Matt y Fernanda

I personally know of a couple of non-residents that were able to join the Navy without any problems. One is still an officer.

Do you know how they went about doing that?

My wife was just approved for her green card, and I am a U.S. citizen. My wife's nephew wants to move to the United States to join the Army. I know that he does not quailify under the family immigration requirements. How can he obtain permanent residency to join? I'm trying to help him out, but I'm not 100% sure where to begin.

I may have made an expensive error. My wife's I-485 was approved today. She will be a conditional resident, because we have not been married 2 years yet. At the time we submitted her AOS paperwork, we did not submit an I-131. Is it too late to submit the I-131 without payment, if I sent in the NOA for her I-485? Or now that the I-485 has been approved, will we need to pay the $305?

If your wife is here on a K3 visa, you do not need to submit an I-131, as she is permitted unlimited travel to and from the US.

From the USCIS website: Can I Travel Outside the United States?

If you are in K-3 or K-4 status, you may travel using your unexpired K-3/K-4 nonimmigrant visa to travel outside of the United States and return, even if you are applying for adjustment of status simultaneously.

Here's the link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Yes, but doesn't that change after she receives her green card? At that point the K-3 is invalid, right?

Yes, I believe so. I think then your status is C-1. One of the others further along in the process would know that better than me.

Thank you

I may have made an expensive error. My wife's I-485 was approved today. She will be a conditional resident, because we have not been married 2 years yet. At the time we submitted her AOS paperwork, we did not submit an I-131. Is it too late to submit the I-131 without payment, if I sent in the NOA for her I-485? Or now that the I-485 has been approved, will we need to pay the $305?

If your wife is here on a K3 visa, you do not need to submit an I-131, as she is permitted unlimited travel to and from the US.

From the USCIS website: Can I Travel Outside the United States?

If you are in K-3 or K-4 status, you may travel using your unexpired K-3/K-4 nonimmigrant visa to travel outside of the United States and return, even if you are applying for adjustment of status simultaneously.

Here's the link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Yes, but doesn't that change after she receives her green card? At that point the K-3 is invalid, right?

I may have made an expensive error. My wife's I-485 was approved today. She will be a conditional resident, because we have not been married 2 years yet. At the time we submitted her AOS paperwork, we did not submit an I-131. Is it too late to submit the I-131 without payment, if I sent in the NOA for her I-485? Or now that the I-485 has been approved, will we need to pay the $305?

I did not submit an AP with the rest of the AOS packet. I've seen that many people have though. Do you just make up a date or how does that work? I did not think it was necessary for K-3 visas.

Also, is anyone in here in the military? I have a few questions concerning what happens after the AOS if I am put on orders to go overseas again.

Make sure your AOS papers reflect that you are on active duty or in that disposition. I have heard of some spouses facing possible deportation orders after mistakes were uncovered in the AOS paperwork where the active duty spouse could not quckly fix due to being overseas. Hope you don't have to face that while the AOS is in process.

Yes I did on the I-864. We only have to meet 100% of the poverty line. I'm deployed, but I still use my parents address as my mailing address. We've done the entire process so far while I have been deployed. So I hope our luck continues.

Do you know if I need to be at the interview for her AOS?

I did not submit an AP with the rest of the AOS packet. I've seen that many people have though. Do you just make up a date or how does that work? I did not think it was necessary for K-3 visas.

Also, is anyone in here in the military? I have a few questions concerning what happens after the AOS if I am put on orders to go overseas again.

I spoke to soon. My wife received the 2x NOAs today, but when I search for them on the USCIS site it says that it can not find the cases. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Thank you maviwaro and snoopy

When I mailed my wife's AOS packet I made a mistake and did not request a delivery confirmation. Now I am checking my bank account each day waiting for the check to be cashed. How long does it normally take for USCIS to cash the check and send out a NOA? I sent the package on FEB 19. I'm just nervous that the package will not arrive there for some reason.

I have another concern. I was deployed for the majority of 2007 so most of my income was no taxable. When I did my taxes my gross income shows under the poverty line even though my taxable income for social security was way over the poverty line. Does anyone have any suggestions for this? Should I just submit my 2006 taxes?

Hello everyone. I'm so glad Fernanda and I are not in this forum. Congratulations to all the other newcomers here.

We are about to mail out the AOS packet as soon as I get home, but I had a quick question before we do. The I-131 is unnecessary with a K-3 visa, correct? I do not want to file this form unless it is necessary, but if I have to pay for it anyways with the I-485 I do not know if I should go ahead and send it.

Thank you to everyone for your help. I will find out exactly what type of ID she has, and ask her to call DAS.

Thank you everyone for your help here. I look forward to seeing many of you in the Colombia Club AOS forum!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR APPROVALS! GOOD LUCK!

I think similar questions have been asked before, but I could not find one that matched my exact situation.

Fernanda has her passport and visa with my last name. She has changed her name in Colombia, but she has not received a new Colombian ID card (cedula). Does anyone know if this will be a problem when she tries to leave? I thought she could just use her passport and that would be sufficient.

This question is a little late since Fernanda has already had her interview, but when you are approved for a K-3 visa are you supposed to get this sealed envelope I hear so much about? Fernanda did not receive any envelope at her interview. I'm concerned, because I do not want her to arrive in Miami and then be asked where this envelope is. They told her the visa would be delivered in about a week. That was all.

Bundy Congratulations on your Approval!

Congratulations on your Approval!

"CONRATULATIONS MATT & FERNANDA...AND...ANA & JUAN"

"GOOD LUCK TO STEVE & SANDY"

No worries bud...you will do just fine!!!

Say hi to Bob & Luz Eleina...and don't forget Johanna.

Thank you! I also wanted to thank the both of you personally, because I closely followed your process and posts. Thank you for all of your help.

WOW 3 years? Congratulations, it sounds like this has been a long time in waiting. I can not believe it has taken this long for you. Fernanda and I have been married for 9 months.

I was born in Colombia and just last year became a U.S citizen, that's why I had to wait to have the right time for the petition, and yes, I had been a long wait, but I managed to visit him every year, he tried to get a tourist visa 6 times and got denied, we just wanted to share trips and find a way to see each other twice a year but it was impossible.

Did you husband say how long the interview lasted? They seemed to have asked Fernanda fairly basic questions. How we met, where we met, how many times we saw one another prior to being married, etic.

He told me it lasted no more than 5 minutes, the agent asked him for how long we had been married, if he was married before, if I was married before, if he has any kids, if he has family here in the U.S besides me, The agent was a very nice and polite lady.

Well I just want to congratulate you both. I hope your AOS process goes smoothly.

Has anyone been through Miami as a POE? Any tips on making it through there with ease? Thanks!

WOW!!! Congrats to all of you! Soooo...what are everyones plans for POE!?!?!

Im soo glad you guys got approved! All your hard work has paid off! On to AOS! Good Luck!

Thank you! Fernanda's POE will be Miami.

Good luck to you!

Congrats on your approvals!

The way that I read it, does that mean that you (snoopy or Matt y Fernanda) didn't go to the interview?

Could your spouse say how many people were there that where not with a husband/wife?

For the past year I have been thinking that I would meet my wife in Bogota and go to the interview together. Afterwards we would return to California. Now with the recent Visa/Domesa delivery change I am not sure what to do. I want to go to the interview and I want to enter the US with her, but it is sooo possible that I can not do both because of time restraints.

Right now, I am thinking that maybe it might be better to let her go to Bogota and then if she is approved I would fly to her city and come back with her when she receives the visa.

If I had one choice I would prefer to enter the US with her, but I am not sure if it would be wiser to choose the interview. I know for a K1 it helps to have the spouse at the interview, but does anyone think it would make a difference for a K3?

Thanks!

No I couldn't go because I'm currently in Iraq. If I had the chance I would have though. It is horrible waiting to find out the result of the interview. I can not tell you yet how long it will take for Fernanda to get her visa, but I will let you know. She is waiting in Bogota for it to be delivered. I have heard other people say it only takes about 3-4 days. If you can go there for a week you should make the trip. If nothing else to be there for her. As far as if it helps for you to be at the interview I can't really say. They asked Fernanda why I was not there, and she explained that I was deployed. So we have a different situation than most people.

Let me know if I can be of any more help.

FERNANDA'S VISA WAS APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She said her interview only lasted about 5 minutes. The only thing they asked to see as evidence of our marrige were our wedding photos. She said it was very easy. Arrive early to get at the front of the line. Fernanda was there at 5:30 and was done by 10:30.

Congratulations Matt,

I fell your happiness, my husband went today and got approved too, he got there very early but he told me that it took forever for him to be called, and they did ask lots of questions, we had been married for almost 3 years already, so I think it all depends on the agent who does the interview, they didn't ask him for any proofs or anything else, just questions.

I'm almost ready for the new journey with the AOS, I just hope it goes smoth and painless.

WOW 3 years? Congratulations, it sounds like this has been a long time in waiting. I can not believe it has taken this long for you. Fernanda and I have been married for 9 months.

Did you husband say how long the interview lasted? They seemed to have asked Fernanda fairly basic questions. How we met, where we met, how many times we saw one another prior to being married, etic.

Congratulations to all of the approved visas today!!! I know several people were going today. I hope everyone's interviews went smoothly!

FERNANDA'S VISA WAS APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She said her interview only lasted about 5 minutes. The only thing they asked to see as evidence of our marrige were our wedding photos. She said it was very easy. Arrive early to get at the front of the line. Fernanda was there at 5:30 and was done by 10:30.

Thank you everyone for your input on the dual citizenship issue. All this information gives Fernanda and I a lot to consider. I do not see the kids staying more than 3 months at a time in Colombia. I do not know if it will really be necessary for them to have dual citizenship.

Also, Fernanda had her appointment today with Dr. Roa. She said that she had to completely undress. She started to tell me something else was strange, but said she did not know how to explain it in english. So I will find out tomorrow. She is a nurse and told the nurse at the office that it was completely unnecessary. But the nurse insisted that she must undress.

I have another question for those of you who have been to your interview. Fernanda was saying something about having to pay more for the K-3 at the Embassy. I told her that the $100 at the Banco de Credito was all she had to spend. Are there any additional fees besides the interview fee at the Banco de Credito and the Domesa fee you must pay for the K-3 visa?

The charge now is $131.00 USD for the k-3 and k-1 visa application fee....you will not pay any other fee's at the Embassy, except the shipping charge from DOMESA to send the approved visa in passport to your house address....good luck

Thank you for your help. It is greatly appreciated. Did you pick up your visa at the Domesa office in Bogota or did you have it sent to your home?