Gregnsandy

Okay...

We're on the 101st day of our petition. (1st NOA Sept 30th) I figured it
would be longer than 100 days (that I was prepared for) HOWEVER, Greg called
the office today and the woman he spoke to said it's going to be ANOTHER 2-3
months???????????????

WTF

This is pissing me off. They have been supposedly "understaffed" for A
FRICKEN YEAR AND A HALF! Duh.. uh... HIRE MORE PEOPLE! Maybe transfer some
people from Vermont for heavens sake!

Okay... now back to practicality...

How long is it generally from the time you receive approval until the day
you go for your interview and have your visa in your hands?

We're having a "fake" (non-legal) marriage ceremony/celebration here in
Canada on May 18th. If I don't get my approval until the beginning of April
(or heaven forbid, the END of april) is there ANY chance I'm going to have
my visa by the time of the wedding?? I absolutly dread the thought of
marrying my sweetie, then saying "Ok, nice to marry you, see ya!" Therefore
cancelling our second "legal" wedding, and not being able to go on our
honeymoon until 6 months later (due to seasonal times of the location)

Or, heaven forbid, ending up with a fricken interview date of May 16th!

I'm freaking out ack. I went through alot of trouble to plan on when to
send my visa according to the most current processing times. I could have
sent it alot earlier but from the info I gathered at the time, this was the
best time to do it to avoid getting it too EARLY (therefore expiring before
the wedding here in Canada)

I just want to be normal! Why can't I be NORMAL? I want to finally marry
my darling and live a normal life! :-(

(Note: I know there are probably people worse off than I am, so please don't
jump down my throat about how I shouldn't complain. As everyone who has
gone through nebraska (or any immigration) knows, it's frustrating as hell
no matter what your situation, and I was just venting.)

Kristin

Hi Sandy - INS is hell. Nebraska is even worse, unfortunately. I hope
you get your approval soon.

My husband and I used Nebraska/Montreal for our K-1 last year. While
Nebraska wasn't exactly speedy, we were lucky enough to get our approval
in about four months. From the date of the approval (May 3) until Serge
got his packet from Montreal was 3 weeks (May 23). We weren't in a
hurry, so he waited about a month to return the checklist (June 25). We
got our interview letter, aka Packet 4, on July 9; the actual interview
date was July 26. We asked for that specific date, and received it.

Basically, I would recomment getting all your stuff ready so that the
day Greg gets Packet 3 (Montreal will not open a provisional file, fyi),
he is ready to sign the checklist in and send it back. Ask for a
specific date for your interview - explain about the "fake" and "real"
wedding plans, and beg for an expedited interview date. They are really
quite nice at Montreal, and compared to the INS, they are a dream.

And then, wait until you get here and can look forward to working with
the new Department of Homeland Defense! :-) Good luck with everything.
Kristin

beyness

Join the club. I have given up making plans. first my greg was supposed to be here in Dec for good, then we though MAYBE late Jan at the latest. Now, we aren't even making a wedding date until he get an interview date. I was told a week ago it may be another 6-8 weeks before we even get a 2nd NOA. WE are on day 136 (I think, I'm getting sick of counting) and still no word. I've gotten two congress people on them, but one just basically got the same respponse as I have gotten.

I think if their is some higher lesson in thios for us all, it is to be persisitent and also to be patient. I am trying my best to use my yga breathing in this, but I do miss my boy and will feel more at peace when he's with me. Good luck and stay calm. It is worth it.

beyness

I apologize for my horrible typing skills everyone... I hope my posts are readable. I guess I need to proof read

loveabrit

No need to apologize. I hear your pain and frustration. This is why my fiance' and I decided to plan a reaffirmation of vows, the big wedding and reception in October to be safe! Our first wedding the legal one, will be within the 90 days he gets here! As you can see my timeline...I was in a jam as well without a wedding date. So...I can't imagine how frustrated you are right now!
Good luck...I am here if you need a listening ear. Take care-T.

BritAmerica

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this site. I've just been reading comments on the delay in processing applications (k-1) Nebraska. I just checked the online status with INS and the message now reads " 150 to 180 days to process" ....a couple of days ago it gave the standard "70 to 90". Which, we all know has really been about 120 for the past few months.

I've been in contact with my congressman and senator (previously, even before I sent my forms in) and they continue to follow-up on my behalf. I don't have a clue as to wether it will help...but it can't hurt at this stage. ( I was told that Nebraska DOES have a higher work load than other service centers, but that they get orders to work on all diff types of applications and that sometimes they are told to concentrate on other types besides K-1. Arrgh!!!.... and I thought the government and taxes were bad????....silly me.)

Me USA...Fiance UK.

1st NOA 10/30/02
DS156,DS156K, DS230, IV15 check list sent to London 12/19/02

tparrent

GregnSandy,

Vent on! That's what we're here for.

I went through Nebraska beginning in June. I think my total wait was 144 days. The estimates I got from the info line varied all over the map. One particular lady even said 8 months total was not unusual. I am pretty sure she was wrong.

Searching the websites back in November I found most NOA2s were taking about 140 days. Don't know if that has changed.

At least you aren't going through the consulate in .....! Sorry, at least I stopped that in mid-vent

Good luck and fast processing.

Gryphon

Ohhh, don't we just know what you're going thru, my friend! Welcome to the wonderful world of the Government ;-P

I'm a Canadian, my husband is American. We got married in Canada March 23/02. We filed our forms for the spousal visa 1st week in April. Do you know, I STILL haven't heard when I'm going to Montreal for the interview??

I spoke with New Hampshire DS the end of November and was informed that if the rest of the forms they requested (DS-230 I/II) were in by 12/15, we'd know by the end of January when I'll be going. I called 3 days ago, to get a status report and the woman informed me that the guy I spoke to the end of November gave me WRONG information!!! I busted my a** to make sure everything was couriered to my husband so he could overnite it to NH - they got it 12/11 - and the woman told me "m'aam, we didn't log it into our system until December 30, sorry, and we'll let you know in March when you can go to Montreal".

Sorry she says. What really kills us is that I'm expecting our first baby at the beginning of June. Wonder if I'll be able to actually LIVE with my husband BEFORE our baby is born???

The gov't really makes it hard to do things legally, doesn't it?

Just keep the faith my friend. And deep breathing... LOTS of deep breathing :-)

Gryphon

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

dazeychain

Okay, now breathe :-)

It took us four days short of six months to have our petition approved. From the 2nd NOA, I waited slightly less than one month until my interview in London. I got my Visa that day, and I came over here the next week :-)

It is horribly difficult waiting and waiting and waiting, but of course it's entirely worth it :-)

Best wishes for all three of you!

Peace,

D.

The Princess

loveabrit wrote in message news:...
    > Originally posted by Gregnsandy
    > >
    > > How long is it generally from the time you receive approval
    > > until the day
    > > you go for your interview and have your visa in your hands?
    > >
    > > (Note: I know there are probably people worse off than I am, so
    > > please don't
    > > jump down my throat about how I shouldn't complain. As
    > > everyone who has
    > > gone through nebraska (or any immigration) knows, it's
    > > frustrating as hell
    > > no matter what your situation, and I was just venting.)
    >
    > No need to apologize. I hear your pain and frustration. This is why my
    > fiance' and I decided to plan a reaffirmation of vows, the big wedding
    > and reception in October to be safe! Our first wedding the legal one,
    > will be within the 90 days he gets here! As you can see my timeline...I
    > was in a jam as well without a wedding date. So...I can't imagine how
    > frustrated you are right now!
    > Good luck...I am here if you need a listening ear. Take care-T.

Having just finished the process, I understand completely. I think
Nebraska has a permanent rental of a black hole from the Graysell &
Ferguson Storm Door and Black Hole Company; then they throw all the
applications in and wait to see which ones pop out when.

My first NOA was May 29, 2002, and that was when they were still
saying "70 to 100 days" for completion. I don't understand why they
take so friggin' long when other centers (Vermont, for example) were
running K-1's through in roughly 21 days. I know that they get about
734 times the number of K-3's as K-1's, but honestly I think waiting
for so many months with no other resource for information besides the
(mis)information officers who answer the phones and make stories up
off of the tops of their pointy little heads is a little stupid in
this age of fabulous technology.

I really do feel for all of you stuck in Nebraska limbo hell.

the Princess

NOA 1: May 29, 2002
NOA 2: Oct 8, 2002 (132 days)
Interview: Dec 11, 2002 (Vancouver)
Visa granted: Dec 11, 2002

jstott1

I'm on day 100 with the Nebraska service center. 1st NOA Oct 3rd 2002. I was stupid enough to buy a ticket to the USA for my fiance for the 27th of March 2003. Can anyone give me some kind of an idea if that is remotely possible if for example I get the second NOA in 20 days? Thanks for any kind of response. I'm glad I'm not the only one going through this hell.

Gregnsandy

Wow are you ever in trouble!

Sorry to break it to you, but there is no possible way your fiance is going
to have a visa by march. My 1st NOA was on september 30th, and they're
saying it will be another 2-3 months before i get my 2nd NOA.

Is there any way you can get a credit for the ticket, or change the date to
june? lol


"jstott1" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'm on day 100 with the Nebraska service center. 1st NOA Oct 3rd 2002.
    > I was stupid enough to buy a ticket to the USA for my fiance for the
    > 27th of March 2003. Can anyone give me some kind of an idea if that is
    > remotely possible if for example I get the second NOA in 20 days?
    > Thanks for any kind of response. I'm glad I'm not the only one going
    > through this hell.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

k1journey

I am sick of Nebraska. I found a Yahoo group that has lots of people sick of Nebraska too.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ourcomplaints_nsc

Matthew Udall

You can do the people on that group a "BIG" favor by telling them not to make any plans until they have the visa in hand. Tell them the numbers listed on the receipt notice and the on-line status page are likely not based on reality of what is going on at the NSC right now, that processing times are always subject to change, that the numbers they quote are not promises and not binding on the NSC, and that if they make any plans before even knowing of their interview date at the "consulate" (and even then, it is risky to do so as that part of the process is still far in the future and there are things that can come up to slow down the case at the Consulate stage of the game) they do so at their own risk.

Help them by pointing them to the reports that actually do come from the NSC and reflect what is currently waiting on the shelf (and conversely what cases have likely been given to an officer), tell them about the IBIS wrinkle, and tell them how to use the reports to calculate a realistic overdue date.

People armed with accurate information are far more likely to have realistic expectations and far less likely to have plans ruined (as it seems to have happened to the person who wrote the original blurb on that Yahoo groups page).

They can find the NSC reports on my page located at, http://members.aol.com/MDUdall/sctimes.htm

If you don't know how to use the reports to determine if the case is likely off the shelf yet (likely given to an officer) and how to calculate an overdue date, then post that fact here in this group and I'll run through it and explain it to you.

Good luck with your case.

M.U.

tigger1969

I could not agree with you more Matthew.
My sweetie and I made wedding plans for July 03, thinking we were safe,as he had already sent in packet 3- 2 months before.
Then we get an RFE - for the j-1 visa he had had. So we resheduled wedding for August 1st- and he bought flight tickets for July 23rd thinking this was safe - wrong
his visa was approved- but now it will take 3 weeks to get. wish is after the 23rd
so if you dont want to have to pay extra cause you jumped the gun- wait till you have visa in hand before you buy any flight tickets and make sure you dont plan a wedding at least before you know an interview date.
and believe me i know the waiting is not easy,as i want to be with my baby more than anything in this world but making plans and then having to change them - thats even worse then waiting a bit longer.