av8or1

Thanks wbeem. Some of us are fast approaching your pseudo-record if you will. 220 days today for me. Best possible scenario is an approval tomorrow (HAH!) and that would make it 221. Sigh. I agree, the USCIS and TSC are definitely NOT invited to the wedding nor the baby shower (if we have one of the latter).

Another VJer mentioned this and I just may swipe their idea: once all of this is over I am seriously considering sending the USCIS and the TSC an invoice for all of the additional expenses that we have incurred due to the processing time imbalance and excessive delays. Obviously they'll do nothing with it, but it might (maybe, dunno) make me feel just a little better. LOL

AUGUST 23RD???!?!?!?!?! AUGUST 23RD?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ARE YOU MOTHER F****** KIDDING ME???????!?!?
Sorry, just can't control myself over that BS! Well actually I can, but I don't wanna, this is cr@p!!

AUGUST 23RD???!?!?!?!?! AUGUST 23RD?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ARE YOU MOTHER F****** KIDDING ME???????!?!?
Sorry, just can't control myself over that BS! Well actually I can, but I don't wanna, this is cr@p!!

AUGUST 23RD???!?!?!?!?! AUGUST 23RD?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ARE YOU MOTHER F****** KIDDING ME???????!?!?
Sorry, just can't control myself over that BS! Well actually I can, but I don't wanna, this is cr@p!!

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT UPDATE
Some of you may recall that the Skunkworks team sent a letter to president Obama requesting his help in balancing the I-129F processing times between the CSC and TSC. I penned it, KD proofed it and other team members viewed it. I FedEx'd it in early February. We definitely had our share of doubters right here on VJ, but we marched on anyway. Once the announcement came that the USCIS would shift processing of some of its petitions, there was some speculation as to whether or not our efforts helped bring about that change. Well just as a complete FYI, we now have proof that it did. Today I received the attached letter from the USCIS HQ that specifically addressed the letter I wrote to the White House. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but personally I feel that our efforts were definitely not in vain and that if you choose to stand up and try to affect change, you can. IMHO we helped bring the transfer to fruition; it seems unlikely that the change will do much to help us who were involved, but even if it only helps others who file in the future, I - and I feel certain that the other Skunkworks team members would agree - consider that a victory, and well worth the nearly 80+ hours that I invested into it.
FWIW.
ps-It's clear that the USCIS knows who I am, lol! And I am also the one who spoke with the director of the entire USCIS, Mr. Leon Rodriguez, concerning the I-129F processing time imbalance during the public conference call that they conducted a couple of months ago. I just hope that I haven't gotten "on their radar" somehow and have been shoved to the very back of the TSC processing queue as a result! I realize that this is rather highly unlikely, but it's kinda funny to think about in a way; after all it's been 7 months for me as of today and I'm still waiting. LOL!

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT UPDATE
Some of you may recall that the Skunkworks team sent a letter to president Obama requesting his help in balancing the I-129F processing times between the CSC and TSC. I penned it, KD proofed it and other team members viewed it. I FedEx'd it in early February. We definitely had our share of doubters right here on VJ, but we marched on anyway. Once the announcement came that the USCIS would shift processing of some of its petitions, there was some speculation as to whether or not our efforts helped bring about that change. Well just as a complete FYI, we now have proof that it did. Today I received the attached letter from the USCIS HQ that specifically addressed the letter I wrote to the White House. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but personally I feel that our efforts were definitely not in vain and that if you choose to stand up and try to affect change, you can. IMHO we helped bring the transfer to fruition; it seems unlikely that the change will do much to help us who were involved, but even if it only helps others who file in the future, I - and I feel certain that the other Skunkworks team members would agree - consider that a victory, and well worth the nearly 80+ hours that I invested into it.
FWIW.
ps-It's clear that the USCIS knows who I am, lol! And I am also the one who spoke with the director of the entire USCIS, Mr. Leon Rodriguez, concerning the I-129F processing time imbalance during the public conference call that they conducted a couple of months ago. I just hope that I haven't gotten "on their radar" somehow and have been shoved to the very back of the TSC processing queue as a result! I realize that this is rather highly unlikely, but it's kinda funny to think about in a way; after all it's been 7 months for me as of today and I'm still waiting. LOL!

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT UPDATE
Some of you may recall that the Skunkworks team sent a letter to president Obama requesting his help in balancing the I-129F processing times between the CSC and TSC. I penned it, KD proofed it and other team members viewed it. I FedEx'd it in early February. We definitely had our share of doubters right here on VJ, but we marched on anyway. Once the announcement came that the USCIS would shift processing of some of its petitions, there was some speculation as to whether or not our efforts helped bring about that change. Well just as a complete FYI, we now have proof that it did. Today I received the attached letter from the USCIS HQ that specifically addressed the letter I wrote to the White House. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but personally I feel that our efforts were definitely not in vain and that if you choose to stand up and try to affect change, you can. IMHO we helped bring the transfer to fruition; it seems unlikely that the change will do much to help us who were involved, but even if it only helps others who file in the future, I - and I feel certain that the other Skunkworks team members would agree - consider that a victory, and well worth the nearly 80+ hours that I invested into it.
FWIW.
ps-It's clear that the USCIS knows who I am, lol! And I am also the one who spoke with the director of the entire USCIS, Mr. Leon Rodriguez, concerning the I-129F processing time imbalance during the public conference call that they conducted a couple of months ago. I just hope that I haven't gotten "on their radar" somehow and have been shoved to the very back of the TSC processing queue as a result! I realize that this is rather highly unlikely, but it's kinda funny to think about in a way; after all it's been 7 months for me as of today and I'm still waiting. LOL!

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT UPDATE
Some of you may recall that the Skunkworks team sent a letter to president Obama requesting his help in balancing the I-129F processing times between the CSC and TSC. I penned it, KD proofed it and other team members viewed it. I FedEx'd it in early February. We definitely had our share of doubters right here on VJ, but we marched on anyway. Once the announcement came that the USCIS would shift processing of some of its petitions, there was some speculation as to whether or not our efforts helped bring about that change. Well just as a complete FYI, we now have proof that it did. Today I received the attached letter from the USCIS HQ that specifically addressed the letter I wrote to the White House. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but personally I feel that our efforts were definitely not in vain and that if you choose to stand up and try to affect change, you can. IMHO we helped bring the transfer to fruition; it seems unlikely that the change will do much to help us who were involved, but even if it only helps others who file in the future, I - and I feel certain that the other Skunkworks team members would agree - consider that a victory, and well worth the nearly 80+ hours that I invested into it.
FWIW.
ps-It's clear that the USCIS knows who I am, lol! And I am also the one who spoke with the director of the entire USCIS, Mr. Leon Rodriguez, concerning the I-129F processing time imbalance during the public conference call that they conducted a couple of months ago. I just hope that I haven't gotten "on their radar" somehow and have been shoved to the very back of the TSC processing queue as a result! I realize that this is rather highly unlikely, but it's kinda funny to think about in a way; after all it's been 7 months for me as of today and I'm still waiting. LOL!

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT UPDATE
Some of you may recall that the Skunkworks team sent a letter to president Obama requesting his help in balancing the I-129F processing times between the CSC and TSC. I penned it, KD proofed it and other team members viewed it. I FedEx'd it in early February. We definitely had our share of doubters right here on VJ, but we marched on anyway. Once the announcement came that the USCIS would shift processing of some of its petitions, there was some speculation as to whether or not our efforts helped bring about that change. Well just as a complete FYI, we now have proof that it did. Today I received the attached letter from the USCIS HQ that specifically addressed the letter I wrote to the White House. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but personally I feel that our efforts were definitely not in vain and that if you choose to stand up and try to affect change, you can. IMHO we helped bring the transfer to fruition; it seems unlikely that the change will do much to help us who were involved, but even if it only helps others who file in the future, I - and I feel certain that the other Skunkworks team members would agree - consider that a victory, and well worth the nearly 80+ hours that I invested into it.
FWIW.
ps-It's clear that the USCIS knows who I am, lol! And I am also the one who spoke with the director of the entire USCIS, Mr. Leon Rodriguez, concerning the I-129F processing time imbalance during the public conference call that they conducted a couple of months ago. I just hope that I haven't gotten "on their radar" somehow and have been shoved to the very back of the TSC processing queue as a result! I realize that this is rather highly unlikely, but it's kinda funny to think about in a way; after all it's been 7 months for me as of today and I'm still waiting. LOL!

sometimes coming to this site pisses me off. Not by the people who post here but how we are treated or our cases are treated. The new applications being sent to CSC is such BS. I am outraged. They will in turn have a shorter approval time and those who are at TSC are stuck. I image that people who filed now in April and will file in May- they will end up getting approved before my case.
I almost want to kick myself for not waiting to file.
I sometimes wonder who makes these decisions and how they come up with - oh hey let's send new applications to CSC to get processed faster than those who have already been waiting months at TSC and will continue to wait. Who cares about them..
ughhh sorry had to vent. Makes me SICK

Reportedly. Ethline has said that this is what happened to her. I'm gonna be up talking with Elena at that time, well usually I'm up then, so we'll see. Not counting on it, but it would be a nice surprise. LOL

Reportedly. Ethline has said that this is what happened to her. I'm gonna be up talking with Elena at that time, well usually I'm up then, so we'll see. Not counting on it, but it would be a nice surprise. LOL

Yeah Sandra, I agree. Such a woefully abysmal update would indeed suck a$$. Thank you for the thoughts regarding our son. We're focusing on the good associated with that life (changing) event and trying to stay positive. Funny, but Elena recently learned the meaning and significance of the word effing and uses it on occasion when we speak about our petition. And she's not one to swear much, if at all, so it means something when she does. LOL It will most definitely blow wind if I have to return without them, even for a short time, simply because of the hacked-up mess that is the TSC/USCIS and the severe processing times imbalance.
That said, in one regard all is good though. We have a baby boy on the way and it's difficult to not be excited about that. Both grandmas are going crazy. LOL
I've long since had everything prepared for the fiance visa interview, so I've been working on the CRBA stuff. Kinda got that together too, though I've been making copies of everything in triplicate, which is mundane, time-consuming manual work, but that somehow passes the time a little easier 'cause such work is done in the context of being prepared for the upcoming phases of our respective petitions' overall processes.
Anyway.....anyone else finding themselves making extra copies or putting everything onto a flash drive to prepare? LOL I have everything we need, short of her medical and the detailed information of our son's birth (cause it hasn't happened yet), copied in triplicate and stored on flash drives. So I can say to the CO "would you like that in paper or electronic form? Or both?" LOL
In the big picture that won't matter of course, but it does help pass the time, as I mentioned. Crazy what you do to fill it when your a TSC filer, right?

I thought K-1 was "come and let's get married visa", not a "come and let's see if we wanna get married..."

Look folk, why all the fuss? They can request originals of anything as an RFE, it isn't limited to letters of intent. The instructions clearly state that copies are acceptable and that if you submit originals they will remain with the file and not returned. So I held onto my originals the first times I filed and sent copies of everything. No issues. Did the same thing this time around, not expecting any RFEs, though it could happen, and for any copy of anything in the packet. A document is only original once, after that it is technically a duplicate. So I chose to go with copies. Not saying that this is "the correct" choice, just saying that it's acceptable to the USCIS. If you chose to send only originals for everything, that's ok, but don't say that it's required cause it isn't. And I know that some of you haven't said that it's required, only recommended. And the recommendation is so that they don't RFE you for originals. As others have said, the associated probability of that happening is quite low.
But anyway, just my $.02. Don't flame me because I don't agree, please. Let's just respectfully agree to disagree. LOL
As always, decide for yourself. YMMV

Yeah I just received an email from Congressman Carter's office that they are transferring a bunch of petitions, so maybe our efforts to raise awareness worked! Who knows, but at least some transfers are taking place, which is a good thing!

Well there is some confusion here regarding who is who. Are you the beneficiary (the person for whom the petition was filed)? In the context of the I-129F there are two people, the US citizen who files (the petitioner) and the foreign national for whom the petition is filed (the beneficiary). The petitioner will complete the I-134, yes. Military or not-military won't matter. The beneficiary will need to have a medical exam completed. If the beneficiary has access to their immunization history, get that sometime before the medical exam. Note that the medical cannot be completed until a case number is assigned. And a case number won't be assigned until your petition reaches the NVC. And that won't happen until after it is approved in the service center (and you receive your NOA2). In addition, the beneficiary should also obtain a copy of their police record prior to the interview. And make certain that the validity period of the police record will include your interview date. It wouldn't be good to show up at the interview with an expired police record. In the case of Russia for example, the validity period is one year.

Well there is nothing to collect for the NOA2. That is simply a letter (and email/text if you included the G-1145) that notifies you that your petition is approved. Note that there is a distinction between your petition being approved and your fiance (K1) visa being approved. The first is done by the service center and the second is done by the consulate/embassy. The documents that you'll gather now are for the interview. There is some variance depending on the consulate/embassy in question, but there are some common elements too, such as the medical and the I-134, along with proof that you and your fiance have maintained your on-going relationship.
What are you confused about in particular?

No. Copies are acceptable, but they can request the originals at any time and therefore it would be good if the petitioner had the originals on-hand. I had my fiancee DHL me all of the stuff that she had to sign, made copies of that, submitted the copies and kept the originals in the file. The DHL shipment only took 5 days and that was from Moscow, so I'd think that from the Philippines it would be similar...

Thanks wbeem!

Thanks wbeem!

KD has reported that her petition was transferred! She is a December filer. Please note that she needed to call into the hotline to hear the news. Therefore some of you may want to follow suit and make the same call.
But it is clear that transfers are happening. So let us know if you are transferred!

Interesting news. I just spoke with my contact in my local congressman's office. She called the TSC this morning and spoke with a supervisor to get a better idea of what is happening with these transfers. I don't have much time at the moment to write a detailed post, but here are the highlights of what she learned:
1) The TSC was most definitely slowed by DACA, of this there was no doubt
2) The TSC continues to be slowed by the employment visas, either the 2-year renewal or AOS flavor
3) The I-129F petitions that are to be transferred will go to the CSC
4) The TSC has recently hired a whole slew of new adjudicators
5) Once those adjudicators are trained, processing times are expected to decrease
Personally I think that #4 and #5 are of particular interest to more recent I-129F filers. Perhaps, and I do mean perhaps, you won't have to wait as long as we have. All of this is TBD, clearly, but hopefully it helps fill in the picture for a lot of you.
FWIW.

Interesting news. I just spoke with my contact in my local congressman's office. She called the TSC this morning and spoke with a supervisor to get a better idea of what is happening with these transfers. I don't have much time at the moment to write a detailed post, but here are the highlights of what she learned:
1) The TSC was most definitely slowed by DACA, of this there was no doubt
2) The TSC continues to be slowed by the employment visas, either the 2-year renewal or AOS flavor
3) The I-129F petitions that are to be transferred will go to the CSC
4) The TSC has recently hired a whole slew of new adjudicators
5) Once those adjudicators are trained, processing times are expected to decrease
Personally I think that #4 and #5 are of particular interest to more recent I-129F filers. Perhaps, and I do mean perhaps, you won't have to wait as long as we have. All of this is TBD, clearly, but hopefully it helps fill in the picture for a lot of you.
FWIW.