Putting K1 on hold at packet 3

[jrmejia 31]

Hi

I have not found work yet due to not getting married until Sept so i still have a few months. Um i was prepared for the period of time that i would be out of work but it is different when you get here, its not always what you expect. For me, i have been saving and saving and saving so that most (if not all) the wedding has been paid off, i made sure all my credit cards etc were paid off, i sold my car (used most the money for credit cards, rest into the bank account for wedding/extra cash), hmmm i tried to make sure that i wasn't going to become a 'burden' to my fiance, so to speak. But really, am i a burden? He wanted me in the States to be with him as much as i wanted it (to be with him).

Now, when i got to the States nothing prepared me for the immense loneliness i felt (still feel), i too gave up a great job, my car, friends, family, the choice to buy what i want, when i want. I always thought i would get here, volunteer, make friends, be able to get around etc but it has not exactly been like that. I do not have a car and right now we cannot afford to buy a car and Patrick needs our car for work so therefore i cant get to the volunteer placements, i sit by the pool on my own most days NOT meeting anyone! I have joined groups to meet people in OKC so fingers crossed. My SSN number is gonna take 4-6 weeks and without that Patrick's bank will not let me be added to the bank account (so i have to ask him for money which i HATE).

Honestly, i am in Oklahoma, you guys are in NYC. She will be able to use the Subway to get around, therefore being able to be independent still (to a degree, there is so much always going on in NYC so hopefully she will be able to make friends easy enough. Patrick is also new to OKC so he has not made many friends yet, i think if he had been here longer and knew more people i would have been able to make friends with his friends and their partners etc. Will your girl be able to afford new clothes straight away, probably not but to me, if she truly loves you then this is not a massive issue. Give it 3-6 months, she will be able to work, will be able to afford the things she wants.

What made me take the leap.....My fiance, my love for my fiance, the thought that if i did not do this i would spend the rest of my life without my fiance. He is my best friend and we just have a blast together. Would i have given up my friends, family, car, job etc to come to OKC and not work for 3-6 months if it wasn't for Patrick.......HELL NO! But as they say love conquers all. Tell your girl that yes it is going to be tough to begin with and yes it is scary but just make sure that you go that extra mile to make her feel comfortable and not so lonely (if you can).

I really hope she realises that she wants you more than anything and even if you guys have to go without a few luxuries for a couple of months then this is completely worth it as long as you are together.

Any questions/concerns please feel free to email me. If you fiancee wants to ask any questions to help her make her decision let me know and i will give you my personal email.

Lesley

I like what you wrote

[lwsx 0]

Lesley , MRSTee,

It's good to hear both your stories and how things have turned out well. Seeing how keeping a positive attitude helps a lot, and I appreciate the advice. In a way, I wish my situation could be simpler to deal with, but that's a long story in itself.

[Darnell 8,479]

When did they start using DS-230 for K-1 Visas?

Not sure 'when' - but I've been tracking stuff going back to 2004 - and I know GUZ IV required it SINCE THEN.

[Nicole-N-Nattoy 24]

I know it will be hard at first but some of the best times in my life is when I didn't have a pot to piss in. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and love always finds a way. Take it one step at a time. This is why we call it a journy because it is exciting, scary, and fun all in one. I'm sure everything will work out for you as long as you two don't give up. I don't have any answers to your questions, but I will pray for ya:) Just think how great it will feel once she gets here and you both go through so much and succeed. It will make your love that much stronger. Best wishes to you and yours:)

[lwsx 0]

just to add an update after getting an email from Guangzhou

"Thank you for your email.

Please be advised that the time limit for returning packet 3 documents is one year. The packet 3 was sent to Ms. **** on July 1, 2010, so Ms. **** needs to return all the required complete document back to the consulate by June 30, 2011 to continue her visa application. Please note that completion of this step is required before she can make a formal application for her visa.

An approved K1 visa petition is valid for a period of four months from the date of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) action, and it may be revalidated by the consular officer, provided the officer concludes that you and your beneficiary remain legally free to marry and continue to intend to marry each other within 90 days after she goes to U.S.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou"

This is a bit confusing, as NOA2 validity date is October 2010

[nanggroe 1]

I know it will be hard at first but some of the best times in my life is when I didn't have a pot to piss in. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and love always finds a way. Take it one step at a time. This is why we call it a journy because it is exciting, scary, and fun all in one. I'm sure everything will work out for you as long as you two don't give up. I don't have any answers to your questions, but I will pray for ya:) Just think how great it will feel once she gets here and you both go through so much and succeed. It will make your love that much stronger. Best wishes to you and yours:)

I never feel tired on reading the story of K1 couples on the beginning of their life in the U.S. It always put tears on my eyes, remembering the hardship we all have to face.

I myself left a decent job, a wealthy family, and friends in 2007 which I still miss up to now. My fiance (now husband) traveled to Asia to help me moving. We rented a 1 bedroom cheap apartment the same day as we arrived in the U.S. Nothing was in that apartment except stove, and fridge. That night, we went to Walmart and bought an airbed, two plates and two mugs and a rice cooker. That's how we start our life :)

Present time: I'm due for our second child on Dec 2010 and about to apply for Naturalization. I have never had the chance to work, because we decided we want to have kids and I don't want to leave my babies. Yes, we have moved from that cheap apartment and now own a 3-bedrooms house. Slowly, we try to get our life better and better.

But yes, nothing was easy. We really tried to limit our expenses in the first months - and I used to be the spoiled, rich kind of girl, but never complained anything. For me, I might be a princess of a wealthy family in my home country but I won't be happy if my hubby is not with me.

Good Luck to you all on your K1, I hope you guys will get smooth journey with the USCIS!!!

Nanggroe

[Darnell 8,479]

just to add an update after getting an email from Guangzhou

"Thank you for your email.

Please be advised that the time limit for returning packet 3 documents is one year. The packet 3 was sent to Ms. **** on July 1, 2010, so Ms. **** needs to return all the required complete document back to the consulate by June 30, 2011 to continue her visa application. Please note that completion of this step is required before she can make a formal application for her visa.

An approved K1 visa petition is valid for a period of four months from the date of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) action, and it may be revalidated by the consular officer, provided the officer concludes that you and your beneficiary remain legally free to marry and continue to intend to marry each other within 90 days after she goes to U.S.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou"

This is a bit confusing, as NOA2 validity date is October 2010

It shouldn't be confusing at all, really.

GUZ IV does automatically 'renew' the validity period, but is usually done because of 'hold at China Customs warehouse'.

At this point, if you'd really like to pursue the relationship and subsequent marriage, and do wish to hold off a bit on 'immediate filing' to GUZ IV - then make sure that you email them back, state your intentions CLEARLY for wanting to pursue the relationship and subsequent marriage - and THEN they will put a flag in her file, to keep delaying the process on her behalf. And that's OK !

It really does hinge on intent, though (the two of you). So - you have some time to figure out what yer intent is, yes?

The 'formal application for the visa', for a K-1, is a COMBINATION of the DS-230 (part I) and the DS-156 and DS-156K. The submittal of that P3 packet, the DS-230, is not all she needs to submit, but it IS required to be submitted back with the OF-169. IMO, this required complete document is the DS-230 and the OF-169, or the Packet 3 documents.

The DS-156 and DS-156K are submitted by hand, on interview day.

For now, don't sweat the 'validity date' that you got from NVC - GUZ IV has power to extend this on their whim - it's up to you to showing reason for 'why to extend' so they can 'engage their whim' on extending. It really is straightforward, seriously !

[Darnell 8,479]

Here's another K-1 at GUZ that delayed - about 6 months..

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/50738-kongfu-panda/

Click in the 'about me' section to read up on their timeline.

[pookaphilus 12]

Hi all,

My fiancee received packet3 last week, and has not submitted the required documents yet since it would take some time to gather her interview documents. The question I have is, Does packet 3 have a due date? How long can we hold off sending in packet 3 documents? Or is there a process that lets us put the K1 petition on hold and resume at a later time?

now for a bit of ranting....

The problem we have right now is her anxiety about living in the States. 3 to 6+ months of no employement, or minimum wage employment is an unpleasant state of living, and she does not feel I make enough (~28k in NY) to support the both of us for this time period. She is partly right in that even with a 2nd job (if I can get one), I'd be a few hundred short each month. My family providing some financial help for a short time period does not ease her concerns.

I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. Landing a job that pays say $2700 a month take home would solve my financial problems - but with the job market being the way it is.... I can't just say everything will be peachy - I know I'd need to get a better job, but I want to cautious about making dreamy claims that may not pan out.

She has a decent job in China, and somewhat of a good living. Without a quick solution to my financial situation, or making unrealistic promises, she's concerned about being unhappy and me having too much of a burden in my current situation. I can not in all honesty ask her to give up what she has for a chance to be unhappy. So it's her decision whether she wants to take the risk of coming here.

That's where we are now, and putting off the K1 petition until we sort things out. If anyone has some advice, or story of hardship, I'd like to hear it. It'd certainly take some stress off.

thanks

good day!!..It's good to know that somehow you both still have the time to check everything and to really decide whether to pursue or not...but as for me, just go on with the process..you are almost there...if she will get approved on her interview and granted a visa..then take that opportunity to let her visit your country(should get married wihtin 90 days, if she doesn't want to stay there, she can return to her country..)..you can't tell, she might just saying that now, but once she is there, she might realize alot(as for me,I'm a professor here in Phil, it's not that I'm thinking whether my fiance is earning alot,although he earns well...it's just that I don't wnat him to suffer..but what can we do, that's part of the whole process..and I really love my fiance so somehow I'm not worried at all as long as I'm with him)...you are there already..just give it a try....and if she really loves you, she will choose to be with you through thick&thin....just have faith, challenges are always there and God is always there to provide help!!..have a good day!!..wish you both the best!!