Bobbie

Good Luck and do let us know how it goes. We will be doing a waiver in Frankfurt too~so we are keeping our fingers crossed it goes quickly for you.

bobbie

Thank you very much for keeping these stats, its really helpful to see it in a format like this.

BObbie

I am going to ask my lawyer this question

Just want to seek an opinion here

My fiance has to write a statement for the waiver application, stating his crime and how he feels about it now.

He rented a car and the agency owner wanted only cash (by his description, she said it was "because of tax"). He wanted to use a credit card, but she said no, take the car and you can pay later with cash. But after he had been using it a while, she reclaimed it without any notice, saying she needed it urgently, and wanted the cash. He did not have the cash then and could not pay her. She still would not take the credit card (I thought car rental agencies WANTED credit cards). So she accused him and he was convicted of fraud (they said he had no money and no intention of paying) for which he paid a fine of 500.

In Korea, in small cases like these, people tend not to hire lawyers or fight the charge, just accept a conviction and a fine. But fraud conviction is CIMT so it matters a lot now.

But in writing his statement, he must sound repentant. He made the statement as above but he believes he was not really guilty. Is it OK to say that in the statement or should he just take the position that he was wrong.

Korean pastor at my church says the agency owner was trying to avoid paying taxes by getting the customers to pay cash. But I'm sure there is no way to prove that.

Actually, I think you want to do a search on here for Laurel Scott's memo. I have read that if you do not believe you are guilty you should not say, I am guilty .....I think basically you state the facts and say this is what happened, but not, oh now i am so much better.....do some more research through the forums.

Good Luck

Sometimes I feel like everytime I post on this message board, I am bitching and moaning. Something needs to go in our favor!

It seems that our petition (the 2nd time around) is once again screwed up! I am about to lose my mind! And then I come here and read the timelines and everyone receiving their NOA2. While I am very happy for those people, it brings tears to my eyes since we have been trying to get a NOA2 since June, 2006. And I call, what a joke that is...I can not get any answers! They only seem to get confused when I tell them the entire story and they see that there is another petition out there pending that has no activity since Oct. 06. I try and tell them that a laison said it had been "administratively closed" and that is why we had to refile. But the system does not show that. So there sits our 2nd application, and they can't tell me what is going on with it either. I just want to scream everytime I talk to them!

So I have been in contact with my Congressman and his assistant that handles immigration. I received this in an email on Friday:

"Greetings from the office of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II:

Ms. xxxxxxx, thank you for contacting your Congressman's office, proudly serving the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. Judging from the information you provided with our phone call it may be possible for Congressman Cleaver and/or his staff to look into this matter concerning your fiancés application for a K-1 visa. However the Privacy Act of 1974 requires that you complete the attached form in its entirety in order for the Congressman's office to work on your behalf. Once completed, please send the form to the District office using the information provided on the bottom of the form. If you have any questions please refer to the contact information following this communication.

Warmest regards, "

I also spoke to her on the phone and she said that they would do a congressional inquiry! I just have to fax over the Privacy Act plus copies of our application, etc. I will do that first thing on Monday and I hope hope hope that it doesn't take long to send out the congressional to CIS. I still have a wait in front of me but it gives me some sort of comfort that after almost a year of waiting (just for a NOA2), maybe somebody will be able to get to the bottom of this god awful mess!!!!

I will be crossen my fingers and toes this congress person goes in overdrive for you!

I think I am understanding you to say, you are NOT the USC and your fiance is. And, she is 17 years old until next March. I believe she MUST be 18 to file a fiance visa.

HORAY!!!!!!!!

just got a letter in the mail saying the I-601 was approved!!!! My wife goes into the consulate next week to finish up!!!!!

What was the waiver for if you don't mind me asking?

Congrats by the way!

unlawful presence over 180 days but less than one year

a full detail of the issue involved - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/lofivers...php/t40093.html

and a complete breakdown of the process including the I-601 hardship letter:

http://www.immigrate2us.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15150

Rock On!

I just read your post, I have always believed in one thing, the people never change, the people is and will be the same, I think you made a bad decision in the moment you got marry him because it was too soon, anyway, dont make another mistake, dont let him he tells you sweet words because the people doesnt change. You are woman and you deserve respect, no matter what, dont let him he abuse of you emotionally.

I believe people do change. I also believe it is neither my job nor my duty to go through change with them. When and if they do change, and if they call and If I am available, then we can speak.

Go away, change and come back, then we shall talk.

Other than that, this woman is right ON. YOU deserve respect!

I have been married about 2 months now to a foreigner who was here on a work-exhcange visa, which expired right before we got married. We were friends during his entire visa stay, but we only dated 1 1/2 mo before marrying. He is still living with me in the U.S. at my home.

My natural desire was to sponsor him to get his perminent residence here, which we were on the verge of putting the application in the mail (I-485, I-130, I-864, I-765, etc...). But some things have happened since we got married, which increasingly got worse, that make me feel unsure about sponsoring him (extreme emotional abuse, control, cutting me off from my friends/family, sleep deprevation..etc... and phsyical restraints... never hit me though..at least not 'yet'). I had discussed/argued with him about the way he was treating me and told him that I didn't feel comfortable/safe with it. He said he would stop, but kept doing it. It all came to a breaking point a week and a half ago, when I was ready to leave the marriage due to all of this(and buy him a flight back to his country). I finally called my family to help me. My friends and family tell me to get out of the relationship now... but after 4 days of separating (I spent the time at my family's house) he is promising to change, etc.. and seems very genuine. I have been back with him for a week now, and we have seen a marriage counselor (who seems good) twice, and I am getting personal counseling as well. His intentions seem genuine...but how can I judge at this point?

I think he loves me... it is believable from what he says now and how he has acted this last week... but I have had my doubts, since marrying, about what his true intentions were in marrying me. I believed that we both loved each other. He always acted very hurt if I brought up questions/concerns addressing the possibility that his intentions weren't purely due to his love for me.

My fear in sponsoring him is due to the financial responsibility I would be agreeing to in the affidavit of support until he becomes a U.S. citizen....and then having things not work out in the marriage (this is not my hope)...and then me still being stuck with the responsibility of ensuring I maintain him at an above povertly income level to ensure he doesn't go on public assistance, etc...

My dilema is that if we do work on this marriage and stay together... I will want him to be here legally and able to work, but I don't want it to be due to him knowing he can get his perm. residence through me. As it is, his J-1 visa is expired. He was living with me (rather than returning to his country) until we could get the application mailed in, which I've read elsewhere that although technically it is illegal, usually it isn't a problem to get the perm. residence approved (as long as he didn't overstay his visa 180+ days). So he can't have a driver's license in my state, no permission to work, etc... Even looked into the possibility of him going to school as an international student but was told since his visa was expired, and he wasn't in his home country, that they couldn't apply for the student visa.

He says he wants to stay with me, and work on the marriage. He says he is willing to change. I love him, but don't want to end up in an abusive relationship. I hear it is more difficult to leave the longer you stay. I want more time to determine whether or not to sponsor him, to determine whether or not his promises are genuine and true. I also need more time to make sure my decisions are wise (since looking back I wasn't so wise to marry him so quickly, but I can't change that now).

In the meantime, I want him to be able to stay legally somehow (so I don't have this pressure to sponsor him), and be able to do normal things like work (legally). I don't want to feel obligated to financially sponsor him b/c now I feel unsafe doing so...and don't want to be financially obligated (by the U.S. gvmt) to a man who may end up being my x-husband if he reverts back to this controlling/abusive behavior. I want to know if there is any way that he can be here legally? even as a non-immigrant? (I know he could be sponsored to be a Perm. Res. by an Employer, but he has no degree completed yet). Is there some other kind of visa I do not know about that he could apply for while living in the U.S. married to a U.S. citizen? Without the intention to be a permanent resident? I read about the K-3 visa...but we would have to send him back home, then bring him back here again...and that could be renewed annually, but I'd still have to provide the affidavit of support??? This doesn't seem to be any better an option than the first. Is there an agency out there that may help with getting him sponsored by an employer, and placing him in a job, even though he doesn't have a degree (the skilled worker option???) and his visa is already expired.

Someone please offer some good advice.... I have good people helping me in the emotional dept. etc... but on top of the marrital issues there is this sponsorship/legal #######, which most people do not know about. I want to know that if he is working on things with me that it is because he loves me and wants to be with me...not so he can use me to get perm. residence. I'm trying to do things right and legal (which is why he isn't driving nor working).

Thanks.

Ok lets get things straight, first off, you ARE in an abusive relationship, you are simply trying to decide to stay in it or to leave it. You are hoping by staying in the abusive relationship he will see the error of his ways and magically change. Why do we marry people hopeing they change? Marry someone and look at their faults and say, OK I can live with this, not, I can change this.

You are talking about him physically restraining you. What does he have to do to make this so you walk away. Would one slap do it? or would it take a broken bone?

Why are you worried about helping him? You made a mistake. You married too soon. There is no shame in it.

YOu can not ever know if he is promising you to change because he wants to, or because he wants to stay in the USA.

Don't sit there waiting to see what he will do. You decide and do it. And really think about it. Please be careful to not give him any more emotional ammunition like getting pregnant.....you would really have a hard time getting rid of him then.

Don't be a statistic. IM sorry Im being so hard. But the writing is on the wall. How long will you wait to read it? I am all for working marriage out. Once it is abusive..and you have no real reason to have such a strong commitment to him, a few months? this is nothing.....get out, and dont look back. I believe the moment you way, we are over, you will see how very very abusive he can become.

When you threaten him and his ability to be in the usa when that is what he wants, i think it will be fire.

I am so sorry for being so hard on you, but I think if he came up and slapped you across the face right now you would say..but i do love him and he wont do it again, and and and.........

Ask yourself, at what point is enough enough? Draw a line in the sand.

Yay, we are approved! As of May 31, 2007 !!!

good luck to all others! Just keep up the hope!

:dance: Go March Go March

Get married way before the Visa expires so it does not cause a problem. Have a judge do it. THen have the real wedding when you want. But do yourselves a favor and don't bunch all of this stuff up together.

It's like some friends of mine got married on New Years..well thats fine....we go to the weddding, but every year an anniversary party on New Years? I dont thUnk so...its my news years too.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congrats!!

The embassy in Stockholm just called my husband and told him his waiver was approved in London :dance: I am so freakin happy right now!!!

Thank you to VJ, I2US, and a HUGE shout out to attorney Laurel Scott for her amazing work on my behalf.

He's coming home!!!

Im high 5'en ya!!!

Very Very Excited for any 601 waiver to get through :dance:

I feel like such a blood sucker...FIRST..congrats...Next, how hard is your hardship?

I hate wishing I had a major medical problem.

Bobbie are you trying to write a 601 waiver? Are you using a lawyer? I have some helpful hints home if you want me to email them to you. Right now I'm visiting my parents and don't have access to the information but I can email it to you later.

Yesn we are doing a 601, no we aren't using a lawyer (at this point) and any information you have would be very appreicated!

Thank you!

Bobbie

Bobbie I just sent you a letter. Can you please let me know that you got it and I'd really appreciate it if you don't share it in open forums. Thanks. Joanna

Dear Joanna:

I just received it, thank you very much. I promise to keep it confidential and I really do appreciate it.

Bobbie

Bobbie, I also have the hardship letter I wrote if you need it.

That would be great, thank you so much!

two yums dancing and cheering that WE DID IT!! Visa received yesterday!!!!!

Not even the Atlantic Ocean can prevent two people in love from being together!

Thank you God!

jv

Congrats!

I have a friend who has a GF in another country. He wants to meet her in person so he can file a K-1. He can't get a passport because he owes back child support, and she can't get a US VISA to come here to visit. We're looking for ways for them to meet but there appears to be none.

Got any ideas?

First you are asking for ideas, and the obvious is to pay the child support.

Why cant she get a visa?

Truly this is opportunity cost. When you choose one opportunity, you lose another.

We prepare ourselves in life to take advantage of opportunities, money in the bank so when the "car" goes on sale, and such.

This person wasn't prepared to meet an expensive girlfriend, or to have a passport. That is a pity. However, he should begin to see why being prepared to take advantages of opportunities in life is important.

No one has pity for someone who isnt working towards paying the child support, back support sounds a bit like, Billy, you are going to get dinner from 2006 that was missed for all those months.....

I got 80 bucks in child support in 18 years, no pity, no apologies from me.

Bobbie

were (couple)going through K1.

I have enough money to support myself in the US with her just on my 3month I-94 visa waiver.

iv been coming in and out of US since xmas .I dont think its illegal,as im not overstaying and not on welfare.

thing is,im thinking of going to Canada on Business for the day! and come back same night for another 3 months stamp.

What do you guys think.?.........I also have a going home ticket to the UK within 3 months.

Thanks

I think you know if you are supposed to go to Canada.

I think you just ask yourself, if the worst happens, am I prepared for it?

What is the worst they can do to you?

Can you live with that?

That is your answer.

Bobbie

I had a pinched nerve, siatica? for over 1 and a half years. Im one of those Americans with out health insurance, so, I just deal with the pain. A good friend of mine talked me into going to a nuro-muscular massage therapist. I kid you not, he spent 90 minutes with me, had me stand, bend sit walk...didnt even rub my back for me LOL, but told me to, 1. sleep on my back (im 50% good at this) then gave me a few exercises to do. Within 1 month I was 70% better, within 3 months 100%. Now, I can still feel I have this if I walk too much, however I think more exercise would do the trick...but I was on, up to 18 Ibuprofen, extra strength a day. Some days, that would not even touch the swelling so the pain would not go away. Some days, Gin was the only thing that would solve the problem. I dont mean flat out drinking, I mean one half of a gin and tonic and I was 100% better. That is when I thought, wow I can see why someone in pain becomes an addict, just for the darn relief.

None the less though, I highly recommend anyone who has trained under Paul St. John (and they are all over the country). Neuro Muscular Massage therapy...I guess people of "my" age get this pinched nerve...38+

http://www.expatdirect.co.uk/

http://www.britstore.co.uk/

http://www.shoppingfrombritain.com/

http://www.britishgoodsonline.com/ (US based so they take dollars!)

just look around, there are many resources the net has to offer!

Good Luck

Bobbie

I feel like such a blood sucker...FIRST..congrats...Next, how hard is your hardship?

I hate wishing I had a major medical problem.

Bobbie are you trying to write a 601 waiver? Are you using a lawyer? I have some helpful hints home if you want me to email them to you. Right now I'm visiting my parents and don't have access to the information but I can email it to you later.

Yesn we are doing a 601, no we aren't using a lawyer (at this point) and any information you have would be very appreicated!

Thank you!

Bobbie

Bobbie I just sent you a letter. Can you please let me know that you got it and I'd really appreciate it if you don't share it in open forums. Thanks. Joanna

Dear Joanna:

I just received it, thank you very much. I promise to keep it confidential and I really do appreciate it.

Bobbie

If they expedited everyone, we would still complain.

"How come hers took 2 weeks when mine took 3! That is so not fair!"

Human Nature huh?

Everyone who would complain about getting the app done in 3 weeks raise your hands?

Ya..im not seeing hands raised LOL

90 days is really the longest this should take. when you hear about some types of petitions that take years, well you must wonder who is in charge of this cluster? The instructions are hard to read, they are ambiguous at best and in some cases it requires a lawyer. This seems to be equal protection for the people who can afford it. I wonder how many waivers would have been approved if the applicant had the 5K Laurel Scott fee, instead of having the sponsor do the best they could.

I don't know, its not perfect, but it is ours, the system. But, it can be improved!

Bureaucrats unite, Rise up! Excellence is JOB 1....(I'm losing the crowd aren't I? ....ahh well enough, I think I have hijacked this thread and I didn't mean to!

Send him the AA book. Get it in Spanish, they have it.

Good Luck to you and to him.

I hope MEL works out for you, I am in Florida too, so I will be watching!

GOOD LUCK THIS WEEK!

My husband said it'll be hard to open an account for me as the bank needs my SSN. And because we are still working on our K3, we end up using WU ever since last year. Is it true that you really need an SSN for a joint account? i mean i am not doubting my husband. However, reading this thread, i've seen some were able to open a joint account. How do you guys do that? Is it under your spouses name? is it like an extension card of his ongoing savings account with his name on it?

Actually I think for a non interest bearing account you dont need to use the ssn. They only use the SSN to issue 1098's or bank interest statements at the end of the year.

I need my fiance too, I really do. Why can't they expedite all of us?

Expedite Expedite Expedite for All

(think we can get someone to use this as their campaign slogan?)

If they expedite everyone, then no one's case would move faster.

On noo nooo noo nooo, if they expedite everyone, then they would be operating at a high level of efficiency and could be compared to the most successful businesses in the capitalist world.

It is too bad they don't get a commission on every file done correctly and quickly. I always move quicker when I am only on commission. (Could this lead it open to fraud? ....well, fraud never affected the mortgage broker industry LOLOLOLOLOLOL)

Nice to be an ethical woman in an unethical occupation. Sleeps good.

I think for some people, especially self employed types who didnt realize they were filing the I-134 when they did their taxes, this could be an excellent life saver.

Think upon it.

If you earned say, 50K and you write it all off so you end up with an AGI of 10,000. You fall short. However, if you have a free and clear boat that the blue book value is 15,000 and you have furniture, big screen, and a second car (free and clear) worth 15,000, then why would you not use it?

If the assets must be 5 times more than you need, and if the 10,000 is basically 4000 short of 100% on a family of 2, then the assets needed would be 20,000. The 30K of normal assets that are fairly liquid (within 1 year can be sold), would save the bacon of having to "amend the taxes, and lose a legitimate deduction".

Just one to Grow On.

You know what they say, it isn't how much you make, it is how much you keep.

I just read where a woman who was doing a K-3, lived in Cambodia, 20 years old, her 21 year old husband died and they would not let her come to the funeral...paper work..now his parents are petitioning for her...how sad!

really .. well the story sound scarey for me... well i was thinking to expedite our case coz my fiance need me there.. but his not for deployment or anything he was just transfer to a new base. Anyway is it true that if ur fiance is in military it take more fast the processing of ur case... well guys thanks for all the information .. goodluck to all of you here...

I need my fiance too, I really do. Why can't they expedite all of us? Work with a sense of urgency. My fiance and I have a business together, for over 2 years now. I really need him cause I need a dang day off.

Besides, there is a box, on a really really high shelf i can't reach. And a light bulb that needs changing. I also need a back rub.

You know I am only kidding, but I do think they should work a bit quicker, and probably it is not even that. It is probably that they are under staffed, and they work very hard and long.

Expedite Expedite Expedite for All

(think we can get someone to use this as their campaign slogan?)