My journey so far, . . . now at NOA2!

[Babychka 2]

When I started on this journey I had no idea what to do. I read all over the place that doing the forms was easy and I can do it myself.. But I hired an agency. I wouldn't have known how to do this on my own.

I called them on the phone and they literally handled everything and explained what I had to do in detail (I still did all the paperwork and making copies etc.)

I also hired an agency in her country (somehow it costs twice as much..) just for her peace of mind.

It's WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

Would you go to a civil trial on your own if you could hire a lawyer for $200? NOT!

(I made the application on 5/19 and got NOA1 on 5/28. Just got NOA2 today 8/20)

It's my birthday today! No really, it is! And what a great gift!

Edited August 26, 2013 by Kathryn41
to remove inappropriate advertisement link

[dwinge 34]

Congratulations on the NOA2 !!!

[mounir412 101]

Congratulations !!!

[TBoneTX 43,048]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

[Golden Gate 530]

Happy Birthday!

[Chowking 20]

Congratulations and Happy Birthday too!!!

God bless!!

[JohnE 57]

Congrats but this sounds like an ad. Why waste money on a service when you can secure all the information you need for free on Visa Journey? We completed our journey (for free with the exception of visa fees) using Visa Journey and did not have any RFEs.

[Laura. 90]

Congrats but this sounds like an ad. Why waste money on a service when you can secure all the information you need for free on Visa Journey? We completed our journey (for free with the exception of visa fees) using Visa Journey and did not have any RFEs.

I've got to agree.

Would I pay an agency to do my paperwork for me when I could do it all myself for free? Nope!

But meh, if it made OP feel better then why not. Congrats and all that jazz.

Edited August 26, 2013 by Kathryn41
to remove quote from removed material

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

When I started on this journey I had no idea what to do. I read all over the place that doing the forms was easy and I can do it myself.. But I hired an agency for $200 that made this REALLY easy. My application looked very official and was arranged in perfect order, thanks to them. I wouldn't have known how to do this on my own.

I called them on the phone and they literally handled everything and explained what I had to do in detail (I still did all the paperwork and making copies etc.)

I also hired an agency in her country (somehow it costs twice as much..) just for her peace of mind.

It's WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

Would you go to a civil trial on your own if you could hire a lawyer for $200? NOT!

(I made the application on 5/19 and got NOA1 on 5/28. Just got NOA2 today 8/20)

It's my birthday today! No really, it is! And what a great gift!

well congratulations.

When I asked my wife to marry me, because we were in love, I did not even KNOW there was such a thing as a fiancee visa. I found VJ four months after I found my wife quite by chance while on business in Prague.

The form is two pages of personal information that no one else can fill out unless you give them the info, but some people are unable to fill out a form simpler than a job application for Home Depot. A bit of a sign of the times, I guess. If it can't be "tweeted" or texted to you, then you have to have someone else do it.

what did the agency in Ukraine do to give your fiancee peace of mind?

Now that the very easy I-129f has been completed, who will do your visa application forms? The agency in Ukraine? Who will do the I-485 when she arrives? The I-751? The N-400?

Who will help you with Social Security, the DMV, school registration, education evaluation, translations of important documents, life insurance, medical insurance, tax issues? Who will do that? Who will give her peace of mind? Who will teach her to drive? Who will teach her about credit and the banking system here?

The immigration process takes 4 years. The visa is the start. Not the end. How many people realize that? Have you any idea what is ahead? Any idea? Your fiancee does not know how to set the oven temperature on your range. She will think that 450 degrees will surely cause the house to burst into flames! She thinks a thermostat needs to be turned ALL the way down and ALL the way up because she never saw one...and it moves so it must be right. She will try to set it for 20 degrees.

The immigration process is nothing really. I amounts to a minor nuisance, less papers than you will fill out for regular life duties over the same period of time and less expense than the maintenance for a car for a year. LIFE on the other hand, with an immigrant, is full of challenges, tests, frustrations, joys, tears,

You have deprived yourself and your spouse of a learning opportunity that would far better serve you than any agency could. An RFE would be better than being ignorant of the process by paying someone to do it. You have chosen a life with an immigrant from another culture, a person that does not speak English as a native language. The success of that relationship falls squarely on YOU and it cannot be "farmed out" for

$200.

Too often people think they can assure success with an agency or an attorney for a fee. You can't. Too often they think they must do anything to avoid a "delay". It is nonsense. This is for life, not a date for New Year's eve. Your life will continue long after this visa is done. I cannot even begin to tell you how little importance the visa has. It is literally something forgotten in a few days.

Our journey was about as complicated as it gets...K-1 and K-2s, one K-2 to follow, a foreign education for one of the children while a US resident, staggered immigration processes, various POE timelines. I was always in the process of something at every moment. Still it was nothing more than a nuisance. Read the instructions, fill out the form, read a couple VJ forums, ask a couple questions and away you go.

I got all my info from VJ for FREE and you get to KEEP the info when you are done. You get to learn how to do things and you make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes at every turn in life in every phase of life and that is how we learn. Your wife knows this. You know this. You are entering into a new phase of life, you are not marrying a girl from across town, you are marrying a girl from across the ocean. She is coming to your country, you wants YOU for her peace of mind.

OK, you handed out your advertisement and now I just wanted to add that I wish you well and hope you take the time to learn what you need to learn to help your new wife when she arrives.

My wife said to me one nght not long ago when everything had been completed after 4 years..., in the dark, when you say things that matter "I NEVER worried that everything would be OK" I prefer my wife get her peace of mind from me.

Edited August 26, 2013 by Gary and Alla

[Babychka 2]

Thanks all for the good words.

And to "Gary".. Judging by the inordinate amount of time and effort you put into that post, I'm convinced you need professional help.The rest of us have much better things to do with our time.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I've got to agree.

Would I pay an agency to do my paperwork for me when I could do it all myself for free? Nope!

But meh, if it made OP feel better then why not. Congrats and all that jazz.

Certainly I am pro choice and if I could buy a good nights sleep for $200 then why not? But having been through the entire process I just know that the visa BS is nothing but a minor inconvenience. Better to mae a mistake, be delayed a couple weeks and learn for the future.

It is not even so much about the money...I do a lot of things for free that other people pay for...ceramic tile for example...does that make someone bad for hiring someone to tile their bathroom? Not at all.

I just feel very strongly that this is something people need to do together and learn. VJ is a huge resource and there is no reason you cannot do it yourself and do it right if you are reading this post. And you will be better for it and for your family. You simply cannot call an attorney every time you hit a "bump" because there are lots of bumps. Most of them are bigger bumps than the I-129f.

VJ covers every aspect of the immigration process and the LIFE process. Read those forums and read about the experiences of others. Spend a but of time each day to learn this stuff.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks all for the good words.

And to "Gary".. Judging by the inordinate amount of time and effort you put into that post, I'm convinced you need professional help.The rest of us have much better things to do with our time.

I have definitely NOT needed professional help.

I do put a lot of time and effort into this. If we, Alla and I, can help others and particualrly Ukrainians and FSU beneficiaries...because we are partial to Ukrainians and FSU beneficiaries, then I will. Alla has done hundreds of translations of documents, works as an interpreter for medical and legal services and has a MA in teaching English and has taught many people in her new country to speak the language of her new country. Because she knows how important that is. She is now starting her 2nd year in Nursing school to get an RN, not to be a nurse but to improve her abilities in medical interpretation and medical consulting for immigrants. We have put forth every effort we could to provide outsanding education opportunities for our immigrant children. Both the boys have excelled in their new country..

I am not sure what you consider "better things" to do with your time. For me there is nothing "better to do" with my time than to do things that benefit my family and as many other people that are in the same situation as I can.

If you determine that to be a mental defect then it is not I that needs professional help.

Edited August 26, 2013 by Gary and Alla

[Babychka 2]

Ok pal relax a bit. Remember this is my thread you're crapping on. It takes me a half day at work to make the money I spent on the service, and it was well worth it not having to comb through websites to get the answers I needed. I'm glad you consider an RFE to be a learning experience. I think it's a waste of time.

I have a 136 IQ and I can take care of myself and my wife-to-be just fine.

Don't worry about us. Go on "helping" the others if you think they need it. Just consider my advice: Leave the condescending attitude out of it.

I'm 41 and I've been around the block a few times. I own a small business and a home etc etc. Your lack of respect for me is typical of website junkies that don't know the people whom they constantly disrespect and make assumptions about. Maybe get off my thread and go spend some time with your family??