misken

Hey everyone! We sent in our packet from Kuala Lumpur on January 30 (we did it together in Malaysia), it was received on February 2 and we received our NOA1 text notification on February 7! We were shocked at how fast it was too, hopefully NOA2 will surprise us too!

Hey everyone! We sent in our packet from Kuala Lumpur on January 30 (we did it together in Malaysia), it was received on February 2 and we received our NOA1 text notification on February 7! We were shocked at how fast it was too, hopefully NOA2 will surprise us too!

It might take longer for some but remember they will get to your case eventually. Try to find things in your life to do that you can control while you wait like getting in shape or saving up extra money or try to learn your fiances language for example. Also for beneficiaries remember that you might not see your families for awhile so enjoy this time you have with them. Your time will come soon!

I think it would be helpful to tell my experience to those people who still have lot of doubts or questions about the interview in Naples, Italy (K1 VISA).
 
FIRST DAY: I arrived to the ISTITUTO DIAGNOSTICO VARELLI for the medical exam around 7:40 am and I had already 8 people in front of me waiting, so I suggest to arrive probably around 7:30 and not at 8:00 like the Consulate suggested. I had the blood tests, urine, the chest X-ray and all the vaccines required. At the end they asked me questions like: "do you smoke?" "did you ever had surgery?" "do you have kids?", basically they just wanna know something about you, it was really smooth. I spent 271 Euros for the visit (and not 220), because I forgot the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella). (They will ask you the pictures 5x5 so don't forget to bring them with you at the visit and of course, the passport).
 
SECOND DAY: My appointment was at 9:30 am, I arrived at 9:00 but I had to wait in line for awhile ( I guess they don't let you in if you arrive too early). I was really nervous but I was trying to appeare normal so I went inside. Two girls asked me if I had all the documents required, such as the DS 160, birth certificate, criminal records, affidavit of support and the pictures (5x5), after checked all the documents they asked me to sit and wait my number. After a few minutes it was my turn and the woman (she was italian) asked me the copy of the payment of the request fee (225 Euros), the DS 160, birth certificate, criminal records, the pictures (5x5), my fiance's tax return and Affidavit of Support. Unfortunately my fiancèe didn't have enough income so she asked if I had a JOINT SPONSOR and lucky for me I was prepared for this. We asked to my fiancèe's dad to help us so I brought with me all his documents and she accepted them. She asked me to sit and wait for the interview with the console. The lady who interviewed me was really, really nice. She was speaking in italian but she had the american accent. I spoke in english the whole time but I guess you can choose. She asked me:
- How did you met your fiancèe?
- How many times you visit him?
- You ever met his family? Does he ever met yours?
- What's his job? What's yours?
- Why you want to get married in the US? 
- How did he propose?
- Have you ever been married before?
- Can you show me some photos?
I brought 45 pictures of us, so she was satisfied. Of course I had other proves like chat logs, screenshots, tickets, cards but she didn't care. The photos were enough. I think these are the usual questions for a K1 Visa.  But at the end of the conversation she said "YOUR VISA HAS BEEN APPROVED. WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES". I was so happy that I wanted to cry! 
 
Well, THAT WAS REEEEALLY EASY. The only advice I can give you is: don't be nervous. I know its hard not to be but if you have all the documents everything's gonna be alright. DON'T FORGET TO MAKE COPIES OF ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS. 
 
Good luck guys! 
 
 

Man, I know you're frustrated being skipped over and all...but crashing every thread on VJ saying things like "You are ONLY on days 1, 40, 130, 195 and 200!..." (as if we all should feel and process this dreadful long wait the same way)... only comes off as belittling other people's feelings
 
The thing is... every case being unique, most of the anxiety that many of us here feel is not so much just because of this dreadful long wait, but rather also not knowing whether our cases will be approved or denied and have to take another route and start this whole process all over again...
 
I don't think there is anyone here on VJ who doesn't know by now that you are still waiting for your NOA2...and believe me, everyone here is hoping and praying for you and Rose...even those of us who are not believers, we are praying that your case and other July 6 filers get assigned to an adjudicator
 
I know there are some April even March filers who are still waiting for their NOA2s...
but heyyyy...Welcome to Planet Earth where life ain't fair...
 
All of us want to be with our SOs and it's only natural for some people to take this harder than others and there is nothing we can say to make them feel better
 
VJ is a safe place for all of us to come rant and vent...and that makes us feel a little better

The least they can do is give us a discount on the adjustment fee. It is offensive that they are charging us way more for a slower process. The reason people pay the $1000 more for the fiance visa is because it is quicker! Take that away and 90% of the people would of not applied for the Fiance Visa. This is a slap to the face to all the American Citizens going through this process. I for one am not staying quiet. I am sending letters to my Senator and Congressman. A letter to Trump, and letters to media sources. If we want to be heard we have to be loud. We are the government, so I highly urge everyone to be active.

OP, your words really resonate with me because I find myself in a vaguely similar situation and I can fully empathise with the rollercoaster of emotions you're experiencing.
 
My husband and I currently share a house with his mother and younger sister and although I was well aware this would be the living situation before I moved out here, I was unprepared with just how hard it was going to make things. The house we live in isn't really suitable for sharing; it's too small and lacks any sort of space or privacy. My stepson is at our house every day as well, so evenings are really hard for me as the noise reaches an almost unbearable level for me. I spend a lot of my time in our bedroom, and often feel as though I am living in someone else's home. I've struggled since moving here with the lack of control I feel like I have over my life at the moment. I have moments of feeling resentment for everything I gave up; a well paying job, a car, independence, family, friends, home comforts, my own home and space.
 
I finally started working just before Christmas, and received my greencard not long after. It has made a huge difference to my outlook, and it does make it a little easier. I now have something that is mine, separate from my house which was starting to feel like a prison because I had nothing out with it. I feel like I'm regaining my sense of independence and self worth, I'm making friends and have something to apply myself to. Hopefully when you have the ability to work, it'll help you feel less lost.
 
It's freakin' hard starting out new, marriage has its challenges and combining that with being in a new country without friends and family for support, it can be an overwhelming and daunting road ahead. You can do it! Please, please, please feel free to PM me if you want to talk, I totally understand how you feel and what you are going through. I honestly feel like I want to reach out and hug you .
 
Chin up. You got this!
 

There's no petition nor option to front load a tourist visa application. The DS-160 only has basic fields about the applicant, their employment, relatives in the US, and  Yes/No type questions. Sometimes there's an option for a (very short) explanation with certain negative responses, although nothing jumps out to me as an appropriate response of where to list this item.
 
There is no IO involved. Just a CO. And no daily/weekly/monthly/quotas exist.

Yes, Malaysia (KL) accept co-sponsor

It's this kind of thing that annoys me. She used a USC for immigration benefit. As soon as she got her citizenship she divorced him and is going to re-marry her original husband to bring him here. That was the plan all along. Why didn't she bring the child with her when she came on a K-1? Because there was never any intention to build a family life with the USC husband. 
 
She can marry when she is legally free to marry (if there is a waiting period following divorce in her state of residence then she will need to wait that long after the divorce  before marrying again). She can petition as soon as they are legally re-married. Whether the visa will be approved or not is a whole other story. 
 
Which country is this? 

With all due respect to everyone here (and I really mean that), I'd urge you not to pass judgment on this couple, and the OP in general, due to age. I'm sure we have all done things in our past that others would find questionable. My sister and her husband started dating at age 14, and are still going strong 19 years later. Meanwhile, I have seen relationships fail despite those involved being 50+ years old. Age is not indicative of a relationship's potential for success.
 
OP, I would recommend waiting to file until you are both 18. Your partner's family situation may be poor, but sponsoring an underage romantic partner -- even if you are very close in age -- may not bode well for your petition.
 
You will need to get some details straight prior to filing. For example, you will need to quantify how finances are 'not an issue' and determine if your parents, or someone else, will be offering financial support. If so, they should be prepared to declare their financial commitment formally and participate in immigration proceedings.
 
If finances are truly not a big issue for you, have you and your partner looked in to a student visa? I'm not sure where you live in NY, but perhaps your partner could attend SUNY, or something similar, on a student visa while you get things straightened away and, if needed, better establish your relationship.

I loved saying that when I was 17 too.

great title

I tend to agree with you and often times I will also advise couples to pursue the CR1 as opposed to the K1, but I think there are other reasons other than speed that drive a K1.  Often times it is difficult to have a legal wedding in a fiance’s Country, or even in a third country.  I know when I researched it I would have had to be in Russia for 32+ days to have a wedding there.  Having it in another country was also out for us for various reasons.  I think the thing that most people that take the K1 route is how best to help their now spouse adjust to their new life.  When my fiancé got her visa, she did not jump on the first plane here, rather we took about five months to plan a nice wedding, and to plan the adjustment period for when she arrived.  Upon arrival, we took two weeks (which of course is not a lot of time) for her to get her sea legs so-to-speak, and decide if this was right for her.  She was able to meet her future family and get to know them, we also set up some friendships even before she arrived, and we set up some Community College courses for her to take.  When I went back to work after the wedding, we also decided to get a puppy so she didn’t feel so alone while we were AOSing.  I think the biggest thing that annoys me is the amount of people that do not take the time to research immigration when they embark on any visa, but I guess that is why we have VJ, and I guess there will always be questions that seem repetitive.

News flash. We ALL had to wait and be apart from our partners. This is no brainer. What you want to do is illegal. Might end up with aos denied. Do you think Uscis is stupid and won't see that you just went back to UK to wrap some things up and come with on vwp with intent to adjust? Please act like a grown up and do the spouse visa. Which is the only good way. I'm sorry but I really hate when people are trying to play the system while all of us had to wait. 
 
Besides you're already on the better position than most of people. You can visit your spouse during the cr1 process on your vwp.  

Don't get offended but that is a very narrow minded question. You are questioning things that are important to other people that you admit is not important to you.
 
Your fiancé being with you right away was your goal. That is fine. Others want their significant others to also feel like the are contributing to their home and to society by becoming a legal permanent resident.
 
It is ignorant to be like, "I didn't  need my fiancé to have status right away, so I don't see why everyone else is so determined to have it."
 
In closing, and at the risk of being edited by the mods, this is a wasted thread.
 
 
 

I'm saying these are human beings that grew up here. This IS their home. The majority are highly educated, speak fluent English, contribute to society, pay taxes, all that jazz. Many do not have relatives in their countries of birth, nothing to go "back" to.
 
From a simple financial outlook... taking 800k hardworking highly skilled workers out of the workforce is going to be a massive blow to the economy.  

You also have to live in reality.  The reality is that as of now most of these ppl are American. They know no other country. They are not to blame... the US has invested tons of money into them already. An investment that will only be returned by letting them stay. Not only does this decision make no sense from a humanitarian point of view - but if the economy is your argument it also makes no sense..  you'll have a hard time arguing that they are criminals since there are requirements on DACA applicants that prevent that. 

I fail to see how one man's action is owned by anyone but himself. That's like saying it's your fault I hit you. He owns his decision. No one made him do this but himself.

Trump wants to strike a deal with the Democrats. He gave it 6 months, I give you DACA you give me the supposed southern wall funding. But hurricane Harvey could have gave Trump a way out. The damage left behind is at least $180B. Plus there is another one heading towards Florida. The wall is estimated to cost between $70B to $150B. Do you give the funds to rebuild Texas and take care of the people or build a wall? Maybe the administration can build giant umbrellas over the states too.

This made me sick to my stomach. On the other hand, not much that man does doesn't. 
"I have so much love for the dreamers"
Pfft .. if that's how you treat ppl you love.
..

Well at least Trump has great heart for DACA beneficiaries. I'm sure that will comfort them greatly as they traverse foreign streets perhaps not speaking the local language. 
 
I hear Google Translate is actually pretty good these days. 

Not an April filer but would like to wish everyone luck
 
When you receive your NoA1, check all the details listed of the petitioner and beneficiary. Contact USCIS if there are any mistakes for the names, dates of birth etc. USCIS has a e-Request portal here https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do
 
After receiving your NoA1 hardcopy, don't forget to update your VJ timeline. Refer to the hardcopy's notice date.
 
For your information, all I-129F submissions are sent to CSC now so your service center should be updated as CSC on your timeline. Your NoA1 will bear a WAC receipt number. If your case is transferred out of CSC later, you will then receive a new and subsequent notice (not the NoA1) stating where it is transferred to. 
 
Consider signing up for a myUSCIS account here https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/displayLogon.do. This page is useful when you want to check your case status. However, there's not much to see at the NoA1 stage as there won't be any updates until they start adjudicating it. At NoA1 stage, it just tells you the same thing as the text, e-mail and hardcopy. But if your case is transferred out, there would obviously be an update online (corresponding with the new notice) in between the NoA1 and NoA2.
 
While waiting for your NoA2, refer to the VJ guide http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide to find out what documentation you need to prepare for the K-1 stage.
 
Always refer to the official websites to download or complete the latest forms as well as to find out about the fees. 
 
USCIS forms: https://www.uscis.gov/forms
 
USCIS fee schedule: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
 
DS-160: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
 
Best of luck and congratulations in advance on your NoA1 and subsequently, your NoA2.

Ah, that's good! You're on top of things it seems, nothing to worry about then.