Michele and Adam

Adam is filling out the DS 156, and it asks for the city, province, and country that issued the passport. All it says on his passport is "country issuing code" GBR (great britain, I assume).

What does everyone suggest we put for the city and province questions? N/A? GBR for each?

Michele

Oh, congrats to everyone! Yaaaaay! How awesome!

I have some good news too. I had written everyone in the government who represents me on October 16th, and everyone has been telling me they are looking into it.

Got a letter today from one of my reps, and it said they were told my file was forwarded to NVC earlier this week!!!! Yaaay!

I called NVC, they have not gotten it. I called USCIS, and it left November 1st. Yesterday. So, not MUCH earlier this week!

Ah...bout time. I can only hope we're speeded along through the rest of it now. We're all ready to go; have all the money saved up for all the fees we'll have to pay for this next portion. Adam has his police certificate. Just a matter of waiting again!

We've been planning on me going to England for Christmas and Adam coming back to the US with me, to stay! My trip is all booked - December 20th to January 4th. Everyone keep their fingers crossed he'll still get his visa by then! There's a chance he still will...

Thanks everyone who's been there for me, and I'm still keeping all my fingers crossed for everyone else who has yet to be approved.

Ahhhhh....only took two months and the help of congress, but it's moving again!

Michele

Those of you still waiting to be approved, or doing the RFE thing - ouch. I'm so sorry. I really, really am. I wish there was perfect advice I could give you to help. I wish I had the magic words to say that would make this horrible, horrible waiting bearable.

But I don't.

Just know that everyone here is thinking about you guys, and that's a lot of people! We're all there, right with you, struggling along with you. We'll all celebrate when you get approved too!

You're not alone in this. We've all spent our days anxiously and compulsively checking our emails. We've all had nights we cried through out of frustration. And we're all going to have that moment where you scream out loud when you get approved. We'll all have that moment of first seeing our fiance(e) at the airport, and knowing they are never leaving you again.

And you know what? It's okay to feel anxious, or sad. It really is. You'd be one hell of a person if you could "keep your chin up" through it all. Your pain is valid. Make sure you take care of yourselves through this. Take that bubble bath if you want! Stay up all night watching info-mercials and mindlessly eating junk food and thinking about your file, if that's what your mind needs. Now is a time to really pamper yourself. You're under a ridiculous amount of stress, and you need to take it easy elsewhere in your life if you can. You can leave the laundry and the dishes till tomorrow, and sit there and cry and cry for a night, if that's what you need. Call your mom or a close friend and get all those worries and concerns out to them. Get them out of you, at least for a while. They can't help make your file go by faster, but they can listen and be there when you have too much worry inside you.

We're all going to do this! We are! In the meantime, take care of yourselves.

First off congrats to everyone who had good news! That is SUCH a wonderful feeling - to finally have stuff happen on your file! I really couldn't be happier for you guys!

To everyone still waiting, my heart truly goes out to you. I know we're supposed to be uber positive on here, but I also know it's really hard to keep that smile on your face all the time. ALL of our files will be worked on eventually. "Eventually" isn't much comfort; but this will end. We will ALL be able to look back and remember what we went through for our relationships. Think of it this way: all of us will share in a collective roll of the eyes whenever a friend who dated and married within their own country complains about something silly. How petty will it seem to us when a pal says his wife's horrible driving is making him crazy? I like to think things like that will NEVER matter to me, having gone through what Adam and I went through (are going through) to be together.

Sorry, I guess I'm just having a bad night, and am trying to console myself. Kinda thinking out loud.

Ugh, what is this nonsense about it taking possibly 90 days for a big crate to fill up?! I can see sending all the approved petitions for the day, or possibly the week, together. But screwing up my life, seriously screwing it up, waiting for a crate to fill up, for MONTHS? No, I'm sorry. I draw the line there. I'm not stupid enough to think that anyone at USCIS really cares about the people in these files, but that's a little ridiculous. How much more "you're just a number" can you get?

Man I wish I was going to be in Cali any time soon. I'd march right up there and demand all of our files and take them to NVC myself, for everyone. No one deserves this. Hmm...think my boss would let me have paid time to do it? It is causing me emotional distress...

Congrats to everyone who's been approved recently! And everyone getting touches, you'll be approved in no time! I found that my case had actually been "approved" the same day as the first touch for my string of touches right before the approval, it just didn't get updated that same day. So, with any luck, you're all already approved and these last few touches are them updating the system, sending your approval email, etc!

My file is still "in storage". I was approved August 16th. It's been more than two months now; geez, two and a half months and my file has still not been sent to NVC. I call both USCIS and NVC every week.

I work for the county government, and I tell ya, if we ever did anything like this, we would be in so much trouble. If someone calls us that something is wrong (and that definitely happens! We're people, we make mistakes!), we fix it right then. It takes priority. If it's complicated, it keeps getting worked on till it's fixed. It would be very rare for a mistake to not be fixed within three days or so.

I just can't believe how USCIS can get away with placating everyone with these stories about files being in storage, duplicating and copies missing, or their shipping agent screwing it up; whatever. I don't care what the excuse is: FIX IT! Fix it now!!! You know there's a problem, F-I-X I-T-!.

There's just not excuse. Um, and wait - you just raised all the fees by how much? And this is the better, quicker treatment?

Yeah, I'm a little frustrated...

Michele

Oh yeah, and I was also told that they would call me later that day, when I first called and we discovered the error. No call. Ever. It's been five weeks now since that first call to USCIS.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

I asked in my letter to everyone who could possibly represent me that in addition to my file being moved along again, that it be given priority. I doubt that will happen. I'm not asking to cut in line; just to be put back in line where I should have been all along. I saw a few people here with very similar timelines to mine, dealing with London, who are having their final interview this month. One person is having it this Thursday. Adam could be MOVING HERE next week. But no. It's perpetually August 16th for me.

I've always been so polite when I call USCIS, but maybe it is time to be firm. I'm clearly just being placated on the phone at this point. It's always some variation of: "well, your file has been ordered out of storage, but we haven't received it yet. Yes, it is normal for it to take this long for a request out of storage".

Oh yeah, but I was told on my last call that "ohhhh....you need to make an appointment via infopass on the USCIS site to see someone, in person, at your local office. They would be the only ones who could 'officially' request your file be taken out of storage"

Haha, I was told the same 'wait 90 days' ####### too!

Yeah, they pretty clearly just lost my file and are making stuff up. Just tell me then! I have a perfect copy here I could send in!

Sheesh. You know, you do everything right. You play by the rules. You pay your enormous fees. And you get no where.

Good luck to everyone who is having troubles, and I will definitely let you know if anything happens (and exactly what I did to make that thing happen!)

Michele

Hey guys. I'm so sorry it's been soooo long since there's been any word from Adam or I. We're still both alive, and together.

Ugh, things happen, laptops blow up...

Anyway our case. We were approved on August 16th, right? File was supposed to have been sent to NVC that day? (or very close to it) Should have reached London Embassy about a month after our approval, right?

Nope. I called month later, my file was accidently marked "duplicate" and sent to storage. They said they'd get it right and ship it ASAP to NVC, sorry sorry sorry.

A call each week since then, and on October 16th, still nothing.

I wrote my congresspeople that day, and am waiting to hear from them now.

That's two months of my life, gone. Forever. Two months we're behind where we should be.

I'm so upset.

Michele

This is the way Adam and I prepare for trips to see each other. Think of all the things you'll have to cancel or change when you move the US after getting VISA (rent, utilities, bank, work, even magazine subscriptions have your name and address on them!) Those are all your proof of ties. Make copies.

But it really shouldn't even come up for someone coming from the UK. This is Adams 3rd visit this year, fourth total, and for 146 days total this year, and he has yet to be asked for a single piece of paper. He went to secondary again this last time August 23rd, but it took all of 45 seconds. Just questioned about visa status and told if we marry now, it would really screw things up. Yep, thanks for the tip. Okay, have a nice visit! Easy easy.

Michele

Not sure this is in right forum, first off. Sorry.

Adam is here in US (yay) from Aug 23 to Oct 1. Michigan. I'd like to take him to this wonderful park by Lake Huron where the waves are huge! Problem: it's in Canada (by about a 45 minute drive...).

Adam is here on visa waiver. He did not say he planned on any trips like this when he first checked in. I don't want him to be stranded in Canada!!!

Any thoughts? Can we do this? Just for a day, a beach day. Any trouble we could get in? I know it's always up to border patrol in the end, but does anyone know of any specific rule that says we should or shouldn't go?

Thanks so much!

Please forgive typing, I have cast on right hand!

Michele

Sooooooooooooo sorry I missed the past couple of weeks. I had carpal tunnel surgery and can't type or use a mouse so I wasn't able to check this topic. So glad to hear now that everyone's getting approved. That's just so great. We did it!

Small update on my end: have yet to get anything from NVC. Hmmm... Another waiting game, I guess.

Again, congrats to everybody. I'm soooo happy for everyone.

I get my cast off next week, and should be able to talk with everyone again then.

Michele

Thank you so much everyone.

I'm sure it's just around the corner for everyone! And hey, that's two more files out of the way for you guys!

So it seems the vj estimated dates are around a week late. Cool! Better than being early!

I have a really good feeling about May. I'm sure we're going to get ten NOA2's a day from here on out.

Michele

Congrats!!!!

You too!

My estimated date was August 21st, by the way.

I am shocked they approved us! Like I've posted many times, all we included as proof of having met was a photo of us (undated) and a letter from my friend saying she met Adam when he was here on his first visit.

Wow. What a fantastic day! I'm on cloud 9!

Michele

NOA2!!!!

We got approved yesterday as well, 8/15/07!!!!

Woo hoo!!!!!!

Michele

To those people who have already ordered their police certificate, what's involved with that? How do you order one? I didn't know you could do it ahead of time.

Adam is from England, if that makes a difference for any responses.

They don't expire or anything, do they? It's okay to get it dated for September or whatever even though (most likely) Adam's interview won't be till December?

Thanks so much!

Michele

Okay, they verified that my case is with an agent now, and I will "receive something in the mail by the end of this month".

She wouldn't tell me any more than that. Darn it. I asked her if anything has changed on my status, and she kept answering with "it is with an agent, and you will receive something by the end of this month."

Well, at least it's been assigned a worker! Woot!

Won't be long now guys. May has begun!!!!

Michele

Another touch today!

I think I'm going to call!

I'll let you know what they say.

Michele

Cool, thanks for the info!

I just got touched again today! Rock out! I'm almost certain I have an RFE coming my way, maybe if I call tomorrow I can get a jump on who/where to send my already-ready-to-go RFE package! I only included a photo and a letter from a friend as proof Adam and I have met, which is know now is way, way too little info!

Michele

Well, I have some possibly good news!

My case got touched again! As I posted before, I was touched on August 2nd and 3rd, but received my NOA1 in the mail the next Monday, so I chalked those touches up to that notice being generated.

I signed in today to check my status, and the update date changed to August 12th!!!!

On one hand, very exciting and cool!

On the other hand, August 12th was yesterday. Sunday. Are they working Sunday's now? (haha, are they using that huge increase in fees to pay for overtime for the workers???)

I'm really not sure what to make of this touch! Hopefully there will be more to come this week!

Michele

I think this is going to be a very long week. We're SOOOO close to getting worked on, I'm going to be checking my status and this topic every ten minutes for some news! That is about the worst thing you can do when you're trying to make time go by faster! But I can't help it now.

Wow, I never even thought of how much more difficult this would be if I was pregnant. Those of you going through that while doing this process have my deepest sympathy (well, not to say I feel sad about their pregnancies, of course - you know what I mean!), and best wishes.

I really have a feeling once we get through this week, things are going to start happening! One more week, we can do this!

Haha, now is a good time to work on stupid projects you really don't want to do. I personally plan on going through all my junk drawers and closets and cleaning them out. It's a horrible job, but very time consuming. If I can make a few hours go by without thinking about immigration, I'm happy! That, or I need to figure out a way to lapse into a coma for a week or two. Wouldn't that be nice to wake up and have the NOA2 sitting there in the mail?!?! I kid, I kid.

Michele

Darn it, my estimated day has been moving back a day each day. Now it's August 22nd. So what is that...12 more days? I can't seem to get out of that timeframe! Whenever I get close to being 10 days away, VJ moves the date back! Quit it!!!!

Haha.

I really really wonder why our Vermont filers haven't seen more action. I know I said that before, but I thought they would get approved at a least a month before the Cali filers. And it makes me nervous for my Cali case that our Vermont people aren't even being touched right now...Hmmm....

Well, all we can do is continue to wait. And wait. And then, maybe, wait some more. Hopefully in a week or so, the floodgates will open and this topic will be nothing but congrats!

Michele <---getting tired of waiting now

Hmm, some not so great news. As you know, I got two touches last week.

And....in the mail yesterday, I finally got my NOA1. I had called quite some time ago about still not getting the notice.

I'm thinking the touches were the NOA1 being generated.

Boooo!

Well, I'm not POSITIVE about that, of course, but it makes sense to me.

On the plus side, for about three hours yesterday, my estimated ajudication date was up to August 13th! That's only 6 days away! On the minus side, it's back to August 20th now. But, that's still only 13 days away...

Almost guys, almost. My receipt date was May 1st, so once things start happening on my case, they'll start rolling in on yours too!

Michele

Guess what????

I got two touches!!!!

August 2nd and 3rd!!!!

Oh man oh man oh man! Could this be the start of the May filers getting worked on?

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!

Michele

The notice is dated for the 26th. VJs timeline estimate from stats predicted the 25th up until the 26th then changed to the 28th. So at least for our case it statistically had an accuracy of + or - 2 days.

CM

Ah, wonderful info! My date keeps slipping all over, it's different every time I log into VJ. But it seems it will be sometime between August 10th and August 18th.

Awesome!