dlc68

I know! Have you tried calling USCIS yet?

I have called, but haven't spoken to a human. I'm not sure what I would say: "I heard other people that filed after me got their approvals, what's going on with my case?"? I'm not sure that would be fruitful.

March 27 NOA1 here, CSC, and... silence. So frustrating.

Later on in the process, on the DS-230, she'll have to list dates of all previous visits to or residence in the United States, and give type of visa status (if known).

No additional info on this topic required when sending the I-129F petition.

Awesome, that makes perfect sense, thank you!

It's amazing some people have trouble providing information without being condescending in the process. Kudos to you.

You need not bother replying further, Gary and Alta. Thanks.

Why are you making this harder than it is?

I'm not. USCIS did that for us. I ask the question because there are several non-obvious implications of questions, that are neither detailed on the form, nor the instructions. e.g., providing copies of boarding passes as primary proof of meeting versus photos, which are secondary, etc. Considering the advice to front-load the application as much as possible, the question crossed my mind.

BTW, the G-325a doesn't have provisions for detailing past tourism visits to the US, only employment and residency. If by "they will get the other information" you mean they will search their records for past trips to the US, then that's what I was wondering. Thanks for info!

Hey everybody, I searched and I couldn't find anything about this. If you answer Yes to "Has your fiancé(e) ever been in the U.S.?" on the I-129F, is it necessary to provide any additional information for the intitial submission? I see the next question saying "If your fiancé(e) is currently in the U.S., ..." which she is not, but nothing about previous presence in the US.

Thanks!

Thanks, Tahoma! That's all very helpful and encouraging!

Thanks for tne words of encouragement, Tahoma!

Just out of curiosity, has your fiancée passed the NCLEX-RN yet? If so, what state did she apply through? If not, what state is she planning to apply through? What state do you live in?

Yes, she passed NCLEX in California and was issued a temporary license (since she didn't have an SSN), which she transferred to Vermont. Her Vermont license is still active. I live in California, so we hope she can transfer her license back here once she has an SSN. Do you know about this?

Awesome. Thanks for your insight!

Thanks for the advice. I'm really just concerned with the appearance to USCIS of the items in my original post. Whether she is genuine or not is not the question.

Thanks!

I tend to agree with you, Boiler (and I'm suspicious, too). Unfortunately, she entered into the deal a full two years before I met her, so I don't know all the details, and couldn't have possibly put a stop to it. I do remember when she first told me about it -- soon after I met her -- thinking she was scammed. Apparently there's a contract (which I haven't seen) that, I'm sure, absolves the nursing agency and lawyer of any responsibility. I'm going to ask to see that. I'll report back with any shenanigans I find -- just for a good laugh, if anything.

100% agreed

I C no red flag.......she had tourists visas she could have stayed. File the petition ...best wishes

Thank you, both.

Forget the doubters, only you know if it's true or not. But nothing you posted would be a red flag. As to if you point them out, I wouldn't. Why even draw attention to something that isn't an issue.

Good point. My lawyer says the same thing, but my fiance is a bit of a worry-wart. When I told her I wanted to petition her, she said, "wait, wait, wait! these things are going to be red flags..." I think she get these ideas from hearing the stories of the women that get denied, who probably come up with some BS excuse instead of telling the real reason. i.e., they save face by blaming the system. As a result, she believes nurses from the Philippines are under greater scrutiny by USCIS than other professions (because of their tendency to over-stay their visas, she says). I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I haven't found any evidence to back it up.

I have read right here on these forums nurses from the Philippines talking hospitals in Dubai and other places just using them. Almost looks to me like white slavery. So sad.

Well for what its worth I see no issue with what she did. Goodness she didn't scam, she did a legitimate thing to get employment. I wish you all the best.

Yes, you are right about Dubai. The pay is marginally better than the Philippines, for comparable work, but it's not a long-term solution. Neither is over-staying a tourist visa, or marrying somebody you don't love. I give her credit for avoiding those things, when she's had the opportunity to take advantage of any of them.

Thanks for your support!

The Employer appoints and pays the Lawyer.

I see a complaint to the Bar in your future.

Interesting. So I got the details: It was a "package" deal for $2000, which includes the application fees, lawyers fees, etc. This explains why "her" lawyer is completely unresponsive when she emails to ask questions.

For all the naysayers questioning why somebody would pay for something like this: Try working 6 days/nights per week in a neo-natal ICU for $300 per month and you might begin to understand. When your other choices are to sit home, do nothing and live off your family's business income, or go to Dubai, or be in a loveless marriage, $2000 to live and work in Vermont doesn't sound so bad, even if it takes years to get there.

Something about walking a mile in another (wo)man's shoes...

Really because I'd be more concerned with the girl who has never filed for a visa. He knows she could have easily stayed in the US on a tourist visa, she could have met a US citizen easier here than there. Personally I think it's a sign of a more legit relationship. All relationships come with risk.

This.

Believe it or not, there are good women in the Philippines. Everybody can relax; her legitimacy isn't the issue.

There is no cost to an alien worker.

She's paid quite a bit to a lawyer in Ohio, that this firm conveniently found for her.

Well, her letter from the State Department says "Preference Category: E3 - Skilled workers". But I do see on the website where they also call it both E3 and EB3.

Frankly, that whole I-140 app with this Vermont company has sounded fishy to me since they day she told me about it. It seems to me to be a scheme to separate alien worker hopefuls from their cash, but she knows more than me about this stuff.

Interesting. So we are talking about two different things. Thanks!

E3's are for Australians and it is unlikely a Nurse would qualify.

It's likely a moot point, since the I-140 will likely be withdrawn, but are you sure we're talking about the same thing? I'm talking about this:

http:// travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1323.html#third

Doesn't say anything about Australians.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking.

Do you think it's worthwhile pointing these things out with the I-129F filing, with emphasis that she's always abided by the law?

Hi everybody,

I've posted this in the K1 forum, but I'm wondering if there might be some challenges here specific to the Philippines, especially considering my fiance is a nurse.

I met my fiance in August, 2011 online. She is in Cebu City and I have travelled to meet her twice, most recently in December, 2012, and have documentation of all that. We want to file for a K1 visa to be together in the US, but there are a few items I'm concerned about:

-- She has an active I-140 immigrant petition for alien worker (E3 - Skilled worker), sponsored by an elderly care firm in Vermont. (She's a nurse)

-- She has travelled to the US multiple times (approx. 4 or 5) since 1995 on a tourist visa.

-- She has immediate family (sister and mother's sister) about 30 minutes by car from me. Her sister is a US citizen by birth, her aunt via marriage to a US citizen

My concern is these items add up to look like she is more interested in immigrating than marrying me. Do any of you know if these are red flags?

On the positive side, she never over-stayed her tourist visas, and her family is relatively wealthy. So she doesn't need to be in the US, but it does appear that she wants to be.

BTW, she is willing to withdraw her I-140 if necessary.

Thanks!

Hi everybody,

I've searched about this, but didn't find a similar thread. I met my fiance in August, 2011 online. She is in the Philippines and I have travelled to meet her twice, most recently in December, 2012, and have documentation of all that. We want to file for a K1 visa to be together in the US, but there are a few items I'm concerned about:

-- She has an active I-140 immigrant petition for alien worker (E3 - Skilled worker), sponsored by an elderly care firm in Vermont. (She's a nurse)

-- She has travelled to the US multiple times (approx. 4 or 5) since 1995 on a tourist visa.

-- She has immediate family (sister and mother's sister) in close proximity to me. Her sister is a US citizen by birth, her aunt via marriage to a US citizen

My concern is these items add up to look like she is more interested in immigrating than marrying me. Do any of you know if these are red flags?

On the positive side, she never over-stayed her tourist visas, and her family is relatively wealthy, at least by Filipino standards. So she doesn't need to be in the US, but it does appear that she wants to be.

BTW, she is willing to withdraw her I-140 if necessary.

Thanks!