MeghanK

On 8/16/2019 at 4:14 PM, Pitaya said:

Use the forum Google search function to try to do your research. You may get some results. 

Trust me, I use the forum search ad nauseam before posting questions, so I can avoid being hit with the 'why don't you google that' posts such as this. Clearly not even that works 😂 If you are suggesting you know of threads out there that did not come up in my search, kindly share them.

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

It would be impossible to definitively say it never happened, but I'm unaware of it happening and it would be outside SOP to do so.

 

I would suggest doing the expedite step like others who have had some success.

My thoughts as well and believe me we have no plans to test it out lol. Just waitin' to see if someone comes and says they've done this.

5 hours ago, CON said:

Has anyone's status changed on the CEAC website?

Our NOA2 got approved July 12, we got our case number from NVC by calling. CEAC website shows "at NVC" and has not changed...

I just saw your post on the K1 forum and from what else I see on there, there was not a shipment this week, so looks like you'll be at NVC until the 20th/21st (forgot they ship Tues and Weds every other week)

5 hours ago, CON said:

Has anyone's status changed on the CEAC website?

Our NOA2 got approved July 12, we got our case number from NVC by calling. CEAC website shows "at NVC" and has not changed...

When did you get your case number? Did they tell you when it got to NVC? They can sit at NVC for 2-4 weeks depending on when your case is ready to be shipped. NVC ships cases once every other week so if you just missed a mailing you get an automatic extra 2 weeks wait.

Also, sometimes, the status just doesn't get updated. If that's the case, keep tabs on the average timelines right now and eventually you can e-mail MTL to ask. There's info on how to track your NVC-consulate shipment in the K1 progress forums.

On 8/15/2019 at 7:17 AM, KenandBina said:

Hi Everyone

 

i noticed on the instructions page it says to bring your previous passports. What if I can’t find my previous passport? Any idea what to do? 

 

 

My husband couldn't find his either, wasn't an issue at all. 

Canada doesn't blink an eye at the USC going in and out the way the US would during this pending immigration (well, as long as they don't break any of Canada's visitor rules while visiting and have that on record). You're good!

Howdy all - Just out of curiosity I'm wondering if anyone has ever been able to get their EAD processed due to job offer with congressional staff help without filing for an expedite and not being out of normal processing times. I assume the answer is a resounding no way, but given how humans work I wonder of an officer would ever get a congressional note like "hey this person has a job offer and this company will go bankrupt if they don't start yesterday, can we get their EAD" and just be like yeah cool sounds good here ya are (😂that's how it works within the walls of USCIS right? 😂)... without really delving into any further details like if there was an expedite request, since the pattern is typically that a note from a rep triggers movement. 

I only ask because we have been chatting with my congressional rep about the process and making the contact in case we do end up trying to expedite, and they said "as soon as there's a job offer let us know" but didn't mention the expedite request so it made my brain wander. Because we are all so ingrained on here to do: Get job offer>Request expedite>call rep - I was wondering if anyone had ever skipped the expedite step (or tried to and failed). Not that we want to be the people to try though, lol. Just curious to know if there are cases where it's been done. I also wonder if those new 2.5-5.5 month timelines might incline an officer to approve a 2.5 month-ish case in this scenario. Food for thought.

4 minutes ago, Thrillhouse said:

 

Sweet, thanks! Somehow in all my lurking I hadn't stumbled across that one!

It's a super helpful thread, as is @Greenbaum's guide.

13 minutes ago, Thrillhouse said:

 (BTW, is there another thread? You might just be referring to this one, haha. 😛)

This thread: 

It's comprehensive for all K1s at the NOA2/NVC stage, not just Canadians, as this thread is.

3 hours ago, Thrillhouse said:

THANK YOU, this is exactly the information I've been looking for. Posters here tend to jump straight into talk of emails and packets, and that has always left me (a beneficiary) wondering who gets contacted and when, how they were contacted, and how exactly anybody knows what to do next! For someone like me who's fixated on doing exactly the right thing at every step of this process (I know, I know ... chill out, haha), it's anxiety-inducing. 😧

The issue is that it's never the same for anyone. Some people get e-mails, some get mail, sometimes things don't make it to the petitioner, sometimes they don't make it to the visa applicant, etc., etc. I would say, getting an e-mail from NVC about case number being assigned is rare (unless they are newly doing this regularly), don't wait around for that. Calling NVC a few weeks after NOA2 is the fastest and most tried and true VJ way, otherwise they typically arrive via snail mail (many weeks after you could get the case # via calling).

DS-160 can be filled out and completed as soon as case # is received. Sure, they don't mention it until P3 but if you are proactive (isn't that why we are all here?) you know about the DS-160 long before P3. It's a long and frustrating form, why wait for the last minute to do it and prevent yourself from being able to send P3 response right back once received. 

As for P3, some beneficiaries (the petitioner is done getting things at this stage) get it e-mailed, some get it via snail mail. Some send in P3 response without ever being sent P3 and some of those people get P4 while others get the "don't send us this yet" e-mail. There really is no exact right or wrong timeline formula at this stage, you can't plan for the exact who or when, it's all just waiting and guessing, and every case is different. 

If you're not yet, you should follow along in the K1 thread for the month you got NOA2>NVC, you will even find information in there on how to track your case in the mail from NVC to MTL. 

23 minutes ago, KenandBina said:

Sorry, another silly question. After you submit the DS160, can you still visit your fiance while you wait for your interview etc...?

Yup! Just bring same evidence of ties to home as usual. The only time you can't visit is once you have the visa (i.e. if you wanted to make just a trip down, not your full immigration)

3 hours ago, purem4g1c said:

Lmao, living in Ottawa my whole life can totally relate, in warm sunny florida now >:)

 

i believe you can start ds-160 any time but you need to submit it once you get notification that your 'ready' status then submit it with packet 3 to mtl consulate

You can submit the DS-160 any time you want. Don't have to wait for any CEAC status changes. All you need is your MTL number to start filling it. Can submit it the same day you get your case # if you want. 

You just submit your ds160 completion receipt with P3.

Your photo copies of visa/i94 (or downloaded from web as suggested) should be good. At worst you can FOIA this stuff from DHS if it comes down to it (doubtful it would). I believe you would have to do another medical though as they expire after 1 year. 

1 minute ago, Ethan & Shannon said:

IT IS A CAT 😂

Did they get hacked or are they taking on new branding, representing their fast as a cheetah processing speeds? 

12 minutes ago, Sunny_Skies123 said:

So the 6 month timeline, is that from the date USCIS receives it to when they get the K-1 approved? Do you know if most Canadians get approved? Thank you so much!

Yes, and it could be quicker, could be slower. Every case is unique. Right now, I-129f petitions are being approved pretty quickly, some as quick as 3 months (this is through USCIS). Once that is approved it takes about a month or so to get to the consulate in Montreal (which is Dept of State, so USCIS is not involved in this step) where there will be a few steps for you to do before they invite you to schedule your Visa interview. Once approved for the visa, you typically get the visa returned to you in your passport in less than a week and can immigrate down to the USA. At that point you would have 90 days to marry and apply for your green card (back to USCIS processing). That's when the potential long wait starts, but at least you are with your partner for that.  

Most Canadians are approved for K1, but a lot of factors come in to play. It all depends on your individual case and the histories of both you and your fiance. Feel free to message me if you have more questions on the process, as me and my husband are currently in the "wait for green card" stage after going through K1 process in Canada, happy to offer more advice 

EDIT i mixed up who is the US citizen, I'm too lazy to edit it all, but you get the idea

Is anyone else seeing the USCIS' processing times page favicon/browser icon as a wee cat? Am I going insane? 

Since it seems like you might be a little unclear, are you aware you get a visa first? The visa through Canada takes like 6 months right now. With the K1 visa you come live in the USA and then apply for the green card... so you live in the USA while you are waiting for the pending green card. A CR1 visa for already married couples takes longer, so if you are taking advice from people who married PRIOR to applying for a visa the timelines are a bit different.

You can check your AOS office here: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ but again, your first step is getting the K1 visa which you get from the consulate in Montreal after your fiances I-129f petition is approved. You won't be applying for AOS for a while if you are only at the I-129f petition stage. 

3 minutes ago, Kyle&Ana said:

They dint give a copy just the vaccination sheet and then sealed envelopessss

Sorry i will answer later i am just feeling bad and sad and God always i thing with this process

Did you submit the DS3025 with AOS/at the interview? So the issue was that *they* didnt have your medical info that was submitted at POE? Did they tell *you* to provide the medical envelope now or are they searching for it? How do they expect us to have or get access to the sealed info we release at POE? WTH! I hope you get this sorted!

1 hour ago, Ghadji said:

Hi!

I am not a March Filer but I am a May one.

I had a question for those who have already had their interviews.

Our interview is 9/10 and we are adjusting from K1 and on the interview form it says to bring I-693 (medical form) unless previously submitted,

When my husband arrived in America the port of entry officer took all his medical forms and did not give anything back to him, so we are worried we are missing something.

Do we need to go and have another medical exam done here in the US before his interview, or did the port of entry already submit his I-693 when he took the sealed packet?

What did any other K visa adjusters do for this form for the interview?

Any help is appreciated!

Did you submit anything proving your medical/vaccinations with your AOS packet? Did you get a copy of your DS-3025 (vaccination records) at your actual medical? As far as I know either a DS3025 or I-693 is supposed to be submitted with AOS packet, but maybe I'm incorrect and bringing it to the interview is fine seeing as you were not RFEd.

In a nutshell, yes I believe you will need one of those. DS3025 if it shows all vaccinations are complete (which you should/could have received at medical separate from sealed envelope, if not you should try contacting them), or I-693 if vax weren't complete (in this case you would have to see a civil surgeon here to have that form completed). I could be off on a few details so hopefully others will weigh in as well. 

I am downright LOVING these endless Case Tracker "Case update" texts today. Forgot how much fun it was when the app went on maintenance, really love a good emotional roller coaster. 😵😋🙄

10 minutes ago, Ethan & Shannon said:

I agree that it's a gamble. I think all people who change their addresses should make several inquiries to ensure the address is changed in the system. Also, is mail forwarding a thing here (genuine question)? Assuming it is, people should take advantage of that when they move.

I second this ^ And in addition to inquiries about address change, also make several inquiries about interview status as well, just in case the worst case scenario combo of no web or text updates, AND interview notice is mailed to old address. Big problems if you miss AOS interview. 

EDIT: And also to your question, we do have address forwarding here but iirc it only lasts for a short period of time, maybe 3 months? Not sure if it is extendable. And to be honest, I still wouldn't fully trust that all things would be forwarded.

14 hours ago, AFA said:

If you were to move to another state and let UCSIC know on their website is the case moved to another state or does it stay in the one you initially lived in while filing? And would it make things move slower?

I don't think this is the normal but I recently saw on here someone move from Pennsylvania I think, to Seattle (did address change with USCIS) and their interview was scheduled in Buffalo... Their interview notice was also sent to old address but a family member still lived there to receive it luckily. 

No matter what USCIS tells you with the address change, i think occasionally it's still a gamble.

I feel like the last time they were super backed up (earlier this year) and one of the months went immediately, like it seems September did, they opened the following month's dates much sooner than end of the month like they normally do. So hopefully October dates aren't too far away. Good luck everyone!!

5 hours ago, Briven said:

How do you pay? I’m stuck on the 3rd step asking for $265 US  and that there’s no available  dates for July or August .. & I don’t see a button to pay or an option too see more available dates by paying. 

 

 

 

 

Is there a continue button? It's been so long now I honestly don't remember what the screen looks like. Are you in the definitely in the K1 visa section? I can't remember if ours showed anything about Vancouver. But again it's been a while now. Vancouver doesnt process K1s so in my poor memory that looks weird. I can't remember if you have to wait for the dates to actually be open before you can pay or not so I'll let someone who has more recently done this help you. All I know for sure is you definitely have to pay before you can pick a date, might just have to wait for dates to be available.

2 minutes ago, Singh90 said:

Thank you for your comment Meghan. That’s what I figured when I did some research after I came home. Officer did ask further questions on my work and responsibilities, more in detail about robotics 

Here's a similar example, this person got their visa in 7 weeks. 

Here's one that was 7 months

Overall I'd say do not stress, just be prepared for extra patience. It's good that they gave you your passport back in the sense that, you aren't trapped in Canada while you wait. Good luck!