No NOA1, filed in Frankfurt

[Alvanx 0]

Hi Everyone!

2 1/2 weeks ago I filed in person the I-130 for my husband in Frankfurt. It seems like everyone recieves their NOA1 after a few days and I have recieved nothing. We are under time restraint because my 16 year old brother is very sick, so we need to move to the States ASAP to be with my family. We have 3 small children that are German/American citizens and tickets to fly out on the 15th of October. I will leave with our children on that date regardless, but of course I want my husband to be with us and our kids will be missing their daddy if it takes forever! Anyone have experience with not recieving one at all, but things are still progressing?

Thanks a lot!

Whitney

[commocean 9]

Hi Whitney,

I suspect you may have the same problem we had. We waited almost 2 months with no response. Finally I got through on the phone and was told they don't send notification letters out of the country. We live in Malaysia and on the I-130 there's a place to put your address including country. I didn't see where it says that we have to have a US address. Anyway, we gave them a US address and got a request for another document in about 2 weeks. We then got our additional paperwork in about a day before the cut off when we would have had to reapply, money and all. What do they care? It's no skin off their backs and if you don't like it move.

Craig

[HK12 273]

OP, are you doing DCF in Frankfurt? I am by no means an expert with DCF, but I found another thread here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/374068-do-i-get-an-noa1/page-2

So my understanding is that they do not usually send out any NOA1's for DCF in Frankfurt. If they charged the fee from your bank account, that should mean they have accepted it and are working on it. Also, I would give Frankfurt a call or e-mail them and see what they have to say. There is another member (Veronicavonn) on here who is currently doing DCF in Frankfurt - maybe you could talk to her about her experiences.

[Alvanx 0]

OP, are you doing DCF in Frankfurt? I am by no means an expert with DCF, but I found another thread here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/374068-do-i-get-an-noa1/page-2

So my understanding is that they do not usually send out any NOA1's for DCF in Frankfurt. If they charged the fee from your bank account, that should mean they have accepted it and are working on it. Also, I would give Frankfurt a call or e-mail them and see what they have to say. There is another member (Veronicavonn) on here who is currently doing DCF in Frankfurt - maybe you could talk to her about her experiences.

I went in person, so I paid there! I did email them yesterday for an upcoming change of address and I will see what they say about my case. If they are like "sorry, we don't know where your petition is ;)" then I will worry but if they have it and just note the change of address, I guess everything is fine.

thank you, I will check the link out!

[lost_at_sea 995]

I went in person, so I paid there! I did email them yesterday for an upcoming change of address and I will see what they say about my case. If they are like "sorry, we don't know where your petition is ;)" then I will worry but if they have it and just note the change of address, I guess everything is fine.

thank you, I will check the link out!

For DCF frankfurt, do they let you submit the form with for e-notification? If so, then you may be similar to DCF London where if you include an email, they'll *only* send NOA1 by email (and ours ended up in a spam folder - so you might wanna double check in there, if so).

[droplets 2]

For DCF frankfurt, do they let you submit the form with for e-notification? If so, then you may be similar to DCF London where if you include an email, they'll *only* send NOA1 by email (and ours ended up in a spam folder - so you might wanna double check in there, if so).

We included emails and they didn't send us emails until we asked whether we were approved or not. Then they forwarded the letter stating we're approved. When I filed in person, they gave me the NOA1 directly. They never sent it by mail. I don't really see why they would, considering they accepted it in person. If they didn't give you the paper when you filed, I don't think they'll send it by mail.

Edited June 26, 2013 by Fortitude

[Alvanx 0]

We included emails and they didn't send us emails until we asked whether we were approved or not. Then they forwarded the letter stating we're approved. When I filed in person, they gave me the NOA1 directly. They never sent it by mail. I don't really see why they would, considering they accepted it in person. If they didn't give you the paper when you filed, I don't think they'll send it by mail.

I thought the same thing. What did they give you exactly? Because they only gave me a little brochure saying that I completed the first step and then the following things I can do. When did you ask if you were approved?

For DCF frankfurt, do they let you submit the form with for e-notification? If so, then you may be similar to DCF London where if you include an email, they'll *only* send NOA1 by email (and ours ended up in a spam folder - so you might wanna double check in there, if so).

That was never part of the documents that you could print off from the consulate website, so I don't believe so. BUT, I could be mistaken. I have been checking my spam! I don't know about my husband though...But I guess I assumed they would be sending it to the petioner?

[lost_at_sea 995]

I thought the same thing. What did they give you exactly? Because they only gave me a little brochure saying that I completed the first step and then the following things I can do. When did you ask if you were approved?

That was never part of the documents that you could print off from the consulate website, so I don't believe so. BUT, I could be mistaken. I have been checking my spam! I don't know about my husband though...But I guess I assumed they would be sending it to the petioner?

Yeah. NOA1/NOA2s go to the petitioner, because it's the petitioner who files that form. I didn't realise Frankfurt was an in-person application, though. So... it's somewhat irrelevant.

Edited June 26, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[droplets 2]

I thought the same thing. What did they give you exactly? Because they only gave me a little brochure saying that I completed the first step and then the following things I can do. When did you ask if you were approved?

That was never part of the documents that you could print off from the consulate website, so I don't believe so. BUT, I could be mistaken. I have been checking my spam! I don't know about my husband though...But I guess I assumed they would be sending it to the petioner?

Yes, that's exactly what they gave me. That is considered NOA1 I believe. The next thing you should be looking out for is a letter from the Immigrant Visa Unit to the beneficiary stating they received an approved I-130 from the USCIS.

Well, a month later I asked if there was someway I could be notified by email when the petition is approved, and they then replied and said it was approved already.

Edited June 26, 2013 by Fortitude

[Alvanx 0]

Yes, that's exactly what they gave me. That is considered NOA1 I believe. The next thing you should be looking out for is a letter from the Immigrant Visa Unit to the beneficiary stating they received an approved I-130.

Well, a month later I asked if there was someway I could be notified by email when the petition is approved, and they then replied and said it was approved already.

I will follow that tip and give it a month ha ha

Ah, OK. You know, I guess I thought there might be some number so I could check the status of it. All of this is new to me though and I really do not know how it will go Thank you!

[droplets 2]

I will follow that tip and give it a month ha ha

Ah, OK. You know, I guess I thought there might be some number so I could check the status of it. All of this is new to me though and I really do not know how it will go Thank you!

No, you have no case number until the USCIS approves your petition and sends your case to the Immigrant Visa Unit. Then they will assign you a case number. Send the email to USCIS.Frankfurt@uscis.dhs.gov and include yours and your husband's name when inquiring about the status. You're welcome and good luck! My wife's interview is tomorrow. I hope everything goes well!

[veronicavonn 7]

OP, are you doing DCF in Frankfurt? I am by no means an expert with DCF, but I found another thread here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/374068-do-i-get-an-noa1/page-2

So my understanding is that they do not usually send out any NOA1's for DCF in Frankfurt. If they charged the fee from your bank account, that should mean they have accepted it and are working on it. Also, I would give Frankfurt a call or e-mail them and see what they have to say. There is another member (Veronicavonn) on here who is currently doing DCF in Frankfurt - maybe you could talk to her about her experiences.

My experience is that I am still waiting to find out if our petition was approved or not. It's been over 6 weeks now.

For DCF frankfurt, do they let you submit the form with for e-notification? If so, then you may be similar to DCF London where if you include an email, they'll *only* send NOA1 by email (and ours ended up in a spam folder - so you might wanna double check in there, if so).

I sent in my petition packet, but on the top of it was the form asking to be e-notified of anything. I haven't received any e-mails thus far.

I thought the same thing. What did they give you exactly? Because they only gave me a little brochure saying that I completed the first step and then the following things I can do. When did you ask if you were approved?

That was never part of the documents that you could print off from the consulate website, so I don't believe so. BUT, I could be mistaken. I have been checking my spam! I don't know about my husband though...But I guess I assumed they would be sending it to the petioner?

Yes, that's exactly what they gave me. That is considered NOA1 I believe. The next thing you should be looking out for is a letter from the Immigrant Visa Unit to the beneficiary stating they received an approved I-130 from the USCIS.

Well, a month later I asked if there was someway I could be notified by email when the petition is approved, and they then replied and said it was approved already.

Is that seriously the NOA1? I had no idea, but we received that about a week after we sent in the paperwork. So I guess we have our NOA1, but we still don't know if the stupid petition was approved or not.

*Edit: Just checked. We received that stuff on May 26, 12 days after we sent in the packet.

Edited June 27, 2013 by veronicavonn

[Alvanx 0]

No, you have no case number until the USCIS approves your petition and sends your case to the Immigrant Visa Unit. Then they will assign you a case number. Send the email to USCIS.Frankfurt@uscis.dhs.gov and include yours and your husband's name when inquiring about the status. You're welcome and good luck! My wife's interview is tomorrow. I hope everything goes well!

I'm sure everything went fine!? How was it?

[atenea26 5]

Yeah, guys.

NOA1 is that useless paper that just said you've started the process and invites you to not to call and do anything but wait for the NOA2, haha!

The NOA2 is a much more personalised paper, with your name on it and your case number. That's the one you're waiting for now.

VeronicaVonn, if it's been 6 weeks, you need to wait still a bit. We got ours last Sunday, after 8 weeks. The NOA1 says that they usually process within 90 days, which means 12 weeks. So, it's all about patience.

We now are sending all the paperwork stated on the NOA2 and I'll go for my medical next week. I hope everything goes faster from here

Cheers!

Edited June 27, 2013 by atenea26

[droplets 2]

I'm sure everything went fine!? How was it?

Everything went great, her visa was approved.