biggish data

Bring child after K1 in process

I'm new to this forum and not sure how to start a new topic but since my question is closely related I hope it's OK to post it here.

My girlfriend's ex-husband doesn't want their son to leave the country. Her son has already told her that they should move to the USA and he doesn't even know about me yet. She thinks that her ex-husband will eventually agree if her son tells him that he wants to go. She thinks that she would like to come alone at first and then bring her son later. She asked how long she would have to wait to get the visa for her son. I explained to her that if we sent in the visa application tomorrow it would probably be about 5 or 6 months before we would get it approved so that we could schedule the interview - at which time she would need the signed document from her ex-husband to allow her son to leave the country. If he still hasn't agreed to sign the document at that time could she get her visa and come alone and then later get a visa for her son once the ex-husband agrees?

Thanks!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-10 15:18:00

Bring child after K1 in process

It is 16. You can find the KEV-1 instruction sheet on the embassy website:

http://web.usembassy...a_K1K2_eng.html

• TO OBTAIN A VISA FOR A CHILD UNDER 16 ONE OF THESE IS REQUIRED:
- Court decree granting sole custody to the parent applying for a U.S. visa; OR
- Notarized consent letter from the left-behind parent permitting the permanent residency of the child in the U.S. WITH a photocopy of left-behind parent’s passport ID page (to confirm identity and signature of the person granting permission); OR
- Death certificate, if the other parent is deceased; OR
- The left-behind parent may appear in person to sign the consent statement.
Personal appearance of the non-immigrating parent is, however, an option for those families who wish to choose it.
If the left-behind parent is not in Ukraine, s/he should have his/her consent letter notarized at the nearest Ukrainian or U.S. Embassy/consulate in the country where s/he is located, and then submit that notarized statement with a photo-copy of his/her passport ID page. The parent should send the documents to the visa applicant.
If the immigrating parent cannot locate the other parent (e.g., if they have been estranged for many years), then s/he should obtain a Ukrainian court decree establishing that s/he has custody/control of the child or a court decree pronouncing the other parent missing.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-10 15:15:00

permission for child from left behind parent

The kid is 12 years old. I'm all for bribery and would imagine that we could negotiate a decent rate.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-11 16:45:00

permission for child from left behind parent

My girlfriend's ex-husband doesn't want their son to leave the country. Her son has already told her that they should move to the USA and he doesn't even know about me yet. She thinks that her ex-husband will eventually agree if her son tells him that he wants to go. She thinks that she would like to come alone at first and then bring her son later. She asked how long she would have to wait to get the visa for her son. I explained to her that if we sent in the visa application tomorrow it would probably be about 5 or 6 months before we would get it approved so that we could schedule the interview - at which time she would need the signed document from her ex-husband to allow her son to leave the country. If he still hasn't agreed to sign the document at that time could she get her visa and come alone and then later get a visa for her son once the ex-husband agrees?

Thanks!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-10 17:29:00

Why is my Visa taking longer than others?

I am also in Virginia, engaged to a girl in Ukraine, and about 3 weeks behind you. Wishing luck for both of us!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2010-12-09 21:37:00

Touched?

I see many people list dates on their timeline "Touched." I would assume this is self-explanatory but would like clarification. I check ours daily on the website and it always says "Initial Review." We are closing in on 5 months waiting but it has never said anything about being "Touched. Thanks!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2010-12-19 22:27:00

Total process time

I'm curious about NVC. We have been waiting more than 5 months now and would like to get our interview scheduled ASAP. When I called the customer service line to ask some questions today I asked about the timeline from the approval to scheduling the interview and I specifically asked whether there would be a delay at the NVC since I had seen it mentioned on VJ. I was told that K-1's don't go to the NVC, that the application would be sent directly to the embassy and the only delay would be a short time for it to be sent by mail. Also, that when I receive notice of approval the embassy should be able to verify the approval by checking my receipt number in the system. I wonder if the customer service rep was mistaken... Thanks!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-04 13:36:00

Why the increased processing times?

You have a very good question! It is very frutrating for me to see some many approved in a 1 to 3 month timeframe if they were submitted in May/June but mine which was submitted in July is still waiting for more than 5 months now! Maybe if everyone emails to Vermont with a copy sent to the headquarters someone at headquarters will check the situation in Vermont and tell them to get it done! (Maybe...)

USCIS Service Centers
If you contacted the National Customer Service Center with a case-related inquiry and more than 30 days have passed and you have not received a response, you may email the appropriate USCIS Service Center with your inquiry:

California Service Center: csc-ncsc-followup@dhs.gov
Vermont Service Center: vsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov
Nebraska Service Center: ncscfollowup.nsc@dhs.gov
Texas Service Center: tsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov
If you do not receive a response within 21 days of contacting the Service Center, you may contact the USCIS Headquarters Office of Service Center Operations by email at SCOPSSCATA@dhs.gov.

http://www.uscis.gov...000b92ca60aRCRD

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-06 21:20:00

guess what,another flop by USCIS

I wish they would stop wasting time with such system glitches and get my application approved!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-10 22:53:00

K1 - Vermont tracking

We filed our I129F in late July (NOA1 date of July 23rd) so we have been waiting more than 5 months now. I called the customer service line to inquire about it today. The lady was nice and actually pretty helpful. She said that the Vermont service center was currently running 13 days behind schedule and today is processing applications which were submitted on July 10th. (I didn't ask whether the 13 days meant business days and didn't do the math until I hung up but it looks like it must. According to calendar days they would be behind about 25 days and when you subtract some days for the holidays I can see how they would count 13 business days.)

Other July filers like us should call and inquire as well and report back what you are told.

Is anyone who filed in early July able to report that you recently received approval?

Thanks!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-04 13:47:00

Vermont - helpful info for others

I finally got a response after multiple emails - but . . . still not over. See their response below but bottom line: 1) contact customer service first after you pass the 5 month mark (I did last week); and 2) get the name of the person you spoke with (I did) and Service Request Management (SRMT) inquiry number. They said that a service request would be initiated but never gave me such a number.

* * *

Hello,

Thank you for contacting the Vermont Service Center National Customer Service Center (NCSC) Follow-Up e-mail account.

The purpose of this e-mail account is to assist petitioners, applicants or their authorized representatives who previously contacted the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) and now feel they need further assistance.

In order for the Vermont Service Center to respond to your inquiry through this email account, it is necessary for you to first complete the following:

-- You must first try to resolve your issue by contacting the NCSC using its toll free number 1-800-375-5283, and

-- You must provide the Service Request Management (SRMT) inquiry number that you were given when you contacted the NCSC, or

-- When you contacted the NCSC you were told that a complete SRMT response could not be provided.

NOTE: If you did not contact the NCSC, the VSC will only respond to you this one time. We will not respond to any other email inquirers you may have submitted.

IMPORTANT:

* Due to the Privacy Act, you must be the petitioner, applicant, or designated representative of record in order for us to respond to this inquiry.

* If you feel the final decision on your case is in error, (to protect your rights) you must follow the regulations and file any necessary motion or appeal within the allotted timeframe.

* If you contacted the NCSC and the SRMT response could not be provided, submit a brief explanation that includes the following information:

-- The date you contacted the NCSC, and

-- Your name along with an A-number and/or EAC receipt number, and

-- If available, the first name of the NCSC Customer Service officer you spoke with.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-13 11:51:00

OCTOBER 3 TOUCHED...ANY OF U?

My NOA1 date is July 23, 2010 - filed in Vermont - also last (and I guess only) touch of 10/3/2010. Makes me wonder if that is when they took all of the boxes of I129F's and moved them to the back of the warehouse to gather dust!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-09 17:07:00

NOA2 VSC - Does it really helps to call or email them?

. . . . your Congressperson, they can make a difference when your case is over the processing time.... yeah right! I called mine last week and then got a call back late yesterday. They were able to confirm that they still have my application (great... so they didn't lose it... very helpful...) and said that maybe I would hear something within 20 days. I called the 800 number last week since we are a few weeks now over the 5 month mark. They said to call back in 30 days. Last week I sent an email to the Vermont address and heard nothing back. I sent another email this afternoon. I'll give them until mid morning tomorrow to respond and then start sending emails every hour!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-11 20:52:00

Look on Igor's List (Immigration Timelines) and you'll see that the NOA1s usually come within a few days. I'd think you would want a copy of that - or at least the EAC number.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-16 16:25:00

They answered my email after a few days with the same story about how I needed a service request number and the name of the person who I talked to at customer service. I wrote back and told them the person's name but I wasn't given a number. Maybe they actually listened or maybe it was just coincidental but the next day I got approved.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-15 14:00:00

This is hilarious - an ad popped up on the page for Vermont maple syrup! Maybe we can call the guy who sells it and tell him to go tell them to get to work!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-12 21:55:00

vsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-12 21:43:00

I emailed once last week - no response. Emailed again yesterday - no response. Again this morning - nothing! Emailed 3 or 4 more times this afternoon - still nothing!!!!!! I may start sending them a new email every hour!!!!!!!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-12 21:24:00

Getting a bit hopeless

Cutting federal agency's budget is an extreme measure that is done once Congress has given up on getting any results out of the agency, not a threat to improve service. Like someone rightfully observed, decreasing resources for an already unmotivated federal agency would not produce improved results. Congress could and should conduct oversight with the agency through meetings with agency officials and/or holding hearings to strongly urge them to improve their overall management and communication to taxpayers and fee-payers going through this process. That is why everyone here should report to your congressional representatives about your experience with USCIS customer service and the lack of good information while going through the process.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-14 16:36:00

Getting a bit hopeless

Please tell your Senator friend to push for general improvement in the management of UCSIC for all of our sakes! However, if she is a state Senator her call will really do nothing since it is a federal agency. You need to contact US Senators and Representatives.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-13 16:37:00

Post a picture of your I-129 packet!

The effort to help others should be appreciated by those still at this stage. I'll add my two cents for ehatever it's worth.

It seems best to read the instructions the agency provides and not do any more or less than that. I would assume that their "General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing" were written to provide clear guidance after dealing with the hassles of so many applications which were not organized the way that they like. I only found a couple of vague areas: 1) what to do with the photos and the check; and 2) how to label the tabs; how to break the information into categories for each tab (which they ask be placed across the bottom).

So what I did: 1) put the photos and check in a ziploc bag with the photos held into place with a post it note; also punched the bag at the top just like they ask for the pages; and 2) the categories that seemed logical for tabs: STATEMENT - I-129F - G-325A - BIRTH CERT. - EVIDENCE. Devising a tab system for the bottom of the page required creativity since I wasn't able to easily find any at Office Depot. I used stick on tabs and put each on a blank sheet to seperate each category.

It seemed to work for me as I just got approval the second time (didn't work out with first fiancee) with no RFE either time - also whole package was about 10 to 15 pages - not 200.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-17 14:05:00

USCIS Testimonies and Speeches

Interesting discussion. Regardless of the effect of TPS applications or anything else that may be affecting processing times the main point I have tried to make the last several weeks during my waiting process is that the most important thing needed is real transparent communication, especially after you have already waited 5 months. I waited almost 6 months for my NOA2. I wasn't happy about the wait but the most frustrating part was the few weeks after the 5 month mark when I was told to wait 30 more days and then call back. It isn't expecting too much for them to have a better tracking system for their workload so that they can tell you that the backlog is tracking at X right now and yours should be approved in about X more days. At least knowing what to expect could have been helpful instead of feeling like you have to hope each day that you may hit the lottery.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-20 16:09:00

Called USCIS

I agree with Ally's post -- "got my N0A2 (recently) and honestly believe it was after sending an e-mail....... if you don't get a reply in a couple of days forward them the same mail, and again, and again. If you get a reply that looks automated? Forward it again and again.. we did and we got a reply from a real person and an approval shortly after."

Mine was recently approved and maybe the timing was merely coincidental but the process I pursued was 1) waited about a week after 5 month mark 2) contacted Customer Service, wrote down the date and name of person I talked to (it turns out that I should have also written down her employee number or something like that) 3) contacted my congressman's office and told them that USCIS's response of "wait 30 days and maybe it will come" is unacceptable 4) waited a few days and called back to the congressman's office to make sure he was following up 5) got a worthless response (they expected it to be done within 30 days) 6) contacted my Senator 7) started emailing the VSC - sent 1 email, waited a few days with no response so sent another, sent 2 that day, sent about 5 the next - finally got a response with a person's name at the bottom - the response said to first contact customer service or email back to VSC if you already have and give them the date and name and number of the person you talked to 9) I emailed that info back 10) waited a few hours and started sending multiple emails with that person's name who answered my email in the subject (none of those were answered) 11) the next day I got approval and within an hour after that got email from my Senator with the same info.

Maybe the timing of my approval was merely coincidental and all my efforts did nothing. I'm fine never knowing but I sure wasn't going to sit idly by according to their instructions of "wait 30 days and call back."

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-22 12:28:00

In what order are applications processed???

HeatDeath's description matches with what I have heard before and confirms my point that better management is needed. Mine was recently approved after almost 6 months wait. I didn't count on anything before 5 months and, as difficult as the wait is, I figured it as a fundamental rule of the game. (Of course I would like a shorter wait but that is a bigger discussion.) The few weeks past the 5 month mark was the really frustrating part when they couldn't tell me anything definitive about what to expect. If you ship with Fedex they track the progress and can give you an update every few hours. Of course we can't expect that kind of accuracy but there really needs to be improvement. The system described of random processing within a few weeks is just really poor management!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-21 10:48:00

Breakup after K1 approved

I had a similar situation a few years ago except that we broke up after NOA2 and before the interview. We kept in contact for awhile and had a civil relationship so I'm sure she didn't try to go to the interview. She didn't have my financial records anyway for evidence of support so she couldn't have got a visa approved without that. Shortly after NOA2 I sent a letter to the service center telling them to cancel it since we had broken up. I'm not sure if that was the best way to handle it. Others are probably right that it is better to contact the State Dept at this point in the process. I didn't research it back then - just sent the letter to the address that I knew of. But it seemed to work. I just got approval on my second K1 and we are trying to schedule the interview soon. We filed after two years had passed so the two year period wasn't an issue. The NOA2 letter did mention that I had been entered into a database to track multiple petitions since this was my second one. I sure hope this second one is the last one I'll ever need!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-29 12:42:00

visa shipping

I just checked it is refundable. Hard to believe for such a cheap ticket! I also see that the SVO/IAD leg is only once a week on Thursday but the KBP/SVO leg is daily. So if there is a storm coming to DC maybe we can find out soon enough if the SVO/IAD leg gets cancelled and stay another day in Kiev. I guess the key is to watch the weather and if there is any threat coming then explore options.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-29 14:09:00

visa shipping

I live in the Washington, DC area and found that Aeroflot has a one way flight for only $356! The catch is that it is only once a week on Thursdays. I'm hoping we can schedule the interview early in the week and then book our flight back the next Thursday. Also, I know I can transit through the Moscow airport without a visa but if we have another snowstorm here and our flight gets cancelled I may be stuck in the airport for awhile.

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-29 12:27:00

visa shipping

I'm also preparing to schedule our interview in Kiev soon. I understand that the official instructions are to "not buy any plane tickets..." blah, blah, blah. I understand there are no guarantees and all that. But people consistently say that Kiev issues visas within a couple of days if you pick it up or several days if it is sent to another city. Sure, with no guarantees you may have to reschedule your flights if there is a problem. But how much risk is there, really, if people consistently report the same timelines on visa issuance? Thanks!

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2011-01-25 21:26:00

I-129F form - question 35a

From my memory of this issue when we went through the fiancé visa process a few years ago I would say that providing the explanation that you did here should be adequate. There is no way they can really police that and the main point is to make sure the woman knows what she is getting into.

Edited by Kathryn41, 30 October 2013 - 10:45 PM.
to remove duplicated link to separate issue in another forum

Rwlaird

Male

Ukraine

2013-10-30 13:03:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Still no first NOA??

QUOTE (Madwoman @ Jul 20 2008, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi everyone... so maybe I am obsessing, but I sent my K-1 petition June 20th with DHL (the tracking says it was received at the Vermont Service Center June 23rd)--but today is July 19th and still nothing. Is this normal or has anyone else had to wait this long? I have checked other timelines who submitted their petition around the same time as me and they have all received their NOA1. Should I worry or should I stop whining?

Thanks!

I would definitely contact them to make sure the have registered your case. I don't want to make you even more stressed, but I received my NOA1 from the Vermont service center in much less time despite the fact that they had to send it all the way to India and had both the street number and street name wrong on the envelope...

JBean

Female

India

2008-07-20 00:39:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

APRIL '08 Vermont K-1 Filers

QUOTE (milo75 @ Oct 18 2008, 05:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can I ask for some advice? I'm asking around...

Our embassy has asked me to write an affidivat explaining how we met and about our relationship. I've sat down to write it about a million times - okay more like 10. But I'm finding it difficult. I'm having an issue with balancing pure data/facts and relationship "stuff". I can construct a time line, I can say where I was when and I can explain how I feel but I don't know how much of both they want or even what length would be appropriate. Sure, I could write a 10 page mini-disertation but I can also write a 2 page synposis. Also, I figure this may be the place to explain why I wasn't able to attend the interview? I'm just conflicted.

I don't know of any other April filers who had this specific item to work on but I'm looking for guidance...something!

Oh and my senator's office stinks. I left a message with the immigration liason yesterday - her voice mail stated calls will be returned in 24 hours. 25 hours later I'm back on the phone leaving a second message....The other senator is in the middle of his re-election campaign and the congressman for my district is not seeking re-election so the office is taking no new cases. I'm debating calling them and begging for merely a letter of support - no other help, just a letter.

I would have been much happier with AP for security reasons/namechecks. Having our relationship's bonafides questioned is just so disheartening.

My letter is about four pages single spaced. Four pages was enough to cover the kind of detail they seemed to want, and much longer and I thought they just might not read it.

I definitely put some of the reasons why I love him in there - I get the impression that they want that because they ask us to explain why we decided to get engaged and you can't take love out of that equation. I also referenced the other supporting docs in the letter itself because I get the distinct impression that the first time around they didn't bother looking at the other materials or didn't understand them...

JBean

Female

India

2008-10-18 10:20:00

Middle East and North Africa

MENA men and their family

QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Nov 1 2008, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just wondering... I know it is different between cultures and family is typically a big deal to all and most cultures. But can someone enlighten me about our MENA men and thier fathers/Mothers grandparents??

ie.. mine wants after he gets his visa, insha'allah to go back to his families home and spend a few weeks with them before coming here.

To me I would be on the first flight I could to be with my husband.... it just kind of shocked me a little that he was going to delay our reunion another "few weeks." I know Islamically Family is important... I guess I don't know what i am asking

Hi Rajaa - I know where you're coming from on this, but you have to consider that once he gets to the US it may be a very, very long time before he can be with his family again. It's quite natural for him to want to spend some time with them before going so far away, especially if he's working in a different city than his family lives in presently and is thus not able to regularly be with them. I would suggest not taking this personally at all and viewing it as a sign of his respect for family. Just be patient a little longer and use the few weeks to get everything prepared for his arrival.

JBean

Female

India

2008-11-01 12:08:00

Where to submit medical?

QUOTE (trinket @ Oct 15 2008, 05:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

its for Indians

Where to submit your medical, at VFS or take it directly to consulate?

ps: please don't move it to south asia forum, hardly any one participate there and I have a better chance of getting answers here at IR-1/CR-1 than there

Hi there - You've got to take the unopened envelope with the medical results in it to the interview with you. At least that's how it works for people doing the K-1.

JBean

Female

India

2008-10-14 19:42:00

Emails for Evidence,

QUOTE (manishnyati @ Oct 26 2008, 09:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My wife lives in a village of India and the internet is extremely slow so we never use the method of communicating online. However, we do try to talk 2 times a day everyday. Do I need to worry about the emails as evidence? I have proof that I went to see my wife again during the summer and we went to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand for her birthday.

You definitely want more evidence of communication than the proof that you went to meet her (which is, of course, important too). Make sure that you are using a method of phone communication which provides you with records of your calls. For most of my relationship both me and my fiance had Indian Vodafone pre-pay phones and thus were not able to get any records of our calls, so if you're using something like that switch as soon as possible...but if you have consistent phone records e-mails shouldn't be important.

JBean

Female

India

2008-10-26 18:27:00

Problems with appointment letter in India

QUOTE (WaitingforRakesh @ Oct 31 2008, 06:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Has anyone had any problems getting their appointment letter in the mail in India. I know the postal system over there is not reliable. At least some of the stuff I mailed to my husband, never got to him and some did.

However, inspite of the fact that the address was correct on the K3 paperwork for my husband, somehow he did not receive his appointment packet after they said they sent it and now it has been 10 days since the day it was send sent. He now has to go travel 9 hours to the embassy to get a duplicate.

What is wrong over there?

Yes, the mail system in India is horrible. Packages get lost or not delivered through laziness very regularly and sometimes they are opened and have their contents raided by people. In sending things to him I would suggest, if you can possibly afford it, that you use FedEx, which is excellent, and always gets things from the states to my fiance in Lucknow within 3 days. Regarding his appointment letter though, I would contact the consulate and request that the mail another copy to save him the trip. The embassy did that for us at one point. You just may need to ask them a few times because, as I'm sure you've noticed, they're not the best at getting back to folks unless you pester them repeatedly...

JBean

Female

India

2008-10-31 13:28:00

for those who have Interviews in Mumbai in Nov. 2008

QUOTE (Gaurav Patel @ Oct 17 2008, 02:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi guys, did all of you got an interview date if your case was completed at NVC in that past few days? mine was completed on Oct. 14th, and still waiting for interview date. i heard it might be late November. did anyone got their interview date in Mumbai, India? if so, please keep in touch. thanks

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a November date would be highly unlikely for an October approval. Ours in New Delhi was almost 3 months after our NOA2...

JBean

Female

India

2008-10-18 16:34:00