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SunDrop

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  1. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from ameribrit in RFE: divorce certificate   
    Yes it is. The red seal stamped at the top is the certification. Please don't spread misinformation, sending people on a wild goose chase for documentation that they don't necessarily need.
    My Decree Absolute looked exactly like this, had no signature and we did not get an RFE for it at either I-129F or I-485 stage. We colour photocopied it and it looked exactly the same as the original.
    I understand that everyone wants to get their petition approved without an RFE, naturally. However, this document, unsigned, is what a Divorce Absolute looks like through a County Court in England and Wales. No signature, plain printer paper, flat red ink stamp. How is this adjudicator going to learn that they're asking for something above and beyond the norm, if everyone starts going to extraordinary measures to obtain something.
    So get a good quality copy of your Decree Absolute, or if the original is poorly stamped, go into the court and ask for a new, better stamped one (it'll probably be free if the error is theirs). But please don't go assuming they'll want/ need a signed copy or adjudicators will start thinking this is the norm and it'll set a precedence where they'll go "Oh well, I've seen plenty that ARE signed, so this unsigned one must be the exception. RFE issued..."
    I personally would send a new, quality copy of the Decree Absolute, maybe type up an explanation letter that includes a statement that it is a true copy and fork out the £5-ish it costs to get a Solicitor to witness your signature and submit that.
    If I remember correctly (I'll do a little background research later when I have a sec) Adjudicators have to get approval for denials. Their Director needs to validate the reason for the denial. And if they deny you on the grounds that you didn't supply paperwork that you did supply, they're going to be in a cussload of grief. So educate an adjudicator today, please.
  2. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from MalaysianGirl in How is your NOA2 waiting time?   
    I'm not convinced this is fair. Yes, adjudicators may be expected to get through 30 cases a day, but there is a lot more handling than just the adjudicator. If it were that simple, there wouldn't be a wait.
    You're filing for a very different kind of visa. Once these K-1 petitions are approved, they need to apply for the visa. Once the visas are approved they need to move and get married. Once married, they need to start waiting again while their work authorisation, right to leave the country and adjustment of status from 'USC spouse with pre-authorization to request adjustment' to 'conditional resident'.
    RFEs suck, because it resets the clock. I'm waiting for my EAD and forgot to put a new copy of my co-sponsor's birth certificate in with the I-864. Means instead of 90 days from November 22nd, they've got 90 days from January 3rd. Really frustrating.
    Those super-fast processing times are probably from before they changed the submission process. Take consolation in the fact they paid a higher fee than you did.
    Dunno where those figures came from but looks like that's for all visas? The average for a K-1 is far from 22 months, to the best of my knowledge. Have you got a link?
    NOA2 is a VJ term for the Notice of Action that is issued when the petition is approved. It's their way of saying, 'we've done the pre-screening and cannot see any reason why this couple do not qualify to apply for a fiance/ee visa.'
    It does depend very much on the Embassy or Consulate. Play around with the timelines for your country to see what's happened in the past, time-frame wise. Also the Embassy review might shed some light on their process. For example, I think Manila you can schedule your own appointment, whereas London they do? May have changed recently, so don't quote me
    I think you've hit the nail on the head. Any time an organization shifts from one process to a very new one, they have teething problems. Because the USCIS tends to focus on one visa category at a time, depending on their directives, it could also be that there is a backlog building up in 'xyz' petitions, so they've shifted man-hours over there to move those along, with the impact that it's slowed K-1s down. A cruel game of ping-pong if you will.
    =====================
    I wish you all patience and speedier processes, and can only offer empathy. It's excruciating being so powerless and unfortunately there's little your Representative can do. Take small comfort in the knowledge that you're not the only ones out there - just think how bewildered those sould are who don't have VJ! Part of the reason we didn't start our AOS for so long was that I didn't have the guts to take on another USCIS process without a little mental rest. I realise our K-1 process was blessedly quick, but believe it's due to everyone bar my then-10 year old daughter having already been through some degree of security clearance (my parents and I were L-1/2 holders, my ex had a work visa for the US and my husband and his parents have all worked for the state). But who knows...
    Good luck, have faith in whatever works for you and invest time in looking forward to when you're together by planning things together. 'Shop' for furniture together on the Sam Levitz/ Ikea website. Build a wedding registry somewhere or start a wishlist on WishPot. Pick out paint colours and new bed linens (maybe so you can surprise them with it!), spend some time clearing out the junk from the closet and garage or what-have-you, so your fiance(e) has space for their stuff, start finding out what you need to do once they get here to get established and build a 'settling in America' calendar on google, so you can share the process. Get the forms to add them to credit cards, banks, car insurance and deeds. Write out a 'typical' grocery list, so they can add their stuff. Scope out their cultural community in your town and find out where they shop or hang out for a taste of home - they will get homesick, no matter how much they love you! If they have hobbies, maybe start a change-jar you can dump your loose change into so when they get here, you can have a giftcard for Michael's or Gamestop, etc. Find out what publications they'd be interested in reading and grab a subscription card out of one of them, ready to mail once you know their POE date. That first piece of mail brings childlike excitement, lol.
    In short, by having something different to do every week that works towards welcoming them into your life in the US, the time will go faster. And if you're the beneficiary, research that kind of stuff for yourself and talk about it with your other half.
  3. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Nik+Heather in What would you do?   
    God, can we get him deported? It's attitudes and behaviours like this that give entire nations a bad reputation. He's going to need to get over his entitled, elitist attitude PDQ if he thinks he's going to get anywhere with it in the US. For his own sanity and for the sake of the entire British population.
    Having said all that, there's plenty of people who are going to be terrified he's Harry Potter's distant cousin, of the Slytherin persuasion, and comply with his foot-stomping for fear of having Crucio cast upon them...
  4. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from user19000 in Divorce and Deportation...Help!!   
    I moved to the US in order to marry and live with my husband. I also moved my 10 year old daughter. I sold all my worldly belongings, gave up my job and am starting to retrain to get US-based qualifications.
    If, heaven forbid, anything should happen to our relationship I would be livid if I had to move back to the UK. We made a decision to start our lives here and I made a commitment to that decision by giving up everything back in England.
    To the OP, I'm sorry to read that your marriage has failed, whatever the reason. I can also empathize with wanting to make as clean a break imaginable with a measure of revenge thrown in. But she is human too. You cited age and cultural differences, and you're probably right. Had you married a US citizen, no matter how difficult she was going to make your life post-divorce, you wouldn't have any such 'get rid of' process. I'm sure you didn't enter the marriage with the thought of 'oh well, if it doesn't work out, I'll just try and get her deported' so don't enter into divorce with that attitude.
    Change the locks, change your number, advise security at work, get a restraining order against her if she starts being malicious but please don't sink to the low level of objectifying her through attempted deportation.
  5. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Lillian in Divorce and Deportation...Help!!   
    I moved to the US in order to marry and live with my husband. I also moved my 10 year old daughter. I sold all my worldly belongings, gave up my job and am starting to retrain to get US-based qualifications.
    If, heaven forbid, anything should happen to our relationship I would be livid if I had to move back to the UK. We made a decision to start our lives here and I made a commitment to that decision by giving up everything back in England.
    To the OP, I'm sorry to read that your marriage has failed, whatever the reason. I can also empathize with wanting to make as clean a break imaginable with a measure of revenge thrown in. But she is human too. You cited age and cultural differences, and you're probably right. Had you married a US citizen, no matter how difficult she was going to make your life post-divorce, you wouldn't have any such 'get rid of' process. I'm sure you didn't enter the marriage with the thought of 'oh well, if it doesn't work out, I'll just try and get her deported' so don't enter into divorce with that attitude.
    Change the locks, change your number, advise security at work, get a restraining order against her if she starts being malicious but please don't sink to the low level of objectifying her through attempted deportation.
  6. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from engineer21 in Divorce and Deportation...Help!!   
    I moved to the US in order to marry and live with my husband. I also moved my 10 year old daughter. I sold all my worldly belongings, gave up my job and am starting to retrain to get US-based qualifications.
    If, heaven forbid, anything should happen to our relationship I would be livid if I had to move back to the UK. We made a decision to start our lives here and I made a commitment to that decision by giving up everything back in England.
    To the OP, I'm sorry to read that your marriage has failed, whatever the reason. I can also empathize with wanting to make as clean a break imaginable with a measure of revenge thrown in. But she is human too. You cited age and cultural differences, and you're probably right. Had you married a US citizen, no matter how difficult she was going to make your life post-divorce, you wouldn't have any such 'get rid of' process. I'm sure you didn't enter the marriage with the thought of 'oh well, if it doesn't work out, I'll just try and get her deported' so don't enter into divorce with that attitude.
    Change the locks, change your number, advise security at work, get a restraining order against her if she starts being malicious but please don't sink to the low level of objectifying her through attempted deportation.
  7. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Harpa Timsah in HIV, Lies, and UK Medical Exam   
    They don't test for HIV any more. You must disclose it, however. You are asked about your medical history and it's considered part of the visa/ immigration process. To lie would be insanity. It will be uncovered and would be considered misrepresentation.
    It used to be that HIV positive people were not allowed to enter the US at all. Obama changed that when he argued that the US could not be leaders in HIV and AIDS research, if keynote speakers and respected researchers were potentially banned from entering the country for a conference because of the law.
    They may be concerned about medical insurance and adequate financial support being available, however.
    I would take all medical records relating to her infection and a letter from her GP/ Specialist confirming her present condition, attitude towards treatment, etc. It might also help to send her a notarized document confirming that you are aware of her HIV positive status, have looked into medical insurance/ coverage, discussed prevention of transmitting the infection, and anything else that will reassure decision-makers that you, as the US citizen, are not being mislead or put at unknowing risk.
    Remember, the main purpose behind this visa process is to protect the United States and her people.
  8. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Bryan and Isabel in Getting Married in Brazil   
    If you plan on marrying outside of the US/ before obtaining an entry visa for her, you would be applying for a CR-1 visa. This is a spouse visa.
    As you've indicated you're planning on marrying there, rather than getting engaged, obtaining a visa and marrying her in the US, I'm
    moving this thread from K-1 Fiance/ee Visa Process and Procedures to IR-1/CR-1 Spouse Visa Process and Procedures.
    If you decide you want to get engaged and file to bring her to the US to get married, then you can either start a new thread back over in the K-1 forum, or ask that this be moved back over (by 'reporting' the thread and giving an explanation to the mods )
    Congrats on your engagement and welcome to VJ!
  9. Like
    SunDrop reacted to JoannaV in feels like the end before the beginning...   
    Forums such as VJ are such a huge help to people. Unfortunately they also have the side effect of making you aware of all that can go wrong, and leave you over-thinking and over-worrying. Ignorance is a much joyous place to be, and 99.99% of the time it is also the correct state of mind to be in. (That is, most of the time everything works out just fine so thinking optimistically has more relevance to reality.) Just keep your eye on the goal, and your mind busy
  10. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Brother Hesekiel in Just starting and need help!   
    Welcome to VJ!
    If you have never stayed longer than the 6 months that Canadian citizens are permitted (usually!) then you've done nothing wrong going back and forth. It's very fortunate that they let you go back and forth as long as they have.
    The apparently conflicting advice would depend on what you do but if you are legally married, and have been for more than 2 years, the visa you will be applying for is an IR-1, and the outcome will eventually be a 10 year Green Card. Had you been married less than 2 years, you'd be applying for a different spousal visa (CR-1) and would eventually receive a conditional GC.
    Look at the guides above for the CR-1/ IR-1 process. There are links to the forms you need (it's always worth checking on the www.uscis.gov website to download them from there instead, to make sure they are the latest forms. There are also example forms that you can follow. If there's things about the process, search first because undoubtedly many will have asked the same question before you. If you can't find what you're looking for, then ask and you'll get plenty of advice.
    The Canadian regional forum is a great one for specific support and information on how to get things that relate to Canada (like police certificates, where to stay overnight cheaply for your interview, etc.)
    You haven't ruined your chances by waiting at all. It's actually made it simpler (and cheaper!) for you in the long run because you won't need to go through the 'removal of conditions' process.
    His being military is helpful because he doesn't need to be earning as much as civilians and there is also a military hotline. If he receives orders to deploy at any time during your application process, you can request an 'expedite' which really speeds things up so you can be re-united before he ships out, ideally.
    Continuing to visit him is going to be at the CBP's discretion. Considering you've been visiting him for 3.5 years of your marriage and always return to Canada, I would think the likelihood of them stopping you now is a lot less. You can also travel with a copy of the 'NOA1' which is the first correspondence you get in the process, confirming receipt and acceptance of his petition. This would show the CBP that you are going about immigrating in a correct manner.
    Good luck and congratulations
  11. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Ribs & Beans in Just starting and need help!   
    Welcome to VJ!
    If you have never stayed longer than the 6 months that Canadian citizens are permitted (usually!) then you've done nothing wrong going back and forth. It's very fortunate that they let you go back and forth as long as they have.
    The apparently conflicting advice would depend on what you do but if you are legally married, and have been for more than 2 years, the visa you will be applying for is an IR-1, and the outcome will eventually be a 10 year Green Card. Had you been married less than 2 years, you'd be applying for a different spousal visa (CR-1) and would eventually receive a conditional GC.
    Look at the guides above for the CR-1/ IR-1 process. There are links to the forms you need (it's always worth checking on the www.uscis.gov website to download them from there instead, to make sure they are the latest forms. There are also example forms that you can follow. If there's things about the process, search first because undoubtedly many will have asked the same question before you. If you can't find what you're looking for, then ask and you'll get plenty of advice.
    The Canadian regional forum is a great one for specific support and information on how to get things that relate to Canada (like police certificates, where to stay overnight cheaply for your interview, etc.)
    You haven't ruined your chances by waiting at all. It's actually made it simpler (and cheaper!) for you in the long run because you won't need to go through the 'removal of conditions' process.
    His being military is helpful because he doesn't need to be earning as much as civilians and there is also a military hotline. If he receives orders to deploy at any time during your application process, you can request an 'expedite' which really speeds things up so you can be re-united before he ships out, ideally.
    Continuing to visit him is going to be at the CBP's discretion. Considering you've been visiting him for 3.5 years of your marriage and always return to Canada, I would think the likelihood of them stopping you now is a lot less. You can also travel with a copy of the 'NOA1' which is the first correspondence you get in the process, confirming receipt and acceptance of his petition. This would show the CBP that you are going about immigrating in a correct manner.
    Good luck and congratulations
  12. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Kathryn41 in K-1 denial based on previous denials???   
    Completely incorrect and utterly ignorant. The purpose of the visa is what makes a lot of difference in the application process. You don't know why those previous visas were denied, so you cannot possibly comment on the likelihood of their K-1 application approval.
  13. Like
    SunDrop reacted to Fandango in What would you do?   
    'Even' Melissa, lol
    ________________
    Posting on a mb from the reception is teh funny though.
  14. Like
    SunDrop reacted to The_Dude in What would you do?   
    I thought the smug level in Los Angeles had risen recently
  15. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from MalaysianGirl in What would you do?   
    God, can we get him deported? It's attitudes and behaviours like this that give entire nations a bad reputation. He's going to need to get over his entitled, elitist attitude PDQ if he thinks he's going to get anywhere with it in the US. For his own sanity and for the sake of the entire British population.
    Having said all that, there's plenty of people who are going to be terrified he's Harry Potter's distant cousin, of the Slytherin persuasion, and comply with his foot-stomping for fear of having Crucio cast upon them...
  16. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from thelastpetitioner in K-1 denial based on previous denials???   
    Completely incorrect and utterly ignorant. The purpose of the visa is what makes a lot of difference in the application process. You don't know why those previous visas were denied, so you cannot possibly comment on the likelihood of their K-1 application approval.
  17. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from TracyTN in What would you do?   
    God, can we get him deported? It's attitudes and behaviours like this that give entire nations a bad reputation. He's going to need to get over his entitled, elitist attitude PDQ if he thinks he's going to get anywhere with it in the US. For his own sanity and for the sake of the entire British population.
    Having said all that, there's plenty of people who are going to be terrified he's Harry Potter's distant cousin, of the Slytherin persuasion, and comply with his foot-stomping for fear of having Crucio cast upon them...
  18. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from TBoneTX in K-1 denial based on previous denials???   
    Completely incorrect and utterly ignorant. The purpose of the visa is what makes a lot of difference in the application process. You don't know why those previous visas were denied, so you cannot possibly comment on the likelihood of their K-1 application approval.
  19. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Ribs & Beans in K-1 denial based on previous denials???   
    Completely incorrect and utterly ignorant. The purpose of the visa is what makes a lot of difference in the application process. You don't know why those previous visas were denied, so you cannot possibly comment on the likelihood of their K-1 application approval.
  20. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from TBoneTX in What would you do?   
    God, can we get him deported? It's attitudes and behaviours like this that give entire nations a bad reputation. He's going to need to get over his entitled, elitist attitude PDQ if he thinks he's going to get anywhere with it in the US. For his own sanity and for the sake of the entire British population.
    Having said all that, there's plenty of people who are going to be terrified he's Harry Potter's distant cousin, of the Slytherin persuasion, and comply with his foot-stomping for fear of having Crucio cast upon them...
  21. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from justucia in What would you do?   
    God, can we get him deported? It's attitudes and behaviours like this that give entire nations a bad reputation. He's going to need to get over his entitled, elitist attitude PDQ if he thinks he's going to get anywhere with it in the US. For his own sanity and for the sake of the entire British population.
    Having said all that, there's plenty of people who are going to be terrified he's Harry Potter's distant cousin, of the Slytherin persuasion, and comply with his foot-stomping for fear of having Crucio cast upon them...
  22. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Leenie in What would you do?   
    God, can we get him deported? It's attitudes and behaviours like this that give entire nations a bad reputation. He's going to need to get over his entitled, elitist attitude PDQ if he thinks he's going to get anywhere with it in the US. For his own sanity and for the sake of the entire British population.
    Having said all that, there's plenty of people who are going to be terrified he's Harry Potter's distant cousin, of the Slytherin persuasion, and comply with his foot-stomping for fear of having Crucio cast upon them...
  23. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from ionsnewwife in i'm totally lost - please help me!   
    The fact that his status expired in 2008 and he's only now getting married is ironically probably helpful. I think length of relationship would only have been an issue if your timeline looked more like: Met in Feb 2010, visa expired April 2010, he proposed May 2010 and we got married 5 days later.
    Probably worth getting a couple of notarized affidavits from friends and family that they know you as a couple, etc.
  24. Like
    SunDrop got a reaction from Kukolka in i'm totally lost - please help me!   
    The fact that his status expired in 2008 and he's only now getting married is ironically probably helpful. I think length of relationship would only have been an issue if your timeline looked more like: Met in Feb 2010, visa expired April 2010, he proposed May 2010 and we got married 5 days later.
    Probably worth getting a couple of notarized affidavits from friends and family that they know you as a couple, etc.
  25. Like
    SunDrop reacted to Rito in Irritating BS your SO does   
    I really didn't want to add fuel to the fire, but please hold aside what your fiance did regarding the car purchase for a second and consider that you're complaining about her in a public forum to strangers. I see a relationship - especially a marriage relationship - as a kind of sanctuary. In the sanctuary there is respect and love and safety. We all do stupid things, but our stable relationship is where we can be ourselves without fear of betrayal and condemnation. Broadcasting to the world your complaints with your spouse - and especially character judgments like the above - I feel is very wrong to her. Before you post anything else, please consider what it feels like to be in her shoes. Consider that you are the one person who will be sworn to love, protect, and cherish her, and that airing what you consider to be character flaws is an act of betrayal. If my fiance did this to me, I would be crushed beyond belief. But he never would, and he trusts me not to either.
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