WORMIEVADER

I swore I wouldn't be impatient with removing conditions....

Filed in June 2015 and looking at the Vermont time frame, it will be at least 8 months before hubby receives his permanent green card.

He came in on a K1 visa in Nov 2012. Biometrix completed for I-751 on July 15, 2015.

I'm wondering if Vermont currently waives the majority of interviews, since they are so behind, or if the interview is still the current standard.

Trying to figure out travel plans and vacation schedules.....

That's crazy! Especially with the 8 months processing time in Vermont Service Center to remove condition. Did you have to pay for your return ticket? So sorry to hear about that experience. Thanks for sharing, because Costa Rica was one of our chosen vacation destinations, and we are also currently in the process of removing condition.

Can you add me to the list? Vermont Service center, NOA1 6/23/2015 and Biometrics appointment 7/15/2015.

Looks like by the time we get the green card from Vermont, it is already time to file for citizenship

Once you get your NOA2, it can go really fast. Senegal is very responsive via email and phone. As soon as the paperwork was received at Senegal, they confimed receipt and we were able to schedule an interview within 2 weeks time! Granted, it was in 2012, but the consulate received the paperwork 10/30, we had the interview 11//13, visa received 11/20 and on the plane to the US on 11/26 You'll have to rush around a bit to get the medical done in time. From NOA2 to entry in the US, it only took us a little over 5 weeks. The longest wait is for the NOA2, after that it can go really fast (but that's partially up to you as well. Be proactive, have all your paperwork ready and get your appointments fast)

Good luck! By the way, if you don't have a family or friends in Dakar, we stayed in the hotel Lumumba near the airport, Very inexpensive, and Adama from the front desk used his day off to go with us by Taxi to show us where the consulate and doctor offices were. He was awesome and such a great help!

We had our interview in Dakar as well, and we both attended the interview and were able to answer questions together. We had almost the same age difference (woman being older), but I think the interviewer could see the easy chemistry between us, and we had no problem. I would recommend her attending the interview with you. Good luck!

Hi Meg, my heart goes out to you!!! While I'm not a pro-lifer, my thought on this subject is that if you wanted to have children someday anyway, maybe this is really the child you were supposed to have. Fate sometimes is a funny thing and opens one door when another closes. Raising a child alone is no easy feat, but raising a child while being married to a jerk is probably much harder.

Listen to your gut, not your heart or your head (or other people). We sometimes have an amazing clarity when we imagine one thing or another. If you feel a rock in your stomach imagining an abortion, but the rock is not as heavy imagining having the baby, then you have your answer.

If you can, talk it through with councelors, planned parenthood, friends, family....but don't listen to their advise, listen to how their advise makes you feel.

Whatever path you choose, tell yourself it was the right one for you. The worst thing is regret. I wish you all the love in the world! I'm so sorry you are hurting!

Thank you for all the responses, this has been very helpful!

I was looking for some feedback. My husband is having a hard time adjusting to life in the US and is thinking of returning home. I can't go with him, but we love each other and intend to remain married. His AOS is in progress (from K1 Visa, we got married 12/12/12) and he will probably receive his conditional green card sometime in November or later. If he goes back home, but we decide to give it a second try for him in the USA in a couple of years, what would be our options?

If he abandons his resident status here, would he be able to get tourist visas to visit me? (notoriously difficult to get for people in his country, Guinea).

I would hate for him to give up everything because he is frustrated, overwhelmed and homesick.

Anybody else in the same boat who can commisserate? If yes, please email me

_{I heard a couple of weeks ago that they are still processing August. Which means we have another 5 months wait time maybe?}

_{Hi AOS filers (K1 visa)}

_{Just curious - anybody still waiting?}

_{We have not gotten an interview notice and status is still listed as "accepted" since Jan 8.}

Hi January Filers,

just found this thread....Yayy, things are progressing.

I have a question: We adjusted from K1 visa, NOA1 on 01/08, Biometrics on 01/29, EAD/AP received 03/08.

AOS still lists as accepted.

Does that mean no RFE and no interview for us? Seems like most of you with interviews got their notice shortly after Biometrics.

Thanks for the feedback, and speedy AOS to all of you!

Don't worry.

I had my immigration interview last February (green card holder for 20+ years, finally applied for citizenship). I crammed for the test, and after the immigration officer asked me the 6 easiest question out of all choices, he just chit-chatted with me for a bit about where I came from. At my baffled inquiry "where are my other 4 questions?" (remember, you have to answer 6 out of 10 correctly), he laughed and told me that I passed already and will be sworn in the following week.

Oh yeah, and I had to write and read an english sentence (I think it was something simple like "My name is...")

I understand you're nervous, but I am sure you have nothing to worry about!

Dakar emails the package, and they will copy applicant and beneficiary (as long as you provided valid email addresses). You can print out the instructions and forms for completions from their email. The current forms can also be downloaded from the USCIS website.

Even better, Dakar is very responsive when you email them. You usually have an answer to your questions by the next day. So no worries, once they receive the application from the US, you're in good hands.

Our process only took one month from receipt of application in Senegal to Visa in hand. Good luck!

We did a pre-nup at my urging. My husband, who is from a country where such a thing is unheard of, just shrugged his shoulders and said: "Well, we're not going to get divorced, and be together forever. So it doesn't matter what's in this paper. Where do I sign?"

I loved him even more after this statement!

Like somebody earlier said: A pre-nup is like insurance in case something goes wrong. You never expect to need it, but if the unthinkable happens, at least you're both protected.

It is certainly not a reflection on whether you're serious and love this person.

We just went through the whole K1 process with our "unconventional" relationship, and hopefully I can ease your worries.

I flew to Senegal to attended the interview for the K1 visa, and we "sailed" though it, despite so-called "Red Flags".

Common language was one of our concerns - though he speaks french, my french is very basic. But we were able to demonstrate at the interview that we can communicate quite well with each other. I think our body language alone spoke volumes.

We also have a large age difference, religion, social status, education - I was driving myself crazy with worry. None of it came up in the interview. We had four visits lasting several weeks under our belt, so that probably helped as well.

I am sure you will be fine and neither age difference nor language will be a problem. You have plenty of evidence of a bonafide relationship. Especially if you can prove that you lived together for 9 months in Mongolia.

Do your homework, frontload your application with lots of evidence and then relax.

I miss this thread! Especially because I can now contribute....and it prepared me for the "dead deer by the side of the road" discussion.

"But honey, I know if it is fresh when I look at the blood. Let's take it home, I can cook this up easily"

Anyway, here's my contribution:

You know your husband is african when:

- It doesn't matter if the sneakers are size 9.5 or 11.5. If they are the right color, they will magically transform to the size of your feet.

- You can't throw anything away. Even that moldy, dirty, old wall-to-wall carpet "is perfect to be sent home to Africa, there's nothing wrong with it". When advised that we don't have any room to keep it, the answer is naturally "I'll keep it in my car"

- Sneakers have to be the same color as your shirt and hat to form an ensemble.

- He absolutely can't believe why americans chose to live in "cardboard houses" (drywall)

- You never know what you find under the pillow

- Your pampered purebred indoor cats are expected to earn their keep (I insist they do by getting rid of all those creepy crawling insects that get lost in our place)

Anyway, we have only started our second month together here in the US, and it's been both an adventure and a journey. He amazes me every day, and some of his viewpoints challenge my way of thinking.

Would love to hear more contributions and experiences of those of us with african husbands

Don't worry - I had an April 9 NOA 1, and most fellow filers with the same NOA 1 date received their approval a week ahead of me. By the time I got my NOA2, they were already working on second half of April. They might get to your file a little later, but they will get to it - they don't always work in order. I kept joking that my adjucator probably left my file on his desk while on vacation in Hawaii or something.

You can always get your congressman involved if you are worried - though to be honest, my congressman inquired twice on my behalf, and I was still one of the last April 9 people to get approved.

I am crying and laughing at the same time!!!! The website was just updated with the most beautiful word "Approved".

What a relief! What joy!!! I haven't been able to sleep right for the last few days because the anticipation was killing me. So to my fellow April filers still waiting....VCS seems to fly through approvals at the moment - you'll share this great feeling with me soon!

I'm soooooo happy, elated, relieved - thousand emotions! Yayyyy!!!!!

They skipped me!!! April 9 NOA1 and still nothing! Ugh!

According to Igor's list, we should get our approval next week. Oh my god, I'm so looking forward to Monday!!!

Is it just me, or is the last stretch of waiting even harder than the 6 months prior??? I can't breathe every time I look at the website, and whenever I see "Initial Review" staring back at me, disappointment weighs like a rock. But ten minutes later, eternal optimism forces me to check again.

Because if approval comes this week, there might still be a chance to have him here for the holidays....if all the stars align. Heck, us VCS April filers are due for a break!

Oh my god, I did the same thing for 129F on my NOA1 date! Only to discover that on 10/10, they approved the number in front of me, and the number after me....but skipped over mine. Ugh!

I noticed that there seems to be a lot of RFEs issued....about 1/3d with RFE's, 1/3d approved and 1/3d still waiting. I only saw one denial, but 2 withdrawals. Ever since I saw those 2 numbers before and after me approved, I check that darn website every ten minutes! It's becoming an obsession!!!

Anyway, my theory is that most people with RFE's and denials may not have discovered Visajourney before they filed their application - at least that lets me sleep at night. It can't be too much longer now ;-)

Patience is a very hard thing when you are so anxiously awaiting news. Especially because VCS seemed to have started the weekend early today. Sigh

I was told that my petition is now with an officer for review, but that the review process might take several more weeks.

Does anybody know if "being with an officer" means that the backround check has already concluded? Or are they starting from Scratch?

I sure hope this wasn't just a standard answer, and my petition is currently truly being reviewed...

184 Days since NOA1 - but who's counting?

I just became a naturalized citizen in February as well. However, my NOA 1 was April 9, and I'm still waiting. But I'm Vermont Service Center. Anyway, I think you were lucky and your application went into the "wrong" pile. Congratulations, that is great news! Hope the rest of your journey goes just as smoothly from here on out.

I am a little confused with the Affidavit of Support.

In the instructions, it states:

Submit in duplicate evidence of income and resources, as appropriate

A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial instituation....

B. Statement of your employer on business stationary...

C. If self-employed: Copy of last income tax return filed....

D. List containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds....

Do I interpret this correctly that only one of the above is needed? My income qualifies me as a sponsor, so is the statement of my employer sufficient?

I have requested copies of my previous tax refunds, but reading the above, it isn't necessary since I'm not self-employed.

It also sounds like copies of bank statements are not enough evidence.

Are copies of recent pay stubs necessary, or is this overkill?

I was planning to prepare the documentation well in advance, but since the information is obviously dated, I probalby shouldn't request it too early. Is there a timeframe (so many months prior to the interview) where the dated statements are still accepted?

Sorry if this question has been asked a million times already ;-)

Thanks for the responses, I greatly appreciate it! I got my text message this morning that the application was received. Whew.