dpnce

Hi everyone,
 
This will be my last post in this thread since something important came up (not worthy of emergency Advance Parole) and my wife had to go back to Ecuador. Everything will work out in the end, but for now it's off to the CR-1 forum for me!
 
The latest timeline was:
 
8/31 packet mailed (USPS Priority Mail Express)
9/1 delivered to PO Box
9/18 credit card charge processed
9/21 3 text notifications received
9/26 3 NOA1s received in mail, receipt date 9/1
 
Good luck to everyone here in the rest of the process.

Very good! I was going to say before you updated us, you can't base your case on other cases, each case is different. Anyway you are rolling now you just got to have patience!

Yes patience is a virtue! True everyone's cases is different and will have different outcomes but it was only natural to feel like that 😩 plus we are a 2019 K1 applicant.   At lease will be at ease for now 😊

*UPDATE* 
Happy to say on 10/5/2020 my personal check was cashed as a ACH payment by USCIS chicago payment. Will keep a eye out for receipt by electronic or mail. Slowly but surely!!  It was accepted.
Filed 8/29/2020
Delivered 8/31/2020
Check cashed 10/5/2020
To be continued -
Information for those who been waiting a long time like me.

Very good....nice!!!!!

Hello guys!
 
Thought I would share my AOS timeline with you as well: 

Package sent: 09/15/2020 (ended up including I-944 following reading @Mackznie's post on the very same day https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/747137-september-2020-aos-filers/?do=findComment&comment=10259028 )
Package received by USCIS: 09/16/2020
Check cashed: 09/30/2020
Text notifications: 10/01/2020
NOA1 received: 10/05/2020 (today)
 
Looking forward to receiving further updates. Good luck everyone! 

I got NOA1 in email form today.
 
 
I sent my AOS (k1 visa) packet, i-485, i-765 along with the i-601 form for vaccine waiver and it was received on September 16. and got NOA1 for all three today. (did not include i-944)
 
Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS National Benefits Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797)
 
i sent the entire thing in one big envelope to: 
 
USCIS
PO Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

I'm sure by now most of you have heard or read that the fee increases and decreases scheduled to take effect on October 2nd have been put on hold!!! For how long we don't know.
 
Here's a link on Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2020/09/30/judge-blocks-uscis-fee-increases-heres-why-it-happened/
 
We don't know for how long it will last as undoubtedly they will try to get this thrown out like with the I-944, but it is good news for the October 2020 filers. If you know anyone submitting in October best they shake a leg and get it in before this goes away!

Hello! I wanted to join the thread and share my journey! I am filing Marriage Based AOS. I’m currently a DACA recipient and married a US Citizen. 
 
filed: 09/11
delivered via fedex: 09/15 
checks cleared: 09/22
text notifications: 09/23
NOA for I-30,485,765,131: 09/28
Previous Biometrics will be used letter: 09/28 

If there are any DACA recipients that have filed, please share your updates  
 
Thank you! Good luck everyone. 

Hey y’all!
 
Finally happy that my MO was cashed!
 
I-130/ 485 (944 not included)/ 765
 
filed 9/10
delivered to USCIS 9/14
check cashed 9/28
still no text or email! But excited tho 

Well and just like that I got the checks withdrawn in my account today morning! Thank god, now all I have to do is wait for biometrics/RFE/interview notices
Interestingly the withdrawals were ACH withdrawals, despite sending in paper checks...!
 
I-130/I-485
Sent 9/11
Received 9/14
Payment withdrawn 9/29

This is interesting 
https://cilawgroup.com/news/2015/06/04/uscis-receipt-numbers-explained-lin-src-eac-wac-ioe/

The above is all well and good, but it's not the purpose of this forum to give relationship advice.  We're here to help them be together in the USA if possible.  It is not going to be possible without him getting to her, getting married and spending some significant time together.  He can simply leave out any mention of support and gifts, when filing the petition.  That information will hurt, not help.  Leave it out.
 
Concentrate on getting there and staying for a while.  

(From my blog)
A Warning To Green Card Holders About Voting
Do not register to vote in any election until you have officially been granted US Citizenship.
Going into this election season, it is very important to understand that for a Green Card holder, (Lawful Permanent Resident) to register to vote is not only improper, but can have severe consequences in the future.
Even though there are States that have instituted policies that do not require evidence of US Citizenship when registering to vote, the voter registration documents do ask whether the person registering is a US Citizen. Many have simply checked the box and gone ahead and registered, knowing that even if the State Law requires showing government issued identification, their driver license will suffice.
While this is not legal advice, the publicly searchable “9 FAM” (Foreign Affairs Manual) is quite clear regarding the potential consequences of falsely claiming US Citizenship. There is no more serious a misrepresentation, based on the consequences, dealt with in 9 FAM. The potential consequence of registering to vote or for any other federal or state benefit afforded only to US Citizens includes Deportation and a LIFETIME BAN from entering the USA.
If any reader who is not a US Citizen, has registered to vote in any official State of Federal election, I advise them to seek competent legal advice as soon as possible, to discuss minimizing or eliminating the risk of any future deportation and ban.
The law is, what the law is. Regardless of whether this particular or any other immigrant related law is being consistently enforced today, that can change at any time.
False claims to US Citizenship are taken very seriously by Customs and Border Patrol Officers. Some years ago, I was traveling with my step daughter, when we encountered a border check station on Interstate 10 in West Texas. My step daughter was quite proud of passing her citizenship test just the day before, and proudly answered yes, when a CBP Officer asked if she was a US Citizen. I quickly corrected her, so the officer would hear me, saying, “You WILL BE a US Citizen after your swearing in ceremony, but you’re aren’t a citizen yet.” Fortunately, the officer was understanding and we were soon on our way without incident.
Many have registered to vote, somewhat “innocently” because of the misrepresentations or ignorance of well meaning officers at the DMV (Driver License Offices) or even a campaign worker.
* * DO NOT REGISTER TO VOTE IN ANY ELECTION UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY GRANTED US CITIZENSHIP * *

i am not saying that it will not work. When you live together the quirks come under the microscope more. Things you thought you knew about that person may change. Different environment, different dynamics. I was perceived as quiet and reserved and mutual friends informed my now wife. After we got married I become an opinionated, talkative, outgoing person. My wife is the opposite of me, introvert with a people limit and loves quiet time. We have had to work through some things and trust me it has not been easy; I continually choose my spouse despite her flaws. Assess her flaws and whether or not they are deal breakers. Bliss can be ignorance Again, not saying it will not work, but everyone is indeed different. 

Despite Covid and a swath of US consulate closings, 34 VJ'ers had their IR-1 Visas approved in July so far!  Good news and congrats!
 
https://www.visajourney.com/content/visa-approvals-this-month/
 
 

 

I did and they have been very vague just said they have been informed about this. I will call again tomorrow and thank you for the link, very useful! 

Guys we made it. We are back in Chicago. The only issue we had was while check in Cancun. She needed to call CBP to verify we can enter, then she gave us our boarding passes. In the US we had to fill out a health questionnaire and that was it. Mexico (tulum and cancun) were really chilled. 

Hi everyone! Update for my flight Belgrade to New York:
just to give you a first idea on how smooth and fast it all went my plane touched down at 16:45 and I was waiting for my baggage at 17:06!
So during the flight they gave us a form we all had to fill that we had to complete our name flight address etc info and state if we had any COVID symptoms the past few days and if we have been in any of the banned countries the past 14 days. It also said we would have to quarantine for 14 days after landing so that didn’t seem fun. 
After we landed I went to the passport control which was almost empty. I gave the form my passport and the K1 package as well as a copy of my vaccination record to the guy but he didn’t want the xrays cd. 
he opened the package and then asked me to confirm my address. He flipped through the package and found a picture of me and my fiancé and pointed at him and said is this (name and surname of fiancé) I said yes he said nice and commented on the lake in the picture haha. Then he asked how much money in cash I have on me. Then he stamped my passport and said we’re almost done I just have to go to the office for the final check. 
meh took me to the office and handed my papers and passport to the lady there. He told her “I already stamped her through so take her temperature and we’re good” which sounded to me like I was already done. Once he left the lady called me up she looked at me and my passport and then said “you have 90 days to get married” is said yeah we’re excited! And she said okay good luck bye and gave me my passport without taking my temperature or anything. 
someone else with a visa From the same flight I was in was there next to me and he asked if he needs to have anything in mind in terms of quarantine or anything because of the form we had to complete and the guy laughed and told him “no man you’re all good we’re in phase two now!” 
overall everything was very fast and almost no questions! 
good luck everyone! If anyone is considering Belgrade I highly recommend the route and don’t hesitate to contact me as I have like a full guide by now to share! 

Hey everyone, I posted in here a couple days ago just wanted to give everyone an update and hopefully ease a few minds..
 
I finished my 15 days in Mexico City without a hitch and on the 26th of June I flew from Mexico City to LAX, I gave my visa package to the customs officer along with my health check disc with my x days which he said he didn’t need. He tore it open and didn’t really look at anything, asked me did I have any children back home where I’m from and I said I didn’t. He stamped my passport and signed it next to the PvE where my K1 visa was and said welcome to the US. 
 
that’s it as easy and as simple as can be I guess. After 10 months away from my fiancé I am now cozied up and watching Netflix with her! 🙌
 
it still feels like a bit of a dream and I can’t believe it really was that easy as spending 15 days in an Airbnb in Mexico City 
 
 

Hi everyone! I wanted to share my flight experience to meet my (USA) fiance (NL) in Belgrade. Hopefully this can help some other Americans flying because I was really nervous!
 
            After getting dropped off at DEN, I had to check in for my flight with an agent because I wasn’t allowed to online or on the app (which gave me a mini panic attack). He then proceeded to work on the computer for what felt like 10 minutes, making me nervous again. He said ‘Sorry, I was just checking that there aren’t any travel restrictions’. Of course, I was super prepared with a bunch of printed documents and showed him the US Embassy website saying that there were no travel restrictions for Serbia, the IATA website confirming, and my chat online with American Airlines again confirming. He said ‘okay great’, and handed me all 3 of my boarding passes.
            The DEN airport was not crowded at all, and there was zero wait for security. However, my flight was completely full and I was sitting in an aisle seat that had all 3 people. Everyone was wearing a face mask though, per AA’s rule.
            The DFW airport was another story, though – it was very busy!! I found my gate, which was less busy, and started waiting for boarding. They called me and several others up for a ‘documents check’. I walked up and was internally panicking in line the entire time. The agent asked me if I was a German resident, which I answered no, I’m only transiting to Serbia. She asked to see my ticket onwards to Serbia, made some notes in the computer, and then I was good to go!
            The flight to FRA was pretty empty, and I luckily got my own row! They offered food and drink service just like normal, and required masks to be worn on the flight. Entering the FRA airport, staff had thermal scanners that were used on passengers exiting the plane to check temperatures. I then had an excruciatingly long layover in FRA, and boarded my flight to BEG with northing more than a ‘American passport is okay, right?’
            Serbia’s customs were very easy as well. The agent did not treat me any different than the EU citizens, and simply stamped my passport. Overall, an easy trip restriction-wise! Belgrade has so far exceeded all expectations by being beautiful and lively, although you would think Coronavirus doesn’t exist with the way that people behave.
 

Hi at all! If anyone is interested in coming to Belgrade, I would like to recommend the hotel I am staying in right now. It is the Seven Rooms Suites. It opened in January of this year, everything is brand new and very modern. The rooms have air condition and a fridge. A huge shower. TV with over 800 channels (a lot of international channels), the Wifi works great, no problems at all!!! The hotel is in the city center, but it is very quiet, as the rooms do not look out to the street. The staff is really, really friendly and helpful, they pick you up from the airport at any time and bring you back to the airport at any time. The price for one night is cheap, I paid 33 Euros for one night. If you any questions, let me know!!
Good luck to everybody!! I will be leaving Serbia in 4 days!

Glad to see you found a way!
I am about to leave for the airport to catch my flight to New York! Wish me luck 😊 I will update on how everything went. 
I stayed in an area called Vracar and mainly moved around my neighbourhood and everyone seems to wear a mask In this part of the city. But yes bars cafes and restaurants are packed with people and everything is open. 
belgrade is very nice and the people are very nice! Also food is good. 

Hi everyone, remember me?
 
I'm now sitting in an air bnb in Belgrade, Serbia. After the heartbreak of being denied boarding in Manchester to Mexico last month, the relief of getting even this far is huge.
 
Some info on my experience for the journey from Heathrow to Belgrade for those interested:
 
Very easy, very quick, no questions asked. I had no bags to check; was straight through to security (recommended). No temperature checks, no health forms to fill out, no landing card needed. If it wasn't for everyone wearing masks, it would seem "normal". Flight was pretty full. Thankfully had an empty seat beside me.
 
Arriving in Serbia:
 
Again, very quick and easy. Went a little something like this at passport control:
- I give them my passport
- They ask how long I'm staying
- They ask where I'm staying
- They stamp my passport
- I leave the airport
 
Nothing else to it.
 
And now, I wait... People in Belgrade generally don't care about COVID. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING is open like normal. Barely anyone wearing masks. A little worrying, but what can I do? I'm being careful. Belgrade seems like a really nice city, I like it.
 
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask me. 

Update to this- the Uber driver made contact with me via Uber and I am in touch with him to post the phone to me.
 
I think that's a good testament to anyone that is worried for their safety in Mexico- there are lots of good people in the world! And always ride Uber!
 
Anyone waiting to enter the US I wish you a speedy 15 days and safe flights!