Katz

This next week they'll be approving lots I have a feeling!

Thanks USCIS!

Agreed!

Gah... I'm starting to worry a bit now. If they're gonna send RFEs out for birth certificates, why don't they just add it on the requirment list?

A quick question for you guys... Did any of you include a copy of the beneficiary's birth certificate in the petition package? It seems like some people are getting RFEs for it.

Even though it's not on the list of required documents, I really wish Will and I had included a copy of mine in now...

Yay! Another July filer approved! Congrats!

Best of luck! I hope it goes quickly and smoothly for you.

RosemarieL and YuAndDan, thank you very much for your responses.

Is the beneficiary required to have a certain amount of savings before entering the country on a K1 visa? Or is the USCIS only really concerned about the petitioners financial situation?

I'm sure they don't care, but I thought I'd ask anyways. Thanks.

StillThePrettiest, thank you so much for updating the list.

Jezz, glad to hear that you're adjusting so well in the US!

Welcome, TracyOz! Nice to meet you.

Hey guys! I have a question for you...

In January, I plan on going back to the US again to visit my fiance, but this time for about 6 weeks (the first time 'round I was only there for three). Like in April, I will be using the VWP.

I have two main concerns:

1. It is quite likely that our petition (according to the processing timelines) will be approved in January sometime (maybe even earlier, like in November), possibly during my 6 week visit.

2. I plan on quitting my (new) job about three weeks before I leave, and then get a new one when I come back.

Do you suppose I will have major problems at the Port of Entry? I know that they have the right to refuse entry for any reason, and the fact that our petition is very close to being (hopefully!) approved (that and I just quit my job for a long-ish stay) might look a little... fishy to them.

What do you folks think? Should I get tourist visa just to be "safe"? I'd like to get your opinions/experiences on travelling during the visa process. Thanks.

Katz... we both filed around the same time (July) - only a year apart No two cases are the same but... My petition was approved by early December. And it included an RFE that took a few weeks to return! I landed in SF a week after approval notice (email). A hard copy of NOA2 arrived in the mail on the same day. It was sweet.

As far as "problems" at the POE... I had none. I hadn't quit my job before hand like you plan to do so I had a letter from my boss, but I wasn't asked for any proof of intention to return. I don't think that petition being approved (or close to) matters. You only have to be able to show that you DO have reasons and intention to go back to Aus. If you quit your job... what about property, rental lease, bank accounts etc? There is just no way of knowing if you will be asked for any proof or not!

Coming on VWP is good for 3 months I think, so getting tourist visa wouldn't be needed. Also... given that your K-1 petition might be approved by then or soon after... I'm not sure if you can apply for 2 visas at the same time... huh, I'm not much help, am I? But this might prompt those who know better to reply and correct me...

Good luck!

vik

Thank you so VERY much for your helpful reply, Ausqueen. I feel a little better now about the whole thing. I feel confident that our petition will be approved sometime late December/early January. I've heard that the CSC has been transferring cases to other service centres, and early approvals have been happening. I hope that's true. It would be awesome to be approved by Christmas.

Yeah VWP is valid for 3 months... Should be plenty of time. Thinking about it now, getting a tourist visa probably wouldn't make much difference anyways. Heh.

I don't remember being asked about employment or anything else like that when I went last time (through San Fran.). But I'll find something as proof just in case. Good idea!

last time I went I was a self employed photographer and the wee guy casually asked "so you can work anywhere in the world then?" I, without thinking, said yes.....the wee guy looked at me and I realised what he was hinting at so I just added I had wedding bookings to honor back home and showed him my PDA with bookings....my wee heart was going like nuts. Thankfully he let me through and even said he wished he could do what I did instead of being stuck in his wee booth.

As long as you can show some tie...any tie....you should be fine!

Wow! You were lucky! Thanks for sharing your experience with me. I'm starting to feel a little less nervous about the whole thing now.

I don't foresee any issues arising from your impending approval. Like you, I went to visit my fiance while our application was processing, and we actually received the approval while I was visiting him in the US. The subject of my application never came up while I was clearing through immigration - the officer was more interested in the length of my stay and the reason for my visit.

Be sure to bring with you evidence that shows the proof of ties that you have with your home country (rental agreement, proof of return ticket, etc) so that you can show intent of returning at the end of your trip. The only issue that may come up to the officer is that you'll be unemployed at the time of your trip, which might raise questions about how you'll support yourself while in the US.

Keep in mind that you run the risk of being turned back, even with proof of ties to the home country. But this question comes up every week - a lot of people visit their US fiances while their application is in process, and the majority are successfully cleared through immigration with no trouble.

Good luck

Thank you so much for your reply. I feel more nervous about the unemployment aspect more than anything... I can't remember if they asked me any questions about what I did back home when I went through the POE last time (first time overseas so I was very nervous! Haha). I will have quite a bit of spending money to take with me... But showing proof of my ties back in Australia is a good idea...

Hey guys! I have a question for you...

In January, I plan on going back to the US again to visit my fiance, but this time for about 6 weeks (the first time 'round I was only there for three). Like in April, I will be using the VWP.

I have two main concerns:

1. It is quite likely that our petition (according to the processing timelines) will be approved in January sometime (maybe even earlier, like in November), possibly during my 6 week visit.

2. I plan on quitting my (new) job about three weeks before I leave, and then get a new one when I come back.

Do you suppose I will have major problems at the Point of Entry? I know that they have the right to refuse entry for any reason, and the fact that our petition is very close to being (hopefully!) approved (that and I just quit my job for a long-ish stay) might look a little... fishy to them.

What do you folks think? Should I get tourist visa just to be "safe"? I'd like to get your opinions/experiences on travelling during the visa process. Thanks.

Hey guys! I have a question for you...

In January, I plan on going back to the US again to visit my fiance, but this time for about 6 weeks (the first time 'round I was only there for three). Like in April, I will be using the VWP.

I have two main concerns:

1. It is quite likely that our petition (according to the processing timelines) will be approved in January sometime (maybe even earlier, like in November), possibly during my 6 week visit.

2. I plan on quitting my (new) job about three weeks before I leave, and then get a new one when I come back.

Do you suppose I will have major problems at the Port of Entry? I know that they have the right to refuse entry for any reason, and the fact that our petition is very close to being (hopefully!) approved (that and I just quit my job for a long-ish stay) might look a little... fishy to them.

What do you folks think? Should I get tourist visa just to be "safe"? I'd like to get your opinions/experiences on travelling during the visa process. Thanks.

Hey guys!

Just a quick question here...

I'm an Australian who will be moving to the US... We've already put in the petition (July) and now we're just playing the waiting game. I plan on changing jobs (for various reasons) soon, and I was wondering if I would have to let the USCIS know about the job change, just like how you would if you move before waiting for approval?

Thanks!

If you are the beneficiary USCIS doesn't really care about you changing jobs in Australia.

They are more concerned about the petitioners financial status in the US.

Oh cool. I thought so... Just wanted to double check anyway. Thanks!

Hey guys!

Just a quick question here...

I'm an Australian who will be moving to the US... We've already put in the petition (July) and now we're just playing the waiting game. I plan on changing jobs (for various reasons) soon, and I was wondering if I would have to let the USCIS know about the job change, just like how you would if you move before waiting for approval?

Thanks!

GAH. This endless waiting is killing me. 41 days since the petition was sent (no touch since late July) and I'm jealous of you all. Hahaha.

Sorry, had to vent... Waiting sucks. *sigh*

Kath and Jezz, thank you both very much for the info! I'll be living in Indiana... Apparently we have to get blood tests done and apply for the marriage license at least a month before the ceremony - both in person! Eeek! I hope I don't go over the 90 days waiting for the damn thing... The social security office doesn't sound like a fun place to visit twice. Heh.

Unless... Stuff like that (marriage license etc.) is sorted out with the visa process?

How long does a marriage certificate usually take to arrive? Does it vary from state to state?

Beautiful wedding photos, Jezz!

My fiance sent off our packet on July 11th, and he got the NOA1 on the 23rd... The long wait is probably due to people filing at the last moment (like what we did. LOL.). Hang in there, guys. It'll come eventually.

Hey all!

Do any of you guys out there use the blogging site livejournal.com? If so, is it just me, or is the site down at the moment? I've been trying to access it all morning but all I'm getting is a "HTTP 500 - Internal server error" page. I'm not sure what to make of it.

Thanks!

GOOD LUCK, SHARYNA!!

Damn... Oh well...