Craig_Karina

Way to go.....that is GREAT News!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Best Wishes,

Craig

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Hi Brian & Yenys,

WOW....I have been watching you guys for over a month now...and this comes as a shocker to me!!! I was expecting you to post an interview date soon!!!! According to the "guides" and the flowchart...this is what it says:

*Two weeks after you receive the NOA2 you can contact the NVC to see if they have received your approved I-129F. You can contact them at

Ahemmmmmmmm

I think Protestants have baptisms too! I'd use that one if I were you. If she was never baptized...take her to a church who will do a baptism on her. Or...send in an explanatory letter saying that she was never baptized and does not want to be baptized. There are a couple of choices for you. Good Luck on your VISA Journey.

Sincerely,

Craig

PS It doesn't say CATHOLIC...everyone in Colombia is not Catholic.

CONGRATULATIONS....but, I hate to be the "Doubting Thomas" here...are you SURE you received the e-mail notification for your NOA-2? From your timeline, it shows that you had just recently received your NOA-1...and now you have your NOA-2 from CSC when many of us have been waiting months for ours from CSC??? This may just be a "late" e-mail notification that your I-129f has been approved and your NOA-1 was being sent out!!!!!

Let us know what you find out...this is interesting!!

Best wishes,

Craig

Wow....that makes me happy that I found the love of my life in Colombia. I understand that the papers get delivered to Bogota within a week!! I want to get this stuff over with and move on with OUR lives. I miss my wife!!!! (Good news...I am going to see her in 10 days!!!! Woooo Hoooo!!!!!)

But, I sure hope yours gets delivered sooner...it has only been 3 weeks and we did have a holiday in there too. (Columbus Day...remember?) I hope you find a better answer in your regional forum.

Regards,

Craig

1) I have been taking a Spanish class. That has been very helpful with communication between my wife and I. I already knew a lot of Spanish from college days but forgot it...this class has helped tremendously to improve my speaking skills. Communication between us is much, much better. She took two classes of English too. But, the problem is...she has no one to practice with! Here in SoFla, I can talk Spanish with many people...grocery stores, Home Depot, dentist office...everywhere!!!

2) I am working on my virtue of "paciencia." It is my worst! The thing that keeps me going is that one day we will be togehter as spouses and as a family.

3) I spend a lot of time working and saving for our future. But, this process is costly in terms of money and stress. I am supporting a wife and daughter that I do not get to see often enough...along with my own expenses here.

4) I try to keep busy so I can forget about everything...but, that is impossible because every waking moment, I think of my new wife 1500 miles away from me. This process SUCKS! Fortunately, I have not turned to drinking!!!! jajajajaja

Sincerely,

Craig

Dear Why Me?

To use a line from a very good movie (Top Gun)..."You're gonna do WHAT?" Why on earth would you send your PASSPORT anywhere without YOU attached to it? That document provides you...the US Citizen with many rights to travel and enjoy the freedoms we have as American citizens. USCIS does NOT want your passport...copies of the main page plus the stamped pages that show your visits to the country of your SO is all you need to provide. What if you want or need to travel to another country or...even to the country of your SO? How would you do it????

Best wishes on your VISA Journey!!!

Craig

Hello,

My opinion is that "more is always better!" For that reason and the fact that I am "loco en enamorado con mi esposa, I have been to Colombia at least 10 times in 2007. My passport had so many pages stamped from Colombia that I had to get another passport!

There are always financial issues as to whether visits are affordable or feasible. The consular officer making "the call" is going to judge your "relationship" on individual merits of your case...not just on the fact of meeting the one visit requirement. I would recommend you bolster your case with many e-mails, love cards, photo exchanges and phone records.

There is always the... "So, you only met one time in person and you are in love and want to marry this person? scenario. And, some validity exists to their reasoning. But, it is up to YOU to prove your relationship is real and ongoing. Good luck on your VISA Journey.

Sincerely,

Craig

Wow!!! "No Questions Asked"....and from Kiev too!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

(I had heard that Kiev "difficult!") Anyway, that is GREAT for you. Enjoy your new life / wife!!

Regards,

Hi Ted,

I think you are stressing out over NOTHING. If the form asks for CAPS...fill it out in CAPS. Regarding the names...I think you are incorrect. For example: My daughter's name is "Maria Alejandra" which is two names. Maria is her first name, Alejandra is her middle name. She only gets called "Maria Alejandra" when her mama is upset with her!!! Otherwise, it is just Maria. My wife is the same way...her name is: Saida Karina. She dislikes the name Saida (so do I) so, she uses Karina. Even me...I am the same way...my name is: Francis Craig. I dislike the name Francis (so does she) and thus, I use Craig. And, I am the USC. Nearly everyone has a first and middle name.

Regarding the last names: In Latin America, the last name is (for example: Alvarez-Uribe) Alvarez is the name of the father; Uribe, the mother. IF you cannot fit all the name into the box, I suggest you put as much into the box as you can...then, neatly print in black ink, the rest of the name. As I recall... I used all CAPTIAL letters on all the forms because it is easier to read...or the instructions said, "In CAPITAL letters."

I do not think the USCIS is going to reject something like a photo because you used a combination of CAPS and small letters. As long as it is readable, that is what is important. There are many more things to "stress out" about than this!!! Wait until you are in the time period between NOA-1 and NOA-2...then, stress out! You have not even filed your petitions yet. Or...wait until you file your petitions and start to wonder, "Where is my NOA-1? Have they cashed my check yet?, Why has it been two months and I have not heard anything from USCIS?" There are many people waiting for NOA-1's that filed in July, August and September. IF you filed NOW, there is no way to tell when you will receive your NOA-1. So....relax and begin your lessons on "Paciencia!" Read the "GUIDES" section on this website so you understand the entire process. It is logical and straightforward...the process. USCIS...another matter entirely! But, we will not get into that discussion now.

Sincere Regards and Best Wishes,

WHAT ELSE CAN BE SAID EXCEPT....."CONGRATULATIONS!!!!"

WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

VERY GREAT NEWS!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I HOPE THIS DOES MEAN THAT CSC IS PROCESSING JUNE FILERS!!! WE GOT NOA-1 ON JUNE 15TH...FOR K-3...HAVE NOT HEARD A THING SINCE THAT TIME!!!

Hello whitteds,

The responses you receive from members here on VJ will be just opinions...and not necessarily correct. As such, it seems that you have taken the correct course of action by hiring an attorney to work with you on this. Personally, I am not a big fan of attorneys...but, in your situation it seems very prudent. On the I-130, answer the questions as they are asked...volunteer no information. You are not required to file an I-129f with your K-3 petition...you can stick with the CR-1 process. It is a little longer but less costly AND your wife will be able to work immediately upon arrival...if this is important to you.

The I-130/I-129f route is like having "two horses in a race" and you must pick the winner. With just the I-130, you have aready made your choice. Not a bad choice either. I disagree with the poster who said something on the order of "the K-VISA is out." How else would you get your wife here? Your ONLY choice is the K Visa...as far as I know. But, what do I know? There are a lot more people on this site with much more knowledge than I. I think you are doing the right thing with your attorney.

Good Luck

Craig

Hello GreenTea!!

Did you send your petition package with tracking so that you could tell when/if it was received? This is important. Also, when you sent your petition into USCIS, did you remit a check as recommended by this forum? If so, (and it has been cashed) you can get your number from the back of the check. Once you have this number, you can sign up for automatic updates from CRIS at USCIS.

Unfortunately, your petition seems to have been sent at the time when many others were sent to beat the price increase. As such, there is a backlog of cases waiting for check cashing and assignment of the numbers. So, there are many others waiting for their NOA-1's also...you are in a large boatful of people. Calling USCIS has very limited success without your case number. You will receive only the standard answers! "Wait 30 days and call back, wait 60 days or your case is still within our processing timetables...just wait patiently like everyone else."

It would be helpful to all of us if you would fill out your timeline. I know you do not have much information at this point...but, you do know when you sent your package...right? Good luck on your VISA Journey...have patience (lots of it) as your time will come. The longest wait is between NOA-1 and NOA-2...about 4 - 6 months on average. Read the guides to your particular visa and start to get your next set of papers ready so that there is NO DELAY! Good luck and God Bless!

Sincerely,

Craig

Hello and thanks for doing this for everyone!!!!

Please add us to the list....We Are K-3

I-130 NOA-1 date: June 15, 2007

I-129f NOA-1 date: July 12, 2007

Thanks,

Craig & Karina

Hello!!

First, CONGRATULATIONS on your interview date...only a few weeks away!!! Excited?

The answer to your question is "NO" your wife will not get a SSN after the interview. She must come to the USA to be able to apply for a SSN. But first, you must adjust status (AOS) for her at a cost of $1010 which takes about 3 months. Then, she can get her SSN.

Until that time, you and wifey will be cozy getting to know each other once again!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Regards,

Craig

Hello !!!!!!

For what it is worth, I think you are "overdoing" your papers and this is not necessary. When I sent in our I-130 paperwork, I included 4 photos taken at our wedding reception. In the photos were my son, her mother, my sister and her uncle posing with us....along with other guests in the background. On the back of the photos, I wrote an "affidavit" that was signed by these people as being in attendance at our wedding. It went something like: My name is "Billy Bob Brown" and I was the best man at my father's wedding to Karina on May 18, 2007. That is me standing to the right of my father. Signed, "Billy Bob Brown" These were NOT notarized. Also, I sent in a wedding invitation! That was it...no problems. NOA-1 followed quickly.

Best Wishes,

Craig

Hello Jigi,

Sorry to read your posting. You said your wife is very angry with YOU. Why...would she be angry when you are so far along in the process? Maybe she is just having a bad day...we all do from time to time. All I can suggest is to talk with her and see if there is some way to resolve the issue...whatever it may be. I wish you luck.

Sincerely,

Craig

SUPER CONGRATULATIONS....Looks like your "JOURNEY" was slightly over 6 months....very good!!

Sincerely,

Craig & Karina

Congratulations...but this sounds more like a "touch" than anything else. But, at least it is something!!!

Timelines are really important...IF you do not have a completed timeline, many times your questions cannot be answered. They really help all of us on VJ...please fill in yours.

Thank you,

Craig

Hello and Best Wishes,

We welcome you to the VJ with all the rest of us "patient" people. The first thing you can do for us is to please fill in your timeline...it helps all of us. Next, you should read the "Guides" section about your particular visa petition and the process. Often, you can get an answer about something if you put the word into the "Search" section at the top left of the page. As an example, you could put "touch or touched" and clicked on "Search!" And, you would have the answer you needed.

There are many very knowledgeable people on this website...after a short while, you will know those who are familiar with the process. Also, WORDS are very important and you must know their meanings. And, everything is very LITERAL...do what it says to do...no more, no less. Exactly what is requested!!!

Good luck with your VISA Journey...I wish the best for you and your beloved!!!

Sincerely,

Craig

Hello....and best wishes!!

"Touched" is a term that is used to describe your file when something is done with it at USCIS. Your file is "bar-coded" and scanned every time someone/anyone "touches" it. It could be something as simple as moving it from one desk to another...or hopefully your case is being reviewed by someone with the ability to make a judgement on it. Some folks get through the process without being "touched" and receive their NOA-2 just fine. So...do not get worried if your case has no touches. It is normal.

Regards,

Craig

Hola SLDAVY,

Forgive me...I am a little confused. Your timeline says you sent your petition on 6/6/2007 and your NOA-1 was issued on July 19th. Which was it...June 19th or July 19th? IF you signed up for automatic updates on the USCIS website, you will receive an e-mail notice from "CRIS" advising that your file has been "touched." Don't get uptight about whether your file is touched or not. Some files are not touched at all and the next thing you know...NOA-2 arrives!!

If your date is correct at June 19th, you are just a few days behind Karina and I. Calling does NOT help!! The petitions are processed in the order received. You will ge the same response..."It is taking up to 6 months for petitions to be processed!" You have a lawyer working on this with you? Interesting...

Best Wishes,

Craig