PsychoGF

CR1 I just got my interview email saying my wife's interview is on May 23rd!  Is it normal that we wouldn't have to schedule it...?

Finally!  Felt like we were going to wait forever.  Congrats to y'all

Got interview date for my husband, for May 2!
Congrats to us and all of those who got the ILs!
And yes, this is actually the normal way - us getting an interview date rather than scheduling it. 
The only reason some need to schedule their own is because they were "auto-expedited". MNL embassy is trying to clear their backlogs.
But this is how things should be.
 

Got interview date for my husband, for May 2!
Congrats to us and all of those who got the ILs!
And yes, this is actually the normal way - us getting an interview date rather than scheduling it. 
The only reason some need to schedule their own is because they were "auto-expedited". MNL embassy is trying to clear their backlogs.
But this is how things should be.
 

I am happy for everyone who got expedited. At the same time, I am here wondering when my case will move forward. I am a CR1, DQ'd in June 26, 2023 (IR1 in less than a month). I cant stop but feel betrayed by this system again. I mean I am happy for the ones who got expedited, but I thought it was first in-first out. I get it, I am CR1. Does that mean I have to wait till I get converted to IR1 before I hear something? if that's the case then remove CR1 category and just do straight IR1. Anyway.....my apologies, Im ranting....
 

I hope so! Prayers for us! I just realized you and your partner will also turn IR1 on June. Same here, except we will turn IR1 June 18.
We've been DQed since May 26 though. Anyhow, Let's keep each other updated!
At the rate things are going, getting approved in USCIS faster just seems to be futile 😭

I got a feeling we're up soon.  This is the most movement we've seen in a while. 

Haven't seen any CR1s move at all. So unfair how they keep saying that it's FIFO yet there are still May DQs who haven't received any kind of update.

A bunch of IR1's just got auto expedited between May 2023 and Oct 2023....Unfortunately, no news on CR1's yet.

My husband's CR1 and got DQ in May. Still no IL.
If they're pushing for CR1s to convert to IR1s first, a lot of May DQs will be skipped then. example is my husband, he'll only be converted to IR1 on June 🥲 and I know a couple more who got DQed in May but won't be IR1 till a bit later
Defeats their statement of doing FIFO accd to DQed dates
 
Btw, does anybody know if the beneficiary arrives exactly on the 2nd yr anniv date, will the GC still be automatically converted or do they have to wait for at least one more day?
Asking for a friend

Here is something I found that might give you a clue.  Found this on the travel.state.gov FAQ:
 
If the poverty guidelines change between the time the petitioner signed the Affidavit of Support and the issuance of an immigrant visa, must the petitioner/sponsor and joint sponsor, if required, submit a new Form I-864?
No, the Form I-864 remains valid indefinitely unless evidence of failure to meet the poverty guidelines in effect on the date of I-864 filing arises. The consular officer will determine whether the income claimed by the sponsor and documented with financial evidence meets the poverty guidelines in effect at the time the I-864 was filed. If the income claimed does not meet the poverty guidelines, then the consular officer may request that the sponsor submit current year income information.
 
I would send copies of your transcripts and last few paystubs just in case, but your husband shouldn't volunteer the documents during the interview if not asked.

I would absolutely upload to CEAC and have the beneficiary take the most current tax year information. Prior to the tax filing deadline the IO might or might not request it; however, USEM does explicitly state, “…a photocopy of the sponsor’s most recent IRS transcript, or most recent tax return and any relevant W-2s, if the transcript is unavailable.” 
 
It would be very unfortunate to have any further delay due to unpreparedness. 
 
As mentioned in USEM’s interview information quoted above, photocopies of these documents are acceptable. No wet signature is necessary.

One thing's for sure that there's movement and eventually, all of us leftovers will be done as well. There's really nothing we can do at this point but to be positive.
 
Thank you for your insights. I actually already advised my friend that what they wanted was quite risky and that entering the US a day later wouldn't be so bad. I guess they just wanted to make their anniversary extra special 😅
I, for one, wouldn't care too much as long as I get my husband here with me soon (better if he gets IR1 though)

Suggest for them to make a stop in a different country for a couple of days on the way to USA and make their anniversary extra special that way.

As far as I know IR1/CR1 is determined by date of entry, not by interview date.  So both categories should be treated the same during the interview.
 
Maybe I read that wrong somewhere (?)

I don't think there is any consideration or difference of treatment scheduling between CR or IR.  Fewer CR's and many more IR is just a side effect of the embassies slowness.
 
Looking at CR's and IR's that reported got interview letters today, I think they literally stopped on May 25 and you previously said your husband was May 26.  There was two cases that with May 24 DQ dates that said they DID get interview letters.  At least one other May 26 DQ IR5 case that said they certainly DID NOT receive an interview letter either, as well as several May 30 and later cases without interview letters.
 
I 'think' if you arrived in the US exactly on the second anniversary you are still IR1 but I sure wouldn't want to be the one to put that to the test.  I think it would be a really good idea to wait the extra day just to be safe.

Worst case scenario,  just wait in the airport till one minute past midnight, then go through immigration (?)  IMHO, I would wait to fly in the day after, perhaps take an extended layover.  I know with Korean Airlines, I have options for  3.5 or 15 hour layovers for Chicago/Manila flights.

My husband's CR1 and got DQ in May. Still no IL.
If they're pushing for CR1s to convert to IR1s first, a lot of May DQs will be skipped then. example is my husband, he'll only be converted to IR1 on June 🥲 and I know a couple more who got DQed in May but won't be IR1 till a bit later
Defeats their statement of doing FIFO accd to DQed dates
 
Btw, does anybody know if the beneficiary arrives exactly on the 2nd yr anniv date, will the GC still be automatically converted or do they have to wait for at least one more day?
Asking for a friend

I think it took at least 4 months of reaching out to NVC back and forth. Your friend should email pay.gov, give them all info and ask for the receipt copy of both payments (NVC will ask for this later on). Your friend can use it to email NVC. 
I did all that but most likely they will still reply with unnecessary comments. Although don't lose hope from there. Probably cos I repeatedly emailed NVC with all documentation and proofs, they suddenly emailed me one day stating 'Due to a system error, it is possible you paid your Immigrant Visa fee and/or Affidavit of Support fee twice. You may request a refund if you made one of these duplicate payments between (date) and (date)'.
Once they get this kind of email, they're in. there will be instructions on what proofs/docu are needed. They just need to follow that and NVC will surely process their refund. 
If yall need more help, I can pm screenshots of NVC email for better reference 😊

I think it took at least 4 months of reaching out to NVC back and forth. Your friend should email pay.gov, give them all info and ask for the receipt copy of both payments (NVC will ask for this later on). Your friend can use it to email NVC. 
I did all that but most likely they will still reply with unnecessary comments. Although don't lose hope from there. Probably cos I repeatedly emailed NVC with all documentation and proofs, they suddenly emailed me one day stating 'Due to a system error, it is possible you paid your Immigrant Visa fee and/or Affidavit of Support fee twice. You may request a refund if you made one of these duplicate payments between (date) and (date)'.
Once they get this kind of email, they're in. there will be instructions on what proofs/docu are needed. They just need to follow that and NVC will surely process their refund. 
If yall need more help, I can pm screenshots of NVC email for better reference 😊

Back when we got approved at USCIS part last year, we estimated to have our interview around September time (based from the timelines of others last yr) so me and my husband we'll be together by Christmas. 
Apparently all of this are just wishful thinking despite them being more operational now that covid is no longer an issue .

as far as I know, none expedited so far (unless they really had an emergency). I am included in a facebook GC with those that didn't make the cut off from May + June/July DQs, unfortunately, none had received any news so far. 

I sure hope not. I've been talking to someone on FB who like us, didn't also make the cut off, and they have been researching about the previous auto-expedites. There is a very slight chance that they will do another auto-expedite next week (back in January, there were 2 weeks in between 2 batches of auto expedites). I've been praying and hoping that's true. Although if not, I'm also not gonna be surprised anymore since this is only a theory based from what happened previously with CR1/IR1 cases. I really don't want to get my and everyone who didn't make the cut off hopes up too high. The disappointment is unbearable.
If not next week, I'm guessing maybe 2-3 months (really praying it's not another 6 months) since they've been auto expediting a lot across all categories since the start of the year.

I have been watching the "inventory" kind of carefully the last week or so and it has done some very interesting things.  At the beginning of last week CR/IR-1/2 had about 600 appointments open in July.  Then in the two days immediately preceding the mass expedite of Fxx cases last week,  225 appointments from the first two weeks of July disappeared in large blocks.   I'm pretty sure they were reallocated to Fxx.  However, yesterday, about 50 appointments in the first two weeks of July appeared in CR/IR-1/2 and the odd part there is it included Friday interviews in 20 minute intervals rather than the usual 30 minute intervals and there have NEVER been Friday appointments for CR/IR-1/2 or Fxx categories before.  I'm speculating they were reallocated away from K1 or some other category???
 
In any case,  CR/IR-1/2  started last week with about 600 July, and 670 August appointments available.   Since the mass expedites took place July is down to about 175 and August about 500 remaining.   Over on the Fxx side of things, I think they are approaching being booked solid down from probably 1400 open appointments when they started.
 
The logic of doing in mass after no scheduling at all for months escapes me,  but it seems very likely US embassy Manila expedited like well over 3,000 Fxx and CR/IR cases in groups last Thursday and this Wednesday.

that's great news. Congrats to everyone! I really hope and pray that they will do another batch in about 2 weeks time 🙏