Fiance Journey

We sent our I-129F application on January 2 to USCIS at the Vermont Service Center. It was transferred to Texas Service Center at the end of May and haven't heard a word back. I then scheduled a meeting with the local USCIS office to ask questions and hopefully get answers to the delay since I am seeing many others receiving their NOA2 that filed months later than us. I even helped someone file months after we did and they received their NOA2 over one month ago...and they even had to answer an RFE along the way. I was very very thorough in my application and provided everything they could ever need, to the T. At the meeting at the local USCIS office they said they couldn't really see into the case but that the status is set to "Expedited", which she said was a very good thing when she sees that.

Then is when I heard information I have never read before. She explained that since my fiance had lived in her Nationality country until 18 when she moved to Mexico, the background checks could be causing the delay. I continued to ask about that since everything I've known about the process is that USCIS only performs background checks on the petitioner, not that beneficiary. And then when approved, it goes to the NVC where she has her background ran. She explained that the NVC is always involved from the beginning and the background checks are on both of us. That seems a little strange to me and wonder if her explanations were only to keep me happy. That was very early this month.

Does anyone have any information on this?

My fiance and I were dealing with the same question, as our families (and us as well) were wanting to have a personal non-legal ceremony beforehand in his country. We made the decision as well to not risk ANY problems with the visa process, and hold off on anything that looks remotely like a wedding. We'd rather have each other

Thanks for posting this, and for these responses, nice to see decisions supported by the experts.

is the Foreign Beneficiary wanting to go through 'postal processing' at NVC, or no?

If no, please train up yer USCitizen Spouse to handle all at NVC via the contents posted on the Wiki in the Ling Che Shortcut page.

Please?

However, if YES - then having the right address is important. Suggest you SEND OFF a POSTAL LETTER to NVC, updating your address with THEM via postal mail.

Good luck, whatever path you choose (there are at least two, aye?)

WOW, old thread but I am going through this now. When I called USCIS, the agent informed me that since USCIS only deals with customers in the US, that I can fax the appropriate case information and the new address of the beneficiary outside the US to the NVC..and she gave me the fax number. She informed me they will pass this information to the USCIS application. Only problem is the fax number was invalid...

I then looked online more at the DOS site and found a process to send an email to the DOS/NVC via the address "nvcinquiry at state.gov"...which I did and received an auto-reply confirming it was received. Here is the URL for this process is http://www.dhs.gov/federal-change-address-procedures . I hope it helps someone.

Unfortunately, if you don't come here on an IR-1 and the marriage "fails" before you are a resident, then you must return to your home country. Its just the way it works and part of marrying someone outside your country.

Unless its an abusive situation, you'll need to either 1. make it work (culture shock could be all thats going on with her) or 2. divorce and return to your home country and continue where you left off there..and im sure you have friends and family to help you through it if you chose that route. After the tough times, you'll be ok and this would be a building block/experience you gained in life....as awful as it may feel right now.

Congrats!!

thanks all!

wish the USCIS process was faster... But who doesnt, including the USCIS who probably are short handed

great break down baron555. I think everything you said is how i interpreted it from the beginning and is my philosophy on almost anything legal..why seem fishy, causing them to wonder and attempt to catch something wrong...thats their job. In the end we will come back after the wedding in the US and have something on the beach..

I think it would pretty selfish of the family to ignore your reasons for not wanting to take a risk and have this "non-legal" ceremony. This is your life, and your marriage, its a terrible thing when people try to guilt you as a means of manipulation to get what they want. Did you explain to them why this isn't a normal marriage and it can't be gone about as such ? I have a hard time imagining they would still insist on their way. But even if they do, who cares ? They're not the ones who will suffer the consequence. Apologies if I sound harsh, I just feel very strong about my independence, individuality, and my right to do as I please with my life.

Yep, they understand after I gave them a direct statement that it cant happen and it wont happen and is out of our control..so they dont say anything any longer except the every now and then comment to be smart about it/mostly funny (i have a sense of humor and have no problems with that)...but i know they'd prefer it happen if possible...so i wanted to ask since I recently read that somewhere that its "OK"..

I had troubles with both my (to be) family in law and my own family, to explain them we did things the way we could, and would be more convinient for us, because we don't have a "normal" situation. We have constraints that most couples don't have. It bugs them, honestly, it kinds of bugs us too, but this doesn't matter and is not really important.

What is important is that we will be together, we will get married, we will spend the rest of our life together. This is a commitment, and this is love, and details don't matter.

We'll get married in court with just my in-laws... then have a ceremony later. Not exactly a dream. But legal, and safe, and good for us

Well said!

I'd play safe and have no wedding, even traditional and not legal before getting the k-1.

Think of this: The interview is stressful, even if you don't have anything to hide, even when your case is easy AND your embassy is easy. If you (or your fiancé, I don't know if you are the USC or not) have to be careful not to display some information, you'd be even more stressed. They will ask you questions like "when do you plan to get married? Where? Is your familly going to attend?" They will expect details, signs you are not lying. If they have doubts, they will ask more questions. If they think you are lying or hiding something, you'll have problems. Don't put yourself, or your fiancé, in a difficult situation.

Rules vary from countries to countries, on how you can get married, what is a 'legal mariage' or not, etc.To give you an exemple, in france, you can't have a wedding ceremony (at church or wherever, even non-religious ceremony) if you don't go the the cityhall to get married first. So it they see a ceremony, they will assume you are married legally too. And as in the US, you don't need an "official setting" (such as courthouse, cityhall etc) to get married, they also can assume that as soon as you had a ceremony, you really legally got married. They won't check it up, they will just stop there.

I agree...and good point. Its an interview and its their sole discretion on the decision..facts or not. Are you of moral character to receive this privilage of a K-1 is the decision they are looking for..period..all up to their feelings of the interview. Follow their requirements to the T and youre good.

If the ceremony is really important, then just make sure there are no pictures on Facebook etc. When asked if you are married, the answer is no because you legally didn't get married. You are walking a fine line, just realize that if they even have a doubt, if you are married or not, you will have problems.

thanks dmck, I am not going to risk anything and these are the responses I expected. Was strange though when I read somewhere it was ok as if they new directly.

Is the ceremony worth the US Embassy determining that it was a wedding and denying the K-1?

Is it worth wasting the time apart and the costs for the K-1?

Is it worth coming back to her country to legally marry?

Is it worth wasting more time and the costs for a spousal visa?

Is it worth being separated for another year or longer?

Is it worth complicating your life?

Explain to her family that they can have either the ceremony or her life in the US with you by complying with the US Embassy's rules. They can't have both. The rules of her country do not apply to the US Embassy. If you want the K-1 from the US Embassy, then you comply with their rules. Ignore them and suffer the consequences. And guess what? Who do you think will pay the price? Its not her family. You and your fiancée will bear the financial and emotional costs. Not exactly a great way to start your life together.

I agree and that has been my response to them but I wanted to fish around in these forums with my questions rather than just read thanks!! I think my original decision stands.

I have seen too many times a K-1 get denied because of a 'ceremony'. You have to ask yourself, is it worth it?

good luck

Thanks, and that has always been my response and feelings on it...but its interesting to hear some topics say with "authority" that its a ceremony and perfectly fine. Wish they had a direct statement on it on USCIS.

This is my first post, so forgive me if this has been answered directly by someone with more authority than I have seen out there.

I have seen many conflicting posts about having a non-legal ceremony in the foreign country of my fiance prior to us receiving the K-1 Fiance Visa. My fiance's family has been adamant on us having this ceremony before she moves to the US to become married. This is for cultural and religious reasons....and of course they very much want to see her have this ceremony since most cannot travel to the US.

There have seen many opinions out there where they believe USCIS will consider that fraud for having any indication or representation of marriage outside the US and/or before the K-1 has been issued. And that it could delay and/or highly jeopardize the K-1 acceptance.

Also, out there are opinions that if its just a ceremony and is not considered legal in the foreign country, that it is not a problem with USCIS. I would think this would be directly stated on their site, but its not (unless I have missed it after hours and hours of reading).

Her and I would love to have a ceremony with her friends and family on the beach during these long months of waiting. Being apart is really hard. This would satisfy their cultural concerns and allow me to actually stay at her house when I visit monthly...saving me money on hotels (I'm already paying for flights and other things while I'm there) and of course allowing me to enjoy the comfort of staying with her without her family becoming upset with us.

USCIS at the VSC received our I-129F on January 15, 2013.

thanks in advance!!!