GayK1inTexas

We just got the green card today.  It was processed at California center.  I took 16 months.  It seems they have gotten slower this year.  Since it took longer, we did go to the local office and get a passport stamp prior to the 1 year expiration.  The stamp is good for another year but wont be necessary now with the green card.  

I'm not an expert. But I doubt you will get an RFE for not mentioning marriage location and date. There is no specific requirement for that. Its a good to give if you have that info. We didnt mention a date and actually it never came up in the embassy interview either.

Awesome, thanks! I live in Dallas but I'm willing to drive to Ft. Worth to avoid having my husband go through all the blood work, chest x-ray (he always has pos skin tests) etc AGAIN when he just had it done! Called them just now to confirm & they said he will do it for a small fee Great!

We called around alot and still most of the Civil Surgeons give you a hassle about just doing the Vaccination portion of I-693. Since we were doing the K-1 Adjustment of Status the forms clearly state that if the K-1 exam was done in the past 12 months the exam does not have to be repeated.

We took the I-693 Form pages 1 and 5 and the person at front desk said no problem. We gave her the vaccination records we had. (We went to our Primary Care Physician (PCP) and got blood tests done and most shots were not necessary. PCP gave TDAP shot and got the flu shot at drug store for zero dollars with insurance.

Dr. Yan Li

4040 McDermott Rd., Suite 100, Plano, TX, 75024

Cost was $65.00

Took about 15 mins.

Highly recommend.

BTW. The way this forum does this is crazy. I dont know how anyone will find this information. But I'm posting it.... LOL

Congratulations ! Whatcha cooking, to celebrate

Thanks. Well we are going to vacation in Bali in November. Hope to have fun on the beach! HEHE..

Good to hear, congrats.

If you don't mind me asking - and this is mainly so we can collate info as yours is one of the first post-DOMA approvals I've seen - did you guys file your paperwork pre-DOMA (and therefore get your case re-opened by USCIS) or post-DOMA? Reason I ask is because you've gotten a full approval in just under 3 months which by all standards is lightning fast. I'm genuinely curious as to whether USCIS are expediting any-and-all same sex petitions or whether this was just really lucky.

(I will also point out for anyone wondering - No, it's not so I or others can scream about how others are getting treated differently. I'm interested to see if USCIS are keeping their promise of getting previously denied same sex cases through the system quickly.)

No problem asking.... Post DOMA. We were very excited about the decision. Streamed SCOTUS.blog day of DOMA decision and got instant analysis from the bevy of scholars and lawyers who use the blog. But it took us about two weeks after decision to file.

I don't think there is any difference in the treatment of cases. I just think TSC is faster now. I'm talking to lady in Houston whose fiance is also using Jakarta embassy and her NOA1 - NOA2 interval was 43 days at TSC. Mine was 55 days. Originally our case went to EAC and then transferred to TSC in Mesquite Texas about 10 miles from my house. They said it was balancing work load. So maybe they are moving faster now. Or maybe they just like Texas applicants! LOL.

Jakarta consulate also has good record of processing cases. I tracked via DHL the package containing our case to embassy and it arrived on Thursday and got email on Tuesday for confirmation of email address of my fiance to send Packet 3. I think he got it that day or next and since we had prepared responses returned it the next day and on following day had Packet 4.

We made it to the finish line but ours was K1 visa. We were approved today at the Jakarta Consulate. It has been amazing how supportive everyone has been and wish best luck to everyone. We also were so surprised how at ease they made my fiance feel during interview. They were so supportive of DOMA and excited about doing their first gay interview and approval.... hope all goes well for you...

Hey ... just wanted to share the news with you all.. my fiance and I got K1 Visa approval today from the Jakarta Consulate. We have been on cloud nine all day. He had such a good experience with consulate interview who was very supportive of the DOMA decision and was excited because it was his first LGBT interview and approval..... Hope you guys will be having the same experience soon... best of luck to all.... YAHOOO.. btw we were crying...lol because we never thought it would be possible.... take care all.

Yes and I hope it finally give actual answer to the state issue that many senior VJ members kept incorrectly bringing up about what state you live in. We are in Texas and get married in Iowa because it is close. But with DOMA as long as you have legitimate marriage in state where it is legal then USCIS and DOS consider it legitmate marriage for immigration purposes. This is what has been happening in Immigration courts from 1st day of DOMA where couples were fighting their cases. And was being correctly reported by immigrationequality.org

The End of DOMA: How are LGBT couples affected
http://immigrationequality.org/2013/06/the-end-of-doma-what-your-family-needs-to-know/

WOW. Its 3:00 am in the morning and I just got text from my finance. He finished his interview and was approved. We are so happy with the experience with the US Consulate in Jakarta. They treated my fiance so fantastic. We were the first gay couple to be granted K1 at the Consulate. They expressed their full support of DOMA and the right of all couples to be happy in marriage. They made him feel so comfortable and asked very good questions about our relationship. Of course they ask about how we met and communicate. Questions about me, my job and house. And my finance indicate the interviewer genuinely was happy to see our pictures and mentioned we looked so happy together. He wished us the best of luck and was happy to approve our visa.

By the way our timeline indicate 85 days to interview and approval. We couldn't have done it without the great tools on VJ. We did get some weird advice from some members who didn't understand DOMA but maybe they will get educated. But in terms of process of visa everything was very beneficial. Thanks again everyone.

WOW. Its 3:00 am in the morning and I just got text from my finance. He finished his interview and was approved. We are so happy with the experience with the US Consulate in Jakarta. They treated my fiance so fantastic. We were the first gay couple to be granted K1 at the Consulate. They expressed their full support of DOMA and the right of all couples to be happy in marriage. They made him feel so comfortable and asked very good questions about our relationship. Of course they ask about how we met and communicate. Questions about me, my job and house. And my finance indicate the interviewer genuinely was happy to see our pictures and mentioned we looked so happy together. He wished us the best of luck and was happy to approve our visa.

By the way our timeline indicate 85 days to interview and approval. We couldn't have done it without the great tools on VJ. We did get some weird advice from some members who didn't understand DOMA but maybe they will get educated. But in terms of process of visa everything was very beneficial. Thanks again everyone.

WOW. Its 3:00 am in the morning and I just got text from my finance. He finished his interview and was approved. We are so happy with the experience with the US Consulate in Jakarta. They treated my fiance so fantastic. We were the first gay couple to be granted K1 at the Consulate. They expressed their full support of DOMA and the right of all couples to be happy in marriage. They made him feel so comfortable and asked very good questions about our relationship. Of course they ask about how we met and communicate. Questions about me, my job and house. And my finance indicate the interviewer genuinely was happy to see our pictures and mentioned we looked so happy together. He wished us the best of luck and was happy to approve our visa.

By the way our timeline indicate 85 days to interview and approval. We couldn't have done it without the great tools on VJ. We did get some weird advice from some members who didn't understand DOMA but maybe they will get educated. But in terms of process of visa everything was very beneficial. Thanks again everyone.

Hey everyone! Had to share the great news and hopefully provide some assurances. Haris and I received the I-129 Petition Approval today (NOA2) from the USCIS. It took 56 days from NOA1 which I think is fairly quick. It got processed at the Texas center which may be one of the faster centers or maybe they have gotten better. So obviously there are no problems with filing petitions for same sex partners! I am so happy this is available for us now. Of course now the next hurdle is the State Department and the visa which hopefully is just doing to be more paperwork and the embassy interview. Thanks everyone for the encouragement and the folks at the site that post really good information. Hope to hear that more petitions are being approved.

Keno and I are starting to slowly prepare all the documentation we are going to need to submit our I-129F. We want to take our time with the whole process to make sure every 'i' is dotted and every 't' is crossed. Being one of the first same-sex bi-national couples to immigrate to the US on a K-1 visa on the heels of a potential victory in the Supreme Court on June 27th means we don't want anything to go wrong on our end.

While we cannot file our I-129F until DOMA is repealed, we want to be ready the instant it is to submit our paperwork because it is such a time-consuming process.

Keno is currently securing his passport quality photos which he will include in his packet of info (G-325a, statement of intent to marry) that he will send to me in late January. He should have them within the week.

To everyone who supports us, thank you very much - you have no idea how much kind words and support means to us.

To those who wish us ill or dislike us because of our sexuality, please just avoid posting inflammatory comments and leave us be - that's all we ask and we do wish you the best of luck on your journey to bring your loved one to the US.

Tim and Keno,

Thanks for the great thread. The support and assistance is great here. Haris and I are wondering now with the repeal how is your process is going? We just found the thread yesterday so I apologize if you have already updated but we just didnt see it. And thanks again and best of luck.

Hey Guys! I think you are right about the SSM eligible state issue. I sent an email to a one of the big Immigration Law Firms and got the following:

Good luck to all. Wish you the very best. Yep... alot of us anxious about this. Any info we have I hope we can share.

We applied and have NOA1 but the whole issue of living in a state w/o SSM is worrying us. Living in Texas and planning on marrying in Iowa. It seems the immigration lawyers are saying it wont be an issue but would like it not to be such a grey area. Any one with more info on this?

I do not see how comparing a similar situation logically with that of another is confusing. Your premise that it is similar is just wrong is my point. Your experience in the process may be helpful but your comparison with first cousins is just plain wrong. Sorry.

Oh and BTW your innuendo about bring a friend over is insulting and not very helpful.

We ARE trying to provide support. Advising the best ways for same-sex couples to be successful I think fits very well with this topic. One does not have to be in a same-sex couple to support SSM and want to help. I do not see how comparing a similar situation logically with that of another is confusing. This topic has not changed over to discussing first cousin marriage, and I see no reason for a new thread about it. There are plenty on those already. You can search VJ for them and come up with the cases about the need to marry in a state where it is legal. Their petitions are not different than yours. I could say exactly what you said about cousin marriages about SSM. They could be viewed as fraudulent, as someone just trying to bring a friend over for a green card. Hmm....?

If you meet the petition requirements and satisfy the USCIS adjudicator, then the petition will be approved. The CO at the consulate will take over with all cases: cousins, same-sex or hetero and decide who seems to be fraudulent or not. The advice offered here is to help people get their petitions approved and then get an approved visa as well. I am sorry you do not think our advice is useful to you, but maybe someone else posting in this thread or just reading through it might feel differently.

I do not see how comparing a similar situation logically with that of another is confusing. Your premise that it is similar is just wrong is my point. Your experience in the process may be helpful but your comparison with first cousins is just plain wrong. Sorry.

That is not true and is very closed-minded about people with "other" types of relationships. Traditionally marrying your cousin was the thing to do.

I hope so, I really do. But in the case of cousins I have been mentioning federal laws do NOT overcome state decisions.

Sadly we already know we will not have rights in Texas and probably wont unless the state laws that prohibit SSM are struck down. There are some indications in the language that the Justices' used in DOMA that a case could be made to strike down state laws preventing SSM.

can be solved accompanying documents showing plans to marry in a state that permitting such an appointment to get everything in order, maybe air ticketing to the state where you are getting married and maybe a reservation of hotel etc. ... federal laws take precedence over any state decision....

Yep. We included in our package our plans to marry in Iowa and indicated that we meet all the requirements to be able to marry there. Unfortunately most of us are going to have travel to another state to get legally married. For us Iowa is the close plus you can register via mail so no waiting. Just arrive and marriage license is ready to go.

Btw this thread is to support SSM visa applications and our experiences. This first cousin thing is totally confusing the discussion. Perhaps you should take it to a more appropriate thread. Thanks.

first cousin issue is a fraud indicator for immigration. Families just trying to get family in the country and its a fake marriage. thats why SSM is totally different. The immigration issue for SSM is totally resolved with repeal of DOMA. Only issue for gays is moving from state to state and getting the same rights.

??

RFEs come much later in the process. Like six months from now.

An NOA1 is just a receipt for taking your money.

You talk about discrimination, but first-cousin couples have to go through the same thing, and cannot get fiance visas for Texas, because marrying your first cousin is illegal in Texas. Showing that you plan to marry in another state does not work for these cases. I hope for your sake that it does work, but I would be prepared to move states. It is a state's rights issue, and Texas does not have that right.

Good luck to everyone.

Thanks for luck. I dont think any lawyers that are advising gays on visas are indicating that is a problem. Totally different issue.

wow... good news... Just got NOA1 about 5 mins ago!... Sent package last Wed 7/12 was received at Dallas Lockbox 7/14. NOA1 7/17! YEAAHHH.. No RFEs Thats a relief.

I filed our I-129F a few days ago to the Dallas lockbox. I live in California and my lesbian fiancee is in the Philippines. We have been together for over 2 years and met face to face for five times. I spent about a couple of weeks preparing the package. I submitted maybe about 6 pounds of documentation. I used this very helpful site as a guideline: http://ourk1visajourney.weebly.com/index.html

I'll let you know what happens. Goodluck!

Good luck. Sounds like you put alot of work into it. Keep us posted. I sent ours in 7/10 and they signed the return receipt on 7/12. I have no idea when to expect NOA1. Hope its soon. Im not good at this waiting game. LOL....

Actually the reason the one person stated the SSM being legal where the petitioner resides is because there has been issues with first cousin marriages and denials or AP because the couple would not be residing in a state where the marriage is legal. Granted I think this was for a CR1/IR1 but the issue remained. Whether or not the same holds true for SSM is another story as well. But it's an unknown and as experienced VJ members, we feel obligated to point it out as a precaution. Same as we would point out to someone from a Sub-Saharan country that front loading is necessary or about mandatory AP for a Middle eastern country or remind that the Dominican Republic pretty much requires to have the petitioner at the interview. However it's an unknown as well so we put it there, to think about, and then let you do with it as you will.

I think it's awesome that DOMA was struck down and can't wait for all the states to get it through their thick heads that everyone should be equal! Best of luck!

No worries. Thanks for the support. I don't see that as an issue. The majority of us live in states that dont have SSM marriage. It will be discrimination if that is used as a criteria. Especially since it is not an explicit requirement for K-1 visa. I included the Iowa state marriage requirement in our application and showed how we meet those rqmts. At federal level they could care less that Texas is too narrow minded to have the same rights that Iowa affords gays. But I will keep you posted. Wish us luck and again thanks for the support!