BethAnn and Omar

Hey Guys,
So at my husband's interview on November 26th in Kingston Jamaica the CO told us the visa would be ready in a week. Well its now a week and our status is still stuck on Ready. It's been updated 3 times since the interview and the latest update is this morning. I am still here in Jamaica but I have to fly back to the states on Saturday with or without my husband. So what are my chances of getting this visa by Saturday? I'm a little upset because I thought we would be able to fly back together and now I have to come back and get him. When I call DOS they tell me different stories- one person tells me we are in AP and another tells me the only notes they have are from the interview. So not sure I know anything at this point.
Just a little frustrated. I thought it was over and now we are still having to wait and wonder. Sorry but just needed to vent.
Love to you all,
BethAnn

Hi All,
I've been MIA for a while but I wanted to share my story with you in hopes that it gives encouragement to others. I met my husband on April 28, 2011. We got married in Jamaica on February 19, 2012. It has been a rocky road for us to say the least. Severe depression and hospitalization (me), two miscarriages, a lot of stress, doubts, infidelity (me), you name it, it's happened to us. Omar got his visa on December 13th and came to the US on December 23rd. 5 months later I can honestly say that this is the kindest, most patient and honest man I could ever ask for. I say this because I wrote here in September about stereotypes and expressed my own doubts about his legitimacy. I worried that he was just using me for money and to come to the US. Doubts that I am sure most of us petitioners have. I worried because people were putting thoughts in my head that he didn't love me. My parents didn't support our marriage and pretty much no one else did. Now it's been over 5 months since he's been here and I can't tell you how things have changed. Yes we still have issues because I do a lot of stuff to cause him stress. I'm working on that. But honestly things are great. He is getting a lot of work and is truly happy. He and my parents have an excellent relationship. He is my soulmate and the love of my life and a great husband.
So the lesson here is to not let people dissuade you from marrying someone and pursuing a relationship that you believe in. Even if you are so different and come from completely different stages of life and cultures, etc., it doesn't matter. Love truly has no boundaries. Not all men are the same. There are some really genuine and good ones out there. And I hope you all find the happiness that I have. I am here is anyone wants needs assistance with the CR1 process or just wants to vent.
BethAnn

Thanks for all the great feedback. Yes somewhere along the way I lost my confidence and I have to get it back. Hes given me no reason to think he will leave i just worry that if I push back too much on his demands that our relationship will suffer. Hes definitely not budging on the cat unfortunately. We've been through so much together in the three years we've been together that I think we can work through our differences during this rocky period I hope.

No I didn't send them to NVC. I just brought everything to my husband's interview. But they never asked for any of it lol.

Just wanted to let ya'll know that the CO specifically asked where I was and then called me into my husband's interview in Kingston Jamaica. My husband couldn't remember the exact date of my last trip and the CO told me that he was concerned. I told him I've been to see my husband 14 times since we met and then he asked how many times since we were married... I told him 8. He also asked me for dates of our most recent photos.
So my advice?? Go with your spouse to the interview!!! Because if any questionscome up tthere will be an opportunity to address them if you are there. They will ask where you are and will probably want to meet you. Especially for countries where there are significant cases of fraud.
I hope this helps. Not sure we would have gotten the visa if I hadn't been there.
BethAnn

Congratulations girl!! I am so happy to hear this. And I am glad your fiance was able to be there with you. I think that is great.

Yeah I think you are jumping the gun a little bit by talking about marrying someone you have never met in person. How do you know you are really compatible with one another if you've never spent face to face time with one another? I waited 9 1/2 months before I married my husband- and I visited him 8 times for two weeks at a time before we got married. I understand that may not be possible in your case, but please take it slow and make sure you really know the person before you jump into engagement or marriage. I hope you are not offended by my advice because I really want to make sure you don't get hurt. I know several people who went through the process, not from Nigeria, but from Jamaica, that were essentially used for a visa and greencard. So please be careful and like others have said take it SLOW.

Ok i just have to ask this... how in the world do you know you want to marry someone who you never met in person? Maybe I'm old fashioned but it seems very odd to me.

His first time traveling and flying and he had no problems at all!! He said he was in immigration at JFK for less than 15 minutes!! They asked him no questions but just took his fingerprints and photo and stamped his visa! They never mentioned the USCIS green card fee eventhough I made sure to pay it before he landed.
I am so grateful that he made it here for Christmas!! We are very happy together at last living like a married couple should. Thanks again to everyone who advised me and supported me throughout this process. All that worrying is behind me now and we can start our new life together.
All the best to everyone.
BethAnn

David & zoila thank you!!! ! didn't realize this topic would be contested like it's been. I'm just trying to help people. I'm sure people get approved without their spouse there but why would you take a chance? I don'tuunderstand that line of thinking.

Trust me girl I'm poor. I'm in debt up to my eyeballs. But I make sacrifices for my husband. I wanted to be with him and didn't care what it took.

Thanks I'm so happy!!!!!!!

You find the money to attend!!!!! I'm poor but I made sure I was at my husband's interview because I love him and wanted to do everything to support him. And in fact it turns out it made all the difference in our case.

We had no issues. We had a perfect case. The CO
still asked to meet me. My husband didn't remember the exact date of my last visit. This could happen to anyone. I'm trying to warn people here. The CO told me he was concerned. Had I not been there my husband would have been denied.

Ok i love you Jawaree but I have to disagree here. My husband wasn't lying about anything he simply didn't remember the date of my last visit. Had I hadn't been there to clarify things our visa would not have been issued.

Ok I'm not trying to be rude here but when don't you understand? If Ihhadn't been there my husband would have been denied. Period. He would not be coming here on Thursday.

Whatever I'm just trying to tell people that for us it made all the difference. It was not required that I be there but they asked for me and had I not been there my husband would not be coming here this week.

Just wanted to let ya'll know that the CO specifically asked where I was and then called me into my husband's interview in Kingston Jamaica. My husband couldn't remember the exact date of my last trip and the CO told me that he was concerned. I told him I've been to see my husband 14 times since we met and then he asked how many times since we were married... I told him 8. He also asked me for dates of our most recent photos.
So my advice?? Go with your spouse to the interview!!! Because if any questionscome up tthere will be an opportunity to address them if you are there. They will ask where you are and will probably want to meet you. Especially for countries where there are significant cases of fraud.
I hope this helps. Not sure we would have gotten the visa if I hadn't been there.
BethAnn

I'm just saying if you are able to you should attend because for us it made all the difference.

Whatever I'm just trying to tell people that for us it made all the difference. It was not required that I be there but they asked for me and had I not been there my husband would not be coming here this week.

You find the money to attend!!!!! I'm poor but I made sure I was at my husband's interview because I love him and wanted to do everything to support him. And in fact it turns out it made all the difference in our case.

Whatever I'm just trying to tell people that for us it made all the difference. It was not required that I be there but they asked for me and had I not been there my husband would not be coming here this week.

Just wanted to let ya'll know that the CO specifically asked where I was and then called me into my husband's interview in Kingston Jamaica. My husband couldn't remember the exact date of my last trip and the CO told me that he was concerned. I told him I've been to see my husband 14 times since we met and then he asked how many times since we were married... I told him 8. He also asked me for dates of our most recent photos.
So my advice?? Go with your spouse to the interview!!! Because if any questionscome up tthere will be an opportunity to address them if you are there. They will ask where you are and will probably want to meet you. Especially for countries where there are significant cases of fraud.
I hope this helps. Not sure we would have gotten the visa if I hadn't been there.
BethAnn

I'm just saying if you are able to you should attend because for us it made all the difference.

Well our CR1 visa was approved on Tuesday and they never asked for any chat history or phone records. I was so mad because I had printed out a year's worth of phone records and 6 months of Viber chat. Just be sure to bring photosand kknow the dates.