Sockmonkey

Thanks, YuAndDan and Aussie. I'm sorry my question was answered in another post the same day. I try not to do that, but apparently I missed exactly the wrong thread yesterday. This is what I needed. Much appreciated.

JenM

You are right, I did not answer your question, but rather just commented how the self generated DS 230 would look, if you use color printer Vs black and white printer. The DS 230 forms sent by NVC does not have yellow highlighted area. They are just blank/white/gray. When I did our DS 230 forms, I used a black and white printer to print them out.

Thanks, Simple_Male. And I appreciate that you didn't take my post the wrong way!

JenM

I am flying home to the UK on Friday... I have in one suitcase a 10lbs bag of pancake mix, 4lbs bag of gummybears, 2lbs hershies kisses, 2 jars of Peach salsa and a 10lbs bag of mixed candy...

I have taken this sort of thing in the past and I have never been asked about it.... even when I had the case searched at customs.... all the guy said was oh Gummybears they are my fav too...

Have a good trip

Kezzie

Yay! That's exactly what I needed to hear! Have a safe journey, Kezzie. I hope we're able to enjoy good weather on our stays. There's a bit of a late-season heatwave in York this week, so I'm hoping it will hold up until I'm on my way home. My last visit in early May was brutal!

JenM

Hi. I was just reading the CR-1 Guide and noticed a form Of-169. I don't see that on the State Department web page. What exactly is that form and how do I go about obtaining one?

Also, a question from something I saw on another thread....is the UK one of the places that requires that DS-230 part II be brought to the interview unsigned, or do we send it to the NVC with Part I?

Sorry so many questions today. I lay off for a while and then cover a topic all at once as I get ready to do something with it!

Thanks,

JenM

What would happen if you claimed that all of it was for "personal consumption"? (seriously, I've carried much foodstuff from Canada into US that way).

Good question. I really don't know! I have combed the UK Customs site for information, and the closest thing I can find to an answer is that you can't bring in anything over £145 without paying tax on it. Does this mean I can bring in whatever non-liquid junk food I please unless the amount exceeds £145?

With my luck, I can just picture being held up at customs because I have an XL sized suitcase brimming with Barnum's Animal Crackers, Nutter Butter cookies and Reese's Cups!!!!!

JenM

The highlights will be visible, if you use a color printer to print it out. They won't be visible, if you use a black and white printer.

You are always very helpful, Simple_Male, but this time you didn't really answer my question. I only have a color printer, which is what prompted me to ask. I thought the question was pretty straightforward...sorry.

JenM

When I go to visit my husband in England later this week I am bringing two suitcases, one for my clothes and toiletries, and a second one that I will use to bring back some of my husband's things (so we can save shipping $$ later).

Since his family knows I am bringing what is essentially an empty case, I have been bombarded with requests for American candy and snack items. Frankly, it's a lot of stuff....enough to fill the whole case. As long as all of the items are individually permissable to bring into the UK, do you think I'll have trouble bringing the stuff in? Should I group things together and label them as to who gets what, to help show that they are gifts and not all just for one person? Because I already have to be prepared to prove that I am returning to the US, I don't want to add something else that is likely to be a big hassle/cause for scrutiny.

Thanks,

JenM

Last year, I did the same. All they asked for was my plane reservation number for my return and proof that we were in the process of him immigrating to the US. It was really easy.

Thanks, MrsWhizz. I will bring the NOA-1, a copy of my round-trip itinerary, and a letter from my employer just for gtood measure. It's good to know they don't make it too tough!

JenM

On the form DS-230 there are some fields that are highlighted in yellow. Since we're not supposed to make it obvious that we are self-generating, can anyone tell me if the forms the NVC sends have the yellow highlighted fields, or are they just black/white/gray?

Thanks!

JenM

Hi. I am leaving Wednesday to see my husband in England. I was thinking about the fact that if he were visiting me, he would have to show his ties to the UK to prove he did not intend to immigrate. It only just occurred to me that I might have to do the same thing to visit him!

Do I have to bring paperwork with me to prove I will return to the US? Would the NOA-1 for our I-130 suffice, to show that we are working on moving him, not me?

JenM

If you get a chance, go down to Torquay, right on the southwestern coast. It's so beautiful down there! I love Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. I'm sure you've been there! When I lived in England, I was so excited to find a TGI Fridays...they actually had one near Birmingham too!

My husband Richard is from York. It's a beautiful city and I love that part of the country, but to be honest I prefer Cornwall/Devon. I went to "Live 8 - Africa Calling" at the Eden Project last summer (big Peter Gabriel/Real World/WOMAD fan), and we spent some time touring the Southwest. Torquay was definitely a highlight, and I hope to go back someday soon.

I spent my first three trips to the UK avoiding all things American (though I have lunch at TGIFriday's regularly at home), but I admit that after a week or two I always start to feel the Starbucks tractor beam. In a few weeks we'll be in Llandudno, Wales for a fortnight, but no fear of seeing a Friday's there I don't think!

Are there any members here from Wales? I don't think I've seen any around.

JenM

Your I-130 application via Texas Service Center is now automatically forwarded to the CSC. You have to refer to the CSC chart to find out what is going on, however it is not even worth reading because it is truly not accurate anymore.

Hi, Brady/Vicky. Your post showed up while I was writing. When did you find out that your case got moved to CSC? Should new TSC applicants update our profiles to state that our service center is California instead of Texas once we have confirmation that this is what happened?

Congratulations on your gorgeous I-130 timeline! I want one just like it!

I hope this is no big deal, and I hope that by mentioning it now I won't freak anybody out unnecessarily, AND I hope I'm not repeating something that somebody else already posted, but I just checked the processing times page for TSC:

...and saw that form I-130 is nowhere to be seen. I checked the other three centers, and saw that Nebraska also has no information for I-130's. What does this mean, exactly? Since I haven't got an NOA-1 yet (too soon), I am of course a little bit concerned.

Alice

Hi, Alice.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I don't usually check that page! I sent my stuff to TSC only about a week before you did, so it looks like we're in the same boat. It's true, we probably got shifted to CSC, but I'm not going to "freak out" just yet. I try to think of it this way ... if they sent forms elsewhere because our service center was too bogged down, then I'm glad they're trying to stay on top of it. I've noticed several instances here of cases being shifted around, and judging from people's time lines it doesn't always necessarily equal a big delay. I'll keep my fingers crossed with you until our NOA-1's surface!

Welcome to VJ!

JenM

A further question. Paystubs aren't actually required until the interview, are they?

Thanks to those who answered. I have already sent in my form, per my timeline on my post. I was just curious if there was a "busy season" for applications. The graphs here show how long apps are taking to process, but that doesn't necessarily indicate when they were actually sent in. I just thought some of the long-time members might have noticed a pattern.

I do know to be glad that we started this whole business after the new I-129F form came out. My prayers are with those still waiting.

JenM

This is just a general question for my own information. As far as processing time goes, historically when is the best/worst time of the year to actually start (send the I-130 for) a K-3 process? I did look at the graphs here on the site, but they only tell part of the story. Veteran VJers, what have you observed?

Thanks,

JenM

Hi, everyone. Congratulations to those who have been surprised by fast I-129F approvals lately. It's energizing to see so many people moving forward!

I have a question about e-mail notifications. I have seen posts where VJers say they have recieved e-mails about their cases. I didn't see a place on the I-130 form where I could write in my e-mail address, though I did on the I-129F. So for the K-3, there are apparently some things that I will in fact be informed of via e-mail.

1. What exactly will those things be, and who will they be from?

2. Are e-mails always followed up by paper notices, or will there be some things that will only be communicated electronically?

Thanks!

JenM

I have a homemade script I follow when calling I have it about memorized but my average hold times are anywhere from 30minutes to an hour.

This is just my process for checking my status since I am unable to get my status using my MSC receipt number through the automated system and online access.

This is the sort of post that makes my day. Tips, tips, tips! Your current script is now the basis for my future one.

Ha! Maybe I'll even use your shower idea, to help make it a bit more relaxing ... better than the stress-eating I would have probably opted for on my own!

I'm just glad to see you didn't log off for good when things got a bit uncomfortable.

In my opinion, you can't unring a bell. He's here, you're married, and he has a family to take care of. I just hope his return to his home country won't cause your family too much financial distress.

At every web forum I've ever been on, even the nicest people manage to piss somebody off unintentionally. You don't need to apologize for politely seeking information in exactly the right place.

JenM

Hi, everybody. I finally sent our I-130 today, and I feel really great. It's not anything close to getting an approval, or even an NOA-1, but I'm still thrilled because now the clock finally starts ticking for my husband and I.

Thank you to everybody who answered my zillions of picky, paranoid little questions. I got a lot of excellent advice, and am very confident that our packet will sail through as smoothly as can be due to your kind assistance.

To celebrate, I changed my avatar and screen name (there were a lot of "Jen's" here before me, and I don't want to be confusing).

Now I can finally sit and wait for REAL! (any joy associated with that will get old FAST, I'm sure)

Cheers,

JenM

Thanks, everybody. Is Newark a designated POE? Since it's a hub for Continental, I would hope so ... .

1. lets say i enter US with K-3 visa,(cause i cant wait live apart any longer with my hubby) and i am not back to my origin country for i-130 interview ( i am thinking to have the interview in US) ,

2. After i finished the process i-130 interview in US , what kind of visa i get? IR1 or CR1 ?

felris,

Based on the above excerpt I took from your post, I think I read your question(s) differently from the other respondents. Are you asking if you can enter the US with a K-3 and then do the interview for the I-130 process here instead of Indonesia?

Lorelle, if this is what she means, maybe you can explain this as well. The answer is 'no', right?

desert_fox,

Not necessarily - especially coming from the UK.

Yodrak

your POE will be where the airplane first lands in the US....so you get to chose depending on which airline you use.

Yodrak, can you elaborate?

From USLEGAL.com - I hope this helps!

Moral turpitude refers generally to conduct that shocks the public conscience. Offenses such as murder, voluntary manslaughter, kidnaping, robbery, and aggravated assaults involve moral turpitude. However, assaults not involving dangerous weapons or evil intent have been held not to involve moral turpitude.

Moral turpitude may be a reason for deporting an alien.The alien must be convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude committed within five years after the date of entry, and sentenced to confinement or confined therefor for one year or longer. Although the conviction must occur within five years of entry, any entry into the United States may be used to support the charge of deportability. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a crime of moral turpitude is inherently base, vile, or depraved, contrary to social standards of morality and done with a reckless, malicious, or evil intent. It is a broad and subjective term that can be used for any crime that USCIS considers offensive.

Conviction of crimes of moral turpitude may also disqualify someone from an employment opportunity. The precise definition of a crime that involves moral turpitude isn't always precise, but the following crimes are always considered crimes of moral turpitude:

murder

voluntary manslaughter

rape

statutory rape

domestic violence

prostitution

fraud and crimes where fraud is an element

all theft offenses (but see receipt of stolen property below)

blackmail

malicious destruction of property

arson

alien smuggling

harboring a fugitive

bribery

perjury

Congratulations to all of those included in this new burst of approvals!

When the time comes ... and it's gonna be a loooong time ... how is the K-3 (or CR-1) Port of Entry determined? Can a specific POE be requested, or must it be the one closest to the Immigrant's new residence?

(My mom made me ask this - honest! We'll live in SC, but she's in NY and wants us to visit her upon arrival)