Joey559

Well financial problems at home sound like something that can be worked out. It's not a dangerous situation you're returning to. It didn't say where you were from but if you have nothing here, that being a support network of people, a means of financial stability, the ability to provide a home for yourself maybe returning would be a better option...

Paul went through Detroit each time - as a visitor and on his visa. It was a piece of cake each time. The most confusing part will be when you get your bags. They LOVE to put them on two conveyers so you have to stand between them watching them like a ping pong match

Immigration though is very simple and friendly...and don't let the big bald guy yelling "AMERICANS HERE....VISITORS HERE" scare you. That men must never rest, he's ALWAYS there!

Congrats on finally being able to stand there watching those smoky doors slide open and spit you out!

Doc, it actually sounds to me like what pcrady sent was a 'souvenir copy'.

Yeah, I didn't want to say that though.

No, trust me, I was never so happy to shout: "OH MAN WE'RE IDIOTS! MY FAULT!". When we saw the RFE email we thought he'd have to get another medical or they'd lost something OR even though we had plenty of finances that they wanted a co-sponsor...then to find out it's because we'd sent an unregistered copy! It cost us a little bit of time, but once they saw that registered stamp approval was in two days. Laugh all you want everyone. Now we're just hoping to get VERY VERY lucky and get Paul's greencard before we head home to the UK for a visit in two weeks. It'd be nice to just hit em' with the greencard then have to use AP, but we aren't holding our breath.

It's blizzard conditions in our corner of Michigan and I'm still a happy camper!

Doc, it actually sounds to me like what pcrady sent was a 'souvenir copy'.

For the record, ALL official documents sent to USCIS or DOS must be certified. They are satisfied with a photocopy of a certified copy, but the document itself must bear certification by the County Clerk.

Mrs. Pcraddy here, that's exactly what happened! The funny thing is we had to get a registered certified copy of our marriage license for my passport name change and we got my new passport with the certified copy returned the day before the RFE so we just popped it out of that envelope and shipped it off to USCIS. RFE's suck, but we really couldn't have asked for a better reason to get one. Avoidable though, and PCraddy wanted everyone else out there to watch out for the same stupid mistake

Our process took exactly one year - Good luck to everyone else out there! xxx

I'd say number one, don't try to overwhelm them the first few days, let it be nice and relaxed until they settle. It probably depends on the person but I know when I moved to the UK for just six months leaving my family was really hard and combining that with the long flight I just wanted to decompress after all the emotional turmoil. Paul was great - we went right home and i had a long bath while he made a home cooked meal and I just slept in the next couple mornings and really took my time unpacking.

Just taking things slow - no, 'meet my whole network of friends and family at a giant bash' or 'hey lets go pick out the furniture we're going to have for the next 3 years'. That would be my advice. i tried to do the same for Paul when he moved here with the K1 in August.

Best of luck...

My favorite part of the internet is where you don't have to ask permission to leave a site...if you don't like it...leave

Hmm, methinks I might have just broken your rule and responded to a troll

Just wanted to say classes don't have to be through a college OR expensive. A local community center would probably have a range of offers - our's does everything from cooking to belly dancing.

Good luck, Laura. I hope you and Ian can fight 'the funk'. I remember having it a few times myself while living in the UK. Hang in there....

Congrats JenT! Hopefully two greencards on their way to the middle of the mitten soon!

Congrats! Good luck and here's hoping the weather is decent for his outdoor wait!

rebeccajo, so sorry for what you are going through and how much this process is taking a toll. So many of us would hate to see you go, but it's certainly understandable (and I'm all too aware of all the others who have recently chosen to leave VJ as well). You've given a ton to this board and helped a zillion people. Wishing you and your husband the best of luck.

I echo kitkat's comments...

feel the same as above about you rebeccajo, I know you helped us along the way. Whatever decision you make, thank you.

Congrats! Whoever handled your case musta had a GOOD holiday season and was ready to go when they got back to the office!

Ok, let's think about this a different way.

Let's say I enter the US on a visitor's visa, with no intent to marry. However, whilst there we realise that we do not want to be apart again and love each other so completely that we want to get married immediately. So, I propose (remember, we're not engaged in this hypothetical situation) and a week or so later we get married.

At this point, what's the score? Can I apply for AOS without having to leave the country first? You see where I'm going with this.

Thanks guys,

Carl & Alicia

Where you're going is toward asking us for advice on doing something illegally - you're showing intent right here. Sure, the AOS tourist to spouse route can be used but it's up to you to prove you had no intention. It's more hey, i'm in the country for a 3month stay or as a student and we just decided to get married. you show up for a week, they ask you at the POE do you have plans on marrying this person you're visitng you say no and in one week, visit and get married red flags are going to fly...and you still have to answer conviction questions. Why don't you just use the damm waiver???

Mine was approved a few days after it was touched....hope its good news for you

Same here, on the 20th...maybe the computer files update on a saturday. i don't care why, i'm just excited!

Yeah i agree with MaryandMian we where sent to CSC for processing and got approval without interview (me and my daughter)..

Maybe if the local office is backed up they send it there, but im not sure.

We sent in a really good package, including ALL evidence.

Congrats by the way Lizzy! Saw it posted last night but didn't get a chance to say.

Congrats!

Some how I ended up with a post when I had no intention of posting....

The Muller yogurt was an interesting addition and, I'm sorry to say, a correct one. In fact, the only food Paul can't seem to find an equal for is yogurt. American yogurt is just different. We've tried different brands, different 'types" (creamy, whipped, etc) we just can't find one that's the same. I LOVED the Muller's blueberry cheesecake yogurts. MMM, a trip to Tesco/ASDA will be happening the day we get there.

The candy/sausages/etc we can find hitting a few shops but it's the restaurants/delis you can't replicate. Joe Rigatoni's is one we'll definitley be hitting and you really can't beat Whitby fish/chips....Two months, I can make it.

Hungry Jack's Chicken Tikka sarnie and an Ice Cold pint of Blackthorn extra dry....Paul and I are going home fora visit in March. I plan on weighing more when I get back on the plane and I don't care! mmmmmm food......

Has anyone else sent in forms and checklist before booking a medical, i really need to get the things sent in but cant really book the medical yet as im not sure when my vaccinations are going to be completed.

We returned packet 3 before paul's medical but he had his vaccination record and the medical booked. So I would say once you get your vaccination record (it took 5 minutes for the nurse to write Paul's out - whats the hold up?) book a medical and ask for the next available as long as it's within I'd say 3 weeks send the packet.

Good luck

is there something that i need to do, with immigration or should i just let it be...

i got the usual rfe

thx

Depends on a variety of factors - are you filing for divorce? Has she left just you OR has she gone home, back to her former country?

I flew into Newcastle to see Paul during our wait for the K1. She was very nice, i said i was there to visit my fiance while we went through the US system, showed her our filing papers and she asked to see my return ticket then waved me on. i think they only get suspicous when people dance around the questions like 'I'm here to visit." "Oh, visit who?" oh well my fiance...like you were trying to hide something. They were very very nice.

Good luck! Joey

Does'nt it make you feel like ####### to pretend to feel for people you dont even know?

If something isn't worth a condolensce I don't comment on it (like, oh i'm so sad my BMW got hit today and it has scratches). But when someone loses someone/finds out terrible news I mean it when I offer my support. Sometimes it is just attention grabbing around here and I ignore it. But when someone is grieving, they get my honest support/"i'm so sorry" whatever you want to call it.

I'm so sorry melo.

Paul and I are in the same boat - see his official timeline at user pcraddy. It's below in my signature as well...wait wait wait

Thanks for your reply. If we can't sponsor him on the family visa, what other types of visas are available for him and what are his chances? Does he have much chance of getting a tourist visa?

Tourist wouldn't do it that's just to VISIT. He can't come over perm. on a tourist visa.