Bummer!

[Peter Lee]

Hi PL members

I just got the information that Ray provided that the I-29F processing was any received before Oct 03 2003.  
Mine was received Oct 21st 2003 so I guess I have to wait for the next cycle.  
Bummer!
Any one know how long that would be?

Current Status:
Your I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E) was received on October 21, 2003. We mailed you a receipt with information about processing. It is taking between 60 and 90 days for us to process this kind of case. We will mail you a decision as soon as processing is complete.

[Hamlet]

... in response to Bummer!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 3, 2004

Peter Lee,

To which district office did you submit your application?  I am sure it is not Nebraska, where I submitted my application on November 5, 2003 and was told they are taking between 150-180 days to process.

If your district is taking 60-90 days, well, consider yourself lucky!

Hamlet

[Peter Lee]

... in response to What district is this?, posted by Hamlet on Jan 4, 2004

Nope it is not 90 days it is 180 days on the receipt.  The district office is Missouri.

[Ray]

... in response to What district is this?, posted by Hamlet on Jan 4, 2004

Sorry about that...

We're talking K-3 through the NBC.

Ray

[SteveB]

... in response to Bummer!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 3, 2004

Hang in there, PeterL she will be worth the wait!

Steveb

[Ray]

... in response to Bummer!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 3, 2004

Cycle? What cycle are you talking about Peter? There is no “cycle”, unless you mean menstrual cycle (?)

The processing time report of 12/19 for NBC indicated that as of 12/19 they were processing I-129F K-3/K-4 cases received on 10/03. That means that they were sitting on the shelf for approximately 78 days. Add another 30 days maximum for normal processing and you can estimate 108 days max from receipt to approval. “IF” that same processing backlog holds through December until now, then you could reasonably expect that your case would be approved by about Feb 6th at the latest. Adjusting for holiday leaves, office Christmas parties, half day for Christmas Eve, year-end slow down, New Year hangovers, bad weather, bad attitudes, terrorist scares, winter depression syndrome, menstrual cramps, PMS, birthdays, etc, and I would say sometime by Feb 29th.

Ray

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Hummer!, posted by Ray on Jan 4, 2004

Ray your too funny.  
You all know I am waiting with trembling anticipation and at 60 I don't have much time left LOL.  
I guessed the time for approval for about mid March about 135 days.   So your guess and mine are off by about 30 days if you count all those holiday cycles.  Cycle? I meant had I applied before the Oct 3rd the 78 days waiting on the shelf would have been done.   Now is it reasonable to assume that I will have to wait another 78 days on the shelf?  
It would be good for my trembling anticipation if your Feb 6th came true.
Is there any temporary relief for trembling anticipation syndromes of someone over the midlife cycle?  I tried the motorcycle but on the weekend I used the bicycle.  None of those cycles worked LOL.

[Jay]

... in response to Re: Re: Hummer!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 4, 2004

[This message has been edited by Jay]

Just don't drink! LOL!

Sorry,

Couldn't resist. ;-)

We've all been through this terribly long, frustrating wait. Someday soon, it will all be just a memory.

Take care,
Jay

[Wolverine]

... in response to Bummer!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 3, 2004

Hey Peter, my I-129F was received Oct 20, 2003. I beat you by a day. Haha..I hope we both receive notice soon. Good Luck

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Bummer!, posted by Wolverine on Jan 4, 2004

Wolverine?  How about that!  We were doing the same thing that week.  
How are you handling your trembling anticipation?
The "I love you more than you love me" gets a bit old after a while so we end up making mischief trouble on the chat.  "Who else are you chatting with now?"  "No one honey only you."  Stuff like that, I put a stop to it but something else comes up.   She later admits she does it to get my attention and helps pass the time.   I guess 100 year waiting is the ultimate test for any couple.   I tell her that each day we get closer to being together for ever.  What I am really thinking that each day your not here I get further out of debt while we are waiting hahahaha. Now if it takes long enough instead of calling her my daughter they might call her my granddaugher LOL.

[Wolverine]

... in response to Re: Re: Bummer!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 4, 2004

Hey Peter Lee, my wife and I were married Aug 15, 2003 in her church in Surigao City with my parents present and my brother as best man. We had a short 2 week honeymoon and I had to say goodbye.

Since leaving at the end of August we concentrated on doing the necessary paperwork and October 20, 2003 it was finally submitted.

During the time we were apart since the end of August we hold onto our sanity while playing the government waiting game by chatting numerous times a week and sending chikka text messages. I think that the fact that my wife and I are a bit older (40 and 30) has helped us to focus on the positive rather than the negative during our wait.

I really believe another thing that has helped us to be patient during the wait is the fact that my brothers and sisters as well as nieces and nephews send emails and letters to my wife and she sends the same back to them. Not only has this shown my wife that she is accepted into the family but it has helped to take her mind off the long wait.

In early December I could sense that she was getting a little restless so I decided to return to the Philippines for a visit. Our two week visit seems to have recharged us and my hope is that in a few short weeks we will here from the Benefits Center!!

Anyway, sorry for the long answer. Good luck !

Wolverine

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Bummer!, posted by Wolverine on Jan 8, 2004

Hey Peter Lee, my wife and I were married Aug 15, 2003 in her church in Surigao City with my parents present and my brother as best man. We had a short 2 week honeymoon and I had to say goodbye.

Well as you probably know mine is a bit different, we met in Cebu in Jan 03 and again the second time in Cebu in July 03.  We then went on that wild motorcycle ride throughout the Visayas and Palawan.   We finally got married after the honeymoon on Aug 27 03.  

Since leaving at the end of August we concentrated on doing the necessary paperwork and October 20, 2003 it was finally submitted.

After waiting for the receipt back for the I-130
I submitted the I-129F and was received it on Oct 17th 2003
They show a noticed Date: of October 20, 2003

During the time we were apart since the end of August we hold onto our sanity while playing the government waiting game by chatting numerous times a week and sending chikka text messages. I think that the fact that my wife and I are a bit older (40 and 30) has helped us to focus on the positive rather than the negative during our wait.

Well I got back here in the USA on Sep 5th and we started regular chats on Yahoo.   Maricel seemed to want to chat every 4 days which have now turned into almost every 2 or 3 days.   She would probably chat more we like to chat but it takes one hour ride with the motorcycle or jeepney to go to the next town to email.   Sometimes they have a brown out and the trip is for nothing.  Sometimes it rains so much it is just miserable to go.  I heard of the bad weather they were having and she still tried to email me in bad weather.  I told her not to do that and I understand the bad weather.  She has made some mischief on the chat and that goes along with her being 20 years old.   She said she did that to get my attention and to spice up the chats.   I can say it was fun getting away from such serious chats of life love and death that a bit of mischief and fun chats were due.   I was surprised on how mature her 20 year old mind can be when she has to be.   But I never forget that the age difference will be a real challenge to come.  At first she was negative and used her friends waiting 2 years for a visa as an example.  She wanted me to retire in the PI and wasn’t to keen on coming to the US.   Now a year later she has changed for the better and is more positive and is ready to leave her Island.   She is busy helping her parents build the new house I am helping to part finance.  Maricel has our motorcycle that I left when I came back here and is enjoying riding it to the email café.  

I really believe another thing that has helped us to be patient during the wait is the fact that my brothers and sisters as well as nieces and nephews send emails and letters to my wife and she sends the same back to them. Not only has this shown my wife that she is accepted into the family but it has helped to take her mind off the long wait.

Ok good idea
I liked the idea of other family members sending your wife letters.   I will implement that idea this week.   I have one sister and she is the only one that would do that so she will like that idea.   My sister has chatted with her on Yahoo but then she got sick and stopped so I will get that started again and have her send some snail mail too.  
In early December I could sense that she was getting a little restless so I decided to return to the Philippines for a visit. Our two week visit seems to have recharged us and my hope is that in a few short weeks we will here from the Benefits Center!!

I met Maricel in Jan 03 and we got married in Aug 03  I wanted and planned to see her in February 04 but Ray and other members seem to think the approval of the I-129F will come on the end of Feb 04.   So it is confusing to me on the decision to visit her now or wait for the interview and visit her then.  Or just let her go to the interview by herself and get her passport approved and just fly her here and meet me in Daytona.  That would save a lot of money and it is the way it is expected to be done.   I wonder if it is the wisest thing to do?   Maricel gets around real well and has a good head on her shoulders.  She got her passport NBA NSO and all that by herself.   I am confidant that she could handle the interview without a problem no matter how many questions they ask her.   The agents are there to look for marriages that are not legitimate so it will be so obvious that we are a legitimate couple I don’t see a need to be with her holding her hand.   But others have gone with their spouse and attended the interview and the husbands have been asked more questions than the wife.  I am told that when the wife is by herself they will keep her longer and ask more questions.  
So it is a waiting game and I will let time dictate what course to take.  Maricel is content at the moment with her parents and sisters in the mountains of Kapatagan.   If this process takes a long time past April or May I should seriously think of going for another visit, what do you think?

Well I got you back buy responding with a longer letter LOL
Peter Lee

[Esiang]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Bummer!, posted by Wolverine on Jan 8, 2004

Congratulations to both of you.....and good luck for a long process....hopefully not a long wait....

[Wolverine]

... in response to Another Surigaonon, posted by Esiang on Jan 8, 2004

Thank you Esiang, Surigao City is a nice place. I have been there 4 times now in the last year, the last time this December. I can't believe how much it rained in December! Well, thanks again for the well wishes. Wolverine