Ben&Zian

Pretty generic statement. They can only 'nudge' the embassy anyhow, they can't influence or persuade the embassy to do anything.

7 minutes ago, Deanna&Mark said:

Hi all,

 

Anyone from the UK recently get approved and made the move to the US? My fiance finally had his interview today at the embassy in London and got approved (an entire year after submitting our petition!) and now we are trying to think of everything he needs to wrap up in the next few weeks before he comes here. We are so excited to finally be together and just want to make sure we don't miss anything! Does he need to inform the government that he is leaving? Is there a checklist floating out there that people have put together as they were preparing to leave the UK? Any tips, advice, and/or suggestions are appreciated!

 

Top bar of this page has a "portals" tab. There it will take you to the UK specific forum where you can see other members going through the UK, as well as other members near your local area,  and other country specific threads. Also search bar top right corner of the page can search for things like "Moving from the UK" or such and find threads relating to that. 

Will take time so be prepared for that. 

I always tell people use 'wet signature' on all forms from the USC regardless. Why be petty about some postage at this point in the stage. It's nothing compared to any delays.

Also, until "issued" don't get too excited or plan anything. Your fiance may end up in administrative processing (AP) for awhile still. Could be 2-3 days, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months or longer. Just be patient, but congrats on making it this far.

21 hours ago, Joe98 said:

I guess I’m just kind of rambling here. In about 3 weeks I will be flying to the Philippines to meet my girlfriend and hopeful fiancé. We have been chatting about the k1 visa paperwork and the process and so forth. After talking to her about Rapidvisa and cherry blossoms visa support, she has for now decided to drop the idea of using Rapidvisa which I kind of agree. But she isn’t convinced that cherry blossoms visa support is the way to go either. I told her about this website and that I had posted some comments about both companies. I also told her that just about everyone who responded to me suggested that I do the paperwork myself. While I realize that would save some money, I’m not honestly sure that I should attempt to do the paperwork myself but I am not ruling the option out either. I have printed out the i129f application for the visa petition and I will be taking that with me so her and I can look at it and see what we can do. She doesn’t know anything about the process so naturally she is confused and not sure what to do. Both companies I mentioned claim that they know how the uscis wants to see the paperwork but that could just be a scare tactic to try and convince people not to attempt it on their own. I’m still undecided about the paperwork but I’m not ruling out doing it myself if I can find the guidance I need to do it. Anyway, I just needed to express my concerns about the upcoming process assuming that her and I will work out on my upcoming trip. I apologize again for the rambling and I welcome any encouragement about the paperwork.

OP,  you'd be surprised how much a lot of Filipinas know about the K-1 process haha. It's a very, dare I say, 'normal' visa that is processed through the embassy there. You'd be surprised how many Filipinas, and even Filipinos know people in the US who went or came in on a K-1 visa previously. You also said, you're going to meet finally and hopefully she will become your fiance, yet you both are already discussing the I-129f petition... Seems you are already fiances then honestly unless something happened negatively during the trip.

I'd take the advice above about go there, meet, spend time together, family is all well and good to meet, but you two spending the time together is key... then come back to the US, wait a few weeks and make a decision. I did the same thing to be honest. I knew I loved my now husband and we had a great time during my trip there (my 3rd time to the Philippines), but I waited 2-3 weeks after I got back before we both decided it was really what we wanted, yet we didn't even file the I-129f petition for months more. There is no rush. Also check all the requirements of the I-129f, but also for the K-1 itself with visa fees, affidavit of support, ect.

Also, don't know if this is your first time to the Philippines, or have any prior exposure to Filipino culture, while they are in a sense pretty "westernized", they have their own culture and while they for the most part transition very easily into the US, it is important you understand, respect, and grasp that side of them. I've only dated Filipinos in the US, just by chance honestly, but US born Filipinos are still very different in a way from those born in the home country. So something you want to take advantage of is learn that side of your girlfriend because it will play a role in the relationship.

6 minutes ago, LCSTOTT said:

I have arrived on a K1 visa and we are due to get married next month.

 

I have friends and family arriving in the upcoming weeks and some are interested in making the most of the time they’re in the US by visiting different state(s).

 

Would I be allowed to fly to another state WITHOUT my fiancée as she has work commitments and would not be able to get the time off? Or will this be frowned upon? 

Yes. If you're still on a valid I-94 (the 90 day period from day of entry) you can travel just using your passport, obviously since you're legally present in the US, should have no issue. Now once it expires, then no, not until you submit for AOS and receive the NOA1 for the I-485.

As long as it is most current form out then you're fine.

14 minutes ago, lucy 242 said:

The question is do they prepare for the interview and read everything before we arrive or they just look at it when we are there...? 

I kinda find it hard to believe that they sit for hours and read everything.. 

Doubt they read everything. They do it generally before the interview so when they go into the interview with you they already have a question or two in mind about them if they want to ask something. Obviously if they skim them and then see something alarming they might read more but just depends on the CO. For instance, we only sent in maybe 30 pages of texts/chats showing a communication time line, the CO skimmed them enough to see "pogi" in the texts 5-10 times so asked my husband who was saying that. "Pogi" means handsome in Tagalog essentially and he just answered that it was me (the USC) calling him pogi. Very generic, harmless questioning, but again CO can throw in anything they want to know since you supplied them with the evidence, but again sarcasm and dark humor (which I myself admittedly have also) is nothing to worry about. 

As to chat logs, they tend to skim them a bit. The CO did look through our chats anywhere as he asked my husband about them. but dark humor or sarcasm is hardly an issue.

Like above, an approved AP can be used for travel for any reason, not just a specific reason. Can be for vacation or whatever.

 love these ones, always wanting others to 'assist' in giving them answers.

Agree with all the others. First and foremost protect yourself since she is 'threatening' VAWA, though like the others have stated this is a baseless claim since you did file for a work permit for her, it's out of your hands and not your fault.

Second,as hard as it is I'd write USCIS and pull the affidavit of support, file for divorce, and have her removed from the house otherwise things may just get harder and worse for you. 

Offer her the money home, document it, and move on, but don't get stuck being liable for the I-864.

Like above, applying for these is free with the I-485, and exactly, timelines are estimates. Generally could have the EAD/AP combo in 4-6 months, but the interview might not be for 10-13 months. 

19 minutes ago, MariaDom11 said:

Can I marry my boyfriend here in the US while he has a current H2B visa and I’m waiting for my naturalization interview without him having to leave the US once his visa expires

As long as his visa does not expire before hand. No one here will tell you or give you guidance to have him overstay his visa. Once it is to expire he should leave as per law. Just being married to an LPR and eventual citizen does not mean he is illegally present once his visa expires. Have him follow the laws as well as you should too while trying to become a citizen. Do not harbor or support someone who is actually breaking a law.

Think key thing is the beneficiary needs to have a legal status (not just tourism) in the country you are intending to transfer to, can't just transfer to any embassy or a lot of people would be doing it. Also, it could take a month or two just for the transfer. Transfers are generally kind of slow.

Need more info to be able to assist you. Each embassy works differently so, in some countries you wait on the embassy, in others you're on your own. 

Any basic customer service probably. There are dozens of job sites but a lot want resumes and are more career oriented. I'd stick to hospitality perhaps? Obviously at an older age they aren't wanting to get into physical labor jobs so.

19 minutes ago, Shibuya Kid said:

Hello. So I sent my fiance all the documents via FedEx (wet signed everything) for the interview we had originally planned the end of April. Unfortunately my fiance failed her medical x-ray and we are expecting to wait the 2 months starting from April 25th then we also canceled her interview which was suppose to be a few days after the medical. I then visited her in the beginning of May to spend time with her and her family. 1 week after I came back from visiting her I finally got offered a promotion and new position in my company that I've been working hard to get which of course I accepted. Also, St. Luke's called her 2 weeks ago and freaked us out but said to come in on July 4th instead of June 25th for the medical results (they told us currently no signs of sputum culture being positive which is a good sign😀)

My questions are:

1. Do I need to provide a new I-134 and a new letter of employment? I asked HR for a new letter of employment and they said that I should just send them my acceptance letter which states my new income and start date and it does show my company's name on it. But there is no signature from HR on that document. I would have 2 pay stubs with my new income already sent to her by then. If you suggest yes then do I need to wet sign and send again or send through pdf email? She would have my old original wet signed with her just in case.

2. We are hoping to have her interview the week after her medical results. Would it be safe or risky setting up the interview already?

 

I hope my scenario and questions make sense. I'm interested to see your responses and thank you to everyone in advance!

If you can't obtain a new letter of employment, think you'll be okay. Manila embassy is notorious for not asking for I-134 or supporting documents (i don't know why as I think they should be honestly) so. At most I'd give updated pay stubs, can email these and your fiance print them, so if they ask your both prepared for it. 

1 minute ago, SmallTownPA said:

Ok, people are running scared because of a list of 'high marriage fraud risk' countries.

 

Where is this list?

 

Or are you really saying 'low approval rate countries'?

 

Please post a link to an authoritative source.

High risk is mainly do to low approval rates, not just with spousal visas or fiances visas, but also tourist visas and such. There is a general knowledge about these but doubt there is a specific list identifying them from any official government source.

7 minutes ago, Joe98 said:

Maybe someone can tell me what’s going on. I just where the US embassy in Manila Philippines is closing. What does this mean for people who will eventually be filling for the k1 fiancé visa? Where will this be done now or will this be done at all? Will they still be doing the visas there or moving the immigration service to another location?  I’m hoping someone can let me know what’s going on.

There is a bigger thread on this, you're like 4th person to ask over last couple days.. It isn't the embassy that is closing, just the USCIS field office. So DCF won't be available, but all other petitions will be unaffected. This is happening in a lot of other places also.

Should have submitted the oriignal medical reports/DS form with originally I-485 packet. While it may have expired during the AOS process, it was current most likely at original petition submission and those are still accepted generally. But regardless, go to the interview anyways as scheduled and see what happens.

Probably a lot. Those are estimates, and not always accurate. Also they generally are 'longest time estimates', even on VJ the timelines here are a very small percentage of total petitions being processed. Right now seems you're still within USCIS's time frame so.

Just search top right corner of the screen in the search bar for "AP" or "AP Morocco" and you'll find countless threads from there and a lot of other places.

AP is open ended, can be 2-3 days, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, or even years.  Yes years. It can't be bypassed or expedited. And while you can contact a congress person/representative.. they can not make the embassy do anything, merely "nudge" them.

AP is over once the embassy is done with it's security/background checks, verification of documents, ect. It isn't entirely the embassy dragging there feet, it's also the inability to find the information they need from the home country. It goes hand in hand.

Only way out of AP really is a "writ of mandamus" which essentially forces the embassy to make a decision on the visa, but generally as far as I know it causes a denial as the embassy did not finish their process. So kind of pointless.