biggish data

RFE is a good sign, actually - it means your casefile is at the head of the queue, an adjudicator has reviewed it.
So 2 to 3 weeks after you mailed back the RFE packet, you should know something on the I-130 approval.

Since you got an expedite at USCIS, you prolly want to chase after an expedite at NVC, when the casefile travels there.

Definitely on the top of my to do list:) I was reading on those websites about lawyers and organizations that do the paperwork for you and they said the RFE was the worst thing to get since it means they are sitting on your request until they get the paperwork. I sent everything off as soon as I got my hands on it. Guess I will have to wait and see what the next step it...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-08 08:07:00

If you are in the military did you request an expidite? Regarding your question, you are saying she is currently in Malaysia and wants to come to Illinois to visit you. You then say she was denied a tourist visa by not having strong enough ties to the US...? That doesn't make sense, you mean she doesn't have strong enough ties to Malaysia to come to the US on a tourist visa?

See that's what I said, I thought it would be the other way around. But she said they didn't she had strong enough ties to go to the US. But I did ask for the expedite request and they said they approved of it, so I got my first RFE on the 3rd of July and I sent it back on the 5th. So it looks like I have to play the waiting game. I just pray things go smoothly so there won't be any hangups....

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-08 07:26:00

K3 visa won't really help and in general it is administratively dead. The CR-1 which is what you will be going for is the best bet as when she arrives she can get a green card and be in conditional LPR status right away. Bringing her over on a tourist visa is going to be a no-go since she doesn't have strong ties and with the I-130 no filed the consulate will look at it as trying to circumvent the system to get her here and then adjust status. If she was denied once for this, now that you are married it will be even harder so better not to waste the time and money. Sounds like your best bet is to stick with the I-130 and run through the process. Normally it is about 8 to 10 months, but with the expidite it should shave a few months of USCIS. Don't know how it will affect the NVC and consulate steps though.

If you haven't already, start compiling all your evidence now. Hopefully you already did this and it was included with the I-130 package.

Thanks for the quick replies, this has been exhausting since the day we started. I feel like a heel since most folks go so long without their spouse and here I am bitching abou the month I have been apart from her. If the expedite process takes a month or two, I guess I can just keep waiting. I turned in all of the evidence when the RFE came in one day after I received it. Hopefully things will go smoothly God willing...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-07 19:48:00

Hello all,

I feel bad because I posted this on the visa topic page, I wasn't aware there was a page dedicated to Malaysians. So here goes:

I'm a United States Sailor just recently coming back from being stationed in Japan for 3 years, I am now based in Scott AFB, IL. Last year I met the woman that would become my wife, she is Malaysian. We were wed on the 4th of June, and I had to fly back on the 11th due to her not having a visa. In my ignorance, I thought an ID card and command sponsorship letter would be enough to get her to the states, but to no avail. I have filed an I-130 and received my NOA on the 24th of June. They have also agreed to expedite the process. I have 2 questions:
1. How much time would be cut of by the expedite request, and would it be beneficial to file a K3 spouse visa?
2. We were thinking about doing a tourist visa to get her here just for a short time and send her back for her interview, she was denied before due to no strong ties in the US. Would that be of help?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-07 15:33:00

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

Salutations all,

I am new to this forum so I will try to share as much information as possible to get the best answers:

I am a Untied States Sailor stationed in Scott AFB Illinois. I just wed my wife on June 4, 2011. She is from Malaysia, so I am in the process of filing the I-130 petition for her to come here to live with me. I have read the stories on here so I can't really complain about the month I have been waiting for the approval.

Here is my question, we were looking at doing a tourist Visa so she could come here for a short time then go back for her medical process and interview. She was denied a tourist visa 2 months ago by not having strong enough ties to the US to go on vacation(go figure, I thought it would be the other way around). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

V/R
YN2

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-07 13:41:00

What is needed at interview time?

I guess when you ask the government to expedite your case for each step, the government will "expedite" it in days! Since your package already arrived on 9/2, I bet the embassy will get back to you in a week or two.

Since your case was expedited, were you able to send the AOS and IV package to NVC? Or you will bring in during the interview?

Yes, the thing is I didn't know when you get an expedite request you can do your paperwork at the embassy. So I mailed both AOS and IV packages to NVC before I made the expedite request. Also paid the fees as well, so the embassy already has both packages, I guess I hate not being able to see or do anything else to get her interview. I now have to find a way to get my birth certificate to her since they need an original...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-09-07 15:18:00

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

What is needed at interview time?

I don't think they need an original birth certificate from the petitioner but only from the beneficiary. I would bring both to the interview just in case!

You still heard nothing about your interview date? I thought you already called the embassy!

I did, but all I got was the same person giving me another number that no one would answer. Then I kept getting an automated service telling me how to apply for the visa:(

I did receive about 3 emails from the consulate. The first one was giving information about what to bring to the interview, I just re-read it and it does say to get my birth certificate. Guess I answered my own question. The second email I emailed them the E-copies of both the AOS and the IV package with the barcoded sheets to prove I paid my fees. They said they have to wait until the hard copies come in the mail to set up the appointment. My last email I sent had a copy of the DHL shipping page showing them our package arrived in KL on the 2nd of September at 12:58pm. I haven't heard anything since...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-09-07 12:31:00

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

What is needed at interview time?

Good Morning VJ, here are my questions for the day:

So our case got expedited throught NVC and has made it to the consulate on the 2nd of September(courtesy of DLH tracking). My wife had her medical today and was told she would get her results on Monday. So far neither of us has heard anything in regards to the interview date. So here we go:

1. She was given paperwork saying she has to bring my original birth certificate to the interview, I haven't heard or seen that anywhere, I thought the passport copy would be sufficient.

2. If the case is expedited, will that been soon, or should I have waited to get the interview scheduled through NVC?

I guess at this point I am just getting anxious. Any and all advice is welcome:)

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-09-07 07:01:00

Philippines

Fiance ILLEGALLY married in Philippines

So..... wanna feel very sorry for someone? Then just read this.

Just found out that my 21-year old fiance and former lover, up and married a 63 year old man back in Oct. 2011, all the while I'm her bf since late 2009 & WE planned on marrying & I actually submitted the K1 on end of Dec 2011. She even PROMISED me still on 11/15/11 that I'm really her husband and never acted any different/became quiet after she got married in Oct, and all the while gave me ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE that she did such a thing & KEPT MAKING ME THINK that we're still good, basically leading me on for absolutely nothing. As I was missing her passport photo, I told her that and she STILL sent me her passport photo all the while she's married already. She even KNEW that I'm coming back in Jan. 2012 this year *just for her* but still did all this #### to me!! So I ended up going there for 2 months for absolutely nothing. Now her running away form me multiple times & complete change of personality makes perfect sense. And you know what else? Our last day together she wrote on 3 pics that I'd be more than happy to show you that she'll MISS me & cant wait to see me again, that she'll CHANGE for us, and that she really LOVES me. Hmm, sorta hard to have a FUTURE with someone who's already illegally MARRIED though, dont you think?!

Reason why it's an ILLEGAL marriage is because the owner of the school she works (and now sleeps) has ~4 kids and a wife in the U.S. according to what she told me (im sure he's married regardless), the REAL wife is still living. My fiance said that she just went to the barangay city hall in Quezon City for the marriage with NO WITNESSES of the marriage... none of her family witnessed it and only her mom knows that she decided to do this bec she wanted to hide it from everyone due to the 3x age gap. Yes it's extremely messed up I know after me spending thousands of $$'s JUST FOR HER, but I need to know how to get that guy in MASSIVE TROUBLE as Philippines doesn't allow polygami!! I know I can pay $25 and request for a CENOMAR to make sure that it wasn't an OFFICIAL marriage as I have all HER necessary info, but aside from doing this, need to know exactly what to do to mess HIM up for engaging in an illegal marriage! I know his first and last name, address of the sch. he owns, cell #/contact #'s of the school but that's about it... saw him only once.a

Also, since he was indeed still married at that time, why did the city hall even ALLOW the marriage to take place and not first search if he's first married?!?!??!?!? Maybe they just got married thru the court but it for sure isn't REAL or what???

Before anyone replies to this thread, read http://www.visajourn...of-personality/

And for the record, no one on this site will help you with your request. It's completely immoral and wrong. You need to let this go and move on with your life.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2012-03-28 12:26:00

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

My beautiful fiancee is finally home.

What a lovely story.......so happy to hear such a positive outcome. I love that you and your family were waiting at the airport with flowers and balloons.

Congratulations and best wishes for your new life together.

Congratulations and many more over the years:)

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-09-06 09:20:00

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

APPROVED!!

Congrats, you can breathe easy now:) Hope my wife has the same good luck :innocent:

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-09-09 11:15:00

Middle East and North Africa

Thank you

Greetings,

Just want to say thank you for ignoring the person whose posting all of the hate links. I wish I had the same resolve, I'm trying to reason with him in the CHEST forum.

Peace be with all of you.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2014-03-26 08:13:00

Trying to bring the heat

Then it is probably sitting in a pile with our petition with a NOA2 of 6/27 --- NVC will tell you it "WILL BE en route to NVC."

April NOA2 dates - 12 days from NOA2 --> NVC
May NOA2 dates: 14 days
June 1-15 NOA2 dates: 22 days
June 15-22 NOA2 dates: 30 days
June 23+ : ??? they WILL BE sent for case#'s someday.

I'll bet, it's been "touched" on the 18th of July, but when I call all USCIS says is what is on the webpage. I know there are a lot of immigrants, but it's a shame you can pay for premium expedidte services for immigrant workers, but for your loved ones you have to wait....

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-25 14:18:00

Trying to bring the heat

You probably don't want ICE. Since your petition is at USCIS simply file a military expedite (assuming you are qualified) or have your CO call to speak to someone

Good luck

Thanks, USCIS has already approved an expedite request back on the 27th of June. It hasn't moved since then.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-25 12:22:00

Trying to bring the heat

Hello all:)

Don't know if this is the right place to post this but Ill ask. My command has decided to get involved in getting my wife here since the process could take up to a year and I am already living in Govt housing by myself and being paid for her without her being here. Would anyone know the phone number to the head person in ICE? They are talking about doing a letter to get her through customs. My boss is a one star General that worked at the embassy in Kuwait, so he is looking into it. Any suggestions would be great. I know we all have to do this dance, but if there is some this can be done, I will share whatever fruits of our to others in hopes they can bring their spouses here faster.

Allah Bless.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-25 11:29:00

I called the mil hotline that they have on their website, and asked for an expedite, but to no avail. What number did you call them? I spoke to about 5 different people, and they all seem to sound like robots. It's like that have their lines in front of them and read them; and whenever I ask for something else, they'd say it's not their department.

Try calling USCIS directly, 1-800-375-5283. It might help if you get someone with some rank (1st Shirt, or higher) to call on your behalf. Also that is my biggest beef as well, they are reading what's on the website word for word. Trust me, every time I called to get an update they just read what I was looking at in front of me.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-29 14:37:00

Did you ask your CC to call USCIS and request to expedite? What did you do, and how did you do it? I am AD, too; but I am not deployed or anything, so I can't request an expedite.

Oh, and congrats.

Thanks, I just told them that I was military and the financial hardship was there since I am supporting my household and hers. I think just being in the military now works better, when my Commander called, my case had already been moved to NVC.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-28 19:37:00

I see that its military affliation. You case will indeed be expedited. Are you on orders to deploy for the Nave CO push?

No, I just got here from a 3 year tour in Japan, all my deployments are behind me thank God. But here it's the simple facts of staying in Military housing without a spouse, and the general fact of being so far away from your loved ones. He knows since he has done the deployment dance himself and just wants to help. Plus it's a finacial burden when I have to provide for 2 households since her job is letting her go due to her upcoming trip here. I don't mind taking care of her but it's not easy, but she is my wife so I am obligated and honored to take care of her...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-28 15:17:00

Congratulations with quick approval!

As above posters said, the most difficult part of the entire process is at the embassy. However, it'll be the mostest smooth and painless one if you are loaded with the proof of your bonafide relationship and, if ya know ALL about your husband/ petitioner.

Good Luck!

Thanks for all the input, the good thing is my command is calling and asking for expedite processing, I have a Navy Commander that is really pushing for her to come here since we've been apart so I am grateful. Right now my biggest thing is waiting for the PCC from Malaysia, she is doing that first thing in the morning. I hope we can get the expedite approval since we were approved at USICS. He wants to call NVC now and get the ball rolling, but I was told until you have a case number you can't call?

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-28 12:50:00

Hello all,

Just wondering, is making through USCIS the harderst part of the journey? My petition was approved in 31 days and now is working it's way to NVC, any suggestions to keep it moving....

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-07-28 08:51:00

may i ask why u r doing this for what reason?

Just trying to get my wife over here through any means legally ASAP. I am not going to get orders, but since I work for USTRANSCOM he is going to see what can be done. Supporting 2 households is a strain on the finances and since she can't work due to not knowing when she is leaving isn't making it any better.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-02 07:16:00

Don't take what I say as gospel.. whatever you did to get them to approve you in six weeks may be able to get them to push it up through the queue to NVC and get your interview sooner. The dates I threw out are based on nothing special happening from here on out.

I hope you are succesful!!

Thank you and I wish you sucess as well. My CDR just came in and informed me that NVC has my case but it's not in the system yet. And the expedite will take some deployment orders, he is talking to the XO right now. If something can be done, I will share it on here so others can benefit from my experience as well.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-01 15:09:00

I take that back, I was blessed to have my case expedited in such a matter. I guess I will have my boss call them and see if we can get the same service. Hope to be reunited with my wife before the holidays....

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-01 14:02:00

Someone with a K-1 was working on getting through quicker using the expidite. The problem is that it will not effect the wait time between NOA2 and NVC (they would not entertain an expidite on something they claim they do not have) so they will tell you to call back when you have a case number.

Once they have your case number you still have to pay AOS and IV fees and mail them the needed information so an expidite, if it was even available, would not buy you much time as NVC is pretty fast once you actually get into the sytem.

Your NOA2 was approved 7-26. You are now in a long line waiting for an NVC case number.. They are currently runing about 32 days behind on average and still slowly losing ground. Assume it will be near September when you get to NVC (This can always change of course - they could speed it up)... At that point if you have all your paperwork ready to go you can blast through NVC in a couple of weeks (pay your fees and send in your paperwork) and hopefully get an interview date decided in late september which makes a November interview date easily possible.

I'm sure you have avenues to explore to shorten these dates.. If I was in your shoes and had an expidite through USCIS I would be trying to leverage that with the NVC (buying sympathy) to get to the front of the queue to get my case number, and then hopefully to shorten the time between sending in the documents and a decision on getting the interview date set...

Thanks for the information, anything I can learn or use is good. My CDR is going to call them to see if I can get a case number sooner than later so I can start sending the paperwork in since I have everything except my wife's PCC, she should have that by next week. I just want to keep the ball rolling, we made it through USCIS in under 2 months, I have heard this is truly lucky, just want to keep the fire lit:)

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-01 11:49:00

Morning VJ'ers,

Quick question, can you have your case expedited? Mine's was through USICS, do I need to call them and repeat the process or is it known already?

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-01 10:07:00

stll waitng.....

lol somehow its hard to be patient but i know i have too..i will just keep praying..

If your husband has the time, then it would be best that he call. I know it's hard, my wife is not working now since the marriage and the boredom is killing her, I call her 3 times a day and email her when feasible, plus I send stuff through the internet to make her feel loved. It's a rough time, but trust me, you can make it...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-05 12:25:00

stll waitng.....

awww guys this is really stressful for all of us..been waiting too now and praying that we can hear anything from uscis and i always check our case in uscis website even it says the same thing..we all just hope for the best..we were planning to do expedite too since my husband is in military..bu we heard he can just expedite it when his going to deployed..so i dont think we can do that..so girls lets just hope for the best...

Hello,

Just FYI, have your husband call USCIS and tell them he is military, they might expedite it on that basis alone, it depends on who you talk to. I called and called almost every day and to be honest I prayed about it as well. I got my approval in about 32 days. This journey is hard but you have to be proactive, find the guides on here to help you, they will prepare you for all of the steps in between waiting and filing. You and your husband have to be diligent, that's the hard part, everything else will fall into place in it's proper time, just have faith...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-05 08:05:00

CR1 Approve! Thanks God! Finally…

Congratulations, and enjoy your time with your spouse.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-05 08:28:00

NVC Question

Hello All,

I've read James's Shortcuts, and I was wondering if you can mail off your paperwork without the NVC number. My case is there, but still "In processing". Can you make payment if you don't have the NVC number?

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-08 11:07:00

Don't be shocked if NVC is closed Monday--they are pretty much right in the path of the hurricane, although it should have died down substantially before passing over that part of New Hampshire--let's hope everyone on the ground will be OK--not just the folks at NVC, but everyone

Aww I forgot about that, we should send a prayer out to the people out that way...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-27 20:01:00

That would be a good birthday present! Yeah sometimes the AVR isn't too accurate. You can also check the payment portal and then you may get a sign in fail. Good luck!

Im assuming the sign in fail means the case has left NVC?

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-27 19:48:00

I would call the nvc next week. When our case got expedited, they told me they would have it sent out within 48 hours to the embassy. The nvc does no review on the AOS or DS-230 package....the embassy does.

You should have a case complete very quick if not already.

Thank you, Ill call them on Monday since I am off work for my birthday, that would be a great gift:) I called the AVR line and they are still saying I am missing the IV packet and fees but I paid that last week and the USPS system says they signed for my packet on the 25th of August, guess the system hasn't been updated yet..

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-27 07:48:00

My experience with expediting through the NVC goes something like this....

once i received an nvc case number i sent that expedite email right away. i also sent the choice of agent through EMAIL. if u wait for the hard copy through air mail it can take a while... while waiting for a reply for my expedite request, i paid the AOS fee. i never sent the packet. our case was with the NVC for 8 days. once the expedite is approved, NVC forwarded it to the manila consulate. once it left NVC, they cannot do anything else with the case, not even schedule an interview. Once it reached the consulate, u can call them and let them know that your case is expedited. i dont know how other consulate are, but when my case reached manila consulate, they had no idea that it was an expedited case. they had to "look" into the files/case to verify. they will not check unless u TELL them to. when youre on the phone with them let them know that your case has been expedited through USCIS, the NVC and u would also like to make sure it gets expedited through the consulate stage. u have to be polite on the phone, persistent and proactive. i called almost everyday until my husband received an interview date. in his interview, thats when my husband submitted the AOS packet and IV packet and also thats where he paid the IV fee. thats just in our case, it just depends really. if your paid the AOS and IV fees during the NVC stage/ online, keep calling NVC or email another expedited letter to follow up on your first request. whatever u don't complete in the NVC stage, you can submit the packets during the interview. UNLESS NVC INSTRUCTED FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. good luck with the rest of your journey!

Thanks for the information. From what it looks like NVC has gotten all of my information and will forward it to the embassy in KL once they review my IV packet. I guess I will call the NVC on Monday and ask if they have sent it to the embassy or do I need to wait some more. The only thing that sucks is being EID next week the embassy will be closed for 2 days of the week, but I guess at this point as long as my wife gets an appointment in October or September I am grateful...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-26 22:38:00

Salutations all,

Just received an email from NVC in regards to my expedite request, it goes something like this:

Dear Sir/Madam:

Your inquiry has been received at the National Visa Center (NVC).

Please be advised that post has agreed to accept the case for expedited
processing once all fees and documents have been submitted to the NVC.

A packet containing the Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee Bill
Invoice was sent to the designated agent for this case. The fee(s) must be
received before the petition can be processed further.

To make a payment go to www.immigrantvisas.state.gov , click the "Pay
immigrant visa application processing fee(s)" link and follow the
instructions to submit the fees using the Immigrant Visa Invoice Payment
Center. To make a payment you will need the following information, which is
included on the fee bill invoice:

* The NVC case number
* The invoice identification number

If you are unable to pay online, you must submit your fee(s) using the
alternative payment option by submitting a cashier's check or money order.
For alternative payment instructions please visit the following
website:

http://travel.state..../info_3905.html

Once the payment is received and processed, you will be given instructions
on how to download the instruction packets and the appropriate forms online.
You will need to mail the appropriate forms to the NVC in order to complete
your immigrant visa processing.

Please note that the NVC will not send instructions to you if your payment
was made online. If your payment was submitted online the instructions will
be available on your payment receipt. To access your payment receipt please
sign on to the Immigrant Visa Invoice Payment Center located on the
following website:

I have paid my fees and sent my AOS and IV packet to them already. My AOS packet got there on the 17th of August, and her IV packet got there yesterday afternoon. I was wondering how long does the Embassy take to schedule interviews. Thank you in advance.

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-08-26 13:17:00

Now what.....

Here's the link of the embassy:

http://malaysia.usem...contact_us.html

I would email them 1st, these people always prefer email than voice!

I sent the email on Wednesday, I am going to give them till Tuesday of next week, if they respond back, it's all good, if not, then I have to cut someone....

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-09-01 15:36:00

Now what.....

Have you tracked your case to check if it is in the embassy in Kuala Lumpur? If they have it now, email or call them!

Is there a website or some number you can call? The embassy in KL is closed so I was thinking about waiting till Tuesday when they open again...

Su and Marvin

Male

Malaysia

2011-09-01 15:03:00