dougyceci

One more nice little surprise. Hope all goes well for you Brad, did Vicky say what the certificate costs? I guess since Ceci has left the country one time she just as well get hers as well. Any way, good luck and have a great trip. I am sure you are anxious to get there.

Doug

Congratulations to both of you. I love to see things moving along like this, I know it is selfish, but am happy for you as well. Good luck with the rest of the process.

Doug

m&n you ask how you are supposed to know? It is your job ot know. We again chose to do this ourselves or hire attorneys. Either way it is our responsibility to know of law changes. No one is going to tell you. Sorry, but this is the way it is. My point on the RFE was not whether you made one, just a general comment on what I see. The law changed in mid stream for you and many other petitioners. They chose not to grandfather in any of the already filed petitions. Bad break , definitely, but, that is what happened. As Yodrak said, you filed two petitions to see which was fastest. Even if approved the same day the K-3 will be faster, logically. So you got the intended result. As to your comment the immigrant visa is better, I agree, pay the fee and get it moving. Maybe they should have notified you but fact is they don't. We can hash this over forever, we both have our opinions and doubt either will be swayed. Good luck.

I have stated this before on another matter and feel the same way here. I see no problem. In an effort to make the process as short as possible, you choose to take both paths. Create double the work and burden on a process you continually complain about. I chose to gamble with the I-130 and not take both routes. Just as this choice was mine, you have made yours. Maybe the USCIS should have one visa and only one visa available to married couples. That is what will be next. Then you can complain about that. Life isn't fair. Never has been, never will be. No one is requiring you to file the I-824 and fee with it. You are more than welcome to abandon the I-130 and proceed with the K-3. If not buck up and pay for the processing. It really is quite simple. Am I cynical, maybe so, but guess I get tired of hearing people complain about everything the gov't does wrong. Why do I never see anyone complain they made a mistake and got an RFE. You paid to have both petitions processed at the USCIS, if you want double processing at the NVC then my feeling is you should pay for it.

Why don't you just get someone to co-sponser for you. Don't you have a family member who can help. If not, then my advice is do it the legal way just like the rest of us. It is exactly this kind of activity and thinking that makes it hard on the rest of us who do things by the book. I find it funny that someone would ask people to help them skirt the law when we sit here for months or longer waiting for the process to work.

Sounds to me like you have now taken on a man's perspective, or my perspective anyway. It should always be more about being married and together than a ceremony. sounds to me like the process maybe awoke something very valuable inside you. Keep it close to you and remember it is about being together, nothing more.

Sample answers??? How about the truth? Just tell them how you met. On the internet, at a bar on vacation. Through friends. The question is really pretty simple, say enough to supply a thorough answer without giving all the details.

Glad to hear you got your interview Cali, I look forward to the day I can say the same. I know many of us that are waiting to hear how everything goes for you guys. Good luck to all with the interviews this month and next.

Doug

Not to be rude but for the life of me cannot figure out why you cotinue to listen to the fastk3 people. From other posts you are aware of the problems you are having. This site is full of information to all your questions and what to do. James' shortcuts give you a clear understanding of what the process is even if you do not want to use them it explains what needs to be sent and a timeline of how much time it will approximately take for the next step. You need to send in the barcoded cover sheet that comes in the package with the instructions for the I-864. In my case, all that was received was the cover sheet and instructions to go the web site and download the form and instructions I needed to file. Good luck, and if I were you I would start looking at the information in the posts here and take matters into your own hands.

No problem, go to the IRS website, and download form W-7. An application for taxpayer ID number. In the alternative since he is going to be arriving soon, he should have his SSN before the April 15 due date. If you go the W-7 route, Roberto will need to sign it and then attach it to the front of you tax return. A number will be assigned.

Doug

From one Vegan to another, Congrats and good luck.

No the CR-1 interview is at the embassy. Need to go back or follow through with the K-3 here in the states.

Hey Brad, thanks a lot for the post. Nothing I did not expect, well maybe the parents marriage certificate but Ceci says that is no problem either. I can't believe the trouble Vicky went through to get the package. If people here knew how lucky we are when it comes to the mail. I mailed a greeting card going on 6 weeks now, and she still has not got it. Anyway thanks again, will be thinking of you two on the 30th, hope all goes well. When are you heading down? If I do not talk to you again, tell Vicky Happy Birthday from Ceci and I. If you guys are in Bogota for a few days before, let me know, maybe you could have coffee or a drink with Ceci if you wanted to meet her. Just a thought. Take care.

Doug

Interesting responses, all very personal. For me, have no issues. I have been traveling and dating in other parts of the world for over four years. I finallly fell in love and married. While my process has gone smoothly up until now, I know it is going to get much more difficult when my wife finally makes it here. She never had any desire to meet or marry a "gringo". But it happened. She never wanted to leave her country. I also know how much she will miss her country and family when she arrives here, this scares me. Ask me later, would I do it again? My feeling now is I would prepare myself financially and I would be the immigrant. Those are our plans for the future anyway. Would I fall in love again. IN A MINUTE. But it would be me leaving, not her. Good luck to all.

Since no one has responded Mark, I will. I do not know. My IV was processed yesterday, they haven't generated the DS-230 yet but when they do I will answer your question for you. I know that my IV was generated on 12-25, rec'd it 1-06 and it was not updated on the computer until 1-09. Go figure. Not complaining as I was out the country anyway so did not delay me any. Any way, wait and I wil answer when I receive mine.

I remember when first coming to this site, I read never leave anything blank or write N/A. On my petition I wrote never been here or always something to indicate a definitive answer. With the changes that are taking place one should really be aware to do this. My other comment is this. I only filed the I-130. I did not follow-up with the I-129F. Just felt the extra time at NVC was worth any delay in exchange for being done with the process and not dealing with the possibility of any mishaps on my part or theirs. My choice and so far has worked out fine. I guess my point is we sit here and complain about the waits, the mistakes and all that goes on in the process. Yet we continue to play the game. To cut the time down we file two petitions, doubling the work for USCIS. As they strive to become more efficient, not defending or saying they are, it seems it is catching up with the dual petition scenario. I guess maybe one should decide on either the K-3 or Cr-1 if married, not both. Maybe the approval time would decrease with less petitions. Maybe not. It seems we may victims of our own choices here.

Now Andrea, I hope to God this all works out for you. I wish I could give you some advice but really do not know what you can do but am sure somebody here has been through it as well. Good luck.

I struggled witht the same question and ended up only filing the I-130 . Filed in Sept and am now in the NVC stage. I agree with one of the earlier posts, the less you have to do with the system the easier the process may be. If you think your case is pretty straight forward it may be easier to go the CR-1 route. If you don't mind spending the extra money file both and see which one progresses faster. No one knows for sure.

I am no expert here but I can see no reason why this would cause any problems for you. You have dual citizenship, use it. The registro de civil matrimonio y contracto will be the same except for what documents you produced. It will state where you are living and that should be what they look at. Maybe someone else can give you more insight but I was married in Colombia last summer in San Andres, that was easier for me than my colombiana wife.

Likewise, I will be talking with my wife her in a few minutes. If I find out where she needs to go I will let you know or pm me and I will send you my wife's email for your SO to talk with her in Spanish.

Welcome Coffeeguy, I saw your post and responses in another section here and to be honest, in all cases the K-3 is not quicker. I did not even file for it and am moving right along. I know, maybe lucky but saw how things had been going. Any help we can be ask, the group here is great. Good luck,

Doug

Would be helpful if you had your timeline and or signature updated so we could help. If your I-130 has been approved proceed that way. The denial has no affect on that approval.

Don't need much to get married here in Vegas, the passport will due. You will have to wait a day or two to get the marriage certificate at the courthouse though so marry first, then stick around a day or two to pick it up before you leave. Good luck.

Why didn't you ask the lady at the court house when you had her on the phone. Time frames and rules differ from city to city. Call back and ask her how long it takes to get the marrigae certificate after the ceremony. That is your best bet.

The USPS Overnight delivery is also shipped by FedEx but delivered by the Post Office and it too is way less than the FedEx overnight service. I send things 5-7 days, is much cheaper and still gets there.

Personally I would wait until after the ceremony. Just easier than getting the name change done.