shawarma_frites

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.

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

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.
 

CR1 would have been the better bet of look at the expedite option.

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.
 

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?

He already tried to leave and called the police and i hit him, which i didn’t. He knows that they would let him stay for domestic reasons. The girl lives here in the states and he had still been communicating with her out entire marriage

I don’t have anything to add other than what’s been said but I am sorry to see you’re experiencing this. What makes you think he came for the wrong reason? When you say he wants to leave, does he want to go back to JA or just leave the relationship? Is the woman here or in JA. Just asking because could it be that he’s just having a difficult time adjusting in the states? He got his GC in January, he could’ve left already unless he does not have anywhere else to go? Hope you guys can work it out🙏🏽

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

My NOA2 was sent on March 1, 2018!
 
I'm not exactly sure what day it arrived in the mail because I wasn't home.
 
As others have warned, USCIS has NOT been giving e-mail or mobile alerts or even updating case status online. 
 
For those wondering, our submission date was September 1, and our NOA1 was September 8. We received no RFEs.

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

You raise a really good point by asking wouldn’t it also be a red flag to not follow customary engagement traditions. It’s kind of like you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t and that doesn’t seem fair. I’m from Canada where culture is near identical to that of the states so I can’t relate but I sympathize with that. Perhaps if this causes an issue for you you could explain that it’s a traditional ceremony for ENGAGED couples and not a ceremony for actual matrimony. Then perhaps include some information on the ceremony itself, how long it’s been around in your culture, what exactly it means, etc. I often wonder how familiar USCIS agents are with other cultures and their traditions I think there are times when things probably need to be explained in depth. Best of luck to you!

It may not be an issue for every CO, of course. And, I'm speculating of course, but I think it's not strictly the henna that's the problem, it's the cultural significance typically attached to it. As you said, henna is a celebratory thing, and weddings are one of the most major times when it's used. Emphasizing that you received henna from your fiancé's female relatives strictly for an engagement and not a wedding might keep you in the clear. It's frustrating, though, wondering how close to the line you can tiptoe without crossing it and receiving a denial. For the sake of the K-1 process and AOS, we have to put our stock by paperwork, you have to have that marriage license before you're legally married. Period. But I guess the CO's see cases where in other countries legal marriage and cultural marriage (as you said, being able to legally consummate your relationship) might be confused under a country's laws. I mean, even in the U.S., some states do even recognize common law marriages, where if you live together long enough eventually you're considered married in the eyes of the law. So I guess marriage is a fuzzy thing sometimes, and for our process it's a bit nerve-wracking trying to find out what's "too engaged." Best of luck to all my MENA and Southeast Asia lovelies, though. We can do it! Just hang in there

I read that article too and it made me so mad. *I* am an American citizen, and *I* want the love of my life to be here as soon as possible. If USCIS could start serving me, as an American citizen, in a more expeditious fashion, I would greatly appreciate it.

http://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Algeria
 
http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Algeria
 
@shawarma_frites, ask other couples about their Interview Experiences and Veterans around.