5 Things I've Learnt About the US Immigration Process

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

I wrote a slightly tongue in cheek blog article about what I've learnt about the visa process now that I've been approved and I was curious as to whether people agree/disagree with this so thought I'd share it.

It’s Expensive

The Visa process is not cheap, and that’s before you even factor in the costs of a long distance relationship. There are filing fees; $420 for the I130, $88 for Adjustment of Status, $230 for the IV phase and $165 for ELIS. Then there’s the other costs, £240 to prove your gentleman vegetable isn’t riddled with syphilis at the medical and £40 for the “Police Certificate”- a piece of paper that says you are not a criminal (unless of course you are). Fiancé Visas cost even more. I understand why these things cost money of course and it’s admirable that USCIS is largely user funded but I’m willing to bet if the system was more efficient then the costs wouldn’t need to be as high.

It’s Extremely Frustrating

You know the scene, you’re in the car and the right hand lane is closed for roadworks so everyone queues in the left hand lane. There’s always one (99% of the time an ####### in a BMW or Audi) who just has to drive in the closed lane until the end and push in front of the queue. That’s how the Visa process often feels. Someone who files three months after you gets approved before you or the USCIS ignores spousal visas while fast tracking the petitions of children of illegal immigrants. It’s immensely frustrating but the frustration is with the agency not with your fellow filers and it’s something that you have to get used to or the process will seem very long indeed. The best way to not get frustrated is to use the wait productively, whether preparing for the next stage of the Visa process or putting pressure on USCIS over its latest backlog.

It’s Bad News For Trees

Although some parts of the process are done online, there is an awful lot of paper being used for the Visa application. When you see the folder they open with your file inside at your interview you can’t help but notice how thick it is. There’s the initial I-130 submission which is a lot of paper and then copies and photocopies of original documents. Added to this, things have a habit of getting lost during the process so a lot of people print everything in duplicate or triplicate just in case. Hopefully in the future everything can be done online and people will have digital copies of everything they’ve filed rather than printouts.

It’s Stressful

The desire to be with your loved one is so strong that the Visa process turns normally rational people into nervous wrecks. I’ve seen people read about some of the medical issues they check for at the medical and convince themselves that they have it. Although some of the questions for the medical are silly, like “have you ever had leprosy?” Damn I was going to hide it but when my fingers came off when we shook hands it gave the game away! When it came to my interview date I must have checked that I had everything 50 times and I left so early that I got to the Embassy before 7AM. There’s also the fear of being denied at the interview and you convince yourself that your case has more red flags than the minefield between the two Korea’s when actually your relationship is genuine and you have huge amounts of proof. As soon as you have finished the interview it’s a huge anti-climax after such a long process.

It Was All Worth It

I had my interview earlier this week and in a month I’m emigrating to the US to live with my wife. It’s been a long, stressful and emotional 11 months but now we can be together it’s definitely worth it. Luckily we won’t have to go through this again, unless we ever decide to relocate to the UK!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Nice post!

I don't think it's so bad for trees. A normal case shouldn't be more than like 20 pages, which is more than I print in a week. But I support postal mail and paper books, so... there you are. Keep in mind that a lot of people don't really know how to use computers that well still; someone on here was just saying they didn't know how to upload photos online. Also, others don't know how reverse image search works, and they have posted Italian models or photos of another persons dating profile and told people here they were their wives.

[NikLR 13,220]

I learned that most of it was completely out of my control.

[Darnell 8,478]

fact checking comments:

$88 for Adjustment of Status, wrong, sorry. it's called the Affadavit of Support.

Fiancé Visas cost even more. wrong. perhaps you are confusing the additional cost to get a greencard, after the K-1 visa is invalidated at the POE?

wrapping up on It’s Bad News For Trees section -

I would include 3 or 4 sentences about how all of the casefile gets scanned into the SAFEFILE system at NVC and how the Consular IV Unit can see it all prior to casefile shipment, then a final paragraph noting that the immigrant visa holder has become a highly paid courier for the Department of HomeLand Security, hand-carrying a sealed envelope that contains the entire casefile, trees included, courier fee paid by you or your spouse.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Darnell

[B & G 200]

Don't forget the joy of having to deal with USCIS twice more! Conditional Removal and Citizenship!

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

fact checking comments:

$88 for Adjustment of Status, wrong, sorry. it's called the Affadavit of Support.

Fiancé Visas cost even more. wrong. perhaps you are confusing the additional cost to get a greencard, after the K-1 visa is invalidated at the POE?

Fair enough on my first mistake. The extra cost after POE was what I was referring to with regards to K1 costing more.

Nice post!

I don't think it's so bad for trees. A normal case shouldn't be more than like 20 pages, which is more than I print in a week. But I support postal mail and paper books, so... there you are. Keep in mind that a lot of people don't really know how to use computers that well still; someone on here was just saying they didn't know how to upload photos online. Also, others don't know how reverse image search works, and they have posted Italian models or photos of another persons dating profile and told people here they were their wives.

That's a fair point but most people are pretty computer literate now. I also support postal mail and paper books but it just seems like there's a lot of unnecessary extra paper being used, for example the medical questionnaire you fill out before the medical then they hand you a similar one when you get there! There's a lot that could be streamlined. I'd love to see a post where someone was caught out claiming to date an Italian model

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

That's a fair point but most people are pretty computer literate now. I also support postal mail and paper books but it just seems like there's a lot of unnecessary extra paper being used, for example the medical questionnaire you fill out before the medical then they hand you a similar one when you get there! There's a lot that could be streamlined. I'd love to see a post where someone was caught out claiming to date an Italian model

What's really wasteful is people who print out 100s of pages of chats or more and send them all around

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

What's really wasteful is people who print out 100s of pages of chats or more and send them all around

The couple who sent USCIS their "intimate video" were just helping the environment

Edited May 24, 2014 by Hotter Otter

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Cute blog. I never found it as stressful as people carry on about. Never once did I doubt approval. Waiting around wondering when the next thing will happen gets old, but failure was not an option.

It is more streamlined and tree friendly believe it or not.

2008 - our K1 time

g325A biographical form submitted in quadruplicate. Yep 4 pages each in the petition packet.

One form was notarized...either petition or affidavit of support...I forgot.

"Packet 3" instructions was indeed a packet of about 15 pages from the embassy

"Packet 4" about 8 more pages

Forms to the embassy were mailed, not submitted online. About about 10 pages because some were duplicate.

The Readiness for interview was an actual multiple page checklist (received in Packet 3) that you actually ticked off and mailed. Now online submission, no items to check off.

It's getting a little better on the paper part.

Congratulations and good luck to you in the USA.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Expenses: I could be driving a Beamer.
Frustrating : I lost a lot of hair.

Trees : What trees ? I am guilty of killing an entire forest.
Stress: Lets not go there.

All worth it : Oh yes.

Thanks for the chuckles while reading your blog.

[moroccogirlny 100]

+1

[cdneh 3,112]

For perhaps the first time in my long internet history, I actually LOL'd. Ta

[Ayumi_Hamasaki 4]

Nice post!

I don't think it's so bad for trees. A normal case shouldn't be more than like 20 pages, which is more than I print in a week. But I support postal mail and paper books, so... there you are. Keep in mind that a lot of people don't really know how to use computers that well still; someone on here was just saying they didn't know how to upload photos online. Also, others don't know how reverse image search works, and they have posted Italian models or photos of another persons dating profile and told people here they were their wives.

Agreed. My whole AOS package fit neatly into the USPS Express Padded envelope. Hopefully everything will be done online.

[ashleyphilly 70]

This is funny yet so true

[pivery 10]

Very well put Hotter Otter. It will definitely make or break your relationship and sadly many relationships end up going overboard from waiting forever and spending more money than some even have. But yes well worth it in the end.

B.T.W. I like the little piece you have by The Smiths there at the bottom - great band!

pivery