Ruticus14d

So what is the filing fee for the form? Do we have to pay twice as we are submitting two different versions of the form? Also... I dont have access to my actual tax returns from last year thanks to a lovely fire. I still have all my W-2's however along with paystubs and employment varification letters. Will they satisfy the checked box in #25 or am I kinda up a creek here?

Hi All,

My wife and I are about to file for AOS. Since I was a full time student last year I did not meet the financial cutoffs. My parents are more than financially able and agreed to sponsor (or co-sponsor) my wife. My question is this.... Since I know I am not able to meet the required amounts of income on my 2007 taxes do I still need to file an affidavit of support along with my parents or do they only have to complete the I-864? It seems silly for me to file all the forms if I know my student income didnt cut it. If only my parents have to file does that mean that they are the sponsor and not the co-sponsor?

It's sad that I make an ample salary now and I can prove it with pay stubs etc but I still have to ask my parents for help. Anyway... thanks for YOUR help in advance.

Ok... perhaps I am just missing the obvious but... my wife and I are filling out the AOS paperwork and under Part 2 it asks what type of application we are filing. The problem is that none of the options apply to us. (none that I can see anyway) My wife is here on a K-3 visa and we are trying to adjust her status so that she can live in the US with me. Any help? What are we missing?

So am I to understand that if we are in the process of adjusting her status we do not need to bother renewing her work authorization card? Once we file for AOS is that enough to cover work eligibility?

Hi All....

My wifes worker authorization card is about to expire in a months time. We need to renew it even though she has not been working (long story). Anyway...she will be working soon and will need the card.... how to we get a new one? We were living in NY when we got the first card but are now living in Texas due to military relocation. This might seem like a common question on here so I hope someone can help out. Thanks in advance.

Hi All,

My wife entered the US without any issue with her K-3 visa and we sent her EAD application out right away. We got a notice of action in the mail today saying that the next step was her her to get her biometrics taken - fingerprints, pics, etc. They said that they would notify us when THEY make an appointment for us. How long does it take usually for them to make an appointment? The notice said that it could take from 60-180 days from the time the biometrics are taken but how long till they make to appointment to get the biometrics? Where do they usually make you go for the appointment? Thanks.

Hey All,

My wife finally got her K-3 visa from the consulate in South Africa. She is coming to the States soon and would like to start putting her life together. The first step is to get a job. Before she can do this... she needs permission. I have to form filled out and the fee money ready so my question is this... how long does it take for her to get permission to work? She is not in the States yet which means that she has yet to use her visa at a point of entry. Can I file her working papers now before she enters the US? If not... what do they expect people to do for however long it takes to get permission to work? Thanks.

I am not stationed oversees. I am stationed in the United States. She is in South Africa right now just waiting to come to the States with her K-3 visa. I am going to be gone to a training event for 8 weeks starting in May. Since I am being relocated at the same time there is no place for her to live until after I am done with that 8 week stretch. Our plan is this... she comes to the States and lives with me. While here she can apply to work and take the professional tests that she needs to be licensed in the States since licensing between South Africa and America is not recipricol in her field. At the beginning of May she will go back to South Africa and come for good once that 8 weeks is over because I will be relocated and established by then. So the short of it is... she is only planning on leaving once between now and when her status is completly adjusted. This shouldnt be a problem, should it?

Thanks

just a question, you mention that you are stationed overseas, and that she wishes to be able to travel. Does she plan to be out of the US more than she's in the US? If so, she *could* jeopardize her status here, depending how much time she spends away from the US. The purpose of the K3 is to settle permanently in the US, it is not a visit visa. So even though it is a multi-entry visa, if she stays away for several months at a time, she could have difficulty re-entering.

She can only apply for the EAD after she enters the US and "activates" her visa.

Well my wife finally got her K-3 visa approved at the conulate in Johannesburg, South Africa on Valentines Day of all days. I would just like to thank everyone on this site for all the help and guidance that we received throughout this whole process. It was really helpful to know that there were others like us out there. So... thanks a million.

Down to my question... now that my wife has her K-3, can she come in and out of the United States freely? I am in the military and am going to be away from home for a while later this year and we are wondering if she'll be able to leave the US while I'm away and come back when I come home. This is a sticky topic for us because we were told over and over that she could leave the country with her H2B visa and return and when she left she was denied entry back into the US despite having a valid H2B visa. It cost us a lot of heartache not to mention thousands of dollars in airfare. We just want to make double damn sure that we arent going to get screwed... again.

Additionally, does anyone know how long it takes for her to get permission to work here in the States? I know that it will take some time to fully adjust her status but how long before she gets permission to work? Also, where can I get the forms?

Thanks.

My wife has her interview for her K-3 visa on Feb. 6th at the consulate in Johannesburg. She has all of her paperwork and documantation in order so she should be good as far as that goes. Does anyone have any last minute tips about what to do or how to handle things? I've read up on the consulate profile and was just wondering if anyone had any additional advice. Also, I am going to be in South Africa at that time... will I be permitted to go to the interview with her? The security is really tight there. I am technically the petitioner so I should be allowed, right?

Thanks in advance!

BEFORE GOING TO THE EMBASSY TRY TO VERIFY FROM NVC IF THEY HAVE ACTUALLY SENT YOUR CASE FILE TO APPROPRIATE EMBASSY .THEN GO TO THE EMBASSY WITH YOUR NOA2 AND THE NVC CASE NUMBER TO VERIFY IF THEY HAVE RECEIVED IT FROM NVC, IF SO YOU SHOULD BE GIVEN PACKET 3&4 AND THE INTERVIEW DATE,

NVC PHONE # Keep calling NVC and trying to speak with an operator live. 603-334-0700, option 1 for English, then option 5 to speak with an operator, Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m.-midnight Eastern Time.

Our paperwork is going through the Joburg consulate as well. We got word that the NVC approved and sent our case out about 2 1/2 weeks ago and the consulate still hasnt contacted my wife to let her know that they got it. She called the consulate with our case number and the man she spoke to was an ###. He was rude and all he told her was "You wait, and we'll contact you. Stop calling and wait. When we get the case we'll contact you." As an alternative she emailed the consulate and got a response quickly. They gave her a few specifics on documents that she needed for the interview... birth certificate police certificate etc. Your best bet is email them. She got in touch with the authorities and its going to be about a 28 days to a month just to get her police record. I guess she has to get finger prints and all sorts of other things done. I would email the consulate asap to get the specifics of what you'll need.

I also wouldnt get your hopes up too much. If your case is anything like ours its going to be weeks until the consulate even gets it from the NVC. On top of that, the consulate is going to be closed pretty much the rest of the year because of Christmas and New Years. I know its not the news you're looking for but these are simply our experiences. Cheers and good luck.

I got word today that our paperwork moved from the NVC to the consulate in Joburg, South Africa. Is there any advice about dealing with this consulate other than what is on this site? Thanks in advance. I really hope everyones petitions are moving fast!

Congratulations! Yes I am one of the lucky ones who recently had both the 130 and 129F approved on the same day (11/15/06). But in my case they read my I 130 wrong and said they were holding it because (they say I wrote that my wife was already in the US) WRONG!

But I decided just to go ahead and persue the k3 VISA for two reasons, one being that they will take longer to process the 130 at NVC with all the additional forms and bills etc. and the additional expenses that you have to put out just to see if it would reach the embassy faster then the K3 VISA. The K3 should be processed through the NVC in approximately 2-3 weeks, but I have yet to receive my case number, but I am hoping maybe by this friday I will call and find out it has been received and forwarded! Good luck!

I am one of the lucky people who had both of their petitions approved a day apart. I called a week later and the NVC gave me my case number over the phone. They told me that it would be between 2-4 weeks before they send it on to South Africa. Good luck to everyone. It's soooo great to see so many fast approvals coming through.

Ok, so our I-129F was approved and is going to be at the NVC shortly. That means that I am going to have to fill out an affidavit of support. My only problem is this.... I am a full time student and make almost no money other than sergeants pay in the National Guard. My parents are more than financially able are willing to help me out. I read the instructions on the form and I am confused. How do we do this? A joint sponsorship? Do they have to file a separate form? If so how do we deliniate between my and their affidavits?

Also... what else is the NVC going to require of me for her to enter the country on a K-3 nonimm. visa? The AOS form only mentions cases dealing with immigrant visas. Will I even have to file the AOS now or when she is in the US trying to adjust her status? Any help would be enormously helpful. Thanks much and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Woke up this morning to an email that USCIS sent out approval notice out on the 18th!! That was the same day that they sent out the approval notice for our I-130! Our I-129F was touched on the 9th and approval notice was sent on the 18th. Holy #######. I am the happiest man alive right now.

Well theres nothing I can say to make you feel better other than to remind you that you can still follow through with the I-130. I can only imagine how pissed off you might be but try to remember that not all is lost... they havent denied you... they just screwed up and now the process will take longer. I know that might not be what you want to hear but it could be sooo much worse. As far as the fee in concearned I would get a hold of your local congressman and file some complaints. You'll have to write or call their office and then fill out a privacy waiver but you might be surprised what they can do to help out members of their constituency. You could also call the USCIS helpline and ask for direction. Good luck with everything.

I still don't fully understand how the K-3 is fastest now that our I-130 has been approved. If our I-130 is off to the NVC and there's no telling when the I-129F will be approved how could the K-3 be the way to go?

Is it abnormal for the I-130 to be approved before the I-129F? I was surprised that it was approved first because the K-3 was supposed to be put into existance as an alternative to the long waits that came with I-130. Am I mising something?

A few things to consider, if you stay with the K-3 which lately is still a bit faster, you still will have to deal with the time waiting for Adjustment of Status in the states. If you wait the extra time invilved with the CR-1 visa, you will be doing the visa interview and green-card interview at same time and wont have to do AOS in the states.

One other thing the aproval of the I-130 just means it is moving on to NVC were several things need to be done before it moves to the consulate. The I-129F usually reaches the consulate before the I-130 petition.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=k3flow

The choice is yours,

So now the case is transferred to the NVC and then its sent to the consulate? If we stick with the I-130 path does that mean that she can come to the US after her interview etc or do we have to file her adjustment paperwork and wait for that before she can come back? Bottom line is... we dont care how long it takes for her to get her status adjusted and her green card issued... we just want her back in the States with me while we wait. That said... what is the fastest option for us to take?

I found out today that our I-130 was approved on the 18th!!! Our I-129F is still pending at the same office (VSC) so my question is this.... what now? What is the next (and fastest) step towards getting my baby back into the country so we can properly start our lives? Do we still have to wait for the K-3 to get her back or what. Thanks in advance.

i was wondering.... are all cases being transferred?

Mine, to my knowlege has not and hasnt been touched since september.

According to the press release, yes. The I-129F will be forwarded to the same service center that is adjudicating the I-130. Either the CSC or VSC.

The same thing happened to my cases. I sent the I-130 to the VCS. Once I got the receipt in the mail I sent off the I-129F to Chicago. After about a month I received notice that it had been transferred to the VSC. Having read the memo posted above, I can only assume the transfer occured becuase they are trying to process the cases faster so it went to VSC because thats where my I-130 is. It makes about as much sense as anything else our government does I suppose. Alas... we roll with the punches.

The exact same thing happened to my paperwork. I sent the I-130 to VSC and then I sent the I-129F to Chicago. After a few weeks they transfered the I-129F to the VSC where it sits now. Things seem to be going about the same for our cases. Good luck.

I see in peoples timelines that you can see when it has been touched. What exactly does this mean and how can I monitor my pending cases in this way? I get emailed when they sent it from Chicago to the VSC so I get updates but how can I tell if it was touched? Thanks in advance!

My fiancee just had her interview and it was a success, she picks up her visa tomorrow after 2pm... What a relief this is! Id like to thank everyone who has helped me. A special thanks to Yodrak, Kitkat1, Mew, Meauxna, and Keith & Xiang and those who helped me with the expedite.

Can you explain what the military expidite is?

I just wanted to point out every time a person enters the country their passport data gets entered into the system.

If you try reentering and then AOS, they will see the pending K-3, CR-1, and see the big picture and start deportation proceedings due to visa fraud, and reject the AOS application.

Whilst I agree on the issue of when there is intent to immigrate on entry to the US, I do strongly disagree with the above in regards to what will definately happen if one enters the US with a pending application in process. It is a blanket statement that is incorrect. Many have changed their mind or circumstances change after entry whereby a successful AOS is made. An adjustment of status after entry on another visa with a petition in process, is not reason in itself for deportation proceedings to be started, nor for a rejection of the AOS application. It is dependent on circumstances of the applicant and any ineligibilities. A petition in process is not an ineligibility in itself.

Are there any people out there that have had a I-129F go through the VSC and how long did your packet take? I have heard about a million and one differnt things. I realize that there is no solid answer that can be lived by but any sort of input would be very helpful. I have seen a bunch of timelines and and averages but does anyone have an actual case so I can see for myself? Thanks.

What we think is that the USCIS often gives inaccurate information, for whatever reason......get used to it. It sucks and its ####### but there's not anything we can do about it. Now you're left with making the adjustments, dealing with the wait , the red tape, and the headaches.

You made no mention of an I-130 petition, yet mention you're married.

Oh yeah fill in your timeline as you will catch a certain amount of grief for not having one when asking for help in the future. It just gives people who really have the knowledge and desire to help an easier time in providing you with the accurate information for your situation.

Best of Luck to you and welcome to the journey..........

Our I-130 is in process as well. We couldnt have submitted the I-129F without proof of a pending I-130. Right now we are just focused on getting her K-3 so she can get back to the States. We really don't give a damn how long it takes to adjust her status as long as we are here together. She wasnt really even too excited about being an American citizen as she is quite happy in South Africa. As a matter of fact, as soon as my time in the Army is up theres a good chance we'll live there.