JakeK

I've e-mailed NVC research, called USCIS, and contacted my congressman. My fiancée reads a Thai forum about this and quite a few couples over there are going through this as well.

You guys can add one more couple to the list. We received our NOA 2 on September 18, and the NVC still doesn't have it. We've contacted our congressman's office for help, but they haven't done a whole lot to aid us. It's sad to say this, but I'm kind of happy to see that we're not the only people dealing with this. My fiancée's family doesn't believe me that this is happening and thinks I've just made it up, and keeps telling her that I've abandoned her and stuff. Maybe showing them this thread will make them realize I'm not a liar.

we have a similar timeline and are still waiting. NVC also told us the same to email them. we did that on 31/10

I called again and had one guy be very honest with me. He said my document was likely lost in the mail and to call USCIS to have another copy sent, as that's likely what the NVC research team will do as well. Better to do it now than to wait for them to. You might want to do the same. Good luck!

Just called. It's been 40 days and they still don't have mine. They told me to e-mail nvcresearch@state.gov and attach my NOA 2. I'm worried that it's been lost now. We were really hopeful that we'd be spending Christmas together this year. Seems unlikely now.

NOA 2 on September 18. Called today. NVC doesn't have it yet. This whole process is torture from start to finish.

I recieved my NOA2 on September 26, 2014. I have called today and got my case number today October 15, 2014.

Yours is coming Soon... I am excited for the next Phase.

Totally forgot about that. Doh!

Same for me.

Take us off the list. We just got our approval message hours after posting that. Good luck to everyone!

Still waiting as well. Noa1 April 18.

Thanks for the heads up about her birth certificate. We have her original, but it's so old and falling apart. I hope it'll be okay.

Are there any special forms for the police cert? I think that's a good idea, to wait until we get the NOA 2. Also, I have a feeling she'll have to get all the vaccinations again. I don't envy her!

Hi,

My fiancée and I still haven't received our NOA 2, but we want to start gathering documents in advance. I currently have all the documents needed for my I-134. What I can't seem to find out is what documents my fiancée need to collect? I know of vaccination records, police background check, and original birth certificate. Is there anything else?

Also, regarding the police background check, can she get that done now? How many months/years does it need to show? We've read it takes 2 weeks to process, so we'd rather do it early if possible.

Lastly, is my fiancée the only one who has no idea what vaccinations she's had? If she can't find the records, does this mean she'll have to get all of them done again plus other require vaccinations for the US?

Thanks in advance.

-Jake

As the topic says, what documents, if any, need to be translated? We are building our packets for the I-129f and g-325a. In the VisaJourney guide it recommends to send in e-mails and IM conversations as proof of ongoing relationship. We communicate in mixed Thai and English. Will I need to translate this before sending it in? Thanks!

-Jake

When my husband petitioned me and started the process, he was in the Army and was stationed in South Korea. He hired a lawyer and was able to process our I-129F and I-130 while in Korea. He used his parents address here in the US for all our documents. But just to make sure ask the USCIS or US embassy there in Thailand...

That's great! I really wish I could afford a lawyer to help with mine, but it's already so expensive!

I'm concerned that I won't be considered a legal resident to be able to apply for a DCF. I have lived and worked in Thailand legally with a work permit for 4 years. However, 5 months ago my work decided to drop many of the employees work permits (sadly common in Thailand) and I've been a on a tourist visa doing 90 day visa runs since then, which I believe will disqualify me to be seen as a legal resident. I have years of rent receipts, mobile phone bills, internet bills, and my previous work permit which shows years of permanent residence, but I don't think this will be enough given my visa status. Am I correct in my assumption? What if I'm able to fix my visa status now? Will I have to wait 6 months before I can apply for a DCF? Are there other ways to show legal permanent residence other than my work permit? Thanks.

-Jake

edit: Forgot to include that we are not currently married and have been considering a K-1 visa if we can't do a DCF.

Actually it's the slowest way to have her able to work when she gets to the US. Once she arrives on a K-1 then you get married within 90 days, then she will have to apply for AOS (the green card) and the EAD/AP. The EAD will arrive within 60-90 days of applying .She will only be able to work once she has the EAD. The AP will allow her to travel outside the US and is printed on the EAD. The green card itself can take up to a year after applying. Once she has that she won't need the EAD and AP.

If you get married first and apply for a CR-1 (spousal visa) then she is a green card holder as soon as she enters the US. CR-1s are generally slower to process than K-1s but have the very strong advantage of the immigrant being able to work as soon as he or she enters the US.

DCF is a much, much faster option than filing the I-130 (for the CR-1) in the US but you (the US citizen) must be on a work visa or equivalent in that country, not just on a visitor or tourist visa.

There is a forum and a guide for DCF if you want to find out more.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/82-direct-consular-filing-dcf-general-discussion/

I've researched the DCF and I don't think I'll be able to do it because while I was a legal resident for 4 years, my last company screwed up my work permit and I've been on a tourist visa for the last few months. So, from my understanding I have to have been a legal resident for 6 months at the time of the marriage, right? I would love to be wrong here because the DCF method would be some much easier.

Also, I was unaware the EAD took that long. I guess we'll get married right asap once we arrive and start that process immediately. Thanks for the heads up.

This is the first time I've heard of DCF. What's the advantage of doing it this way? We're doing K-1 because I read that it's the fastest way for her to be able to work when she gets to America.

Bangkok has a USCIS field office. You could get married now then do DCF.

But if your plan is to marry in the US then yes your only option is via the Dallas lockbox. You just put your overseas address on the forms.

That's great news. I'll likely do something similar. Thanks all for the help!

My Spanish fiancée and I completed all of our K1 paperwork while living abroad in Germany. We used my mom's address in the States as the mailing address (it's fine to have different mailing and residence addresses).

We compiled everything into a packet in Germany and sent it to a friend in the U.S. who the wrote the check from her U.S. bank account and sent it USPS priority mail to the Dallas lockbox. We chose her instead of Mom because she is very detail-oriented and organized....good characteristics if you want another set of eyes to review your packet before sending

It went through the processes without a hitch and my mom received all of the notification letters on our behalf as things made their way from Texas to California to the NVC and now Madrid.

Good luck!

I'm in Thailand. I'm not sure.

edit: Turns out yes, there is one. Does this mean I can mail everything to the Thailand USCIS instead of mailing everything to Dallas?

I would like to apply for a K-1 visa for my fiancé. However, I'm currently living outside the US and won't be returning for 4 months. Can I start the K-1 process without currently living in America? If so, how do you recommend that I go about getting the paperwork, receipts, requests for further information, etc. sent to me outside of the US. Thank you.

-Jake