Protocol417

Danno hasn't shown up yet.

You are neither clever or funny, what a shame.

Once and for all, if you are going to use the word, use it properly The word is DRIVEL. Not DRIBBLE. Dribble is what you do when you do when you can't close your mouth and all the saliva drips out. Drivel is a synonym for nonsense.

Any post that employs the phrase 'liberal logic' is not worth reading. There is no such things as 'liberal logic'.

There's no moral decline. There's only knowing whats going on, where that information cones from and what you (as an educated, free thinking individual) thinks about it.

Well, we're all in long distance relationships, and I would venture that most of us, CR-1 and K-1 alike, know precisely what it feels like to spend so much time apart, or at the very least have very little difficulty understanding what it feels like.
I'll admit, it's the ones with kids I really have trouble with. I'm not even a very maternal person, but I cannot imagine what kind of hell that is like.

Except where I asked someone in another thread how the post-NOA2 process compares, I haven't said a word about "K-1 vs CR1", so I don't understand why this comment was directed at me.
So far as the USCIS is concerned, I've said everything I need to on that. The disparity between the processing times is terrible and wrong.

I see, yes. It seems that is just the circle of life in the USCIS.
CSC is rocking them out, VSC is slow. CSC slows down, VSC picks up. TSC picks some up, the other two twiddle thumbs. Now NBC has picked up CR-1s and it's their turn to twiddle thumbs for a while.
No Cr-1 is any more or less legitimate than any K-1 though, so there is no reason for any preferential treatment or priority, as some suggest.
If a wait is damaging your relationship, then the relationship isn't that strong to begin with.

I don't know if you've heard, but there is a better, more constructive way to get someone in shape. It's called parenting. Or better yet, communitcation.

http://static.caintvnetwork.com/7e0a35fb17ObamaScare-FakeFB-clinton-hat.jpg

This is what I mean by confusing. I believed this wholeheartedly when we started and for a good while after (one of the many reasons we chose the K-1 route, as I mentioned before) but I've had multiple people tell me that it's not precisely true. Some have said that if you come into the country on a tourist visa with evidence of ties to your country, get married, then leave and start the CR-1 process properly, you are fine. I've even heard that you are not required to tell the customs officer you are getting married (that you're only required to inform them if they ask you). Others say this isn't the case, it is fraud, period, and you could get banned for up to 10 years.

I am not going to argue which visa should be given priority over the other. Regardless of the visa K1 or CR1/IR1, they are both filed by a USC, they should be treat and approved at an equal rate. Someone previously commented that CR1/IR1 visas should been given prioriry over K1 especially when children are involved. Just want to point out the a K1 filer can have children just as much as spousal couple.
And I agree that petitions involing children should be given priority over everyone else. I wouldn't mind waiting an extra month, for example, because a petition that includes children in adjusticated before me... whether its a K1 or CR1/IR1 filer.
How about we stop bashing each other, it is not a K1 filer's fault that their petitions are approved in such little time. The burden of the blame lays squarely on USCIS and their complete lack of organisation.

There's a big difference between saying one type of relationship is more important than another and fairness in the processing. Of course the time frames for both the I-129 and I-130 should be closer together in processing times, but not prioritized one over another.
Everyone's situation is different and everyone should be given a fair chance at happiness with their loved one.

It's legal to come here on a tourist visa, get married, then go back to your country and wait for a spousal visa; it's illegal if you stay and AOS. That's something I didn't understand when I made my choice to go with the fiancé visa. In the end we all will be married and together with our love, it's just two different ways of accomplishing that and one way isn't lesser than the other. The wait for spousal visas should really be national news more than a website not working when you still have over a month to sign up for health insurance to get coverage on 1/1. We need to work together to get fixes and improvements to the immigration process and fighting isn't helping. I made the best choice for my circumstances with the knowledge I knew at the time and that has no reflection on the merit of my relationship. I was lucky I had a choice and picked the 'right' one. I hope USCIS finally gets its act together and the backlog gets cleared.

Thank you Kaylara for articulating better than I ever could. At the end of the day, we're all of us aching to be with the ones we love, regardless of the process we find ourselves mired in...

My fiance and I have also "started our lives" together. We make daily decisions together, "landlord" a house together, make financial decisions and plans together, are each others' legal beneficiaries, cry when we're missing the other, feel like throwing things at the wall when we hear of yet another delay, support one another, and do everything that a married couple who lives 4,000 miles apart and is also trying to be together would do (except on top of all of that, we also have to try to plan a wedding when we have no idea when we'll be able to get married). That stuff is already happening. It's not like we live completely separate lives until one day we get this magical piece of paper and suddenly our lives are joined. They are already joined. We have already started our lives together. Or as much as anyone can from this distance.
I agree that USCIS should not be a root cause for divorce, but it ALSO should not be a root cause ANY couple to split. The end result is the same: Two people who were in love are now going their separate ways. I don't want that to happen to anybody.
I've been married before, I know what it's like from both sides. Marriage is not a magic wand that amplifies the pain of being separated. It's a piece of paper. Being separated from the person you love is being separated from the person you love, period. And if my fiance and I were to split up for some reason, it's not like I'd just shrug my shoulders and "get another" fiance (any more than you would just turn around and "get another" spouse).
I am very sorry for the couples here that have to be separated for so long, and it does appear that CR-1s have to wait longer and there is no excuse for that. It should be equal. Loved ones should be reunited at the same pace.
But the things you've said here about being "legitimate" and "more powerful" or that you experience "more pain" are pretty darn offensive, especially when the only reason we're not already married is because we're waiting for the government to let us!

Why should fiancé's have to wait for their loved ones over spouses? I believe both should go at the same speed. There could be lots of reasons why one would choose fiancé visa over spousal even if the time was the same. Both groups are in love and it's only the timing of the marriage that's different.

So not having a piece of paper yet, one that I have to get so my fiancé can stay in the US as is the terms of a K1 makes my relationship any less valid, any less bonafide? Marrying right before getting a visa would make it more valid? You do know we still have to prove a bonafide relationship after 2 years right? We all are suffering during separation, married or unmarried, a piece of paper doesn't really make it more. It makes more sense to criticize how long people have been together than if they are going for a spousal or fiancé visa. You could say people who have known each other for 6 months and marry then file for a spousal visa has a less bonafide relationship than fiancés who have been together for years. But putting people into a hierarchy based on marital status or relationship length (or even so far as quality) is useless fighting. Why don't they have an option for spouses like K1 process, you come over and wait for conditional green card (+waiting months to work) then 2 years later go through more work to get a regular green card? Something to make the wait apart similar and then the rest you do while both people are in the US. In the end, long waits keeping loved ones apart is unacceptable and everyone should get a quick process.

Being apart is being apart. Being legally married doesn't make that any more or less relevant.

I've put together a list that contains lots of information which I thought might eventually be useful, however, I'm having difficulty confirming the validity of much of it. So I thought I would put it here in its entirety in the hopes that it will be picked apart until it is correct.
(This is the information that I've gathered reading through forums and various websites that would pertain to a kind of "basic" childless couple with clean police records applying for a K-1 visa... so essentially, it doesn't cover things like adoptees, people who are bringing their children or pets with, people who are self-employed, etc. Also, sorry for using Americanized spellings. And for the format going a bit wonky.)
NOTE: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL.
This is what I think the process is, and some of these things are guesses. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE correct me when and where I'm wrong.
. Instructions/Timeline:
Around NOA2: Start gathering documents from “Documents to bring to embassy” (except for MVR fee receipt) Get immunizations Get police certificate After NOA2 – File is sent from USCIS to NVC: After about two weeks, begin calling NVC at (603) 334-0700 until able to obtain LND# Start filling out DS forms (fka “packet 3”) Begin practicing questions with fiancé/e (see embassy reviews for example of questions asked) Get immunizations and police certificate (if you haven’t already) File is sent from NVC to London Embassy – no actions needed from Petitioner/Beneficiary London Embassy will send a letter to the Beneficiary – at this point, Beneficiary sends “packet 3” containing all DS forms with DS2001 as cover letter (address will be on letter from the Embassy) Go for Medical Office will forward results to Embassy – nothing for Beneficiary to bring to interview Must be completed no less than four days before interview Should be completed no sooner than receiving above letter from the Embassy London Embassy will send an Appointment Letter to the Beneficiary with the appointment time and instructions on how to pay the visa/MRV fee Beneficiary attends appointment/interview and brings the documents from the checklist - leave all electronics (including things like headphones and key fobs) at home or check them in Goulds Pharmacy across the street (£3 fee) Beneficiary is approved (hopefully) and is directed to pay courier fee Approximately a week later, London Embassy will send passport with visa and a sealed envelope which is to remain unopened. (This is the part I struggled with the most, so your feedback would be greatly appreciated!)
Petitioner provides:
Completed I-134 Affidavit of Support (note: I-864 does not apply to K-1 visas) Most recent tax transcripts and/or W-2 Letter from employer stating Date and nature of employment Salary paid Lists position as permanent (as opposed to temporary) Paystubs (how many???) Beneficiary provides:
Passport photos of Beneficiary: 3 US-sized - 2 for embassy, 1 for medical http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html 1 UK-sized for police certificate https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports Must have been taken within the last six months (During adjustment of status in the US, 6 more US-sized photos are needed) Immunizations: These are not needed to be approved for the K-1 visa but are highly recommended while still in the UK so that you don’t have to deal with US doctors once you go to adjust status in the US Many NHS doctors will do them for free, but they aren’t required to Shots required: Td or Tdap: Must have been received within the last 10 years May not be available in the UK – if this is the case, get DT, DTP, or DtaP MMR – Get a 2nd shot 4 weeks after your first, if you have time. Varicella – If you’ve had chicken pox you don’t need this (they will take your word for it during the visa medical exam) Influenza – Only applicable October 1st through March 31st Police certificate: Application form is here: http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx Items required for application: Two items proving current address required, showing name and address and dated within the last six months Copy of passport One passport photo - (UK-sized) must be endorsed by someone who has known you for a minimum of 2 years, is 18 or older, and not a relative (see list on application for acceptable endorsements). Payment - £45.00, £6 for additional copies (Fee can be paid by check, bankers draft/cashier’s check, bank transfer, or Postal Order - made payable to ‘PCC for Hampshire’) Should come back saying “no trace”, which indicates a clean police record If it comes back saying “no live trace”, this means there is something on your record that has been “spent” (ignored after a set time according to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act) – further documents may be required by the embassy Takes about two weeks to obtain Items sent with application will not be returned Good for 12 months, and must be taken to medical exam Medical Exam (http://www.visamedicals.info/us.asp): Call 020 7486 7822 for appointment (M-F, 9-5) Police certificate and Case number (LND#) needed when calling for appointment “Packet 3” (all forms found here http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html): DS-230 Part I DS-156 (completed in duplicate – fill out online to get barcode, optimal browser is IE) DS-157 (completed in duplicate) DS-156K (do not sign) DS-2001 Document to bring to embassy:
Passport (must be valid at least 8 months from date of visa) Birth certificate (original or certified copy – order here if needed: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/ - costs £9.25) Police Certificate (see above) Photographs (see above) Receipt for MRV fee (instructions for payment will come with Appointment Letter) Affidavit of Support (provided by Petitioner) Evidence of support (provided by Petitioner) Note: Must be originals. Make copies for your records.
Fees:
Visa/MRV fee: $240 (paid prior to interview for K-1 visas, see Appointment Letter for instructions) Police Certificate: £45.00 (Sent with application) Courier fee at Embassy: ??? As mentioned, please correct and add to this as you feel necessary!
Thanks in advance for all of your help!

I hate it so much when people ask me "You got married? Why didn't she come back with you to the States?" Idiots, no one knows how completely useless, lazy, and badly-run the USCIS is! And no one understands that we have the worst immigration system in the world! If my wife was from a developed country I would never even think about bringing her to this rotting cesspool we call America!

Seriously I have no idea why someone married to a German, Canadian, or British citizen would want to bring their spouses to live here, this country sucks. If I could get work over there I would move in 1 second and never come back.

You mean when a family consists of two working adults instead of one, they make more money? Or that families with stay-at-home moms tend to be a bit better off (which is what allows the mother to stay at home in the first place)? I'm shocked, I tell you... SHOCKED.

Thanks for validating my point. Everyone is against planned parenthood, birth control and sex-ed. However, the sanctity of life ends when a baby is born, in which case, all unwanted newborns can enjoy the sanctity of their lives in orphanage. Interesting you should be speaking of how wonderful orphanages are under the same breath you purportedly defend the notion both parents are required to raise a child.

a single adult can successfully raise children, this is true. my beef with this article in particular with regards to single parent families is the crapload about god being a better 'dad' than any other soul who attempted to step up to the plate. that's insanity. i feel bad for her children that they were denied an actual relationship with a human being as a parental figure in exchange for their mother's husband jesus. i'd lol if it didn't make me teary. it's sad.

As a nation we all know how to deal with it. It is called Planned Parenthood. A choice the Supreme Court made legal decades ago. In addition there is contraception and sex-ed, but somehow there is always individuals who take exception to any of these. They are only interested in the sanctity of life - so long as they don't have to deal with unwanted babies, care for them or take any responsibility for their well being, as a society.

yes, lower skilled workers can expect much higher wages, if married. it's that simple.
if you need another raise, make sure you go to church and tithe every sunday.