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Russ&MaryAnn

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  1. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from justinemaaaae in No NOA1 after 3 weeks   
    You’ve just begun the waiting. As others said relax. You’ve got to be patient with the process or you’ll drive yourself crazy 
  2. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from waysoftheshadow in K1 expiration date   
    My fiancée just completed her exam at SLEC. If there had been any indication she needed further testing for TB I would have not liked the additional wait. But I would accept it and be thankful they are precautious with a dreadful disease. And if after the 8 weeks test she was clear, great. If not and she had to live in Manila for 6 months for treatment; again the wait and additional expenses wouldn’t be pleasant but I know it’s the best way to deal with a potentially deadly disease. I’m glad USEM uses SLEC medical facility.
  3. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Hank_ in CEAC is on ‘Ready’�� status but no Packet 3 yet.   
    That info is for immigrant visas, which the K-1 is not.  NVC for the most part processes immigrant visas so for the K-1 they just use their form letter ..    NVC will schedule nothing for you.
     
    If your CEAC status is READY .. then you are burning daylight!  Time to ROCK n ROLL!!       Get 'er done!
     
    Here is a link to the complete process for the Philippines, it also includes links to the embassy website, SLEC and CFO.   https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/us-embassy-usem.html
     
    Why would it take a long time if you wait for the embassy to send you a letter or email?  Because MOST never receive this magical letter/email.    My wife is still waiting for hers ...    
     
    Follow the guide .. and all will be done quickly
  4. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from Major in Trump's Travel Ban Mega Thread   
    It’ll be on the visa 
  5. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from Mike E in Trump's Travel Ban Mega Thread   
    It’ll be on the visa 
  6. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Yugo1996 in K-1 / K-2 Complicated process   
    Thank you everyone for helping us out! 

    The embassy agreed with my case and admitted a K-2 for our son. They passed the interview and now we are waiting for their Visa, They said that it would be done in 3 days and hopefully be in the U.S. by the end of the month. 

    Again thank you all for your help, I had already Plans A through E planned thanks to everyone's input and advice.
  7. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from Boiler in Reasons people can be in Administrative Processing after Visa Approval in Pakistan?   
    I believe the purpose of this forum is to inform people about the processes. True information isn’t always encouraging.
  8. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Honeythunder in K1 Visa Interview Experience   
    Hi guys, we had our k1 & k2 interview yesterday and it got approved! I just wanna share my experience to others who will have their interview in the future.
     
    5am - We arrived in the embassy. There were at least 100 people outside already. You can rent chairs from vendors there for 30 pesos.
    5:40am - The embassy guard asked us (6:35am appointment) to start lining up. Guard asked to see the visa interview appointment confirmation.
    6:15am - We were allowed to get in the main entrance and we lined up again. The staff gave us small clear plastic bags and we were asked to place our passports inside with the bio info showing. 
    6:30am - The staff looked at my DS-160 and she placed a barcode sticker on it. I was then allowed to go inside. There were 2 security checks (body scanner and X-ray for your belongings). 
    6:40am - It was our turn to go to the window with the Filipino consul and he asked for my cenomar, our birth certificates, and NBI. He asked some basic questions like petitioner's name, address, etc.
    6:50am - We lined up to the adjacent window for fingerprint collection. It was pretty quick.
    6:55am - We were told to sit and wait for our turn for the final interview.
    7:20am - Final interview. Nice American male consul. I greeted him good morning and he did the same. He looked at my file (the stuff that USCIS forwarded to them) and started asking me questions:
     
    1. What is the name of your fiance?
    2. How did you meet him? When?
    3. How many times did he visit you?
    4. What does he do for a living? 
    5. When did you become a couple?
    6. How old was your child when you met him?
     
    Questions for k2:
     
    1. Do you know your mom's fiance?
    2. How often do you talk to him?
    3. What do you guys talk about?
     
    He complimented her english and then he told her to take a seat while he asked me more questions.
     
    1. Do you have the form I-134?
    (I handed it to him along with W-2, 3 months worth of pay stubs, employment certificate, a screenshot of my fiance's profile in the company website, and a copy of his employment contract showing he has tenure)
     
    2. Do you already have wedding plans?
     
    I just told him that we plan on having a courthouse wedding.
     
    Then that's it. He didn't even ask for our pictures or any relationship evidence (maybe because my fiance provided dozens of pictures and other proof already and it's in the file the consul was looking at). He told me that he will recommend it for approval, then he handed me a white paper with contact details for visa delivery. He told me to wait 2-3 weeks for visa delivery. I thanked him and then we left.
     
    P.S. When I checked the status yesterday it said Administrative processing for both of us. Today it says issued on mine and still administrative processing for k2. 
     
     
     
     
     
  9. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to geowrian in Common Law Marriage   
    Lots of cases this month of people lying on a tourist visa about their marital status...
     
    On the plus side, he claimed to be common law married, not necessarily legally married. Depending on local law, this may or may not be an issue IMO.
    The obvious item is how does one show that the common law marriage was dissolved? If there is no formal process, he may have a chance - the USG can't require documentation that cannot exist. They might still want other evidence, which would obviously be a problem, though.
    If there is a formal process for dissolving a common law marriage, then they will require documentation of that process. "I lied" or "somebody else put that" will not cut it.
     
    Either way, a K-1 is not suggested here. You have the burden to show that you are both free to marry. It may be impossible to show that here.
    With a CR-1 at least, you have to show a legal marriage. You do not have to show being free to marry, obviously.
    They may still require evidence or documentation of the dissolution of the common law marriage, but at least you could challenge their decision. With a K-1, you are pretty much stuck once they make their decision and have to start all over.
     
    There may or may not be a misrepresentation bar as well, depending on if the misrepresentation is deemed material.
    I suggest not focusing on pointing fingers at the agent - they will not care one bit as he signed it and showed up for the interview. How it happened doesn't matter.
     
  10. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Oliversmom in Is it hopeless to retry for another K1 visa after denial?   
    I would guess that many that come here are at first feeling a bit depressed, alone and scared.  My husband was not happy when he first came here.  That is where you come in - you help them adjust.  You take them around to see the area.  You help them look for a job if that is what they are wanting.  You help them learn to drive.  You make sure they are regularly talking to their family.  You find restaurants that serve their food from home. You do things as a couple.  You listen, really listen to what they have to say.  You don't say "oh if you are unhappy just go home".  Because it takes time to adjust.  My husband is very happy here now.  He has a job.  He is taking classes.  He has friends.  He has hobbies he enjoys.  We have a good life.  But that takes time.  You can't just give up if at first she doesn't like it here.  Well, you can but that is really not fair to her.  
     
     
  11. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to TBoneTX in Hard finding a job.2 months down the line!   
    CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
    Try this idea, previously posted by the member Darnell:
    ---
    Each city has a chamber of commerce. Find it.

    Once you find it - talk with the secretary - tell her you want a schedule of events and let her know you'd like to attend.

    Then - go in person to the Chamber of Commerce Office - talk with the President of the Chamber, tell him/her you want to volunteer at several of their events.

    Attendees at chamber events are business owners and sales geeks, all looking for new business.  It usually is an informal-enough gathering where you can approach people and talk with them.

    Now, the cool thing about being a volunteer there - is that you will be talking to everyone at least once - you might be at the reception table, you might be at the greeters table, you might help to run the audio/video system - whatever - but - the point is that you can meet everyone there, face to face.

    Attend 2 or 3 of these, and folk remember you. When folk remember you, they will remember you are seeking employment and will consider you, because you're just not some name on a piece of paper - they met you at a chamber event and know that you were volunteering, helping out the chamber.

    Go Get Em, and Good Luck!

    PS - live in a really small town? go to the biggest town that's within 15 miles of your house.
  12. Thanks
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to AFCF in SLEC medical experience (January 7 to 8, 2020)   
    This is a long post. Just want to share how the medical was for me since this forum helped me a lot. 
     
    I stayed at Go Hotels Ermita which is a few minutes away from the clinic. I paid 3851.37PhP for 2 nights. 
     
    For SLEC, don’t forget to bring your own pen. Also, I forgot which floor is which, so I’ll just indicate the areas. Use the stairs too. Way faster than the elevators. 
     
    Day 1: January 7, 2020
    I arrived at 08:10. No need to go there at 3 or 4 in the morning. A few extra hours of sleep sounds (and feels) better than waiting in line.
     
    The guard asked for the following: passport, 1 copy of passport biopage, 1 copy of SLEC appointment letter, 1 copy of NVC letter, 1 copy of appointment confirmation letter for the USEM interview (if applicable), Security Bank receipt (if applicable), and 4 2x2 photos. He compiled everything and asked me to proceed to the photo room. 
     
    💡 Almost every step of the process, aside from the SLEC papers, they will ask for your passport and ask you your name and birthday for verification. 
     
    PHOTO ROOM: They took a photo of me, I saw it was what they used for their system, and asked me my name and birthday for verification. After that, they asked me to proceed to the USA reception. 
     
    USA Reception: I waited for a few minutes until I was called. They just asked me my name, my birthday, if it was my first time to have medical at SLEC, and my relationship with my petitioner (fiancé). After that, they asked me to scan my right index finger. Then, they gave me my receipt along with the paperwork that I need for the process. 
     
    LABORATORY: There’s a sheet of paper that explains what you will be tested for. You will have to write your name and sign after reading. (No erasures!) After signing, I gave my papers and the signed sheet to the reception area and waited to be called. When I was called, they told me to scan my fingerprint and asked me if I urinated that morning. I did at 7:45 so they asked me to do my urine collection at 8:45 and proceed to the phlebotomy area first. 
     
    PHLEBOTOMY: Did what they had to do, draw blood, and asked me to go do my x-ray. 
     
    X-RAY: They asked me if I’m pregnant (I’m not). Then, they told me to write ”I’m not pregnant” on the sheet and fill out the required fields. After doing so, I was asked to proceed to the women’s xray room. You have to wear a gown (take your shirt and underwear off, of course) and to put your hair up in a bun. I waited for my turn and I was asked stuff again for verification. I inhaled the best I could when I was told to do so (I was honestly freaking out about this because of the various posts I have read). After this, I was asked to do urine collection. 
     
    URINE COLLECTION: I was instructed to collect my urine from the first drop until it reaches the line drawn on the container. It shouldn’t be full or less than what’s required. The nurse will accompany you inside the restroom and you would have to leave your bag out of the cubicle. After that, they took the container and they asked me to proceed to the vital signs area. 
     
    VITAL SIGNS: Gave them my papers and waited to be called. They checked the following: weight, height, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. After this, I was asked to proceed to the eye test room.
     
    EYE TEST: Asked if I’m wearing eyeglasses and/or contact lenses and checked for visual acuity. After this, I filled out a sheet of my ki medical history and gave my papers to the US Counter and waited to be called. 
     
    PHYSICAL EXAM: When I was called, I was instructed to go wait by the clinic. The doctor asked about my history. After the interview part, the doctor did the physical examination. This was when the doctor saw my tattoo and asked if I only have one. I think she was checking for scars and such. She also asked about my highest educational attainment and my previous vaccinations. After it was done, I was told to give my papers back to the US counter and wait to be called. 
     
    CHECK-OUT: When I was finally called, I was instructed to go to the second floor to check-out before I can go home. I went down and gave them my papers. When they called me, they asked me about my previous vaccinations and asked to see my records. Then, I was instructed to come back the next day at 9:00AM. 
     
    I finished at 10:40. Finished everything in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Longest wait was for the physical examination. 
     
    Day 2: January 8, 2020
    I arrived at 9:30AM. I showed the guard my receipt and my passport. He told me to stay at the ground floor, give my receipt to Counter A, and wait to be called. I was nervous the entire time because I have always read that people get sent to the second floor for immunization right away, if passed, or to the fourth floor for those under sputum. Not knowing what being at the ground floor means was torturous, along with the 2 hour wait. But I kept seeing people from the ground floor being called to go the immunization room. So that somehow helped and gave me hope lol. At around 12 noon, I was (finally) called to go to the immunization room! Thank God!!! ♥️ I was nervous the entire time. The nurse asked about my medical history and if I’m pregnant. I had to write “I’m not pregnant” and she gave me 3 shots (TDAP, MMR, and Varicella — some posts of people said they got 4 shots with the flu shot). I went back to the releasing area (ground floor — where I was asked to wait) after for my sealed envelope, CD, and vaccination record. 
     
    I finished at 13:25. It was worth the wait! It took me almost 4 hours on the 2nd day. I was praying and freaking out (lol) the entire time I was waiting. I had colds and sore throat when I did the medical. I was worried about this too. But thank God, I passed! Prayers move mountains and we’re one step closer ♥️
     
    Hope this helps! I did my best to remember details so I probably missed some. 
    Anyhow, best of luck to everyone. 
    God bless us all! ♥️
  13. Thanks
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from apellica in Questions that come into mind   
    In November when we scheduled her K1 interview there were many dates available at USEM. Some the very next week.
  14. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from Dhilman2 in photo date info   
    As mentioned by others, photos of you together are secondary evidence and very weak. Photos individually are totally useless. The best evidence is passport stamps. Second is boarding passes but they aren’t required. Don’t even worry about time stamp on the photos, just write it on the back.
    Hotel or other receipts are also acceptable.
  15. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Quarknase in waiting another 6 months to see fiance   
    Not wanting to sound harsh, but if the sisters wedding and your families Florida trip have priority, then you two made decisions but had options. I understand that long distance is hard (I'm in the same situation, as are most of us here), but we all sacrifice one way or the other.
    I am sacrificing all family visits and trips to other places, to spend all my time with my husband. Why? Because the long distance situation is temporary and once we're together there will be room again for visiting other people
     
    Have you thought of delaying the interview so he can come visit as a tourist?
     
    Keep your head up - the long stretch is behind you, summer is almost here
     
  16. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to SalishSea in Vaccination Concerns   
    Read it again.  It in no way says what you state it says.
  17. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Going through in Who should pay for the AOS fees?   
    So I read your previous thread.  
     
    Honestly...I’d be rather ticked off if my spouse-to-be was insisting I move to a country not of my choosing, in addition to having me leave my entire family and friends, my lifestyle, my cuisine, my culture and my security ——and then had the audacity to expect me to foot the entire bill for everything as well?
     
    You thought in your last thread that she might be using you for a green card.  If she doesn’t want to move to the US them how is she using you?  You speak (more than once) of her wealth or her parents’ wealth in both threads.
     
    I’m beginning to wonder if the plot-twist in whatever argument the two of you are having about fees...is that she’s fearful that you just might be using her financially.
  18. Haha
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to JFH in Skype marriage (pakistan) spouse visa (merged)   
    Proxy marriages are permitted provided that the marriage was consummated after the proxy ceremony. Where were both parties located for the proxy marriage? 
     
    And for evidence that the marriage was consummated you don’t need to provide, as someone did in the past, “live action photos”, but evidence you have spent the night together somewhere after that date - a hotel receipt would suffice. 
  19. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from Dashinka in Got divorced before the interview   
    Until a divorce is finalized in court it’s not complete. And so you and your husband can choose to not have it processed in court. If you both choose to do that you’re not divorced 
  20. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to geowrian in Discrepancy in K-1 processing times   
    The data you see here is generated by the community's own timelines. This has several consequences...
    1) It's only a very small subset of all filers. VJ is a decently sized community, but it's still small compared to the total data set.
    2) The predictions here are usually pretty accurate for an average case. That said, they are only estimates.
    3) The data is for people that applied x days ago. Somebody filing today may take much less or much more time. When I filed for my now-wife, I-129F processing time was around 1 month. It took 4 months, and grew to 8+ months for people who filed a few months after me. backlogs happen, as do the reductions of backlogs.
    4) Users sometimes enter bad data. Many times people don't update after approval of completion of a step...they're done with the site for their purposes (at least for some time) and never bother to update their timelines after approval.
     
    With regard to #4 especially, some of the stats above are definitely misleading. Namely anything involving TSC. TSC does not process I-129Fs for a fiance/fiancee. They stopped that early this decade. People incorrectly think that the Texas lockbox that they send the I-129F to is the Texas Service Center. It's not. That's why you don't see any data on it from USCIS directly.
    All I-129Fs for a fiance/fiancee are currently sent to CSC originally. In rare cases (typically regarding certain criminal activity of the petitioner, or otherwise more complex cases...) they are then transferred to VSC.
    Edit: That's also why you see a long time for processing at VSC from USCIS directly. Most people with cases sent to VSC either never update their VJ timelines or come to VJ (especially given the subject matter of those types of crimes resulting in being sent to VSC + likely needed a good lawyer).
     
    That said, overall the estimates here are the best IMHO. The ones on the other websites you mentioned seem to be more outdated.
    The official processing timelines from USCIS are what matters for being outside of normal processing times for USCIS purposes, although they are generally based on data from up to 3 months ago. It's harder to say with the new format they use, but previously they would post a chart with "current as of...", which was usually at least 2 months prior.
  21. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Thegirl in NVC - Other side of the fence   
    Yes exactly! I swear people think that offices are run by robots. We don't think about the fact that people have families and lives too. We can't understand why one case is a few days slower than others when people get sick, their kids have trips that need chaperones, they need vacation, they get tired too. And sometimes yes, they do mess up because they are humans and some are bad at their jobs and others are just trying to get by. 
  22. Haha
    Russ&MaryAnn reacted to Nitas_man in List sent from the embassy and I'm confused about something   
    Irony:  A dude named “dollah bills” inquiring about when to submit the affidavit from a joint sponsor
  23. Thanks
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from Cyberfx1024 in Am I being used for a green card?   
    On the surface this does seem like a strange reaction to me. If I could make a living where my fiancée lives I would be there now and she’d love that. At one time I thought I had a remote job lined up and we were both excited about it. It would allow us to be together and still live near her family.
    Maybe talk to her more about it to find out the reasons for her objection to it
  24. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from Alix64 in April 2019 I-130 Filers   
    Just ask to have photos printed as 2x2. No need to request passport photos. That’s what I did and it also saved 90%!
  25. Like
    Russ&MaryAnn got a reaction from geowrian in K1 - Affidavit of Support, assets, & co-sponsors   
    My fiancée was asked for my I-134 and tax return last week. Manila embassy 12/19/19. Maybe it’s rare, but it does occur.
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