TJandJR

Ok. That makes more sense to me now. Thank you all. And thank goodness I don't have to go to office max again and print out a million copies.

Thanks. He doesn't have the original in Lagos with him. I have it in the US and I won't mail it until we have an official copy just in case it gets lost in the mail. He called the registry and someone told him they don't issue copies unless (some nonsense about being under contract or something). I told him call again because that man sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking

about.

I was reading a post concerning a different couple and one of the replies was.... "having the evidence and getting it into the casefile are 2 different things, aye?

if you and your spouse not sideload this evidence into NVC during the civil docs submittal, well, a Vice-Consul did not make the time to review it prior to your interview day, as for him/her, it did not exist.

Was there a particular reason the two of you did not sideload this evidence into NVC? "

Now I have questions and I'm confused. Does NVC and the CO interviewing see all the chats, emails, phone records, afidavits, photos, and other evidence submitted with the I-30 sent to USCIS? Do I have to submit it all again at the NVC stage? How do you side load NVC? So confused now.

FYI... If you click on that link it will take you to "404 Page not found" BUT if you copy paste it into the address bar it will take you to the site.

Thanks. I'm feeling much better about it now. I just don't want them to say "ah ha! the ds-260 doesn't match up with the G325a, they are liars!"

But I can cross this off my list now of things to stress about.

There is an error on my husband's (beneficiary) G325A and I've already sent it in with the I-30 Petition. I noticed it when I was going through my "identical copy" of everything I sent USCIS. On the section that says employment for the past 5 years he listed as his most recent job a certain company and put the date he began working there and then wrote "PRESENT" for the other date. He filled it out when I was with him. At the time he filled it out, that was true. But he didn't sign and date it until we were closer to sending in the I-30. By the time it was signed and dated he no longer worked there. So now what? How can I correct or amend it without adding time onto my processing time?

Yes, many of us can relate. Be strong and patient. Don't let immigrations suck the romance out of your relationship. There was a time during our K1 process (which was denied) that it seemed like all our conversations were about documents and forms and interview questions.... Here's some advice. I know you have to have conversations about the immigration process and forms, etc... but also make a point to have conversations and chats with a rule that talking about all that stuff is forbidden. Hang in there. Be patient. And best wishes.

I sent mine USPS Priority (it was cheaper) with signature and delivery confirmation. I sent it on Friday the 14th. It was there and signed for Tuesday the 18th and got my NOA1 on the 19th. I mailed it to the top address. But while I was in the post office I saw something about express mail and I was thinking that will be confusing for people that need to choose which address to send it to.

OK thanks. We'll wait then. And 5 months sounds fair. Hope they keep it up and don't get bogged down.

Well I got our NOA1 (text) today. I was hoping for California Service Center but the receipt number has LIN in front of the number. That's Texas, right? Someone please tell me if that's good news or bad news. I know some are incredibly and agonizingly slow.

I'm doing everything I can to prepare for NVC and my husband's (beneficiary) passport expires in July 2016. He can't interview or travel with less than 6 months remaining on it so should we go ahead and get it renewed now, before I have to send his bio data page into NVC or can we send NVC the one he has now and get a renewed one sometime closer to the interview? Does it matter?

The same thing has happened to us...denied K1 so got married and filed for the CR-1. Several people on VJ have done that and been approved the second time. But not guaranteed. The advice I hear the most is to know why the K1 was denied and be able to address the issue. (Which I think is impossible when they don't give a specific reason and they just say they don't think its a bonafide relationship, even when you've submitted plenty of evidence.) Best of luck to you.

I sent all pages even the front and back of the cover. I believe I had read that somewhere. Anyway, that's how I did it.

Sounds like good news. Will be praying for this to be the happy ending you've been waiting for! God bless.

I noticed you have filed for a K1 visa. What stage are you in? Have you already had your interview? My husband and I married after our K1 was denied. Is that the situation you are in? I am asking because if you are still in the K1 process and you get married it changes everything. You will have to stop the K1 and file CR-1 (for spouses). I think Im correct, but if I'm wrong one of the other members can correct me.

Oh... And about his birth certificate. It's some kind of affidavit from the court. Well, he had an age declaration he needed to go get the affidavit (or maybe it's the other way around) and that's what we used with the K1. We didn't have any problems over it.

So much good advice! On the I 864 there are many sections that don't apply. Do I leave them blank or do I write "NONE" and "N/A" in the spaces? I filled mine out on paper already so I'll have the info at hand when the time comes. It was really easy. I have my tax papers. All I need is to copy my proof of citizenship and a letter from my job. I am wondering what errors people are making.

Yes, I want to make another trip but I want to be there (outside) at the interview so he can take my passport in. I can't afford two trips so close together. I'll have to decide if I should go before I send stuff to NVC or go when the interview happens.

Thanks for your helpful advice. When we were doing our (denied) k1 the police report wasn't needed until the interview. But now for the cr-1 I see it goes to NVC. Can it be a photocopy of a scan because him mailing me the original will take a long time. Will he need a police clearance from every state he's lived in Nigeria?

Well, I finally submitted my I-30 petition with a ton of other stuff and I know they have received it in Chicago because the USPS site says it was signed for. I want to get ready for NVC. I've read the flow charts and wiki guides and I do understand that things have to be done in order when certain steps are completed. But there are things I can be doing now, right? Like filling out my I-864 and getting my financial records together. But, what else can I do? The thing I'm concerned about is what do I need from my husband (beneficiary) that has to be mailed to me? And what does he need me to mail to him besides a copy of everything I sent USCIS? Mail takes forever to travel to and from here and Africa and sometimes it doesn't show up at all. I don't want that to delay us.

(There is so much information in the guides I can't take it all in. I think... all the forms that need to be filled out are done online and he can send me a scan of his bio data page from his passport.)

I am so thankful for this site.

Thank you. Good information from both of you. Appreciate you!

All the mail my husband and I have to exchange takes forever so I'm gathering things now I will need for the NVC stage. It seems, from what I'm reading, I will need to send NVC a certified copy of our marriage certificate. My husband must also have on him the originals of all the documents I have submitted in case they ask for them at the interview. I'm scared to death to mail our original marriage certificate to him. I don't trust the mail. So I guess we need two certified copies.

Does anyone know the process of obtaining a certified copy of the marriage certificate in Lagos Nigeria....and the cost?

Thank you.

I'm just wondering if this site

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/How_Do_I_Bring_My_Spouse_%28Husband_or_Wife%29_to_Live_in_the_United_States%3F

is current and up to date. Especially the step by step process about how to speed up the NVC process and submitting original documents. I saw some dates on there for 2008 and that's why I want to know if the information on there is still valid. It's for the CR-1 Thanks.

Ebunoluwa, that's awesome! Glad you stuck it out and triumphed!

"NBC and CSC is at about 5 months at best. Than another 3 to 5 at NVC than another 2 months of interview waiting. so realistic a year from filing to Interview day is realistic barring no issues or what hell this 2014-2015 folks have had to endure with NVC and embassy Visa printing wahala. It's been a nightmare for real."

Sounds like it. Ugh! But I'm glad to see you're still on here. You're a familiar face... voice. I often wonder how Gowan is faring. Remeber him? Anyway to answer your question, I've spent a total of about 9 weeks. (5 weeks and then I just returned recently from almost a month visit). So only 2 visits so far but not short ones. I plan on going again this winter and then also at the time of the interview if our finances act right. For a year he was living in Sokoto and I refused to go there and he couldn't get time off work. But he's back in Lagos now and I'm much more comfortable there. I've seen people on here who meet then two months later marry and visit just a week and get approved. And it's good for them, I'm not against them, but it was discouraging me, especially after our K1 denial, and especially after we took our time getting to know one another and not rushing into things.

I've heard that after a K1 denial that spousal visas are often approved... not always and not guaranteed, but that we have a good chance. I hope so.

Well, I'm back on VJ getting ready to do this crazy waiting game again with Immigrations. Met in 2010, engaged in late 2011, filed for K1 in 2012 and didn't get the interview until late 2013!!! K1 was denied for...yep... not convinced of a bonafide relationship (No specifics) Nigeria. Petition was frontloaded. We married this year Feb. I'll be mailing in our CR-1 I-30 spousal visa petition in about a week. What's been the average processing times (if there's no glitches and rfe's etc.) from NOA1 til interview? This is what is in my package. Forgotten anything? Advice? Encouraging words? Thanks in advance.

Cover Letter
G-1145
USPS money order for payment
I-30 Petition with atachment
G325a Petitioner with photo and attachment
G325a Beneficiary with photo and with attachment
Copy of Marriage Certificate
Copy of Petitioner's passport pages
Other Supporting Evidence of Marriage:
wedding photos and other photos
copies of flight itineraries and tickets
copies of Nigerian visa stamps in Petitioner's passport including a multiple entry visa
4 affadavits from people with first hand knowledge of long relationship and the marriage
mother of petitioner
close friend of petitioner
petitioner's brother in law (husband's eldest brother)
husband's cousin
Insurance papers listing husband as beneficiary
Copy of utility bill
Some of our phone records and recent chats (about 50 pages of phone records/20 pages chats and texts)
Additional evidence of ongoing relationship - includes some additional phone records, emails and chats going back to 2010 and postal mail from husband. (about 200 pages)

Thank you. Your info is helpful. I can't imagine anything else they could want when I appear in person. But I want to make sure I bring it with me if they do. It's not like I can run home and get it.