ritbo

11 hours ago, Roel said:

This has been asked and answered many times on this forum. Using common sense - fiance visa is meant to reunite us citizen with their fiances.  If the U.S. citizen is not in the US then there is nothing to reunite - you need to travel before or with her. 

Common sense is like hearsay evidence and it is something that is not necessarily applicable to the law so if you are very confident with your answer, I suggest you cite the law or source first to support your answer to the OP's question.

I assume that the OP's fiance has an approved K-1 fiance visa. An alien can travel and ask permission to CBP using the K-1 Fiance visa and is given 90-days of authorized stay to marry within the validity of the alien's stay. The main concern is whether the alien fiance will marry the US citizen petitioner within the allowed 90 days in the US and it is not a question whether the US citizen is not present in the main land yet after the alien's arrival but not after 90 days of the alien's arrival. The K-1 status recognizes three lawful scenarios: (1) after marrying within 90 days and adjust status; (2) after marrying within 90 days and leave the US; and (3) leave the US after deciding not to marry.

If the alien chooses route #1, then good. Other activities of both persons are not relevant since they are free to lawfully do what they can please (i.e. US citizen to travel out, etc.), the US constitution grants them that freedom. In the case of ROC supporting documentation, if the US citizen is working abroad and support the family, then that is sufficient evidence of bonafide marriage. The moral lesson here is that each case of any individual is unique and different.

Now let's talk common sense and correct me with sources if I'm wrong, is there any law, regulation, act of congress, executive order, department order, judicial precedent or statute that prohibits the alien to receive immigration benefit if such conditions were all lawfully met (including not being a public charge, not committing any deportable crimes, filed tax returns, etc.) yet the US citizen is traveling overseas and marital ties are still present?

Had trouble logging in months ago but now I was able to. My AOS was approved on September 16 which happened also on my interview. I got my green card on September 18. My local USCIS is in Philly but I was interviewed in Mount Laurel which might have explained why the process was outstandingly quick. The one who interviewed me also asked for any evidences that has both of our names and she asked for pictures. We didn't have any time to print any because we were really in a hurry from driving from Philly to NJ (and my partner and I were partying hard the night before and hadn't thought or worried about the interview) so the interviewer forgave me from providing the pictures but advised me to provide one during the lifting of conditions. Very nice interviewer, offered us coffee. The design of the card is not the new one but personally I prefer this design. I hope all of you will get what you are seeking with: answers, experiences from everyone, and good luck.

Just got my EAD combo card today. Still using the old design of the card.

30 minutes ago, MarkPerry said:

The exist to make money.  I could start a Credential Evaluation tomorrow if I wanted.

 

 

Duhhh, what do you expect them to be free? It has a price to do their own work on retrieving university records on behalf, do background checks, and other necessary administrative work. So if you don't want to start your own credential evaluation, then do so as you please but there's no necessary to shove them down to my throat.

On a side note, I didn't expect this to be a some kind of a debate because my only intent was to help the OP according to what I've experienced (not even affiliated to any credential bureaus) and now there are some guys here who wanna test their logic and know-it-alls and if this is how VisaJourney is going to be, then so be it. It's becoming the worst anyway, not gonna offend the others who are legitimate smart and humble ones. It's just unfortunate that it is mixed with users who have lack of class and who are free to poison most threads with such unnecessary- biased opinions, no matter what kind of member they are, platinum or whatever doesn't make any difference. Peace to all, not gonna reply to this thread from now on. I hope I contributed enough to help the OP weighing his options carefully and in deciding not to is up to him.

1 hour ago, Suss&Camm said:

Plenty of ppl get qualified jobs with foreign degrees. It'll depend on a lot of things such as type and level of degree, field, additional work experiences and the types of these experiences. It is not at all a general truth that you have to use a credential bureau, not by far.

If it's not the general truth, then why do credential bureaus exist in the first place. 

Let me give you an explanation why they exist though, and we are talking about foreign credentials. Jobs are competitive. There a lot of people are applying. OP here is talking about, which I'm assuming, that his fiance wants to have a job related to his fiance's field. Majority of people in the US who are applying are competing and most of them carry degrees from a US institution. So pretty much employers here in the US recognize the curriculum provided by these US colleges and the fact that the OP's fiance has a foreign degree credentials, at some point, need to be re-evaluated to have her college degrees and other certifications acquired in any foreign country be recognized here in the US. So yeah you are correct in saying that people get qualified jobs but let's not be misinformed here. Those are jobs that are unlikely related to their fields of interests and they end up getting a job not related to what they suppose to work with. These lead to the conclusion on why credential bureaus exist. They help people what they have acquired (not only the degree but their GPA's) to be equivalent in the US education system. These will help them to join in the workforce as skilled immigrants.

If they don't want to opt for a credential evaluation, they can invest and upgrade themselves by enrolling to a graduate school. But this also ends up getting their foreign degrees evaluated to. Their course descriptions too need to be re-evaluated. They can earn some certifications here. But let's not forget how competitive the job market is.

Most employers are looking for management experiences as opposed to which prestigious college they have graduated to, only when they acquire these experiences from an American employer and depending what reputation such employer has. If not, that is why credential bureaus exist in the first place.

Anyway, it's the OP's call in the end. This is entirely optional. He can have this as their contingency plan if no luck they will get.

I would also give you an example of where to avail one.

Such as,

http://www.wes.org/

http://www.naces.org/

As with every Filipino/Filipina fiance/spouse migrating to the US, he/she is required to undergo a pre-departure orientation seminar provided by Commission of Filipino Overseas and it is mandated by law. Your fiance will be given a guide book from the seminar that provides information on how to get your fiance on foot here in the US. Look for the section where it explains how to get your fiance's foreign/Filipino credentials revalidated and be used here in the US. Wish you and your fiance good luck in your journey!

You need to get them revalidated by a credential bureau in the US otherwise it has no value in the US. Employers in the US tend to find someone with "American" experience with managerial experience too. If you fail to have them revalidated, your fiance will end up getting entry-level jobs.

From what I have experienced in the petition phase, we have submitted only the minimum requirements because our case was not too complicated. We did not include any proof that is pretty much subjective like affidavits, chatlogs, call history, money remittances, and etc. I support the minimalist approach than "front-loading" because you would expose too much information, when you have already established a sufficient qualification of the K-1 visa, and chances are that they will use them to scrutinize you once you will be in front of a consular officer. The proof of your love stuff will only be asked during the interview because that is what interview is all about.

In the end, we were not being asked for any proof except pictures. All of these are only applicable if your case is pretty simple and straightforward. If your case has a complicating side, you must support them with an additional documentation in order to determine your qualification with the visa.

Also, it depends on the issuing post. I have heard that in US Embassy Ghana, it's difficult to apply a visa there whereas in the US Embassy in Manila, so far I have never heard nor eavesdropped of any denials there. They'll issue that visa if you have all those valid government-issued documents prepared (more importantly, the CENOMAR and the NBI clearance) and also your passed medical examination.

But you know what, you can submit those you have already mentioned. I would suggest to drop that money remittance proof. If you submit a volume of proof and if you have the extra money to cover on the additional mailing fees, you can do so and a foreign services officer will just do all the necessary stuff for you like truncating those extra pages but be careful what you are submitting. Always check if there are any information that may use them against you. Good luck with your journey and I wish for your smooth approval!

No such thinh as reinstating a single entry visa, don't give false hope where there is none.

mimolicious, kindly check the quote below. Don't just give any statement without even first researching or when there is an absence of proof.

I am the U.S. citizen. My (now) husband entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa but had to leave for a family emergency before we married. I contacted the consulate in Rio de Janeiro, and they were willing to reissue his K-1 visa as long as he returned to the U.S within the time time allotted by his original I-94. That was 90 days from the date of his original entry. They did not request any proof of the emergency. See the following link.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/609430-k1-visa-for-the-second-time-the-same-person/#entry8302562

Contact the embassy first whether your K-1 can be reinstated because you are able to demonstrate that it was due to circumstances beyond your control. It's really annoys me to hear somebody to suggest refiling without even citing any basis of the law or the administrative rules of the embassy and without even considering the time, money, emotions, and the effort that were spent. Half glass full guys.

This is great to know. I sincerely hope the same happens for us. By any chance did you or have you heard of others who had a K2?

I'm a bearer of a recently issued K1 visa and never had kids (hehehe) so K2 doesn't apply to me and no, never knew someone who had their kids apply for K2.

Nowadays, consular officers rarely ask for an Affidavit of Support and if it was an enforceable requirement, I would have been asked for. Therefore, an Affidavit of Support is just a suggested documentation. The Affidavit of Support can only be mandatory when filing for the Adjustment of Status and I think that once you marry in the US using the K-1, you can avail the option of having a joint sponsor. I think that is why it is understandable that you should always prepare any documentation even if you're confident enough that you will not be asked for that. An applicant's case is unique. Depending on what you have supplied in DS-160 specifically the petitioner's employment history or the petitioner's employment history in G-325A, the consular officer will make a determination whether you will not become a public charge based on that information. You can also satisfy the consular officer that you are able to work there based on whatever skills you have in accordance with how qualified your skills are which are defined by the US Department of Labor. Whatever the case is, you have to successfully demonstrate in front of the consular officer that you will not likely become a public charge once you are accorded as immigrant in the US. Although you have nothing to lose if you have no supporting documentation for that Affidavit of Support, the embassy will just put you on hold (if in the event it could) until you submit the required documentation (unless if you're in a hurry to move to the US). As with any immigrant visa including K visas, there is no such thing as failed interviews. My suggestion is gather all possible documentation that you can possibly get before your interview date. Better be prepared than risking your case. So good luck!

I have never been asked for an Affidavit of Support from my August 30, 2016 interview and most recent VJ posts claimed that they were not being asked for an Affidavit of Support. I really wish you a good luck and hope that you will not be asked for that.

I wouldn't worry too much about that because I also plan not to legally change my last name once married. One of the primary concerns in AOS for a K-1 is that both partners must demonstrate that the marriage was done in good faith.

Hi what happened to your interview? I hope it went well

I'm going to make a separate topic about my awesome experience at the interview. Unfortunately, I can't do it right now because my vacation with my boyfriend is so limited right now here in Camiguin in which writing a thorough and fruitful review requires a lot of focus and time. (lol). My upcoming review would help a lot to some so that they can assess their case and to avoid the pitfalls when going inside the embassy.

By the way, I just checked at CEAC that my case status is now ISSUED. Two days after READY (nonimmigrant) and AP.

To those who haven't yet had the interview step, I wish you all good luck and try not to be nervous at the time of the interview because the American interviewers don't bite.

To those who are scheduled for August 30, 2016 at 6:45AM at US Embassy in Manila for the K-1, see you there soon! Good luck and hope for a smooth process and approval.

Are you serious?

Why do you care?

Why don't you read the answers in your other thread instead of making a new one?

Why does it bother you?

I disagree, I think this heightens awareness about the severity of embarking on a journey to bring people here for marriage and treat reducing the act to a whim.

Allowing her to spout this hatred is belittling the efforts of those that take this seriously, in her own words she describes the actions from her husband that most would consider noble, yet she feels he is inadequate to her needs because he doesn't buy gifts for her on Impulse, let her stand as a cautionary tale for others that her behavior is abhorrent.

Well let her be because in any attempt, we can't change her. I think that's what makes us human because there are people who treat marriage with respect and others do not and there are people with different preferences. But judging her the way she treats her husband without personally knowing her is really irrational and unnecessary because it would defeat the purpose of why visajourney.com was created. If you want to lecture her on something personal, why don't visajourney.com provide counselingjourney.com?

I think this topic should close. Saying her a troll or that she's a terrible person is not helpful to VJ where we need relevant info here for our immigration journey. We don't see a clearer picture of what their lives are and she is specifically asking if there is a way she would deport her husband and why is it so hard to just say "I don't think so" and that's that? Most replies I see here are nothing but personal attacks.

To each their own.

How much stuff do you have if you don't mind me asking? It sounds like you have alot of stuff. If it is a few things like a thumbdrive, cell phone, possibly a small tablet then he can avail of that service for him at the embassy. If it is more than that then I would say no he can't because the slots aren't that big at all to hold things like a large tablet or laptop. Also to have your fiance just wait outside the embassy is pretty inconsiderate and would negate the whole reason of him trying to be their for the interview.

(lol) not much. ? Just our cellphones. Are we also allowed inside with our watches? (G-shock to be specific)

Hmm if he has to wait outside, he wouldn't mind any inconsideration because that's not how we would intend to. Like I said, "for better or worse" if it turns out we don't have any choice. Nothing to worry because whether he is present in the interview or not doesn't affect our case. Also, he's not visiting here just to come to the interview, although it would be pretty cool if we would go inside the embassy, but he's visiting because we're going to explore what is left for us here before we settle a new home in Philly should I get approved for a visa. So no sweat for that pal!

I spend countless hours on VJ helping people process through their medical, CFO and USEM to finally get their visa. I spend time creating a website to help, so those who are interviewing at USEM can AVOID any pitfalls that others who have gone before you have shared or what I had experience. I read countless postings here so that I can keep abreast to any changes and so I can alert folks like you and to keep myself and my website update with the most CURRENT information. I keep all the current information on file in Microsoft's ONENOTE so when a question is asked it's probably been asked before and I can retrieve the answer and post it for their well being. This I do so YOU AND OTHERS don't have any problems.

I wish you much success.

More people like you should be here in VJ. This morning, I read most pages in your website which covers halfway to my paperwork process and I personally don't want you think that I ignored every link you share here.

I appreciate your assistance here and with that, you have my gratitude.

Ok, so you are going to say we do not know the current situation at the embassy because our interviews dates were a couple year ago? The embassy rules don't change that much at all at any given time. There are NO vendors outside the embassy that is "Legally" connected to the embassy. They are selling a service for people like holding on to items, and extra passport photos etc. There is no incident that people would take the stuff because that would then get around and hurt other people's business there as well.

I'm saying that your situation happened years ago (judging by your timeline > interview date) and odds are a policy on securing stuff there might have been changed unless someone from VJ who had their interviews done recently would say that it's the otherwise. Unless, of course, if you happened to visit the US Embassy recently.

Anyway, I came up with a Plan B. For better or worse, I'll let my boyfriend handle my stuff outside the embassy in case if there's actually a new policy that prevents anyone, including the USC, to bring in not-allowed items inside. And still I won't trust the vendors outside because they would not assume any responsibility should the stuff get lost or damaged there.

I have been to the USEM Embassy (USC here) and I was able to secure my phone, a thumb drive and my wife's phone without any problems. I haven't heard of any problems with street vendor's holding your phone for a small fee. Then you could get a room with a safe. These are your choices to secure your electronics.

I have a website that will walk you through step by step on the Philippines process. It's free to use. I list the steps, documents and other pertinent information so that you avoid the "gotchas" that are presented while processing. Gotchas can cost you time and or money. I help you avoid those.

This is the link: http://tinyurl.com/ob9xoa8

I hope the embassy's policy on securing stuff there hasn't been changed now. I checked your timeline and your situation happened around 2013. Also, I couldn't think of myself to trust all our stuff to a street vendor unless they are connected to the embassy because what happens if they runaway with our stuff? Although, I haven't knew such incident shared in VJ. ?

Anyway, I appreciate all your suggestions and will put that in mind. Thanks.

As stated above IF your fiance is coming to the Philippines to be with you for the interview then yes he/she can avail of that service and have the embassy hold on to there items until they get out. I have done this very thing and there was no issue at all. If you are going alone then you can keep it in your hotel room in a safe, or pay 200 pesos and have the street vendors hold on to it for you.

Hmmm, hopefully situations like this didn't change as of now. Would be nice if somebody from VJ who had their interviews recently with an accompanying USC who deposited their stuff share here. I checked the US Embassy's website and there were no any news related to a change in embassy policy. Thanks for sharing though because it eases my mind a bit.

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Seriously, where is the delete button here? Obviously your post has nothing to do with my question. #epal

ritbo, I'm pretty sure that you won't be able to use the USC storage area without the USC petitioner being there, I have not personally been there myself though. I've read that there are vendors at the entrance used by non-USC applicants that will hold electronics for a fee as well as rent chairs and umbrellas.

Here is a link to a list of hotels near USEM, http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/328357-h0tels-in-manila/.

I appreciate the link.

So you are implying that a USC petitioner can deposit their stuff in the embassy? Because if that's the case, I'll just let my boyfriend hand my stuff to deposit in the storage area.

I'm not privy yet with this kind of stuff and would appreciate if anyone who has this kind of experience would give me an idea what to do this coming interview.