Ash & Tiffany

Thought I'd share my personal experience:

-Started the K-1 visa and waited a few months.

-Cancelled K-1 visa application.

-My then girlfriend visited me in Brisbane and we got engaged on my birthday.

-I visited her in Kentucky a few months later and we got married on her birthday (at her church with her family present). We immediately applied for CR-1/IR-1 status.

-I left the USA, and waited the two months it took for my petition to be approved.

-The petition was sent to the NVC and within a month I was back in the USA for my actual wedding ceremony (so my family could attend). On the day of the ceremony NVC sent me an interview appointment in Sydney at the Consulate (day after my birthday).

-A month later, had the interview in Sydney and was issued CR-1 status and an immigrant visa.

-Two months later, was on a plane to the US with my life packed into five bags. On one side of the yellow line I was an immigrant. Once I crossed it, I was a permanent resident. A two weeks later SSN arrived. A month later my 2 year temporary green card arrived. Excitement! I can work!

*1 & 3/4 years pass*

-Petitioned USCIS to remove the 2 year condition on my card. They extended my status 1 year while they processed it.

*ten months pass and we're at the present date*

-I could have applied for US citizenship a week ago, but I still haven't received my ten year green card and IR-1 status.

-Once I do receive them, I will be applying for naturalization and then my immigration journey will be complete.

Notes: I felt like the K-1 was an unnecessary step in my journey. With CR-1 you will get a two year green card and conditional status if you are married less than two years on the date you are granted the benefit. And then 1 3/4 years later you have to petition USCIS to remove this condition. They remove it, you get a ten year green card and at 2 & 3/4 years, provided you have the IR-1 status already, you can apply for citizenship.

If you've been together for 4 years... Is it worth considering CR-1/IR-1 versus arriving on a K-1 as a non-immigrant and then adjusting status? You have to wait in Australia while the process takes place... But you don't have the worry of adjusting status, and you can take care of all the medical/police/background check in your own city (if you live in an Australian capital). Once you arrive on CR-1, you only have to wait for your SSN and GC, then you can immediately start work. On a K-1, when you adjust status and have your application in, you can apply for a card that is proof of your legal right to work. However, I have seen so many people complain that they take forever to be approved and sent out. My SSN only took a month to arrive. And you can prove your work status by showing the visa in your passport provided it's stamped at the airport, and by giving your SSN.

I wish you luck, and this place is full of answers. All you gotta do is ask questions!

Ash

i doubt such a list would be available to the public, but it would likely exist. otherwise how would they know who to put in AP and who not? countries with high immigration and low GDP and regional instability would be one focus. areas linked to terrorism. whether or not the state is an ally of the united states. whether the intending immigrant has multiple citizenships.

there's probably a whole lot of reasons, not all of which would be written in concrete as things change

What airline are you flying? If you booked connecting flight on the same ticket you will make it, also if its an airline like QANTAS or AirNZ they have fast track through customs passes you can get as you leave the flight and you go to the express customs lane and should be through in 30 minutes.

Flying with Qantas, and yep, booked all my sectors in the same ticket

So how do you go about getting the pass to fast-track through Customs? The second last time I arrived in LAX it took me three hours to get from the gate door to passport control. Really hope it doesnt happen this time.

woohoo! congratulations!

We had some stuff go on that slowed us down a little on putting things in (waiting for co-sponsor materials) then we got bogged at NVC on the IV docs of all things.

I had the green card and lived in the US for almost five years, then we had to leave. Bad decision. Now we are going back. Yes, headed for Kentucky. Lived in Lawrenceburg and then Berea. I miss it like crazy. My wife is the USC and a native Kentuckian. I have to find work there again - that will be our challenge.

Where are you going to be?

Kentucky is a wonderful place.

Ahh that's no good! Hopefully it goes smooth for you

It sure is wonderful! We'll be in Louisville. My wife lives in Richmond (from Lexington though). We just sold our house there so we can move.

Work will be a challenge for me too. I'm a little concerned...

I know what you mean about leaving. I'll be staying at least until I can naturalize that way if we decide to live in Australia for a little while, we can always return to the US to live.

You have me eating my heart out. Wish I was going that soon.

Is that where you're heading too?

our timelines were very similar right up to march, but then yours slows down... why?

Going to Vancouver for my medical tomorrow. Do you need to fast? I don't see anywhere that says you should.

Thanks.

You shouldnt have to... At least I didnt and the medical procedures should be the same or similar around the world depending on personal situations.

I'm going to Louisville on the 2nd of August! YAY!

Ash

I'm really sorry to hear that happened. That's the kind of nightmare we all fear. What I love about Ireland is the US authorities do the visa check and open the packet in Ireland so that when you get to the US you don't have to show anyone a passport or visa because you already entered the US in Ireland. They should do that in more countries and then you won't have to worry about the visa and packet your carrying until you get there.

that sounds so much easier! i really hope 3.5hrs at LAX is enough for me to get through... i arrive at 6.30am (really busy time for arrivals from asia pacific. last time it took 3hrs to get to the customs checkpoint from the plane...).

hope the OPs situation is able to be resolved as soon as possible!

it sucks to hear of the issues other people are having just to get to their loved ones in the U.S.

i wish it was as easy for you as it was for us. though good things come to those who wait (as hard as it is...). i thought about the time i waited like this: "it costs money, time, heartache and stress. if i can wait through this immigration process, then we can get through anything." i thought six months from start to finish was slow but there are people who wait years. i really hope you get your NOA2 and start the real process very soon! once your case gets to the NVC, that's when it starts getting fast! providing you have no issues of course. good luck!

that's what mine showed and i got an email as well as feedback on the screen as well. you should be good!

once you pay, i would forget about it til after your POE. it's to recover the administrative costs of producing your green card and that happens once you're admitted

i'd recommend doing it yourself. my wife and i did the CR-1 process ourselves with absolutely no trouble at all. there were times when i doubted members but hey, you read the step by step guides they made and you'll be right as rain. just be patient and triple check everything.

if you follow the steps, you'll be fine. save the money for a plane ticket to your love.

thank you

mine are non-existant because i use adblock... i didnt even know there were ads til i paused it. i suggest you get it

Nevermind! Just checked again and it says "ISSUED"!!!!

Woooohoooo!

Thanks everyone. I just checked CEAC and it says I'm in "necessary administrative processing"? I got an approval from the consular officer... So is this the status when they're preparing the document package and printing the visa or am I boned and stuck in AP-land?

Woohoo! Now I gotta wait for passport to be returned.

169 days NOA1 to Approval

NOA1 = 31st December 2012

NOA2 = March 3rd 2013

Interview = 18th June 2013

congrats! my interview is in six days!!!

follow saylin's guides and the helpful advice from the rest of the forum and you'll be in and out of the NVC in no time.

thank you - i did think of that but i didnt know if it was the right thing to do. thanks again.

Hi all

I have a quick, stupid question.

We have sold our house and as such the address I provided on my ds-230 (where to send the green card) is changing. I would like to update it so that it gets sent to my mother-in-law's place. Would I do this at the POE or in the interview I have on the 18th of June?

Thanks, and sorry if this is covered elsewhere.

Ash

Ive been reading it is perfectly legal for a non USC to marry a USC on a VWP, while in USA, but the non USC must leave USA before the VWP expires, the petitioner fills out the I-130 and submits in USA. ( is this done during or after the non USC leaves the country, or can be done anytime)

Is this correct?

Secondly, if the intent of visiting USA on VWP was definitely getting married, what should be answered to the CBP at POE, when questioned about purpose of visit?

And lastly, at what stage does the non USC apply for a resident visa from his home country? What forms are filled out?

Thanks

i entered america on the VWP in october last year and i got married a few days later. there is no restriction against getting married to a US citizen on the VWP, you just cant get married and expect to stay there. i got married, come back to australia and my wife filed an i-130. everything has gone smoothly and i havent hit any speed bumps. USCIS and NVC stages were really quick and my interview is 18th june.

just tell them you're visiting your fiance(e) (if you're already engaged) which is the truth, and take documents with you that prove you have significant ties to australia (employment verification, rental lease etc). i did that and it was fine. he asked me a few questions but i didnt have to show any documents. they are "just in case".

i would wait til you leave before the i-130 is filed, just to be safe.

you'll be fine as long as you come back before your 90 days.

i'm sorry to hear you received an NOIR... but happy that you seem to have a information they require to get through it. good luck!

seeing as how the petition was approved on the spot... could it have been a priority thing as the petitioner is active US military?

How long will it take to get an interview date? Any of you just got the case complete?

i got case complete today in the morning, and another email this afternoon with my interview date in sydney, australia.

Now you get to wait a few weeks to have them send you a notice of when your interview appointment will be. It's been 12 days for me since case complete. In 2 more days I will start calling nvc everyday again to find out anything new.

wow, mine was quick. i got case complete email at 6am this morning and around 4.30pm this afternoon i got the interview date email.

ash