HTMW

Significant movement on EAD card productions noticed on search today (including mine); 1/23 NOA 1 date. 

No expedite, San Francisco field office for me.

It’s been pretty slow with movement around my date lately, good to see things are pushing along!

7 hours ago, KD20 said:

I certainly wasn't asking to be coddled, but I do appreciate people being respectful and having some tact.  I'm a newbie here, but if snarky replies are the kinds of responses I'm going to receive I'm not sticking around.  There are ways to answer questions without being condescending and off-putting, especially to people are new to the forums and the processes involved.

 

ETA:  I just saw this in a pinned post by a mod .  I'm quoting it here because this is what my concern was with the "tone" of your reply - perhaps something to think about  "First, there is a tone difference between the Progress forums- which are mostly for support and cheerleading, and the Info forums, which are mostly to have questions answered.   While all our forums are supposed to be welcoming to all and friendly, this is especially important in the Progress forums, which are not to discuss politics, or be negative towards  those fortunate to have their case dealt with quickly, or  critical of those who voice sadness about their own slow progress. These forums are there to uplift each other!"

 

Anyway, I understand how "averages" work and when we started this process, it said the average time was 5-7 months.  Given that we have just gotten approval on the first part of our application and it's coming up on 7 months, we are clearly far on the long side of that average.  We assumed/hoped (obviously incorrectly) that we would have an "average" case.

 

I never said what it happening with us is unfair and that we should be approved.  I was simply asking if anyone else is in a similar position right now and if there are contacts that we may not be aware of to find out what is happening.  We are surprised at how long it's taking given that our application should be about as straightforward as they come. I am in a low fraud country, we submitted a completed package with no RFEs, we have been together 5 years and see each other at least 2-3 days a week (at least we did until the border closed), there are no issues in either of our pasts, both of us are financially secure and in long-term jobs, we had all the evidence that was asked for and so on.  That one case you posted had an RFE which of course will cause delays.  We didn't have that either 🤷‍♀️ 

 

On a side note, I do realize how very fortunate we are in being able to see each other as often as we do.  I am fully aware that most couples going through this process don't get anything even remotely close to that.  With the border closure, we haven't seen each other in 2 months.  That sure makes you understand how difficult it is for the couples who go this long, or even much longer, without seeing each other.  I certainly feel for them, it's hard!!

 

Finally, you may not feel like the process is frustrating (and it's easy to say that when yours is already completed), but we are finding it frustrating, right from when we started to fill out the forms which at times didn't make a whole lot of sense to waits that are proving to be much longer than predicted.  So yes, we find it frustrating.  We'll keep waiting because we have to.  That doesn't mean we don't wish the process was more efficient.

 

 

I hate to drag out this thread longer; you asked a question and it was answered. Very well, I might add.

It assuredly came across as you wanting someone to uplift and tell you what you wanted to hear versus what is factually happening. It’s fair to say that we all get frustrated at some point along in this process; however, projecting it on @Greenbaum in this case (or anyone else for that matter) will lead you nowhere. He has been here for years and will most likely be long after your time here (knock on wood), taking the time out of his daily life to answer THOUSANDS of questions, hundreds quite similar to yours I bet. It may not be what you want to hear or how you want to hear it, but believe me and MANY, MANY, MANY others - he’s rarely far off and you should take his advice to the bank.

Everyone’s wait is most important to them and just how excruciatingly long of a wait is subjective. I don’t think 7 months is long AT ALL considering you just got approved. Speaking from experience. Count your blessings.

You’re a newbie, welcome to the forum and I hope you end up with your loved one as fast as the process allows. You will get there! 

2 minutes ago, maferraric said:

Same here! Taking it one day at a time.

I feel lucky to already have the EAD.

 

I’m also applying to jobs in retail and grocery stores, but I don’t know how that is going to go in times like these. I’m wondering if its better to include all my professional experience in the application or just say I’ve never worked before. 

Congrats on your EAD!!!

You should include all skills/experience you possess as it relates to the job you are applying for - assuming it is entry-level (even if you haven't worked in that specific industry). Now, although it isn't true in every case, almost everyone possesses the skills to facilitate an entry-level employment position without the hands-on experience and you want to make that point as it pertains to you when you apply. 

50 minutes ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Hello self- help supporting group 🤗 my name is Diana and I'm going through a emotional rollercoaster. Anybody else experiencing this? One day everything is awesome and the next day it's just blah. We all knew this time is gonna be hard somedays but nobody expected this year to be so... let's say interesting. 

I hear you!

It's all about perspective; for me, focusing on the positive on those days really gets me in check.

1 minute ago, SJ2020 said:

Yes, I have also been trying to find open county clerks even further away but couldn't find anything yet  When do your 90 days expire? Also, please keep me updated if you find a county clerk somewhere!!! I hope everything goes back to normal soon!!

We've filed for AOS a couple months ago thankfully - I'm the USC

I'm located in SF but am a native of the valley - try Merced, Fresno, Tulare, Stanislaus - just keep calling. This entire state has events unfolding with COVID-19 and their respective websites may not be updated to reflect any closures. I would just call directly to save time - fingers crossed for you. 

23 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Yes, that is expected.  I just wonder about more stringent quarantines/lockdowns....

Same line of thinking here - we're expecting the shelter-in-place in SF to extend far beyond the anticipated 1st week of April; it's just chaos now - it's has just started......

1 hour ago, SJ2020 said:

Hi all, not sure if I am posting in the correct place but I just arrived in the US on Sunday with a K1 visa and me and my fiance were planning on getting our marriage license this week and have a courthouse wedding on the weekend but due to the Corona Virus Scare none of the Southern California/Vegas counties issue them until further notice. I am really worried as I my 90 days started ticking and I hoped to get this done ASAP after my arrival. I was wondering if someone else is in the same situation or have any advice on what we can do?

Thank you very much in advance.

You may have to venture in to the central valley for a marriage license - check Kern, Kings, Inyo etc, keep looking up to northern counties and prepare yourself for a road trip. There is bound to be a county that is issuing them. Please be sure to take precautionary health measures for yourself as well.

I'm in San Francisco and in the beginning days of the mandatory Shelter in Place - so stay away from Bay Area counties.

Good luck to you.

3 hours ago, In4theJourney said:

We also were approved today! 136 days after. Finally this part is over with!

🎉🎉🎉 Mazel tov! 🎉🎉🎉

5 hours ago, msrodriguez said:

I think the truly difficult thing to digest is that people who filed way after you are approved before you. It just doesn’t seem right.

 

However, there is a reason for that. It’s just the process lol. It’s not really fair, but then again, life in general isn’t really fair. It feels like you’ve been forgotten and left behind while everyone else is celebrating. There are both pros and cons to being part of social media. That is definitely a con. 
 

It’s even more difficult for us because I am waiting to schedule my next trip until we have our interview scheduled. One of the reasons I was not able to attend our interview last time is because the process actually went much faster than we expected. I took a trip in March thinking we wouldn’t be approved until June or July and we were approved in April. It was too soon for me financially to make a return trip. 
 

Now it’s the complete opposite haha. I’m learning that we are not in control and all we can do is wait - no matter how frustrating it is. 

 

ALL OF THIS!!!

I appreciate the realist in you!!!

23 minutes ago, elkski said:

755 days.... i cant imagine.  How can this happen?   Seattle office closed? fuddle smuck... i just got into the CA que so if they transfer older cases i am screwed

I know - it sucks. We have very little control.

I’m hoping you get your approval in the coming months; just be patient - you got this!

4 hours ago, Ukrainian Queen said:

Thank you for the warm wishes, us too. with that said does VJ have a tracking system for this, RFE, received to time approved? 

I’m not sure about RFE tracking, but generally most see adjudication in a couple of weeks; I usually lean on @Greenbaum for this kind of stuff.

He has an insane memory and is the master of trend observation  (and SO much more too).

2 hours ago, elkski said:

SORRY  to hear about such a delay...  I think the OP says he has contacted his congressman successfully with no benefit. Why would they transfer this case out of California?

Are there any reasons to explain some extra security scrutiny in your case? 

I am currently wondering if the corona virus may end up affecting the service centers time lines in the next 6 months. .

I think the OP should CONTINUE to contact regarding a congressional inquiry as it wasn't mentioned when that completed.

Cases get transferred to other service centers for a myriad of reasons and not all bad reasons - the most common reason in my experience is due to backlogs. 

If the congressional inquiry results in another vague statement mimicking the USCIS general responses, perhaps the OP should then consider a WOM action or withdrawing their K1 and opting for the spousal visa route. I made congressional inquires a year into waiting to no avail - it was when I made further congressional inquires later into the wait into the process when it resulted in movement. Everyone's own mileage varies. It's a situation that's incredibly difficult to navigate through emotionally.

Coming from experience, and waiting a total of 755 days from k1 filing to when my (now husband) finally arrived with VIH - I have a colossal amount of empathy as I've been in the OP's shoes. They are not easy shoes to walk in. You're just a few weeks into the waiting process @elkski - wishing you don't experience what this person is living, and what many others have had to endure.

In regards to the coronavirus, USCIS's Seattle office has closed  temporarily - I imagine their case loads are being transferred to other service centers. More may close, it wouldn't be surprising if a backlog ensues. USCIS also published this on their website: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/if-you-feel-sick-please-consider-canceling-and-rescheduling-your-uscis-appointment

Good luck @Christopher H, please feel free to message me.

10 hours ago, Christopher H said:

We started our K1 Visa February 22nd 2018 just over two years ago. About 10 months into this time our case was transferred from California to the Vermont office of Doom. I live in California my fiance lives in Brazil. We'd have made inquiries about our case being outside the normal time to USCIS through phone and also through the USCIS website and have gotten the response our case is on processing hold because there is an ongoing pending security check. I have contacted my congressman and his office contacted USCIS and they gave him the same answer I even took a long shot and wrote the White House yes I sent a letter to President Trump, the White House actually answered me and they contacted USCIS via email and would you believe USCIS gave them the same exact answer that they gave me. Since my fiance and I are not living together it has become an extreme financial burden to constantly fly to Brazil every 4 months to maintain our relationship. I also have personally been a victim of the campfire and am in the process of rebuilding my home so dealing with all this and having to start my life over again has been very challenging mentally. At least I do tree work and there is lots of tree work here so financially we are okay but it is extremely difficult being in the United States alone at this point in my life. She has had to watch all this from afar and it is extremely difficult on her you're not be by my side in my time of need. She absolutely is the love of my life and every moment that I'm away from her seems like a wasted moment of life. So we're about 2 years 1 month into this Visa Fiasco and I want to know if there's any other options to bring her to the United States legally. I am willing to wait another year obviously I will wait forever but it's hard on me and it literally seems like it's pointless for it to take this much time. I read how this other couple was able to wait out USCIS and after 3 years 1 month, they were approved. This seems like such an outrageous Injustice that it would take that much time, is there anything that can be done. I know that there is the option of hiring a lawyer to take them to court but I do not feel like this is a good option since they can just say no we are not approving you. Is there any of the other agencies I can contact that have control over USCIS that can move things along or at least get some answers different than the answers I've been hearing for the last 2 years? Any suggestions that are real suggestions and not just simply guesses would be extremely appreciated thank you for your time

You should really fill in your timeline here so others can follow your story.

Submit a congressional inquiry - that sparked movement in our case. I spent far too much money on an attorney during our own battle while we were pending security checks - they didn't do anything other than what I was already doing (submitting an inquiry at USCIS every 30 days). A writ of mandamus action is very costly and as I'm sure you've already researched - not a certain approval would await you. A writ of mandamus action would also entertain another waiting period. This forum here will afford you much more education about this process than a highly experienced attorney would imho.

I'd go with the congressional inquiry and if after 60 days you are still waiting; perhaps you should think about withdrawing your K1, opting to get married and subsequently file the i-130.

2 hours ago, Ukrainian Queen said:

thank you, I was able to send everything off Saturday and sent it express to arrive today. I sent a new one from letter (intent), plus my. i also submitted text that we spoke about our intent as it was one of the many ways to prove intent. individual statements on how we met, the terms of service from the site plus individual statements attesting to that we did not use an IMB. fingers cross. 

Fingers crossed for you (and rooting for you!) - hoping you get your NOA 2 within the next 30 days! 

48 minutes ago, Insulder1 said:

married foreign fiancé she came here on k1 and filling out adjustment now that we married 
On employment authorization it wants eligibility category  part 2. Question 27 we think it should be c (9) but wanting to confirm if correct 

Correct, c(9)

Just now, kdbaby1412 said:

Yes I am a US-Citizen. Thank you for your answers. So I just draft a letter, send it to her by email and let she sign it, scan it and send it back to me with my originial signature. 

 

Thank you. 

Exactly and you're welcome!

There are great sample letters here on this forum if you need some guidance. 

19 minutes ago, kdbaby1412 said:

So the USC will email my fiance a letter? 

i'm guessing you are the united states citizen? either you or fiance can draft the letter and both of you need to sign it. To get back to your original question, you do not have to send the letter of intent with wet signatures; a scanned copy is sufficient.

5 minutes ago, kdbaby1412 said:

In the guides on here, I saw that we need two letters of intent to marry from both me and my fiance. So can my fiance scan her letter to me or it have to be originally mailed from her country to me in order for it to be original?

 

Thank you 

One Letter of Intent to Marry with both of your signatures will be sufficient. USC can email fiance letter and fiance can print, sign and scan back.

1 minute ago, Kidayi said:

I'm aware I am thinking ahead, I just like to prepared for these things so I am not in a rushed state or anything. But thank you!

You're welcome!

*editing typo from my response above - it's 4 months, not 6*

1 hour ago, Kidayi said:

So call the US embassy in the country in where the interview will be taken place (in my case Algeria)?

First step is to wait for the embassy in Algiers to receive your case from NVC.

Once that is done, they will send you email instructions on the next steps.

If you come to the point  (you're jumping ahead of yourself here and are a few steps behind) where you've scheduled the interview that falls after the expiration of the NOA2, you need to email the Algiers embassy and request an extension BEFORE it expires. In my case through this embassy, they required an updated notice of intent to marry that I scanned to them and they extended the NOA2 validity by 6 months.

Please feel free to message me if you have questions.

27 minutes ago, GinaCarterWebster said:

Then WHY am I waiting 4.5 months now??? 

You are waiting for adjudication to receive your NOA2 - re-read @Greenbaum's comment that the wait time from NOA2 to interview through that specific embassy is 2-3 months. 

2 minutes ago, Ukrainian Queen said:

I called USCIS yesterday to inquire as to the status of my application since VJ is showing second notices have been sent out to applicants with dates beyond my first notice and she stated that she looked over the application and does not see any issues on her end with regards to my application. she did state that sometimes it takes longer because of the federal back ground check but i informed her that i had a very high clearance for many many years and she seemed to imply that i was good on this end but that it could be because of other applicants are ahead of me. how much weight can i place on what she said being that she was customer service and not a supervisor? not sure what the hold up is but i am trying my best to have patience but its wearing me out. 

You can't put too much weight on what they say. You also can not compare your case with anyone else's - it will only cause you more and more upset each time you see others get approved who filed around you and probably many who filed after you. You just need to practice patience.

@Greenbaum and @Sarge2155 (and others!) are well versed in this process, I usually leaned on them for answers and stalked their answers to others in similar predicaments. This forum has much more education and guidance than any other avenue IMO.

There isn't anything you can do at this juncture other than to wait for the process to take its respective course. I am sorry that it's wearing on you. I know how you feel - you are close to waiting 5 months - many, MANY others have been in your shoes and waiting 4, 5, 6 X as long as you (including myself). It's all about perspective, which is subjective for everyone.

Fingers crossed for you.

45 minutes ago, Besamiot said:

Hello guys. Filed I-129f.  Got NOA1 on June 19th 2019. Still waiting for NOA2 l. Anyone here still waiting after so long? I feel like I need to vent. Where else can I safely vent if not here with you guys?

I’m sure that there are. I know it might not feel that way and this process can feel isolating, but you have to let the process take its course. 
 

I know exactly what you are feeling, we waited 2 YEARS and just about lost my mind. I’m sure there are others who weren’t so lucky and waited even longer. Don’t compare your case with others, it will make thus process harder than it already is.

Fingers crossed for you and your fiancé, please be patient. Feel free to message me as well. 

13 minutes ago, sbell said:

Hi there,

 

I know this topic is a semi common one.. as well as the theme. We received our NOA1 September 25, 2019 and are still currently waiting for the NOA2.

 

Feeling quite discouraged seeing most Canadian members get approved within 3 months here- our backgrounds are clean, no divorce or kids.

 

The only thing I can think of that might be holding things up is the fact that my fiance is in the Air Force and has an extremely high clearance level. Even if we were to get an RFE, I feel we would have got it by now.. Canada is considered low fraud and I visit me fiance all the time. I'm pretty sad and don't understand what's the hold up here- especially with the fact that I have been extremely busy planning our wedding for October in Oregon.

 

Is anybody else experiencing this lag? I know there is not much we can do.

Once you're out of normal processing times you can submit an inquiry as to the status. Not much else you can do but wait - many, MANY others have and are experiencing the same wait.

I understand it's hard, but you CAN NOT compare your case with others - you will drive yourself crazy doing that. I'm sure it feels like a wait of forever, but I assure you it isn't. Hoping you get your NOA 2 soon :)

He’s not coming. Take care.