SongKim

hello , thanks to everyone who has tried to help explain some things to me but i think i just need a lawyer

i live in michigan but even if this lawyer takes people from other states would be ok too . thanks

You should work with Leonard Rios. He lives in San Diego and he used to work for the Immigration Dept. he decided to help people instead of harrass them. While other immigration attourneys will charge you an arm and a leg (taking advantage of your situation), he will give you good information and options for free. If you want him to do all the paperwork, it is a very small fee.

Example would be, I talked to someone on line and they told me it would cost $2,000 to submit an AOS from them. Leornard charged me $500 and with full information so that if I needed to help others, I knew the entire process. Not like the expensive places that make sure it stays obscure.

1-619-817-5528

oh, by the way, as you can see, I live in Seattle, WA, away from him and he helped me with:

K-3 (My wife is with me today), without any extra paperwork, no returns.

He also walked me through follow up and interview for K-3

Employment auth, and now, AOS.

Her interview date is on Feb 23rd, 2008 for perm res.

Things have been smooth.

Song

Hey Thanks Gaby&Talbert

Good info.

Hey! Does anyone know if my wife needs to be able to speak English? I never heard if this was a requirement or anything. . . or if the consulate would be bias because she does not speak any of it. But, it is only a K3. . The government has been pretty catch 22 about everything else, like having documents that support "Showing us living together". . . that pisses me off. She does not have a VISA! how can we live together?! She doesn't even have a SS number and they want me to show joint bank statements? how dumb. .

Anyway, that is aside the question. Do they need to speak english for a K3 interview?

Thanks everyone! yeah, I guess i will not have an option then, since my birth certificate is held by the Korean Government and they do not want to release it to anyone. Thanks for clearing all that up for me! She will just have to go in with my passport. I will make sure that I have an Enhanced ID with RFID with me in case something happens to my passport. . . . I guess that is one way i could be more secure.

Thanks! So, really they are asking all petitioners to also carry the US citizen's passport inside without the owner? I find that an odd request. and very unsecure.

Hello! I want to be able to help with documents and things because most of them are in english and I will have my passport, it never leaves my side in another country!

So, then, why am I hearing from people that the American Spouse can not enter the counsulate? Does that mean that I need to just give her all my docs and sit outside. . . her without cell phone or anything?

If I could wait with her for hours inside where it is safe, it would be ideal. And I could help with sending her into rooms with the proper paperwork and stuff.

Could someone tell me?

thank you for your advice! You were right, we all got the same date?! I guess I will see you there! good luck!

Liz Tell me you already got an interview date?! I don't understand people who got thier information stating that the consulate got thier papers, they have an interview date already. . . what is that all about? how come we don't have one yet? is something wrong? I am going to try to be patient and then, I am calling them again next week with my lawyer.

Hello!

Yeah, an update is in order. sorry for dissapearing on everyone.

OK, I have been calling every week.

2 weeks ago, I called and then, the guy on the phone tells me that the consulate have been waiting for my packet 3 that they sent me in november! i was really frustrated with that. . . since I have been waiting for nothing then. . . So, I called my lawyer and yelled at him. . . . he then called his network of friends because I confused the heck out of him with the info that I got from the consulate.

Then, we decided to call together and I got a different answer from another person there. . . so he asked to speak to a supervisor. This is what she told us:

She said that the papers have been approved and everything was good to go. . . and now, it is waiting for an interview date. The interview date is generated by a computer so no one can tamper or cut in line manually.

My lawyer told her that people that work there that just answer phones should not give any advice or information on things without escalating those questions to the proper professionals.

I just called now to see if I could get the date since I did not get mail yet. . . and I was told that it is still in the same state?! and no answers could be given because they don't know when or what the computer is doing as for a date. . . . unbelievable!

For me, it has been 90 days since approval now. . . which is kind of useless to wait the first 6 months for that approval when the consulate is going to take thier darn time on it.

What kind of laws and country is this? How can they give some kind of quality of service for USCIS, NVC, and the approval process and then, drop the ball at the consulate?

So, bottom line, I am still waiting!!!!!

Here is the funny thing, I can not find anyone out there that has gone through Ciudad Juarez before me so I can find some kind of timeline? So many mexicans are in the US but, I can not find any K3 people to tell me some kind of info?! . . you know why? because they know this is ####### and they just cross to the US because it is easier?! If they want people to do it legally, they need to show that it is not easier to hop the fence?! i don't understand it. I am obviously frustrated. . . and I always end up venting here.

I just go back to my experience in October when I crossed the border into the US, thier computer systems were down so they were just letting everyone in since they could not verify anything. They did not even care to look at my passport, they just waved me in. . . . so frustrating and unjust that we have to go through this torture while people like senators don't know the torture of this process because they just get thier papers easy. i don't think this process will ever change.

This process should be illegal. Torture is illegal!

Hey, I have a concern. And yes, I do a lot of forensic research so I may be bringing up a conspiricy theory but, I really want someone on top to look down on this.

Did you ever notice that the counsulates make you want to call them every week? They make sure that they give you totally vague information without dates, without notice, without anything, so they just make you call to see if they sent you something yet?

And they charge you per call, . . . not that I already pay the government over $40k in taxes and retaxes (yes, they sometimes tax you on things they already taxed you on) every year?!

I just want to know how much money we all spent on calling the counsulates after approval, waiting even longer for the interview just for a non-immigrant K3 Visa, not for an actual immigrant 130, it is for the K3! which states that they wait for the 130 with us, since it is in humane to make us wait so long apart?

Where is the LIFE Act?

Hey Liz! we have not heard from you on your thread. . . I am hoping this is good news!? Please Please be in Mexico because you got the packet and the date. I am still waiting for mine.

I am unsure where the Visa Journey dates come from but, it is definately not 40 days until interview from approval date. i am still waiting for the packet and I just called and they told me that they still did not send it and it has already been 60 days since my approval dates for both my 129f and 130.

Thanks

Song

Ouch! How did you get an expiration of that date? What is going on?! You have been waiting that long for your Packet?!!! I am so sorry, . . and I did not mean to bring up your hopes (once again, I know this rollercoaster ride) if it doesn't work out because they also promised to give the date a month in advance to give you time to plan the trip.

http://usembassy.state.gov/juarez/wwwhnivcuser.html

This is a funny link because they promise to treat everyone with respect. . .hmmmmm. Doesn't feel like it already.

But anyway, i wanted to send some information as I got it on my journey. I just talked to my lawyer again and I made him call up his other lawyer friends (they are all living in San Diego, so they get a lot of business and experience)

And I have been throwing them all off with my questions because it seems that there are a lot of mixed information due to the non-immigrant VISA stuff mingling with the immigrant info, also interviews.

I am waiting for a K3, not for her to get an immigrant VISA, just a "waiting" VISA.

He told me that the next packet I am waiting for is an appointment, not the Packet that wants more info since that is for an immigrant VISA.

Also, since my spouse is a woman, they don't have much requirements or worries or additional info I need to bring. . . which I think is against the constitution but, I am happy about that.

But, these are the things he told me to bring to my K3 interview.

* 3 years tax returns or a 3 year IRS Transcript

* Letter of Employment

* last 3 pay stubs

* 2 x Passport photos

* 2 official copies (submitted on line) of the DS-156 Forms

Hey Liz!

My wife is from Culiacan Sinaloa! She is living in Culiacan right now and I have been visiting her every 2 weeks . . for the past year! I am broke. Her name is Liz.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, . . everyone! I will take as much paper as I can, even though it will be a book. It was helpful to know that James is taking a 6 incher! That makes sense. . . if they want proof that we never went a day without talking to each other, I got it.

Now, . . . if they only could send us some papers. . . and perhaps a date!

OK, according to my lawyer, they are required to provide the interview date before the expiration of your I-129F! Mine states that it is only valid until 2-22-08. So, he told me that if they do not honor that, there will be some legal ramifications for the government.

thanks!

Song

Hey, If I printed every email, IM, and photo, it will be ridiculously large! are you going to put it on CD or something?

No, I am still wating for the stupid packet?! You? did you get your packet or date or anything from these guys?

I am hearing crazy stories from people about the interview process. but, i have heard from someone that just went to the interview and they talk to you like your friend and find your story true or not. other people are telling me to bring all kinds of ####### for verification, and one lawyer told me to just bring the wedding pictures and the invitation because they don't want to see all that other ####### people bring in. my lawyer is not telling me anything at all!

OK, I am trying to be more supportive but, I am starting to loose my cool once again. I just got off the phone with the consulate. a helpful spanish speaking woman was on the phone with me but, when she heard my english, she told me to hold and transfered me to a rude english speaking guy. The guy was entirely not helpful and very crappy. He told me that I may get an interview within 9 to 12 months. How stupid was that answer? Especially when the I-129F states that it is only valid for 4 months?!

Anyway, at least he noted that all mail be sent to my address in America instead of her place in mexico. he said that the mail will be faster. . . of course, mail in mexico sucks as we all know. So, i am looking at that as a positive.

he told me that I need to play mail tag with the consulate before I get any dates. i would rather get your information about taking the forms to the interview. Why do we get different information from each person for $7 a call?

Song

Could you tell me when you get your packet so we can track the papers?

Don't worry Liz, From what I read, Juarez is supposed to get the info from NVC via e-mail and not by DHL like other consulates.

Also, I am unsure about them sending the packet to you when they said it should be sent to your spouse.

I just got the letter stating that NVC will send it to Juarez this week, so I am going to call them on monday (and yes, spend another $7) to make sure they send it to her new address in Culiacan.

Remember, be safe and read up on how to be safe in that dirty city. Don't trust or talk to anyone, and leave your cell phone in your hotel if you don't want to run into problems getting into the building. ) Don't forget your DS-156's, passports, lots of cash, and your passport like photos.

Of course, it looks like you're in Texas already so it must be easy for you to visit the consulate, you're so lucky!

http://usembassy.state.gov/CiudadJuarez/wwwhkvisas.html

Good luck! I am hoping for the best.

Buenas Suerte!

Thanks

Song

It has been crazy! and I am afriad that it is going to get worse trying to wait for the government to move the papers.

But good news for now. . . finally what I have been waiting for. . . . update me please! I got my I129F approved. It was weird because I usually saw everyone get 3 days of touches before the notice. . . but I saw them finally touch the papers today in the morning. . . and then, I get the update at 10pm! that it was approved.

Don't really know what that really means but, I will call my abogado tomorrow.

Thanks

Song

Well, the table is acurate because the dates keep changing. . . are people looking at it? My date on the table was End of September. . . and then, it changed in September to late October. . . which feels like #######. . . and then, it just moved again to end of October. . . so don't tell me that the timeline is awesome and so acurate alright? it builds up hope but, I have to say, at least it helps people wait moths. . and then, weeks, . . and then days. . like a cookie on a string. At least you got near the cookie. . . . just don't try to grab it.

My journey has been frustrating so thanks for letting me vent.

Good luck everyone who has a better situation and a country that people can survive in, while waiting.

Song

I have gotten only 2 emails from USCIS - I filed with California Service Center. They keep changing where things are sent and my lawyer had to change forms in the middle of the application too, since they changed it again. . . . I hope all is well.

I got 2 e-mails for the I-129F only, one for it being received, and one that told me that it went to California. I am confused with waht people are saying in thier signatures. . . I tried to copy them but, my signature is not making any sense now. . . and they don't mail when people update the date (touch) so I am confused.

Does eberyone look at the status of thier case everyday? What do I do from here? Just wait? I consider myself the lucky one here though because she is only 2,000 miles away from me, unlike some of you people here. I am sorry and I wish you all the best and speed!

I just have been waiting. . . . thanks for the support when I needed it.

Well, I got mailed to do an update and this is it. . . the update is that nothing changed in the past month. . and I am still waiting.

Thanks

Song

Good Luck everyone!!

I was in the same boat and I never received the letter to this day. The letter is the same as printing out the status on line. I had to call back the USCIS the same day they told me to call back in a week. . . the second time I called, I told them it has been 45 days. Then, they transfered me to the people who will look it up for you. I found out that they had the number for tracking 3 weeks before I called but, they kept brushing me off until the 45 day period. unfortunately, I was at 40 days anyway!! I should have called them 2 weeks before. . . as we all know, every minute counts in our situation.

Once I got the number, I could look it up, print out the status page and send in my I-129F. I don't think the CSC will ever send mail due to the backlog they have now. I got mail quickly from the other centers. Why would they forward all our forms to California if they are so busy?!

OK! I finally have an update. . . i called the USCIS and I got a guy that told me that he can not even check anything for me unless it was 45 days after. . . .

So, i called back and told them that i sent it in 45 days ago. I fianlly got someone and they tracked my I-130 and gave me my WAC number that has been cleared on the 16th of may! if I could have talked to someone earlier 2 weeks ago, I would have gotten my number. . . I don't understand why they can't just look it up for us.

She told me to expect the confirmation in my mail in 2 weeks. . . do they understand that every day matters to us?

So, bottom line, I finally got my number and I am sending in my I-129F today. Gees. But good news!

Thanks

Song

I sent mine late last month too. . . I have a lawyer helping me and I called him right after I got married in march. . . . i don't understand why I am waiting a total of 2 months for a 797 receipt (now projected to be 3 months). I was bothering my lawyer a lot until I called the USCIS and they told me that this month has a backlog due to the amount of people filing. They told me 45 days too yesterday when I called them.

* hey! I am supposed to file with the NSC but, my lawyer from California filed with the California one. . . will this make things take even longer for me?! Or will they treat it the same? I am hoping I don't wait 45 days and then, get it back to file with the correct center. I live in Seattle! You guys already know how stressed I am.

* on a side note, If my lawyer had filed in March, I would not be in this boat.

* My wife got mugged there while I waited for paperwork here. Is that just?!

I appreciate any comments to my situation . . this is my first post. )