TimsDaisy

Wow - just checking in on VJ in the first time in 4evs to pull some info on lifting conditions and wondered if I'd recognize any UK forum people! Congrats, Tracy! We've got a four month old now ourselves. The first month or so is (thankfully, in someways!) a blur already. Best of luck and enjoy this whole new world!

hey gang,

i didn't even read the links, but yes, you just need to contact the service (SMS, right?) - the messenger people - prepay for them to come pick up your stuff and take it to the Embassy and then to bring it back to you. You keep your passport, send everything else back with an apologetic cover letter saying, oh dear, so sorry, look what happened, thanks for the speedy re-seal, good-bye.

don't worry about contacting them first, they'll just tell you to do that. it doesn't take long at all to get it back in tip-top shape. check my timeline for the turnaround - i think it was like 2 or 3 days.

best of luck.

Kass,

I'm going to continue this discussion here not to argue with you but purely to help you and some of the newer members understand this process.

Yes it's gruelingly slow, especially compared to most other business processes in the modern world. But believe it or not, it is much much faster than it used to be. It's much faster, even, than when I joined this site. I am not certain how old the timeline data is in the VJ database, but if it does go back a few years, check out overall processing time for nearly any type of petition and you will see the facts bear me out.

Prior to the K1 petition being developed, there was no way to bring a fiance here. The CR1 or IR1 were the only avenues (may have had another name then) and INS answered the call to speed up family unification by creating the K1 as a way to speed the process. Since that time, CR1 and IR1 moves along more quickly than it used to.

Also, the largest part of the 'speed' problem is a lack of modern technology and adequate personnel. You cry that it shouldn't be this way, but dollars pay for these things. DOS is completely funded by petition fees. No tax dollars flow into the system - the national debt doesn't prop it up. Because of lack of funds, much of the system remains paper based. Research about record retention of immigration documents and you will be deeply dismayed. A big fire in one facility could wipe out decades of documents with no way at all of retrieving that data.

I mention the security checks for a reason. The workload of the agency was multiplied vastly by the mandates after 9/11. Prior to that, the background of individuals seeking visas or applying to adjust status were randomly spot-checked. Now EVERY petitioner is checked. You are probably early in your petition stage to be crying foul about your particular case. Try being one of the 400,000 plus applicants for naturalization who are caught in a namecheck crunch with USCIS purely because USCIS has not had the funds to pay the FBI enough to put more agents onto background work.

As I said, I agree with you in principle. It takes time to gain a thorough knowledge of this system. When you understand a bit more fully how it operates, you will see how they are operating (in most cases) the best they can under the circumstances.

Hopefully the recent fee increases will help to alleviate the problem over time.

It better! It makes no sense for a service to go up in price by 175% and still perform the exact same (or worse) than it did before. I'm hoping and praying the fee increase will speed up the process, but im still expecting the 100-110 day waiting time for my NOA2.

not to disappoint you, but they agency has said frequently that the increase is meant to maintain current service levels. the goal isn't to speed it up more yet.

go research. the answers you seek are readily available.

Never hurts to contact them to ask - they won't give you a later date as a penalty or anything - worst they can say is "no."

Explain the circumstances as you have here and see what they say.

They aren't going to be able, or likely willing, to play a video as evidence of anything. Just keep your records of emails and phone calls and whatever else you both do to keep in touch. Can you afford to fly over for the interview?

The best advice is to prepare the best you can, and try to control your nerves - which is hard, I know. But it's like dealing with dogs and bees: they can sense your - and your fiance's - discomfort and uneasiness, which some translate as shady or hiding something. Work on her staying calm and being confident in knowing how to answer the questions. They should be able to interview her in her native language, too. You'll probably be fine.

The attorney's name is really Ellis Island?

I am SO HAPPY for all four of you! That's the best news I'll be hearing today for sure Now on to the really good stuff like weddings and reunions and champagne and . . . .

But aren't the reallllly bad "documentaries" worth watching every so often? The one about people who love their life-sized dolls was classic! Or the I'm-a-sex-addict episode!?

Hi all,

I'm thinking about the "big picture" as a see people say and I'm not feeling confident. Our interview is August 24th and I'm having doubts on our success.

Do you need a "rock solid" case to get the visa?

I've been thinking hard about our interview package and I'm worried about two possible red flags.

One, the time from us meeting and our engagement wasn't long (3 months). Also, the pre-engagement evidence isn't alot.

Two, neither one of us is fluent in the other's language. We can communicate in an odd way (a bit of English here and Vietnamese there) but there is no question that we don't share "fluently" a common spoken language.

Are there others who have had less than ideal cases that have succeeded?

Pretty worried here,

John

The pre-engagement evidence was needed for the I-129F, you were approved, so that's fine. What you need now is evidence of your ongoing relationship and that you still intend to marry in the US after the visa and arrival. Have you been keeping in touch? If you don't speak each other's languages at all, then that might be a problem. Have you exchanged snail mail? Email? Phone calls - with phone records? Take some time to read over the guides and FAQ here and learn some of the interview questions. Can she answer them? In either language? Make sure she's brushed up on the information in everything that's been sent in so far. Make sure she feels confident and comfortable. Short engagements and short durations of relationships happen around here all the time. Just be well prepared and have evidence of your ongoing relationship. Be confident and she should be fine.

On my cable box, it's on twice, once in a east coast and then a west coast equivalent of the time slot. I can't for the life of me figure out why they'd start a soap opera for a month and tout the hell out of it, then just move it like that! I was originally happy that they'd be showing Coupling daily, but then I realized I was going to miss out on the fix I'd just grown attached to! Barsts!

In most/all jurisdictions you retain an absolute right to terminate representation at any time and take possession of ALL your client materials. Even in the case of a payment dispute or overdue bill, a lawyer NEVER has the right to hold on to your case materials.

Ditch that bad apple and either go it alone or find a new one.

My bad, I thought she was an organizer. She was once, no?

Anyway - as soon as I can get Tim to write a review, I will. Though I did cover most of the highlights as it was a pretty uneventful experience. I got him to do the extensive embassy review - so I'm sure he'll still want credit for that.

Yay, almost home-free! Have fun and look for celebrities

Will be looking for your "approveds" so make sure you don't keep us in suspense too long!

Well that answers my question about who moved it . . .

It's barely a POE story and there are plenty of other POE stories in there. I'd like it to be here because more than a POE story, it's a "we made it" story meant to share with my UK friends. Since it has just as much a home here, under Ewok's guidelines, it should stay put.

Good to know that even at the end of the journey, with what will likely be my last thread, there can be some ####### stirred up.

But leaving all that aside. . .

Best of luck to the upcoming interviewees and travelers! I wish you the best in marriage and life!

Though I was quite stressed given what happened last time I sat at SFO waiting for Tim to process through immigration, this time, thanks to the magic of a K1 visa, he was through in a snap. He was one of the first off the plane, he was the second in line at the appropriate booth, behind another couple, and the immigration official took his envelope, opened it, took a peek, stamped his passport, stuck in the I-94, said "you know you've got 90 days, right?" and said, "Cheers" - sending Tim on to baggage claim. He got his stuff, breezed through customs and was done and dusted with ease. Just like that. I'm still shocked. But in the best way possible.

So that's that. Until after the wedding anyway.

Thanks to all!

I work for a large bank and I am a notary..... when I sign and seal a document for a client I am confirming that I have verified their ID and have witnessed them sign the document.... nothing more... the content of the document could be total lies...

Kez

I'd insert the nodding smiley here, but it wouldn't be nodding assertively enough . . .

A notary is attesting the identity of the person who signed the document - the authenticity of the signature. A notary has no ability to verify the truth of the substance within the document.

Like on the I-134. The notary isn't affirming that you make the right amount of money, only that you are swearing that you make the right amount of money. HUGE difference there.

Sweet, a thread dedicate to rumors and rehashed complaints about the fee increase. It's been - uh - minutes since we last saw one of these!

Sorry, I shouldn't be snarky - but some googling - on and off VJ - will help tremendously when it comes to this topic.

In super-super brief:

1. the fee increases aren't meant to speed up processing times. they are meant to maintain current times and prevent a new backlog.

2. i don't think the fee increase and the new allocation of petitions between SCs are part of the same process. so either can have an influence, or one, or the other, or both. two big variables are not good if you want a sound prediction.

3. tossing a bunch of rumors on here is like casually wandering around a refinery with a pack of matches. those who know how to handle such things won't get burned, others will ignite themselves in a panic of rumor-fueled frustration and end up getting hurt.

as said - no one knows what exactly will happen until it does, though i think sound predictions may be arrived at with enough research. and that means research on www.uscis.gov NOT research of other people's sourceless rumors on VJ.

Reza - if it's free of the legal part THEN STOP SAYING YOU GOT MARRIED.

You had a wedding. Big deal. You aren't breaking new ground with this strategy, but what you are doing is casually swapping out one term for another when, to a less educated VJ reader, a mistake could spell a 10 year ban or worse.

Be careful with your words. A WEDDING does not a legal marriage make. And the difference between the two is absolutely vital in the K1 process.

whoopsie. then nevermind.

When did you send back packet 3? The Embassy can move quickly when it feels like it. The two most important bits of info are: 1.) when did you send back packet 3 and 2.) what dates did you put down for "travel" and "wedding" on the checklist?

London seems keen on working with couples who give them travel dates. Not 100% of the time, but when possible. That might help you guess whether you'll get something in August or not. August dates are still be assigned though, right? So don't give up hope yet.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!! [Doing handsprings in celebration!]

SO happy for you, my friend. To the lake it is, then! Rum runners, anyone?

Considering the number of people on here who have met online and/or through various international dating services (perhaps more so in other forums), I'm kinda suprised anyone else is surprised or bothered by the thread.

p.s. Reza - I think you need to research what it is a notary does and what exactly it means to have a document notarized. Wikipedia it. Notaries in the US aren't like notaries abroad. Which even then aren't doing what I think you think they are doing.

Well, I married, but I don't have proof of my marriage! if you don't have proof of your marriage you can file I-129f as a fiancé which is I did.. I married in sharia.. and i couldn't married by that country law! and another point I had to make a quick decision because my fiancé she well have no family in state and she well be disappointed and depressed so I did weeding ceremony to make her happy while we were there....! Which I explain the situation in my I-129f files!

You can be married without evidence of proof of married by certain country and rules! you can be married and still not married by religions!

as muslim I am married my wife but it still it be a fiance , i cant proof that with any type of doc which we are married!

so sample!

Lets wait and see the result of your actions before you go recomending them to others..... It is very easy to prove you are married but it is very hard to prove you are not.... lets hope your interviewing officer understand what you have done and that you have some form of proof to show them that you are not married....

Kez

as I said, nor do I or my Fiance have any doc says we are married! but we married and I send them the weeding pics, and I explain and I said, if you going to say you married I can't proof my marriage with any type of doc! those are just a ceremoney!

I know it well be fine and I spoke with my friend which is a attorney of law and he says right, people have a different culter and religions... ect.. if you married proof of your marriage if not go with I-129f no matter what as long you don't have a doc to shows that you are married

Do you just mean you had a WEDDING but didn't get legally MARRIED?

A stern warning to all who read this thread: until we know the legal details of what constitutes marriage in Reza's country, then it would be STUPID for anyone to follow that advice. If Reza had a WEDDING, but not a legal MARRIAGE, then that's a different kettle of fish.

Language is everything in this process. Certain words are magic and earn you a visa or earn you a long stay in AP or a denial.

Reza, if you had a WEDDING - a party or cultural celebration but free of the legal component - then you're probably fine. But if that's the case DO NOT go around saying you "got married" as a way of telling others that marrying will have no effect on a FIANCE visa.

Anything by The Streets . . . .

p.s. ECM - that was a really beautifully written post up there. one of the best things i've ever read on VJ