Rocko20

13 hours ago, ThomasNC1988 said:

Did everybody just send their marriage license as evidence of marriage since we just had the relationship verified for K1 or did you guys send more evidence?

I sent the marriage license and several pictures including wedding ones. But honestly, after doing some reading, I think I should've just saved those pictures for the next interview. The AOS didn't spefically say I needed to send a bunch of pictures outside of the K1 approved NOA2

8 hours ago, JMCKNG said:

I'm happy to finally be in this group (way less stressful to have your fiance/spouse next to you!!)

You ain't lying my friend. After marriage and living with your spouse during AOS is way less stressful than before with the K1.

I understand many people who said the 5-6 month wait for the working permit was "hell" but again I can't complain that I'm with my spouse and that we are legally married.

only 3 years of service is tough, most people who separate from the military atleast did 4 or 6 years.

I'm at 8.5 years so far. For advice, all I can say is extend for 12 or 24 months if you have no idea what you want to do. Also, take advantage of the GI Bill to go back to school.

A lot of helpful information and classes will be covered once you decide to get out anyway.

Sent my AOS packet in last Monday, I tracked it and it arrives this Friday. Will probably be notified by next week of reception

It was tough paying that $1200+ fee. 😑

6 hours ago, mushroomspore said:

Btw this does not directly apply to you, OP, but I learned about this during the process and it is simply interesting and good to know. Intent alone is not grounds for denial, even for cases in which the USCIS officer suspects improper intent. In fraud investigations, they need to build a case that may include intent as one factor out of many. However if a couple is genuine and bonafide but the USCIS officer suspects the intending immigrant may have had preconceived intent to enter on a non-immigrant visa and then remain in the US to adjust status, that's not enough to outright deny them. Knowledge is power.

That's not a risk I would be willing to take.

36 minutes ago, Sho Ishizaki said:

Yes, it can work. I know someone who came here on a j1 visa and married someone after her internship was over then adjusted her status. I think she met him through a friend while in her internship . i dont think she wanted to go back home. Her intentions whether inlove or to not go home isnt up to my judgment, but its currently working for her. 

 

Goodluck! 

The judgment is up to the immigration officer. A lot of folks apply for these visas with the "personal intent" of then finding someone to marry once they arrive in America. For example, they'll start signing up for dating apps and going out on dates knowing if they marry someone and adjust status they'll get to stay.

Having kids doesn't prove anything, only proves you had sex without protection. For example, illegal immigrants (from many countries) have kids every year in America just for birthright citizenship granted to them under the constitution.

And another example, the out of wedlock child birthrate for my community (African American community) is currently at 72%+. That means 72% of black kids are born to parents who are not even married, many of which with fathers who won't be actively involved in the lives of their kids or who have other babies from other mothers.

But the point is there are people waiting in the visa line who can't have children, refuse to have children, or are waiting later to have children and you don't get to cut them or expedite your visa process just because you have children.

Congrats, the fun has just begun, still have to do adjustment of status once the spouse arrives. 😉

I believe there is a separate military checklist for military who get married overseas as well. Such as getting permission/notification to a group commander, security briefing, etc. 

Make sure you follow all those steps before getting permission to proceed with the marriage . I had to notify my security office (they did a background check on her) before I had permission.

I was VJ every single day for several months before I go the K1 NOA2.

Now that my fiancee has visa in hand and POE date, I havne't been on. Soon I'll be on again every day for the adjustment of status research I have to do.

12 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Timelines change, but right now a K1 is taking 8-10 months ( Took me almost exactly 8 Months from I129f sent to Visa in Hand, and that was a simple no flags, no RFE's petition)

Agreed. It took mine 8.2 months just to get the NOA2, 10 months for visa in hand.

November filer here, it’s took 8.2 months to get our NOA2 so I wouldn’t be worried yet for those who are March filers.

Expect to atleast wait 8 months like we did, before you start pressing the inpatient  button.  

Waiting for the NO2 truly is the hardest part of the K1 visa because it’s the longest part. 

On 9/3/2018 at 12:57 AM, Jenny17655 said:

It really does suck trust me. It doesn't suck for YOU because you probably aren't in the situation.  I am not rich by any means but I am currently living at about 175% of the federal poverty level (that's including my beneficiary in my household size). That's over the limit for AOS. People in general do not know enough about immigration to understand the I134 vs I864 and are completely afraid as soon as you mention the word support.  No one really cares about my relationship with my fiance. I love him, they don't (heck they don't even know him) and they are just going to go on with their lives. 

On 9/3/2018 at 8:29 AM, Jenny17655 said:

Then maybe USCIS should raise the income guideline to what they actually want people to meet. .  I know I for one did meet and exceed the guidelines provided by USCIS. I checked them BEFORE filing. Had I known that I would need a co sponsor from the beginning I would have had an extra 6.5 months at the least to look for one or increase my income Finding out at the embassy stage is terribly stressful and it sucks. And anyone's opinion on whether it sycks or not that had not gone through it does not count. Thank you.

You live in New York City, correct? You or your fiance are from Jamaica correct?

It makes total sense that immigration would ask you to get a co-sponsor in a high cost city like NYC. It sucks that they waited until the embassy to tell you, but I can understand their point of view.

They don't know if you're responsible with money or what your credit score is. All they know is you live in NYC and you don't make much money. So your standard will unfortunately be much different than some random person who lives in  low cost Oklahoma city. NYC has a large percentage of Jamaicans and I'm sure they took into account the current low income state of some of them, in order to prevent more of it.

My interpretation is you don't "meet" a person on tinder, you match and start talking on tinder. You "meet" them in real life when you go on some type a date to starbucks, the park, movies etc. I initially matched with my fiancee on tinder, but we actually met at a hiking trail, and that was the in-person story of how we met for the K1 Petition. It was accepted, no RFE, no delay, approved embassy interview, etc. She arrives here September 13th.

Printing out the terms of service for Facebook or tinder, being nervous about "meeting" online, etc. is all unnecessary. It clearly says "in person" meeting not "online meeting." As in, where you met them "in person." Atleast that's what I did, because it's true we met on a hike not on tinder. 

The entire point of of all these dating apps and sites is to meet someone in "real life," until you actually meet them in real life they could be a catfish or Russian troll bot.  In my book, matching with someone online is not meeting them.

20 hours ago, Jenny17655 said:

Well for me it sucks. The reason why it sucks is because I carefully looked at the guidelines before filing and exceeded for both last tax year and current. My fiancee was also given a 221g at his interview requesting a co sponsor.  I never planned on needing outside help through this process and it doesn't come easy. So yeah when you're in the situation it kinda sucks bad

It only sucks if you let it deter you from getting a co-sponsor, second job, promotion, education, etc. to better qualify for the income requirements

As already mentioned, even if you exceed the K1 standards that doesn't mean you've exceeded the green card standards or the immigration officers standards  which are clearly higher

I'm military and my fiancee is an alien immigrant (POE on the 18th) She will not be doing anything illegal  like smoking weed to threaten her status.

Since this is a visa messag board I assume someone in your household is an immigrant an I'm not sure why they would risk any type of punishment/jail time/criminal record/deportation for some weed. I mean at least wait until full naturalization.

10 hours ago, jdaveh said:

Honestly, It doesn't suck. It is there for a reason. I feel for you guys but I think the requirements are to low. 22,000 a year is barely enough for one person without all the government fees involved with K1 visa and supporting your new spouse for 6 to 8 months before he or she can work.  Good Luck finding your co sponsors

I would have to agree. The rules are to protect the sponsor and beneficiary from financial ruin. Marriages cost money and marriages to alien fiancees cost even more money. USCIS is simply trying to err on the side of caution here. I've made $30K before and it's very difficult to live on.

Op has to find a co-sponsor, get a second job, get promoted, save your money, etc. anything to meet the qualifications.

And I just did some research, the poverty guidelines are actually higher for green cards than they are for the K1 visas which explains why barely meeting the K1 poverty standard still isn't enough for K1 approval

https://www.k1approved.com/k1-visa-tips/fiance-visa-income-requirements/

11 hours ago, TNJ17 said:

Not surprised. USCIS is useless. Call all the congressmen and senators you can get a hold of and ask them to inquire. It’s the only way you’ll see progress.

This is correct. USCIS service sites respond to congressmen case workers a lot faster than regular people. You might get a generic response back but atleast you know they still have it and are keeping track of it.

1 hour ago, Sandy05 said:

Nov 14th filer here and still nothing....Don't know what to tell you other than sorry but welcome to the club. 😔

I'm terribly sorry to hear this. I'm November 14th filer but we are approved

At this point , only thing in your power is to keep making inquires. If there is a consolation, one man waited 3 years before he got his NO2 approval.

1 hour ago, Hello729 said:

So if you go back and supply the missing documents, can your case get re-evaluated for approval?   Also, what does the blue paper means?   

 

Thanks in advance.   

Quote

221(g) Blue Form: A blue form implies that the US Visa Consulate needs an additional supporting document(s) to take a decision on a visa application.

Quote

The officer will hand you over a 221g form with instructions and information about the additionally required information.

Follow these instructions for a 221(g) refusal form and provide as per the instructions.

In addition to just the missing documents, another reason could be that the officer/consulate wants to verify your case specifics with concerned authorities before making the decision and such cases can be put under "Administrative Processing".

If you have been requested to wait until the Consulate contacts you, please do not make an appointment. Your case requires further administrative processing and the Consulate will contact you once this has been completed.

https://www.path2usa.com/221g-refusal-and-administrative-processing

On 8/30/2018 at 7:02 AM, conarroest said:

We had our interview today but unfortunately we were not approved and given a blue paper with requests for some more things to provide. We are devastated. 

Sorry to hear that, perhaps missing documents. At the last minute I almost forgot to send my fiancee tax returns

My fiancée just got finished with her embassy interview in Bucharest.... APPROVED!! Flight booked for the 13th of next month. 

It’s been an emotional roller coaster up to this point and this process is not for the faint of heart. I want to thank everyone for your help a long the way. This site is invaluable when it comes to information.

For everyone still waiting on their interview, stay strong and positive! 

16 hours ago, ivyanddan said:

Not everyone wants to immigrate to the US. I feel like that’s a common misconception that people have in this forum and even in this country.

I don’t think there’s any misconception about that, it’s about the law. The U.S. has specific laws that say “these are visa waiver countries” who citizens can pretty much come and go as they please and “these are the countries that need visas” which we all know is not so easy to get a visa.

 I met my Romanian fiancée here in America on a J1 cultural exchange visa a year ago (we just got approved from the embassy interview stage, K1 visa). Anyways, she received a lot of help from friends/companies to get that visa. However, we don’t even know if or when her mother or brother can come visit in America because the rules say Romania is not a visa waiver country.  

Anyways, the point is a lot of us are dealing with the same frustrations. It’s not a misconception, it’s just the law. Obviously the law stems from people in the past abusing the privilege to visit America so the government has said certain countries need visas. And that was the end of that.

Sorry to hear that, stay positive

This is the one topic that confuses me: SSN numbers and name change. Luckily my fiancée already has a SSN number but we hope the local office will allow a name change with the marriage certificate once she arrives on her K1 next week 

Based on the posts of other members who have withdrawn in the middle of the visa process, it seems that it’s far easier to just go on with the entire visa process once you file the petition even if you start to change your mind. 

Obviously  this doesn’t apply to the Op’s situation as the withdrawal can’t be retracted, it just sadly shows us again that USCIS doesn’t take any withdrawal lightly. Perhaps USCIS presumes that they wasted time, money, and resources processing a file for nothing or that the relationship wasn’t bonafide 

I got into several arguments with my fiancée too during the 8.2 months wait for NOA2 but withdrawal was never a question