Throw in the Towel and Move to Fiance's Country Instead?

[MissingHerSo 10]

Just be patient, you of all people know by now these office just tell you things to discuss you, I know. You already have NOA2 and filed this year!!!
USCIS will say they shipped your petition, NVC says they dont have it, or we dont have a case number.....Just hang in there. It took about three weeks for NVC to get my petition. Once NVC had it, I called and they said they would have my case number in about 3-4 weeks, I called the next day and recieved it. These people read from typed up pages.
just hang in there, and God will handle everything. You planted a seed months ago, and that tree is starting to flower. Soon you will recieve all the fruit it has to bear!!!

[mariepear 12]

Thanks Sharkano! Yes, that is the timeline we originally thought too. But CSC is now saying 8 weeks (although I think you are right about it being more like 40 days for most people, we are on day 33), and the NVC told me directly that when they receive it from CSC they now have up to 90 days to forward it to the Embassy in Norway. So, feasibly, it "could" take a full 5 months, but fingers crossed it doesn't and it just is the 5-7 days. Just trying not to give in to false hope thinking things will go quicker.

We do have our congressman's office involved, and did file an adjudication at the NOA2 process. We are now considering paying the money for an attorney just for peace of mind. But I will say that our congressman's office has been VERY responsive and helpful. I spoke to CSC this morning to inquire about when the NOA2 will be forwarded to NVC, and they had zero information to give me. I relayed this to my congressman's office, and they called 20 minutes after I did and found out it actually had been sent on the 25th of October (the NVC apparently just hasn't gotten it, although its hard to tell- the girl I spoke to there this afternoon was super rude and hung up on me). So, I guess there is progress.... but because of all the weird bumps along the way, it just is hard to tell.

Thank you all again for the responses, I really appreciate it

It took 8 weeks for us since NOA2 to my interview... My case was at the NVC for not even a week and they forwarded it to my home country... You are at day 34, so don't give up now... I really don't think it's gonna take you another 5 months to finish the process...Go visit again if you can't wait to be together, I spent almost the whole waiting time with my fiance...That helped a lot...

Edited November 5, 2013 by mariepear

[Jamnan_n_Steve 17]

I can hear your frustration with the process, but as to your ultimate locale it is important to think ahead as to what freedom fom bureaucracy each country offers. Here your fiance can obtain citizenship in three years (and accept planning one's life and travel around the process such as no travel or work for a few months) but then get to say goodbye to the USCIS forever.

In many countries citizenship along with its rights and duties is not offered at all and elsewhere it appears to be getting more difficult, e.g. England. Here it is incompetence an over burdened staff and not dislike of aliens. best of luck and keep where you want to end up,

Steve from

Jamnan_n_Steve

[Rob & Monika 87]

What makes you think filing to live in Norway will be any faster? These wait times don't seem any better than the US ones: http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/Oversiktsider/Case-processing-times/Case-processing-times-for-family-immigration/

[observatorka 197]

when i met my husband this was the first decision we made together, he moved here - to Poland. we got married in april.

now we're waiting for our application to be approved ... TOGETHER!!!

WE!!! are more important than anything else, WE!!!

it's easy and there is nothing to think about. just do it!

there is no love, relationship without sacrifices.

[makulit909 4]

Thanks Sharkano! Yes, that is the timeline we originally thought too. But CSC is now saying 8 weeks (although I think you are right about it being more like 40 days for most people, we are on day 33), and the NVC told me directly that when they receive it from CSC they now have up to 90 days to forward it to the Embassy in Norway. So, feasibly, it "could" take a full 5 months, but fingers crossed it doesn't and it just is the 5-7 days. Just trying not to give in to false hope thinking things will go quicker.

We do have our congressman's office involved, and did file an adjudication at the NOA2 process. We are now considering paying the money for an attorney just for peace of mind. But I will say that our congressman's office has been VERY responsive and helpful. I spoke to CSC this morning to inquire about when the NOA2 will be forwarded to NVC, and they had zero information to give me. I relayed this to my congressman's office, and they called 20 minutes after I did and found out it actually had been sent on the 25th of October (the NVC apparently just hasn't gotten it, although its hard to tell- the girl I spoke to there this afternoon was super rude and hung up on me). So, I guess there is progress.... but because of all the weird bumps along the way, it just is hard to tell.

Thank you all again for the responses, I really appreciate it

Hi! A VJ member from Finland just updated his timeline. His NOA2 was dated Oct 1 and already received by NVC yesterday! Mine was Oct 3 and I called DOS this morning and told me to give it a try next week.. Actually, I am getting excited now and just hanging in there..

Just like what other says, you are still lucky to have a choice between here in US and Norway. It is true that regardless of where you are, as long as you are together it should be more than enough but then in my case we are both better off living here in America.

Whatever you decision will be, I wish you the best of luck and happiness.. but why don't you give it another week...

Edited November 5, 2013 by makulit909

[jaycali 415]

Thanks guys, I know patience is the name of the game, but still... Its a bummer when you see other people's applications getting processed so quickly! We have been very fortunate in that we have been able to travel back and forth a bunch, so that does help...

Trust me, Norwegian bureaucracy in these matters is just as frustrating. I started filing for my American wife 2 years ago and gave up. I couldn't meet income requirements for three consecutive years. Plus, initial filing alone was over $1000. If you want to live in the US, wait this out patiently. Starting a new process in Norway at this point will take a long time, and income requirements for him to petition you are some of the strictest in the world. Don't start that road unless you truly want to live in Norway.. If you start today you're looking at a 6 - 12 month wait through a bureaucratic, backlogged and clogged up system before you can immigrate to Norway.

Also, there is no IV unit at the embassy in Oslo. You will be interviewing, and getting a visa from the US Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. That is where the NVC will forward the petition. Forget about the embassy in Norway, they will have nothing to do with this process.

Edited November 5, 2013 by jaycali

[jmwinderl9 0]

thanks jaycali! good information Everyone on here has definitely convinced me to keep moving forward with the US side of things...

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

I vote for a yes.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Not to make light of the terrible wait you are dealing with OP...BUT... given what I understand of Norway and the quality of life, if my Fiancee had been from there and I could get a job... I'd go for the Viking way without hesitation

Yeah that 43.9% income tax rate is great in Norway!! As compared to 28.3 % in...oh say Florida for example. Just remember many people came from Norway as immigrants to escape certain persecutions there. Now while it is different today I would ask why most of the world still wants to immigrate to the US. Good luck to both of you.

[Shiobhan 235]

SHOOOOOOT I hear the quality of life there is better than

the US, medical is great, crime minimal...I'd go in a heart-beat

and U can wait out any petition there ...good luck

[jaycali 415]

Yeah that 43.9% income tax rate is great in Norway!! As compared to 28.3 % in...oh say Florida for example. Just remember many people came from Norway as immigrants to escape certain persecutions there. Now while it is different today I would ask why most of the world still wants to immigrate to the US. Good luck to both of you.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. When I lived in Norway I made $22 an hour (min wage is around $20) and paid roughly 23% in income tax, with free healthcare, free higher education and 5 weeks paid vacation (as mandated by law). Plus, they have a 13th pay month.. The 25% sales tax and fees on virtually everything is a different matter. Plus, Scandinavian winters takes a whole lot of getting used to.

It isn't for everyone, but it's a good place to live.

Edited November 5, 2013 by jaycali

[christeen 966]

The grass is always greener (or for Norway, the snow is always whiter) somewhere else... Every couple has to decide what is best for them... But I think the OP has passed the frustrated throw in the towel point and can move forward... Best of luck!

[David & Diana R 1,005]

One man's trash is another man's treasure. When I lived in Norway I made $22 an hour (min wage is around $20) and paid roughly 23% in income tax, with free healthcare, free higher education and 5 weeks paid vacation (as mandated by law). Plus, they have a 13th pay month.. The 25% sales tax and fees on virtually everything is a different matter. Plus, Scandinavian winters takes a whole lot of getting used to.

It isn't for everyone, but it's a good place to live.

Yeah, I just don't like socialism. I want to be compensated for the work I produce not some government mandated garbage. Unions and government mandates only hold people back. They keep gifted and hard working people from getting paid what they are worth. Is our country heading towards socialism? Of yeah thats right Obama has us going into this terrific medical program and remember he said no one will lose their medical insurance but MILLIONS of Americans have received termination notices of their current medical coverage.....what happened? Is it possible that socialism doesn't work? I have also heard many horror stories in Europe, Norway included where certain operations/procedures are only allowed on people under a certain age....By the way search CURRENT taxation rates for Norway and you will see that your 23% is a bit low today. Of course as you said the 25% tax on everything adds up to. But somebodys got to pay for all that "FREE" medical. Plus I don't know about you but I live in Hawaii. Been to Norway and it's beautiful but it's way too cold for me!!

Aloha Ke Akua

[David & Diana R 1,005]

One man's trash is another man's treasure. When I lived in Norway I made $22 an hour (min wage is around $20) and paid roughly 23% in income tax, with free healthcare, free higher education and 5 weeks paid vacation (as mandated by law). Plus, they have a 13th pay month.. The 25% sales tax and fees on virtually everything is a different matter. Plus, Scandinavian winters takes a whole lot of getting used to.

It isn't for everyone, but it's a good place to live.

Oh and by the way. Norway has no minimum wage as set by the government. I will agree with you that while most workers make very nice incomes they are easily offset by the income tax rates and all the other taxes charged to citizens.