lilsadie

Yes, nice problem to have... but still a huge, life-changing move.

I finally found the right part of the CDC manual, and it looks like 3 month validity on health checks is only for people who have TB or HIV. So fingers crossed my health check is good for 6 months and we can stick with our original plans. My health check is this week, so hopefully the doc will tell me then.

I think I read somewhere that health check only has to be under a year old when we file AOS, so hopefully we won't have to do it a second time.

Completely agree that it's hard planning until you know the timeline. We can't even confirm our wedding date til we have the visa... makes it so tough on friends and family, too; asking them to travel to the opposite side of the world on short notice. Wedding will be 95% his family and friends, with maybe a dozen of 'my' people if we're incredibly lucky. Even my American friends all live hours away from his home town.

Still, I'm crossing fingers that by the end of July, we'll have the visa in hand and five months to use it; then we can book flights, start selling my stuff, get quotes for the things I want to ship, and start organising the wedding. And bank accounts, buying a house, my partner getting a job back at his old work (we hope; they have said there's a job waiting for him).... So much to do!!

But I'll worry about that later, medical exam, police certificate, financial details and all the rest in time are plenty to worry about for now...

Good luck for your interview, and if you see us there, come say hi! I'm still working out how to add photos here, but I'll try to put one up before then.

PS: I looked at all the K1 timelines on here for the last decade, and we're both in the fastest 1% out of 19,000-odd complete timelines. Either we had extremely compelling, well-presented cases, or got extremely lucky, or both.

Thank you!

Good luck, hope yours comes through soon!

I think we got really lucky!

I also think that maybe it is because we have our partners living with us?

Mine has been here with me in Aus for 5 years, its going to be a huge adjustment for all of us!!!

Weve decided to just sell everything we own. Were been in contact with a local charity that provides furniture and household stuff to refugees who have been released from detention with nothing and have asked for them to help us coordinate giving all of our stuff to them so that will help with the process too!

I have my medical on Wednesday. I'm so nervous. I also have a medical condition so im interested about the outcome!

Well if you see 2 females, one who is covered in tattoo's (I might wear a long sleeve top on the day to look 'presentable' lol then its us!!!

Ill just smile and wave at everyone, there are a few of us on here with the same interview day! Eeep!!!

How soon after visa in hand are you guys thinking of leaving? Were looking at September 8th maybe... Wedding the month after. Were just doing court house and a weekend away with the family and close friends in Down town San Diego (Not really interesting for anyone other than me!) and then a fancy dinner somewhere! Very low key!!

Hello! My partner and I were talking about this last night and we are a little confused... (This could be a stupid question)

When we get married in the USA are we legally married in all countries that have marriage equality?

I know when we come home to Aus for visits we won't be but if we went to the UK or NZ are we?

This whole thing is a bit confusing!!!

I am the Petitioner for an I-129F for my fiancee in Ethiopia. Unlike many others on this thread, my application seems to be stuck at the TSC. It has been more than a month since I received my NOA1 by email/text. Any ideas? Does the Embassy location influence the process at all?

Timeline:

5/16/14 I-129F sent

5/19/14 I-129f USPS confirmed delivery

5/21/14 – NOA1 Notice Date

5/22/14 NOA1 received via email/text

5/22/14 Check cashed by USCIS

5/27/14 NOA1 received via mail file assigned to TSC

5/29/14 alien number changed; viewed on website; no paperwork received

Thank you in advance for your input

Sorry to bring bad news but if you applied in May you have until at least mid October before there is anything you can do. There are still people from November waiting to be approved so the wait for TSC seems to be at least 5 months. The country your applying from does make a difference, if it is a high fraud country I think they do extra checks, etc.

All you can do now is study the visa journey for the next steps, get ready for your interview and wait.

Its is so unfair that the 2 service centres have such different times. Some people have contacted there congress person (i think thats who they contacted?) but at the end of the day the wait is 5 months for all visas and there is a fair chance they will just tell you that if you request any info.

Sorry and good luck

My heart goes out to everyone who's separated from their partner, waiting months or years for their visa to be processed.

However, I'm having the opposite problem: we expected and planned for about 4-5 months from NOA1 to embassy interview, at least. Our NOA1 was May 15th, and we had hoped we might be back in the US in time for Christmas because it means a lot to my fiancé and his family to spend it together.

Instead, we found out yesterday that our embassy interview is July 15th. 63 days from NOA1 to interview!

I know this would be classed as 'nice problem to have' by so many here, and I really hope this doesn't come off as insensitive... but honestly, the whole thing is freaking me out.

Firstly, I spent the whole day today getting fingerprinted for the police check and booking the medical exam. Also got NOA2 in the mail today, and finally got my engagement ring, but no time to celebrate that.

Secondly, I suspect I'll only have 3 month validity on the medical exam due to Class B medical conditions. That would mean I'd have about 2 months from when I get the visa to actually be in the USA!

I had this nice plan of selling a whole lot of my stuff over the next few months to raise a little more cash for the move, but if I only have two months... it feels like barely enough time to sort out what comes with me and what doesn't, pack what's coming and donate the rest.

I also have a business here to wind up, and stock to try to resell for some portion of what I paid for it all.

But most importantly, my fiancé and I were going to take a road trip to my hometown to meet my childhood friends, visit the people who adopted me as a kid (no parents), see where I grew up and went to school, etc. I'm not sure we'll be able to do that after all, and that makes me sad. Most of my loved ones there won't be able to come over for the wedding, so I wanted to at least celebrate our engagement with them, and say goodbye properly.

Thirdly, we wanted to have our wedding on Valentines Day next year, which we thought was a reasonably realistic date given 5 month average time to interview. Now... not sure we'll be able to do that.

I won't know for sure what's going to happen until the medical exam and consulate interview. But did anyone else have to pack up and leave their life behind a lot faster than expected? How did you cope? Any tips?

Were in the same boat! We thought that it would be around xmas when we moved (thinking that would be quick) Our interview is the same day as yours!

Application to interview in around 70 days.

We have decided to go over in September and have a small ceremony in the second week we get there and do the legal stuff with our close friends and family. We are also wanted a wedding around V day (The day we became 'official'!!)

Its a nice problem to have but still a problem, there is so much to do, so much to organise, I totally understand your stress with this.

I guess you will just have to wait and see if your medical is 3 or 6 months and then go from there?

Its such a big life change and Im trying hard to pre plan as much as I can but its so hard when you have no real timeline.

Good luck with the rest of the process and maybe we will bump into each other at the interview!!!

I dont have any advice re the charges and kids but you cannot apply for you boyfriend until you meet. There are no exceptions to this rule. Is he able to travel to meet you? Also you will require a co sponsor in order to get him here. Assets do not count from my knowledge. Sounds like you might need attorney advice re the rest? Good luck!

1 year ago today my life changed forever! I am so happy and thankful. Congrats to everyone that has moved, is in the process or preparing to. I am so thankful that I can spend my life with the one I love in a county that I love!

Please bear in mind if you're applying for your spouse and not fiance(e) there is no way your process is going to be this fast.

Very good point! Mine is K1 so much quicker!

I'm considering a lawyer... as much as I'd like to save money would prefer to go through the process with professional guidance as I'm confused as all hell and would hate to mess up. How can I find a legit one / or decent priced? What's their avg rates? Im in southern cali. Thanks for input.

We used an Attorney for out K1 and AOS. He is fantastic. We knew we didnt need one but we didnt have time to do the application ourselves plus we wanted to reduce our stress and ease our minds. We paid $10000 which is basically for everything until I become a citizen. Our process has been quick, around 80 days from application to visa in hand. (If all goes well at the interview, which it will!) Out att is in LA. For us he was worth the $$$ but thats our situation and choice, I know others will think we are crazy for spending that kind of cash!

Hi! Congrats on starting the process! Im not sure about the background checks but as for time line get an idea of which service centre you will be sent to. At the moment tsc is around a 7-8 month wait for NOA2, from there your looking at maybe another 2-4 months for interview and visa in hand. We were lucky and went through CSS and got our NOA2 in 12 days, all up for us is about 80 days from first applying to visa in hand. We were prepared and sort of hoping it would be longer so we could save more money due to me not being able to work when we first arrive in the states (3ish months I think) im lucky though, my partner lives in my country with me so were not in a huge rush.

Will not affect anything. Just inconvenience for you more than anything else.

Need to take some tissues with you for the medical.

Oh good! Thank you.

Its now turned into full blown Bronchitis. Im actually sitting here waiting for a home call GP to arrive. Blah. I haven't been sick since 2011!!! Bad timing!

Good to know there will be other K1'ers from visa journey there on the day! I'm the Aussie Lady in my profile picture so if you see me say hi!

Ill look out for you! Ill be there with my partner, you can't miss me, I am pretty heavily tattoo'd and have very curly hair!!!

Were on the 15th too!!

Firstly, I apologise if this is the wrong place to start this conversation but after the Homophobia I have just experienced on a FB visa site I'm to worried to post it outside of this space.

What are peoples feelings about moving to the USA and Homophobia? Im from Australia where generally attitudes are pretty inclusive and relaxed about same sex couples.

Up until today I've been so excited to move to the USA but now I'm starting to realise that attitudes will be different. The USA is a lot more religious, I have no issue with that but Im really worried. My partner and I are hoping to start out litre family soon after we arrive and Im so worried that our babies will have to deal with negative attitudes, discrimination, etc.

Anyone from the USA is it ok? Will we have to really monitor who we tell we are married?

I have just had a horrible man quoting bile versus, telling me its evil, etc. its one of the first times Ive ever had to deal with this and its not a great feeling plus out of everyone that commented on said FB post I was the ONLY one who thought this homophobic attack was unacceptable. I am extremely blessed that my sexuality has never been an issue and its a wake up call that it could be.

once again, Im sorry for posting this here. I just don't want it on the main wall for people to air their opinions about my love life if they are not in a similar situation.

I'm not an expert on this but we are in the same situation. My partner lives in Australia with me and we also have around $20000 saved. We have gone through an attorney who told us that we couldn't use this money for AOS and needed a co sponsor. We have used her mom. We are going through a K1 though so it could be different?

Oh no... I've woken up with a horrible flu/virus and I have my medical in 3 days. Will it affect it at all?

Please please VJers tell me what to do!

I've been in a (same-sex) relationship with this woman from the UK. Met her when she was just dumped by her younger girlfriend. (I am quite a lot younger than her too but that isn't an issue to me). I thought I just talked with her to make her feel better because she sounded really miserable, considering leaving the country, selling the house, quitting her job and everything.

After some time she told me she loved me. I didn't say I loved her back, even though by then I had developed quite strong feelings for her. She kept telling me she loved me and wanted to hear that from me too. She would cry if I didn't say so. I was afraid that she was just on the rebound and was using me to get over or get even with the other girl.

Anyways, I told her I loved her, and I really do love her. The relationship has gone on for about a year and a half. She says she's willing to move to the US if I don't want to move to the UK. I don't really want to move to the UK because I just immigrated to the US not very long ago and am in the middle of everything: getting settled, going to college...And we agreed that she would move here. I've been getting the petition package ready to bring her here.

However, yes, I hate this "however", why there must always be a "however"? In early April, she said her ex, who was with someone else already, contacted her and wanted to see her to "talk". My girlfriend and I were constantly in touch, online. She said she would go crazy if not hearing from me for an hour. Pretty much the same for me. She messaged and called me constantly that evening, until her ex arrived at 11 pm. I didn't hear from her for hours. Then at 5 am I messaged her. She didn't responded. Then at around 6 am she called me, saying her ex girlfriend had just left. They had so much to "sort out" in order to become "friends". (They had never been friends.)

I was extremely hurt. But she promised they were just friends and as I loved her so much I couldn't let her go. After a few days we were back to normal.

But since then I have seen the other girl frequently commenting on my girlfriend's facebook, always with kisses and cuddles and everything. That really bothers me, to the point I told her I was not comfortable with her talking to her ex. She said she would not and she didn't have any feelings for that girl. All she wanted was me, no one else.

But I still saw stuff made posted by the other girl on my girlfriend's facebook. My girlfriend never said anything back in public. That raised a red flag in me because if my girlfriend totally ignored the other girl she would not go on posting on her timeline. They must have been communicating.

I couldn't stand the suspicion any more. I logged in to her facebook account (which I had the password to), and voila! They had been chatting on a daily basis, the conversations were always initiated by my girlfriend. Every time my girlfriend told the other girl she missed her, she loved her and would always love her. My heart was crushed. I couldn't breathe for minutes. I thought I was dying.

I didn't say anything about that. I just stopped communication with my girlfriend. But she went crazy. She asked me what happened, if I had found someone else, she said she was going to die if I didn't respond. I told her I knew she had been talking with her ex-girlfriend and had been lying to me. She denied that. She said she never talked to that girl. I knew she did, and it was not a prank by the other girl, because they were the conversations between two people, my girlfriend was one of them: she took selfies and sent them to the other girl, she told the other girl about her everyday life.

But she cried so much. I couldn't stand her tears. I loved her! I said I didn't want to come across and a control freak but I couldn't deal with her talking with the other girl, because when we met she was still in love with her, especially the incident on that night in April. I said I was not telling her who to talk to and who not to. I just couldn't deal with that, and I would have to go if she kept communicating with her ex. She said as I was so important to her that she couldn't live without me, she would never do it again, would never initiate a conversation, would never respond to any of the texts, or messages, or calls from the other girl.

I really love this woman and will do anything for her, except accepting the fact that she still communicates with her ex. We hardly ever fought, until I saw the facebook messages between them. And it was about two weeks ago. Sometimes I brought that up again, she would cry again, accusing me of hurting her, that she had promised not to talk to her ex any more and I should trust her and never to mention it.

Things went smoothly for over a week, until today, I sensed something was wrong. I logged into her facebook account again, and darn, I saw the same stuff, just made recently, every day, until today: still "I miss you", "I will always miss you"... And they call each other pet names. (The other girl is still with her girlfriend).

I almost hurt myself. The pain is too much. I don't know what to do. I was totally fine before I met her. I'm not the kind of person who will die if not finding a partner. But then she made me fall in love with her and now there is a void which was never there before, which nothing can fill.

I don't know what to do. I can't petition for her now, because I can't be heart-broken for the rest of my life. But I don't know how to let this woman go.

I'm feeling worse than dead.

Please please share with me what you think about this.

Thank you

(I just pour my heart out here, I don't have the guts to look back at what I've typed so typos are inevitable.)

I feel for you so much. Is this your first same sex relationship? Ive been in your exact situation before (with out the immigration part) its one of the most intense, heart breaking things to go through. I think that sometimes when 2 women fall in love after a long or intense friendship feelings get confused. Its easy to fall in love with your best friend because the feelings seem so real and intense when in fact all it should ever have been is a friendship. Im not saying your love is not legitimate at all but she doesnt sound ready to move on from her ex. This will drive a wedge into the relationship and ruin it for both of you. The lying is the worst part. If she was honest with her communication with her ex then you could maybe of worked through it, but the lying is what would put an end to it for me.

You need to make a decision and cut off all contact. Block her from fb. Ask her to change her password so you cant check it. Change your number. Its the only way ive been able to move on in the past. Cutting off ties, living in a shell for a few weeks. Your in a new country, make new friends and enjoy where you are now. Please feel free to pm me if you want to chat about anything. Its so hard and I do uunderstand but when something turns toxic and the trust is gone you need to find the strength to move on.

Hi,

My fiancé and i are just about to send in our paperwork for the K1 visa. I have been reading this site for months and know that its very hard to pinpoint a time the visa could take.

I would like to go back to school and study for 10 months before leaving for the usa, would this be a smart idea? or are most K1 visas taking 1 year to be approved?

any advice would be great

It really depends on your situation, country, etc. Our whole process has taken 75 days from the day we posted our application to the interview. Im assuming we ad another 14/30 days for the visa in hand. It was quick for us! As the other poster mentioned. Tsc is very slow and csc is very fast. That being said, there are still people who applied around the same time as I did waiting for there NOA2. I guess its all down to luck!

Hahaha yeah it's a great reason to have a mini holiday. I came from South East Melbourne for my interview.

Just make sure you don't have a suitcase that is bigger than a carry on because you can't take more than a small folder with all your papers with you past security in the consulate and security will need to store your case. The storage lockers aren't very big and they can ask you to store it somewhere else if it's too big.

Also FYI catch the airport train to and from the airport to the hotel ($35ish dollars both ways) and stay at the Travelodge in Phillip St ($175 a night) as it's a 1 minute walk from the consulate.

Just make sure you don't try and fly up the same morning as your interview, you never know what might happen and it's much safer paying the hotel charge than missing your interview time :-)

Excellent advice! Thank you! Were going up the morning before but I think we booked with Tiger so who knows when we will actually arrive! Lol

We travel lightly so we will just have 1 carry on between us. My partner is coming to the interview so its good to know there are lockers so she doesn't have to guard the bags!!!

So glad you know the name if the hotel, we were trying to work it out last night so we could hook I to it! Will do it when im home from work!

Are you in the states now?

Hello

I am the petitioner (UK citizen) and my fiance is the US citizen and sponsor.

My interview at the US Embassy in London is on July 1st.

I will be taking to the interview:

- Medical certificate from medical examination.

- Passport

- Police certificate

- Birth certificate

- I-134 Affidavit of Support filled out by my fiance

- Fiance's "Total Rewards" Statement and Benefits Statement (i.e. what he earned in last tax year)

- A recent (within 6 weeks) bank statement of my fiance's

- A letter written by my fiance and signed by a notary stating that he still intends to marry me. (I was advised this was needed as it has past our 'priority date').

Please can you tell me if there is anything else that is either mandatory, or not mandatory but could be helpful, to bring to the interview?

Thank you very much.

Clare.

Hi Clare,

Good luck! You will need secondary evidence such as photos, proof you have met, phone records, chat logs, etc.

Also, my attorney has made us both write an intention of marriage letter with original signatures. I dont know if thats needed? Also extra proof you have met incase it was only for a short amount of Time?

Hope that helps?

Thanks guys!! Ive got a suitcase FULL!! We have kept every bill, letter, etc for the last 5 years! Ill narrow it down and take what is necessary and hope they dont ask for anything!!!

Good luck with the interview. It really is not as daunting as you think and the staff at the consulate are really very nice. You will have no problems as long as you bring evidence of your ongoing relationship, proof of meeting (photos and flight itinerary's) and some kind of secondary evidence such as phone call logs, chat logs, letters just in case.

I would be very surprised if they ask for anything more than your photo's and itinerary from previous travel.

Enjoy downtown Sydney

So mad we have to go to Sydney!!! I live just outside of Melbourne CBD and thats bad enough! All well, we are treating ourselves to a nice hotel for the night so thats a bonus!

Huge congrats! We got our NOA2 12 days after applying!! It was so much faster than we thought! All up from application date to visa interview its about 75 days for us! Were very lucky!

Hi guys,

My interview is in 3 weeks and im really freaking out! I know I have way to much evidence so thought I would ask what people took?

I really need to narrow it down! My partner and I have been living here in Aus for 5 years now so we have everything you could imagine! Thanks guys!

Sorry for the stress your going through. This immigration stuff is so hard on relationships. This is the second time we have been through it now, first to get my partner PR in Australia and now for me and it defiantly comes with its share of arguments.

I guess the only advice I can give is that no matter what, being together is the most important thing. You need to just take a breath when your arguing and remember and remind each other that this is what its about and its silly to fight about the thing that you are doing to bring you together (If that makes sense?)

We have lived together for 5 years now and we are always getting stressed out about this process and sharing our frustration. When we start to argue (Normally over something so stupid, like why this form wasn't filled out at 1pm, etc) we just stop and remind our selves that all that matters is that we have each other and nothing else in the world means as much. Take the stress out by realising that if this process doesn't work (Which isn't likely) there are other options, your partner can move to you, you can go to a third country, etc. There is ALWAYS another option.

I'm not much help because of my unique situation, most people are not as lucky and don't get to be together during this time.

Maybe another thing would be to make a routine around when you communicate, like everyday at 8am and 10pm or something like that, then that way she knows and can look forward to hearing from you and it is kinda 'Normal'???

Anybody got an answer for this? I have an AFP certificate from October last year for a Canada working visa I applied for, I'm just wondering if I can use that for my upcoming interview or should I just get a new NSW certificate.

My attorney sent me an email clarifying this yesterday. It needs to be a new one that is immigration specific. I had to get a finger print one. It cost me $165 in Vic.

Anybody got an answer for this? I have an AFP certificate from October last year for a Canada working visa I applied for, I'm just wondering if I can use that for my upcoming interview or should I just get a new NSW certificate.

My attorney sent me an email clarifying this yesterday. It needs to be a new one that is immigration specific. I had to get a finger print one. It cost me $165 in Vic.