JFH

The lawyer either misunderstood you or only told you half the story.
It is possible to file adjustment of status from a non-immigrant visa if you are the spouse of a USC - BUT only if that was NOT your intention when you arrived in the country. So it's not possible to plan that in advance. If, however, you were there now and decided to marry and stay (and that decision was made after you arrived at the airport) then it would be possible. It's a fine line...
You can still use your P-1 whilst the CR-1 is pending. Likely you will be questioned further at the border because spouses of USCs are often viewed with suspicion by CBP officers, regardless of the visa type or waiver that they are using to enter the country to visit. Sadly, people have broken the rules in the past (and continue to do so) so we are all seen as potential illegal immigrants and overstayers. That's life. You wouldn't have to leave the USA immediately after the wedding if you are doing CR-1. You can stay as long as you have permission for on your entry stamp in your passport but you must return to your home country for your medical and interview. You will also need to gather various civil documents such as birth certificate and police check.

Your legal wedding MUST be in the US if she is coming with a K-1 visa. You can go back to Colombia once she has her green card or AP approved and have a celebration/vow renewal/wedding party there but the actual legal ceremony absolutely must take place in the USA. 

Yes, he does sound impatient but weren't we all? I couldn't wait to come live with my husband and that's perfectly normal. I think we see two kinds of impatience on this site - those who are impatient to be with their spouse, no matter where they are; and those who are impatient to get into the USA. 
 
For the OP, who is from a very economically advanced and stable country and who has a very high level of education I don't think his impatience has anything to do with the country, just love for his spouse. I can totally relate to that. I think most of us can. He's certainly not moving for a "better life". It doesn't get much better than Norway! I am from the U.K. and my life in the USA isn't "better" except I am with my husband all the time now. That's what I was impatient for - not the "American dream". 

I’m sorry to hear this. But...
 
- you should have had the joint sponsor in the first place. The instructions are clear. 
- having a baby will not speed up your case. It’s sad that your wife is raising a child alone but that was your choice to start family planning before the visa was approved. 
- lengthy AP is normal for Pakistan. Blame your government for that for not having a reliable system of maintaining criminal records
 
 

I did. People change. 

Do let us know whether they approve your circumstances as “exceptional” as it will be helpful to others who are also wanting to be considered as “exceptional circumstances”. This question is asked a lot and we can only use past experiences to get an idea what USCIS considers “exceptional” or not. Unless things have changed dramatically since your last posts, I wouldn’t think your case would qualify but you never know... 

You can be the preparer. The main thing is you must sign the statement that says you are the preparer and/or interpreter. I was the preparer on the I-130 my husband filed for me because he is somewhat dyslexic and forms confuse him. So we decided I would complete the forms. It was no problem at all.  

The case I am referring to proves that your opinion on the matter (that you cannot have a spousal visa if your spouse is locked up) is wrong. I know personally of one case. I have read of several others on here. 

***procedural question moved from 'progress reports' to 'process and procedures'***
 
What does the text of the RFE notice say? Maybe something on the form was illegible or a question was missed or an old version of the form was used. It could be any of a number of reasons. 

Actually they were concerned she was going to stay and adjust status, not file a K-1. Filing a K-1 and returning to Taiwan to complete the embassy process is what CBP want you to do. Or get married and file a CR-1. 
 
Her VWP days are likely over. She will need to re-apply and declare the refusal and see what happens. If she is denied then she will need to apply for a B-2 to visit. 
 
The good news is that this incident will have no impact on the K-1 or CR-1 application. 

But you put it on a public forum. You are obviously not afraid of any form of retaliation and your husband has yet to be granted a visa so it’s still at the mercy of the embassy staff. 
 
There is obviously far more to this story than you are telling - and that’s fine, you don’t have to reveal all the details to total strangers. But don’t scare others off with wild claims of murder and brutality when the majority of users here who have been through the Islamabad embassy have reported nothing of the sort. I agree that Islamabad is a tough embassy compared to many others but applicants being threatened with murder? No way. 
 
Why would you wish such an experience on me? What have I done to affect your case? I know you have often made veiled comments that I didn’t deserve my immigrant visa because of my husband’s past and I have told you numerous times that the good or bad conduct of the petitioner is mostly irrelevant (AWA being a notable exception). I know it must be painful for you to see those whom you consider “less deserving” being granted their visas or having an easier ride through the embassy. But that’s life. It’s never fair. I totally understand that. I feel the same way when I see people who are able to have children and I went through 7 failed in-vitro attempts. Do I still grieve that I’m childless and now 46 with all hope gone? You betcha I do. Do I begrudge others their children? Absolutely not. 
 

Always remember these two things:
- quality over quantity: Two plane tickets to see each other are worth more than 2,000 text messages in this game. Focus on time spent together, not idle chatter that fills the gaps in between.
- you are submitting evidence, not proof: proof would suggest that something is irrefutable. But nothing can "prove" that your relationship is genuine as USCIS is not able to read your thoughts. All you can do is submit as many different forms of good evidence as you can to strengthen your argument. Texts prove you have a working phone. Emails prove you know how to use a computer and you have a working internet service. Too many people mistakenly believe that communication is "proof" of a bona fide relationship and this can cause complacency. 

How long ago is “just crossed”? 10 minutes ago? Yesterday? 
 
It can take a while to update on the online system. I once arrived by plane for a few days and had returned home before my record was visible on the I-94 system. 

My situation was different but similar. There was no COVID when I arrived, I haven’t had to adjust to motherhood and I was able to work from the very beginning. But I went through similar emotions of feeling “lost” and that I would never settle here. It was almost like a grief for my old life. And I’d visited over 40 times before I moved! Case in point that no amount of visits can prepare you for living here. 
 
Anyway, here’s what I did. It may or may not work for you. Stop comparing things to back home. Accept that things are different here and the life you had in Europe has gone for good. Mourn the loss of it, for sure. But convince yourself to start to see things as “different”, not “wrong”. I’m in a group on Facebook for British ex pats and I see posts from people who’ve been here a decade of more still lamenting that they can’t find custard powder or fairy liquid here. Some of them even resort to importing things at huge expense from Europe. Don’t. Just find a new way to make custard or wash your dishes. Find a new way of doing things. I can’t stand the bread here. I grew up in a bakery that my family had owned for generations. Until I went to university I’d never eaten bread that wasn’t made in our own kitchen. The stuff they sell here and call bread, it’s an abomination. Yes, I know they sell so-called artisan stuff here. Still not good enough for me. Much too sweet. So I make my own now. And I actually enjoy it rather than seeing it as the twice-weekly chore that it was throughout my childhood. And much better than ordering from British food suppliers online. It’s my connection to my past and brings fond memories. Allow yourself the memories but don’t be angry that those days are gone. 
 
I’m finding that I’m less and less saying “we don’t do it like that at home” and more and more “that’s different. But it obviously works here”. Some things don’t change, and that’s OK. You will still be you. And your homeland will still be your homeland. But start to see it as a favorite vacation destination now, and look forward to going back again, rather than seeing it as a the home you been pulled away from. Carve out a new you. Keep some bits of the old you but accept that some bits are gone for good. When my mum comes to visit all I hear is “well we don’t do/say/have that in the UK”. My response? Well, this isn’t the UK. Things are not “wrong”, just “different”.
 
Last month I became a US citizen. People I work with were thrilled and sent messages of congratulations like I’d run a marathon. To me it was just paperwork. I’m still me. Someone said “how does it feel that you’re now an American?” And I really don’t know. I’m still me. Still can’t understand the rules of baseball. Still need to use a knife and fork to eat and will never be able to cut food with the side of a fork. Still expect “chicken salad” to be a garden salad with slices of grilled chicken rather than chopped chicken in mayonnaise. Still say “Aubergine” and not “eggplant”. But that’s ok. Not everything has to change. But not everything will stay the same either. 

It’s an adventure to be enjoyed. 

My situation was different but similar. There was no COVID when I arrived, I haven’t had to adjust to motherhood and I was able to work from the very beginning. But I went through similar emotions of feeling “lost” and that I would never settle here. It was almost like a grief for my old life. And I’d visited over 40 times before I moved! Case in point that no amount of visits can prepare you for living here. 
 
Anyway, here’s what I did. It may or may not work for you. Stop comparing things to back home. Accept that things are different here and the life you had in Europe has gone for good. Mourn the loss of it, for sure. But convince yourself to start to see things as “different”, not “wrong”. I’m in a group on Facebook for British ex pats and I see posts from people who’ve been here a decade of more still lamenting that they can’t find custard powder or fairy liquid here. Some of them even resort to importing things at huge expense from Europe. Don’t. Just find a new way to make custard or wash your dishes. Find a new way of doing things. I can’t stand the bread here. I grew up in a bakery that my family had owned for generations. Until I went to university I’d never eaten bread that wasn’t made in our own kitchen. The stuff they sell here and call bread, it’s an abomination. Yes, I know they sell so-called artisan stuff here. Still not good enough for me. Much too sweet. So I make my own now. And I actually enjoy it rather than seeing it as the twice-weekly chore that it was throughout my childhood. And much better than ordering from British food suppliers online. It’s my connection to my past and brings fond memories. Allow yourself the memories but don’t be angry that those days are gone. 
 
I’m finding that I’m less and less saying “we don’t do it like that at home” and more and more “that’s different. But it obviously works here”. Some things don’t change, and that’s OK. You will still be you. And your homeland will still be your homeland. But start to see it as a favorite vacation destination now, and look forward to going back again, rather than seeing it as a the home you been pulled away from. Carve out a new you. Keep some bits of the old you but accept that some bits are gone for good. When my mum comes to visit all I hear is “well we don’t do/say/have that in the UK”. My response? Well, this isn’t the UK. Things are not “wrong”, just “different”.
 
Last month I became a US citizen. People I work with were thrilled and sent messages of congratulations like I’d run a marathon. To me it was just paperwork. I’m still me. Someone said “how does it feel that you’re now an American?” And I really don’t know. I’m still me. Still can’t understand the rules of baseball. Still need to use a knife and fork to eat and will never be able to cut food with the side of a fork. Still expect “chicken salad” to be a garden salad with slices of grilled chicken rather than chopped chicken in mayonnaise. Still say “Aubergine” and not “eggplant”. But that’s ok. Not everything has to change. But not everything will stay the same either. 

It’s an adventure to be enjoyed. 

Oh dear.... 18 years of working for an airline here. The automated check-in procedure (online or self-service machines) won't work for you. You will have to desk check-in. The thing is, TCX is a "holiday" airline, not a scheduled carrier. As such, the majority of their passengers are tourists going for their 2 weeks of Disney, Walmart and Jack in the Box. They hardly ever handle immigrants, USCs or GC holders. That doesn't mean they don't know what to do. 
 
I can assure you that an ESTA is not required and you don't even qualify for the VWP. The VWP requires a return ticket within 90 days and no immigration intent. You cannot satisfy either of those conditions. Don't worry, the people on the phone lines are not the ones who check people in all day, every day. When you get to the airport, the person at the desk will know what to do. All of us who came here on immigrant visas and K-1 visas from the U.K. travelled just fine with no ESTA. 

Hello fellow friends in the waiting line! :) I just came back from the Tukwila office and I am a US citizen. :)
I'm an Aug 2020 filer based on marriage.
I arrived at the building about 20min before my scheduled time, they let me in. After security check, I waited in the check-in line where the staff checked my appointment notice, took a photo of me and took my finger prints.
The lobby on the 2nd floor was very busy, but I got called in only 5min past my scheduled time. The officer was very nice and thorough. I first did the reading test to read a sentence on a tablet. Then she asked me to write a sentence on the same tablet. Then we moved on to the civic test where I needed to answer 6 questions right out of 10.
Questions I remember are: Name one senator of WA state. How many senators are there? What's the name of the ocean on the east coast? What was the concern during the Cold War? How many justices are in the Supreme Court? We stopped at question #6 coz I got all of them correctly.
After the test, we moved on to more routine questions like where I live, where I work, etc. We spent some time talking about the trips I took outside of the US in the past few years.
And then we stood up to take the allegiance and I was officially a US citizen!
 
I did request a name change in my original application, but the officer said the Seattle office doesn't have the capability to do that, I'll have to get a court order on my own. She then updated my application to say "no name change request" and I received the certificate of citizenship with my original legal name.
 
Wish everyone here good luck! It will be your turn soon!

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also. 

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also. 

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also. 

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also. 

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also. 

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also. 

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also. 

Who can say what they will ask at POE? There are no set scripts that they follow. The CBP officers have every right to question an individual as to their circumstances. An approved visa allows one to present her/himself at the border. It is still no guarantee of admission. And if the CBP officer feels that the visa has been obtained fraudulently or that the holder is any way ineligible for admission in that particular category, he can deny admission. Look through here at how many people with valid tourist visas have been denied entry or removed because it was believed by the CBP officer that they were not coming here purely for tourism. 
 
I do know of a case on VJ where a K-1 visa holder was removed at the border. During the POE process the CBP officer asked something about working plans,, career, etc. Possibly due to a misunderstanding by the K-1 holder who did not speak English well, she told the CBP officer that she was planning to work here. She probably meant “in the future when I have my EAD” but it was taken at face value and completely literally and she was sent back to her home country. 
 
Off-VJ I am aware of a K-1 case who was asked at the border “are you aware you must marry within 90 days?” (Which is “standard” questioning) to which he replied “well we haven’t decided if we will get married or not. We will use the 90 days to find out”. It was determined that this constituted a lie on his “statement of intent to marry” that he presented to USCIS and the embassy and he was sent back also.