Jenni

So really because I already filed for K3, i just have to go along with that, right?

If my husband gets his interview date for the K3, gets the visa, then do we wait for the CR1 or does it not matter?

So the CR1 is cheaper but can you change to CR1 once you have already filed for K3?

sorry another question...

So if we are just going through K3, should we still continue with this CR1 by paying the IV bill or is this required to adjust status later in the US?

This seems so complicated!

Thanks so much for the reply!

So.. there are like two tracks kind of?

What is the difference if we do the get the K3 interview, he gets his visa and then he goes to the US, versus waiting for the CR1 stuff to finish while here in Albania?

Thanks again

The K3 is a non-immigrant visa and your husband will have to adjust his status once in the US. He will also not be able to work until he receives a work permit, and will not be able to leave the US while his AOS is processing without advance parole. The AOS fee is currently $1010. A CR1 takes longer, but it will give him an immigrant visa, so he will already be an LPR when he arrives, entitled to work or go to school if he wishes. Its just a question of how soon you want to get to the US and how much money you have to spare.

So really because I already filed for K3, i just have to go along with that, right?

If my husband gets his interview date for the K3, gets the visa, then do we wait for the CR1 or does it not matter?

So the CR1 is cheaper but can you change to CR1 once you have already filed for K3?

Thanks so much for the reply!

So.. there are like two tracks kind of?

What is the difference if we do the get the K3 interview, he gets his visa and then he goes to the US, versus waiting for the CR1 stuff to finish while here in Albania?

Thanks again

Ok, first of all nothing was changed. Both your I-129F and I-130 were forwarded to the NVC. You have done what you need for the K3, and just waiting for your interview date. But at the same time, you could follow the process for the CR1. If you are with your husband now and can spend a couple more months there I would sugest that you do that. You can get through the NVC in about 4 to 6 weeks and enter the US as a permenant resident.

Since you are just waiting on the interview for the K3, I would still go to the interview and get the K3, just in case something gets held up at the NVC with the CR1. This is exactly what me and my wife are doing.

No, you do not need to worry about faxing anything. You can do everything online. You can pay yhe bills and print the coversheets and everything. You will need to call the NVC and get the INN number.

https://ceac.state.gov/CTRAC/Invoice/signon.aspx

This is the link for doing everything online with the NVC.

Good luck

So I made a mistake in that I had my husband fill out his "Choice of Address" as his own, in Albania.

The NVC sent him the IV bill, but this needs to be in the US, so I (i live with my husband in albania currently) need to mail this to my parents, for them to get a money order and mail the $400 to NVC. But on the bill it says "do not duplicate or photocopy". Does this really matter? Is it ok to scan a copy of the bill, email it to my parents and be done with it? or do i need to mail the original?

Also, I am really confused. Doesn't the NVC usually send you packet 3? We aren't even finished sending this IV bill, but have already received Packet 3 from the embassy like 2 months ago, and returned the requested documents. Included was the DS-230. Does that mean NVC won't request another DS-230, or they probably will?

Also.. I just found out i was applying for a CR1 visa, as it is written on the IV bill. Originally I thought i was applying for K3. Somehow it changed without my knowledge...

Will we only get an interview date until everything is finished with NVC? I emailed the embassy here in Albania and they never said they were waiting on anything to come from the NVC or whatever. They just said my husband was in line waiting to receive an interview date, and due to the high amount of applicants it was taking a while.

Any insight would be great, but I understand each country may handle things differently...

lol this thread is pretty funny, and i can totally relate to so much of it!

my husband is Albanian and when we were first married (we were married here in albania where we are still living together until he gets his visa) we lived with his parents a while. And it is true, there is some belief among men that women actually enjoy doing all the housework and ironing! One time, for example, his father asked me to iron his clothes for work. I was doing it, and he said, but I don't want you to do it if you don't want to.. .Just if you would like to!! lol

Also my husband said that he would help in the house once we got our own.. because of course under his parents roof he really didnt do any housework. his mother, like the traditional albanian mom, did everything. however, now we have our own house and he hardly helps me at all. once in a while he does but... It has caused much arguing. He washes dishes occasionally now though... So I think he's getting better.

He didn't know how to cook, but I am slowly starting to teach him, however, at first he didnt even want to learn.

It totally must be a culture thing.

How do you like living in Albania? My fiance asks me if I could live in Kosovo. I am like yeah but I think I would get bored if I did not have a job and just doing housework everyday day in and out...At least he is trying but don't let his mother see him doing dishes she might have a heart attack......

It's ok living here in Albania, but I have had some really hard times. Mainly because we live in a very small town and I have nothing to do! I am used to having a job and having a car and thats been hard. THe language has also been difficult. I don't have a teacher and mainly have taught myself. My husband doesnt like to sit down with me and teach me from a book which is how i learn the best. He's good at practicing talking with though, which is also good. But anyways that said, I am mostly hanging out with my husband's guy friends who speak english. not many girls here that i know speak english it seems.. If they do, they have all moved to different, bigger cities. But things are getting better, as I have been here a year, I am able to speak and understand a lot more and this has helped. I am teaching english to Tili and 2 of his friends. I tried opening an english course in the town but didnt have much luck with that. It is also difficult here because its a small town and there are especially not many things for girls to do. Guys can go play pool or soccer, but girls are not allowed to do these things. Or its not so much not allowed, but its just the unwritten rule, you know? Even though its been hard I think its good in the long run that I've been here to understand and get a taste of Tili's culture.

Haha i have to laugh at the part about his mother seeing him wash the dishes. I remember when we were still living with his parents and his mother or sister saw him washing the dishes, they stopped him and told him he didnt know what he was doing.

As for english, my husband did study english in school and 1 year in university but mostly he has learned through speaking with me. He isn't good about studying, and sitting down with books but he seems to learn fast and pick up things from english movies he watches or just us talking together.

lol this thread is pretty funny, and i can totally relate to so much of it!

my husband is Albanian and when we were first married (we were married here in albania where we are still living together until he gets his visa) we lived with his parents a while. And it is true, there is some belief among men that women actually enjoy doing all the housework and ironing! One time, for example, his father asked me to iron his clothes for work. I was doing it, and he said, but I don't want you to do it if you don't want to.. .Just if you would like to!! lol

Also my husband said that he would help in the house once we got our own.. because of course under his parents roof he really didnt do any housework. his mother, like the traditional albanian mom, did everything. however, now we have our own house and he hardly helps me at all. once in a while he does but... It has caused much arguing. He washes dishes occasionally now though... So I think he's getting better.

He didn't know how to cook, but I am slowly starting to teach him, however, at first he didnt even want to learn.

It totally must be a culture thing.

I filed the I-130 to the Nebraska Center on October 24.

Is it true that these aren't being handled in Nebraska but are being transferred?

Is it possible to just go back to my husband's country and file there? Or is it too late because I've already filed here?

Thank you!!

Jenni

Well I was told the laywer sent my packet Sept 20 07 come to find out the service center did not sign for it till 4 oct 07. As of today have heard nada. After many days waiting for them to come back to the office after the holidays I convinced them to send out my I 129 with out the notice I never got.( just had them send proof that I paid and send the I130.) SOOOOOO I guess I am an October filler.

I sent mine in October to Nebraska. Still haven't heard anything. Do you think it'll go faster if you send the I-129? Where do you send it to?

see the age appropriate lists at this website. http://www.panelphysicians.com/Pages/Immunizations.htm They're pretty much the same from country to country, but this website is the immigration doctor in Ontario, Canada.

Do these vaccinations need to be done by the time of the interview?

Thanks

Jenni

My husband is Albanian and had most of the required vaccinations, but the records got lost in a fire.

Does he have to get them all over again? Does it need to be done by a certain doctor or any in the country?

Thanks

Jenni

Since you are sending the I-130 and I-129 packages separately, do the photos need to be the exact same? or can they be different?

Thanks

Jenni

DCF is faster but requires evidence of domicle in the US which can be a problem for some people.

Since you've only been there a couple months and you haven't "burned bridges" in the US it may not be for you.

Finances can also come into play.

I've no idea what yours are but if you do a DCF or normal petition now it looks like your 2007 ITR will be required at the interview.

If you do file in the US, is it required that you stay in the US? I have my parents in the US and my address is still there and they also have power of attorney for me.

I have been in Albania for 6 months but I am still waiting for a reply for them about my visa situation here..

I have also heard some bad things about the embassy here and it looks like the one other couple that went the DCF route got their visa after about a year!

My husband and I got married 2 months ago in Albania. We are still living here. Is it always the better option to do direct filing in the country you are in? I've heard bad things about the Albanian embassy.. Is DCF always faster? We are debating whether to file here or in the states (I live in Michigan).

Your input is appreciated!

Jenni

I'm currently in the US but am going back to be with my fiance in Albania in a few days. We will get married there in a month. Do I have to come back to the US to file the k-3? Or can I file it while staying in Albania?