ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Probably payback for making wedding plans...
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-04-19 09:27:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Just ravis so far, (on this site, anyway). When I called the DoS this morning, they said I was in AP :(
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-04-19 09:11:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Nice! Thanks so much for letting us know how it all happened for you!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-04-15 21:27:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Wooow! That's awesome! I was just a day after you!

Question: Did you look for a waybill number on the CSC site? I'm wondering if it's any use checking it 20 times a day...

Edited by iampatricias, 15 April 2011 - 08:33 PM.

iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-04-15 20:30:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Just a friendly bump for folks who've had their interviews in the last few weeks - how long did it take to get your passport back?
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-04-14 12:20:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
This poll just keeps getting more informative! I am looking forward to contributing my own data soon!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-04-04 21:17:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
When I looked at the DHL Locations PDF, it looked like I was going to have to go quite a ways - there were less than 10 Ontario locations on it. But my own city was in the drop-down menu in the scheduling system, so I chose that one... I was pretty relieved.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-31 06:14:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Thank you all for your votes and for sharing your experiences! I can't wait to cast my own vote!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-28 18:00:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
You're kidding... my word... what I wouldn't give to go back to the good old days!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-26 21:39:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal

Mine took 3 business days, but this was back in 2009 when we were using Expressport envelopes. Things are pretty different now!


Yes, and I suppose it's handier knowing that there's one less thing we have to bring to the interview... but times tend to vary so much! DHL wouldn't even have to be involved if they could find a way to get approved visas back to the petitioners the same day, no?
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-26 13:03:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Good morning all,

It's Saturday and I've just booked my own Montreal interview this week. Of course, my head is full of plans that I'm not allowed to make so here I am on VJ, trying to get informed about the next few weeks.

After browsing through 10 pages of Canada-forum threads looking out for passport wait times, it seems this question comes up pretty regularly but hard facts are somewhat obscured within the posts. Hence, this poll!

Your participation is greatly appreciated and feedback is very welcome!

Edited by iampatricias, 26 March 2011 - 08:04 AM.

iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-26 08:02:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionDid you add caption to the photos?
I printed out 2 or 3 pages of colour photos, like 4 or 6 to a page, and hand-wrote the subjects, places, and dates underneath. Writing information on the back of store-printed photos is a real good idea too.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-16 13:21:00
PhilippinesDS-230
I had to fill it out for my application to Montreal... maybe check with your regional forum?
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-10 18:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports6months and still no NOA2 :(

My fiance and I have been waiting for our NOA2 for 6 months and 15 days. Our lawyer kept saying to us: wait, wait, wait... Finally, we just decided not to wait anymore. My fiance called to USCIS, they were actually shocked and apologized it took so long and next day we got our NOA2. They told him that we shouldn't have waited any longer once 5 months mark passed. So my advice- call them. It worked for us! :)


^ That is a surprise! Our lawyer called USCIS on January 4th and found out they "sent an RFE December 22nd" but we never got one. They promised they'd send it again, and our status changed to RFE online the next day. Coincidence? Who knows.

Some people seem to call and call and call and all it does is make them feel productive (or even more frustrated) though it achieves little for their application. Others call and find out information that hasn't been posted yet, or talk to someone who reassures them progress is being made, or like you, approve the application the same day. It really does seem to be different for every single situation.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-09 15:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsHow is your NOA2 waiting time?
My NOA2 waiting time is terrible! Much too long!

We're coming up on six months :(
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-13 15:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUnapproved K1 JULY CSC FILERS
We're still waiting but we had a slight delay on account of an RFE.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-15 14:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports10/20 since last touch
Nearly everyone is waiting this long :( There are theories and ideas, but no verifiable facts describing why.

We had no touches at all from our July/10 NOA1 until our status changed to RFE. Hang in there.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-22 13:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJuly 2010 CSC Filers
Hurray! Our petition has been approved!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-24 19:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJuly 2010 CSC Filers
Hello, I've been browsing these forums for about a month, and am happy to see so many July CSC filers getting approved at long last.

Alas, we were issued an RFE 5 months and 2 weeks after our NOA1 so I wanted to add this information to those trying to gauge processing times.

All in all, this thread has been very reassuring and it sure has left me feeling much, much more informed, which is the least I can do while I wait.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-08 22:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsHow do you cope?
My guy and I are having a tough time, like everyone else. I think he's probably suffering more than I am, feeling lonely now and trying to be strong and encouraging and telling me to go to bed after we've only chatted 20 minutes because I have to be up early...

The last two months or so were pretty emotionally dreary for me, and we decided we could afford for me to join a gym and get a personal trainer, because I used to be pretty active but long work hours have left me feeling sluggish and mopey. Somehow, working out with a trainer, and trying to get to the gym even when I don't have a session scheduled has made me more energetic, and just generally less like... apathetic about everything else (surprise, surprise). On top of that, it's a short-term goal (12 weeks of training should take us through to within a month of this mysteriously scheduled interview), and it's making me feel stronger, healthier, and prettier for our long-awaited honeymoon!

It's a small thing, (and kind of pricey!), but I don't feel as defeatist and like, "hate my life" as I used to, so that's something!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-21 10:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2...Finally!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually, our lawyer said the same - he gave them a call January 3rd, and was told an RFE had been issued December 20-something, but we didn't receive it so they sent another dated January 5th... how weird is that?
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-24 21:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2...Finally!!!!!!!!!!!
Yaaaaaaay!!! Us too!! Goooo CSC!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-24 20:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhat to do?!

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!!!!

We talked about it, after she woke up. ...

Basically she said in a email that she just wanted some support from me and that the wedding is still a go! We have aa budget and we're going to make the best of it. ...



Hurray! She's a reasonable woman! I'm happy for you!

(Also, sorry about assuming you were the USC sponsoring her, and ALSO, what part of Holland are you leaving behind? I grew up in Friesland and did my 3rd year of university in Groningen - I miss it a lot!!)
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-26 21:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhat to do?!

She started to bring this up yesterday. After she had a talk with her famly, who wouldnt be able to pay for the wedding.


She might just be reacting to this disappointing news. This is your chance to practice some good husbandly comforting skills! My first tip to you is not to suggest that "all you REALLY need is a judge" because that is the opposite extreme of what she wants! Make a plan, do some research, and bring suggestions to the table for all the things you can afford.

And don't let her forget how desperately you love her and how much you are looking forward to having her there with you!

I hope she sees the light!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-26 12:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhat to do?!
How long has she been talking about postponing the wedding to be able to have a bigger/better one next year? If this has just come up in the last day or two, I really would just give her a couple of days to consider the options and what she really can and can't live without.

From personal experience, I find in the heat of a discussion that I want to win, I say things are perfectly reasonable or else entirely impossible one day and after venting with a few friends (who try to gently set me straight), and deliberating about the reality of a situation, sometimes my perspective changes.

If she is a reasonable person she will face the reality of your situation soon enough - she might not be able to have her "dream wedding" in August, but she can still have a beautiful wedding for $3500. Like others have said, it's just "stuff" after all, but these are memories especially SHE will cherish for a long time, so she has to figure out what she can ultimately be happy with.

I wouldn't go throwing out ultimatums about your relationship yet, though (unless this has been going on for months). Almost everyone fights about money during wedding planning.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-26 10:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhat to do?!
Hmm, that is a difficult position... maybe let her think it over for a couple of days and see if parents don't come forward with some money. Many of my friends hold a "Stag and Doe" party, like an engagement party, with drinks and games and prizes to fundraise for their weddings. Or maybe she'll be able to compromise in light of the reality of the situation.

This sounds like it'll be a difficult one to negotiate, but there'll be even more of this when you're married, so however you approach it, remember how much you love each other and treat each other well!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-26 06:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportsemail from USCIS stating a 60 day decision timeframe
I'm under the impression the 60 days line is mostly just to cover their own butts - not that they are going to use all 60 of them, just to get you to lay off them for a few more days.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-27 21:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsPost-NOA2 Approval Activity
I was just double checking this very thing and came across this which you might also find helpful.

From my understanding, the NVC assigns an official case number, which the consulate uses for your application (which is different from your WAC petition #), and then sends your case to the consulate to be processed.

Folks call the NVC to get dates for when the case was received and to see when it gets forwarded to the consulate - a little bit of peace of mind.

Have I missed anything?

*** EDIT ***

Aww rats, I just realized the link is for CR1 visas only... sorry about that

Edited by iampatricias, 30 January 2011 - 07:03 PM.

iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-30 19:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsFiled in January- Planning to get married in July??
Aah, so you're saying you'd like to have the visa before you move so that you can both work in the US right away? Because in that case, you probably are better off with the spouse visa.

There is no obstacle to the two of you flying to the States to marry there (granted that you are issued a tourist visa) as long as you leave before the tourist visa expires. One of the great pros of the IR/CR1 visa is that the beneficiary can seek work the day they enter the States with it. For a K1 visa, you enter the States, get married, and THEN have to apply for a SSN and an EAD (employment authorization) which usually takes about 3 months.

When you do go to the States to marry, make sure you bring as much proof as you can gather to demonstrate your intended return to Sweden - there is always a possibility the folks at the border will be suspicious that you guys plan to overstay and claim a visa by bypassing the K1/ IR/CR1 process. If you're living together in Sweden anyway, good proof is your rental or mortgage agreement, joint bank accounts, utility bills, or car payments, work contracts or school enrollment.

Also, take some time to read through the guides at the top of the page, especially related to the spouse visa process and filing when both of you are living abroad. Like Mrs. O said, you should also look into direct consular filing (DCF) since this process is much, much faster because you essentially skip the USCIS, but it's not available to everyone and you would need to research that pretty thoroughly too!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-09 08:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsFiled in January- Planning to get married in July??

As I have no immediate plans to move to the US (we were thinking of applying for jobs after visa was processed), is it possible to get married there and then leave back to Sweden and apply for a new visa while we are waiting?


That is a good idea if you're not planning on living in the States right away though filing for the spouse visa when you're both abroad may be slightly complicated because I believe the USC needs to prove residence in the States? Actually, I'm not sure about this...

Were you thinking of applying for the K1, adjusting your status to permanent resident, and then looking for work again in Sweden for both of you?
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-09 07:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsFiled in January- Planning to get married in July??
My fiance and I also hoped for a 7 month maximum wait-time and we've been disappointed again and again (all pre-VJ). We're in our seventh month right now and we haven't quite heard from our consulate yet. Unfortunately, we're looking at a minimum of 2 more months and if our consulate doesn't pick up the pace, probably closer to 3 more months.

I kind of wish we'd just gotten married last summer and filed for the IR/CR1. At this point, it doesn't seem like it really would've changed things all that much.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-09 07:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsK1 Wedding Planning -what is/was your plan?
Neither my fiance nor I wants a "big" wedding in the first place, and both sides of our family are going to have to travel considerable distances to attend, so we've "planned" a little church wedding within days of crossing with the K1.

We don't have an interview date yet (not even an NOA2, actually...grrr), but I have a dress and have started to make plans with a church across the border. I've enlisted several friends to help with flowers, music and the like, and I have an amazing matron of honour who just got married in the fall so she is a great resource for ideas, but we're not having a formal reception, so we won't have a DJ or dance, and are still deliberating about whether to cater a lunch in the church's hall or book a section at a restaurant for dessert in the evening... Either way, if 35 people attend, that'll be plenty for us.

My fiance's mom has talked about having a reception for his side of the family out west after the wedding but I think we'll avoid it unless it becomes a source of conflict.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-01-20 10:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2- Valid dates?
It's a way to ensure you continue on your path through the process instead of sitting on the approval indefinitely. As long as you continue to return requested paperwork, book the necessary appointments, etc., the consulate auto-extends the expiration date to compensate for lags on their end.

For example, if my consulate is so busy that the next available interview falls outside my validity date, they'll extend the validity date.

If by the expiration date, they have yet to receive ANY sign of your correspondence, they start to wonder how serious you are about completing the process and may cause your case to expire, requiring a restart.

Edited by iampatricias, 10 February 2011 - 11:00 AM.

iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-10 10:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWish us luck
Don't fear! Those are good letters you've got ready! Have him bring his itinerary showing his return date too, and possibly his return flight tickets (if you're not printing your own boarding passes).

I've been to the States more than 5 times since applying (nearly every 6 weeks) and haven't gotten any questions when I've been prepared with the above paperwork.

Enjoy your time together!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-04 23:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports5 months and 4 days since NOA1?!?!?????



Ok so It's been 5 months and 4 days since NOA1(K1 Visa). I haven't received anything since! No e*mails/letters nothing. Needless to say I'm a little discouraged. Our petition has more than enough evidence of our 6 year relationship.

Is this pretty standard??? The sit and wait game??


Alas, it is! The very first update we got from the USCIS (as you can see in my signature) was our RFE notice 5 months and 14 days after our NOA1. Processing does not appear to have sped up at all in any way since last summer :(

You can call and ask for a service request, or contact your senator/congressperson but it seems to me it's really just a matter of them getting to your particular file, which is likely going to happen in the next month.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-07 21:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportsnoa1
You can call the embassy if you want, but your petition is not there yet and nothing can be done by the embassy to speed your processing. First, it needs to be approved by the USCIS - then it gets sent to a consulate abroad after getting a new case number by the National Visa Center. I suppose it's possible to have an interview by 5 months, but even though we had a 3 week RFE delay, we are now in our 8th month and no interview yet.

What country is the beneficiary from?
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-27 22:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportsnoa1
It's normal, don't panic, and stay strong!
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-02-27 22:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsEstimated processing dates
Hi there, I'm not sure I can give as complete an answer as you're looking for, but the estimation is based on the trends as reported by VJ members +/- our errors, failures to update, and the unpredictability of the USCIS.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-06 13:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAsleep at The Vermont DIsservice Center

For me, a New York boy and a businessman, I am accustomed to controlling my environment and for things to happen based on the aggressiveness of my actions and quality of my decisions. Since none of it works here, this thing for me has been a complete horror.


Al, I worry about your blood pressure. How do you unwind after a long day?
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-03 21:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsInterview appointment letter/ Document Status Description
They look like footnote codes for the documents you submitted...?

Did you mail them original birth certificate, police check, divorce decrees etc? No scanned copies or any promises that the forms would be delivered? If you've submitted paper originals of everything to the consulate, (and none of the bolded footnotes apply to you), I wouldn't worry about it.
iampatriciasFemaleCanada2011-03-11 14:16:00