Craig_Karina

Three weeks....Well, it looks like we are in the same boat....let's start rowing!!!!

Craig

That is my assumption as well, Craig, from what I have read on this site. However, there seems to be some bad news at this stage too (again caused by USCIS). There was a post in this forum about March filers waiting for their paperwork to get to the NVC. It seemed many of them were waiting over 3 weeks from receiving their NOA2 to NVC receiving and entering the paperwork. I hope it is not a general trend but I am preparing myself for delays here also (I gave myself an estimate of 1 month for this stage when I started hoping for my February visa).

This is the thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=84107

Cheryl

Hola Matt & Fernanda,

Your timeline and ours are nearly identical. And, I must agree with "C and J" who said that your NOA-2 date is likely to be mid-December. Yenys & Brian received their NOA-2 almost exactly 5 months from their NOA-1...a good thing for them!! But, their NOA-1 date was 4/9/07. But, our dates are 6/14-15/07. Also, remember that the fee increase in July caused a "flood of petitions" to be sent in to CSC...causing a backlog and decrease in the processing times. IF (VERY BIG IF) we were to get lucky and have our petitions approved in 5 months, it would be mid-November for us. But, do not look for that to happen!!

Once approved, our papers are sent to the NVC. I really do not know what is done to them at the NVC. Maybe another poster will answer this question? I was under the impression that they spent a very short time (one week) at NVC and then sent to the embassy in Bogota, Colombia. There, they are processed and "Package 3" is mailed to our wives. How quickly the interview appointment is scheduled is pretty much in the hands of our wives and how quickly they get the paperwork filled out correctly, FAXed and couriered back to Bogota. I am visiting my wife in a few weeks and we will have her papers filled out and ready to send back as soon it arrives.

So...with the above said...I wish both of you the best of luck and I will be checking your timeline and postings to see if anything has transpired on your file. I invite you to do the same with us! Believe me, I am getting anxious too. This waiting around while it seems nothing is happening is driving me crazy!!!! Hahahahaha

Regards,

Craig

We want you to know that we are pulling for your case to be approved. Could it be that you are about a month ahead of us in the timelines? Hmmmmm...maybe. Bryan and Yenys just got an approval...after 150 days, I think. That seemed a little long...but, I don't know for sure. It will be interesting to see how the rest of their journey goes.

Good luck and keep us posted. Your photos are beautiful!! You look very happy!!

Sincerely,

Craig

Hello Rail,

I'd have to agree with "beckypua" about the the approval in one month!! Highly unlikely that this occurred. And, I see that you are a newbie...have you researched the rest of us in the process to see that the time frame is more like 6 months. Additionally, YOU are involved most in the early phases of the petitioning process...filing the I-129f and supporting documentation. After, your NOA-2 and your file si subsequently sent to NVC, your fiance becomes more involved when she receives "Packet 3" from the embassy with papers for HER to complete, sign and send back to the embassy, etc. Plus, she needs the doctor's appointment in Bogota and MORE!!

Her former fiance' could not have done all this from the USA in that time frame...impossible. It might be a good idea to discuss this with your fiance again. Something is not correct here. I wish you the best of luck on your Visa Journey.

Sincerely,

Craig

I wanted to let you all know. I called USCIS and the person I spoke with about our I-130 and I-129 applications have made it to an officer. I was told within 30 days or a short time a decision will be made. They would not speak anything else and I tried to gather more information but, this was the end of the information from the person.

I want to see how much longer. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...... What an experience............

Hi My Honey,

I called USCIS today too. Spoke with a nice CSR at CSC and gave my I-130 Case# and was informed that the processing time was 6 months. This seemed to be a "standard answer" based on their published timeline on their website. Your initial NOA-1 date is May 9th, 2007...so, that means your case is working its way forward. Our date is June 15th...only 4-5 weeks from now.

I will be curious (and others too) to know when you actually receive a decision. The next "decision" on your case will be your approval (or denial) and the issuance of your NOA-2 and case forwarding to the NVC. Assuming an approval, your case should move fairly quickly after issuance of the NOA-2.

Good Luck and keep everyone posted on your progress

Sincerely,

Craig

Hello Sam and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Wow...I am impressed that from your NOA-1 date of March 28th to your interview date is slightly less than 6 months!! Of course, you are being processed through the VSC while many of us are being processed through CSC. I would be thrilled if Karina got an interview date in December. Our NOA-1 date on the I-130 is June 19th.

Relax and enjoy the interview. From what I have heard...and read, it is best to "be yourself" and relax. The greater percentage of petitions are approved. So...best wishes on your interview. You will be just fine!!

Sincerely,

Craig

Hi...hope this answers your question...

We are going through the same process. The way I understand it, the step-child does NOT have to have the immunizations, etc. if they are under the age of 15. And, they do NOT have to attend the interview in Bogota. (They can go along if they want but it is not necessary for them to attend or interview.)

For the spouses, there are three inoculations needed: 1) MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella 2) DPT (Diptheria /Tetanus) 3) Varicella (Chicken Pox)

I asked my wife to get these shots PRIOR to going to Bogota and to keep the receipts showing that they have been given to her. (Not sure, but it may be less expensive in Bucaramanga than Bogota.) Then, she can give the receipts to the doctor doing the exam and that's it! We hope!!!

Regards,

Craig

VJers,

Does a minor child need a Colombian Passport in order to receive a K-4 VISA? She is listed on both the I-130 and I-129f forms that I submitted. It seems that I read somewhere on here that the child receives "derivative status" and when the beneficiary (mother) is granted a VISA, the child automatically qualifies too.

I need some input so I can have my wife start the process to get a Passport for her daughter...IF it is needed. Advise Please!!

Thanks,

Juan,

Your questions here will be answered but, you can help by making yourself clearly understood. What would help is to use punctuation in your sentences. You sent photos only and did not date them? No entiendo? How many times has your passport been stamped? Passport stamps are good evidence that you were in Colombia...but, where in Colombia? They are asking for you to send evidence that you visited your fiance' and have an ongoing relationship. Any photos of you and she at a prominent landmark in Colombia? Phone records? The hotel records are fine...as long as they are from the city where she lives. Or, did you vacation in another city together?

Have you read the instructions carefully so that this will not happen again? A big part of this process is knowing how to follow directions. Follow the directions on the I-797 to the LETTER and you should have no problems. (And, on everything else too!) In other words...they asked ONLY for verification on the photos...send them ONLY verification on the photos.

They want evidence of an "ongoing relationship." If you only visited one time, the burden is on you to convince them that you are a viable couple. If you visited several times...send some photos from all visits.

Best Wishes,

Craig

My pet peeve is: People on this site who cannot spell correctly or convey their thoughts into an intelligent sentence. IF I see another person spell "definitely" as definAtely, I think I will scream! And, then there are those who use no punctuation between their words and you cannot tell where one sentence begins and the previous one ended and they misspele a lot of wrdos adn suond lake tehy aint got no mo then a ####### grad edmuchacashun.

Their...Igotitoffmychest!

Hi....I think most of us can wait the appropriate amount of time to get our spouses into the country. And, if your wife is from a country with a high fraud rate...the chances are nil. I do not think you will get many responses here. But, good luck

Regards,

Craig

Hmmmm...let me see if I have this straight? First, your fiance has "no friends" and now she has "a friend" advising her what to do in her relationship with YOU? She speaks no english...yet, has had a year to learn and did not apply herself? You speak fluent Spanish...why didn't you help her? Surely you must have emphasized that we speak English in the USA? And, she wakes up in the middle of the night and starts hitting you and yelling at you? Dude...you had better do the "waking up!" There is NO EXCUSE for hitting anyone...man or woman...EVER!!! You...meaning BOTH of you have 90 days to decide to marry! Having an "ultimatum" IMHO is not the way to start things out. Should you marry "immediately" is this going to go away and whatever the trust issues are...they are going to disappear? Something seems to be missing in this post!

So, you went through a year of dating and seeing this woman on a monthly basis...and none of this surfaced until she is in the USA? And, you went through 6 - 8 months of getting her on the fiance' VISA...and the related expenses. You join VisaJourney in June...with no timeline, no profile, no photos and one previous post...and you ask for advice from everyone here? And, you get 20+ replies...all giving you good advice. The best of which is...send her home!!! Do yourself...and your country a favor. Put her on a plane and send her back to Medellin. Write a note to USCIS and tell them "it just didn't work out!" Keep a copy.

Regards,

Craig

Hi Julianna,

My wife and I talked about this recently. Our first priority is to get Karina and our daughter here first. After that, and a time for them to properly adjust to the USA, some family members have indicated a desire to visit. BUT, what I have found is that Visitor's Visas being approved without "strong ties" to the home country...you will be in for an uphill battle. If they do not own a home/property/business or have substantial savings and a good paying job that they will be returning to...do not count on them coming to visit the USA for any reason.

Older people seem to have less problems in this matter. My wife's grandmother (77) is coming to the USA with me in September for 3 months. And, she will return in 90 days. She will be visiting her sister. And, I hope to be going back with her in December for our interview in Bogota!!!! That would make me very happy!!!

Best Wishes,

Craig

Hello and Welcome to VisaJourney,

Basically...no question is a "dumb" question IF you have searched the archives and not found your answer. FWIW you could have filled out the G-325a online and printed all four pages (it transfers your info so you only type it once) from your computer. Also, the 4 pages are numbered to show that they go different places...Consulate, Embassy, etc. Did you put these 4 different places on your forms? I don't recall exactly what they were....but they do go 4 different places.

Your G-325a is for you...hers is for her. Best advice I can give you is DO NOT EVER sign anything for your wife!! If it requires her signature...she MUST sign it. There are no shortcuts around this requirement. Follow the instructions in explicit detail...if it says fill out this form in "green" ink...fill it out in green ink.

Good Luck,

Craig

Hi to everyone... this is my first post here...

I can't believe this:

June 08, 2007 sent our 129F to NSC

June 11, 2007 NSC received it

Between June 12 to 20 our package was sent to CSC

June 21, 2007 CSC received it

June 25, 2007 check cashed

.

.

.

TODAY is July 30 and we're still waiting our NOA1... AFTER 60 days!!

My boyfriend called to them and they just said they had a problem sending our NOA1, said to continue to wait and check our status in USCIS website we will receive our NOA1 soon.

Someone else are like us??

Hola Lucci,

Hi and welcome to VisaJourney!! Many people are willing to help you and your boyfriend with this process. We are all in similar positions and will offer opinions.

So...your question is just to find out if there are some others who have not received the "paper" NOA-1? I think you can se that there are a few. Is there a specific reason you are concerned about this? At this point, you are just in "waiting mode" just like many of us in the Visa Journey. I suggest you call them again and ask when to expect your NOA-1/I-797? Your boyfriend called...but when did he call? Dates are very important here on VJ.

Also, the fact that you mailed your I-129f papers on June 8th is not the starting date of your petition process. The "June 25th" date is when your check was cashed and case number assigned. You should base your future predictions on this date. June 25 to July 30 = 35 days...not 60.

Regards,

Craig

i read in some topics that for the ppl who filed the i-130 before paying the old fee shouldn't pay anything for the i-129f after 30 jully and others said that you can pay the old fee for it 170$ so nothing sure about this point and there a member here said that he got his NOA-1 and the uscis asked him in it to send the i-129f without fee iam really confused about this point .

i have no other choice just to wait for this I-797c .

untill then can you or any one clear things for me plz

booboo2:

1) NOA-1 and I-797c are one and the same piece of paper.

2) Don't believe everything you read. If you paid $190 with your I-130 you need to pay the appropriate filing fee with your I-129f papers.

3) What? USCIS said to send the I-129f in "without fee". I think a "sure fire way" to get your papers returned is to send them in without the appropriate fee attached. Go ahead and try it if you want...but, don't be surprised!!!!

Does this clarify anything for you?

Regards,

Craig

PS By the way...IF you put some punctuation in your postings, they are much easier to read.

Sorry booboo2...

I thought I was replying to the original poster of the thread. It was pretty confusing...she was asking about the NOA-1 for her I-129f...and there really is no reason for having it other than to have a piece of paper. She has the case number and is simply in "waiting mode" like the rest of us. I was having difficulty figuring out what she was going to do with this NOA-1 for her I-129f???

For the "married" posters on VJ, going the K-3 route...the I-130 is filed first. Then, when your NOA-1 is received, you attach it to your I-129f packet and send to the appropriate service center. Do what you want...but I stand by my original statement: "Action is better than inaction."

Regards,

Craig

Ahhhhh, I see....

Your timeline does not indicate that you are married. (And, I did not bother to check it the first time I read your post.) Our NOA-1 "paper" came just a few days after our check was cashed. Have you moved? Still, I do not think this is a "mandatory" thing that you must have to send in your I-129f package. A simple "cover letter" stating that "My case number is WACXXXXXXXXXXX and I have not received our NOA-1/I-797C"...will get you on the right track.

Being that it has taken this long, the paper may be lost in the mail...doesn't happen often, but does happen. Perhaps a call to them asking for another one to be sent? I really do not know what else to tell you! I believe that "action is better than inaction" and IF you just sit around waiting...you may be waiting for a long time. And, IF you are like me...I want my spouse with me....Hmmmmm, yesterday?

Regards,

Craig (Karina does not respond to any postings...but thank you for addressing your post to both of us.)

Hi CG!

BOTH of our cases show up on the USCIS website. First the I-130 and then I "added a case" to the site. Now, when I go there, it give the status of both simultaneously. Wow...this waiting around on a Friday night is boring. Wish I were with my wife right now!! I know she is having a good time tonight...ella es SHOPPINGGGGGG con amigas!! She's looking for a pretty dress and new high-heels for my upcoming visit in 33 days!!! (But who's counting? )

Regards,

Craig

Hi!!

Your check was cashed on June 25th...have you checked with your bank to see the back of the check? You can get your case number from there. That is all you need!! So, you really have only been waiting for a little over a month since they received it and cashed your check? Right? IF you created your case status online, you must have your case number already?

I am a little confused with your post...are you simply looking for the NOA-1 "paper?" As long as they received your case and it is pending, the actual physical presence of the "paper" NOA-1 (I-797C) isn't that important for the moment. Yeah...it is nice to have but...what will you do with it when it comes?

Mine says, "The above application has been received. It usually takes 60 to 180 days from the date of this receipt to process this type of case. Please notify us immediately if any of the above information is incorrect. We will send you a written notice as soon as we make a decision on this application."

The "written notice" they are referring to is your NOA-2.

I hope this answered your question.

Regards,

Craig

Hello wahrania,

Sorry to hear that this has happened to you. And, I can understand and sympathize with your frustrations.

First: I would fire the attorney! About the reversal of the date of birth...that really does not appear to be a big deal. In some countries...and for military use, the DD/MM/YEAR format is used. For example: 12/01/1960 = January 12, 1960

Typically, in the USA...we do the MM/DD/YEAR. Same example: 12/01/1960 = December 1, 1960 I think you can correct this with a simple letter explaining the situation.

If your lawyer is unable to follow the simple instructions on the form...makes me wonder why you need him/her???

This seems to be a classic case of the sad situation where YOU are not all that important to the attorney as a client. You are "just another case" for processing. Do you think they really "care" about your case?

However, the filing of the forms is important to ONE person (really two) and that person is YOU!!! Another good reason for the adage, "If you want something done right...do it yourself."

Second: Where is your money order? (And, why did you use a MO when the common advice on VJ is to use a personal check?) IF it were me...(and it is not) I would send the package of papers for your I-129f to the appropriate service center with an explanatory note and a copy of your letter firing the attorney. I would hope that they accept your package and honor your request. Just to be on the safe side, I'd send a check to cover the difference between the old and new fees. Is your attorney going to make up this difference for you?

We really do not know what the USCIS will do in any given case or scenario. I am offering this suggestion only as the way I would approach the situation. In your letter to USCIS, be honest, frank and to the point...they do not want a litany of explanations. As Jack Webb would say, "Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts!" (Do you remember Jack Webb?)

Sincere Best Wishes,

Craig

Craig,

I hope for your friend's sake that we are all wrong, but this sounds fishy. While it is not wrong for a man to help support his wife, it should be within reason. Not only does my wife not ask me for money, she tries to help me save money whenever she can. I do occasionally send her money for important things like university expenses, but I was the one to offer that.

The fact that he doesn't hear from her for as long as 20-25 days is even more troubling. A loving wife would normally want to speak with her husband as often as possible. While I understand that international communications can be very expensive, it is still hard to believe that she can't find a way to contact him. My wife would flip if we didn't talk several times a day. We always lets each other know where and who we are with. It is important to build trust in a long distance relationship and disappearing for nearly a month is no way to go about it.

I wish the best of luck to your friend. I imagine you are in a difficult position with your friend with regards to this sensitive topic.

Peace,

CG

Hey CG!!

Unfortunately, the "signs" all seem to be there. It would bother me a LOT if I did not speak with my wife several times a day too. I always call Karina because my calls cost about 6-7 cents a minute and we only talk for 5 -10 minutes. But, I love to hear her voice and vice versa. Calls from Colombia cost about 50 cents a minute so I tell her..only in an emergency!

I did call my friend today and met with him for an hour. He is heartbroken...but, realistic. I told him (very kindly) that he may have found a woman with no character who was just using him for entry to the USA. And, I mentioned everything that was posted above. Prior refusals = Red Flag, No contact for 20 - 25 days = BIG Red Flag (made me wonder where she is and who she is with? Cruise ship..."onboard affairs"...that is how they met. But, I did NOT say that!!! Eeeeoooooowwww!!) Frequent requests for money = Red Flag, Moved to new apartment without telling him = BIG Red Flag (I forgot to mention that one on the post.)

I think and hope that he will abandon this course of action to bring her here. There are just too many RED FLAGS!!! And, he thanked me for an honest and frank conversation with him.

Sincere regards to you and your wife in Colombia,

Craig

This woman was denied on her K3 K4 interwiew,and previously was refused on a visitor visa?(couple times before)?

Yes...that is what he is telling me. EXCEPT that the prior denials were for K-1 "Fiance" visas. I think she has been married twice before (she's ~30), one husband deceased...other hubby, I do not know the situation. To me, it appears that my friend (he's 49)is just being "used" as a ticket. If she has been refused 2 - 3 times before with other men...there must be a reason...but what is it? And, I tend to agree with him...it does not look like she will ever be approved! But, wow...an expensive lesson. But, maybe not as costly as if she came here, dumped him and he has to support her for years!!!

Hello Vjer's:

I am posting this so I can give advice to a buddy of mine: Situation is...he met this beautiful woman on a cruise ship where she works. After a brief courtship, they married in Estonia...a beautiful wedding in August, 2006 . I saw the photos. He is really in love and crazy about this woman. After marriage/honeymoon, he applied for K-3/K-4 Visa. He tells me that he has $35,000 - $40,000 invested in flights, trips, the wedding, gifts, honeymoon...the whole nine yards. She continually asks for money from him...(which he sends) and sometimes he does not hear from her for 20 - 25 days? She claims that she cannot call/write/e-mail from the cruise ship? (I find that a little hard to believe?)

The short of it is...he now finds that she has been denied a visa 2 - 3 times (before him) to enter the USA. Now, she has been to two interviews in Estonia and has gotten two more denials! He is about ready to give up!!!! I am sure that he respects my advice BUT, I'l like some ammunition from all of you. Why would this woman be denied a visa this many times? I told him that "maybe" he is being protected by the government because they know something that he does not...he was not all that receptive to my comment. So...have at it...give me some ammo!! Can he find out the reasons for the denials...past and present? Wouldn't they tell him or RFE? I am puzzled?

Thanks!!

Craig

PS He e-mailed this to me this morning: "There’s no good news about my wife, she’s been denied by the U.S. government yet again…I’m seriously doubting if she ever be approved. I was told by the U.S. Immigration department that marriage is not a guarantee for immigration status or visa. They said it is a privilege not a right and that some people will never get a visa to come to the USA. Needless to say, it’s putting a terrible strain on our relationship being married and appearing to never live together here in the US. and I’m to old to move to a foreign country, learn a very hard foreign language and would be impossible to be the bread winner in the marriage having to take a minimal job starting out at the bottom of the work market."

Nathan,

To sum this all up, you want to bring a 17 year old girl that you have never met to the USA on a Fiance Visa? And, this girl wants to get away from her parents who are bothering her? And, her parents do not want her to marry you or give their permission for her to travel? The other posters have told you that your chances of getting her here are between "slim and none" and you insist that you want to bring her anyway? Nathan, this is just not going to happen!

And, you had better take a good HARD look at the obstacles you are facing. If her parents do not like you...there is a BIG problem. But, they have never met you either? Perhaps they are protecting their daughter in the only way that they know how from marrying with a 20 year old American citizen that she does not know, has not met personally and has no personal knowledge about...other than e-mails, photos, web-cams and phone calls...or however you communicated with this girl.

Whatever the outcome of your situation is, I wish you the best of luck. But, really Nathan...this sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Sincerely,