StormHeraldEDM

Got the email this morning that we have an RFE ...almost 6 months and they couldn't figure out that they wanted more/different information prior to now?!

I called the information line, was escalated to a tier2 officer, and they can't give me any information about what they want. The real cherry on this situation is I have major surgery upcoming in the next 2 weeks - if I get a 30 day deadline, I may be screwed.

Argh, I can't decide if I'm sad, angry or depressed. We had hoped to not spend another summer apart.

My husband and I married in May, filed I-130 paperwork in October. I'm the USC, he's the Canadian.

Since we've filed, both of us have traveled over the border, both directions, without issues. We didn't volunteer extra information, and we weren't asked extra questions. It has always been the standard question set, no interesting leads, no pawing through computer paperwork or extra hoops. Neither of us tried any funny business, though - we always visit for a short, defined time period, and carry documentation with us to that effect (letter from boss indicating anticipated return to work, copy of property lease, other evidence showing ties to current country of residence).

As with most things, your mileage (or kilometers!) may vary.

Best of luck,

Stormy

-Forgot to mention: I do not have a NEXUS card. I keep meaning to get one, honest I do...just keeps slipping my mind.

My darling husband and I chose to get married on a mountain...just off a scenic overlook...with only my sister and her boyfriend as witnesses, and an officiant that we found on CraigsList. Cost us $350, including a new dress (that I have since worn many, many times) and a crisp pair of slacks for my beloved. We wrote the ceremony ourselves, and were serenaded by cactus wrens in the early morning sun. It was the happiest day of my life.

The wedding to my first husband (oh, the things we do when we're young...) was the $10k ordeal with flowers, cake, reception, choir, church, full liturgy, etc. How long did that marriage last? Less than a year. One of the major issues??? Money.

I just wanted to echo to OP what others have said - whatever you choose to do, it does not HAVE to be the full "traditional" wedding within those 90 days...unless that is what you and your lovely spouse-to-be choose it to be. My best friend's parents wed in the basement of their aunt's home, wearing their Sunday best...and the groom had to go do the evening milking of his cows shortly after, so no honeymoon for them. In their 48 years of marriage, I have never heard either of them once say, "If only we'd have spent more money on our wedding, our marriage would be better".

-Stormy

Still waiting.....

It's been so frustrating to watch the "Timeline". When we first filed, it listed possible adjudication from Jan 22 - March 18. Today.....April 26 - June 22. Wow. Just wow.

I know it's a common theme, but it is beyond frustrating to watch certain countries receive NOA2 within a few weeks after filing, while other applicants from other countries just sit and wait. And wait.

Tired of feeling like life is on hold. Sigh.

/rant

We actually have decided which was we'd like to go - it would be better if he came to the US. HOWEVER, that being said....

I've moved around a lot. My income was unstable up till this year. I have a couple of other private issues that will adversely affect his application for US immigration.

On the other hand....I really don't care to move to Canada, but our petition to head north is more likely to be granted, based off my husband's stability (still living in same house he was born in)and the fact I already have my Alberta nursing license, and they're still actively recruiting RNs wherever they can find them.

If they both get approved, we'll cross that bridge at the time it happens. But for now...don't want to be like the HR director at my work, who has been married for 4 years and been trying to get her hubby here for the last 3 of them...and just now filing to head to the UK instead, rather than continuing to live apart.

-Stormy

I know this board centers around immigrants coming from abroad to the US, but I am curious - has anyone ever filed for both directions?

After a lot of deep conversation, my husband and I ended up filing two separate immigration petitions. We compiled and filed the complete packet (for my daughter and myself) to apply for permanent residency in Canada. And shortly after, compiled and filed the paperwork to apply for my husband to come to the US.

At this point, we want to be together. Neither of us had the resources or wherewithal to go one of the normal listed routes (student visa, temp work visa, etc), so this was what we decided upon. Which ever comes through first, that will be the direction will move in.

I've done quite a bit of trolling immigration forums, etc, online....and I have not seen many references to other couples doing the same thing. Is this an oddity? Or are most people simply dead-set on coming one direction or another?

-Stormy

Hello folks,

I've been watching this forum for a while - and oddly, I should have known better than file our I-130 prior to asking for advice, but I didn't...and I can't change that fact at this point Moving right along.....

I realize that my husband and I have (most likely) a good chunk of time ahead of us before we will have to defend ourselves, but I'm trying to be alert to red flags.

About him: Canadian guy, never married (previous to current). Lived in the same city all his life, stable jobs, no criminal records, etc etc.

About me: USC. Moved around a few times with family growing up, then continued to move as an adult. Switched careers a few times before settling into my current path - just finished my most recent schooling May '10, now back in school for more. I have a decent job (RN).

This is my 3 marriage - first was right out of high school (over a decade ago) and ended in just over a year. I have a daughter from that union who is currently 11. I have no idea where he is, we never had contact after I left due to spousal abuse. Second spouse - married during a particularly depressed time, moved across country, was away from friends and family, etc. This is where things get interesting.

I was married to my second spouse for a bit over a year when my current spouse and I met, playing World of Warcraft. We had a mutual friend who both of us knew in person, and the attraction was mutual. After several months of talking in game and online, we decided to meet in person (Fall '07). I flew up to Canada to spend time with him - and while we liked eachother, we just weren't ready to do what needed to be done to be "together". So we went back to our respective homes and went on with our lives as friends.

Fast-forward a couple years. I had finally gotten my fill of the sham marriage I was in - final straw was when spouse was accused of abusing my daughter, and there was an investigation. Though unfounded, I myself could not convince myself of his innocence....so I finally left state. Moved back in with my folks. Through a stroke of odd luck, in late December, I returned to playing WoW (hey, I had to try out Cata!) - and there was my guy. We hadn't talked terribly much over the previous year, as my home situation had deteriorated. But we started talking and spending time online together, and this time it clicked. We were head over heels for eachother!

I flew up to Canada to spend time with him again in Feb '11 - when I came back, we knew we were the soulmates we had always looked for. My divorce from previous spouse was finalized in April, in May, my dear hubby and I married - (he came to the US for a week to visit, meet my friends, etc), after which he went back home to Canada. We had aprivate ceremony, his parents couldn't come due to health problems, my family was not invited due to previous issues regarding their views of my relationships. My daughter and I went back up during the summer to spend time with him and his family, and he's coming back down here to spend Christmas with us.

The potential pitfalls and how I addressed them (feel free to chip in with what I missed, or may have coming up >.<):

Problem: My previous marriages- They were both to USC by birth, no visas/immigration issues involved. That being said, current relationship began while I was legally married to another man. Yes, feel free to judge me, it is what it is. May have possible concerns regarding bona fide?

Solution: a) I wrote a personal statement as part of I-130 packet, detailing the evolution of current (and most important!) relationship

b) Was not able to get affidavits - my flakey teenage sister (19 years old) said she would write one, but never did. After nagging for months...gave up. Other friend who knew both of us was killed in a car wreck in July.

c) Included copies of previous divorce decrees, current joint bank statement

d) Included what few photos we did have of our actual marriage ceremony. It was small and meaningful, nothing flashy. We both decided on having something more "traditional" in late '12, near his hometown, so his extended family could attend.

e) Skype logs, phone logs, and a brief statement about how we spend time together online via WoW and more recently League of Legends and Lord of the Rings Online, etc....

On a side note, not sure how to handle the issue with back tax transcripts, either. Assuming we'll be into 2012 when I have to provide transcripts, I'll have one year of our marriage, but previous transcripts would be joint with previous spouse. He and I do not speak, he has the tax records. I have no issue making minimum income qualification this year, but previous years, I was in school and making minimal income...will that be an issue? What do I do about it? Joint sponsor may be...out of the question.

I'm sure this was more rambling than it needed to be, but I sure do appreciate your assistance!

-Stormherald

I have had the same issue with my employer - of course, this frustrates me even more because I am a nurse!

As of this date, I have not found a work around. My employer has called the insurance (with me on the phone, 3-way call) and the supervisor stated there was no work around, it was policy. We even wrote to corporate and received one of those polite "Thank you for your inquiry" letters, that repeated the same answer.

Just keep lodging those complaints and keep your records - maybe some attorney will eventually take them to court over it and we'll have a chance to get our spouses on our insurance

Another October I-130 filer. Sent Oct 14th, rec'd Oct 18, rec'd NOA on the 20th via txt.

I would love to hope for a NOA2 sooner rather than later, but I have a bad, bad feeling that it will be a long wait. Sigh.

First time poster (I've lurked around VJ for a while, heh heh)

Finally, after much consternation and a couple of false starts, submitted our total and correct I-130 packet. Sent on Oct 14, received at Chicago Lockbox on Monday, October 17th. I sure hope that things go smoothly for all of us!