Michel and Kim

Hello everyone!

We haven't got our NOA2 yet but we are just wondering how long does it take from NOA2 to the Consulate interview? Does it depend on the country where the beneficiary will be interviewed or maybe it varies from a case to another?

Thank you in advance for your replies and good luck!

there are some interesting stats found here:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/stats.php

I left to see my fiancee America for 3 months. Although some have negative experiences with that.

They can't refuse entrance based on a K1 process. As the matter of fact I used that fact to get in (why would I pay so much for a K1 just to waste all the money and move in now?) they can however refuse entrance based on their feeling that your visit is not genuine.

Still, I'd say it's worth it. Being 3 months together is a great way to kill time. It took us about 6 months to get our NOA2.

Another thing I did, was spend a lot of time with my friends as I had to say goodbye to them. Volunteering anywhere I could and live as a nomad. It was actually pretty fun but still it didn't numb the anxiety completely.

Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I know that a lot of us are waiting... and waiting for our visa. I am having a hard time deciding what to do with the wait time.

Here´s my situation:

I quit my job in October to be with my boyfriend (now fiance) in the US for 3 months to figure out if we want to take the relationship to the next level. He proposed, I returned to Germany, we filed the K1. I thought it would only be a process of 4-6 months and I would be back with him. I thought that was a great time period to get rid of my apartment, my stuff and say good-bye to loved ones. Now I found out that CSC is taking forever to process K1 visas and all in all it will more likely take 9-10 months or God knows how long. Almost 3 months are already over since NOA1. I am in a position now where I have to either find a job and only work for a few months, which doesn´t make a lot of sense if you´re having an actual career in a high-profile field. Also I would have to lie to the potential employer about wanting to stay permanently and then quit spontaneously upon CSC´s notice, which gives me a guilty conscience.

Or I could move in with my family who live near the Frankfurt consulate and just wait for the visa for several months. Sitting around doing nothing I feel lazy, unproductive and useless. I also worry about the huge gap that will appear in my resume and may damage my career. I do have a job interview in a couple of weeks and if they offer me the job, I may accept, but I am not sure yet since I want to be ready to leave my town in Northern Germany to be available for the consulate as soon as I hear from CSC and NVC. If I stay and work, it may delay my departure for the US eventually because I will still have my apartment and all my things that I will have to loose and take care of. That will stress me out immensely.

What would you guys do? Anyone in the same situation?

It depends on the RFE, if it's just missing a couple of blocks on the forms it could go fast.

Still, 3 weeks passed by you should be really close.

Good luck! You're almost there!

Ditch your lawyer and save a lot of money.

You have an abundance of evidence that you two were together with the 9 month visit.

I've seen multiple people from the Philippines on this forum, most of them being approved without such advice.

Hello everyone,

I have my MNL case number already.My petition papers for K1 visa has already been sent to the US embassy too.

I am so worried about on thing.We have an immigration lawyer, and she told us that my fiance needs to revisit me

and be with me at my interview to get a better chance of being approved.me and my fiance have talked about this already

and we both agreed that he don't revisit anymore since we're saving money for our new house.Our lawyer told us that

we won't be getting a refund just in case I get disapproved as my fiance told her at the start that he had plans of coming back.

Is she right about it?By the way, my fiance arrived August 3,2011 and left May 3, 2012 (he stayed here for 9 months)

I would appreciate it very much your thought on this.You all have a nice day.Thanks so much.

mij and alu

agreed, although some embassies will mail it to you.

In Turkey's case you can already start getting ready as packet 3 is ready to view at all time:

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Turkey&cty=Ankara

Packet 3:

http://turkey.usembassy.gov/visa_forms.html

Welcome and remember, after the NOA2 everything is going to be so much faster and smoother.

Meanwhile try to get most of the paperwork ready for when your NOA2 is approved. You'd want to send the papers in right away to speed up things. Nothing is worse than getting the NOA2 and having to wait for paperwork from overseas.

Great news!! When did you send your application in?

Somewhere hallways January. We were slacking a bit, so we didn't file it right after our honeymoon. : o)

Hello February filers of 2013!

Just a quick hello from a February 2012 filer. There is a great journey ahead but all I can say it's SO worth it!

If you guys have any questions about the progress, feel free to go on a questioning rampage.

Last year February VSC was the worst. This year it seems like you guys are more lucky.

One piece of advice. Don't stress out! If you fill a form out wrong, it's no big deal the USCIS doesn't require perfection.

Funny thing, after all that waiting separately, we didn't even realize that we could check our AOS case online, just like we did with the K1 haha.

So the update is that On March 4th they received our response to their RFE and we should receive a decision within 60 days. Pretty neat.

You know, waiting together is so much easier.

SSN should come within 5 days after you visit the office. So that's definitely odd Mary!

We haven't done bank or drivers' license yet but I have my SSN and we got me a car last weekend! It isn't quite the Alfa Romeo I sold in the UK but it's sweet. I have my biometrics appointment on the 25th - how's everyone else getting on?

Ai, I haven't seen any Alfa Romeo in this neighborhood : o) just driving around in inefficient, big cars haha.

Oh my, haven't been here in such a long time!

Mary - Congrats! Sounds so good

KT - I've seen your photo's on flickr, so awesome! Is Tommy covered in Tatttoos? Know the feeling of slacking. We just got me a debit card and that's it haha. Still need drivers, SSN etc. and we just sent out our AOS last Friday :s let's just say we're kinda comfortable : o)

SLMcT - Done and done! great progress!

Darkmoon - I'm so sorry to hear this. I wish you all the strength and peace in the world!

Haven't been on here for ages.

We've just been chilling after our wedding and our Honeymoon. Today we have a AOS day. Basically all is ready and we just need to double check all paper work. We registered at Macy's but also wrote on the wedding invite that any help with the AOS costs will be greatly appreciated. Can't believe how many people gave a cheque instead of a present.

Started volunteering at a job with a prospect of a paid job once my EAD is approved. Things are working out very smoothly. Pretty stoked!

All I can do is smile!

Congrats to all the other newly weds and KT, december is almost here! I expect you to be married soon!

So I entered IAD last Tuesday, I couldn't feel more welcome than this time!

A day after sandy hit the east coast there was no line at all at customs and I was the first to arrive at the non US citizens line. A friendly officer helped me who seemed to be very excited about us getting married. She checked everything quickly and asked some questions. After that she told me I have to go to desk B just to let them double check all the paperwork but that I'm good. 2nd officer was as nice as the first one. He just checked the paperwork and called me to his desk to say: welcome to America and Congratulations!

I'm here now a week, finally over my jet lag and all stress relief. Wedding is this Saturday. I can't believe it's finally here!

I think a few congrats are in order today. Congrats Heather and Gavin and congrats to Terri and Glenn on your marriages! That's the step I'm most looking forward to in this process.

Oh my, it's really happening! We got ourselves some february filing, new wedded couples!! Congrats!!

Isn't it exciting Shezita, we're flying out so soon and yesterday in two weeks we're getting married!!

On a different note, thank you all so much for sharing your joy with us. I feel like visajourney helped me so much! It also got me stressed out a couple times though : o) this forum is good ammo for a bunch of 'what ifs' I never thought of myself : o)

I'm flying to Kim this Tuesday, we're getting a civil wedding Wednesday and have a real ceremony and blessing November 10th in Herndon!

Kinda crazy but we were very lucky with vendors and venue that all were ok with our flexible date system. We just paid them and they were all very understanding. Meaning that the wedding is completely setup, I only need to buy nice slick dress pants that fit the jacket we bought earlier. Also November 1st I'll go ahead and move to our new place and Kim will stay with her parents. This is such an exciting time of my life.

Thanks all for your support!

Help,

So in addition to a few paperwork issues (which is easy to take care of). The interview did not go that well. Julian felt that the moment he sat down before 1 question was asked that something wasn't right. We think it's because we only met on November of last year and I've visited once. We didn't have the funds for multiple visits so were trying wait it out. The CO actually wanted to know why we just didn't get married when he was here the first time. (As if trying to be responsible and get our own apt. etc. was a bad idea). They began to grill him and the CO didn't think we had a real relationship, brushed off our chats/ and emails/pictures and cards as simply not enough. We were not denied, but asked to show more proof from summer on. They gave him his passport and chest X-ray. Julian wants to come for Christmas, which we feel would give us more couple time and time to generate more proof. Can he get in this country now that we are in the middle of this? Or do we just need to send as much hard proof as we can and hope for the best. At this point, we just want to be in the same place.

Any help is appreciated

I'm so sorry Mary, I really am so so sorry! This sounds like a nightmare! Hang in there, you know it's worth it, it's worth to get together!

So I had the interview today.

Left my electronic devices at home and could join a line with only one person in front of me.

First Window I had to hand over all paperwork except the evidence of relationship. 15 minutes later I was called for the interview:

officer: how are you doing?

Me: doing well, and how about you?

Officer: very well. How long do you know Kim?

Me: since February

Officer: can you place your finger on the scanner, thank you that was perfect. How long were you dating before you asked her to marry you?

Me: 5 months sir

Officer: you were married once before?

Me: indeed

Officer: why was Kim born in India

me: her parents worked there and in Ryaad for the consulate.

Officer: I figured, who lives in Northern Virginia and doesn't work for the government.

Me: you're familiar with the Northern Virginia area?

Officer: yes, I work for the government (smiles) Herndon is a great place to live, oh and by the way you're approved. We'll send your visa with a great pamphlet my college prepared to you within two weeks. Have a great day.

Sooooo... Lot of stress for nothing Haha.

For those who have been through this part already, is there anything to help for anxiety? I swear we are 2 days away and I'm so nervous & anxious!!!

For starters, the interview is just a formality. Really nothing to worry about.

For anxiety we found that prayer helps and not going to bed until you really fall asleep from exhaustion Haha.

Yeah, I was just re-reading a copy of the contract online, and I found the place to submit complaints. Hopefully they will just voluntarily dissolve the contract - but if not, I will be in for yet ANOTHER battle, it seems.

I can't deal with this on top of everything else LOL... I just want to wake up and have it be Christmas in FLORIDA.

Booo, that's terrible news! : o(

Get a new realtor, make it work to get our of the contract!

Tomorrow is my interview, finally!

Good news all!!! Good luck at the interviews and holding your loved one!

And a big Congrats on your approval for the NOA2 mik2012, I can't even begin to imagine through how much anxiety you must've gone through! Rest assured that everything will go extremely quickly now!

Had the medical today, that was easy. Just got a dtp vaccination from my own physician and it seemed like that one was the only one necessary Haha.

The i-134 papers didn't arrive yet unfortunately though after 2 weeks so we sent out a premium shipment yesterday with a guaranteed arrival on Monday, while I have the interview Tuesday. Waaaaay to close for my feeling but with two packages in the air, one must arrive on time. Only 6 days till the whole wait is over. And only 13 days I see my love and only 24 till I get married!

Congrats Ms K and Shezita!!! Such wonderful news!

Seems like a lot of people around Northern Virginia! If there is a meet up, although I'm not on the forum that much, I'm up. I'll be living in Great Falls.