ANJOS

As my then fiancé was doing some research to begin our K-1 journey she stumbled upon Visa Journey.  I can’t express the gratitude we have for Visa Journey as we relied on it guided and community for every step of our journey. It saved us money as we never paid anyone for help. Thank you!! If anyone needs any help (as a token of gratitude) feel free to reach out. 

As my then fiancé was doing some research to begin our K-1 journey she stumbled upon Visa Journey.  I can’t express the gratitude we have for Visa Journey as we relied on it guided and community for every step of our journey. It saved us money as we never paid anyone for help. Thank you!! If anyone needs any help (as a token of gratitude) feel free to reach out. 

Hi, the cover letter is not compulsory, it is if you want but I would recommend that you added a cover letter because you will send your documents more organized and they will know that you sent them.

Hi, Welcome to the club, maybe You can get approved before without having to wait so long.

I think the OP want to tell that is not normal to have an easy green card doing things illegally (enter with ESTA - or any other way -, get married and ask for AOS) than doing the things legally (enter with a K1 visa and ask for AOS). The wait will be 6 month for the first one (with interview) and more than 12 months (sometimes 15 months) with no interview and no relevant information for the second one. And I do agree with that. It is not normal.
And I do agree with the other, it's not a right, it's a privilege... let's try to do the same in our born country, I am sure, it will be much more difficult for our beloved to come and live with us (and even more difficult for gay couple, I am sure ^^)... but I don't think OP was telling the opposite t ^^

Well, this discussion is moot. Whether we like it or not, our statutory framework provides that immigration to the US IS a privilege, not a right. Furthermore, the issue of "immigration rights" is not one that any politician would ever push as a platform, since most voters in the US are very anti-immigration. No politician would stand up on a soapbox and ask for more funding for USCIS to reduce AOS timelines, or streamlined procedures. That would be the political death of any politician.
Bottom line is, the current difficulties we face in getting our loved ones approved for green cards, etc. is the fault of the US voters, and public opinion. It all flows from this.
Marc

So sorry to hear what you're going through. It really doesn't seem fair that you did it all the right way with waiting for a K-1 visa, then entering the US to marry and adjust status and now have to wait so long for your green card. I hope it works out for you soon.

What USCIS does is very abusive!! They make errors and take much longer than the normal processing times and we are the ones paying the price. To take another medical exam because they are behind is just ridiculous.
The mentality is that it's a privilege for foreigners to become legal residents that's why do as they please. Every time I call I'm told oh in 30 days. But when 30 pass and I call I'm told 30 more days.
It's incredible that coming here legally with our k1 We are sitting here a year later without being issued a green card. Yet I know others that have come with B1/B2 visas overstay their visa, marry here and submit papers and already have their green card in 3/4 months. I just don't get it.

What USCIS does is very abusive!! They make errors and take much longer than the normal processing times and we are the ones paying the price. To take another medical exam because they are behind is just ridiculous.
The mentality is that it's a privilege for foreigners to become legal residents that's why do as they please. Every time I call I'm told oh in 30 days. But when 30 pass and I call I'm told 30 more days.
It's incredible that coming here legally with our k1 We are sitting here a year later without being issued a green card. Yet I know others that have come with B1/B2 visas overstay their visa, marry here and submit papers and already have their green card in 3/4 months. I just don't get it.

What USCIS does is very abusive!! They make errors and take much longer than the normal processing times and we are the ones paying the price. To take another medical exam because they are behind is just ridiculous.
The mentality is that it's a privilege for foreigners to become legal residents that's why do as they please. Every time I call I'm told oh in 30 days. But when 30 pass and I call I'm told 30 more days.
It's incredible that coming here legally with our k1 We are sitting here a year later without being issued a green card. Yet I know others that have come with B1/B2 visas overstay their visa, marry here and submit papers and already have their green card in 3/4 months. I just don't get it.

What USCIS does is very abusive!! They make errors and take much longer than the normal processing times and we are the ones paying the price. To take another medical exam because they are behind is just ridiculous.
The mentality is that it's a privilege for foreigners to become legal residents that's why do as they please. Every time I call I'm told oh in 30 days. But when 30 pass and I call I'm told 30 more days.
It's incredible that coming here legally with our k1 We are sitting here a year later without being issued a green card. Yet I know others that have come with B1/B2 visas overstay their visa, marry here and submit papers and already have their green card in 3/4 months. I just don't get it.

Hi Tab2Tab, the new guidance that was issued in June 2014 regarding medicals is terribly unfair given the USCIS backlog of work. There are loads and loads of examples in the main NPIW thread of people having to have the medical re-done at their own expense. There appears to be no way around it and I don't know of anyone that has successfully challenged it. USCIS can just do what they want and do. Not everyone that should have to redo their medical do have to. It seems to be down to whether the Immigration Officer knows about tjhe revised policy and whether they can be bothered to implement it. Thankfully the person adjudicating our case didn't ask for a new medical - they must have been having a good day or just wanted to clear the file off their desk.
I know that this really sucks for you but you're just going to have to suck it up and get the medical re-done.
#USCISyoustillsuck

Thank you for the link to the USCIS policy update - I was not aware of the update as the policy was only 5 days old on the date we submitted our I-485 application. That was helpful.
I don't know why you feel the need to diminish fellow VJ members with unnecessary comments like "It's not too hard to understand". The reason I was confused by your first response was a) that you used incorrect dates, "pre-feb" vs Dec 10, 2013 and b) you didn't actually post the relevant information - the link to the new USCIS policy - until your second response.
Regardless, the prevailing intent of my question is whether anyone on this site has had any success in challenging the USCIS when the medical exam expiration is clearly not the fault of the applicant. While the USCIS rarely acknowledges fault in most matters, it is not unheard of, and they have been known to concede in some instances where they were at fault. The documented USCIS' goal for I-485 completion is 5 months. In our case, it has taken them 13 months... not to complete the case, but to begin the process of looking at the basic contents of the file, (i.e. the medical exam). To hold me financially responsible for their inefficiency and delay is what I find "hard to understand".
Thank you again for the link to the updated policy.
If anyone has had a similar situation - an expired medical that resulted from an excessive delay in I-485 processing, I'd be interested to hear how the situation resolved. Did you just deal with paying for a new medical? Did you contact USCIS and if so, what was the resolution? Thank you for taking the time to read this!

The employment card and advance parol is great if you plan on staying in the united states until you get a greencard. However if you have to go to your country, and come back to the u.s. You are treated like an illegal immigrant because of that card. In my husbands case, he was with me, a u.s. Citizen, and in his country they thought the card was false and had to get clearance. At miami poe we were put in a holding room, and were also scrutinized for not having the greencard.
Also i have heard that most colleges need the greencard to apply for financial aid. You need the greencard to have a permanent drivers license and not a temporary one.

I've been waiting nearly a year since I filed for AOS!!! This is insane. I came here on K1 and filed for AOS in July 2014 and still haven't gotten anywhere. I keep calling and I keep getting different answers. One day my case is in Minesota the next I'm told it's Haileah, Florida. I'm told it takes long because we qualify for an interview waiver. Quite frankly I rather and interview and be over with this.
I suggest anyone thinking in coming on a K1 to please do a lot of research. It really isn't worth coming and waiting so long. I would have rathered getting married overseas and filing for
I-130.
I know people that have came into the states with tourist visas, have stayed here illegally and gotten married and filed the I-130 and they have gotten their papers quickly. This is just ridiculous.

Losing your job does not equal visa denial. If you do not have the money to buy the plane ticket or pay for the rest of the visa, then that's different.
If you have the money to fly there for the interview, pay the remaining cost of the visa, then I would highly recommend that you go and get this done.
After the visa is approval and the Dominican resident receives their visa, then you can use it 6 months after being approved or 6 months after the medical exam was done. Just look at the expiration date on the Visa to get the exact date.
You still have time to fix your financial situation before starting a new life together.
In the meantime, try to find a new job, so you can support your partner once they decide to live in the U.S..

The members name is GabrielaManon, I suggest you message her and ask for advice. I believe she had her case expedited a week after making her request. i think with the proper medical documentation you will have it granted. Good luck!

Check this link to request Tax Transcripts from the IRS
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

Call me crazy, but I think you are making a big mistake by airing your intentions on a public forum, with your names and pictures attached. If you are not wise enough to see that being this open about the possibility of perjuring yourself here is a bad idea...then you probably aren't going to be able to successfully pull off this ridiculous scheme of "let me bring this man to the States (because I feel bad for him) and then let him run loose and I'll say it just didn't work out". I know you feel bad for the man, but if he's not someone you LOVE enough to marry, then don't commit fraud to bring him to the States as your fiancé.

It was perfect for me!!! Love detailed reviews!

Thanks a lot hun!! Best wishes to you and your fiance. Stay calm and positive on the day of and everything will work in you favor. Keep me posted.
thanks! Good luck to you

In DR you need to bring ds-156k the day of interview.
If you dont bring it, you have delay on your process

You can pay either way. Remember they give you the "current rate" of exchange for pesos. In my opinion, U.S. cash is the better option.

I never bothered emailing them or calling directly the embassy i trust more the department of state.
202-485-7600

press 1

press 0

then you'll be connected to visa specialist and they will tell you

Currently waiting yo be checked in at the airport! A few hours until I'm in the arms of my better half. Can't wait to be in the arms if my honey.