Manny16

21 minutes ago, Sohamahmoud91 said:

Congratulations to you too! I didn’t email them yet because when my visa status changed to ready I was able to move forward on my ustraveldocs website and print out the visa fee form. My fiancé took the form to a CIB bank today and paid the 4902 Egyptian pounds and got the receipt. After that I tried to use the CGI reference number from the receipt to schedule the interview appointment but it didn’t update yet. It takes about 1 business day to update so I’m hoping by tomorrow I can schedule it but since Egypt’s weekend is Friday and Saturday idk if this will count as a business day. Once I have an interview date I’m going to email the consulate because I know they require you to send a list of  your documents via Aramex courier service prior to your interview so I need to know which documents they’re requesting. Up to this point everything has been fairly clear but I hope they reach out to us first regarding what to send, a lot of people seem to get delayed because they’re not sure if they should wait to reach out to the Cairo consulate or not so I think once I have an interview date scheduled I will email them if they don’t email us and ask what to do because I don’t want to waste time. Also last I checked the next appointment is April 10. So nice to have a fellow Egyptian here 🙂

I'm just worried to start scheduling the interview without receiving their packet 3 instructions. I might email them first and see what the response is. I will update you if I do it differently. Hope it goes smoothly from this point going forward

14 hours ago, Sohamahmoud91 said:

Ours was shipped on 3/19 it’s now in ready status. For Cairo embassy you weren’t even allowed to pay the visa fee until it was in transit so we just paid it today and waiting for it to allow us to make the interview. Based on other users it takes about a day to register that you paid and let you schedule the interview. Next available interview is April 10 I really hope it opens up before that slot is taken. ☺️

I believe we're the only two cases that went to Cairo in this shipment!! Mine also changed to Ready. Did you send an email to Cairo embassy and they gave you instructions on how to start paying and then schedule the interview? 

Congratulations and good luck to both of us at Cairo

Mine took 3 weeks to receive the notice even though I had g-1145 with the packet. When I spoke to USCIS over the phone, the officer said I should check with them if a month pass without a notice. In your case, I would wait another week and just do a quick call and see what they say.

Thank you all for your replies. Some of you advised to send it as it is and others advised to re-arrange it. I've decided to re-arrange it and re-send it for a reason. Some of my flight itinerary (e.g. online flight ticket) that consist of 3-5 printed pages per flight were randomly misplaced in different places, which doesn't make sense to leave them like that because they need to be in order since the 3 pages complete each other to provide the detailed times of the flight. So just imagine how messy my packet was having 5 diff itineraries... etc. Hopefully everything goes smooth this time. Wish me luck!

14 hours ago, adil-rafa said:

I called to ask and maybe the person didn't know the correct answer (i will give u that) but  i was told the offices are going by scan date

call and ask yourself and see what answer u get

ask for tier 2

Can you please explain to me what's a tier 2? thanks!

3 hours ago, JC&BS said:

Did you receive NOA1 yet? I'm assumimg no since they couldn't cash the check. So, how could it be that Cali scanned in the papers like a few have mentioned?

1 hour ago, p-ana said:

Csc won’t give noa for i129f petitions. They come from the lockbox, in Texas. The scanning and sending back the package to the op happened in the lockbox, it did not go as far as the service center because a key piece of the application was missing and was not routed there.

in the receipt notice, noa1, it’s stated the they received the petition and routed that to the appropriate service center.

Yes, it came back from Dallas lockbox so i'm assuming that the scanning happens at the lockbox center before it gets sent to California.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I greatly appreciate it.

Just now, MeghanK said:

I'm so glad to hear you figured out what was happening with your packet! 

Yes, it was driving me crazy. Turns out that I made a dumb mistake on my check.

1 minute ago, Amadia said:

Umm....no.  

 

USCIS employees at California Service Center are the ones who toss up your papers to scan it. When they realize documentation is missing, you get an RFE.....same goes for inaccurate information.....it gets returned to you.

Thank you for your reply. I'm kinda lost here... so you mean that the application that got returned back to me came back from the California center not Texas center (that's where I sent it originally)? and what do you think those generated (printed) numbers at the end of each page mean? does it mean they were scanned?

Thanks again for your responses  

1 minute ago, Amadia said:

Fix the date on the check and send the packet how you originally sent it to them. Your pages would be in a mess since they took it apart to scan it into their system.

I wonder if that's what they do for every application they scan into the system before they send it to the California center! because that mean everyone's application is a mess when it arrives to the California center!

Hello all,

I need your help. So I was dumb enough to send my application with a wrong date on the check (put 2017 instead of 2018) so basically the check was expired and for that reason my application was rejected and got returned back to me. They also provided a green paper with the returned application that states exactly "You are invited to resubmit your application package after you have corrected the reasons for rejection." and they want me to enclose this letter with the re-submission on top of the application package.

one thing to mention, each paper of the application has like printed numbers and date/time at the end of each page (looks like something that automatically is generated on each page when scanned into the system)

However, the application that got returned back to me is out of order, for example:

• the cover letter is placed somewhere in the middle of the application.
• My letter of intent is placed somewhere in the front of the package while my fiance's letter is placed somewhere in the back of the package.
• The flight tickets (total of 4), one is placed in the front and the rest are scattered in the middle of the package.
• I have a cover letter explaining that they should find in the following order pics of engagement and ring receipt, but after this paper, they have my proof of citizenship.

and so on, just imagine the whole package is just out of order. My question is, do I just place the new check and re-send the package the same way they sent it to me, regardless of how it is out of order? or do I re-arrange the whole thing again to be in order then send it with the new check? 

I'm just afraid that if I do re-arrange everything to be in order, then it will look different from what they have scanned in the system (assuming that the generated numbers at the end of each page means that the application got scanned into the system with this order)

Please advice me. I'm lost here and don't know what's the right thing to do. I called USCIS to get an answer but they didn't give me a clear answer at all.

Thanks in advance! 

I'm even more worried now seeing most of August filers are getting notifications. I sent mine on July 24th and haven't received anything and my check is not deducted from my account.

Just now, MeghanK said:

I wouldn't do this unless they instruct you to....

Yes, definitely. I'm waiting to hear from the immigration officer first and will check with him my options if I should resend it or not

7 minutes ago, MeghanK said:

Yes. Exactly my point. When your status becomes "abnormal" then you have grounds to worry. It's too soon right now to be so worried is what I'm saying. And this is the easiest part....you're going to need more and more patience from here on out in the process.

Honestly, I will start preparing another package (I already have one as my own copy but i will make another one) and if I still don't hear anything in the next two weeks then I will resend it again because that will mark it as a whole month since the time of first submission.

Just now, MeghanK said:

If it was in the system, "received" there'd be a NOA1 ... so correct, it isn't in the system, that doesn't mean it's lost. Did you send in the G-1145 E-Notification form with your packet so you could get text alerts? 

 

Patience is key in this entire process. There are no guaranteed timelines. Just be patient. If a month from now you haven't heard, then you can freak out. 

Yes I sent G-1145 form with the package. A month from now for NOA1? a month from now will make it about 6 weeks with no notification. That's abnormal for NOA1

1 minute ago, MeghanK said:

The P.O. Box is most likely a typo, if you google that PO Box at that address it doesn't exist. Similarly if you google K Thornquist along with USCIS the name comes up many times along with "signed for" so that person exists and is signing for packages at that Dallas Lockbox Center. Additionally - your packet was received only 9 business days ago... NOA1s can often take that much time or longer, don't compare your dates to others', that isn't realistically how it works. 

 

You are worrying yourself to death for nothing. You'll have your NOA1 any day now (maybe even hour...). Just breathe  & keep us posted. 

I took @Jaquelly advice and called them and the representative said he can't find a record of it in the system and scheduled me with an officer to call me to further look into it. So basically it's either lost or sitting somewhere untouched. 

4 hours ago, MeghanK said:

This has happened before to people and it's been fine.... check out this thread to help you worry less

 

 

 

Yes but my PO box has an extra zero than the original one, that's what is worrying me.

4 hours ago, Jaquelly said:

Call USCIS and talk to them. They are the only ones who can tell you if they've got your application.

when do you think I should call them? Like after how many days from the time of submission?

Hello all

I delivered my package on 7/24/18 through USPS using the following address: 

USCIS
P.O. Box 660151
Dallas, TX 75266

However, my tracking number states that Your item was delivered on July 30, 2018 in DALLAS, TX 75260 to USCIS 6600151. The item was signed for by K THORNQUIST

both the zip code and PO box number (the ones I underlined) are different from the original address that I put in the package from USCIS website. it's been over 2 weeks and didn't receive a text/email/mail about NOA1 and the check I sent wasn't deducted from my account. I'm getting worried that my package was sent to the wrong location but how come someone signed for it? ppl who sent their packages around the same time as me already received their NOA1 a week ago. anyone had this issue before? Anyone with a tracking number willing to look at it and compare it to mine and let me know if that where they drop the packages? please help 😔

7 minutes ago, Manny16 said:

I sent my package on Jul 24th and haven't received anything yet. No text/email or mailed NOA1! so that's almost 2 weeks now since I sent my stuff. Should I call and ask or not yet? Looking at everyone looks like they got theirs after 1 week.

Edit: my USPS tracking number says that my item was delivered to USCIS 6600151 and signed by someone. Look closely to that number I put in bold. The address on USCIS website is 660151 not 6600151 !! maybe the USPS clerk added an extra zero??

I sent my package on Jul 24th and haven't received anything yet. No text/email or mailed NOA1! so that's almost 2 weeks now since I sent my stuff. Should I call and ask or not yet? Looking at everyone looks like they got theirs after 1 week.

20 hours ago, dundeehighlander said:

Hi there,

              Just about to send in my I-129F package and going to be using USPS.  I would like to send using a service that requires a signature but I don't know if I can do this sending it to

USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility:

 

• For U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
  USCIS
  P.O. Box 660151
  Dallas, TX 75266

 

Can anyone perhaps advise if I can?

 

Thanks

 

Keith

I sent mine last week to the Dallas address you have above using USPS and requested a tracking number along with signature. It was delivered fine and my tracking says that it was signed upon delivery.

20 minutes ago, EmmNM said:

Two couples held an engagement ceremony? I assume you just mean one couple being you and your fiance. It just seems a bit weird to me. Who signs an engagement contract with a pastor and everything? Engagements are not legally binding so you don't need a contract. Update your country to Egypt and post this question. You will get Egypt specific responses. I don't think its a good idea to include any evidence of any type of ceremony.  

Yes it's something normal that takes place in church. But I decided to not include it in my packet anyway. I do have many other proves of meeting in person in the past two years. And regarding our relationship, I guess having the ring receipt is sufficient proof of us being engaged.

Thank you so much for your answers

4 hours ago, EmmNM said:

Hmmmm. I wonder why you never responded? ... 

hey I didn't see your last respond. It's like a one paper titled "Engagement record" where it states that the two couples held an engagement ceremony at church so and so with the presence of the parents of both parties and has the signature of the pastor and myself and my fiance. 

5 minutes ago, EmmNM said:

Do as you wish with the highlighters. I personally would not. I think highlights make things look messy and I like things to look professional. I wouldn't worry about the stamps, You obviously have 5 visas in your passport to Egypt. Means you have been there 5 times. Regardless where your entry exit stamps are located. I wouldn't over complicate it. You have plenty enough proof. Just attach an explanation that says something like:

 

"These are copies of the 5 visas for entry into Egypt. The corresponding entry exit stamps are not necessarily in the same place."

 

One last thing. You mentioned you had an engagement ceremony at a church? I hope that doesn't look like a marriage or a marriage contract.

It is clearly translated as "engagement record"; however, i've been thinking the same thing to not include it in my packet because i'm worried if they think it looks like a marriage contract. Do you think if I exclude the engagement record and include everything else mentioned would be enough?

1 minute ago, EmmNM said:

Just copy the pages. I would not alter them with highlighters. Attach a small explanation if you want to. I would also include the ticket stubs for the flight, flight itineraries, and the credit card statements you used to pay for the tickets as back up proof. Additionally include any hotel reservations, travel tickets while you were there, and obviously photos together and with family, etc. Don't worry about translating the visas.

 

Good luck!

I'm including a translated church engagement record, rings receipt, visa stamps, flight tickets, some Uber receipts, and pictures together. Those are my in person meeting proofs i'm providing. The only thing that worries me is the whole confusion of the stamps, I don't even know how to explain it well to them to not make things complicated.

I was also going to use the highlighter in the Uber receipts to highlight the address and dates. Do you recommend against using highlighters at all? Thanks for your reply!

Hello everyone,

I was organizing my passport stamps section and I noticed an issue. First of all I traveled 5 times to my fiance in Egypt, so I do have 5 Egyptian visas in my passport for each visit, but the arrival and departure stamps are all over the place. For example, in one visa you would find the officer stamped my arrival visit of August 2017 and another officer used the same page to stamp my arrival visit in 2018. Another example, I had 10 hours layover at Istanbul so I got a visa in the airport to go out for like 7 hours to see the city, but the Istanbul officer stamped my Istanbul departure stamp (June 2018) in the same egyptian visa of April 2017. 

Is this normal? Also some stamps are in arabic, others are in English. Do I need to translate stamps?? Also is it ok to use highlighters to clear things up? 

Please help and let me know what you did if you had the same issue.

Thank you

Thank you everyone. I will check with my bank on Monday. Have a great weekend everyone