener69!  That’s very exciting 

That’s the thing...  we don’t even have an RFE to respond to.  Just no word at all.  That’s the tough part.  My fiancé will contact them once the 2 December deadline comes up I.e.  we are then outside the 7 month processing deadline.  

2 hours ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

Here's what I got through page 85 combined with manual adds for users with an RFE or NOA2 that filed in May and posted in this thread (a few technically have June NOA1 date).

LyndseyRae
Sarge2155 
krallen 
NicholeT

Nixando

JIL
InnaMarius
Him&me
Rain12
Cindy and Jean
Dana89 (?; may have withdrawn)
Zhan_Mike
Sabrina02
Ayrton
brener69

(remove Air27 from my earlier list; has approval, but didn't update timeline)

Thank you @DaveAndAnastasia for that.  

On 11/9/2018 at 1:29 PM, Orientalelf said:

250 days, no NOA2.
No rfe, no information, nothing.

We called multiple times, never get an answer.

Made an online inquiry, told us it's waiting to be reviewed (that was a month ago).

Wrote to the senator, they called, uscis told them it's waiting to be reviewed.

They haven't even touched our case. 

Sick and tired of this process.  

I’m so sorry for you guys @Orientalelf.  Any update?  I’ve seen a few comments about if you or the beneficiary have common surnames etc.  I’ve also seen some say if you have ex military background it could hold up background checks.  So hard to tell.  We are May filers and still waiting as well.  Hoping you’ve heard. 

22 minutes ago, Poohnispongy said:

I just edit Dave post added nixando

Thanks @Poohnispongy.  

55 minutes ago, NicholeT said:

Wow only five of us, I was expecting more than that.

 

Oh ok

We are there too, with no NOA2 or RFE.  

Just now, Sarge2155 said:

See what I mean you are trying to figure out what's wrong with your case. Don't beat yourself up to much I know you will still do it, but it will give you the same result and you still won't really know why.

Lol you’re right @Sarge2155.  My fiancé and I are both like what did we forget?  Is it his ex military background.  Is it because I have two children that will be part of the process?.  Did we miss something?  

1 minute ago, Janique pine said:

No I got a email alert only and then when I received the letter in the mail all the other sites updated 

I’ve been wondering how that works ie. if the email is the very first notification and all the other notifications follow from there.  It’s the not knowing which is the most demoralising.  Do any of the beneficiaries still waiting have children on their application as well? 

On 11/24/2018 at 6:33 AM, Sarge2155 said:

I'm still here waiting 199 days!!!!

Sarge, same for us.  My fiancé is ex military also.  

1 hour ago, Abdullah agha said:

Yeah but dont worry we will get our soon. I am praying for everyone

Yeah I guess our time will come 🙂 🤞🏻

3 hours ago, Poohnispongy said:

Got an rfe guys hopefully easy fix for us 

 

a little bit sad the long wait ends for noa2

 

another waiting game for the rfe mail

 

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Hoping all goes smoothly for you!  Good luck.  

Hey guys.  Congrats to all who got NOA2.  Are there any other May filers still waiting for an NOA2 like us?  

7 hours ago, EmilyW said:

We were Diversity Lottery winners so the visa is different but the requirements are the same.

 

My younger son (11 now, was 8 at the time we moved) has mild autism.  Doesn't need special care in school.  Just awkward socially.

 

It was not an issue from an immigration perspective.  The Panel Doctor noted it in his report (and said a few horrible things like he would have trouble finding work when he got older - which is garbage.  A GP has no capability to diagnose something so specific).  When we got to interview, we had all my son's pediatric reports saying he was cognitively normal, was in mainstream school etc.  The CO didn't ask for those and literally sniffed at the notation on my son's medical and turned the page.

 

TLDR: relax, you're fine.  The Americans are pretty good about these things.  So long as you can pay for your health care, they'll assume you can take care of things.  And, just as an aside, American schools are awesome in supporting kids with autism (at least in my experience).  Now, if you were moving to Canada... the land of the north is not as welcoming of those with special needs unfortunately.

 

Emily, thanks so much for the feedback and responding!  Very insightful.  Wishing you and your beautiful boy and your family well.

Hi there 

Have any Australians on K1 visa had a child with special needs (mild to medium  autism, no behavioural issues, and in my daughters case, aged 13) and if so what additional information did you have to provide?  My US fiancé is adequately stable financially and I have my own capability to provide for her also.  Thanks in advance. 

On 19/03/2018 at 7:56 PM, FutureMerican said:

Hi everyone,

I never found much in the way of reviews of the Medical Process for the K1 visa pertaining to Sydney Drs so i thought Id write one.

 

I got my K1 Visa Packet 3 on 26/2/18 so i went about booking in for my medical; There were two Drs in Sydney that do the medicals but when i rang the first one (George St) the Dr was actually on leave until the day my interview was scheduled.

I rang OCNLST to arrange my appointment and was told to email the nurse (nurse@ocnlst.com.au) to arrange this.

 

I received an email back around 30min later which asked me when my interview was scheduled and then once i had replied they sent back that i was tentatively booked in for 19th March 2018, 8 days prior to my interview.

Once i confirmed my appointment (they need around a week between appointment & interview).

I had to email to the nurse more than 5 days prior to the appointment:

copy of passport, Case number, personal details, my address in the USA that i will be living and then send a copy of my GP summary, immunisation records, serology results (if done) and then medication list (if applicable). I also had to answer a few other simple question: 1. have i lived overseas for more than 12 months and where i was born.

 

It also explained that i would to bring on the day - valid passport, 6 AUSTRALIAN passport photos (all identical), large express post envelope and your confirmation letter of interview (i printed out my email which was fine).

 

Fast forward to 18/3/18 - i live in Adelaide so i flew into Sydney on the evening before to make sure i didn't get stuck with cancelled flights etc. I stayed the night at Travelodge Martin Place which was more than adequate for the night i actually caught the train from the airport to Martin Place station which was honestly dead easy and I grabbed an Opal card at the airport station and the attendant there gave me clear instructions on how to get to Martin Place which was awesome.

 

My appointment was at 9.30am but was asked to be there at 9am to see the nurse first. I arrived in Sydney quite late in the end so i checked out of the hotel at about 8am so i could walk down and find the medical centre early and then grabbed coffee and some breakfast which was about a 5-7 minute walk mainly downhill. I arrived at the medical centre at about 8.45am and was told the nurse was actually off sick so the receptionist gave me 2 urine sample pots, took my express post envelope and my photos and i waited to see Dr Aldous. Im not going to lie, i was a little nervous lol. I initially couldn't pee which wasn't a huge issue - i drank about 750mls of water sitting there and eventually managed to go .

I got called into the Dr at around 9.40am and we went through all the paperwork initially - i am a nurse so luckily i have extensive vaccination records and i advise that you get your GP to do all your serologies prior to your appointment especially if you don't have your vaccination records. Its not a big deal to get them done there, you just pay for them whereas your GP will bill them on Medicare.

The actually exam took all of 10 minutes lol - height, weight and BP initially, then i had to do a quick eye test. I then changed into a gown and she felt my neck, abdomen and groin lymph nodes and made me cough to check for hernias.  She then listened to my heart and lungs and i hopped up and  had to walk in a straight line, bend over to touch toes and squat to the floor. I was surprised that i didn't need any pelvic exam and the Dr explained that they no longer require an external genitalia check.

i then changed back into my clothes and we sat down and discussed what was next - bloods for syphilis check and then urine samples for gonorrhoea etc and then my chest x-ray which had a TB checklist that you need to have the radiologist fill in. She then explained that assuming results from bloods, urine and chest x-ray are fine then all is good.

 

The bloods was actually the slowest part. The blood nurse took FOREVER lol and there was probably 4 others waiting as well. I paid for the pathology testing on the spot - $70 and they ONLY take card payments. I then had to walk approx 10 minutes to have my chest x-ray done (uphill lol) (City X-Ray on Macquarie Street) and that was really quick. I walked in and within 5minutes was having my xray done, then i went out and paid $80 and waited around another 5minutes and they returned my checklist and gave me a CD which you need to hang onto to give to Immigration when you arrive at your POE in the US so DON'T LOSE IT

I then walked back to the Medical Centre (much quicker as all downhill lol) and then handed the form to the receptionist (might be nurse if they are there) and paid for my medical $335  and they told me the results of the bloods and urine would be back either this afternoon or morning and then they forward everything in the envelope you gave them to the embassy and then will send a copy of it all to me as well that you also need to give over at the POE in the US and you CANNOT OPEN IT.

 

It was all more straightforward than i expected. I was all done by about 12.30pm and so i grabbed some lunch and then headed back to airport which i have to say was a PITA lol - the trains were actually not working so Uber it was....

 

Hope this helps someone

Your posts are very helpful and thorough.  Thank you for taking the time!  From another fellow Aussie madly in love with a gorgeous American x