junk

FWIW, I plan on sending an update to the Rep Katherine Clark's immi assistant who was of zero help, and was stonewalling me, detailing how easy it was for Sen Ed Markey's office to send out an email inquiry to USCIS, and how effective and hugely helpful that simple inquiry turned out to be for me. So, she can open her eyes, expand her horizons and get welcoming for any future inquiry requests.

Dear friend! Thank you again for your help and advice. We received NOA2 after contacting the Senator! Wish you to reunite with your fiancee soon and best of luck in all your endeavors!

Thank you so much for the letter sample. 
Very helpful indeed. I am in a limbo too right now (as a foreign fiancee) and the whole situation seems unclear.
 
I can see our case moving very slowly. We have contacted the Senator and they agreed to help us.
 
Going to file an inquiry and see how it goes.
 
 

Finally got an RFE today for a simple form checkbox error (due to my confusion/error in interpreting the order of questions in the form) in the mail today, which I filled in on the same form and returned back already. It was dated 11/13, but just got it in the mail today. No updates online, even now. Hope they pick it right back up from where they left off once they receive my updated RFE form, and hope this is just a small hit of a couple of weeks of delay (can someone who got an RFE comment on this, pls?). 
 
Have to credit this to the Senator's inquiry, since the RFE date was 11/13, about a week after the Senator's office got an acknowledgement from the USCIS.

They already processed more than 50% of November and December cases and more than 30% of Jan2023 cases, while a significant number of September and October (and even earlier months) are left behind untouched and skipped. About 93% of all October were processed, and the other 7% were left untouched. While everyone from later months whose case got picked up sooner would certainly be happy (and I'm happy for them too), those 'left behind' are left clueless about what the logic is in them getting left behind. That's where I feel a complete lack of logic, visibility and accountability.

I find it very difficult to call the blackbox USCIS processing patterns 'fair'. While they have sort of improved the overall number of cases being processed, they do appear to be more concerned about the 'optics' of creating an appearance and the 'word' that they might be processing faster than they really are. 

I am here. In the same situation. NOA1 end of October and still waiting. Just wondering about what is going on with our case because those behind us are getting approved.

Is there an option to submit an inquiry on the official website?
 
I was looking for it today on the USCIS website and couldn't find it.

I meant that even if the form does not go through it register as an attempt and they see that. submit inquiries even if it says you are within normal process time. 

you should be any day now. I got my last week  (NOA1 11/28/22 ) 

APPROVED!!!!!!!
 
NOA1: October 11, 2022
NOA2: September 25, 2023

Approved today. So excited
 
NOA1: October 05, 2022
NOA2: September 20, 2023
 

Approved!!

NOA1: Oct 13th 2022
NOA2: Sept 19th 2023

Thx. We have something similar in mind as well for the wedding -  traditional South Indian style (stock photo samples below). Our regular puja photos included in tje K1 application are nowhere cllose to these, don’t have us wearing any garlands, etc that are typically worn at a wedding, etc and hopefully ithe contrast/differences are obvious to the CO, despite the presence of a havan fire pit in 2 of the dozens of photos submitted.
 
 

Just thought of this, since my fiancée wants us to get married in a very typical Indian (maharashtrian) attire in India, maybe take pictures of those clothes with you as well for the interview 
Here's what my fiancée has in mind ... a stock photo from google.

This assumes CBP will do an exhaustive examination of the file. IME it does not always. Source: me, standing with my fiancee at SFO after he opened the sealed packet.
 
And with that, I’ve contributed all I can, and I don’t wish to argue or bicker, so I won’t post more in this thread. 

OP, your biggest issue will be with the consular interview (vs CBP).  India has a history of misuse/fraud for the K-1, precisely because historically it was much faster, so married people tried to go that route to "be together asap."
 
As in every aspect of US immigration, we are impacted by the actions of our fellow countrymen who went before us.
 
Since you can't prove a negative (i.e that you are not married), it could go either way at the interview, IMHO.

Fair point about posting engagement photos on social media. Probably skip it.
I am in a similar boat...both me and my fiancée are somewhat reserved so don't do social media. Can't speak for my relatives, especially the younger ones who may very well have posted something on social media. 
 
 
Also, like you, I went thru a phase of "what if they consider us too married for K1". Reality is they can. In which case, the onus really falls on me.
The simplest way is to just do a compare/contrast "this is what a typical wedding looks like in my family/culture via wedding pics of cousins/siblings/etc." and "this is what an engagement looks like of mine".
At the interview, keep the photos with you and if questions start to come up around "you look too married", then just show the photos and hope for the best. Any amount of discussion or other documents (affidavits) is unlike to help, IMO.
 
What matters is conviction while staying pleasant and calm during the interview. Easier said than done, that's why thank God my finacée has to face the interview. She is more 'steady hands' than I am .
 
Have faith. You will do just fine.

If it was an engagement, post it on social media with photos stating as such. 

For the interview and port of entry, carry photos showing how an actual marriage happens in your family/culture. This way you can help educate and convince others, who are rightfully unaware of your family traditions, that this was indeed an engagement.
 
As a reference on my side, my fiancée in India, in a solo photo, looks like she is dressed for marriage even though she was attending a “haldi” of her cousin.
 
Considering that your NOA2 is expected any day now, IMO, this is your best bet. 
 
Best of luck. 

You are far enough along in the process that I would wait and see what happens. Best case scenario is that the CO doesn't question it and you get an approval with no problem. Worst case scenario is the CO thinks you are married already and not eligible for K1. If that happens, you'd have to marry and start over with the CR-1. 
 
Were there photos of rings being exchanged? And did any photos depict clothing that is typical at a wedding?

The Consulate will be familiar with local practices and if this could be construed as too married.

Not really much you can do about it at this point.  You can roll the dice and hopes the CO finds this a non issue, or you can get legally married and start the spousal visa process.  
 
Good Luck!

It does beg the question why you did not complete the legalities and get married.
 
I am certainly aware to that there are many different customs in India even if I do not know the details. I am sure the Consulate do know the details.

The Consulate will not question your choice
 
You are well into the K1 so just go with and be prepared to explain any aspects.

I *think* (also from what I hear) that it depends on the embassy, but in cases like yours (Mumbai) and ours (Islamabad), as soon as our NVC case shows READY then yes we can go online and schedule our own interview.  And the DS-160 is done online while all other documents are taken to the interview.
 
I'm not an expert!  Someone please correct us if this is incorrect!  Thanks.

I've been watching every day waiting to see my full VJ estimate go into November. Today it finally happened. From January 2024 to November 2023, it's so good to see the estimate improving!