I don't know what to tell you about the embassy. I would try asking in the regional board about it.

For the AOS process, have her check out the guide here...it's really good, just like everything on VJ. For the marriage license, it differs by state. She can call the county clerk and ask about it or look up the california county clerk on-line...or I could just link it for you Here are the requirements in California. It looks like in California you are both required to show up in person.

From everything I've heard, there is NO guarantee no matter where you enter. JFK sometimes gives them and sometimes doesn't...sometimes other POEs give them and other times they don't. You just have to get lucky that day.

Here's what I understand.....

First of all look at the guides, as you've been advised, however, here are some practical answers....

Have your fiancee look up the California state website - she will find a whole section on where to go to get a license to get married and what the requirements are. Since she will assume your name (I'm guessing) the first thing you should do upon arrival is go to the local social security administration office with your passport (and visa) and apply for a social security card. It takes a couple weeks to receive your card (this is California remember). Your fiancee should check the marriage license requirements for the state - some states require a social security number to get the marriage license, some do not. Once you get the license you can wed (usually they make you wait a day after getting the license). You can be wed at the county courthouse if you do not want a religious wedding - regardless, your now wife should complete a name change form after the service to assume your last name legally (this is certainly provided at the courthouse, and should be provided by whomever is legally able to marry you). Congrats, now your man and wife. Once you are wed, you've met the conditions of the K-1 visa and have to have your status adjusted and get your temporary green card. It is this green card which allows you to legally work in the US.

Here's to answer your related question about the POE and the stamp.....

JKF is the only point of entry that I've heard will give you a temporary work authorization stamp, and then it is not guaranteed. Now this is the important thing to remember about this stamp---it is connected with your entry into the US under the K-1 visa and WILL EXPIRE AFTER 90 DAYS OF ENTRY. If you go and get a job immediately upon entering the US you will not be able to be legally working for the time between the expiration of the initial 90 days and your receipt of the temporary green card.

It is for this reason that many employers are hesitant to even hire someone with a temporary work authorization attached to a K-1, because in all liklihood that person will go from legal to illegal and will not longer be able to work there only three months after starting. I know you are an IT professional which probably means that your chances are slimmer of being hired under this temporary authorization.

If working is critical then I suggest you get hitched immediately upon arrival and apply for AOS and your EAD right away (it'll cost you $1,000 to do this). Then try and find temporary job assignments until the temporary authorization runs out or your EAD (Temporary Green Card) arrives. Temping is a real good option for you because it is a good way to begin to make contacts within companies - and there are a number of firms that specialize in temping IT professionals. Best of luck to you and your bride to be!!!

According to this the requirements are:



So it looks like you DO have to both be present in order to obtain the certificate.

Well it's the last day at work for the old job - which means it's off to the beer hall for me. I'm pulling a sunnybear tonight so I probably won't be checking in again until late tomorrow.

Good luck everyone when the CSC closes in the next two hours, I hope we'll see a bunch of approvals coming down the pipe.

My story tonight:

5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00


Night all!

Starting to lose patience again

have fun!

Have fun Blake!

*hugs* It'll be ok! It's a normal weekend again, so they'll probably continue working through it! Plus, with the USCIS electronic approval apparently working again...people will know right away, so we won't have to wait until the end of next week to see this weeks numbers moving up. We'll probably see several approvals over the weekend.

Thanks Andrea! I'll try and stay busy this weekend and not think about it(yeah right). Looks like it could be getting close for you too!

I hope so! I have my fingers crossed...I'm pushing up near the four month mark, so I'm in range for an early approval.

Thanks Alex & Rachel! What a vibrant and dynamic community you guys have here!

I think we're at 130 days now. How did you do that timeline on your profile?

I just typed it up manually. Do you know how to edit your signature?

No I'm soooooo low tech!

It's ok...and it's easy. Click "My controls" up at the top...then there's a list of things along the left side, click "Edit Signature". There's a box there and just type in whatever you want in your siggy.

OK! I'll try it.... Well the kids last day of school was today so its celebration time for them and mom's taxi service for me Think its skating for this evening.

That sounds lovely! Especially since it's quite warm here.

Yes here too! Its right at 90 and humid.... Feels like Summer Well home time for me! Have a wonderful weekend! Hope to hear lots of good news come Monday

Hi everyone!

I don't post a lot but I'm reading every day. Congratulations to all the recent approvals! Woohoo!!! Way to go CSC!

Times are getting hard though, seeing approvals on NOA1s delivered after ours make me wanna cry! Gotta keep reminding myself that someone might be working on our petition at home and that it'll be a week or so before they bring it back. It's been exactly four months this week that our NOA1 was issued. Four months... four long agonizing months!

Ok, I'll stop rambling here. Let's just get all together and cheer CSC to keep 'em working hard and fast! GO CSC GO!!! *insert cheering icon here* <= couldn't find one so I guess this will have to do!

Maybe there is something u can do. Ten has not recvd anything from the embassy, but called for her interview appt anyway. They verified her name over the phone, and guess what? It was spelled wrong. So they told her to send a letter requesting the name correction. So maybe it's time to call the embassy.

Congrats on the NVC,
DJ

approval notice sent on may 30 (our 102nd mothsary)

wahooo....we're so happy....

Congratulations!

And hurrah - we have our 50% of approvals

goodluck guys

congrats for the application and for being a nurse. rn eh?

LMFAO and just what does that mean? heh heh heh I happened to have two beers yes 2 at the beer tent I worked at...oh wait maybe it was 4 crap...had 2 of these new pomegrantate beers they had then two of this draft microbrew pale ale they had...ok so had those and was pretty wasted since no dinner...had my friend drive me then had another at place we had dinner...then went to final destination and had 2 more pints of strongbow to finish off the night.....so needless to say I am feeling good....how about you guys? heh heh....

Nothing in post box again today or email Everyone pray for me puh-leaseee cause if we don't get it soon I may drink myself silly!!!! And really I am not that big of a drinker!!!

Ummm yes seeing how we are also 1/17 filers I also feel your pain and anxiety big time!!! Will pray for us that we all hear something ASAP!

Thanks a lot Blake and Rachel, I will ask my fiance to enquire at county office

Good morning all! It is Saturday hoorayyy! Although I do have to say I enjoy Fridays more having the whole weekend ahead of me But every day is one day closer to having my man here! Ok so anyone else SICK and tired of trying to explain the process to others? Haha....The girls I went out with last night besides one doesn't really know my story so again I had to explain all the waiting involved etc....got the usual "why doesn't he just come here and get married?" and the "why didn't u just marry him over there?" oooofffffff patience young grasshopper patience.....

Anyways what does everyone have planned this weekend? Today no idea besides trying to get my vehicle back at some point I left downtown haha. I get my daughter back from her grandparents in a couple hours and going to go over swimming with her at apartment pool (it is inside).

Tomorrow she gets picked up by her Dad for the week so will head out to Hobby Lobby and get stuff for my mock up table centerpieces for the reception!!! EEEEEEEEEEE So excited about wedding stuff again and man oh man we better have our Sept 27th wedding haha!

Good morning all, I was a good boy last night and got to bed relatively early. Today is one of housekeeping and working on the house and yard. Sunnybear you rock, I just wish I had the powers of recovery I once had. We're at 50% (roughly). Hopefully the mail service will bring some approvals today, but regardless, know we are on the downward slope and over the next 7 to 14 days all of the January filers should be approved.


Congratulations to Lea and Ron, January 25 filers who received their approval last night

Remaining 49.4%......... Approved 50.6%

Name……………. Filing Date
Remaining
1 Ayako & Nathan 01-01
2 Belen & Tim 01-02
3 Thanh & Cao 01-04
4 Ajay & Komal 01-07
5 Matt & Robin 01-08
6 Judee Anne & Reynaldo 01-09
7 Irina & Zubzare 01-10
8 Hazel & Ben 01-10
9 Sarah & Rudi 01-12
10 jj & sh 01-15
11 Liberty & Phillip 01-15
12 Mitchell & Joy 01-16
13 Steph & Gareth 01-17
14 Myriam & Gary 01-17
15 Marina & Eugene 01-17
16 Agatha & Robert 01-17
17 VRP & SK 01-18
18 Levi & Heather 01-19
19 gabbie & erv 01-22
20 Busch & Eric 01-22
21 nr123 & nm123 01-23
22 Joanna & Dale 01-23
23 Lean & Emil 01-23
24 Nick & Sarah 01-23
25 yan & isa 01-24
26 R & M 01-24
27 a & o 01-24
28 Jeroen & Michelle 01-24
29 Lucie & Damon 01-24
30 Olga & Blake 01-25
31 jennie & matthew 01-25
32 Paul & Joanna 01-25
33 Rymma & Vadim 01-25
34 WE & CE 01-25
35 Supida & Supida 01-25
36 Thomas & Michelle 01-29
37 Lena & Val 01-29
38 Susan & Chris 01-30
39 Ersila & Ilir 01-30
40 Mary & Carl 01-30
41 Ge & Haibo 01-31
42 Richel & Michael 01-31
*Mailed in Dec.
Approved
1 Gerald & Vinera___________01-04----04-22
2 Bing & John______________01-12----05-02
3 Shirley & Steven___________01-07----05-02
4 J & Paulie________________01-04----05-02
5 Rosi & Chuck_____________01-04----05-02
6 Hesham & Tanya__________01-14----05-02
7 Pamela & Joshua___________01-11----05-05
8 Eliciana & Benjamin________01-11----05-05
9 Robe & Victoria___________01-09----05-06
10 Wayne & Nueng*_________01-01----05-06
11 Yuliya & Brian___________01-03----05-10
12 Rachel & Alex____________01-11----05-07
13 Relyn & Patrick*__________01-01----05-06
14 Plami & Krasi____________01-01----05-07
15 WW & MM______________01-12----05-07
16 Paola & Chris____________01-04----05-06
17 Zrinka & Eric____________01-05----05-07
18 Badr & Aimee*___________01-01----05-08
19 Stacy & Jonathan*________01-01----05-09
20 Erica & Scott_____________01-12----05-12
21 Cecile & Bryan___________01-02----05-13
22 Portia & Tony*___________01-01----05-14
23 Bryant & Aliona*_________01-01----05-14
24 Stephan & Alissa_________01-04----05-13
25 Raghu & Swathi*_________01-01----05-12
26 Shaun & Angie___________01-15----05-19
27 Ali & Natalie_____________01-09----05-15
28 Ten & DJ________________01-03----05-07
29 Russell & Dakotah________01-14----05-22
30 Laura & Scott____________01-23----05-27
31 Lili & Matt_______________01-05----05-27
32 Bruno & Carol____________01-12----05-27
33 Elena & Sergey____________01-15----05-28
34 Greivin & Courtney________01-24----05-28
35 M&J____________________01-16----05-27
36 Maria Ameliza & Eric_______01-09----05-29
37 Hilda & Chris_____________01-16----05-27
38 Oscar & Joselyn___________01-17----05-29
39 Benny & Cassi____________01-31----05-29
40 Chris & Therese___________01-23----05-29
41 PT & J___________________01-07----05-30
42 jen & jay_________________01-16----05-30
43 Lea & Ron_______________01-25----05-30

God I can only hope and pray that we are all approved within next 2 weeks....

I am tired don't get me wrong and I was in bed by midnight maybe 1 am last night. You are so right Blake about not recovering as quickly haha...

I am in a very snappish mood today oooffff....hate when I get like this. Gave my daughter a huge hug as she leaves in the morning to spend the week with her Dad while he is here. I am just lobbing about watching movies on tv even though I should be out enjoying the gorgeous day. Just don't have the energy...maybe after a nap.

I desperatley need to do some laundry but forgot to get quarters! So may have to go somewhere later to round some of them up too!

Anything good on? I'm pretty useless today myself, I'll probably toddle off to the garden and see if I can do any damage there.

I'm not much of a drinker as well, but without our SO to keep us in line, how else are we supposed to spend our time, hehe

Also in a crappy mood. Starting to see people who filed after us get their NOA2s is not helping. I can't fathom how the hell they can say they do things in order when its obvious they don't really. I get this feeling that every morning they just dole out a dusty box to each adjudicators desk, whether they are in or not, on vacation or not. So some end up being processed before others. You know, I bet it not all that hard to just have them set up in real order. They owe us that much dont you think, to do what they say they do, especially for us paying US citizen customers.

I think the feeling of helplessness, coupled with not knowing anything at all, doesn't help either.

Cheer up, the fact that they approved a 1/31 is good news not bad news, it means that they are working on applications from our time frame - which has only really started this last week. Rather than hopeless, be hopefull that this week is your week. I know sometimes it seems darkest before it goes totally black, but I think the dawn is right around the corner. As for the big lie about processing in order, well if you've been reading the posts around that shouldn't be an expectation of anyone's. The only thing I think they do in order is receive mail, other than that, who knows.

Anyway, all us January filers are coming to the end of our wait in this first step of the visa journey - Thank God for that! Good Luck and I hope you don't have long to wait.

You End of the Month-ers are close, just hang in there! and hopefully (fingers crossed) you are not stupid like me and miss checking a freaking box!

Good luck everyone!

E

Thank you very much Blake.Its your turn next and all the rest of january filer's..God bless.

UGh even at this point I would be happy to have missed checking a box as would hope it means they noticed it and that they did not indeed lose our packet haha! I am soooo freaking worried about that! I just want a touch even to know it is there!!!

As far as movies Blake I just watched one on On Demand through my cable today called Love and Sex...it was an indie film I think and pretty much a chick flick but kept my interest for a couple hours at least haha!

Went out and did some shopping as wanted to round up stuff to make my mock ups for table centerpieces for the wedding reception. Still didn't find all I was looking for and went to 3 stores! So will go to more tomorrow!

Has anyone gotten or does anyone know for sure whether Packet 3 comes regular mail? does it require a signature? IE...extremely optimistic girl over here is hoping that we'll get our NOA2 in the next week or so...but I'm concerned about packet 3 showing up while Dennis is here visiting (EXTREMELY optimistic girl). We're thinking about asking his sister to check his mail, but we're afraid that if it requires a signature it will end up getting sent back to Vancouver because there won't be anyone home for a week and a half.

Congratulations to Gabbie & Erv, January 22 Filers who were approved yesterday

Hey guys, we got the visa!

WOOT WOOT CONGRATS you two!!!

I'm pretty sure that in the UK it comes through the regular mail and doesn't require a signature. Someone's packet 3 was lost in the mail here recently - didn't realise until they'd phoned and asked where it was. I hope that doesn't happen to me!


Congratulations guys!


Awesome news! I hope your fiancée has a safe flight and stress-free entry into the US!

It does. In a brown envelope. US letter size (8 1/2x11). They just stuffed it in the mail slot thing in door.

Thank you for the confirmation!

Still waiting on mine...I'm hoping it'll arrive this week. It's been over a fortnight since the NVC had my petition.

CONGRATS BigCityDave!!!!!!

What a huge sense of relief you must be feeling! Enjoy every moment, you deserve it! Hope the rest of the journey is quick and easy!

Big time Congratulations to you two!! It's been an incredible journey for you both, I am very pleased to see this

I love seeing the January CSC approval growing day by day and week by week.

BIG BIG CONGRATS to ALL who got approved! Hopefully all the each one of the remaining will hear the good news before this month ends.




BIGGEST CONGRATS DAVE!!!:joy: Have a happy reunion with your lady love soon.

Wow, I'm excited to see more and more January fillers getting approved. Congratulations to all, and for the rest of us, let's just keep our fingers crossed and be patient (i try to tell myself this over and over ..i get so impatient lately...)


BlakeandOlha, could you add us to the list: DramaKing&Queen filing date 1/21, NOA1 1/24.

Thanks much and hope you guys are enjoying the weekend~

Thank you guys!! Like I said...I'm be a super-extra optimist, but I figured it's better safe than sorry with this. I think I'd cry if it got needlessly pushed back by two weeks. We'll probably ask his sister to stop by a couple times a week and get his mail...if there's anything from the embassy we'll have her open it and fax it to us so we can fax it to Vancouver (thank God for embassies that accept faxes!!).