silly_chick

Sillychick. First I think the "mail order" comment was wrong. You dont find it offensive when someone calls your SO a "mail order". We are all here for the same reasons. To use each other for references to past experience with the visa process. It doesn't really matter where people meet. Although many people have met in a different way other than the internet please dont assume that everyone is a "mail order". I can understand their frustration but also I can understand your innocence to the forum. Just watch the words and it's all good. Good luck on your journey.

Thanks for your kind words. Really. It sure helps after all the insults I got here...

I don't have issues with how people meet - why would I care how people live their lives, it's none of my business. I don't assume nothing, but I have seen some horrific posts here, where men were talking about how they would go to Russia to meet like 3 women who they write to, and then decide which one is better. It makes me feel really bad, you know.

Actually, I met my husband online too, and it turned out to be a great relationship. And more to that - whenever he mentions that his wife is Russian, he always gets that: "Oh, congratulations! You got yourself one of those mail-order brides!" It really hurts to hear things like that, and I do have issues with marriage brokers - I saw a few sites on international dating, and I just got the impression that they treat women like a commodity. Sorta, "Look how many beautiful Russian girls we have here, they will all love you for who you are, come and pick one!" I happen to think that marriage brokers exploit people, and I wanted to voice my opinion on that. And I got all those insults in response... I come to this forum to share information and to seek help in all these immigration issues. But when I decided to speak my mind on something that really botheres me, I get insulted like that... I don't even want to post here any more, cause it really hurts bad when people call you stupid because you said something they didn't like.

I'm just very hurt How can you people be so cruel? AKDiver, I don't even know who you are, and I sure never insulted you personally. Yet you even called me a troll in another thread... Do you think it makes me feel good?

I really don't see a point in posting here if all I get from it is name calling

I'm just curious if I'm the only one here who didn't meet my husband through a marriage broker/mail order arrangement. I'm also curious if you and your Rissian fiancee had a language barrier.

No, there is nothing special about you. For instance, I met my wife in Cairo, while on vacation in Egypt, on my way back from climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Since she probably speaks better English than you do, there was no language barrier.

Do you have any more snooty questions?

Cheers!

AKDiver

Seems to me that people get offended only because they want to, even if no offence was meant. I didn't get personal like you, and I didn't insult anybody. I can't believe you had the guts to imply something about my English when you don't even know me. That's just so nasty.

Secured card. $300 credit limit.

With California real estate prices, probably never...

Hi all,

I'm just curious if I'm the only one here who didn't meet my husband through a marriage broker/mail order arrangement. I'm also curious if you and your Rissian fiancee had a language barrier.

P.S. Meeting on a normal website (like, James Dean fan club or something like that) doesn't count as a marriage broker.

I try not to read this topic, cause there's way too much disgusting stuff here, but well, I got here today.

All this mail-order-bride ####### doesn't even make me sick anymore. As long as there is supply, there'll be demand, and if those Russian women choose to sell themselves on dating websites the way they do, it's their choice. They get what they deserve - losers with serious control issues, incapable of building a relationship based on equality. What I see is women from poor backgrounds, underdeveloped Russian cities, with low self-esteem entering into mail-order arrangements with losers and abusers. I'm not saying it applies to all, but it seems to be a trend.

I personally find the whole idea of posting on any dating site (let alone international) sick. Please, don't get offended - I know a lot of people probably met their true love that way, but I can't even imagine myself doing that. How can you advertise yourself for dating purposes?? There's so many normal and healthy ways to meet people... But it's my opinion, no offense.

Anyways, it's very sad that so many women from my country are involved into that type of human trafficking (and I believe that mail-order-bride business IS human trafficking) completely voluntarily. It just says a lot about them. Well, good luck. And of course, there'll always be jerks and scumbags who will use them for their own sick purposes.

Sorry, I really needed to let the steam off...

Silly_chick, I didn't pay attention to your timeline well enough at first. You got an RFE rather quickly. I think they must have noticed something missing right away or didn't like the look of something and immediately sent off the RFE. Once they do that your app goes on hold and that's why you haven't received an appt notice yet. The situation with what you need sucks, but get it as quickly as you can and then send it off, and then make an Infopass appt. to see what's going on. Maybe they can even sneak you in.

Well, I think I'll send back my RFE (I finally got hold of my co-sponsor, and he's sending the requested stuff to me ASAP), then wait a little, and if the biometrics letter doesn't arrive, I'll go make an Infopass appointment.

Thank you all for your help!

I think you should make an Infopass appointment and ask them - sometimes thay just post the wrong dates by mistake.

Just don't aplly for means-tested government benefits, and your co-sponsor and primary sponsor will be fine.

I paid $240 for the exam and all the vaccinations in Northern California. It was the cheapest doctor I could find. When I shopped around, I got quotes ranging from $240 to $960 (!!!).

I don't think the status type has anything to do with it. I'm here on a TN and I got the biometrics letter a week after I got my NOA. I think the early RFE set the timeline back.

It was just a thought really. Silly_chick - you can always make an infopass appointment to see if one is on the way or if maybe a letter got lost in the mail to you.

Yes, I may do that. I was just hoping to send my RFE ASAP, but they want employer letter from my joint sponsor, and he lives in a different state, and he's also gone on vacation... Nothing seems to be going my way )) May take a while, but I feel that I really need to find out about biometrics...

Thank you!

Are you comparing your timeline to others like you who filed the I-130? Just a thought that maybe people filing AOS with a K1 might get biometrics faster but I'm not sure about this at all!

Yes, I am comparing my timeline to those with I-130, and they seem to get their appointments very quickly.

it's possible that the RFE set your timeline back.

I hope it's true. I hope they didn't just forget to send it to me...

I sent documents in for my daughter in May, and to date have not received biometrics appointment for her (even though she is only required to do index finger and picture). Her interview date is set for November 7th, and I just know I'd better prepare myself to spend the entire day there sorting this ####### out. So, I feel your anxiety... wacko.gif

I'm sorry about that. I really hope everything's gonna be fine, and they'll just schedule another appointment for your daughter.

Thank you all!

Hi all,

I haven't got a biometrics letter yet, and I see that people who filed at the time I did are getting their appointments pretty quickly. I got RFE'd already, but NOTHING on biometrics... Has anybody had to wait for, like, a month for the letter? When should I start worrying?

Thank you!

Yes, you can adjust from F-1.

Yes, you can go to school while AOS is pending.

I had 3 NOA's - for AOS, I-130 and EAD. Separate envelopes, but all came on the same day. They can arrive at different times, though, it happens, but I'm pretty confident that the amount on I-485 should be $395. Like everybody else recommends, get an infopass!

What have you been doing all these five years?

I really don't understand how people manage to be here illegaly. Even with a valid legal status your rights are so limited that it makes your life miserable. I would imagine, being illegal is a lot worse, cause you can't do anything at all - work, travel, get medical insurance... you name it.

All I can say (and I know for sure, cause I used to have an F-1) - never ever, under no circumstances should you enter the U.S. using an F-1 visa if your AOS is pending. It's a no-no. AOS cancels your F-1 status.

When does her priority data become current? Is it a follow-to-join situation, from what I understand? How far are you from converting to permanent residency? Are you converting from H1-B?

I really don't understand why she needs an H1-B if her AOS is pending, unless it has to do with AOS withdrawal due to illegal entry with an F-1. I hope you have a good attorney - not that you're in trouble, but they can be very helpful.

one more question about I-864 and thats it

we have a joint sponsor , because i didnt make enought last year to can sponsor my husband.Well on my I-864 when they ask at the point D if i am subject of 125% of limit poverty should i check it or no? I am not subject of 125% but my joint sponsor is.What should i do? Thanks alot

It doesn't matter how much money you made - even if you made zero dollars, you're STILL the primary sponsor, and you are subject to 125% of poverty guidelines, unless you're in the military. You have to check this box.

It says on # 14. "Date authorized stay expired, or will expire as shown on Form I-94 or I-95. ON that form it says D/S. Is that an acceptable responce to that question? It looks like it wants a date. Also she arrived as a student, should I circle that? e.g. He or she arrived as a:visitor, student, stowaway...

Lastly, does anyone know when the new I864 is coming out. It says it expires soon but I need to use it- will it be ok if I use it?

THANKS!

I wrote D/S on I-130 and "F-1 student" where they ask about how you arrived.

I asked a few more immigration lawyers. Doesn't look like AOS will work at all, based on entry to the US being a K-1 to a different spouse. I130 most likely wouldn't be approved in the US anyway.

The one lawyer who said it would have a chance included the caveat that it would need to be a very convincing marriage - children, substantial joint assets, etc. That would therefore require a long time out of status in the US.

I don't quite understand what the problem is. She still can marry this new fiance (if that's what they want), then go to Russia and apply for a K3 visa. Am I wrong?

I-94 number is the black number on the very top of your I-94. Should be 11 digits.

Are you doing your medical in the U.S.? They don't test for anything. They don't even ask you to take your clothes off. All they do is give you shots if you need any, do a TB test and draw blood for HIV and syphillis. I was also asked if I ever had mumps or chickenpox when I was a child. That was it. This whole exam is a joke, they only want you to pay your cash

Of course, it may depend on what doctor you get...

After reading around on this site, (full of good info!), I have found a few things that I just want to be clearer on...

I entered the US on an F-1 (student) visa, and if I get married soon after arriving, won't it look suspicious, like i entered with the intention of immigrating? And once I apply for AOS, while still on the F-1, won't the

F-1 become invalid and I'll be here illigally? Or at least, unable to continue going to school?

Also, my partner and I won't be living together (about 3 hours apart) while I'm going to school.

Thanks again for all the help, it's really appreciated.

Another thing....since I'm in the US already, what visa/route am I to take? Not the K-1 or K-3 I assume?

Is it...what's it called...direct consular filing??

Well, I'm in the same boat I have a short-term student visa and I got married

How soon after arriving are you going to get married? Make sure it's not, like, two weeks. It's better to wait at least a few months. I got married 5 months after I had come here, but we only filed AOS this month, and all this time I've maintained my F-1 status here.

F-1 does become invalid when you apply for AOS. However, this is a very grey area of the law - nothing stops you from maintaining your F-1 status while AOS is pending, and you can attend school as long as you want. In-state tuition is a different thing, though - check with your school. Most schools will want you to have been a permanent resident for at least a year to qualify for in-state tuition.

I don't know about this immigrant intent thing so far - my interview is still months away, but I'll let you know what happens. Lots of people adjust from F-1 and USCIS could care less about their intent at the POE as long as the marriage is real.

And the route you need to take is called Adjustment of Status. Direct Consular filing, K-1 or K-3 is for those outside the U.S.

This is all sooo annoying... Something tells me that we'll get a freakin' RFE as well. We've included the most recent tax return and pay stubs for the past 6 months, but not the employer letter or W2's... And we also have a joint sponsor, who gave us W2's and the most recent tax return, but no pay stubs or employment letters, let alone all that for 2003 and 2004. And our joint sponsor lives in another state, so if we get an RFE for something from him, it's gonna slow down the process big time.

It sounds like fraud to me and people like that should not be granted anything. That is why I am in favor of raising the 2year time limit to 3.

It totally makes me sick. What is it with you people? Someone is looking for advice and support, and all you have for him is criticism and insults.

If I were you I would do eveything that I could to send her back to where she came from.

You are good man and try to do eveything to help her but dont try to get her, a permanent green card if the two are not together, write to the immigration department and tell them the truth that you dont live together, that things did not work out and you want your wife to be sent back to Venezuela.

What is she, a parcel? You can't just send people back and forth the way you please, just because the marriage fell apart. The only thing USCIS cares about is the intent. If the intent was fraudulent, then yes, a person can be deported. But if the marriage just didn't work out, she can remove conditions on her own, and she's entitled to it.

It just amazes me how people would call any marriage that didn't work out "fraud".