Jump to content
Pam&Mbaye

Are you glad you did it or would you do it differently?

50 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Posted

I would do it again in a heartbeat. I love my fiance more than anything and I dont think I could ever find someone that completes me more than he does. The only regret I have is to have been so clueless in the beginning of this whole process, including both the visa process and his divorce. We had wrong informations in the beginning and the biggest pain is that a 3-4 months process is now up to 14 months and still 3 months from being done. But knowing it would take 17 months in the beginning would have made it much easier. Its not the process that is killing us, its all the false hopes we had since the beginning.

But i dont see myself without him in my life anymore. :luv:

Mephys

3dflagsdotcom_usa_2faws.gif+3dflags-canqc1-1.gif3Dflags

Removal of Conditions: GC received on 09/17/2009

Application to replace permanent resident cards filed 3/30/2019 (I-90)

  • Replies 49
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: England
Timeline
Posted

If I knew back then what I know now - I would never have put my children through this, nor would I have put my husband through this. He would have come to live in the UK, where the process would have been incredibly simple compared to what we have been through on this side of "the pond".

Our journey started in 2001 and it's still not over. It's been a rollercoaster ride all the way! Let me off - I wanna be sick!

Filed: Country: Pakistan
Timeline
Posted

Do it again, I will never ever do it again and move to a different country where we can live together. It is painful, frustrating and above all you lose your focus on everything else in life. (I am losing my mind too!!!). Life is too precious to be wasted on waiting to live with someone you love so dearly and can't live together against your will. I would have definitely moved to different country forever at first place.

Having said that, here is how we managed last 2 and a half years. I was on GC and got married in mid 2004. I initially had plans to bring my wife on a student visa but everything got scrapped when I realized that getting a student visa will be just a matter of luck and may impact immigration process too. Well, I found job in an other country, packed my bags, closed down my small business, resigned from job and left the US. We spent a wonderful and happy 2005 on one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands with my wife. We wish we can live the entire life there. We call it our one year honeymoon. During this time I kept my US residency, filed my tax returns etc. etc. My wife was able to get US visit visa for one year and she visited US with me twice. We came back to US in Jan 2006 as I wanted to apply for US citizenship. My wife went back to Pakistan in Feb 2006 because we were expecting our first child and I did not want to take any chances with my wife's immigration status considering that she was here on visit visa. Before moving back, we had decided that if I do not get citizenship and have to wait for my wife to come to US on green card, I will leave US and move to some other country. It is a big world and if you have the right skills everyone welcomes you. Thank Got, I got my citizenship in Oct and now waiting for my wife and daughter's immigration process to get over. This waiting is really getting on my nerves :angry:

Without full support of my wife, this process could have been the worst experience of my life but I am glad we are together in all of our decision.

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Albania
Timeline
Posted

I would do things over again *exactly* how we did them. Aside from the fact that I love my husband very much and would remarry him, this relationship has changed my life in many ways, all for the better, given me adventure and a home abroad, and I think the visa process was a great learning experience -- I feel like if I could organize the visa and greencard and pull that off successfully, I can probably pull off anything. Granted, our visa process was smoother than many other couples', but my POV is that tackling something as hard as a US visa is a confidence-booster and learning experience. Also, it's given me a new perspective on the government ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7/27/2006: Arrival in NYC! -- I-94/EAD stamp in passport

8/08/2006: Applied for Social Security Card

8/18/2006: Social Security Card arrives

8/25/2006: WEDDING!

AOS...

9/11/2006: Appointment with Civil Surgeon for vaccination supplement

9/18/2006: Mailed AOS and renewal EAD applications to Chicago

10/2/2006: NOA1's for AOS and EAD applications

10/13/2006: Biometrics taken

10/14/2006: NOA -- case transferred to CSC

10/30/2006: AOS approved without interview, greencard will be sent! :)

11/04/2006: Greencard arrives in the mail! :-D

... No more USCIS for two whole years! ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

I would have done several things differently, but they are all about things I did back in Canada before we actually started the visa process. Hindsight is always 20-20. The bottom line is that I gave up everything to be with my love and, while I regret some of the stupid things I did in that process, I would still do it all over again if the circumstances were the same. There is no one else in the world as perfect for me as he is.

Posted

I would have not bothered applying for a K1 fiance visa and instead enter the US on a regular tourist visa and get married and apply for my green card that way instead! Since being here I have met 4 german girls and one english girl, all of whom are my friends, and not one of them came here on a K1. They all came here as a tourist with every intention of getting married and all successfully got their green cards no problem. It kinda makes me annoyed, why bother doing things the right way when people do things the wrong way and get away with it!

LONDON TO CALIFORNIA ....

K1

May 5th 05 - K1 petition sent to CSC

August 23rd 05 - Visa Approved!!!

AOS and EAD

December 5th 05 - AOS and EAD sent

December 16th 05 - NOA's received for both AOS and EAD

December 31st 05 - Receive letter for AOS interview

February 6th 06 - AOS Interview - APPROVED

February 16th 06 - Biometrics Appointment

February 22nd 06 - EAD Approved via e mail

February 27th 06 - EAD card in mail!!!

March 6th 06 - Got a job!

March 17th 06 - Green Card Approval via e mail

March 18th 06 - 'Welcome to America' letter arrives

March 24th 06 - Green Card Arrives!

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.

For indeed, that's all who ever have."

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
Posted

Because we are a pair of unstable dipsies, we are now doing this for the 3rd time !!!!!

Yes its hateful but in 20 years we will all look back on this and see what an eye opening thing it is to move to other countries or be involved with a foreigner..

My USC wife is currently in tears over trying to drive in the UK with tiny little roads and scrunched up parking spaces and everyone parking on the road - when she is in her rocking chair she will laugh at it and look back on it with fondness - you see !

and my disgust at being denied a credit card in the US and the immigration spelling my name wrongly so i couldn't get an ss card ? well i got credit and got an SS card and got a driving license of which I am really proud - its hard and awful while you are in the difficulties but we can all be proud of ourselves and feel so much less 'small town' after we have done all this stuff

It will all be alright in the end - really

and what else would you have been doing ? watching soaps ? now we are all soap stars creating our own stories as we go along !

Now I am planning my entry to the US in November and buying a house/car etc its so exciting ! I have already done it all once already and now I know how to do it its great. It all does work out in the end and its only fear of the unknown that is so horrible and the setbacks do get overcome

alan

moresheep400100.jpg

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
Posted
If I knew back then what I know now - I would never have put my children through this, nor would I have put my husband through this. He would have come to live in the UK, where the process would have been incredibly simple compared to what we have been through on this side of "the pond".

We drove into Chicago, went to the British Consulate, and it took us 20 minutes to get my USC wife a UK green card - no AOS , no AP, no medical, no fingerprints - absolutely amazing !

No sense of achievement though - too easy !

Everyone's circumstances are different - I am on a fixed pension so my dosh will go twice as far in the US - in effect doubling my pension is definitely a factor and I get Medicare in the US soon ...

Someone who wants to retire at 53 will have a problem with health costs in the US - its a long way to Medicare ....

Everyone is different - don't be influenced by others who's priorities are different to you...

moresheep400100.jpg

Posted

the only thing different i would have done..was to not clean the house vbefore she came....worked on that mother...a week and she was horrified by the pig sty i lived in when she arrived..

Peace to All creatures great and small............................................

But when we turn to the Hebrew literature, we do not find such jokes about the donkey. Rather the animal is known for its strength and its loyalty to its master (Genesis 49:14; Numbers 22:30).

Peppi_drinking_beer.jpg

my burro, bosco ..enjoying a beer in almaty

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...st&id=10835

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Jamaica
Timeline
Posted

I would have filed sooner, it took us 7 months after our wedding to file the I-130, and I also would have made sure that he had all of his vaccinations before he left, and gotten a copy of the I-1693A.

Those are the only things that I would change.

12/03/2005: Married

10/13/2006: Interview Approved

10/26/2006: POE: EWR (ARRIVED) [/size]

182 days from filing to Visa in Hand!!![/color]

AOS/EAD

01/22/2007: Sent to The Lockbox.....let the games begin.....again

02/02/2007: NOA1's for both....the waiting game officially begins

02/15/2007: Biometrics appt.

04/11/2007: EAD APPROVED!! YI-HAW

04/21/2007: Received SSN#

05/23/2007: AOS Interview -------> APPROOOOOOVED!!!!!!

05/29/2007: Received Welcome letter

06/04/2007: Green Card in Hand!!!

122 Days from filing AOS to Green Card in Hand!!!

REMOVING CONDITIONS

05/21/2009: Filed to Remove Conditions

6/18/2009: Biometrics Done

09/14/2009: Approved!!!

Citizenship

2/15/2011: Filed N-400

3/28/2011: Biometrics <-- Done

5/09/2011: Naturalization Interview <--- APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5/09/2011: Swearing in Ceremony (We're Done)

MY HUSBAND IS NOW A US CITIZEN

Proudmomwife.gifI_love_my_baby_boy.gif

3051_1113026182751_1139795553_30500807_687968_s.jpgZackie.jpgthumb_3051_1113025702739_1139795553_30500806_7039703_s.jpg

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Romania
Timeline
Posted

I would have done it sooner.

vj2.jpgvj.jpg

"VJ Timelines are only an estimate, they are not actual approval dates! They only reflect VJ members. VJ Timelines do not include the thousands of applicants who do not use VJ"

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE SITE, PLEASE READ THE GUIDES BEFORE ASKING ALOT OF QUESTIONS. THE GUIDES ARE VERY HELPFUL AND WILL SAVE YOU ALOT OF TIME!

Filed: Country: Pitcairn Islands
Timeline
Posted

Though extremely difficult at times, it was the right choice to get married in Germany, get automatic PR, and wait it out with my husband's studies first and try to immigrate to the US second.

I hope I will be glad we did US immigration. Until recently, we were also screwing with the idea of Sweden, Canada, or Ireland. Maybe we still are, but that is in the further future. We'll see this time next year what we think, if US immigration was worth it or not.

Posted (edited)
I would have not bothered applying for a K1 fiance visa and instead enter the US on a regular tourist visa and get married and apply for my green card that way instead! Since being here I have met 4 german girls and one english girl, all of whom are my friends, and not one of them came here on a K1. They all came here as a tourist with every intention of getting married and all successfully got their green cards no problem. It kinda makes me annoyed, why bother doing things the right way when people do things the wrong way and get away with it!

Amen sister - not the most PC thing to say on these boards, but if I'd have known I would have done it and not felt a shred of guilt.

Edited to say -- is that Alan, everyone's favorite hedgehog, back in these parts?

Edited by robinklake

90day.jpg

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Brazil
Timeline
Posted

I think I might have worked harder to have Luis move to Brazil instead of moving here, but I'm only starting and I believe I'll make it here as well.

(Puerto Rico) Luis & Laura (Brazil) K1 JOURNEY
04/11/2006 - Filed I-129F.
09/29/2006 - Visa in hand!

10/15/2006 - POE San Juan
11/15/2006 - MARRIAGE

AOS JOURNEY
01/05/2007 - AOS sent to Chicago.
03/26/2007 - Green Card in hand!

REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS JOURNEY
01/26/2009 - Filed I-751.
06/22/2009 - Green Card in hand!

NATURALIZATION JOURNEY
06/26/2014 - N-400 sent to Nebraska
07/02/2014 - NOA
07/24/2014 - Biometrics
10/24/2014 - Interview (approved)

01/16/2015 - Oath Ceremony


*View Complete Timeline

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...