I'm sorry to hear the news about your Dad Angilla, I saw a post where you said you were at his side. All my prayers to you and your family.
Well, don't worry about the package, whatever happens will happen and you can always go back on it in case you get an RFE.

Take time for you, your mom and St Clair.

Congrats on your marriage bostonparis. Now it is just a waiting game.

I am so sorry to hear about your father Angilla. I am glad that you were able to spend time with him before he passed.

Thanks everyone! We're filing tomorrow - hopefully we have everything we need.

Angilla, I am so so sorry to hear about your father. I lost my dad 4 years ago this week, and though it gets easier to bear, there is still a hole in my heart.

Silly me, just discovered this site and not realy sure yet how to use it. I am from Idaho and met someone online in Paris. Am going there in 30 days and we are talking of marriage. All of this is so confusing and I'm wondering if it would be nest to wait for awhile and then try and marry in the USA, or go ahead and get married next month in France and decide later where we want to live, in France, or the USA? Can anybody help me?

Well if you are talking of marriage you should either file for a K1 fiancé visa, or get married in France and file for a K3 or CR1/ IR1. Check the guides to see the requirements for each option: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

Study so you know what is possible, for the rest wait until you get there to decide what life the two of you want to have and in which country.

And welcome to VJ

Just Married!!!!!!
The magistrate talked for 40 seconds. Seriously, he could have made it last longer and articulate. But oh well, at least we had a lot of friends and family with us and an awesome party organised by my husband(it feels weird to say that)'s cousin.

Now I just wish we had a printer at home to finish filling the papers and not have to run to the library when it's open to get it done. It's frustrating, I want the all package sent, although I'm still waiting on the medical to get to me.

I can't wait to have it done.

Congratulations!!

Thank you
I just got the envelop from the CS this morning. This afternoon I'm going to go to the library and fill the remaining forms, print them and we'll only have to wait for my husband to find where his tax return is (hopefully H&R block can give us a copy) and then I'll hopefully get to be part of the July filers! I'm excited.

Hi everyone,
Kim and I met 9 years ago when I was styudying in high school in the US for a year. We kept in touch the whole time to finally realize we were in love with each other (yes, it took some time and is a little movie like but oh well...) We applied for a K1 VISA on March 2007. It's July 2007 and we don't even have the hard copy of the NOA1. The check has been cashed and we have a tracking number and everyone who filed in this timeframe is in the same situation (some received the hard copy though) but this is way too frustrating. On top of that Kim doesn't have vacation time anymore, she just came to visit me in Paris for the 1st time last week. I do have more vacation time because we, lucky french people, have 5 weeks/year. However, there is the risk of being denied as you all probably know about. My first question would be how many of you visited your fiancé while in the process? I'm thinking about coming to be with her for 3 months waiting for the K1. I won't be able to work and will have to spend some of my saving but I don't have a choice. However, I can't take the risk of quiting my job and being denied.
Then we're also looking into having Kim coming to marry me in France and us living in France. We're up to a point where we don't care where we live, we don't care how hard it might be, we need to be together. So I was wondering if those who got married in France could let me know what is the procedure and what have you done to make it happen. From what I could get for information, even if the US and France are part of the waiver program, she would need to ask for a long stay VISA (great, another application...) that would take about 2 months to be issued by the french consulate and then she could come to France to marry me and then we could ask for a carte de séjour.
So please, if anyone can help us, give some tips, some advice anything, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot and thanks for starting this thread!
Fred

Well you already have a noa1, even if it's not the hard copy it's already that.
Yes there is a risk of being denied entry but I think it's fairly rare, it's important that you provide ties to your country if you wish to say in the US for a while after applying for the K1 (rent, car, ticket of the car in the airport, bank, job, etc.) You can always ask to get a leave from work and hopefully if you don't get paid, you'll at least have a proof that you are to go back to France at some point.
I think that should do it.

For the rest, I think it's up to the two of you to decide where you want to live. She visited France only once, does she speak French fluently, compare that to your level of English.
The way of life, etc all that has to be put into consideration. Try to figure out for whom it will be easier to live in a foreign country, the ties to your respective family are definitely something to consider.

According to your time line, you sent your package at the end of April, so I think it's still a bit early to worry about things. The process takes time, and you have to be super patient.

Good luck to the two of you, long distance isn't easy.

Hi,
thanks for your reply. I wish I could stay positive but it's really too hard. You have to understand that we are basically forbiden to see each other. We love each other and want to at least, be able to spend time together, is this a crime? Should we be ok with having to wait and not being able to see each other? I know there is nothing much we can do about it but I can't say that I'm happy about it. Long distance relationships are hard but they are even harder if you can't see each other at all.
Maybe you are right, maybe it's a little early to worry about things accodring to our timeline it's just hard not to have any clue on when things could be moving, so very hard.

Sadly we all know that, the USCIS doesn't really care how long you spend away from each other and how hard it is. They just want the forms filled correctly...
My husband and I spent months at a time away from each other (7+3+8), it's hard and tiering and I was without him in France and well, really not well because of it. One day I decided I had enough and booked a flight to visit him with my B2 visa. We both knew it would be tough with only one of us working, but we went for it. I tried hard to find a job here so I could stay here and work legally, it didn't happen. Then we just decided it was enough and figured out that getting married was the best thing we could do. We didn't go through the K1 process because I was already in the US, didn't come in the intent to get married and we didn't want to spend an other 6+ months apart and have to pay even more for the AOS in the end.

I doubt you'll talk to many people in this forum who haven't had to suffer from long distance. It even broke some couples...

Check other K1 timelines it will give you an idea on what you should expect, keep your faith up and don't hesistate to visit each other. You can. Just have the documents you need to avoid troubles at the immigration.

Good luck to the two of you.

If there is anything we can do to help... you know where to post.

Just checking in to see how the French American couples are doing, and to hear any updates on you all.

My then-fiance arrived at JFK on May 2, and got his temp EAD stamp.

We got married on Wednesday, June 13, in Boston. His parents and sister flew in from Paris for the wedding.

We filed for AOS & EAD, and now we're just waiting!

His friends are visiting the entire month of August, from Paris, so we'll have a busy household. We're pretty excited to see them all. We're having a party on our terrace for his friends (and mine here of course) on August 25th so we're really looking forward to that too.

Hopefully he'll have his EAD by end of September so he can start to work - I think he'll be sick of staying at home by then.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

We got the biometrics appointment date. It makes me happy even though my husband won't be able to come with me (Wednesdays are a day he can't miss at work), oh well, the time is fairly good, I won't have to wake up at 3am which is a good things.
It sure feels good to see things moving.

I too am hoping to get the EAD, I need to work. Like most couples it's a bit tough living on 1 pay check only... Oh well, as I tell my husband, he's investing in me

Good luck to everyone else on your process keep us updated.

Hi everyone. My husband's AOS case got transferred to CSC on the 14th. For K-1s CSC is bad, for AOS CSC is good... because that means you'll most likely get approved without an interview.

Hey Angilla,

I just been approved a couple of weeks ago by CSC for my AOS, and I received my green card already, without an interview.

Just got a question now, the green card is good for 2 years (need to remove condition status), but can I travel now anyway??
Cause my family in France keeps asking me to visit....

Good luck with yours

Congrats on the greencard! Yes I believe you can travel. I'd suggest verifying that with someone else though as I'm not really familiar with the I-got-the-greencard and beyond part of the journey yet.

Bonjour à tous,

I've been on here for a few months but am just an sporadic poster!

My husband is french (Toulousain, to be exact) and I am new-yorkaise, but we are both currently living in France this year. I've become an eternal stagiaire (intern) in order to stay together in France unfortunately.

We're at the NVC stage of the game, and very much hoping to finish the process by January, as my husband is supposed to start a master program in the US in January.

I had a quick question I was hoping someone who has had their interview at the consulate could answer. Is it necessary to translate the Police Certificate and the original birth certificate into english?

I have read on various NVC sites that it is necessary, but my husband insists that since we bring the documents to the interview at the Paris consulate (and they do not pass by NVC), it should not be a problem that they are in french.

Thanks for any advice/experience you can offer, and I am happy to see that so many franco-american couples have successfully navigated US immigration!

Megan

For my husband's K-1 interview, documents didn't have to be translated if they were in French. I'm not sure if anything might be different for CR-1/IR-1, though.

I'm from Midi-Pyrénées as well... the mountains, and Toulouse from time to time...

I hope your journey goes well. Good luck with all the immigration papers.

Salut Megan,
You do not need anything translated for the interview in Paris. However, you should get the birth certificate translated for future needs. I am not sure of the process for bringing a husband here, but my then fiance needed a translated BC for his AOS/greencard/EAD. If you are getting a driver's license, some states may require a BC. Translated would be helpful. I just had a friend translate it and certify that she was fluent in both languages with her signature. C'est tout.







Yes you can now travel and work with your green card. You also can get in the US Citizen/Permanent Resident line when entering the US at customs.

Shayrene, congratulations on your baby

Hi!


My fiancee has just received the papers from the embassy in paris, and it is a bit confusing as to what exactly she needs to send into the office.
There is applications for immigrant & non-immigrant visa, will she be an immigrant or non-immigrant?
Did you have to send all of these forms into the embassy before you have the interview date, or only the application for non-immigrant fiancee visa?
They are not very clear about what exactly to send for step one?


Thanks

Aaron

I didn't go through the K1 process, so I can't give you answers. But you might find some here: http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm

Zoltan, it's been a while since we filled out packet 3... I'm not sure if anything changed, and honestly, it was such an adrenaline-rushing time period that I don't remember what he filled out/sent back and what he didn't! Sorry. Hopefully you got an answer by now, either on the K-1 forum or otherwise.

And just an update... we received my husband's greencard today! No more USCIS til 2009!

Champagne Angilla! Congratulations to the two of you and I hope you move to Florida goes smoothly. Enjoy starting your life together and being USCIS free for a while.

Thanks!

I have an interesting subject for us to talk about... I didn't think it'd be one that we'd run up against. Predjudice against French. SC and I have had to deal with nasty remarks about French a few times lately. Like at a garage sale we ran at mom's house, one guy rambled on for about a good 20 minutes about how the French didn't help Americans in the war however many years ago and all these other reasons that he hates French people... AFTER SC told him that he's from France! And today while driving the car in front of us had a bumper sticker that said "Boycott France" with a French flag with a line through it. I thought the days of the "freedom fries" instead of "french fries" were over but I guess not. Has anyone else run into this?

Wow that's pretty 'racist' or whatever the correct name for it is.
No I haven't encountered anything like that, maybe because all the people are know are pretty open... So far all the people I meet and who hear I'm from France just think it's 'cool' and ask where I'm from in France.

You should tell SC to answer that yes, we know the US help us during WW2 and we are very happy about that, but if they want an history lesson do they remember how much Lafayette helped out during the American revolution? By the way the USA are celebrating his 250th birthday this year.
I hate it when people are like "our country helped you then so you should pay back for it."
Sorry, we're not the only one who choose not to help and I don't regret it

As far as the sticker... maybe it dates back from the 'freedom fries' time. Either way, it's narrow minded people who don't take time to think. I'm sorry he had to see that, there are so many people who are open minded and understand that every country is run it's own way.
I'll let you know if I see anything of the sort though. But then I live in one of those island of democratic & hippies in the South, so it's rather unlikely.

Wow, no, we haven't experienced that either. We're in Boston, and pretty multi-cultural around here, and everyone seems to love him and his accent!

Yes I did experience that, I'm used to it and just leave while the person speaks or just tell "oh don't get me wrong, I don't like you either but that's not cause you are American just cause you are an asswipe!".

I also yawn and ask "Are you done Mr, Mrs Hatemonger? cause I kinda have to go"

Anything that shows that first I don't give a crap and second that they are retarded. It works pretty good!

I just saw your post. I think I saw the same bumper sticker on the same van of the same narrow-minded, monolingual American couple coming from a garage sale in my area! Wouldn't that be something if it were the same people! Truly there is a lot of that narrow-minded attitude especially in the mi-West where we are located. (I don't think you see that in larger cities.) I have to tell you that I waited to see who the owner of the vehicle was and I spoke to them in French just to see their reaction. I don't think they were bright enough to figure it out. I have taught French for more than 25 years and I spend a lot of time explaining things that my students have learned or perceived incorrectly about the French something from their own parents and grandparents. For the most part, Nicolas--my husband has not experienced that directly since his arrival. Everyone we know and have met thinks that it is great that he is here and that it is interesting that he is from another country. Anyway...hope things are going well for you both.

Rhonda

Finally, we have some good news to report! We got our NOA 2 in early September, while Fred was visiting which was so nice so we could celebrate together. However, it seemed to take forever between CSC and NVC. I think this wait was worse than waiting for the approval. However, I found out that our papers made it safely to NVC and then off to the embassy on October 11th. I really hope Fred gets packet 3 soon. Anyone have an estimate on how soon he should expect it? Thanks!

-Kim

hi everyone,
on my interview date letter someone handwrote "+ 80€ mandat compte (bureau de poste) 2006L( N° de compte ambassade)" Can someone tell me what is it please?
Thanks,
Fred

My husband just told me this happened to him.

Bring the paper to the post office, show it to the clerk, and tell him/her you need EXACTLY what is written. If they try and give you something else, do not listen! Make sure it is exactly what is written on the letter.

That is what happened to my husband, and he listed to the clerk, and had to go back to the post office after the interview before they would approve his visa.

Bonne chance!

Also, see my signature for timelines in Paris.

OK I guess I'll do that. One more question. I've heard stories about having to bring a chronopost envelop but there wasn't any instructions about that in the papers i received from the embassy. Shall I bring one anyway? Any kind of envelop?

I'm pretty sure that's what you're getting at the post office. When my husband gets home from work I'll ask him to confirm.

Yes bring a Chronopost envelop or they'll ask you to buy one at the Embassy itself. They use it to send you the passeport with your visa in it. Back when I had to get one I think it was around 22 Euros, not sure which one it is though, you might need to check.

As for us , I had my work permit approved and I now work two part time jobs. It's great to have things to do.
Still no news whatsoever about the AOS or I-130, the first isn't even online, the second has had no update since they first put it there. I know that my local office (Charlotte NC) is busy, but it gets a bit frustrating, I'm considering giving a call to the misinformation line just to feel like I'm doing something and see if it's just waiting for an available date in Charlotte. I'll probably loose my time, but oh well.
Hopefully we'll get an interview sometimes in December of January. We have a joint checking bank account (+just opened a joint saving one), I'm on his health insurance, on the lease and the water bill is in both our names (we ask for other, they took it in consideration but it's not written on the bills)... We'll see what else we can gather up
A friend at work never received the interview letter and had to reopen her husband's case (we have the same local office). That scares me. We have our names inside the mailbox but that doesn't prevent mistakes from happening.

I'm pretty busy with work, hopefully I'll be able to update with some news soon (a girl can dream).

I hope you're enjoying your jobs, Cecy!

I'm sorry you haven't heard any more about your AOS. I think it's been long enough that you can call. Good luck, keep us posted.

So I just called... as expected not much "oh don't worry it's normal"
I know it's normal, so I told her about the fact that I know a lot of people who sent their case around the same time and have already had their interview "I'a blabal officer and I never heard of such a thing, people who filed around your time haven't had interview yet." whatever! Maybe i should have given her the july filer thread address

Oh yeah and she said that since it hasn't been 3 months since the biometrics it's completely normal that I hear nothing from them and that it takes 2 to 4 months.

Anyway she said that the case is still at the NSC (at least I know that) and when I asked when I should call back if I don't hear from them she said (oh surprise) 30 days.

So if you have to call, instead of having to listen to all the crap you dial: 1-800-375-5283 press 1 and then press 5.

I'll give it 30 days, although I bet they would tell me the exact same thing then.

And yes I like my 2 jobs

Hello everyone,

Well, not that anyone really care about this but I have my interview at the embassy schedule for December 11th. I am spending thanksgiving with my fiancee in the US so that's good. The turkey is in the oven and football is on, ahahah!
I have a couple questions for those who made it through the VISA journey:
- Did you take a one way ticket when you came to finally move in with your fiance? I am getting confused because I found one way ticket for like 3000 euros and round trip tickets are like around 500 euros so I don't know what to do.
- Is it really worth it to try to go through JFK to have that temporary work stamp that I heard about? Did anyone do that? Are companies willing to hire you with that stamp?

Oh and I would also like to know how hard it was to find a job for you. I know we all have different backgrounds, skills etc and that the jobmarket depends on where you are but I'd still like to know.

Well, happy thanksgiving to all of you!

Fred

Hi Fred,

First, good luck with your interview on the 11th. Please let us know how it goes! My husband (fiance at the time) said that it was pretty easy. You can read my review of the interview in the Embassy Reviews for Paris, as well as POE experience.

As far as your questions:

1. My husband bought a round trip ticket because it was cheaper. Just didn't use the return.

2. My husband went through JFK in order to get the temp EAD stamp. He got the stamp, but no place would hire him because it was only a "temporary" work stamp, and he couldn't guarantee when the EAD or green card would arrive. So, to us, it wasn't worth the 7 hour round trip drive from Boston.

3. As soon as my husband got the EAD, he interviewed and was offered a job within the first week. He is in the hospitality industry, so they may be more "tolerant" of foreigners. I honestly believe his French accent helped secure him the job! (He was offered a job during his interview!)

Good luck!

Hi BostonParis,
How current was the employment letter and affidavit of support that your husband took to his visa interview? I have those for Fred already, but they were dated back in the beginning of September, the last time he was visiting me. I was just wondering if I should get him more current ones before he goes back for the interview, of if they even care.

Thanks,
Kim

Hello,
I am new on this website.

I met my boyfriend two years ago and after two years of long-distance relationship, we are ready to marry each other. We haven't started sending the forms for a K-1, because right now we are still looking for the different options we have (which are K-1 or J-1 + waiver since I found a company over there that wants to hire me), we want to make sure which option is the best. In both cases, we will have to make a decision very soon so... the process will be started in a few weeks.

Anyway... I just want to say that it is good to know that there are many people in the same situation as us

I hope to read from all of you soon!

hello,

Be careful of the J-1 thing... i think if u got one and want to do a k1 or k3 visa after you might have to wait 2 years after the end of the J-1....but i'm not sure..... check it out

Yes, that is why I wanted to take the time to read everything and find all the information I need.
Apparently the J-1 visa I would have wouldn't be subject to the 2 year rule. But even like this, it seems that it would be a lot 'easier' to do the K-1 instead! (and we'd really like to get married too!!)

I've done a j1 before. The basic rule that I remember is that you are subject to the 2 year weaver if you get financial help from your government or the American government (and you have to prove your financial status at the interview).
Don't hesitate to compare the fees since the J1 also requires insurance and all kinds of things. I'm not sure which one is the best, but it seems to me that coming with a k1 things run a bit more smoothly and can be faster in the AOS process than when you come with an other visa, I might be completely wrong but that's how I feel about it.

Let us know if you have questions. I came on a B2 (tourism) visa this time and I'm now adjusting to AOS.
By the way there are way to get a waiver for the 2 years in case you are getting married and all that, not sure how though, but I heard it's feasable.

Good luck on your journey.

Yes that's exactly what I am thinking now. The AOS process after a J-1 seems to take very long in some cases (even without the need of a weaver for the 2 year rule)!
We have decided that we are going to start getting everything for the K-1. I still have 2 days to make a decision since I told the company that I would give them my decision Friday, but I think I already know what we are going to do



Thank you

Fred had his interview yesterday and he was approved! He said it went pretty smoothly and that nothing strange came up. His visa was mailed out to him today so hopefully he gets it in the next couple days and he can book the last plane ticket here! I'm so glad that this part of the process is almost over and we don't have to live apart anymore. Thanks for all who offered us advice!

Congratulations !!!

Congrats on the interview! (And I apologize, I didn't see your question to me until just now... there hasn't been movement on this thread in forever, so I forgot all about it!)