Matcoody

This probably belongs somewhere else on this site, but I am posting it here because this is where I was active, and I want to thank the people who were so helpful answering my questions.

My Sweetie has been diagnosed with cancer. Luckily it's treatable and was caught fairly early, but it has made us think a lot about our plans. We have decided that I will move to the UK, so he can stay near his family and we can cut the waiting time to be together. The American immigration process is just too stressful and too long under the circumstances, and even if he got here fairly soon there would be the matter of changing doctors, treatment, and dealing with insurance issues.

I wish everybody here the very best of luck with their visa journeys, and I will miss checking in here every morning to see what's new in the World of the Waiting. If I remember right, Tim is coming home to Bethanie today.....I wish you both all of the happiness you can handle! We'll be okay, and we found out that I can be in the UK well before Christmas with no problem at all. Granted, theirs is a much smaller place, but their system for marriage visas is much simpler and more compassionate. Maybe we'll look at coming here later on, but honestly I think the K-3 and CR-1/IR-1 processes are so cumbersome that it might just be better to stay where we landed together first. Is it fate?

Take care everybody.

Cat

Congratulations to both of you. You've been such a help to so many people here, and always so patient......it's great to see you reach this moment in your own personal VJ!

Cat

Thanks, Everybody.

I think I know what I am going to suggest this evening...that we continue with both options for now. It won't be too much more money to keep them both rolling through the NVC leg, and maybe things will be more clear to us when it's time to make a final decision.

Cat

And T&B...just a few days left, huh? I'm excited for both of you. Congratulations!

1)The $70 fee at NVC with the I-130 is for the Affidavit of Support

Sorry. Got my fees confused.

Which District Office will you be going through with the adjustment of status process? Some can take up to a couple of years to finish processing. This is something worth considering as well.

I live in NC (Go Tarheels!), so my District Office is in Atlanta, GA. Not the fastest!

Thanks for your advice.

Cat

Two other questions on this. The report is valid for 12 months, correct? I only just sent my I-130, and now my I-129F. If we send off for the report now, we should still be able to use it at least for a K-3, but will they mind that it's a few months old, as long as he's never had any trouble with the law?

Also, will we need two originals if we go for the K-3 interview and then go back for a CR-1, or can we use a copy for the second interview if it's still within the 12 months?

Thanks,

Cat

I don't see where there is a huge difference in cost financially. Where there is a difference is the amount of time spent on one or the other. Personally we weighed it out not monetarily, but emotionally and the amount of stress one or the other might cause for the entire family. CR-1 you have the added wait for the interview, do a few extra bits of paperwork through your process, but when that visa is in hand it is done for the next 21 months. K-3 you can either adjust status, or travel back for your CR-1 (added flight means added money). For the K-3 toss in the adjustment time, travelling for your appointment and the cost that might entail, and also the fact if you need two incomes the stress of financially just getting by. Maybe it is a good idea to compare the two financially side by side, there is something for you to do while you wait.

Thanks for your advice, T&B. And thanks also to Buttons for breaking down the AOS costs. So tell me this, so I know I'm figuring this right:

1) Once the I-130 is approved and goes to the NVC, we will get a bill for fingerprinting ($70) and an IV fee bill ($380), plus we have to pay for costs associated with the medical exam. Are those the only fees/expenses to get the CR-1 visa in hand?

2) Once the I-129F is approved and goes to the NVC, I know there is the $70 fingerprinting fee, but what other fees/expenses will it take to get the K-3 in hand? You can obviously skip the AOS/EAD charges, which Buttons has kindly laid out for us. I have read the guides, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.

TYVM,

Cat

Congratulations to all of the speedy K-3 approvals, and my prayers are with those who are waiting in what certainly seems to be an unfair situation.

With the speed at which the new I-129F's seem to be getting approved, my Sweetie and I are torn. Before all of these "surprise approval" posts started popping up, we had planned to let both the K-3 and the CR-1 processes run and see what happens. It seemed like the gap between the approvals was pretty close: if he came home on a K-3 it wouldn't be long for him to go back for a CR-1 interview, so we could get him working sooner. Now I wonder if we should abandon the CR-1 idea and just go the EAD/AOS route. Last night we decided it would probably come down to cost, and the good advice of VJer's.

After the initial cost of filing the I-130 and the I-129F, what is the breakdown for costs of forms and fees associated with each path (including the AOS process for the K-3)

I may not be the only one out there right now who would like to see these side-by-side, and I haven't found another post that covers them together like that.

Thanks as always for your help!

Cat

PS: What impact is this rush of I-129F approvals going to have on the Embassy/Consulate wait times? Should we expect a major bottleneck?

My US husband has been granted a spousal settlement visa for here in the UK which is where we live now (we have been here for two months). If he stays here and works, and he has no employment lined up for the states when we apply through the London office, will that be held against us? Would it make more sense for him to take a job now (he is a teacher) in the states and then start all over again, reapplying from the states? Our first attempt from the states was turned down because we didn’t have enough money to use for collateral, my husband could not sponsor me because he had spent the last 4 years in college and did not work. Thanks for your help!!

I don't mean to butt in with only an inkling of how this works, but I'm pretty sure he will need to have a secure income in the US before you can apply, unless you have someone else in the US who is eligible/willing to sponsor you. His UK income will end when the two of you move to the States, and it's your support on US soil that they're going to care about. I'm sure somebody else will come along and elaborate more fully.

Cat

Yes, NVC's Ds 230 is two sided, but they also accept the one sided DS 230 (total 2 pages) that you can download from the websites. But don't send the DS 230 until NVC generates DS 230.

How will I know when that happens?

Thanks,

Cat

I know I just saw this posted in another thread last week, and I searched for quite a while before asking but honestly I figure it's a very short-answer for whomever responds, so I'll give up the hunt and ask.

Is the DS-230 that the NVC sends printed on one side or two?

I want to reproduce the packet as authentically as possible, just to be on the safe side.

Thanks!

Cat

meauxna and ada,

A K3 has to include a copy of their I-94 if filing as (a)(9), or a copy of their filed I-485 (or together with I-485) if applying as a (c )(9) family-based applicant for adjustment.

Either way, they have to enter the USA before they can apply for EA.

Yodrak

Yodrak, since the K-3 is a multiple entry visa, she can come in and apply then go back for the 3 month wait, right?

And meauxna, I was going to mention your nick as well. If you don't mind saying it here, is your real first name Mona, or even better, is it actually meauxna?? Even with a few years of French in school it took me a few posts for the pronunciation of your name to sink in. Don't you hate it when you see a screen name and you can't figure out how in Heaven's name it's meant to be said?

My nick is my e-mail account name. My name is Catalina Moody, and honestly the answer is as simple as when I signed up for my e-mail account I couldn't find a name that wasn't bloody taken, so I switched up my initials. Not a very clever story, really. I should have made up something much better!

Cat

It sounds as if you read a recent thread talking about a K-1s employment authorization. They *do* have the ability to get a special work permit in their first 90 days.

K-3s do not have this option.

Meauxna, just out of curiosity, what is the rationale for this distinction?

Cat

Thank you, Aussiewench. That was exactly what I needed.

And Yodrak, the second item might have been superfluous from your advanced perspective, but a lot of people here still have their Immigrations training wheels on and appreciate answers that anticipate all (or at least other) questions or misinterpretations. Aussiewench is particularly adept at this.

Cat

it is correct. If the couple did not get married in either the US or the home country of the beneficiary, then the K3 interview will be held at the US consulate in the country where they got married.

I'm sorry, your second sentence has muddled me a bit. My own fault, I'm sure. So because we married in the USA he will be required to come from Britain to interview here in the States?

Why does it seem really strange to me that the foreign spouse would be asked to come all the way here when he or she may not be allowed to stay (if not approved)? And why would this apply to the K-3 but not the CR-1, for which I know my husband has to interview in London?

For some reason the path of the I-130 is much clearer to me than that of the I-129F. Thanks in advance for sorting me out. I'm sure I'm missing something big, and by the time I read the response to this post I'll feel like a total idiot..................

Cat

By the way: Especially after a very recent thread I read this morning, I have enormous appreciation for what the veterans here deal with. You're all unpaid volunteers, you deal with the same old questions ad nauseum (sometimes even in concurrent threads) from newbies who are often either lazy, lost, oversaturated or have a language issue, and most all of you have the patience of angels. I know you must get something out of it or you wouldn't stick around, but big thanks for putting up with so much.

I was reading a thread about a woman who was thinking of coming to the US to have her baby so the kid would be a USC. NO, that's not what I'm asking about (!), but as the thread spun off on tangents, someone mentioned that the K-3 interview takes place in the country where the couple got married. There were a lot of senior members on that thread, and nobody corrected it. Is this true?

That doesn't seem to make sense, but as I said, nobody corrected the poster who mentioned this. I figured this could be because the thread got seriously convoluted as it went on, but I thought I'd ask since I just married my Sweetie here in the USA (though he is now back in the UK).

Cat

it has now been 3 weeks since we submitted the application and we still have not recieved the NOA1.

I see fom other peoples timelines that this usually arrives within 2 weeks.

Sarah and Brian,

Mine only took two weeks, sent 29th of July, but it seems there isn't always any rhyme or reason (as you can see from Dylan's Wife's own time line). Doesn't seem very fair that they seem to be working out of order, and it definitely bears asking if it's normal, but I wouldn't worry too much just yet.

I'm glad I got mine so fast, but then I look at the other members who sent their stuff to TSC before me and it does make me kinda mad. Our situations could very easily have been reversed.

It's been about 6 weeks for me and my spouse and we still do not have a NOA yet either or anything for that matter. Just a verbal confirmation that they did receive the application. Our paper work got sent to California, another person reported a lag there too. I'm not sure about Vermont though.

Dylan's Wife,

Is there any way of knowing (or even guessing) why yours got sent to California? Didn't Vermont just send a bunch of stuff to CSC and TSC? Jeepers. I'd almost rather my stuff stay put and take a little longer than have it shipped all over creation (which probably takes just as long in the end), risking who knows what. I hope you get your notice soon........and Sarah and Brian, too.

Cat

I bank with a credit union. Maybe that's the problem. But even if they just wanted two pieces of ID, he can't appear in person to provide it since he really can't visit me here until the visa is in hand. I'd really feel better having his name on some stuff, but it seems like a very tall order. Kinda sucks.

Oh, and we weren't married in 2005. Just got hitched a couple of weeks ago. Ha! If we had only known!

Cat

Just a note for K-3 petitioners who have digital phone service through Time Warner Cable - I just found out you can't get an itemized phone bill for your international calls. They bill calls within the USA as a set fee with no itemization, and though they do show a separate charge for total international calls for the month, they do not itemize and cannot do so upon request, even for a fee. I know we don't necessarily need phone bills, but be advised that if you feel you might need the extra evidence, TWC is no help at all.

Cat

Another question. I read that it's good to show that you have establishe some joint accounts or other joint assets together. Since my guy doesn't have a SSN, I haven't been able to add him to anything at all here.

Does anybody have any suggestions for things we can get his name on (without a SSN) that would be weighty enough to prove we have started merging our resources? Thanks!

Cat

I had the same trouble. I couldnt even get hold of my adult immunizations. Thats how great the NHS is. They have no clue.

Anyway, when I went for my medical at Knightsbridge I just paid to get them done. They didnt seem to worry about if I had already had them etc, they were more than happy to jab me and take my money. I think it was about 35 pounds per shot.

Thanks, and *wow*! £35 each? That hurt worse than the injections, I'll bet! Hmmm. And it was just the tetanus and mmr? If that's all then I can see if he can get the mmr done ahead of time to save the sticker shock. I know he had the tetanus just two years back. We'll take that £35 and go to dinner in London after the interview!

Cat

He can have a blood test done, titres to check his immune level. The ones he will likely need are tetanus and mmr.

Thanks, T&B. Just those two things? Is that all you needed?

Congrats on making it to the end of your long journey. From your photos and your posts you seem like such nice people - I'm very happy to hear that you'll finally be together for good. Best of luck!

Cat

Hi again.

We are trying to get a copy of my Sweetie's immunization records so we've got them when we need them, but his physician in England says she only has access to his adult records. Most of the big immunizations were given at school, and we are having trouble finding out how to get a copy of this older stuff. We checked with his parents to see if they have any old paperwork, but they insist nothing was ever sent home with him and they don't have any sort of immunizations book like the kind my parents had for me here in the US.

Can someone here with a UK partner who has already done this please suggest what we should do? The people he's called at the local schools are clueless. Thanks!

Cat

Matcoody - I found myself thinking this earlier tonight, that the reason i come to the site so much is because i feel like everyone here better than any of my friend really understands how i feel.

Yet i realised i dont think i have ever read a thread where anyone has asked this question. I am so tired of my friend saying things like "you will see him soon", "It will be over before you know it", " You know what you were getting into". Yet when i ask then could they be without there spouse for x amount of time they say no without hesitating.

I also try to explain that what person in there right mind would activly choose to fall in love with someone from the otherside of the world. I had no choice in it, it just happend, being without my husband is something i have been doing for 3 years. I wake up feeling like something is missing when we are apart and i think if anyone the members here know what i am talking about.

I think alot of my friends take there loved ones for granted and through this process i have learnt that never ever take anything for granted, but cherish the time you have.

I wish all of you hugs, and speedy processing!

Amen, Sister.

I feel for my friends and family sometimes because they want to show support but there's only so much they can say, and everything always comes out like a cliche no matter how pure the sentiment. Isn't it true of pretty much all tough life situations?

The people who love me also love my Guy and genuinely want us to be together, and just knowing that helps a lot. You're right, this whole thing has taught me not to take any one of those people for granted.

I receive an annual statement from my employer that says what my salary is for that year (because we get a 3% raise every year). On my tax return, my "wages, salaries, tips" from my W-2 states a lower amount, as I have a pre-tax insurance deduction.

Which amount should I include on my I-864? Should I send a copy of my salary letter along with the other supporting documents?

documents needed for interview

proof of relationship

1.NBI clearance

3.marriage certificat(nso)

4.birthcertificate(nso)

5.W2forms

9.recent income tax payment statement

A few questions:

What is NBI clearance?

What do you mean by (nso)?

W-2 forms? Not just tax statements? Why?

About the 'recent income tax payment statement' - what is the difference between a payment statement and a regular tax transcript? If I owed tax $$ last year, do I need to present proof that the balance has been paid in full?

Thanks!