Hi everyone!

My Fiance has just informed me that she received form I-797C today, with the case number and details of where to track it online. So, things are moving along! No online record of the case yet, will check back in a week or so!

I love that expression "track it online". It's like tracking a statue - the case isn't going to go anywhere, it's just going to sit there in Initial Review for about 5 months, more or less, until suddenly it's done.

Yes.... Sorry if my wording was not to your liking. Yes, the initial review lasts until it is suddenly approved.... so strange really. Just might offer the first sign of approval, when the inital review is eventually completed.

It's their wording that's bad. There isn't really an "initial review" and a "later review". There's only one review.

You might see that same wording on the AOS appointment letter. It might say "initial interview". But there is only one interview.

Rene

Thanks for the post Rene. So nothing for the next 5 months or so!

It's not you - every newbie seems to think that the online status feature is somehow useful.

To me, 'tracking' means something is happening and you are actually following along and seeing something happen. Hunters track. Tracking grass growing is more exciting than tracking USCIS - you can see an actual change in a period of days or a week. 'Tracking' something that isn't happening is not tracking!

Regards, JEff

Its a mental thing I think. Even though I know its not going to change, I still check it pretty much every day.

Best of luck for the whole process. It will be over before you know it

Best of luck to you, I know when we get to that stage we'll be checking all the time even if it is a "newbie" thing to do.

Thanks everyone! Good luck to those that follow.

Ok, so booked flights for a 85 day visit to the US soon. Since my temp job is finished very soon, awaiting news of follow up work and maybe an interview for another. Can come back early from US if need be. But I really get nervous about the POE interviews, REALLY make me nervous. So if I get in ok might well just stay the 85 days!

I've read on here instances of people taking long trips often getting pulled into secondary inspection. Makes me nervous. Having no work in UK at that point and having a Fiance in Us may get me in trouble. A topic discussed often on this forum. Can only try. Hope my record of short trips and departures backs me up, along with proof i'm following the K1 process (letter of intent, my Fiance G325A and my own G325A, copy of I-797) may help.

In the last year I've only been on 3 trips to the US. Last one was 5 months ago and none were more than 2 weeks long! Hope that helps too!

Will find out fairly soon! Was tempted to go through the Dublin POE for the simple reason that if I did get refused then it is a short flight home! But flights through there were £200+ more, so couldn't really do it. But this way might be a long way to go, just to come straight back again. I hope all the people who have been in this situation and been fine, have just not posted.... but are numerous! Well, I've seen people knocked back after a couple of close-together long trips of 89 days or so.... I'm only asking for 1! But I know... just have to wait and see.

I-797 received (case transferred to Vermont Service Centre) so wont expect any result there until at least Feb, maybe even March with Xmas/New Year holidays. As for the London phase of things, hope that is over with in a few months. Any ideas?

Thanks all. All the best to you. Once again, good luck to all who are following this process, or thinking of it.....

Yep, sounds about right.

Rene

Thank again Rene! I had roughly estimated an August wedding to be possible, of course.... nothing will be booked until this is certain. Just a VERY rough and VERY early estimation.. as got to have something in mind!

Thanks again! (Now comes the backfire about counting chickens etc!)

I found a fillable copy of the DS-230 Form. Typed it up, hit save... thought that was fine... opened it later and it was blank! The data entered cannot be saved, only a hard copy can be produced! Damn!!! Lesson learned.

Getting nervous now about my upcoming trip to the US.... makes me very anxious. The few minutes (of however long it will take) will be very tense, as will the flight over..... would hate to get turned away and have to tell my fiancé I can't come in until the VISA is issued :-( Many have been here before though.

Also, the DS 230 asks for the job I intend to do in the USA! I do not know. I have been working at sea and also in the offshore oil industry. So I do not know how I can transfer that to the US. My saving will see my through a long spell (easily a couple of years) and I had intended to take a long break and look at new careers, or help my Fiance with hers (she is a singer, a FANTASTIC singer/songwriter).

Also, the DS 230 asks for information about my parents. My mother was adopted.... so I wrote that on the G325A. As I knew her adopted name. Since then I have researched and FOUND my mothers original birth record and have obtained a copy of her birth certificate!!

So, I wrote her adopted name on the G325, with place of birth "unknown" but now I know it WAS the U.K and I know where and when and what her birth name was. Her first & middle names did not change, only the surname changed upon her adoption. So I was going to write her birth name (newly discovered) on the DS 230 and put a comment in (later adopted - surname become XXXX) on the form. In case they compare the G325 and the DS230 and see the difference! Sounds reasonable?

You can just put "unknown".

They probably won't compare, but it never hurts to put the additional info.

Rene