Juan Carlos

Hello, Andy! Welcome to the Juarez forum.

Here you will find a lot of people who can give you first hand testimony on what goes on during the medical exam and the actual interview. I am also going through your same process, so at this point there isn't much I can tell you.

The one thing I can say is that if you really want to read about several exams and interviews, you should read this whole forum from start to finish. I am still stock at page 38, but I have already learned about interviews gone wrong and medical exams which also went very wrong (of course, most are stories with happy endings). So, if you want my advice, read this forum. It will be worth it.

Good luck with your process!

Hello, UCLA_Cutie! Well... I am in waiting mode. My case left NVC last Wednesday and for the first time in this process, I've decided to simply give it 3 weeks before calling, emailing, and wondering if my papers got lost in a dark obscure USPS room (guess I am still recovering from my traumatic experience with the CSC).

In the mean time, I've been reading this forum from post 1. Wow! I would've never imagined that you've been here since the beginning (literally), UCLA_Cutie! Thanks for hanging around and continue to share with us your story and what you've learned.

So far I've only read the first 38 pages, but it's been enough to feel excited and anxious and nervous and happy for those who already got their visas.

Ok... back to page 38. At this rate, I should finish reading the forum by the time I get some news from CDJ.

Juan Carlos

Hello, Math Man!

As with everything that has to do with immigration, timelines vary widely from one case to the other. I read of a CR1 case being approved in 4 months... others have waited 8-9. But here is a link with all the stats of how long those cases are taking.

Hope it helps!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...r1cr1historical

Juan Carlos.

Thanks for the advice, Joey and YGrandMAT. I will start calling the consulate once a week starting next Friday. Yes, I know it may be a little too much, and I may have to spend some money on those phone calls... but right now the only thing I can think of is the date for our interview. So I think it will be worth it!!

Thanks for the advice!

Juan Carlos.

Joey_77... what Gaby&Talbert told you is correct. Your biggest concern should be the insurance and the rental car company. I just wanted to add that the map on Google Maps is pretty accurate for Juarez, so you may want to consider it as an option to find your way around Juarez.

There are four bridges that cross from the US into Juarez, but the one I recommend is the one called "Puente Libre". If you are comming from San Antonio, you will have to take exit 22B on I-10. (I don't remember if it is 22A or 22B... but there is a big sign). That exit will take you straight into Juarez and very very close to the consulate.

Now, I have a very basic question... yesterday my case left the NVC. I've read about some people celebrating when the file is received by the consulate. How do you find when the consulate receives your case? By calling their 900 number? In that case, how long would you advice me to wait before calling? (calling NVC is free, but that 900 charges 1.25 per minute, right?).

Thanks!

Juan Carlos.

Hello, Nita!

I'll be honest with you. I didn't ask about my I-130. The first time I reached an operator (by pressing 1, then 2), I asked if the automated system would give me an update or if I needed to reach an operator. She told me the automated system doesn't work for K3 visas. After that I stopped trying to get an update through the automated system.

Last monday I was getting a bit worried, and I asked them if my worries were justivied and if I should call CSC again. They said it was very common for a case to take 3 - 4 weeks to reach NVC.

The one thing I can tell you is that my case hasn't been touched since it was approved (only once, the day after, which seems pretty common). So if your case was still touched on 4/8, then there is something else going on.... hmmmmmm.... have you received your approval notice?

Hey! Thanks a lot for the quick response. I'll go to page 140 immediately. Now... we are already married, so I the intent to marry should no longer apply to us. On top of your head, do you remember any other things that may not apply to us?

Thank you!!!

Good morning, guys!

Let me introduce myself as the newest member of the Juarez Consulate club. My wife is from Colombia and we got married in Colombia... but happens she is currently living in Mexico. So... according to the NVC, my case will be forwarded to Mexico. I will need all the help you can give me with this process, for I had read, learned and studied everything required by the consulate in Bogota... now I need to quickly get up to speed with the requirements at the consulate in Juarez.

On the other hand, I am living in El Paso, TX and she is living in Juarez... so the consulate is 5 minutes away from her apartment. If I can help anyone of you with questions about the city, hotels, etc. just let me know.

Interview... here we go!!!

Hello, everyone!

Just to let you know my case was received on 4/14 by NVC. Finally!!!!

Hello, Nita...

Yes, I guess we are VERY special, he he. I've been reading several forums about NVC not getting approved petitions. Most of them agree that if you don't hear anything from NVC after four weeks, it is time to call CSC again. Most of the times your papers are simply lost and they have to request them from the National Records Center, and the forward them to NVC. So... for the next 10 days I'll ve calling NVC. If nothing shows up, I'll be calling my CSC friends, once again.

AAahhmmm... one day, this will all be over... and we'll be able to look back and remember these days of uncertainty and emotional rollercoaster. But we are closer, Nita!!

I'll let you know if anything comes up.

Juan Carlos.

Nita... no news on my side from NVC. Any news on your side?

Thanks a lot for your advice, Diana and CG. Time to get new documents!!!

Hello, Colombia Club! I have a question for you. On the embassy web page, it says I should bring: "her birth certificate. The copy of the Folio is required. The date/place of birth and the names of the parents must be shown on the certificate"

What I have in my hands is a Registro de Nacimiento. (Republica de Colombia, Registro Civil, Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro). The certificate dates back from November 2006. On the upper left corner it has a number (7 digits). I hope that is the folio. It clearly states her parent's names... but not their date/place of birth. What do you think? Is this the document we need, or is there another certificate with date/place of birth from her parents?

Thanks!

Juan Carlos.

Congratulations on NVC receiving your cases, CG and K32007!

My case was approved 6 days after yours, CG, so I am hopefull I'll be able to hear something from NVC within the next couple of weeks. So far, I've mostly been calling their automated system. The answer I get: "We have no information on your case". Starting tomorrow, I'll try with the 1-2 options in their menu.

Thanks for the update!!

Juan Carlos.

Hello, Nita!

On the batch next week? That would be awesome! Anyway, if we were able to wait CSC for 10+ months, waiting a few weeks on NVC doesn't seem like a big deal.

About your K3... I don't want to give any false hopes, or any missinformation, but I've read cases where the K3 was supposedly dead and all of a sudden they received the approval. I am specifically talking about the case of a user named "DevineMercy", from the K3 thread (Deb knows her well). I guess you never really know what will happen with USCIS.

In any case, you are right. If your spouse can come to the US as a resident (and not under the K3), in the long term you will it be much better.

Ok... I am ready for next week!! Thanks for the info, Nita!

Juan Carlos.

Any new cases received by NVC? Come on, NVC!!!!

Congratulations, Nita!!!

Well deserved!! I am glad to see your process is moving along!!!

Now, a quick question for everyone else: today I've been calling the NVC and I get a busy signal. Only once the call went through. Do you know if this is normal, or are they having trouble with their phones? Also, for the K3 visa, would the automated system be able to tell me if they have received my case, or do I need to get a hold of an operator?

Thanks and... congratulations again, Nita!!

Nita,

Yes, both my I-130 and my I-129F got approved. The one thing I noticed is that they seem to be going by the date of your I-129F and not the date of your I-130. In other words... your case is not even outside their processing times!! It should get approved soon!!

Gogo,

To be honest with you, I never got to see the memo. The lawyer I called explained to me USCIS published recently a document where they were committed to clear all the cases that have been waiting for 6+ months on a Security check by mid March. Of course, the date came by and USCIS was not able to clear its backlog. But apparently they still have the intention of processing all of the 6+ month Security Check cases.

Now, here is the confusing part: this lawyer was extremely surprised to find out I was selected for a Security Check this early in the process, and he was trying to make the distinction between a "Security Background Check" and a "Security Check"

- Security Background Check, according to this lawyer, this is the normal FBI name check, fingerprints, IBIS and all that good stuff. But it only happens when you are either applying for an Adjustment of Status or Applying for Citizenship. He said in his experience this normally never happens when you are just applying for an I-130 / I-129F visa (without adjustment of status). This is the backlog USCIS was trying to clear before mid march.

- Security Check. According to this lawyer, by using the RFE trick, I basically got information that I shouldn't. According to him, those Security checks are processes triggered by USCIS internal audits. In other words, they are not checking your background or the background of your wife, but their internal employees!! (making sure there is no fraud and that they are not approving cases when they shouldn't)

Now, if what he told me is true, then it would be completely unfair that an internal audit would affects anyone's case. As usual, I took the words from this lawyer with a grain of salt, and only believed 50% of what he told me. If you are interested, I can gladly give you his contact information, although I am sure such a memo would be big news and should be easy to find on the internet.

The one thing he clarified is that the memo applied not only to citizenship cases, but to any case with a Security Background Check due to an adjustment of status.

Hope this helps, Gogo.

Hey, Lurking, thanks a lot for adding me to your chart. I believe there is a small typo: date for NOA2 should be 3/25/08, instead of 8/25/08. It would've been a nightmare to wait until August!! Can you please make the change?

Thanks for maintaining this great chart!!

Congrats JC,

Looks like we'll be in Bogota around the same time. Make sure to read the Colombia Club thread under the Foreign Embassies section.

See you in Colombia, my friend! Thanks for the tip on the Colombia Club.

Hello, Lurking! Do you mind adding my case to your list?

Miriam + Juan Carlos

CSC

I129F sent July 30th, 07

NOA1 August 21st, 07

NOA2 March 25th, 08

thanks a lot!!!

Hello, Colombia club!!! I've been away for a while, for I was stuck in the NOA1 to NOA2 process. 300 days + !! I was geting ready to write letters to Senators, learning about Writ of Mandamus... and a whole bunch of stuff I am sure you don't want to hear about. But the good news is today I got approoooved!!!

Which means... I will be in that consulate any time now!!!!! Back in November I read all the postings in this forum... I had a pretty good idea on what I had to do. Now (obviously) I forgot the whole thing. So I need to start reading again, but I would appreciate any help you can give me.

You can't imagine how happy I am feeling right now!!!! I'll be soon in Colombiaaaa!!!

Hello, guys!! Have some great news for you.... I JUST GOT APPROVED!!!

Time to update that chart!! I can't believe it!!! As a matter of fact, I just did a print out of the "approval notice" from USCIS in case the whole internet disappears or something. In any case, those print outs are quite useful, for I still can't believe this happened and I am taking a look at them every 20 seconds or so.

Nita... this morning, before receiving the good news, I was on the phone with a couple of lawyers. You know, I recommend you get in touch with a good law firm, specially if they are part of the AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association). Today I learned that those guys have regular meetings at the service centers, and they can do a liaison inquiry on a particular case. So... it could be worth giving it a shot. If it happened to me, it could happen to you!!!

-- Aisha!!! Time to celebrate!!

My friends.... I don't know exactly how, or when, or why or the details... but I just got APPROVED!!!

Just got my two emails, both for my I-130 and my I-129F. I am sooooooo happy!! And the best thing is that in the process I've made some really good friends here.

Now, if only Gogo could get his approval.... I know exactly in what kind of nightmare he is in. Today (before receiving the good news) I was speaking with a couple of lawyers, and they both mentioned some memo or some procedure which just got approved, there USCIS committed to approve all security checks before 6 months. Gogo, maybe it is time for you to call a lawyer. This morning they suggested a few things I had never considered before.

Ok... let me go back to do my jumping....

Hello, Gogo,

As you know I am following your footsteps. Two days ago I learned my case is under Security Check. It's been enough to lose all my sleep. You have no idea how hard it was to give this notice to my wife. But I am prepared to go all the way with this process... no matter how long it takes. 5 years? I am ready!! (of course, I won't complain if it gets solved in weeks).

I've been reading a lot about the Writ of Mandamus. I don't remember exactly where, but I read USCIS Security Checks are different from FBI checks. For one thing, they don't have your biometric data (never took fingerprints). So that could be the reason why the FBI tells you no one has requested information about you, yet you are under "Security Checks".

I found a couple of lawyers on the internet who claim to have experience in Writ of Mandamus:

http://www.smossmanlaw.com/delays.html (I already sent an email to this one. I'll let you know how it goes)

http://www.immigrationlawsuits.com/writofmandamus.html

About the steps I will take...

1. Last February sent letter to my senator (no response)

2. March 20th sent letter to Congressman

3. March 25th have call with lawyer

4. March 25th depending on how call goes with lawyer, I may send letter to Ombudsman, First Lady, President and Presidential candidates

5. April 20th Call CSC again to find status of case

6. May 20th Call CSC again. Hopefully by then I should have a response from the Senador / congressman / anyone

7. Early June. 1year anniversary of my case. WOM?

Any other ideas?