shawarma_frites

On 9/26/2018 at 8:43 AM, dzmichellebkt said:

I am a USC and currently living in Algiers. I'm not sure if you're still going through the process or what but I will help you all that I can. I can certainly utilize my husbands brain for navigating things here. It's a tough place to get anything done for sure but rest assured many people have done it before you. 

Thanks, though he already has his green card. All done.

8 hours ago, Jaquelly said:

You're looking for a fight. I'm not the person who's going to give it to you. It's a long wait, but if you did your research before applying, you'd know that. Immigrating to America is a privilege. If it is such a hardship for you, perhaps Algeria would have been a more fitting place to live?

Why are so many Americans myopic when it comes anyone being analytical? You think I'm looking for a fight because you can't handle anyone who doesn't unabashedly worship the United States, I guess. I did my research and had a consultation with one of the top immigration firms in the country. You think you're cheeky suggesting that I go to Algeria, but I used to live in Algeria and due family and my career circumstances, he moved here. My husband never intends to become a U.S. citizen and within the next decade we're looking to return to Algeria or possibly go to France.

My husband was offered a research position at the local university and because of the long wait times for the EAD, he will likely be unable to accept the offer even by the start of the spring term. 

6 hours ago, IndigoPhantom said:

Damn! Harsh but true. The process is frustrating for majority of people but still the USCIS is dealing with massive amounts of cases, different visa classification, constant changing immigration rues and laws, and petitioners/visa seekers who are constantly calling impatiently wanting to know "what is going on with my case and why it is taking so long". It is true, if someone finds the process too daunting they should opt out.

 You guys think you're being cheeky but I used to live in Algeria and we're looking to return in the future--either that or France. As an American Citizen, I absolutely abhor the ideological indoctrination so many people suffer from. Americans tend to lose their minds over anything analytical and clutch the American flag to their chest.

56 minutes ago, Jaquelly said:

I was going to respond yesterday but it's hard to text when you're at the gym.

 

Everyone has different experiences with USCIS. We got updated online, via text, email and mail. The NVC was swift with our paperwork. I had a great experience, and I am sorry that you didn't. 

 

I am not going to bash USCIS. They don't work for YOU, they work for everyone. Just be grateful that you're not a June 2017 K1 filer that still doesn't have their NOA2.

Fallacy of Relative Privation. Just because my case was on schedule with the rest my cohort doesn't mean that there are not fundamental issues with USCIS. You're not looking at the bigger picture such as wether or not certain visa holders should even have to be put through a second processing and vetting. You're also not considering all of the ridiculous procedures people endure from "high-fraud" and lesser-economy countries. Many people have issues with USCIS and noting that isn't "bashing." 

2 hours ago, Jaquelly said:

Really, though?

 

Yes. There is vetting involved. However, you have to remember that all of the people who are applying for K1 and other visas that require an EAD are going to have to go through processing, which means that the lines are long and there will be a wait.

Certain non-immigrant visas are vetted so well that the classification could have an opt-in for immigrant status and be given an EAD (or dare I say even a green card) upon arrival, similar to the CR1 procedures. 

Sending certain visa holders for an EAD is superfluous. It costs everyone extra time and money to gather information that USCIS and Homeland Security already have.

And 6 months for an EAD was unheard of a couple years ago.

USCIS couldn't even be bothered to update our K-1 case online beyond the NOA1. The NVC sent us our notification well after the consulate contacted us for the DS-160. They also made typos on critical information. Many consulates no longer handle visa interview fees at the consulate, so we had to pay at a specific courier service with employees who provide a receipt. The employees didn't know American currency or the fee procedure, so they credited my husband as having paid a much lesser visa fee. If he hadn't noticed and drove home, he would have lost money on more fees and another day off of work. Speaking of which, people have to take time off of work to travel to a specific location (with ignorant employees) in order pay a visa fee because the consulate can't be bothered to deal with it? That's ridiculous. What's also ridiculous is that processing times are historically slow despite generous processing fees that are never structured to the local economy. My husband has a master's degree and the DS-160 fee was worth one month of his salary.

Immigration in the United States is such a racket: increasingly more expensive, increasingly slower, and more convoluted. It's time for USCIS reform.

Disgusting.

Considering all of the vetting and waiting involved in the K-1 and other visas, these processing times for Employment Authorization Document are pure insanity. 

43 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

No, you're wrong. K1 visa holders are eligible for an SSN as soon as they enter the US. I got mine 1 week after I entered 

What's the advantage of filing for a SSN so soon rather than filing with Employment Authorization?

Am I misunderstanding some detail about this post? I thought a K-1 (NON-IMMIGRANT) visa holder was not eligible to apply for a SSN until the Adjustment of Status (I-485) was filed, which is after the marriage. 

How could LoveLorn file for a SSN on a K-1 without marriage or Adjustment of Status?

8 hours ago, kris&me said:

you don't have evidence but you can gather some as any American woman would do

then go to an attorney and sue for divorce with your evidence asking as a wife for allimony as he has a green card and a job

have the attorney to offer an agreement to take you off the support order in lieu of allimony as he can now support himself

and don't let him talk you into helping him remove conditions in 2 years

get tough

And as a warning to Jass, if she is in the process of divorcing him for a sham marriage or has already divorced him by then, lying to have his conditions removed would be illegal. 

I am in a haze about about the NVC and packets 3 & 4. 

I mostly thought that NVC would approve the case; send to the embassy; I'd mail the I-134 (or I-864 if requested); SO would have medical appointment/vaccines; and SO would fulfill DS-160/schedule online for embassy interview. 

Now I'm seeing the need for police certificate that usually expires in 3 months and military records/card (Algeria). AND EVERYTHING LOOKS SO MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN I THOUGHT AND I'M STARTING TO WORRY.

Also, Algeria is a bureaucratic nightmare where it takes forever to have anything done. Having good supporting documents for the 129F was difficult. It was a herculean effort for him to receive his "certificate of non-marriage" and to have it translated by a state-sworn translator because they randomly close their businesses. 

Does anyone remember when the Algerian Post practically shut down for a month because of Ramadan? Most of the international mail was stuck in the Algiers Airport for 1 to 3 months. When he sends me a letter via the regular post, it takes THREE MONTHS to arrive. Expedited still takes too long. 

I paid $100 for 3-day business and it was lost for 2 months. 1/3 of our correspondences via post inexplicably disappears. Two years ago, I spent to $200 to expedite some documents via UPS who has their own airplane and office in Algeria...it still took a week to arrive. He lives just outside of the capital of the country, too. 

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My fiancé has a master's degree but works a high-stress shitty 54 hour/week $250/month administrative/IT job. He also has chronic fatigue and ADHD (and some Asperger's traits). He has definitely lived a sheltered life even by the age of 30. He doesn't have a car, so making appointments for the doctor, paperwork, and interviews is even more difficult. 

Now we're fighting over whether or not the embassy will request his conscription papers, which they will...  Long story short, after he finished his master's degree in 2012, the military made a clerical error and forgot to request for his service afterwards, and he never corrected them. He was granted clemency on January Ist 2017, but he doesn't have a final clemency papers (i.e. the military card). He submitted an application to receive the military card (hopefully April 19th). 

We've been together almost 3 years now. I love him so deeply and we've faced the grief of multiple family deaths together. However, this K-1 process is making me doubt his ability to live under U.S. bureaucracy. I doubt that he/we can handle this stress.

Does anyone have a link to the forum/topic for people who received NOA2? I cannot find it. 

I am in a haze about about the NVC and packets 3 & 4. 

I mostly thought that NVC would approve the case; send to the embassy; I'd mail the I-134 (or I-864 if requested); SO would have medical appointment/vaccines; and SO would fulfill DS-160/schedule online for embassy interview. 

Now I'm seeing the need for police certificate that usually expires in 3 months and military records/card (Algeria). AND EVERYTHING LOOKS SO MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN I THOUGHT AND I'M STARTING TO WORRY.

Also, Algeria is a bureaucratic nightmare where it takes forever to have anything done. Having good supporting documents for the 129F was difficult. It was a herculean effort for him to receive his "certificate of non-marriage" and to have it translated by a state-sworn translator because they randomly close their businesses. 

Does anyone remember when the Algerian Post practically shut down for a month because of Ramadan? Most of the international mail was stuck in the Algiers Airport for 1 to 3 months. When he sends me a letter via the regular post, it takes THREE MONTHS to arrive. Expedited still takes too long. 

I paid $100 for 3-day business and it was lost for 2 months. 1/3 of our correspondences via post inexplicably disappears. Two years ago, I spent to $200 to expedite some documents via UPS who has their own airplane and office in Algeria...it still took a week to arrive. He lives just outside of the capital of the country, too. 

16 hours ago, useful89 said:

LEtter does not need to be in both languages 

Good. That would be completely extraneous if the fiance is fluent in English.

14 hours ago, Kush_Omaded said:

From what I've read of other filers from the Middle East, too, henna in particular is a huge red flag for the consular officer. Even if you say it was just for your engagement party, I've read of another recent filer (from North Africa too, I believe, but somebody correct me if I'm misremembering?) whose pictures included content from a friends' engagement party or wedding. She had henna visible on her hands in the picture, and was naturally dressed nice, so the CO questioned her about it, thinking it was her wedding. Ultimately she had to provide proof from her friend certifying that the henna was from the friend's wedding and not the beneficiary/petitioner's wedding, and she was told she was lucky not to have been denied for it.

HOLY SH**!

We did henna and I included a photo of it because who in their right mind would consider a henna ceremony as proof of a legally-binding wedding?? It was included as sign of our commitment to each other and respect for his culture/traditions...which is important to show in the application. Besides, it was his mother and aunties who were just dying to do henna. His family was happy, respectful, and supportive of our union, enough to want to give us a henna ceremony. I think that's great.

We only ever called it an engagement party/ceremony in the application, and it was super intimate.

Can everyone just acknowledge WHY the MENA couples have engagement parties that are also secretive non-legal religious "weddings"? It's so we can finally consummate our relationship.  

Now, shouldn't it be a red flag that if we weren't following some traditions in order to sleep together? And wether or not it's technically legal to have pre-marital sex in that country, the U.S. shouldn't care. 

If the COs hold that against us, that's just proof that some COs would find any reason to deny a legitimately engaged couple the K-1. 

https://www.vox.com/2018/2/22/17041862/uscis-removes-nation-of-immigrants-from-mission-statement

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/agency-leader-insists-mission-statement-anti-immigrant-53316136

Quote

 

The director also told employees to stop calling applicants "customers."

In his message to them on Thursday, he wrote, "Use of the term leads to the erroneous belief that applicants and petitioners, rather than the American people, are whom we ultimately serve. All applicants and petitioners should, of course, always be treated with the greatest respect and courtesy, but we can't forget that we serve the American people."

 

Cissna told the AP on Friday that the word "customers" is business-speak and disrespectful to visa applicants.

 

"It's demeaning to them because a lot of times the sorts of things they're applying for relates to intimate family matters or refugees," he said. "We're not selling anything. We're not working in a bakery."

Cissna said feedback has been positive from employees, but others had strong reactions.

 

We're "customers." This is the mindset that many COs have, if not worse.

I repeat:

"Use of the term leads to the erroneous belief that applicants and petitioners, rather than the American people, are whom we ultimately serve [...] but we can't forget that we serve the American people."

What a backwards thing to say. The director is ultimately not disagreeing with the notion that immigrants are customers. Rather, he is implying that calling immigrants customers leads Americans to believe that USCIS puts immigrants' best interests above the interests of American citizens.

 I bet most petitioners ARE American people. They forget that there are Americans' lives being determined by USCIS. Here we have COs callously calling our loved ones customers. 

And using henna to deny a K-1 (even when a legal certificate of non-marriage is provided)? That's callous. 

6 minutes ago, ChuAni said:

http://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Algeria

 

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Algeria

Ah, I've read those before. I had never heard of a CO in Algiers accusing a couple of marriage (either posted here or on other forums), but that doesn't mean that they wouldn't try to accuse us like in other countries. The system is rather capricious. 

3 minutes ago, ChuAni said:

I believe it depends on the Country and USEM. 

 

Go to your Country's (Algeria) Portal and verify these. Read the Interview Reviews and Ask questions about it.

Verify what? Can you explain what you mean? 

I personally know the marriage procedures for a foreign spouse in Algeria because we considered it before deciding upon K-1.

4 hours ago, Naes said:

It is actually one of the biggest and most seen reasons of denial.

 

Cultural and Traditional ways of doing things are really important in the eyes of USEM.

they are also not eligible for CR1 or such, it is "too married for K1, not married enough for CR1"

Sure, but what if a traditional engagement ceremony is misinterpreted as a wedding by American standards?

1 hour ago, ChuAni said:

💯% Correct! "too married for k1, not married enough for CR1.

 

The most seen reasons for denial.

 

@shawarma_frites, @ana e jordan, @Mrsjackson try to visit #Ghana and #Nigerian Embassy Portals here on VJ and read about the denials some couples experienced. 

 

In Nigeria, a traditional marriage is seen as the person is married, and automatically 'ineligible for k1'. Some COs ask questions like 'Any Ceremony in Nigeria?' Even large engagement parties are frowned at, with all the reviews I've read.

So, let me get this straight...NOT following engagement traditions or celebrating genuine happiness of an engagement can be a red flag...but a large engagement party/ceremony can ALSO render one ineligible for a K1. 

I swear to god, sometimes there is no winning with USCIS. Some CO's must think some genuine couples are fake because they're not trying hard enough, or they're fake because they're trying too hard. 

Some people frontload and it works in their favor. Other people frontload and it looks suspicious.

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In Algeria, I had an intimate engagement ceremony at home with multiple traditional dresses and my fiancé in a suit. We also did henna.

In order to be married in Algeria, you must first register for a marriage license etc. like in the US, which we did NOT do.

We did draft a personal statement saying that we, as a couple are engaged, and had our signatures notarized. We thought that it was appropriate given that one of the required I-129F documents is a statement of intent to marry. We also included a secondary statement of intent to marry.

I hope the CO does not try to say that we're married, because that would be utter bullshit.

2 hours ago, ChuAni said:

 

I can remember I read somewhere 'Ghana Embassy', a couple was denied based on 'Too married for K-1 visa'. They attended the interview with loads of pictures showing their engagement party, pastor blessing them during the party etc. 

 

How is that possible? In the eyes of the U.S. government--you're either legally married or not. A spiritual union is not a state-sanctioned marriage in the U.S. If they didn't have a marriage decree issued by some level of the Ghana Government, then how could the U.S. consider that a marriage? If they were denied a K-1, but didn't have a marriage decree, how could they possibly be eligible for the K-3 or IR1/CR1? Did they really leave them in a bureaucratic grey area like that?

1 hour ago, Ontarkie said:

It's six months from the medical. So if the medical was done in Nov or Dec then 6 months from that date. 

 

Then the 90 days start on entry. 

How far in advance is the medical before the interview? 

If more than 6 months passes between the medical and adjustement of status, is another medical exam necessary?

For example if the K1 was issued on January 1, could the visa holder enter to the country on June 1, and then marry on August 29th? 

12 hours ago, janet3 said:

I returned from Algeria last night at midnight  (after traveling for 30 hours). I went to my fiance's interview with him  (the interview was on the 25th of October, I applied for the k1 on February 2, 2017, waited on the NOA2 for 169 days, then waited on an interview for 2 months). I am exhausted. I just want my fiance here with me. I do not care about weddings or venues or guests or dresses   (cake would be nice...I love cake). I am sure at this point in my life...the wedding isn't important....it's the marriage that matters.

Welcome home. How did the interview go?

I am the last person to dream of a wedding, but a small and modest ceremony and reception recognizes a marriage within the extended family and community. I think that is especially important when bringing a foreign fiancé to the US on a K-1. 

Ceremonies and receptions exist so that people can bear witness to and celebrate the legal and social bonding of a couple. 

53 minutes ago, Grace&Matt said:

My fiance and I did try to expedite our case because her mom wants to meet me in person before she dies. Unfortunately, they didn't approve our request. She just died 2 weeks ago due to lung cancer. It is so unfair because she was vegetarian, non smoker, and no other risk factor that we can associate to her condition. Even I wasn't there, I know that she is a good person, my fiance loves her so much. I saw her deteriorating for just 7 months of time. My fiance was about to breakdown and so as I because her mom was just in his house couple weeks ago, but now he is all alone, so instead of complaining, we are looking for ways how to cope up. I do feel you. Im sorry for your lost. 

I'm so sorry for your loss. How needlessly undiscerning (or heartless) for USCIS not to expidite your case. 

4 hours ago, Abdeslam said:

i think you should wait for the beneficiary to schedule the interview then you can buy your ticket , don't forget that a Us citizen need a visa to enter algeria 

I have a multiple entry visa valid until February 2019. 

My question is how much time usually elapses between the scheduling and the interview date? Last I knew, the US Embassy in Algiers was slow in handling their various visa interviews, which would be advantageous in this case--more time to buy my ticket!

1 hour ago, N-o-l-a said:

 

I actually watched my father die from stage IV cancer that had spread to his brain after filing the K1.  I moved to my husband's country afterwards and got married shortly thereafter.  Even the thought of having a wedding without him was too much to deal with.  Perhaps that is what is making you kind of depressed and saddened more so than the whole visa process?  I get it is hard to separate the two issues.  No one has ever questioned the legitimacy of our marriage, just doing it at a courthouse and all.  In fact, his parents and some friends were married in the same room at the same courthouse.

I'm so sorry for your loss. 

I feel bitter about the barriers that kept us physically apart at that time and that includes the bureaucratic barriers as well. USCIS does not give a about extenuating circumstances, but the family members in question are dead now anyway, so the extenuating circumstances are over. 

Outside of my immediate family, I don't really talk about him much, so it will come as a surprise to many people that I'm engaged. I'm just a private person anyway. Once he's here, I want total transparency. 

I feel very protective of him given the bad reputation of K1 visa beneficiaries, especially for brown men. (It drives me crazy that people don't know that it was our long term plan to settle in *his* country indefinitely until my family requested otherwise. It drives me crazy that they'll think that we immediately decided to have him immigrate to the U.S.)

He/we deserve to have people know that we have a committed and long term relationship and they should know about the losses and barriers that we faced to be together. Why? Because it's humanizing. People should have the opportunity to meet my humorous, caring and intelligent fiancé before falsely judging our union. I don't want any air of perceived illegitimacy.  And the best way to manage this? It's a small wedding.  

After that, their perceptions are completely out of my hands, but at least I did my part to give us a respectable start in the eyes of my community and extended family. 

Where I am from, even with local couples, a courthouse wedding doesn't grant the same kind of social legitimacy that a proper wedding ceremony provides. And I guess I feel like because our wedding is a one time experience that we would regret not having a small ceremony and reception.