tafeagans

Just an update here to everyone. I also posted this in the Bangkok interview section.

It is the wee hours of the morning and I am still in shock that my VISA process has moved ever so rapidly and the interview is set for March 18th.

See the posts at for further background

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=108011&hl=

Since that Radio show,engaging my Senator and just pure support from this forum I am shocked how things moved so quickly. I have not posted lately, because work has had me drained and my Mom's condition is getting worse and all of that really has worn me out. However, at 3AM this morning my phone rang with great news from the Bangkok embassy, your fiancée interview has been expedited and set for March 18th. I said What?, who is this and what again. It was nothing less than the US Ambassador's aid calling me. Again, I asked, who is this and he explained, again and I was left shocked. My VISA process has flew like the wind. Take a look at our time line and it speaks loud and clear. In came the NOA 2, Out it went from the USCIS, through the NVC and to Bangkok requesting the interview in record time. The interview, which normally takes a time of 2 months to get, as you guys know, is now set for March 18th. This is really quick considering also that there were no interviews for this month of February in Bangkok. On March 18th, my fiancée and I will be together in Bangkok for her interview.

Here is an extract of the email

The IV Unit has received the applicant returned Packet 3 checklist and DS-230 part I on February 21, 2007. Normally, the waiting period for scheduling regular interview appointment is about 4-6 weeks. However, due to the medical emergency, the IV Unit has scheduled an expedited interview appointment for Ms. XXXXXXXXXXX on 18-MAR-2008 at 08:00 am. The Packet 4 which is an interview appointment instruction has been electronically sent to you and mailed.

WOW

It is the wee hours of the morning and I am still in shock that my VISA process has moved ever so rapidly and the interview is set for March 18th.

See the posts at for further background

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=108011&hl=

Since that Radio show,engaging my Senator and just pure support from this forum I am shocked how things moved so quickly. I have not posted lately, because work has had me drained and my Mom's condition is getting worse and all of that really has worn me out. However, at 3AM this morning my phone rang with great news from the Bangkok embassy, your fiancée interview has been set for March 18th. I said What?, who is this and what again. It was nothing less than the US Ambassador's aid calling me. Again, I asked, who is this and he explained, again and I was left shocked. My VISA process has flew like the wind. Take a look at our time line and it speaks loud and clear. In came the NOA 2, Out it went from the USCIS, through the NVC and to Bangkok requesting the interview in record time. The interview, which normally takes a time of 2 months to get, as you guys know, is now set for March 18th. This is really quick considering also that there were no interviews for this month of February in Bangkok. On March 18th, my fiancée and I will be together in Bangkok for her interview.

It is the wee hours of the morning and I am still in shock that my VISA process has moved ever so rapidly since the Radio show,engaging my Senator and just pure support from this forum. I have not posted lately, because work has had me drained and my Mom's condition is getting worse and all of that really has worn me out. However, at AM this morning my phone rang with great news from the Bangkok embassy, your fiancée interview has been set for March 18th. I said What?, who is this and what again. It was nothing less than the US Ambassador's aid calling me. Again, I asked, who is this and he explained, again and I was left shocked. Keeping all this in mind, lets reflect a moment, it was not till the scheduled event of the Radio show and after the show my VISA process flew like the wind. Take a look at our time line and it speaks loud and clear. In came the NOA 2, Out it went from the USCIS, through the NVC and to Bangkok requesting the interview in record time. The interview, which normally takes a time of 2 months to get, is now set for March 18th. This is really quick considering also that there were no interviews for this month of February in Bangkok. On March 18th, my fiancée and I will be together in Bangkok for her interview. This is truly unbelievable and I am thankful. Shortly, after we will be on a plane and heading to the US to get married. My mother is high on the agenda and I have not told her yet, as it is too early to cal her and thinking about surprise. I must say I do not believe without the events that lined up, this would not of happened. I am grateful and think about everyone who has to endure the process. I must say Thank you to Susie, my Congressman and the radio show, without these efforts, I would be still waiting.

Hello everyone

JMy Fiancee just got her number 3 packet and our lawyer filed the response. Getting the medical and police report done will be helpful to have that filed. The medical examination and police check was done in Bangkok this past Monday. Both were done in in Bangkok. It nearly took her 3 to 4 hours to get all that dones plus innoculations. I am working on getting my financial documents in place as well as all of my correspondence recodrs and trips made to show a relationship clearly to the office as well.

Hello everyone,

My SO finished her medical and police report. I am now trying to get the interview expedited in hope of having her here to be wed before my mother passes. My congressman is forwarding a expedite request to the US Thailand Embassy to see if they will move the interview date up. I am not sure yet when the interview is but my attorney in Thailand has all the papers for package 3 and 4 ready to go. How do you guys find out the interview date? I will do some searching perhaps I just missd it. Sawadee and it is hard enough having a long distance marriage Thai style.

My fiancess VISA has left for Bangkok and made it through the NVC quickly. Someone actually attched a note to it expediting it to the Bangkok Embassy. They will receive it I guess in about three to four days. I will look to request an expedite on the interview date. I am hoping it will come soon. This is good news, now waiting for the interview and the rest of the paper will ride smoothly. Thanks to Suzie's radio and all of your prayers and support. I am hoping to see my fiancee soon.

Just an update here. My fiancee's paper work has made it through the NVC and is own it's way to Bangkok. Left yesterday. Someone actually attched a note to the file to expedite the case. Can this be real?

Hello everyone,

I have some exciting news to put forward as I told Suzie last night. I believe it is a result of timing and the efforts of this forum, my Congressman's office and sheer determination to not accept they lost it, can not find it, do not know where it is or "hope your mother lives long enough" responses from the California Service Center I received. It appears many of us get these types of responses and it is time to stand up and say enough is enough. Well for the first part of my story see the beginning of this thread but here is the latest.

Yesterday, I contacted my congressman's office to status their request to expedite my Fiancée VISA. At that point in the morning they had not received a response and it was now approach 7 or 8 days after they had sent the request and was approach a month and half since I sent my request forward. Keep in mind I mailed it, then faxed it, called about and then was told they did not have it, faxed it again 3 more additional times. Every single response I received when I called in the check if they had received it resulted in them telling me, no we do not have it, we did not get it and there is no need for me to cal. Say what? It had then a month sent I sent it in the mail, certified registered mail and overnight, it had been weeks sent I faxed it and at the request of the USCIS faxed it an additional 3 times on different occasions. Mind blowing.

Well as we all know timing seems to be all so crucial these days. So, knowing this show would air tonight, I sent my congressman an email explaining to them I would be joining and would like their help to explain how this could happen, why could not a life request get some answer and that I had, had enough. Keep in mind my Congressman's office is trying to do what they can do to help. I believe they actually understand and bent over back wards to help me. I will shed light on that in a min. Back to the sequence of events yesterday, following a call I made to the back to reality program station in Florida to make sure I knew what they program was about and to speak with someone about what was currently happening with my situation, I was requested by my Congressman's office to forward the letter and doctor's note I sent to the USCIS so they could make further inquiries of the USCIS. Two hours later, I got a call from the USCIS in California and here comes the good news and some surprising answers.

During the call from the USCIS in California the official says to me Sir your fiancée VISA has been approved and we are overnighting it to the NVC. I am of course thrilled. He continues to say, he wants to say he is sorry for all the delays in my case and the problems that have happened. I let him continue to talk. He explains that until today when my Congressman's office sent my letter and the doctor's note the California Service Center they had not received anything. I said your kidding, I not only mailed it but faxed it to them 3 different times. He went on and told me that things were messy over there and there have been a flood of applications. I stopped him in hos tracks and said you knew it was coming, the USCIS can shift surplus efforts to other offices, no excuses will justify what people are going through as a result of bad judgment and actions which represent negligence and conduct unbecoming of their administration. He then agreed and I asked him to please explain to me, if he could, why are they taking so long to receive mail, to process applications and to inform citizens within reason the status for the petition. The 911 thing came up and I told him, 911 is understood but not acceptable for an answer for everything nor is it acceptable for poor processing, poor conduct, negligence in creating an action plan to manage the bulk of applications. If I told my boss, well I just do not know what to do, I would be fired. They need a sense of urgency I told him and one that goes to what citizens expect for their lives. We expect decency, common sense and the right to pursue happiness with our loved ones as anyone would in the world. I then asked him is their anything going on to change this problem. Answer, I do not know. There you go, no urgency, no hard standards to meet, no need to commit. Seems logical , I guess. NOT. I then went on to ask if they would be able to pass on the expedite notice to the file. Guess what, no system or process to do that. He informed me my Congressman's office was instrumental in getting my application processed and they likely could help. However, he thought my idea was a good one. Seems someone need to re-engineer some processing and put some technology and redistribute the workload rather than just waiting for the bubble to burst. What the heck.

In the end, my application is now on it's way to the NVC, but I still need to get it to Bangkok quickly and I pray about that. My mothers cancer is in her brain now. I called her to let her know the news and her response to me was how much longer will it take I am worried I will not be here. I told her I am working it and I am sorry Mom it seems our Government sometimes just does not work the way we would expect it to. So, I will ask my Congressman's office for help again and pray again. I do believe without my Congressman's offices help, the upcoming show, the people on the forum like Suzie, I would not of gotten this far. Thank God for those people. I pray for all of us.

Regarding the questions sorrounding "Does the expedite follow it all the way through the embassy?" unfortunately, you have to start it all again, there is no measures or expedite jacket that will follow the approval. Seesm like they should have some thing, but not. The course of action is for me to continue to request support from my Congressman for help. This is what the USCIS, California Service Center told me. I am again stunned the right hand nver talks to the left, seems logical but it is not. However, I am going to continue to pray my congressman will help me get this done.

Today I got the best news I could ask for. After engaging my Senator and putting forward an expedite request, I was told today by the USCIS California Service Center my Fiancee VISA has been approved. My Senator will see that it get's expedited through the process to the US Embassy in Bangkok and that our interview date will get moved up so hopefully, cross my fingers, my Fiancee and I can marry before my mother passes. I could not of asked for better news. Thank to the help of this forum and the assistance of my Senator's office. I am speechless.

I just received the best news I could ask for today. After engaging my Senator and the help of this forum it appears my request for an expedite is being approved. My Senator has committed to seeing the expedite through the US embassy in Bangkok. I just got off the phone with my Mother and I am able to tell her the good news. I am hoping she is able to hang on. I am speechless and thankful but still have a ways to go.

This will definitely go out to the heart of Floridian's and to many. Let me see if I can do it justice in conveying the story to you. It is a real current situation.

The USCIS is reviewing my expedite request. It has taken them a little over month to get the details. Normally I would of not requested it, but my mother is dying from cancer and wants to see my fiancee and I married before she dies. Hope that happens, however, I am assuming we are minimal 2 months to 3 months out even if it goes quickly and mom is starting to show signs that things are getting worse. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, unable to opperate and it now has speard to her spine, brain, lung, liver and who knows where else. Looks like it is moving rapidly. Unfortunately she is also the caretaker for my 76 year old father and my 91 year old aunt and without her there, I will have to take care of them to keep them in their home they worked for their whole life for. I am making plans to temporalily reside there in Florida, not change my current address as I have a job where I can work form different places in the US, but to provide them security in their home. I sent off the heart felt request to the USCIS begging they help honor my Mothers wishes to us married before she passes and to allow my Fiancee and I to provide care for them as my Fiancee wants to help. My mother was a school bus driver and my father, a painter, both retired for a good number of years and have paid their dues in life. Anyway the USCIS requested additional information back on December 20th, 15 days after I sent the request, which I found to be some what unresponsive, but I provided a two page letter from me and the Doctors diagnosis, limited in detail because of Hippa laws. To date, I have heard nothing. I have made calls to the USCIS an been told literally "so what". Gee you think they would have a heart. Also, I called and was told they can not find my expedite request, so I faxed it to them again, pleading my case. Again, a week or so later I called the USCIS, now 5 months into my Fiancee Visa request asking for some update. At this point, I am told "nobdy has access to your case file and can tell you anything. Sit back and wait and we hope your Mom can live several months more, because it may take us some time to find your request. Say what? Find my request, your kidding. Nope, we do not see anything from you yet. At this point, I am speechless, begining to loose faith in anything happening and wondering what to tell my family. I can not imagine our Government being so unresponsive. I still pray I will make it in time and pray for a response, whatever it will be. I am not looking to bypass anyone but to just honor a life request. The last call I made this week, a kind woman from the USCIS practically was crying with me on the phone and said to me she was so sorry that the USCIS had not responded to me about my request. She read my plea and said she had recently lost her mother and would give anything to to do something her wanted to do for her. Well enough said, I thanked her and assured her this was not her fault but she felt compelled to me it is, because the USCIS should take ownership to answer the request. She had seen other requests for military personnel or ranking Gov officials that did not have anything like I was facing get approved quickly. Again, she appologized and said she was sorry. For now, I am left praying for help.

In the last week I have appealed to my congressman and so has my mother. There must be a better way.

I saw this update on the USCIS Website today. This may shed some light to why we are seeing the delays, but seems like more excuses to good management and making adjustments to better manage the process.

This was taken directly from their site at :

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Q : When can I expect USCIS to process my case?

USCIS processes applications in the order they are received by application type. Due to the significant increase in the number of applications filed, processing times have been affected. As a result, average processing times for certain application types filed after June 1, 2007, may become longer. For example:

Naturalization applications may take approximately 16-18 months to process;

Family-based adjustment of status applications may take 10-12 months; and

Immigrant petitions for relatives and workers may take 9-10 months.

Application processing times are accessible from the USCIS.gov homepage. Processing times are an estimate of how long it will take to complete your case. Each case is different, and some cases may take longer to process than others. You can use your receipt (I-797) to check the status of your case using Case Status Online. Please note that USCIS will only process requests for case status information if it is beyond posted processing times. We encourage you to check processing times, which are updated monthly, before inquiring about your case.

Seems poor management and planning given what they already knew was coming but I do understand there are struggles everyone faces, including the Governement. So, the question becomes is this a management and planning issue that could of been addressed or truly something different.

Hello everyone,

Here is the latest update I received after calling the USCIS and speaking with my Congressman's office. It appears they have steped up and are trying to help me. My mother's condition appears to be getting worse, but she is hanging in there. As a result, she has also contacted her Congressman as well. This is the recent reposnse I received from them shown below. I did censor the name of the contact as I want to protect their identity. I think it is good for others on this board to see in case they have some similiar situtation and/or other.

Response to me below:

Mr. Feagans,

I thought you should be aware that our office has sent an inquiry to the California Service Center regarding the request that your mother’s case receive expedited processing based on her condition. We are waiting to receive a response. Please check back with me on Friday afternoon if you have not heard from me by then. Thank you.

Sincerely,

XXXX XXXXXXXXX

Office of Senator Richard Lugar

1180 Market Tower

10 West Market Street

Indianapolis, IN

Crossing my fingers here. Again, please understand I am not looking to bypass any normal processing procedures but to hopefully provide a way for my family to take part in our marriage ceremony and be there for them. Thanks

My application was received in the mail room Sept 14th and was receipted by the CSC on October 31, 2007. Seems anything that goes through the mail will take one month or more before it is receipted. Mine has been touched two times but no NOA 2. My RFE was based on a expedite request filed in December 20th, followed on by an email requesting further information supporting it. I faxed and mailed the information. Waiting to hear.

Yes, I understand what you guys are saying. I am saying from the time they receive the petition in the mail to the time it is completed by USCIS. I am simply telling those people who are outside of that time, to get up and make some calls and/or inquire with their congressman/woman if it makse sense.

Exactly my point from date of receipt in mail to adjudication. It is not how long it takes the mail room to receive something. They appearently have commited and are telling congress the whole process is less than 6 months for many of you I do not see that to be true.

When inquiring with your congressman/congresswoman ( I want to politically correct here) make sure you ask for who handles Passport Immigration or VISA issues. In my case there was a longtime person who handles this and then escalates it to the congressman. Be sure they do not just put you into a vacum.

Hello everyone,

Recently, I had a conversation with my Congressman's office regarding the length of time many people are having to wait for their K-1 Visa's for their Fiancess. Interestingly, I was told congress had received a number of complaints about the delays. My congressman in particular has called the USCIS and was told in person and in writing that the majority of cases were being adjudicated from receipt in the mail to completion within six months. I informed them that this must not be true and that they should really ask for a more accurate report and/or evidence to support this. My congressman's office was also told the bulk load resulting for the recent price changes is now nearly stablized and they are heading back to getting the requests completed within their normal time of about 4 months. I explained that this could not be true again and requested they inquire further. My congressman's office agreed to call on my behalf the USCIS Monday to assertain what is happening with my expedite request and reverify the work load. Perhaps our congress does not really know the length it is taking. I was told if for some reson your Fiancees name hits some reference with the FBI it could take years for them to resolve this. Not good news. Just what I was told. Wonder what your congressman would tell you?

Thank you for your response. I see they have touched my file again today. They received it by mailed Sept 14th but did not receipt it until Oct 31, 2007. The mail room their takes 30 days , plus to open mail and distribute it or so they tell me.

Hopefully someone has received an expedite request like mine before.

Hello everyone,

Just an update here and perhaps some feedback from anyone who has received a approved expedite request would be helpful.

The USCIS is reviewing my expedite request. They touched it again today. It has taken them a little over month to get the details. Normally I would of not requested it, but my mother is dying from cancer and wants to see my fiancee and I married before she dies. Hope that happens, however, I am assuming we are minimal 2 months to 3 months out even if it goes quickly and mom is starting to show signs that things are rgetting worse. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, unable to opperate and it now has speard to her spine, brain, lung, liver and who knows where else. Looks like it is moving rapidly. Unfortunately she is also the caretaker for my 76 year old father and my 91 year old aunt and without her there, I will have to take care of them to keep them in their home they worked for their whole life for. I am making plans to temporalily reside there, not change address as I have a job where I can work form different places in the US, but to provide them security in their home. Anyway the USCIS requested additional information back on December 20th, which I provided a two page letter from me and the Doctors diagnosis, limited in detail because of Hippa laws.

Anyway, if we are lucky enough to get approved, I am seeking information from anyone who has gone through this process and has received an expedite approval to learn how I might get the rest of the process expeditied, not to cause problems. My hopes are that the expedite approval, if granted, will follow the the papers to the NVC and then to Bangkok Embassy. I have thought about contacting my Congressman and my mothers asking for them to look into this and see if they can help but have not done so as I am afraid my case will all of a sudden get delayed longer. Anyone with experience here please fill me in. I may call my congressman to get advice.

We did have a Budhist ceremony, not an official marriage in the sense of Thiialand or the US unless you file marriage papers in Thailand at the local Government office, which we did not. We did this for her family and it was wonderful. I talk to her twice to her a day in the morning and at night as she is waking up when I am about to go to bed. I have been learning Thai daily and she has been studying English.

Sawadee, waiting and hoping

Hello everyone,

Just an update here and perhaps some feedback from anyone who has received a approved expedite request would be helpful.

The USCIS is reviewing my expedite request. They touched it again today. It has taken them a little over month to get the details. Normally I would of not requested it, but my mother is dying from cancer and wants to see my fiancee and I married before she dies. Hope that happens, however, I am assuming we are minimal 2 months to 3 months out even if it goes quickly and mom is starting to show signs that things are rgetting worse. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, unable to opperate and it now has speard to her spine, brain, lung, liver and who knows where else. Looks like it is moving rapidly. Unfortunately she is also the caretaker for my 76 year old father and my 91 year old aunt and without her there, I will have to take care of them to keep them in their home they worked for their whole life for. I am making plans to temporalily reside there, not change address as I have a job where I can work form different places in the US, but to provide them security in their home. Anyway the USCIS requested additional information back on December 20th, which I provided a two page letter from me and the Doctors diagnosis, limited in detail because of Hippa laws.

Anyway, if we are lucky enough to get approved, I am seeking information from anyone who has gone through this process and has received an expedite approval to learn how I might get the rest of the process expeditied, not to cause problems. My hopes are that the expedite approval, if granted, will follow the the papers to the NVC and then to Bangkok Embassy. I have thought about contacting my Congressman and my mothers asking for them to look into this and see if they can help but have not done so as I am afraid my case will all of a sudden get delayed longer. Anyone with experience here please fill me in. I may call my congressman to get advice.

We did have a Budhist ceremony, not an official marriage in the sense of Thiialand or the US unless you file marriage papers in Thailand at the local Government office, which we did not. We did this for her family and it was wonderful. I talk to her twice to her a day in the morning and at night as she is waking up when I am about to go to bed. I have been learning Thai daily and she has been studying English.

Sawadee, waiting and hoping

Just found this out last night: There will be no immigrant or fiance visa interviews at the Bangkok embassy during the month of February. Interviews will resume in March. I'm thankful we're set for 1/31, but also disappointed for those of you still waiting for your interview date/time. Want to make sure you can plan accordingly.

Good luck to all!

Taxas Farang,

Happy for you and your fiancee,

Boy I am hoping that the Febuary interviews do not push back everyone's timeline but it could. Good luck to you and I did use a US based attorney who resides in Thailand to help my fiancee through the process, but I am learning a lot through this forum. My Thai Fiancee is from Sakaeo near the Cambodian border and likes to eat frequently. I think all of us who have a Thai fiancee can relate to that statement, but she never gains a pound. Gee how do they do it. Good luck to you.

By the way they can sleep mak mak.

Thank you all for welcoming Nic and I. Looking at everyone's timeline should prepare me for the possibility my Fiancee will not make it in time, in either event my mother will always be with me in spirit. I will keep the faith and hope that something will happen to speed the process up but as I see many of you have had some lengthy times. This forum will be good for us to share our experience and as I grow learning from all here, I look forward to giving back to others that are waiting in line in the future.

It is the late night calls, the wisper of her voice and the planned trips to see her again that make my day.

Hello I my fiancee and I are new to the forum. Like the rest we are trying to hang in there while we wait endlessly it seems for her VISA to the US. I sent my 129 on September 14 and unfortunately it took them till October 31, 2007 to enter it as received. The return receipt took nearly 4 weeks alone. My file has been touched on December 26, 2007, as I filed an expedite request due to my mother who is soon to pass away from cancer (likely in the next 4 months or so) and would like to see us married before she does. My mother is also the caretaker for my 76 year old Father and 91 year old Aunt ( who I believe is 93 and lies about her age still) who are pretty much home bound and rely on family support that I hope my Fiancee and I will be able to provide for the interim term while we address how to keep them in their home. Not sure what will happen with the request but praying about it. I did hire an attorney, Brian Wright of my Thai Fiancee to help with the process back and to make sure I did not miss anything. Late nights and calls keep me close.