VisaJourney2011

Well Visa Journey, it has been a great time going through my Journey with you guys. I have never really posted anything on the website before, but I have read numerous stories; some heart breaking, some very informative, and some were quite motivational. I just want to thank all of you for your stories as it has helped me get through this tuff time. I started this journey April 15, 2011 and here it is a whole year later, and finally, my husband has his visa in hand and his plane ticket. I finally get to see the love of my life after 10 long months of absence on 04/21/2012. It has been one ruff and rocky road. There were several hurtles and bumps along the way, but WE DID IT! I didn’t think I was strong enough to make it, but I guess I underestimated myself. I just want to say to that person that feels like giving up, I have been there and back! You can do it though, it’s hard, but you can do it. If you ever want to talk and hear my roller coaster of a story, I am here. Once again, THANK YOU ALL!!

Sometimes, i wonder how grateful we all are to this website. There is nothing like this anywhere on WORLD WIDE WEB known as the INTERNET!
I mean the sheer amount of information we get from VJ. So much so that i just couldn't imagine tackling this journey w/o VJ.
So much so that I wouldn't mind paying a membership fee for it. NOT THAT I'M SAYING VJ should start chargin.
I'm JUST SAYING how immensely helpful VJ has been to me on this long, difficult and unpredictable journey.
Thank you VJ.

Sometimes, i wonder how grateful we all are to this website. There is nothing like this anywhere on WORLD WIDE WEB known as the INTERNET!
I mean the sheer amount of information we get from VJ. So much so that i just couldn't imagine tackling this journey w/o VJ.
So much so that I wouldn't mind paying a membership fee for it. NOT THAT I'M SAYING VJ should start chargin.
I'm JUST SAYING how immensely helpful VJ has been to me on this long, difficult and unpredictable journey.
Thank you VJ.

Hello Good folks at VJ! *shshhhh
Let me do My Dance First !




:jest:

:dancing:



:energy:

:dance:



Now time for the Good News:star: Got my CC today!
Yup from Case# 3/8/12 to CC 4/3/12, that's 27 days, and thats 27 days with 2 Checklists. It's just like what Saylin always says, You Gotta Be On Top of it with NVC, like a Fly on a...... ummmm well that part i added but you get my point.
Just want to say Thank you to Saylin and to everybody else for their time spent answering my endless questions.

Hello Good folks at VJ! *shshhhh
Let me do My Dance First !




:jest:

:dancing:



:energy:

:dance:



Now time for the Good News:star: Got my CC today!
Yup from Case# 3/8/12 to CC 4/3/12, that's 27 days, and thats 27 days with 2 Checklists. It's just like what Saylin always says, You Gotta Be On Top of it with NVC, like a Fly on a...... ummmm well that part i added but you get my point.
Just want to say Thank you to Saylin and to everybody else for their time spent answering my endless questions.

AOS fee $88
IV fee $404
AOS = Affidavit of Support I-864 form + other stuff (Petitioner related)
IV = Immigration Visa DS-230 form + other stuff (Beneficiary related)
More info on the 1st page 1-2 post by Saylin.

Do you guys breath when putting together AOS or IV packages?
or is it just me? i stop breathing and blinking when doing this task

Same here ! it'll be 6 months in 2 weeks for me!

hmmm...doesn't make me feel better about our almost 5 months wait
I have also noticed number of Dominican Republic applicants get NOA2 approved in less than 2 months, some in 34-37 days.

Same here, it has been 135 days for me and still no NOA2.
Also, i don't think K3 is completely dead. I think we might get moved to CR1. I should have gone with CR1 when i was suggested last year. In anycase, i think it is moving, moving at a SNAIL PACE !

Hi Rich,
Hope this helps as my hubby and I are pretty much on a similar journey.
1) We sent first the I-130 and got NOA1.
2) As soon as we got NOA1, we sent a copy of that with our I-129F.
When I-129F is sent after the I-130, that is a K3 route.
K3 means you go through the approx. 5months USCIS processing time (or hopefully less), which is the same time frame for CR-1 (meaning when you send only I-130.)
3)THEN, instead of National Visa Center (NVC) doing the their processing, your file just visits briefly NVC, but is then sent MUCH FASTER to the embassy, and you get your interview.
4) After successful interview, you can go to USA and apply for adjustment of status - which takes about 4 months I think - and then you get your green card and can start working etc. You can also apply for a work permit earlier, but it looks like it takes pretty long time to get that (3months?) so you might just want to wait for the adjustment of status getting approved and save some money as work permit is reasonably expensive.
Now, many times, including what happened in our case, the I-130 gets approved faster than I-129F, I-130 file gets sent to NVC and NVC closes I-129F. So bye, bye K3 option, the case gets modified to CR-1. Which means, dealing the process with NVC but after the interview you get your green card etc straight. Little bit longer route to be apart from your spouse, but that's just how it is unfortunately.
We wanted to try our luck with the K3 route as just wanted to be together faster, despite that it's much more expensive and you have to do the adjustment of status when in US. We sent the I-129F honestly immediately as soon as we got out NOA1 by mail (which was on Saturday), sent our I-129F file on Monday with express mail and it was at USCIS on tuesday (even though they finally registered it only few days later than that.) And still, our I-130 got approved in 4months, whilst our I-129F is still not approved after a month of our I-130 NOA2 date.
So what I would suggest is: 1)You can try your luck with K3, sometimes it is successful, but regarding work, you will most likely wait longer to be able to do that than in CR-1. But then again, if your I-130 gets approved sooner, and your case will be modified to CR-1, then you can work faster when in US. Doesn't hurt to try if you want to do the effort. OR 2) You just stick with the I-130 and forget the I-129F. And go the CR-1 route which will allow you to work as soon as your interview is approved and you get your greencard.
By the way, even though there are successful cases with getting married on VWP and adjusting your status, it is also risky. VWP has more strict rules than the other tourist visas etc You have to have clear, strong evidence that you had no intention to marry when you entered US with VWP. We considered this option too, but didn't want to take any chances and just took the CR-1 long route. Now, when on the CR-1 or K3 route, you can always visit your spouse with VWP, just remember to bring proof (like return ticket, reason to go back to UK etc.) I've done the visiting and had no problem at all (was also lucky as they didn't ask honestly nothing, even though I said my husband lives in US.) But yes, agree, it's MUCH more expensive to travel back and forth between europe and US, but hopefully you are together sooner than you can imagine!
Sorry, very long reply, but hope it helps even a bit! Good luck!!

What about Native Americans? They should be treated more than American and get their foreign Spouse's Visa approved within a day of receiving.
AND! then since Native Americans are considered to have migrated across the Bering Strait into North America from Siberia Asia.
This would then mean Asians are more American than others.... so Asians should be "treated" "more American!" and thus should get their Foreign spouse's Visa approved over the phone.

Congrats !
You should update your Timeline in the signature !

What about Native Americans? They should be treated more than American and get their foreign Spouse's Visa approved within a day of receiving.
AND! then since Native Americans are considered to have migrated across the Bering Strait into North America from Siberia Asia.
This would then mean Asians are more American than others.... so Asians should be "treated" "more American!" and thus should get their Foreign spouse's Visa approved over the phone.

What about Native Americans? They should be treated more than American and get their foreign Spouse's Visa approved within a day of receiving.
AND! then since Native Americans are considered to have migrated across the Bering Strait into North America from Siberia Asia.
This would then mean Asians are more American than others.... so Asians should be "treated" "more American!" and thus should get their Foreign spouse's Visa approved over the phone.

People situation maybe different but i agree with Dwight - Hanilyn.
Why go through this big step in your life when you are not 100% sure of the marriage union to last a life time. It maybe more trouble than it is worth, too much headache if you think that you'll get divorce. Just my 0.02 cents.

Simple question!
My wife has her Interview in a month at the consulate in Juarez. I am the Petitioner and husband. Do I go with her to the interview? I always assumed I would, and my non-profit lawyer said yes, but I read online that only certain people are allowed inside the interview and Petitioner wasn't one of them. Does my wife have to go to the interview alone?
Mahalo!

The petitioner being at the consulate is never a bad idea. Many consulates won't let the petitioner attend the interview but what you can do is take their US passport in with you and have it sitting on top of the stack of evidence so the VO knows they are there. In my opinion it is always a good thing if at all possible. Whether it helps or not is debatable, but it certainly never hurts.

What kind of proof will be expected if a couple marries in the judges office and does not have a church wedding with allot of people present. What kind of pictures will be considered proof of the couple getting married?