Ima GRRRRRRR ation

[hockeygal 1]

I had researched a bit a few years ago, to see how I could go there and live and work for a while so we could date more normally. That was when I realized marriage was the only way, and not an easy thing.

When my sister married an American 27 years ago, we all crossed the border for her wedding, then she stayed. Went to the INS a few days after and got her green card. That simple. Once.

Edited December 7, 2006 by hockeygal

[cbd2cai 0]

Before anyone here even knew they were going to Marry someone from another Country, did you know anything about what the Immagration process would be? I always thought that if someone married an American, it was an instant Greencard and that people from INS would show up at your house at anytime and check if you were sleeping in the same bed,etc.

i had no clue about the entire process nor was i aware that so many government offices could be so inept.

In BOTH countries! One thing I learned is that governement workers suck everywhere.

Joel

Definitely agree on this . . . BOTH countries!! Sheesh!!!!! and in Egypt, they expect baksheesh every time you turn around . . . in the govt offices too.

[Ban Hammer 14,288]

Before anyone here even knew they were going to Marry someone from another Country, did you know anything about what the Immagration process would be? I always thought that if someone married an American, it was an instant Greencard and that people from INS would show up at your house at anytime and check if you were sleeping in the same bed,etc.

i had no clue about the entire process nor was i aware that so many government offices could be so inept.

In BOTH countries! One thing I learned is that governement workers suck everywhere.

Joel

Definitely agree on this . . . BOTH countries!! Sheesh!!!!! and in Egypt, they expect baksheesh every time you turn around . . . in the govt offices too.

just guessing that baksheesh means - bribe money?

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

Before anyone here even knew they were going to Marry someone from another Country, did you know anything about what the Immagration process would be? I always thought that if someone married an American, it was an instant Greencard and that people from INS would show up at your house at anytime and check if you were sleeping in the same bed,etc.

i had no clue about the entire process nor was i aware that so many government offices could be so inept.

In BOTH countries! One thing I learned is that governement workers suck everywhere.

Joel

Definitely agree on this . . . BOTH countries!! Sheesh!!!!! and in Egypt, they expect baksheesh every time you turn around . . . in the govt offices too.

just guessing that baksheesh means - bribe money?

charles, it is a fee man, a fee. k?

Daniel

:energetic:

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

It's a tip, usually mandatory

[Mary Lou 682]

Like others who posted, i too was naive to this process. I had read up on some immigration things, but never realized it was going to be anything like this

[forchika 4]

I can say that I had no clue before starting the process, never knew anything about a marriage visa. I can remember freaking out and being overwhelmed and wanting to hire an attorney because I just knew nothing and then I found out that the cost for an attorney was so expensive, I said no way...... and then after days of looking on the computer to find how I could get some help on the paperwork, I found Visa Journey and saw how everyone else was getting approvals and visa's without an attorney and started to do the research here. One thing that kept me in awe was the fact that there were people on here that had fiancees and husbands all over the world. It was just by luck that I found Visa Journey.

[Karen_L 1]

Before I met my husband and started searching for ways he could come here, I didn't think there was such a thing as a fiance visa. I figured that you had to be legally married to the person to bring them to the US. I also thought the process to bring a spouse to the US was easier (much easier) than it actually is (or seems to be, anyway, since I don't have firsthand experience).

I was so happy when I found out there was such a thing as a fiance visa thought; I thought the USCIS website was joking with me lol

[Ban Hammer 14,288]

Before anyone here even knew they were going to Marry someone from another Country, did you know anything about what the Immagration process would be? I always thought that if someone married an American, it was an instant Greencard and that people from INS would show up at your house at anytime and check if you were sleeping in the same bed,etc.

i had no clue about the entire process nor was i aware that so many government offices could be so inept.

In BOTH countries! One thing I learned is that governement workers suck everywhere.

Joel

Definitely agree on this . . . BOTH countries!! Sheesh!!!!! and in Egypt, they expect baksheesh every time you turn around . . . in the govt offices too.

just guessing that baksheesh means - bribe money?

charles, it is a fee man, a fee. k?

Daniel

:energetic:

oh right

[pedroh 21]

i thought once i went to the embassy they would ship me 2nd day by UPS to the US with a passport and a stamp in my forehead...

but I guess there aren't boxes big enough for me.. So i had to fly

[MissStacey 1]

Anyone watch My Name is Earl? I watched it last night, last week Catarina got deported back to Mexico. Earl and Randy decide to go to Mexico and get her, Randy marries her, and she is on the plane back to US with them. It's no wonder most people still think it is that easy. That's how it is portrayed. Before I got Married, I thought it was that easy. Damn Hollywood.

If you haven't seen the show at all- watch it, it's great!

Edited December 9, 2006 by Wilhelmina

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I knew he couldn't just come over here willy-nilly and stay. I started looking for information early on because I was hoping he could live here, work here and we could date. Needless to say, I was surprised with what I found.

Now that a lot of our friends know how difficult this process is, they are amazed it's so difficult for someone to immigrate to America. I think the old stories of the 'war brides' still persist. They are also shocked by how slowly a system that is supposed to protect them moves.

What really amazes me though is how many people start this process and don't research beyond the first steps. I mean, I don't think it's good to try and digest this all at once - it can scare the ####### out of you. But a little bit of foresight is in order. How can some people plunge headlong into such a process without researching it at least a little bit?

GULP It gets worse after your fiance gets here? While we await the interview, I think I prefer to remain ignorant on what is to come. Let INS do their worst while the two of us are together to see it through.