biggish data

We were approved Feb 22nd, 2008 by VSC. I guess it was that phone call by us on the 20th reminding them that 6 months were up the day after and the lady telling us it wouldn't take longer than usual. After that they pretty much had to approve us right away.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-02-24 11:40:00

YAY! We got our NOA1 yesterday. After 4 months and 4 weeks!!! Well, its dated 12/26/2007 and was the perfect belated Christmas present. So, now the waiting for a approval begins and I am sure that will be a while. But at least now we know that our case was not lost and that they will be working on it eventually! Thank god!

Happy New Year!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-01-01 02:59:00

-bump- :-)

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-11-22 05:45:00

My husband's and my I-130 petition was received by VSC on 08/03/2007. It's in my timeline, too. ;-)

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-10-27 11:29:00

Hello!
Could you add our time line please:

I-130 petition received by VSC: 08/03/2007
NOA1: pending

Thanks

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-10-15 06:00:00

Finally with my husband in America!

Congratulations! I can't wait for that day to come. Good luck with everything!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-10-05 02:19:00

So, hubby has already kept you updated. We got our interview date today. So, I guess what they really mean by they assign interviews during the 2nd week of a month is that they assign interviews during the first 2 weeks of a month. haha. Easy mistake to make. I guess now it will all move along quickly.
Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-10-07 13:42:00

Hubby and I just had a laugh... The operator at NVC told us that the interviews are scheduled every 2nd week of the month (that would be next week) and only then... She also said that it could take up to 3 months to get a date for the interview.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-10-06 06:34:00

I just called the local panel physician and made an appointment. YAY- it's really moving along now.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-10-06 04:59:00

The reason why NVC took 6 months is that we had a lack of financial funding in May/June and had to wait to pay for the IV bill. Everything else was fast and smooth. It was entirely our fault that it took so long. Well, the RFE because of stupid question 20 was kind of useless but never mind. So no worries there- NVC is fast as long as you don't get stuck in security checks, I guess.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-10-06 04:50:00

OK, so hubby will start bugging NVC about the interview date tomorrow. What should he be asking for? He needs the operator and then the case number, right? Anything else?

I hope it will move fast now. So that our plans work out to be together by February 2009. I just hope that our finances will be OK. I am really worried about finding a job and having to survive in a different country. Hubby's income is just not that great yet and I hope to find a decent job soon after coming to the States!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-10-05 11:52:00

Hey everyone!
It's been a long time (something weird happened to my account here and I couldn't retrieve my password). But I come bearing good news: OUR CASE WAS COMPLETED AT NVC ON September, 30th!!!
Wohoo! Just one question: what happens now? Will the case be transferred to the consulate? I am very excited right now.
Best wishes to all of you!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-10-05 02:11:00

CR-1 Visa granted

The visa arrived this morning!!! Now I really have it in my hand. All is set and we can start planning our lives together!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-11-15 04:19:00

CR-1 Visa granted

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that my visa was granted yesterday! The interview was in the morning at the Frankfurt, Germany consulate. The day began by waking up early and being so nervous that I was not even able to eat any breakfast. Then I left the hotel and took the subway to the consulate.

When I got there there already was a line. So, we waited in the cold to get our number and finally be admitted to the consulate. For that we had to show our invitation letter and then go through a airport-like security check. After leaving my cell phone in the care of the security officers I continued on to the great waiting hall.

The security woman there told me to go to window 22 and "pay" the visa fees, then sit down and wait. Of course my fees were already paid for, and the cashier told me to just sit down and wait till my number was called. So that's what I did. They called my number and I went up to window 23. The woman there wanted a bunch of documents from me that I had already sent to NVC. I informed her of that and she went to check my file. She came back and told me that they really did already have those documents. Funny that. She asked me if I really did not wish to hand in anything. I denied and in return got a look. She gave me an envelope and told me to address it to myself and put €4.25 postage on it (my polite question about where a postage machine would be got a stare and bitchy reply in return). I got the postage from the machine and then sat down to address the envelope.

I met a nice family who had won the greencard lottery and another spouse. We talked which made time go by a little faster. We all had similar experiences with USCIS and NVC which we found pretty hilarious. It was nice to have other people around who were going through the same process. They were ahead of me in line and also had their interviews before me. It all went well for them. Congratulations again!

For me it went on with going up to window 20 where all the lady did was check that the information on the paperwork was correct. She also explained the further procedures and what would happen once my visa was granted and when I am entering the U.S. for the first time as a permanent resident. She also informed me that my paperwork looked good and that all should work out. Once she explained the contents of the brown sealed envelope that will come with my visa and all the legal details (green card can take up to 12 months until then my visa is suffice to work and travel) she told me to sit down again and wait for my interview with one of the consuls at window 16 or 17.

I sat back down and continued talking to the others. They went up to window 16 before me and all seemed quite relaxed.

Then it was my turn: finally after 468 days it was the big moment. My visa interview, the moment that would decide if I were to be allowed to permanently live in the U.S.. And then... it was so unspectacular. She first took my fingerprints (all 10) and then had me sign my DS-230. The she asked me exactly two questions: When did you get married (07/06/2007, but the German date format slightly confused her for a moment

)? And where did you meet (in high school when I was an exchange student, he was a senior, too. We became friends and met up again 6 years later, when I wrote my thesis in the U.S.. Then we fell in love and got married a year later and since then we have had a long distance relationship/marriage)? Her comment: Oh, how cute. You're almost high school sweethearts. My reaction: broad smile. The next thing was that she said all looked good and unless they got any negative results concerning my finger prints I should receive my visa via signed receipt mail next week. Congratulations and welcome to the U.S.. That was it. Now all I am waiting for is my visa in the mail. YAY!

All in all it was pretty easy going and the people at the consulate in Frankfurt were quite nice. Thank you for all the support over the past year. I am rooting for all those of you who are not done yet! All will work out just believe in yourselves and your relationship and it all will go well.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-11-14 15:07:00

VISA VISA VISA!!!

Congratulations, oddo!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-11-26 14:26:00

No NOA1

Same here. Our petition was received by Vermont on 08/03/07 and still no check cashed nor did we get a NOA1. So, your friend will have to do the same as all of us: sit tight and wait. By the way: USCIS says that it will take up to 15 weeks so there is no need to call after 90 days. They will only say that they are still working on the pile of petitions ahead of your own case.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-11-09 10:12:00

NOA 1 Delay???

The more interesting question by now is: why are they still not working on I-130s if everything else is almost up-to-date. That's what I am asking myself. How come they seem to have close to no work left other than the humongous pile of I130s and still there is no movement whatsoever. But there's nothing we can do about it other than wait.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-11-24 12:40:00

VERMONT I30 Progress update

Why should VSC be closed??? CSC hasn't moved in the same time frame as VSC. And if you mail it to another SC they are just going to forward it to VSC which will only complicate things. So, just hang tight and wait. It's all we can do. We filed back in August and haven't heard anything yet.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-11-28 12:50:00

Any October Filers for NOA1 ??

Excuse me? There is no one who filed to VSC after July 2007 who has as of yet gotten a NOA1. No one... If you know of someone who filed after July to VERMONT SC and has gotten a NOA please post the link. I think you got this confused with some other petitions which have been worked on. But the I130s are at the end of the line at both service centers. Only CSC is already at the end of August BUT even they haven't managed any progress over the past months. So please, if you have a link proving otherwise please post it. If you don't have one then please don't get people confused or their hopes up. I do not think that they just skipped all the August/September/October filers and will now work on November and then go backwards. I know that for those of you who filed in October/November it would be great. But I don't see that happening!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-12-02 09:29:00

Any October Filers for NOA1 ??

Not even people who filed with VSC in August have their NOA1s yet. So, I would be very surprised if anybody of the September or October filers already got their NOA1s.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-12-02 03:47:00

Congressional Inquiry

Why should NVC be affected? The application will NOT as was the case at the SC all come in at the same time. They will slowly arrive just like it always was the case. And even if they have more petitions than usual: the dimension will be different to what USCIS experienced. I think it will maybe be a backlog of 2-3 months at NVC. The consulates should be affected the least as they only get small portions of the huge pile each. I think the worst part will be processing at USCIS- NVC will be slightly slower- Consulates will be least affected.

@rebeccajo: the thing is: It is ONLY the I-130s that have been held back by USCIS. How many times do we have to explain this. I think no one here would complain if they thought we had been treated fairly. But I-130s have been the petitions that have been held on hold for MONTHS now. I mean its all dandy for the people who are still being processed. But to tell us to just wait patiently and everybody had to wait just like us: NOT true. How long did you wait for notification? A week, maybe two? Or maybe even 3? I don't think you waited as my husband and I have been for over 16 weeks now. And still: nothing. The only hope is that Chicago will have the capacities needed. But thats guess-work. How can you say everybody has waited like this? Yes, they will count from the day they received the petitions initially. But who cares? They are never ever going to make the usual time frame. Never ever. So, I don't care if they start counting with the issuing date of the NOA1 or the original date they received it. It doesn't matter. They are not going to make the 6 months. And seriously: all I care about is not even the time this whole fricking process is going to take (my estimate is 18-24months) all I care about is that they finally start doing something, anything. And if it is hiring people all over the world to call the petitioners to inform them. But just waiting without knowing what will happen. If anything will happen. You can't tell me that's normal. Sorry, if you do I am not going to believe you. This is not normal. Stop criticizing us for something that is natural. All we want is that someone pays attention not only to part of the filed petitions but also to the I-130 petitions. And probably now you will say that everyone has been affected equally by the backlog. Not true! Everything has been moving for months. Everything but the I-130s. You can believe us or not. But please respect our feelings and don't say this is normal. I know you can't understand what we're going through because you have never been in the situation and also you are with your loved ones (and I am happy for you). But I think I and the others who have been waiting more or less patiently have a right to be with our loved ones too.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-12-08 14:41:00

Congressional Inquiry

Excuse me, Nanusia, but you're done with your process. You're with your partner. You didn't have to wait for months and months and months to even receive NOA1. Just imagine that you sent your petition 4 months ago and you still haven't heard a thing. You have no chance of inquiring at USCIS because they don't know how long it's going to take. Please, this has nothing to do with one person being better than the other. But someone who is already married or already has children with that spouse now has to wait for an unknown amount of time in order to be with their loved ones, while those who are engaged and are still planning a family get to be together a lot sooner. I am sorry but that's not really fair either.

My husband and I already inquired with our Congressman and they said that they will take a look into it. It seems they are able to get information about the petition by the maiden name and birth date of the spouse. But we have heard nothing so far. I don't know how it will go from here. I hope that USCIS will start working again. Or that maybe the inquiry by the Congressman will help. Its been 16 weeks since we filed... and no end in sight!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-12-06 14:58:00

Pregnant wife considerations

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-12-11 14:55:00

U.S. Senator's Help

With all of the back log at VSC and CSC I would not get my hopes up. Because their first trouble will not even be considering to expedite your petition but to find it. Is it still at CSC is it on the way to Chicago, is it in Chicago... is it lost? Who knows at this point. I would hope for you and your wife that you will find a way to be together sooner. But there is not much hope. Hubby and I filed back in August and should be the first waiting in line but even that doesn't say anything about the time that it will still take for our petition to be entered into the system let alone be approved.

We did contact our Congressman but have heard nothing so far. They did ask for my maiden name, date of birth and married name instead of a receipt number in the hope that they might find the petition this way but there is not much hope. We did talk to our bank to ensure that the check would not expire and we took every other precaution and are now trying to assemble everything for the continuing process. But even this might not make much sense since we don't know when we will need those documents and they might be considered "old" by the time we need them.

Good luck buddy!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-12-11 14:58:00

NOA1 Delay

QUOTE (japanlover @ Oct 18 2007, 11:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Germanchick2502 @ Oct 13 2007, 05:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

USCIS VSC received our I-130 package on 08/03/2007. Nothing so far and as of yesterday and the new update on the receipt notices VSC is still stuck on 7/29. So, still no movement. 4th week in a row and I don't see them moving anytime soon. This is starting to become very frustrating.

hey can you let me know when you get your Noa 1 cuz i havent recieved mine yet either and we filed around the same time ...olso do you know of any other people that are on the 3 month waiting for NOA 1 to come in

I certainly will! Nothing so far. Still waiting. No check cashed.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-10-19 14:34:00

NOA1 Delay

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-10-13 04:28:00

How soon after filing I-130?

We are talking to different branches of Homeland Security which DO NOT share a computer system. Therefore Border&Entry Patrol cannot see whether a person trying to enter the U.S. has been petitioned for an immigrant visa. At least as far as I know this is the case. They only see your previous entrances to the U.S. not the data in USCIS' computer system. As long as they have no reason for suspecting that you might stay in the country they will let you enter- at least when you are from a visa waiver country. To apply for a tourist visa on the other hand would not be a very good idea. And of course there always is the chance they might turn you away and that would mean you would have to file a waiver once your immigration petition is at the consulate.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2007-12-17 05:54:00

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-01-01 03:00:00

August I130

Our NOA1 was finally in the mail yesterday. After more than 4 months of waiting this was the perfect belated Christmas present and a very good end to the year of 2007. Keeping my fingers crossed for all of you who are still waiting.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-01-01 02:49:00

Travelling on B2

No experience with traveling on a still valid B2 but I am here on the Waiver Program right now with my husband and they FRIED me at the POE. And that was without them knowing that I am married to an American and without them knowing that I have an active I-130 petition going on my behalf. All they knew was that I had already been in the country last year for 4 weeks and the year before for 8 weeks, and they were shooting all kinds of questions at me. Pretty much trying to find out if there was more behind my visit then just a stay as a tourist. So, it is possible (I would never apply for a new visa now) but its always risky stuff as the POE officer has the right to refuse your entry and might send you back. That would mean a lot more paperwork for the immigration process but if you ask me: it's worth the risk. I enjoy every minute of the time I have with my husband. It is wonderful and I would have never wanted to go without this trip.

Edited by Germanchick2502, 15 February 2008 - 07:12 PM.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-02-15 19:11:00

NOA 2- We have been approved

Thank you all you guys! It was a very good early birthday present.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-02-25 08:26:00

NOA 2- We have been approved

Hey guys,
I just wanted to let you know that our I-130 petition was approved on February 22nd, 2008. It's still a long haul but it's a step into the right direction and we are very excited. I just thought I'd let you guys know.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-02-24 11:33:00

finally got our NOA2!!!

Congrats

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-02-25 08:27:00

I-130 Question - So Simple!!

We made one mistake and it was this question ;-). They mean the beneficiary but we thought that it was the sponsor. In the end we filed a letter correcting the mistake and got no RFE. So, just to safe you the hassle we had: it's the beneficiary's employer that they ask for.

Germanchick2502

Female

Germany

2008-03-04 14:02:00