KateandNik

It's almost thanksgiving!!! I'm excited because I get to go home, which is the next best thing to going to see my fiance!

Anyway, welcome to all you new people! As for being an October or November filer... I agree with the people saying to use the receipt date, not the NOA1 date! Because if we used our NOA1 date we'd almost be a November filer even though we sent it October 1st!

I really wish I were a fly on the wall of the CSC... I wanna see what the lady/man is doing with our case file! The posts relating the inner workings of the service center are just enough to whet my appetite, but not enough to quench any sort of hunger for information!!! Oh well, a little knowledge is better than nothin' I guess.

Keep up hope everyone!!!

Kate

Yay for AdricandMichelle and LuciansGirl!!!!

Welcome to the fun of... well... fun might be an overstatement, but at times like these I find it's better to aim for overstating... So yes, the fun of waiting!

Other than the excitement of NOA1s, we got touched on Sunday!!! What kind of crazy person is working on a Sunday... I don't know, but good for them for their dedication! Although most likely they are doing some weird Flex thing and working sunday to thursday or something like that... Who knows! But action was taken! Even if it was just to scan it and read the cover letter.

Good luck everyone and may God grant us patience!

Kate

Sal

This is a fun thread!

So, I just started working at a hospital (well, about a year ago) and I just need to say... I'm never getting sick again. And if I do, just let me die. The incompetence of some of the people I see caring for patients on a daily basis scares me to no end. And it's not just nurses... I'm talking doctors too... If you're sterile and you touch something non-sterile with your hand... your hand is now non-sterile. If you touch something sterile with your now contaminated hand... you guessed... that's now not sterile either!!! It's not rocket science!!!

Ahhhh, sometimes my job really gets to me!!!! About a week ago I had worked 72 hours in 3 days and on the 4th day I asked my boss if I could have a half day because I would be working about 35 hours in the next 3 days. She said, "Oh, Yea... I guess since you worked a little extra this week, you could leave early... But I don't want you making a habit of this. If you need more work to do, I have several projects you could work on." So, I guess if I decide to cut my hours back to 80 in a week I should take on some of the work she's too lazy to get done...

And just so this isn't a total rant about work... Did y'all know you can buy these plastic sheeting kits that you put on your windows and then blow dry them to make them stick!!! These are the coolest invention of all times!!!

Kate

Spike heels or flats ?

Wow... I wanted to start playing, but that's a hard one...

I guess... spike heels because they make me taller and stand straighter! (We'll just assume we're taking a cab and not climbing any mountains! )

---->Acoustic or Electric (guitar)?

Helene

Estonia

I'll play! Is there a limit to how many times I can post in a row?

Thanks for reply YuAndYan. what about the tax return that they required. and i see on the G-325A they ask for employment information. if my sister Sponsor for me do they require me to have a job. or it can be all on my sister. thanks. please give me advice on how to do this. thanks alot everyone.

In order to file the I-129F you don't need to provide financial information (other than the check for 455.00$ ). Like YuAndDan said, the sponsorship stuff isn't until the interview much later in the process.

If your sister can sponsor you, you do not need to have a job. You just need to prove that if your fiance was allowed to enter the U.S., s/he would not become a burden of the state. As to the tax returns... if you read the instructions on the I-134 form, it doesn't require you to send in the last 3 years tax returns. I-134, Affidavit of Support (.pdf)

Good Luck!

Kate

One more for October!! I just made it in by sending my I-129F on October 23rd... Received NOA1 through snail mail November 2nd. It states it was processed October 26th 2007. On the website the last update was 11/01/2007... is that what you guys consider to be "touched"?...

Yup, 'touched' is when they change the update date...

Hello, I just got a response from them 10/10/07 with the receipt notices. Then I got my biometrics notice dated 10/14, for appointment on 11/3/07, After which I got a request for my medical, so if you have not done that, I suggest you get it done, so you have it on hand when they request. I am awaiting my EAD. Good luck

I didn't think this applies to those of us who filed the I-129F... am I wrong?

Also, Congrats to everyone who filed their paperwork and got NOA1s!!! I wonder how long the glow of having the check cashed and the NOA1 received will last... I had made pseudo timeline of each milestone based on the information provided here on VJ and the projected date for the NOA1 was about 2 weeks after filing... it took 30days and I was about to have a fit... I wonder if my limit is twice the amount of time it should take based on the past data...

So that gives me what... 'till the end of June to receive our NOA2 before I should start going crazy... No chance! It'll be January 13 and I'll start climbing the walls!!! (I get back from visiting Nik on the 12th )

Oh well, Good Luck everyone!!!

Kate

BTW, my check was cashed yesterday and showed up in my online statement today. I was *this* close to getting my own congressman involved.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Kate

Im just a little confused about what signatures.......there are four copies of 325A but with carbon paper. Do you sign the top copy and its all good or do you have to sign each copy individually? Then you sign the 129F itself.........and sign the letter of intent to wed.

More concerned with the 325A "carbon signature". Is that ok?

I signed everything. Ok, not everything but very very close to it. My packet contained...

• Check (obviously signed )
• Cover Letter --signed
• I-129F and supplement for question 18 --last page of I-129F signed and supplement signed
• Statement of Intent to Marry (beneficiary and petitioner) --signed
• All 4 sheets of G-325A including supplement for petitioner (for petitioner and beneficiary) --signed (12 signatures, 8 for me and 4 for fiance)
• Passport style photo --didn't sign anything here, just labeled with names
• Copy of ALL pages of my passport --signed the first page because I wrote "I verify this is an accurate photocopy of the original passport, bla bla bla"
• Cover Letter for Evidence of having met --signed as well for similar statement as that for passport
• Actual evidence of having met --didn't sign anything here

So yea... I signed almost every sheet of paper. You might not have any supplements to add to your packet and therefore wouldn't need to sign those... and I don't know if I needed to write statements as to the accuracy of the copies and then sign those statements, but it seemed like the right thing to do as I was putting together my packet (I think I read somewhere on here about someone else doing it). As to the 'carbon copy' thing. I'm with MR2nice on using the .pdf file. If you fill in the top one, the bottom 3 fill in automatically. Then you can print it and sign each individual sheet.

I hope this has helped! Good luck! I know everything seems really confusing... it'll get easier with time and study!

Kate

Austin, your comment about feeling like you are a five-year-old really resonates with me. Today I called the USCIS hotline to inquire about the status of my case and he said the timeline for an NOA1 has been extended to 90 days instead of the previous 4 weeks. I cried on the phone with a perfect stranger. I then got mad and yelled at him, apologized, and cried again. I have about as much control over my emotions as a five-year-old.

That being said, whenever I talk to Nik... seeing him on camera, looking at his picture, reading his letters, etc etc. I can't help but smile. Knowing I am the luckiest woman in the world to be loved so much by such an amazing person... Sure, it's terrible we cannot smell, touch, taste, feel, kiss, the one we love but some people go their whole lives and never experience such emotions.

I guess, while I don't relish the trials of separation... I am accepting of what's happening. And the people here on this website are so incredibly supportive... I mean this post alone shows how loving everyone can be. What is the saying, "Misery loves company?" Taking it a little out of context, it's true. Having others who share your pain and anguish, who can commiserate with you during the process... it makes everything much more bearable (and I've only just started).

As far as words of wisdom go, I'm not sure I have any. The other posters on this topic have very eloquently stated very good advice. I will say this though... if you feel like crying, cry. It's perfectly natural to be sad because you are separated from your loved one. Just don't let your sadness consume you. It's kind of funny how it has worked out so far for Nik and I... Whenever I call him crying, he's steady as can be. Offering comfort and solace and cheering words... and sometime later we'll be talking about something and he'll burst in to tears about how he misses me... but then I'm there to help lift his spirits.

Someone else mentioned that you're not alone, and I'd like to echo that here. Because you're not. You have the love of your life and you have all of us here.

Good luck on your journey! I'll keep you in my prayers for a speedy approval.

Kate

Ok, now I feel like a whiny baby. I went to my Congresswoman's office today and talked to her assistant person who sent an email to the CSC asking what's up... Later on today... Around 5pm, the check cleared my bank and when I got home from work this evening... I received my paper NOA1.

Now, I know this had absolutely nothing to do with me contacting my Congresswoman... but walking upstairs from the mailroom I couldn't help thinking, "Damn she's good."

Anyway, good luck to everyone out there still waiting!!! Thanks for the words of commiseration and support!!!

Hugs and stuff,

Kate

So really, I often just sit down and cry...

It's been 33 days since USCIS received my I-129F and my check hasn't been cashed and I haven't received any form of anything from them. I haven't moved, I've looked over the copies of the application I made THOUSANDS of times to see if I made some sort of mistake in address, but I haven't...

I called the USCIS hotline today to inquire about my application and they said the deadline for them has been moved to 90 days, not 4 weeks (Even though the automation on the hotline still says 4 weeks). 90 days to process a check!!!!! They guy on the phone nearly had me in tears when he said that. I mean, he was very nice and I know it's not his fault that it's been changed to 90 days... I was a bit rude to him, but apologized in the end and wished him a nice day.

Anyway, so now I'm on to my Congresswoman. Am I wrong? Or is 33 days really too long for someone to take a check to the bank and cash it. They didn't lose the check, right? Or worse, lose my application... If they lose it and I send them a copy, do I get to jump to the beginning of the line? (That would be too much to ask for, right...)

So right now I'm hoping huskiev (or whatever his name was) is right about getting your Representative involved and they will FIND my application!!!!

Good luck to you all!!! And Congratulations to everyone for their NOA1s and touches!!!!!! I haven't been around for awhile; I have been moping and been extremely jealous of everyone else's success... Sorry! But everyone needs some personal time, right?

Kate

how do you get your acknowledgement of receipt? by email?

Do you mean... Acknowledgment of receipt of your package by CSC... or your NOA1?

Because the acknolwedgement of receipt of your package by CSC is done if you have "return receipt requested" done at the post office, or if you send your package Express -AND- the NOA1 hardcopy can be sent in the mail mail, or through email. I've read that both have occurred for people here on VJ.

Have a nice day y'all! Good luck and May God (or whoever you want) give us patience.

Kate

Ok, so I know that things can happen.. and some people move faster than others... and I take calming breaths and sing and dance in my underwear...

-BUT-

They got an NOA1 in the UK???? I'm stateside and no mail and no check clearance.

That being said... Congratulations!!! I'm very excited for everyone getting notices!!!! It's nice to know that other lovers are on the path to being reunited.

kate

...CSC cashed my check yesterday!! ive never been so happy about the govt taking my money!

Amen brother!

Congratulations!!!

Kate

Congrats bonkers!!! I'm very excited to hear someone from CSC got an NOA1.

*checks bank account online*

Darn...

And the wait still continues. Maybe my bank is just really slow... I can see it now. 6 weeks from now I will see that the check was cashed and using that handy dandy little number on the back, I will log onto the USCIS website... And then!!!! I'll see that the NOA1 was issued (but like many people here, I did not get a copy) on October 7th, 2007. I'll also see that my case was touched 4 or 5 times during that 6 week period and then a week later I'll get the NOA2 in the mail and it will be off to the Embassy!!!

I have a very active imagination.

Good luck everyone!!!

Kate

Yay for everyone who just posted to say they filed in October!!!

It seems dumb to say, but it's nice to finally be in the waiting process!!! (Can you tell I just started? )

Kate

Congratulations!!!!!

FYI, received my NOA1 today via snail mail.

Congratulations!!! I'm so excited for you!!!!!

That reminds me though... I never checked my mail today. *running downstairs to check*

Kate

Just wait...the obsessiveness only continues after you get the number from your cashed check! Multiple checks daily of the USCIS website for "touches"... I knew I was crazy, but geez!!!

As long as there is something to obsess about... Then I can devote those energies to the process and not to how long we've been apart...

Kate

Congratulations!!! I'm obsessively checking my bank statement for the check to be cashed... Even the day I sent it, which is kind of silly... but still! Ya never know.

Happy Waiting!

Kate