DanTes

My wife passed her interview in June, and the three months after that until her oath ceremony were the longest three months of our lives. I know hindsight is 20/20, but the best advice I can give anyone at this stage is just to hang in there. You're almost to the finish line. Congrats on your accomplishment!

Hi everyone, new member here.
I filed my application on March 8th (5 yr date of June 8th), I was put in line for scheduling on May 8th so my 90 days have passed, but the only response I got from USCIS on the phone was to wait 15-30 days for a response to my call.
Anyone else waiting this long in TX? I had hoped to get it all taken care of before the kids went back to school so that we could go to the ceremony as a family since I can't take them out of school very easily. Oh well.
Thanks!

Biometrics completed today at USCIS New Orleans (Metairie). We arrived about 30 minutes early for my 2:00 P.M. appointment and the place was very crowded. Metairie holds Oath Taking Ceremonies every Wednesday. My husband and I were pleased that we were allowed to stay and watch the Ceremony. 49 new citizens from 26 countries were sworn in, and I was very impressed. Hopefully, I will be standing there taking my oath in the next 2 or 3 months. Before the Ceremony all the applicants lined up to proof read and sign their certificates. They turned in their green cards and then went back to their assigned seats. One of the USCIS officers sang the National Anthem followed by a few remarks from the Regional Director. Then the applicants were sworn in. We watched a televised welcome speech by Obama, then we all sang Lee Greenwood's "I'm Proud to be an American" Representatives from the Dept of State Passport Office were there along with another table for voter registration (League of Women Voters). Everyone from USCIS was very polite and helpful. My Biometrics took about 5 minutes, but we stayed until the Oath Ceremony was completed. No problem taking cell phones, cameras, kids, relatives. Casual dress was the norm.....slacks and a blouse for the ladies. Only 2 or 3 wore dresses.

Biometrics completed today at USCIS New Orleans (Metairie). We arrived about 30 minutes early for my 2:00 P.M. appointment and the place was very crowded. Metairie holds Oath Taking Ceremonies every Wednesday. My husband and I were pleased that we were allowed to stay and watch the Ceremony. 49 new citizens from 26 countries were sworn in, and I was very impressed. Hopefully, I will be standing there taking my oath in the next 2 or 3 months. Before the Ceremony all the applicants lined up to proof read and sign their certificates. They turned in their green cards and then went back to their assigned seats. One of the USCIS officers sang the National Anthem followed by a few remarks from the Regional Director. Then the applicants were sworn in. We watched a televised welcome speech by Obama, then we all sang Lee Greenwood's "I'm Proud to be an American" Representatives from the Dept of State Passport Office were there along with another table for voter registration (League of Women Voters). Everyone from USCIS was very polite and helpful. My Biometrics took about 5 minutes, but we stayed until the Oath Ceremony was completed. No problem taking cell phones, cameras, kids, relatives. Casual dress was the norm.....slacks and a blouse for the ladies. Only 2 or 3 wore dresses.

I would say wait for 3 years and get her U.S. citizenship first, then her dual, and you're good to go. She could visit the Philippines in the meantime for a month or so at a time with no problems. With her dual, she can sponsor you for ACR.

I would say wait for 3 years and get her U.S. citizenship first, then her dual, and you're good to go. She could visit the Philippines in the meantime for a month or so at a time with no problems. With her dual, she can sponsor you for ACR.

My wife went back for her results this morning at St. Luke's, and was informed that she would have to undergo the sputum smear/culture. She has to return next week for 3 consecutive days for the Smear, then wait for 8-10 weeks for the culture results. I hope the smear is negative after the 3rd day. This is why I wanted her to get an advanced medical exam at St. Luke's. Her 2 month culture will be finished by 10 May, and, looking at it realistically, even if she had passed the Medical exam, she would not have her interview until May anyway. I highly recommend that as soon as you receive your NVC case number, you get your medical out of the way.

Thousands of I-130 petitions were mishandled by TSC, due to "unforeseen circumstances". My I-130 was approved on 11/23, but did not reach the NVC for 80 days!! Hang in there until the end of this month. USCIS is trying to clean up their mess by the end of February (according to their press release).

It is getting harder and harder with each day that passes. I knew the process would be lengthy at best, but when you factor in the incompetence of USCIS, the process becomes almost unbearable. In my above post I meant to say TSC mishandled our cases; not TSA. Too many abbreviations to keep straight. Even my wife in the Philippines is starting to ask why this is taking so long, and she has the patience of JOB (from the Bible). I know that when we all are finally re-united with our families here in the States, most will probably forget this nightmare, but I feel we should never forget how we have been treated. I don't know how, but I will eventually find someone with clout who will listen, and shine a light on the unresponsive, uncooperative and downright arrogant way the civil servants at USCIS are (not) performing their jobs. Like I said a couple of weeks ago, if I had performed my duties in the U.S. Navy in the manner in which TSC has performed theirs, I would have been discharged for "Dereliction of Duty" instead of retiring honorably after 23 years of service.

Looking for some more good news for all of us starting Tuesday!! Gnasher just received NVC case number, and IIN. Same approval date as mine (11/23). Maybe things are starting to roll at TSC.

rpratt
Congrats!! Like others have said, I sure hope this approval signals the breaking of the log-jam at TSC. Hoping to see many more approvals this coming week, so we all can be together at NVC. Hope us June/July/August filers can stay in touch, and help one another through the NVC and Consular stages. Although our spouses are from different countries, I feel a bond with all you guys. This has been a roller-coaster of a ride so far, but I feel things will start picking up for us now. I have faith that we will all be reunited with our families within the next 3 or 4 months.

Just got off the phone with USCIS NCSC. Escalated to a service representative per my request. Told her my story, she looked up my petition number, and told me that there was nothing new to report. She did say that I could expect my case to be completed and sent to NVC within 2 weeks. Nice to hear, but not holding my breath.
Also, as I was browsing another website, it appears that VJ members who were transferred to TSC are not the only ones having problems getting their cases adjudicated and/or forwarded to NVC.

As you can see from my time-line, my petition was approved by TSC on 23 November (119 days ......GREAT!).............But wait; there's more.......I still have not received a NVC case number!!!! My petition is stuck in limbo somewhere between TSC and NVC. It's time to face the fact that all of us who were transferred from CSC to TSC got hosed by the incompetent immigration bureaucracy. "We" have all sent emails, called USCIS / NVC, and have contacted our Representatives and Senators, many times, but to no avail (yet). I read we must be patient, give the system time to work, 5 months, 6 months, holidays, blah, blah, blah......As for me, I'm tired of waiting. I served my country proudly and honorably in the U.S. Navy for 23 years, and I think I deserve better treatment than this. AS DO ALL U.S. CITIZENS!!! I truly feel for those foreigners currently living in hopeless situations, and I believe they deserve our help. But.......U.S. Citizens who are trying to do the right thing, and bring their fiances, spouses and children to this country legally should not take a back-seat to ANYONE. Perhaps we could start a grass-roots, political action group that would force Congress, the Administration, and the mindless bureaucracy to sit up and take notice of us. If we don't do something now, this situation will only get worse for future filers. COMMENTS?? SUGGESTIONS???

After Congress sends a Bill to the President, and He signs the Bill into law; that's where the problems begin. The BUREAUCRATS take over. They implement the laws according to how THEY interpret them. Bill, I think you are on the right track. USCIS and NVC are stacked with career bureaucrats. Administrations come and go while their jobs are secure from year to year. Talk to you attorney friends. Perhaps a law suit filed (class action??) against DHS (USCIS) and/or DOS (NVC) would at least get someone's attention. Just a thought..... Also, I believe national media attention is key in exposing the incompetence of USCIS/NVC. We have members right here on VJ that represent all 50 States. As for me, no matter what happens to my case, I will never forget the insensitivity and bureaucratic bungling of our collective cases by USCIS and NVC.

When my petition was transferred from CSC to TSC, I then received an email stating that my case had been transferred to a USCIS office for processing. When I received my NOA2, it came from TSC. Looks like it never left TSC. Just hanging on til the first of the year. I will give it some more time........don't know how much longer I can wait before I blow my top!! Wouldn't be the "smart" thing to do though. Anyway, God Bless Us ALL. May we all have a VERY Happy New Year as we are re-united with our families.

Matthew, please post your timeline. A lot of June/July/August IR-1/CR-1 filers got transferred from CSC to TSC, and are still waiting. A handful of us received NOA2 from TSC, but have not yet received NVC case #'s.

Quick update: I-130 approved by TSC on 23 Nov. Still no NVC case #. Sent email to nvcresearch@state.gov last Wed. Getting a bit frustrated as today it has been one month since my petition was approved. I called USCIS yesterday and talked to a tier 2 human. He took all my info, and said he would send an email to the adjudicator who handled my case, and that I should hear something from USCIS by Jan 6. Then I contacted NVC.......still no case #. The lady I talked to said that I should scan my I-797C
Approval Notice to them. I already did this last Wednesday at my 15 "business day" mark. She did say that my petition should have already arrived at NVC. She said anything beyond 3 weeks is not normal. Still waiting!!!!!! SO, you guys that have not yet received your NOA2 from TSC, don't feel too bad. Even though I got mine, I am stuck in limbo somewhere between TEXAS and NEW HAMPSHIRE!!! We got HOSED when our cases were transferred from CSC to TSC. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

From what I understand, kids from 12 to 17 years of age need to attend "Peer Counseling" at CFO. According to Philippine Immigration she will present both Passports at airport immigration, and both Passports will be stamped when she exits the Philippines. Her U.S. passport will have the regular departure stamp with the annotation "PP" (Philippine Passport). Her Philippine Passport will be stamped with regular departure stamp. I just don't want her to get to the airport, and find out she also needs the CFO sticker in her Philippine Passport. When she enters the U.S., she will present her U.S. passport. I thought someone might have gone through this. Thanks.

My 15 business day wait for NVC to assign a case number was up yesterday, so I sent an e-mail to nvcresearch@state.gov (along with an attachment of my approved I-797C). I received a reply from NVC today stating that THEY (NVC) would contact USCIS on my behalf in an effort to find the petition. I certainly hope this gets some results. I am also a I-130 July filer whose case was transferred from CSC to TSC, and then to a "USCIS office". My approval actually came from TSC (mesquite, Texas) although the CIS receipt number remained WAC. When I called NCSC they told me that my case had definitely been forwarded to NVC, but NVC says they have no record of receiving it. Hopefully it will turn up after the first of the year. Hear's hoping those of you still waiting on your NOA2 will get approved by the end of the year!!!! My wife in the Philippines keeps telling me to be patient. Of course she is busy with our 2 daughters planning school Christmas activities, etc... that helps take her mind off visa matters. I, on the other hand, am here alone in the States waiting IMPATIENTLY. But, at least we are able to talk twice daily on Skype. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all VJ members, and may the NEW YEAR bring us ALL GOOD NEWS!!

I am one of the four I-130 (IR-1) Petitioners that was approved by TSC after being transferred from CSC. My NOA2 date is 23 November. The problem I now face is that I have not yet received my NVC case #. To my knowledge neither have the other 3 petitioners. I called NCSC this morning, and the representative told me that my case had indeed been approved, and that it was forwarded to NVC. I then talked to a representative at NVC, and was told that since I had not yet received my case # by now, that I could expect at least a 90 day additional wait. Wednesday will be 15 business days since my petition was approved. I will send NVC an email with a copy of my NOA2 attached on Wednesday if I still do not have a case #. I don't think it will do any good though. I am now convinced that the transfer from CSC to TSC HOSED ALL OF US!!!!

I-864 instructions stipulate that this information must be on any "additional sheets" needed to answer any questions.

THINK I WOULD CONTACT THE NEAREST PHILIPPINE EMBASSY/CONSULATE, AND SEE ABOUT GETTING HER A NEW PASSPORT. MARRIAGE CONTRACT, NSO BIRTH CERTIFICATE, DEPENDENT I.D., AND PASSPORT PHOTOS SHOULD BE ALL YOU NEED TO GET IT DONE.