joliejodi

We are waiting to receive our interview date in Haiti...I hope this is not how most cases are going!!! Maybe you can help me with a question...to schedule your interview, did you have to personally take in your medical exam to the consulate and then they scheduled the interview for you to return in about 2 weeks? That is what I was told last week by the embassy, but it seems odd to me...

You don't need a 212 for a VD.

Thank you emt...I think all the information is getting confused and turned into more than it is. We do have a little more complicated case, but not so complicated as all the discussion would suggest Do you happen to know this from experience? I was really hoping to find someone who had been granted VD and was approved a visa (or denied) without filing a I-212. Either way, I appreciate your straight-forward answer! Thank you!

My husband was in the US illegally for less than 2 months prior to applying for asylum, so there should be no ban there.

He did not ditch his removal proceedings. He attended all of his removal proceedings and was granted voluntary departure by an immigration judge at his final hearing, so there should not be reason for a ban due to that.

The issue being, is voluntary departure viewed in the same light as deportation for the sake of admissibility in the future?

Hello,

My husband and I have filed an I-130 and I-129F and recently got our approval on both of these. My husband initially entered the US illegally and filed for political asylum. Due to a missed appointment, we was placed in removal proceedings. Rather than risk deportation, he chose to voluntarily depart the US (assuming our I-129F would be approved prior to his departure....didn't happen of course!) Our attorney advised us that we did not need the I-212 waiver due to the fact that my husband voluntarily departed the US and was not deported. Does anyone have experience in knowing if this is true? We have since heard differently and are worried now that we will be denied a visa at our interview due to not having filed the I-212 waiver. Thank you!

I stumbled on this thread and just wanted to say thanks to all of you for this information!

My husband and I have been waiting for our I-130 approval for 19 months and our I-129 approval for 16 months and have been fed all the lines in the book about why it has not bee processed. We were even granted an expedite in February 2009, which resulted in us receiving an RFE. But, after returning the RFE promptly, we seem to be stuck in the system again. Despite letters to everyone I can think of, nothing.

It hit me the other day that MAYBE there was a way to take legal action on USCIS but didn't really believe it could be done. Will be checking with my attorney this week! Anyway, thank you for the info and wishing you all the best and a FAST approval. This wait is just too much!

Yes, I've put in 3 service requests, and only get the response that our case is "under review"...hardly a response! I've been told we don't qualify for an expedite, though I've requested it. My senator and congressman have called and been told various things. As of the 24th of December, our senator was told that our case was with an officer, but when I called USCIS they told me it was not, so I really have no idea. Part of the problem is that our file was sent to the local office by mistake in October and I have since been trying to hunt it down and get it back to VSC. Last week I was told it was back at VSC, but this week they say it is not. Basically, I call every other day and am told something different every time! I have an InfoPass appointment next week at our local office so hopefully I can at least find out where our case is and if anyone is planning on looking at it ever! Meanwhile, we are considering just moving to Haiti until things are straightened out because it is too hard being apart and we have a 4-month old baby who has only seen his father once so we just need to be together. Whew...the problems they put us all through!

I would not listen to anything coming from USCIS customer service line. I would go with what the congressman's office says, because even though they cannot do anything about your case, they CAN get more detailed information than we can get. Of course, that depends on how trustworthy they are. However, many people have gotten good information from their congressmen in the past. There was another K-3 filer that got approved about a month and a half after she was told her application was in the adjudication que. So hopefully you'll be getting something very, very, soon! To my knowledge, my application is not even with an officer yet

I'm sure hoping that it really is with an officer...I'm thinking it probably is since that is what the congressman found out (and how could they make that up?) Anyway, hopefully it will be soon. I hope yours comes SOON and you don't have to be apart much longer!

Reading is my saving grace too! If you like reading religious fiction you should try out books by Joel Rosenberg...they are geopolitical thrillers with a religious emphasis...I am currently hooked!

Joliejodi, I still can't believe you're waiting when I look at your NOA1's!!! Since you are out of processing times, have you made an inquiry or asked for an expedite? What did they tell you?

Yes, I've put in 3 service requests, and only get the response that our case is "under review"...hardly a response! I've been told we don't qualify for an expedite, though I've requested it. My senator and congressman have called and been told various things. As of the 24th of December, our senator was told that our case was with an officer, but when I called USCIS they told me it was not, so I really have no idea. Part of the problem is that our file was sent to the local office by mistake in October and I have since been trying to hunt it down and get it back to VSC. Last week I was told it was back at VSC, but this week they say it is not. Basically, I call every other day and am told something different every time! I have an InfoPass appointment next week at our local office so hopefully I can at least find out where our case is and if anyone is planning on looking at it ever! Meanwhile, we are considering just moving to Haiti until things are straightened out because it is too hard being apart and we have a 4-month old baby who has only seen his father once so we just need to be together. Whew...the problems they put us all through!

PS-What kind of books do you like to read Serendipity?

books by Sophie kinsella / Nora Roberts / Sandra Brown / Danielle Steele - -- and You??

Elizabeth Hoyt is my favorite author du jour

I also like to read history and sometimes religious books.

Reading is my saving grace too! If you like reading religious fiction you should try out books by Joel Rosenberg...they are geopolitical thrillers with a religious emphasis...I am currently hooked!

JolieJodi, #######??? Did you ask them why you're not approved? You're out of the processing times! By a VERY long time! What do they tell you???

Aruba Dolphin, that sucks! It's not fair that they lose your application and you have to wait!

See why I b1tch so much? Complete BS from USCIS

They need to change their name to USCBS

I wish I KNEW what is going on!!! Every time I call they tell me it is still "pending" and that we are not THAT far outside of processing dates...!!! Have filed 3 service request and get the response that it is "under review"...hardly a response at all. They sent our case to the WRONG office "by mistake" back in October, so then had to transfer it back to VSC which took almost 2 months of me calling them, having my congressman call them, my attorney call. Finally it is back at VSC. I call nearly every day and as of Friday I was told it was with an officer...let's hope that is the truth and that we get our approval this week! My husband has already missed the birth of our first baby and we MISS him so we just keep praying...that's about all I can think of to do!

Oh my dear...you really need our pity party. Come join us!

Thank you...it is nice to know others are in the same boat! (Though it sucks that ANY of us are in it!)

JolieJodi, #######??? Did you ask them why you're not approved? You're out of the processing times! By a VERY long time! What do they tell you???

Aruba Dolphin, that sucks! It's not fair that they lose your application and you have to wait!

See why I b1tch so much? Complete BS from USCIS

They need to change their name to USCBS

I wish I KNEW what is going on!!! Every time I call they tell me it is still "pending" and that we are not THAT far outside of processing dates...!!! Have filed 3 service request and get the response that it is "under review"...hardly a response at all. They sent our case to the WRONG office "by mistake" back in October, so then had to transfer it back to VSC which took almost 2 months of me calling them, having my congressman call them, my attorney call. Finally it is back at VSC. I call nearly every day and as of Friday I was told it was with an officer...let's hope that is the truth and that we get our approval this week! My husband has already missed the birth of our first baby and we MISS him so we just keep praying...that's about all I can think of to do!

Count us in too...filed I-130 in Nov. 2007 and I-129F in Feb. 2008...still NOTHING!!! Our case has been misplaced, sent to the wrong office, etc, etc, etc...praying for an approval this month or we will be preparing to move to Haiti to be with my husband! Good luck to you all!

We filed our I-130 in November 07 and nothing yet...1-129 in February 08 and also nothing...have tried calling multiple times and have filed service request on both, but nothing. Our congressman called...still nothing. So frustrating! I am sorry you all are still waiting too and it is nice to know we are not the only ones in this boat! Good luck to all!

We are also in the same situation...filed our I-130 in November with a NOA1 in January and filed our I-129 in February. Our case was recently moved to our local office which my congressman's office said is probably a mistake!!! My congressman also is not helping much. I guess all we can do is call and hope to get some kind of answer at some point. I feel for you missing your son. My husband missed our son's birth and still has never met him...let's hope things start moving on our cases soon...

Both our I-129 and I-130 were touched today and status updated to say that they had been moved to our local office (Orlando, FL) for processing. Does anyone know or have experience in what that transfer means or if it usually leads to a speedy approval? The Orlando office does not list that they even process these types of applications, but I'm thinking Vermont is just trying to distribute the workload.

my experience after reading these forum says that you will get an answer on or before november 16. its an average of 20 days for those transfered. again, just my observation through these forums.

An answer meaning an approval/denial or meaning an interview appointment? My attorney said cases are transferred to a local office for me (the petitioner) to have an interview for our I-130. Which forums did you read to find the average of 20 days? Just curious where to get more info..thanks!

Both our I-129 and I-130 were touched today and status updated to say that they had been moved to our local office (Orlando, FL) for processing. Does anyone know or have experience in what that transfer means or if it usually leads to a speedy approval? The Orlando office does not list that they even process these types of applications, but I'm thinking Vermont is just trying to distribute the workload.

OMG!!!!! WE GOT APPROVED!!! Our I-129F was aprooved on 9th of October! They said that they sent NOA2 yesterday. We didn't see any touches or activity on our case. It is still showing "pending". My husband just called them and got this news! He couldn't believe it so he asked 3 times! LOL

Congratulations!!! Hopefully that means the rest of us will follow soon

These options work if you have some problems with your case. We had some issues so an officer was trying to resolve the problem. Maybe this info will help you.

phone number: 1-800-375-5283

Option 1,

Option 2,

Option 1,

ENTER receipt number,

Option 1,

Option 3, Wait for "If our system"

Option 4.

Jen

Thanks for this...Every time I try to get through to someone they are not helpful at all. Looks like our timelines are very similar...good luck in hopefully getting an approval soon!

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When did you contact your congressperson and have you heard anything yet? Im seriously thinking about sending this letter I already have typed up. What harm would it do right? They will probably just say "the case is not outside the normal processing times" bla frick'n bla!

The processing times are a joke but its like a trainwreck that I cant help looking at! heh

Lisa

There isn't much your congressman/senator can do unless you either 1) qualify for an expedite or 2) your case is outside the processing times. If either of these applies to you, they are more than willing to put in a call and see what happens, otherwise you just wait with everyone else

Ive notice at least since June that the dates posted for VSC and CSC are always the same, I dont think you should put much stock in what they post on the site, it always seems to be late being posted and if you read what people are posting on this site, those dates posted are not correct.

I agree. The only problem is that they hide behind those dates. If you call them, or have your congressman call them, they just say, "we're within our processing times." So there is no recourse unless they are outside of those times. They should post processing times of August 1, 1948. That way they could just play a recording when you call saying "don't bother us, we are within the posted processing times"

Exactly my concern...if your case is outside those times your congressman will call and inquire for you and maybe get somewhere. It is at least nice to be able to feel like you can do SOMETHING other than wait....

Does anyone know why the processing times at VSC would be going backwards? Last month they posted January 17, 2008 for K3 Spouse Visa and now it is January 2, 2008? Plus, they are extremely late this month in posting so kinda expected them to be quite a bit further along. Any insight would be great...we expected them to be in February this month!!

they are useless, the only chance is reaching people at the center where you petition is

Have you been able to find working numbers for the service centers? Every number I have found is disconnected...