usmsbow

My wife suggests going on Facebook and looking for an Indonesian group where people offer to carry stuff for you to the USA. She's also willing to do it as long as it is legal and won't be an issue at Customs (she'll be visiting family from late June to mid-July).  You can PM me if interested.

Of course if you plan to bring A LOT of stuff, then that probably isn't a good option for you :). And if you're planning on bringing foods/ingredients, then you probably can find it here and don't need to ship it from there (this is also per my wife).

I'll just say my in-laws got a tourist visa two years ago, and they're a similar age as your mother. I'm sure they said they were paying for their trip (which they indeed were), and that they were visiting their daughter and me. I don't know what documents they provided, but my father-in-law had recently retired (was a government worker) and my mother-in-law has been a housewife for most of her adult life. They also have 3 other kids, two of which obtained tourist visas as well. I was honestly surprised my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were approved too since they were both in their early 20s and students with no significant ties to Indonesia. I assume they got approved since they applied and interviewed with their parents.

They live in East Java and went to the consulate in Surabaya for the interview.

Good luck to your mom. I think she has a decent shot at being approved. Older applicants seem to have better luck than younger ones.

Edited to add: my wife's parents don't speak English either. Her siblings speak some English.

Our application/petition arrived at the Jakarta embassy months after NOA2 (USCIS lost it for about 4 months before finally getting it to NVC). The original validity date had passed, but it was never a problem or issue.

Since they went ahead and scheduled your interview date, I can't imagine you'll have any problems. Can't hurt to get confirmation from the embassy though; they're pretty responsive (or used to be at least).

Tourist agencies in Indonesia are useless for that kind of thing, yet so many Indonesians use them. Boggles my mind. Basically those agencies either give general advice that is helpful for other visas like Schengen and Japan (such as letter of recommendation),  or shady advice like the OP's partner received.

Anyway, she should just be honest. Putting you down may or may not hurt you, none of us know. Her age, occupation, etc are more relevant anyway. She should just be truthful, that way she will avoid any problems down the road.

And tourist visa applications have no bearing on K-1 applications. Good luck to you both!

5 hours ago, cindymoelyono said:

Hi!

Is beneficiary's birth certificate required for K1 visa? I didn't see it necessary from USCIS website. Please anyone help to clarify. Also do I need to legalized/apostille the translated version of my BC? (my BC is not in English, so I guess i need to have it translated). Thank you so much!

It's one of the requested/required documents for your interview in Jakarta. Or it was when my wife got her K-1 visa a few years ago. I can't imagine they no longer have that requirement.

You can do the translation yourself, there is no requirement to have a formal translation.

10 minutes ago, robscha said:

When is your green card start date? december 2026

 

Your GC start date, not your expiration date.

2 hours ago, Snaaacks said:

Wow so that means if we get a case number on Sep 15, we only have 30 days before the whole thing expires - ugh. Which also means if there isn’t a interview date available at the Bangkok embassy within those 30 days, we will need an extension.  Are people routinely asking for extensions these days, and is it a fairly easy process?

Yeah, don't worry about that. USCIS approved our petition and then lost it for a few months before finally finding it again (and then finally sending it to NVC). An extension was automatically given to us.

2 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Which country?

I always wonder why some are so reluctant to share that information. Just makes me think the CO was onto something...

Just now, carmel34 said:

OP said yes to the question has she sponsored one or more spouses in the past.  So that could be the reason for the increased scrutiny.

Yes, and why a fraud investigation would be occurring instead of just rejecting the OP's visa application. The wife seems like more of a concern to the US gov't than the OP.

9 hours ago, NihonReboot said:

Unless I find a job in the next 2 weeks, I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida. During her time here we want to register for marriage and then she would go back to Japan while I continue getting the place ready and doing the paperwork. Would there be any issues? Also would Utah online marriage work if we do not live in Utah? We are planning for Florida since my family is there.

How easy is it to get married in Japan? That's what I'd recommend doing first, if it isn't too difficult. Then apply for a marriage visa. And does she have an appointment yet for her tourist visa interview?

I think the only time we used photos in the process was during my wife's K-1 interview. Didn't include any for AoS, ROC, or citizenship applications.

Edit to add: the only other interview was for citizenship. Had there been an AOS interview or one for the ROC, we might have brought photos.

2 hours ago, M+K IL said:

How interesting, it must have changed recently. A few years ago, if you don't bring a social security card (maybe W2 can be substituted) you can't get a Real ID (personal experience, my wife forgot to bring hers). But I just went through that page, selected foreign passport with valid I94 and utility bills and indeed it said that is fine.

 

Yeah, I remember for a little while here in CA, years ago (pre-Real ID, and before CA issued DL to undocumented residents), new applicants HAD to bring their SS card with them to get a DL, even if they had other forms of ID. Lots of people misplace their SS cards, so that requirement frustrated a lot of people. Don't know when that requirement changed.

On 6/6/2023 at 2:02 AM, Scandi said:

Possibly, in my case they refused my passport and specifically asked for my SS card and non-expired driver license. 

Weird. The passport is the first one listed on the California DMV website and even says it is the preferred document! The SS card isn't even on the list. I used my passport, utility bill, and bank statement as my docs.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/real-id/real-id-checklist/

edit: grammar

On 6/4/2023 at 9:16 AM, Scandi said:

TThe Real ID requires that you go to your local DMV in person and bring the required documents (your physical SS card is one of them). Here in CA (and possibly all other states too?) you fill out the Real ID application online before you go to your DMV.
 

If you have a US passport, that can be used instead of a SS card when getting a Real ID.

On 5/26/2023 at 12:34 PM, Utha said:

I can not use my insurance over there.

It's hard to proof that she only wants to visit, I think.

Has she ever been abroad? Is she employed? Own property? Somehow my 20something year old in-laws got tourist visas even though they were unemployed students at the time. I think one reason is they had a history of traveling outside Indonesia. And I think Surabaya is a little less "strict" than Jakarta, but if your sister lives closer to Jakarta, I wouldn't recommend trying the consulate in Surabaya (it would be obvious she was "consulate shopping").

2 hours ago, Heleni1990 said:

 i heard k1 is faster. is it true? can you please explain more details on why getting married is better than fiance visa?

'This was true for many years, including when I went through this back in 2014-15. Alas, K-1 visa applications became the black sheep at USCIS (I blame the show 90 day fiancee ) and the processing time is now similar to a spousal visa. Since the spousal visa includes a green card and the K-1 does not, the spousal visa is the better option now.

18 minutes ago, OldUser said:

SSA needs to be informed about somebody becoming a US citizen. It saves @mam521 a trip by going to SSA after naturalizing. When getting employed as US citizen, @mam521 will be showing unrestricted social security card and driver's license.

 

My point is, it's better to do it when you're an LPR. That way you also only need to show unrestricted social security card and driver license, instead of green card, extension letters and all of that jazz that confuses many HRs.

Yes, I understand why doing it before citizenship. As I said, I see the upside to doing to while having a gc. That being said,I was not aware of SSA needing to be informed. Crazy me assumed US gov't agencies exchanged info, but I should know by now that isn't the case. Way too logical and practical! Good to know, thanks.

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Some naturalized citizens do not want to live in the U.S. while drawing SS pension benefits. It is easiest to be a U.S. citizen in that situation.

Good point, thanks.

22 hours ago, mam521 said:

TBH, I haven’t updated mine. Mine says with work authorization only, but my GC is work authorization. I will do it after my naturalization ceremony, which seems to be a semi common thing, whether it’s right or wrong, it just is. 
 

The SSA really are the lowest common denominator of government agencies. 

Just curious, why would you do it after becoming a citizen? It seems the upside to it would be when you have a (conditional) gc that is expiring. It seems like a waste of time once you're a citizen.

9 hours ago, davidvs said:

You are right that it's not an immigration issue. However...

 

The company I work for recently found out that a $90K salary Customer Service Manager working remote was working a second full time job. Actually, it was the other company that found out and contacted our HR department... Guess how many jobs she had the next day? Yup, none. This is the typical outcome with these situations. The assumption is that they are not dedicating the appropriate amount of time to either job since both companies likely operate during "normal" business hours. This is very different than a full time professional moonlighting on the weekends as a bartender.

 

I'm not judging, just trying to give good advice.

Yep. Today my wife found out a VP in her company got fired Tuesday. Why? Because he had a similar job at a competitor, who saw on his LinkedIn profile that he was also working for my wife's company, and said they'd sue wife's company if they didn't fire him within 2 weeks. I have no idea what he was thinking, complete fool.

Gotta admit, this is how i feel about the interview date next month.

Have you had anyone look over your resume and get their feedback? That's what my wife did. Edit: apparently you have done this too.

Have you reached out to temp agencies? My wife's first two years of work experience was through those agencies. Not ideal, but easy way to get some American work experience on your resume. Also another way to get feedback on your resume.

Engineering is always in high demand, and the US has a reputation for having too few of them. If you're not getting many responses, then maybe something is "amiss" on your resume. HR looks for keywords, and if they aren't there, your resume is tossed aside.

57 minutes ago, Marieke H said:

 

Also, consider applying for jobs that you are overqualified for. It would help to get some work experience in the US. The great thing about jobs in the US compared to my experience in Europe, is that it is easy to climb up to better paid positions when you show that you are good at your job. I started 5 years ago at an entry-level position, and in the past few years I have received a promotion and several raises; I now make almost double that initial salary.

 

Good luck!

This is similar to my wife's experience. Her first jobs here were data entry and the like, and now she's a manager making 4x her first temp jobs several years ago.

Pardon the snark, but why not google it? I did, and voila:

https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Looks like the answer to your question is no, you don't, but that site can tell you for sure.

11 hours ago, nia ikadewi said:

The reason why we’re getting married in the US is that my fiancé grandma is very old and expects to see us marry. 
I mean I have a valid ESTA during the travel, we plan to marry and for me to then return to my home country, I even get 10 days off of work only then have to return, and will stay in my country while waiting spouse visa. 
Should I proactively disclose the plan to marry when asked about the purpose of my visit? I definitely will answer truthfully the intent to visit my fiancé and his family. 

 

I would recommend having a back-up wedding/marriage plan since I think the odds of you getting a tourist visa to visit your fiance and his family are pretty low. Of course I don't know your background and other details (such as how much you've traveled outside Indonesia), so I could be completely wrong about that. It certainly can't hurt to apply and give it a shot. Good luck!

7 hours ago, Vickys_Mom said:

If that agreement is in writing, bring a copy of it as evidence.  If it's a verbal or "understood agreement", find some way to have the company put it in writing and bring it as evidence.

 

 

Can't hurt, but I'd be shocked if the CO chose to look at any documents that the applicant brought. And if one's planning to go to the US to marry and AOS, then that agreement is irrelevant anyway.

17 hours ago, fwb3566 said:

Would it be of any help if I went to indonesia and stayed a month, then return with her?

Waiting 8 months is crazy, why give a 5 year visa that is good for 6 month stays at a time?

We want to travel here as much as we can before I retire Sept 2024 and live Indonesia.

Well feel free to disregard what your girlfriend was told, and what everyone here has told you. Roll the dice and have her come back ASAP. If she isn't allowed in, it sounds like you can just go see her in Indonesia periodically before you retire in 18 months.

Or you could listen to everyone (including your gf), and hold off on her returning immediately. Go visit her sometime(s) in the next few months before she comes back here again to visit. 8 months, in the grand scheme of things, isn't that long.

Also, getting married in Indonesia is a lot more paperwork than here in the USA. Good luck!

30 minutes ago, Beth & Achraf said:

I remember around 2008-2010 how Vermont and California processing times for K1's  would change daily, sometimes Vermont would get back logged while Cali was processing nearly upon receipt & Vise Versa with Vermont and Cali

Those K1 filers were here within 6 months  most times.

When I was going through the process in 2014, CSC was taking a month or so to process K-1s, while TSC was taking 4+ months. Eventually a bunch of us had our files transferred from TSC to CSC and got immediately approved. I think soon after that CSC became the sole K-1 processor and things dramatically slowed down.