Phil and Reem

I can't answer the question about VA pay, but I do know that it's certainly NOT TOO LATE to add a co-sponsor at this stage, when responding to the RFE. You can state on your cover letter that in order to further illustrate the financial support, you have obtained a new I-864 from a joint sponsor, and that the support is attached. It will definitely be considered.

Good luck, and know that an RFE is not the end of the world. It's really not as bad as it seems... Take care and hang in there!!

That's great to hear- and they (USCIS) would still require the co-sponsors tax info and supporting documents along with pay stubs/letters from the empoyer/etc, correct?

You all are awesome, thank you!

well, I saw the congressman's immigration director today and he found that my applications are still being looked at. Basically, what I already knew as of November 6. This was the first time I met him, so I guess it helped a bit. He said there is nothing they can do once the applications are in the adjudication phase. The USCIS has up to 80 business days to adjudicate the applications. If they go beyond that, the congressman can get involved again.

He did ask me follow up again on Monday. The agony continues...

Hey CJ Vasani, I just wanted to let you know that when my wife and had been waiting for her I130/129F to go through, we reached 6 months when I finally wrote a letter to my Senator. Her office was VERY helpful, and called down to California for us. It took another month after my initial contact with the Senator's office for the petitions to go through, so in total that was about 8 months since I initially submitted the I130. Judging by your timeline I'd say you're almost there- so just hang in there ok. I wish you the very best of luck with your case. Once your "touches" start appearing about every week or so you're damn close.

Hey everybody,

I received a RFE a few weeks ago, and it's asking to submit extra evidence to support my original Affadavit of Support that I submitted with the AOS package, letters from employer, paystubs, etc. The issue here is that a majority of my income is benefits from the Veterans Administration. I don't think DHS would accept such a form of "income", so I was considering submitting- along with all of my supporting tax info- a cosponsor affadavit of support from a family member along with all of his tax info/supporting docs.

Do you think DHS would accept the new co-sponsor affadavit along with all of my supporting tax info, or is it too late for that? Secondly, is there anyone else here (calling all veterans) who have been successful listing VA benefits as a source of income on your affadavit of support?

Thanks a million.

Phil

Hi all,

Forgive me if I'm repeating any posts- I've browsed for the same sort of problem I'm currently in but haven't found anything.

Firstly, my wife and I filed her EAD app on Aug 6th (just over 90 days ago). We received the NOA within a week after that.

Then, we decided not to delay the AOS any further and so sent in the application and supporting documents on Oct 1st. We received an RFE on Oct 22nd (tax/income related) and on the letter it says that her EAD will be delayed until they receive the evidence that they are requesting.

My question is, even if I filed for the EAD and AOS separately (even about 45 days apart to different locations), it appears now that the RFE for my wife's AOS package is now delaying her EAD. Is it possible then that DHS has connected the two packages? Or do you think they will continue to process the EAD and AOS separately?

Thank you for any insight you could provide!

Phil & Reem

Yes, because the EAD is dependant on a normally processed I-485. Any delays on the I-485 application, delays any interim benefits that are dependant on it.

Thanks for your help! I'll get moving right away on the RFE then.

Hi all,

Forgive me if I'm repeating any posts- I've browsed for the same sort of problem I'm currently in but haven't found anything.

Firstly, my wife and I filed her EAD app on Aug 6th (just over 90 days ago). We received the NOA within a week after that.

Then, we decided not to delay the AOS any further and so sent in the application and supporting documents on Oct 1st. We received an RFE on Oct 22nd (tax/income related) and on the letter it says that her EAD will be delayed until they receive the evidence that they are requesting.

My question is, even if I filed for the EAD and AOS separately (even about 45 days apart to different locations), it appears now that the RFE for my wife's AOS package is now delaying her EAD. Is it possible then that DHS has connected the two packages? Or do you think they will continue to process the EAD and AOS separately?

Thank you for any insight you could provide!

Phil & Reem

If you are dealing with I-134, I would ge a co-sponsor, and then later worry about it when you file to adjust status. The co sponsor will only be responsible for the period from entry to the USA until the immigrant gets green-card through adjustment of status.

I-864 used to adjust status is much more clear about this, assets on ly need to be 3 times income. so if income falls below 125% povertyline by 1000 then 3000 in assets are needed.

OK I see. So 3 times worth of assets needed to hit 125%. I think I'll co-sponsor. Thanks for the help.

Hey VJr's-

I've been browsing through past topics looking for some answers to concerns I have regarding the affadavit of support form, couldn't find any answers so I'll post my question here, hopefully ya'll can help out:

It turns out that I'm going to be just barely above the 125% above poverty requirement (full time student!), and that's including the total of my assets also. I'm concerned though that the embassy will want to see that I have enough in assets to provide that boost up to the 125% for the next 5 years- or so I've heard. This must vary embassy to embassy, but I'm just wondering whether or not I should recruit the help and support of my family to become a co-sponsor or take a shot and see if the embassy will accept what I'm worth now!

Any thoughts or advice you all can provide would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance.

Phil and Reem

I wonder at this point why people are still acting as if the K-3 (I-129F) petition is available...it seems by all evidence that it is not. From members reporting having their I-129F petition administratively closed (if filed after July 2007), calls made to USCIS reps, as well as from inquires made through congressional inquires, everything indicates no more K-3s...at least for now.

Is this legal as far as administrative law is concerned? I don't know but I do wonder. I think the USCIS may be using the fact that since August 2007 there is no longer a fee associated with the K-3 (I-129F) filing as a loop hole to terminate the K-3 process as soon as the I-130 is approved. This may be a way to play catch up from the flood of petitions in July and avoid the requirements of administrative laws about changing rues. I am only guessing.

Like others, I can not say anything with certainty until the USCIS comes out and explains itself. I do suggest that this site post some warnings to folks visiting the K-3 guidelines that there are currently no I-129F being approved (if filed after July 2007).

And I strongly urge folks to contact your congressional reps and senators, as I have done, and ask them to look into this K-3 situation and report to you what they find out.

I'm confused as to what's happening here. I just got my 130 and 129F approved for the K3 last week, and I filed in August. If you're being told that K3's are suddenly being closed out, well, I'd definetly continue to look into it and would file that DHS-7001 that Elbereth is mentioning just to make all of your inquiries official. Good luck to you all.

APPROVED!!!

I got a letter today from my Senator, who I wrote to about a month ago, and in it she said her staff contacted CSC Friday, and they told them both the 130 and 129F were approved and will be forwarded to the National Visa Center shortly! Guess that explains the touch on Friday! Now I just have to wait for the official NOA2 letter from CSC right? Then send that and copies of all other documents on to my wife?

VJr's I appreciate the help all of you have given me. August filers NOW is our time! Get ready for all of your NOA2's!

Phil and Reem

got another touch today on both 130 and 129F... we're moving forward but who knows how fast!!! at least our file is getting dusted off!!

Hey fellow August filers-

I got two touches this past weekend! (Feb 29th and Mar 2nd) One Friday and another Sunday on both my 129F and 130 (receipt date of 19 Aug).

Do you think they've got people working weekends down there at CSC? Who's goin' through my stuff on a Sunday? It works for me! Anybody else around who filed on or close to my receipt date getting touches or approvals?

Hopefully we're close!!

Phil

We got some great news today via email that our I-129f and our I-130 were approved on Feb 12. We are so excited, now hopefully the process will pick up speed a little.

awesome!!!! congrats!

does anybody has a copy of letter writting to their congressman or senators on here?

yeah i just wrote my senator monday, and they've already contacted me saying they're going to call down to CSC on my behalf tomorrow. you asking to see an example?

-phil

You might find this posting interesting (can be found in the Guides section of VJ)

Question and Answer Session with a former USCIS Adjudicator

very helpful... thanks!

HI, I'm going to give my two cents now...

I was going through the same thing as you about 10 days ago. I was getting so fustrated because I had sent in my I130 on 3/3/07 and my I129F on 4/14/07 and I had not heard anything from them until I called in 8/07 to find out the status only then I received and RFE in the mail took care of it and did not hear anything until 10/07 when I called again and asked for a service request. they mailed me a paper saying that it would take them some time blah blah blah but to wait 45 days until I called again. I called again 12/18 and they said for me to call back again after the 60 days not 45...hmmmmm....made me angy as hell but oh well. I was supposed to call 12/29 but decided to wait until after the holidays. I didn't want to stress out more than what I was already doing due to the holidays. So, I called 1/01/08. I was told that they would reissue another service request and more blahs. ON 1/02/08 GUESS WHAT???? Oout of the blue both my I129F and I130 were approved as per the CRIS email I was sent.

So, here are my two cents...I just think that sometimes USCIS needs to get some annoying calls here and there from us. I think they tend to slack off and forget that they have a life-altering file sitting on their desk and not really care what happens. I just find it funny that from one day to the next all of a sudden my petitions were approved. Also, both of the petitions were far from the normal processing times. IN total I waited 10 months THATS ALMOST A YEAR double the time they have posted on their website.

Ok I feel better. If there is anything else I can help you with please feel free to contact me. We're all in the same boat here hunny!!

Ok so question for you then... I keep seeing "RFE trick" and "service request" come up. What are those exactly?

I think I have to agree with your idea about staying on USCIS. It seems that sometimes the best and only way to get things done in this world, and not just with USICS, is to keep on top of things and to fight and fight to see them through. I've only been waiting 5 months since I filed the I130, and now my wife and I are at the point where we're waiting on the I129F approval- but there's no way in hell I can stand to wait 10-12 months for my WIFE to be allowed to live with me in the U.S. without some sort of fight. I might start calling them every week now, and I feel inspired now thanks to your story. Congratulations on your approvals.

I'm heavily considering calling CSC next week to inquire about our case status, considering next week will be the 90-day mark since either the I130/129F have been "touched" (I've heard that if you call them before 90 days then they'll tell you to call back later, after 90 days...). Anyways this will be my first time calling them. Could someone please give me the phone# for CSC, specifically the number to call for case status inquiries?

And what is the tactful way of asking them "what the hell is taking so long?"

Thanks a million! Shukran Kteer!!

Phil and Reem

Yes it was forwarded to CSC, and so far the last "touch" date for both the 129 and 130 were the same, so I'm assuming they were paired together. So 7 months... was that from your initial I130 submission or 7 months from the NOA1 of the I129F?

I am so happy! Both of my petitions were approved yesterday at the CSC!

Congratulations!

My wife is Syrian and I wonder if our approval time will be similar to yours. How often was your case "touched" or updated throughout your wait? I received my NOA1 for the 129 almost three months ago and haven't seen any "touches" since then. Did that happen to you also?

Phil

question for anybody listening-

i sent my I-130 to NSC on 13 aug. obviously it was forwarded to CSC to be processed, well i should say HOPEFULLY it was forwarded to CSC- but either way- would the "initial receipt" date be when the package arrived to NSC or CSC?

by the way, i'm from WA state... and will be writing letters to both of my congresswomen - my representative, director of USCIS, and the director of the office of citizenship and eventually the seattle times/everett herald, etc. it's been 6 weeks since ive set my package and havent received a NOA1 yet. those m'frs havent even cashed my check yet. USCIS must be using my file for the "how much dust can collect on a file" experiment. hell im thinking of flying my wife to mexico so she can get across the rio grande. at least she'd be stateside!!!!

Hey everybody-

First off, I've got to say that this website has been extremely helpful and informative for my wife and myself, so a thanks to everyone who's inputed any kind of info on here!

NOW my question-

I've recently filed my I-130, nearly a month ago. However... I haven't received any NOA yet, and as a matter of fact USCIS hasn't even cashed out my check yet. You'd think they would take your money within days of receiving your claim, but maybe not? The K-3 flowchart on VJ says 2-3 weeks until a NOA comes in. My wife and I know to be patient for the whole process to go through, but what's up chuck? Anybody have any input? I'd appreciate it, thanks!

PHIL AND REEM