Steve & Rema

I would make the move. I did not want to move to the States, but I did just to be with my husband. We have plans to return back to Canada in a few years God willing..

Mine took about a week.

Wow, congrats! Your post brought some tears to my eyes as I remembered the moment I was approved. I'm happy for you and your fiancée,

I finally received an update saying I was approved and that my green card should be here within three weeks!

Still nothing for me.. sent the package on november 14, got my NOA1 on november the 20th..

anyone else still didn't get any news?

Nothing about an interview for me yet either... a little dissapointed. People I know who applied much later than I already have interviews. Some even have their GC's already... -.-

I filed back on November 3rd, I have my EAD/AP combo card already. I'm still waiting on an update for the GC however, my status on the USCIS site is still under "Acceptance".

Good luck to anyone else who is still waiting, hope we get some news soon!

I miss quite a few things..

Tim Hortons! I used to always go there with my mother and sister and get their Ice Caps. I miss that

The cleanliness, and the organization.

The Drivers, I swear people here drive crazy!

The bigger city I lived in.

Free health care

Feeling safe. I don't really feel safe anywhere here, but that's mainly because I'm in Ohio which isn't the best of places. The news is scary here.

I miss Canadians and Canada in general. I miss seeing the Canadian flag waving around. I miss having Thanksgiving in October, I miss the Canadian way of speaking!

If you couldn't tell, I'm a bit homesick! It isn't bad here, but I'm still adjusting. Alot of my complains about here are area specific since we don't live in the best of cities.

The wait was actually really hard for me, I got depressed a lot and I was always very moody and snappy, my husband can note that clearly lol. But I always made sure I explained to him when I could, how I'm feeling the way I am because I was dealing with a lot of stress, and I was away from him and stuck somewhere I really didn't want to be anymore (I just wanted to be with him!). We argued sometimes while talking on Skype/phone over really silly things because we were feeling stressed. It's hard to wait to be with the one you love. What helped me a little in the end, was the fact that I realized that I need to stop taking the time I had left with my family/friends for granted, and make the best of what time I have left! I went out a lot with my close friends, with my mother and younger sister. I tried to spend quality time with everyone so that I wouldn't regret not doing so in the end. It was still hard to deal with waiting, especially when I'd hear his voice or go to bed.

You need to stay strong, and realize that you will eventually be with the one you love, and believe sincerely that it is worth the wait. Once you finally make it home, you will realize how worth it all that time really was. It is an amazing feeling to have accomplished making it home to your loved one. But this doesn't mean that everything after POE will be 100% smooth. We have had a few rough moments, but a lot of it is due to home sickness on my part. Also just getting used to living with each other can be difficult if you haven't really lived together before. Despite this, you need to make sure you always work hard at making things work, don't let breaking up be the first solution to silly arguments. You will have tough times, but you will have good times too. If both of you work hard to make each other happy, it'll get a lot easier.

Sometimes when we argue or when I'm in a bad mood, I just look at him and remember how I felt when we were apart, how all I wanted to do was just feel his arms around me. That thought itself, is enough to snap me back and realize how precious every moment I have with him is..

Yeah, I got a letter yesterday saying I should be expecting my SSN in the mail within two weeks. It said I applied for it on the 5th (which is the last time I went in), the letter was sent out on the 7th, I'm not sure if it's just protocol to send out letters like this when someone applies (even if it's not approved). I'm hoping my card is actually in production and it's not just one of those letters they send to everyone who applies regardless of their card being in production or not.

So I went in today and it was the same story. I still wasn't showing up in the system. It was the same guy, he even remembered me. This time however, he photocopied my info, took my form and sent something online to Immigration and told me he would contact me when he gets news from them. If they give him the "OK" then he can go ahead and process it since he has my info. If not then I guess I'll have to figure out why, and see what I can do. I have a letter saying I should hear from them in the coming 4 weeks.

Thanks for the replies. The clerk at the SSN office didn't type my name incorrectly, he even tried to type it differently to make sure it wasn't a spelling mistake. I just wasn't in the system, which is frustrating, but honestly I had a feeling this would happen.

A & B that sounds extremely annoying to deal with, I hope your issue gets resolved soon. If i'm still not Saved in the system by next Tuesday, then I'm going to head to the CPB office and see what is going on, and if all my information was put in correctly. I really want my SSN card, it would make things a lot easier. Why does everything have to be some a chore

Wait one more week and then go back. That's what we did.

Thanks, we will be doing that. I just hope I'll actually be in the system at that time.

Thanks for your reply! I don't think it's that they need my EAD, because he was just suggesting that as an option. The main problem was that I wasn't in the system and it was asking for additional Verification (which I read is normal if you're not in the system yet). After browsing the guide for the SSN here, it seems that my best bet is to wait another week and then go back and hope that I'm in the system. I think I just may have gone too soon even though we waited the suggested two weeks.

Anyone have experience with it taking longer?

I know I don't need an SSN to marry or file for AOS, if I'm not in the system next week still.. am I alright if I decide to wait till I get my EAD to get my SSN? How would having my SSN soon, benefit me? Won't I need it to be put on his insurance after we marry and have a bank account?

So I just got back from the SSN office. The guy at the desk filled in all my info on the computer and then said he couldn't find me in the system, and that it was asking to "Insert Additional Verification". He was saying something like that I should apply for EAD after I marry and then go to the office with my EAD approval. I told him how people are able to get the SSN prior to even marrying, and he said he doesn't know, that the computer is asking for verification that he doesn't have. It has been 2 weeks since I've been here, I arrived on the 14th. Shouldn't I be in the system already? Shouldn't I be able to apply for my SSN?

Please help!

Edit: I was there for about 45 minutes at the window, I even asked him to ask someone else in there what this "verification" thing was, because he didn't even know what it was. He went to ask but came back with nothing. I don't know if he just didn't know what he was doing, or if something is wrong. I asked him if he's dealt with K-1 visa holders there before and he said yes.

Congrats!!!!

Thanks everyone! KTandTommy I can't wait to hear about your success too

I'm writing this in disbelief, because it felt like forever waiting for this. I used to log onto VJ and read through all the successful stories and tear up thinking of the day I would be able to share mine. It has been a difficult journey for Steve and I, even before the K-1 process. From him being denied entry to Canada due to an $11 magazine he forgot to pay for when he was 18 (that resulted in a misdemeanor), to my father trying to keep us apart by denying Steve's first request for my hand in marriage. It has been a bumpy ride, I can't recall how many times I lost full nights of sleep, and how many times Steve had to comfort me over Skype while I cried. I have done things I never imagined I could do; from standing up to my father whom I have always felt weak near, to driving countless hours to see Steve when I had never even driven out of my city alone. There is not a single thing I would change. Our relationship has been put to the test several times, and I'm proud to say we made it through. I am so proud of Steve for not giving up when my father denied him; his efforts were recognized and respected in the end by my Father, who now adores him. He recognized that in order for our future to be as bright as it could be, I would need the support and love of my family.

My trip in general was not bad, I have written a POE review on my timeline for anyone who is interested. Saying goodbye to my family was difficult, and it breaks my heart every time my mother tells me she misses me already. To see her get teary eyed on web cam is difficult to deal with. Those last hugs goodbye are precious, I want to emphasize to those of you still waiting to cherish the time you have with your family before you move. It's hard to do this among all the stress and the longing to be with your fiance(e)'s, but just try. Don't lose sight of the support you have from the people around you during your process.

Being with my fiance finally is a wonderful feeling. It is amazing just to be able to eat dinner with him, to go to bed next to him and wake up with him, to kiss him goodbye before work and welcome him home with open arms when he returns. These simple things are so significant for most of us who go through this journey.

Although the K-1 process was lengthy, I am happy it was smooth thanks to all the help we received through Vj, we literally could not have done it without you guys. I must say, the Visa process made me learn even more about myself then I already knew. I never realized how stressed, paranoid, eager and impatient I could be! I know there are more papers to be done, but at this point I just want to breathe and soak in this feeling of accomplishment. To those of you still waiting for that finish line, don't give up. It is a long stressful journey, but don't lose sight of why you signed up for it in the first place. In the end, we all just want to be with the ones we love. I hope from now I can help those who are still in the process of attainting a K-1 visa, as much as I was helped.

See some of you in AOS!

I stapled my pictures to the form, they were fine with that.

What a wonderful feeling! I hope you two are enjoying your time together now, without having to worry about parting ways. Good luck in the rest of your journey, I hope you stay happy always

Congrats!!!

Congrats and good luck in the rest of your journey!!!

Dear yakasushii, I went through the same thing you are going through.

I started dating my fiance in February of 2010. I told both of my parents about him from the beginning, and they were fine with it even though he was white and I am Middle Eastern and Muslim. He is a Muslim convert. They were fine with it for the whole 5 months prior to when we met in person. My entire immediate family met him, and my father changed his whole mind about everything from that moment. Suddenly he did not want me to be with Steve, and he turned down Steve's first request for my hand in marriage. Steve went back home and we were really stressed on what to do. I knew that if I wanted to keep a healthy relationship with my family, I would need my dads approval. My mother was weary of the relationship, but she trusted my judgement and she was still ok with it.

My father put SO much stress on our relationship, he would not let me visit Steve (I still lived in their house, if I disobeyed them would cause serious fights, and I didn't want to do anything that would harm Steve's chances of getting approved by my family). My fathers reasoning for not liking Steve was because of how he looked (he is is chubby and wasn't very well-dressed) and his financial status (he was living at home with his parents and he had a shitty job). Steve and I decided to hold off the engagement, and work on getting his act together so that my father could accept him. Steve ended up finding a good job, and he moved out on his own. A year later, Steve called my father and had a long conversation with him, and asked for my hand in marriage and my dad approved. A month after that I was on my way to spend 6 months with Steve, WITH my parents approval, and we started the k-1 process.

I could have easily not spent that year trying to help Steve get his act together, and I could have "ran away" with him. I knew that in the end, if my parents still did not approve of him I would have to marry Steve without their approval and I was ready to do that. Thankfully, the numerous phone calls from Steve to my dad, helped a lot. Steve made sure he called every month, even if my father did not want to talk to him, and he called on every holiday/special occasion. Steve tried really hard to create a relationship with my dad. There are many reasons why we decided to wait a year..

1) It gave Steve time to find a decent job, and to find a home for him and I to prove to my dad that he was ready for marriage. This wasn't only for my father's approval, we both realized he we needed this to happen in order for us to be ready for marriage.

2) If we "ran away" together, I knew my children would have no relationship with their grandparents.. I didn't want that

3) If I married against my parents will, I knew it would cause a lot of problems/stress in the future. I would be constantly sad and depressed over not having the support of my family.

4) I love my parents, I want them to be in my life

It is harsh for parents to deny someone you love, but even though it may not seem like it, they are usually just looking out for what is best for you. In the end, I am glad we waited a year, Steve is more stable now, I feel more secure, and we have both matured greatly and learned a lot about how much we love each other. A few weeks ago, Steve flew up here and spent 4 days at my parents house during the time of my interview. He was welcomed with open arms, my dad respects him because of how hard Steve worked to get his approval.

For me, moving out wasn't really an option since girls in my culture do not usually move out until they get married (I know that's hard for some people to understand, but if I did move out it would cause way more problems than I needed). I'm not sure if moving out will make your situation better, it'll only just keep you away from the comments your parents make, but in they end they would still be against you marrying him. Has your bf tried to speak with your parents? It helped a lot when my fiance did, maybe your parents will get to know him more as a person?

In my opinion, if they never end up changing their minds, then go be with the one you love. This is your life after all, your parents got to live theirs.

EDIT: It may seem like I'm suggesting that you should wait like I did, but I'm really not. I'm just sharing how I went through something similar. I know that what worked for me could easily not work for you, we do have different parents/cultures after all. Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.

Congrats!!!

OK thank you for the response. Regarding income...the last two years I did not make that, but December of last year I got a really good job and am going to make way more than that. Is this going to be an issue if I submit my tax transcripts, employment offer letter showing my annual salary and also a few recent pay stubs?

That's fine, when I did my interview in July, my fiance's Tax Returns and W2's showed that he was making below the 125% requirement as well. However, like you, he found a higher paying job last October so he currently makes above the 125%. He took a letter of employment and a few months worth of pay stubs to prove what he is getting paid NOW and that was accepted. The job offer letter and pay stubs should be fine for you, if it's possible you could ask for a more recent letter of employment stating your salary, position, and hours of work.

Hey

1. From the looks of it, I think you (the USC) are in fact residing in the States as a Citizen right? I asked the same question once and got this answer "You do not have to prove your petitioner's status unless they are only a permanent resident of the US and not a citizen. Evidence of domicile is only required if the USC (US citizen) does not currently reside in the US. For example it's common that many americans live with their canadian spouses in canada; in this case evidence of domicile is required."

2. The Petitioners income needs to be 125% of the poverty line for a household of 2 (assuming you have no other dependents) which is $18,913. Even though the K-1 visa states the petitioner needs to make 100% of the poverty line; In most cases they look to see that you make 125% (AOS requirement) since they know that K-1 visa applicants will soon have to file for AOS once they marry and will need to meet the AOS income requirements. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html#8

Good luck!