doug & angel

What equipment does SEAAIR fly, little puddle-jumpers?

Mostly Dornier 328s of a relatively recent vintage. I'd fly asian spirit's jet service more, but they are to big of a pain to deal with from overseas.

Doug... you sound like a real smart a... my kinda person....

If you're really in Dallas, we should bend an elbo at the Wild Turkey some time....

- Derrel

PS... what exactly did your 'request for expedited visa' say? I'm looking for words to convince without actually saying... "Hey, the air fares go up SIGNIFICANTLY after March 15, and we want to be on that Mar 15 flight we have booked!!!"

Sure thing, when your fiancee gets here we can all get together and toast to south asia.

The letter, which was written from angels perspective, included her address, phone numbers and a statement to the effect of "My fiancee traveled far to support me during this time, it was at considerable expense and effort. His work requires him to return quickly and we would very much like to return as the family we have become" I did show her my customs stamp which showed I had arrived that morning and I explained to her that my biological daughter was waiting for me to return and couldn't come with me because of her school requirements.

It worked for us, having me there was a huge impact to the process. It made a noticeable difference in the attitude of most people except for the finger-print lady who really should learn that there are plenty of brands out there that taste just as good as the kinds with caffeine.

I used my debit card with mastercard logo on it, and I don't have any problems using it internationally..I even used my debit card to pay my fiance cenomar and birthcert online and booked the hotel at hoteltravel.com..Maybe, it's about ur bank policy..I don't know about credit cards because I have only one credit card with $350 credit limit on it ..i hate credit cards!!!.

I use mine on SEAAIRs website without a problem. I've also had the bank issue one in my fiancee's name and her PI address as an alternate. This allows her to use it there for things like checking into the hotel or picking up the tickets.

I did have to go through a little security red-tape to set that up, but it was a phone call and a faxed form.

Also as a rule, whenever I travel overseas I always call the credit card companies and inform them of the dates of my travel, its a process I've been doing since the 80s after a particularly embarrassing incident with Mastercard while standing in a store in a mall in japan.

First the good news, we are approved. This day holds other significance too as it was exactly a year ago (Feb 7th 2007) when I walked off the plane and into the arms of the women I met via a random yahoo event almost 4 years ago.

As the USC I will add a few comments to what others have said..

First, I would highly recommend that the USC go to this interview as its a unique experience that is something to be shared. Its far worse than your worst DVM experience and quite honestly if they tried to have americans do this kind of thing there'd be a serious mango-juice come tea party right outside the USEM in the harbor. Its not the process per say, though someone who has taken basic statistics can spot many ways to improve things. Its the complete lack of information and communications along the way which was mind-boggling

We arrived at 5am into a sea of people wondering around the embassy, there were the vendors outside selling everything from ball-point pens (50php) to Polaroid photos (250php) to plastic seats for places to sit down at (25php, 30php if you want them wiped off) The common thread of all of these folks was the inconsistent information we were given. The whackenhut guards, the vendors, and even random passers by could speak with convincing authority about where you were supposed to stand, or how the process works, but in the end they really have only a small piece of information. We were told by one guard to stand over in a line forming by an entrance blocked by another guard under a awning who was slowly checking papers. We stood there for a while and I noticed that about 70 people in front of us there was actual sign-age. I make my way up to read it and low and behold it says "Non-immigrant visa" so we've stood for 20 minutes in the wrong line .. It gets worse from there, at one point we even had two whackenhutters arguing with each other about where we were supposed to stand (they were lucky enough to give us conflicting information within earshot of each other) There is an announcement of sorts as there is someone on a PA system saying something periodically. I'm sure its important, and it probably has a lot to do with what we need to know. However, the announcer has apparently swallowed a entire bag of marbles prior to going "on-air" and you can't understand them. At least the guards can't as they are willing to argue amongst themselves about what was said. The key however is to get past the guard at the awning. You can do this several ways, I would highly recommend pole-vaulting as its easier though they would probably frown on it. At some point though he just starts waving a bunch of us in.

That brings us to guard #2 .. Guard #2 actually reads your paperwork (more or less) and decides when you can proceed to the security clearing area. This is the area where there are more guards and a x-ray machine and at least one USC who has a bunch of electronic ####### they aren't going to let him take in. Apparently its common for USCs to miss the memo on bringing their Cummins diesel engines along with them to the interview but I'm digressing .. Guard #2 reads your paperwork and randomly selects people to sit in the penalty box. This is a bench off to the side reserved apparently for people that had the wrong aura on. I first postulated that this selection had something to do with the time of the interview but apparently its more random than functional as we had people with 7:30 interviews in the box as well as 7am and some I think from the previous week still sitting there. Eventually he runs out of things to do and waves us in too (no longer reading any of the papers)

This brings us to guard #3 and the hut, maybe this is the infamous whackenhut? This is a small room just outside the embassy interior, it has a x-ray machine from 1943 and a metal detector which basically beeps whenever anyone walks through us. This gives the guards a reason to touch you inappropriately which they do with great vigor and gusto, you then retrieve your papers which are rolling through the x-ray/ microwave before they fall off the conveyer and onto the floor. They are warm to the touch which makes me wonder about the number of rads this thing is giving out. Once collected you then stand at the door which beeps. This is a door with some kind of electronic lock. It emits a loud beeping sound. Its also locked. There's a filipina ahead of us, arms wrapped around a metric tonne of slowly cooling papers and she's trying to figure out how to open it. Its stops beeping after she tugs on it a couple of times, but it still won't open. Noone is paying any attention to this except the crowd thats piling up behind this increasingly flustered girl. I reach past her and try my luck and sure enough its stuck firm, at that point the beeping starts again and someone else tries the door which opens like a congressman's wallet the day before election day. I'm not sure if the beeping has anything to do with the locking mechanism or it was just the mass of the accumulating crowd which endued the opener with Herculean strength.

Once inside the embassy proper we find to my surprise actual marking on the wall giving directions on where to go. We follow these breadcrumbs of knowledge into a largeish waiting area full of hard plastic chairs and nervous filipina. We were lucky enough to meet up with another VJ couple while in the penalty box (i'll let them own up to knowing us after reading this if they are not ) and we were directed into the back row of the middle section. I point this out only because there was a large gap between the back row and the front row of empty seats. This gap is slowly filled with people as they come in well past their appointment times (its now 8:30 and they haven't started yet) I bring this up only to point out to future generations that your pain and suffering will end quicker if you somehow manage to sit in the front row. When it gets right down to it, they send the rows to the ticket booth front to back, left to right. It really doesn't matter what time is stamped on your appointment card, nor what time you arrived, your going to the ticket booth in that order. This process is the most important one of the day as it basically controls how long you will sent in the chairs while waiting for your number to be called. Mind you, these chairs were bought at a surplus auction as they were long since banned by the Geneva convention as being cruel and unusual punishment. Since they are unfit for prisoners they wound up here. Anyway, retrieving a ticket early is important as even though there is a bit of strange randomness to the calling out of numbers, its basically going in order, and the sooner you get called, the sooner you can get out of there and start drinking.

A bit about the process, its relatively straight forward. There are several video monitors in the room which explain it more or less. They do this on a loop which includes an english explanation, a taglog explanation and between the explanations about 10 minutes of badly pixilated images pictures of "americans" mouthing the words "Welcome" or "Haha!" I'm not sure which. The progress of events goes in this order "ticket booth" "finger scanning" "pre-screening" "Interview" "clearing" "delbros" "standing outside for 30 minutes to flag down a taxi" "drinking heavily". As previously mentioned. The ticket booth controls your fate for the day. Its where you hand over some (but not all) of your paperwork and are given this tiny piece of paper which your number is printed with quick-fading thermal ink. I mention this because several people (including ourselves) noticed that it doesn't take long to rub the numbers right off the ticket. So be careful with it. Putting it inside of a folder seems to be the smart thing to do, holding it in your hand on the other hand, not so smart. Above all else memorize the number as its your destiny for the day. They also get really cranky if you don't pop out of your chair as your number shows up on the board (its announced visually not audibly unless they are looking for you) . I'm not sure what happens if you don't show but several times the board would have the same number up on it several times for the same window and the guards would all scurry about going "6711" "6711" trying to get someones attention. Eventually you'd hear the echos of them in the loo as they would open the doors and yell "6711" in hopes of finding the hapless soul who was lost in there. I did resist the urge to hang out in the CR and yell back "Number 2" "Number 2" when this event occurred again. Successfully resisted, I might add, though my legs did twitch a couple of times at the thoughts.

Once you have your ticket number, your fate is sealed (at least as far as this process is concerned) the next stop on the train is finger-print scanning, called biometrics. This is the point where you meet the first cranky person who works there "Press harder" she yells at a flustered girl "No pressy no visa" is another comment I overheard. I'm quite sure this is the first time most of these people have ever seen a biometrics scanner and despite the signs scattered all over the place telling you what to do (though none of the signs are actually anywhere near the scanning window itself) most people seemed to be somewhat scared of the little box. Perhaps its the lady behind the counter, or perhaps its the green glow coming from the box that makes it look like its full of some high-grade form of kyrptoniite . Most of them walk up to it and look at it with that same look the american gives the person offering them Balut just after they find out what it is.

After the biometrics, you return to your seat, and after several eons your called to the pre-screener. This person actually asks questions and accumulates more papers. In our case she asked my fiancee if she was who she was, asked her daughter if she was who she was and asked me if I was who I was .. at this point I almost said "No, I'm Ed McMahon and you might already be a winner!" But I resisted with even more leg twitching and a nervous tick. She collected the police clearances and some other papers not picked up at the beginning. Asked questions about my previous marriages "why did you leave your wife?" .. "I didn't" ... "why did you get a divorce?" ... " It was cheaper than the annulment" ... " why did you want an annulment?" "my ex-wife was already married to someone else, committed fraud by marrying me and oh is serving time in the state lockup for theft, larceny and extortion having nothing to do with me or our marriage. " Apparently, that was the right answer ( and oddly enough, the honest one) After staring at me for several seconds like I'd suddenly grown a third eye, she eventually looks down at the papers (which actually say these things, along with, get this .. "irreconcilable differences") reads them for a little while and then waves us back to the chairs without further comment.

We wait for a long while and suddenly its lunch time. We don't know its lunch time, there's not an actual announcement or anything, just the window shades are closed and the board showing which numbers go to which window goes dark. A bunch of people get up and start filing out. We ask the guard whats going on and he says its lunch time. be back at 1pm. I think I'm the first person to ever ask the question "How do we get back in?" Because he looks at me like like a scientist examining a new form of bacterium. "Just show the guards your paper" he says. "I can't do that, they've already taken our appointment documentation" There is that look again, like he's counting the clil along the edge of the cell structure ... "No, your number paper" Oh wait, he means our now-serving number. I show it to him "You mean this?" He replies in the affirmative and in such a way to make you believe he's decided that the microbe under examination is not in-fact infectious, we quickly retreat to the door.

Leaving the USEM for lunch you've got basically a couple of choices .. Chow King and Yellow Cab. For those of you americans in the audience, yellow cab is a pizza place, not in-fact a transportation company. Though honestly their namesake may make better pizza. For reasons of allowing the 7 year old step daughter to make the decision (after all, what are kids good for if not deciding which form of junk food you'll consume) we chose yellow cab. We had a Hawaiian pizza with extra grease. We tried to order more grease, but apparently therese a saturation limit on how much grease they are allowed to soak a pizza in before serving it to you. Its a good thing too as its likely it would no longer be considered a solid. As it is, the pizza ranks up there with the taste of ham, pineapple and 30 weight motor oil. At that moment though, it was the food of the gods, because quite frankly theres nothing else to eat while waiting through this process. Sure their is "The Pavilion" This is a adjunct area outside of the visa rooms and there's a counter there where you can buy snacks (of a sort) by 10am when I went to check this out, they were down to saltines to eat and diet-sprite to drink. Maybe its just me, but the idea of diet-sprite is nauseating on a good day. So we quickly thanked the gods for our pizza flavored grease patty and coke and ate the entire thing.

Returning to the Embassy we waved our little piece of paper at the guard who waved us through the gate we arrived at our seats promptly at 1pm as instructed. At 2pm the process started up again pretty much where it left off. By 2:30 we were called into the interview room. The CO we met with was this nice round-face girl who was all smiles and had a great attitude .. in fact, we had a great time. I can honestly say this was the best part of the entire process. She swore in my fiancee and then the comedy act begin. She asked her who she was, if the little girl with us was her daughter and who I was. After that formality kind of vanished in a puff of humor. If there were more questions they were lost in the interaction between myself and the CO. She said she was from Houston (which I graduated from high-school in) and we spent the next 20 minutes talking about how big the US was, how flat Houston is (The highest mountain range is called "an overpass" and how my fiance was really crazy thinking she wasn't going to have to learn how to drive once she got to our home. I even got a variation of my Ed McMahon crack out which busted her up. My fiancee just stared at us not-unlike I've stared at her many times while she's carried on with someone in tagalog. Even though my Fiancee has a pretty good grasp of english, I'm sure she had a hard time following the conversation and especially the wisecracks. Eventually she folded up the papers and said we were approved. I then asked for expedited processing (handing her the letter we prepared) and she pulled a purple slip, wrote a bunch of notes on it and told us we could probably pick the visa up in the next couple of days. There is one point (in all seriousness to make here) the interview is conducted in english. If your fiancee has trouble with english, now is not the time to learn it. Make sure they've practiced the questions and answers IN ENGLISH. One of the early questions which was asked of my fiancee "How many times has your fiance been married? Was answered with "Really soon now" This actually helped us as it got the comedy act rolling. However the poor girl in front of us was really struggling with the questions (you get to easedrop on the interview prior to yours as you sit outside the door)

After the CO interview we went to the window where they cleared our papers, made sure we'd paid uncle sam his fees and we were done ..

Now we are in the hotel in makati where I flew in the morning of our interview (landed at 1am, arrival at the embassy at 5am that day) if you need us, we will be in the bar, waiting for the phone to ring.

Take care all, and good luck

My fiancee and I are having a debate if her daughter (my soon to be step daughter) should be attending her USEM interview. Has anyone done this (or not done it and regretted it?)

Thanks!!

Probably not by law, but I'm just guessing. If you go to the interview, maybe you could refuse to answer any questions and report back on your results.

Kev_n_Jena

Its a question.. I don't need a suggestion to do it...

I am just saying... The whole interview is for her.. Alot of posters are saying alot the of the questions are more towards the petitioner if he's available..

It all depends on the CO. Some don't allow the petitioner in the room, some allow him in but don't talk to him (like in our case), and some will ask him questions. It's the sole decision of the CO, as is approval of VISA pick-up.

The only thing that everyone will agree on is that it's generally a big positive to go, if you can afford it.

We saw lots of women very nervous, some had questions which we could answer. Some were still finishing their forms or gluing on the photos. One lost her numbered ticket and there was a mad scramble for everyone to find it. One went to the wrong window and my fiancee went to find her and get her to the right window.

And, maybe you'll meet some new friends like we did ...

I decided to go for it. I'm leaving the US tomorrow morning, arriving manila wednesday night. We will be at the USEM at 5:30 Thursday to start the process for our 7:30 appointment ... If your appointment is Thursday and you see a bleary eyed american with a little filipina trying to keep him awake, thats probably us! I can stay until mid-week next week so I'm hoping with our request letter in hand, we can be on our way home together.

Wish us luck!

I have a short window of opportunity to go with my Angel to the USEM for the interview. It would be thursday February 7th. I must return home to the US by the following monday (10am flight out of MNL) If I go, does this increase (or decrease) the chances of a granted visa being able to be picked up thursday or friday (and even possibly over the weekend?) and my family being able to fly home together?

Recent experience and comments would be much appreciated.

St. Luke's Appointment Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 (7:00:00 AM)

Embassy Appointment Date: Thursday, February 07, 2008 (7:30:00 AM)

Finally ..

It took almost 6 months????

181 days But the relief is amazing ..

Congratulations Doug, I am sure you are feeling great now!!

I am .. I'm debating waking angel up, I can see her sleeping on the webcam as its still early morning there ... I'm going to have to take a walk or something to help resist the temptation ... when it was 3am it was easier to justify letting her sleep .. 6am not so much

No paper yet, but ............................................

Application Type: I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On October 9, 2007, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

I think I'm a little confused...I was under the impression that the May filers were almost completed...is this BS?

Some of us are still waiting from april

Does anyone think July filers will be approved before Christmas??

I wish you the best of luck, noone should have to deal with the emotional stress which comes from this protracted process.

Thank you God for this wonderful blessings. Good things work together for good that love Him. We got our NOA2 via email and USCIS account. Thank you so much to those that has given me encouragement throughout this process. Please continue to pray for our speedy way to NVC and to USE Manila. Thank you so much my fellow vjs..

Congratulations. There's proof finally that someone can get through this. Hope your NVC and USE time is short and painless.

Thank you ladywhite.. I just thank God for all the blessings even though me and my fiancee are going through tough times due to the long wait. I know it will come..and we are praying for the NOA2 and also for lots of patience and leave it to God.. our timing and the USCIS's timing may not be perfect..but God's timing is always perfect..not too early or too late..

You know, i read somewhere else that you planned on bringing your love in January 2008 ( After Christmas) if thats your plan anyway, i would not worry so much about not getting approved yet. you have nearly 4 months till that time to come, so why worry? you will be approved by then.

I want my baby to come to me now! and as soon as she gets her visa, she is coming the next day! so obviously were more on edge at waiting. But you have time cause thats what you wanted anyway. Right? so don't worry or get stressed out.

Harout

Sorry buddy..most of us here, if not all, know before we all have filed for this type of petition that we have made plans and have expected dates to have your SO here. Like we all have a good idea that it takes atleast 6-8 months from filing to the arrival of SO here in the US. Unfortunately there are some that have to go through the hard way by waiting longer. Not everyone gets through this journey smoothly like most others have. I filed back in March and after 5 months got an RFE instead of a NOA2, which I can understand. But after the case has resumed it is still taking a lot of time even though for the fact that officers work on RFE first thing when they get to work. I have also searched some members here that had a RFE and took just days or a couple of weeks to get their NOA2. So you see, me and my fiancee are just having it the hard way, unfortunately. I'm already waiting 6 months for my NOA2 to come and I am aware as well that another 3-4 months before she gets here. NVC, medical, interview.. etc.. because of the wait that we are going through we have to keep pushing things back. I am very happy for those that had gone through this process the way it's suppose to be, withouth the extra long wait. A little encouragement wouldn't hurt and would be greatly appreciated. I was really expecting her to be hear around October because her birthday is in that month, or atleast before the end of the year. Well, I guess I go back and just keep waiting and praying. Thanks for those who have given me their understanding and encouragements.

I wonder if there is a specific issue around south asian or the philippines, seems like either there is a lot of us with filipino wives and/or fiancées that are lagging behind the curve.

Like yourselves, we made plans based on the trends, only to have them squashed by this process. Now we wait. Lonely for each other on both sides of the planet. Separated by a process that we neither control, nor have insight into.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

USCIS was holding a gun at the head of Congress to get the fee hikes approved. Either pass the fee hikes or we'll sit on our duffs! So Congress approved the fee hike (under serious protest). The first attempt by USCIS failed.

In preparation for this, USCIS published document called "Transformation." This was a clever ploy to be able to pass out excuses for delays. And implementing, whatever they are doing, had caused the delays, not to mention, building their bureaucracy and power!

Link to the "transformation" document (I think this should be it) Appears to be technology and operational changes mostly. Looks good on paper as an idea. Though its void of anything looking like an implementation timeline or metrics to judge effectiveness . Its the kind of thing you see in the world of no accountability. A lofty idea .. but in the real world, if this was handed to a board of directors of nearly any company they would doubt the competence of its management team. An idea without implementation metrics or the ability to determine success or failure is immature and a recipe for throwing money away and going out of business ...

Ok i guess this is not of interest anyone, just thought some consistancy would help folks, and help stop all this crazy posting thats going on about timelines and wait times that make no sense. Alot of folks here are out of control, need to chill a little, relax, breath, its a process, it sucks, yes, but it is what it is, we are not buying a cheese burger here there is no instant gratification in this, just every one relax ok.

We are not buying anything, we are American Citizens exercising our rights to be with our loved ones. The process adds minimal value and even less security (there's no national database of bad-people or good-people in this country) they don't do background checks on the foreign spouse. They go through your paperwork and look for *administrative details* nothing more. The process is supposed to take less than 15 minutes on average.

Every time I see someone defending this I get a little more pissed off over the entire thing. There is absolutely *no* reason to be sympathetic here. Your tax dollars pay for this, my tax dollars pay for it. However we had no say in its implementation, it was enacted without a vote, without a referendum and very little public oversight for what, in my opinion, should be a *very* publicly visible process.

Start reading here USCIS "about us" page

and you can find all the things which were started in March 2003 which have never come to pass. or have failed miserably

I'm sure the people in USCIS are doing the jobs the best they can, but their management needs a house cleaning.

Still don't believe .. read this USCIS Strategic Plan

Well after much waiting, we finally got our RFE today .. Guess what .. its for stuff which was in the package already sent.

The lawyers responded by filling out the pretty blue forms, writing a letter to that effect, enclosing a copy of the documents under request (again) and off to the overnight postal envelope it went.

All well and good (except for the sound of my head beating the wall in frustrating)

So a couple of questions come to mind (and are tossed out to the opinions of all to chew on)

Since this was "initial materials" when they receive them (again) will they restart our clock as if we didn't send them the materials (yes we sent them, I used a digital camera and photographed each piece going into the package and you can clearly see the documents in question in the pile and going in the box)

and/or

Since USCIS made a mistake in the RFE is this grounds for an expedite under the "USCIS error" rules?

Approvals are coming soon. They are just resting now...for a few weeks. Employee's are completely worn out at both Service Centers VSC, and CSC, from the fee increases. They will be back and ready to work, and our approvals will come in the soonest time possible.

Funny, its seems they were doing Other things

While it would be nice to have a shorter list, it doesn't really hurt to have the longer list. Plus it is nice to see yourself move up the list, no matter where you are. It's reassuring, even if it only is from 321 to 318.

Try #55 to #8

Is there an icon for pounding your head against the monitor in frustration ?

I understand it is crappy. But think about it, there are THOUSANDS of petitions that get sent to USCIS in one month. and there are only so many workers to process these petitions.

Letsseee instead of processing your application last month ....

The Washington Times disclosed last week a confidential USCIS criminal report that stated that several USCIS employees were accused of aiding Islamic radicals with identification fraud and bribery.

Or maybe they did ..

...UCIS lost some 111,000 files including 30,000 files of aliens seeking to naturalize. As unbelievable as it may seem USCIS went ahead and adjudicated those 111,000 applications ....

Democracy is not a spectator sport! Write your congressional representative

We do not have our NOA2 yet .. just touches .. no RFE nothing

:crying: :crying: :crying:

ZOMG CSC Touched our case on a sunday!

Last Updated

Form # Form Title (mm/dd/yyyy)

I129F WAC0714xxxxxx Y 08/26/2007

Still pending, but at least I know we are not completely lost, who knew uncle sam worked on Sundays. (or at least his computers do)

Called CSC today, with my lawyer, spoke to the lady with the indian sounding accent others have reported talking to, she said "Your case is already with the officer and you should have a decision today" She was very pleasant to us, I suspect having an attorney on the line makes for better conversation.

Well, here it is 48 hours later and no touches .. nothing .. its like we don't exist

I'm guessing "Your case is already with an officer" is secret code for "We were moving the office and your file is now buried behind a filing cabinet"

and "you should have a decision today" translates to "Don't worry, it will be of archeological significance when its unearthed in 2032"

First I thought it was a big waste of money to hire a lawyer for our K1 visa process but since I read your post, I think I'm gonna start calling my lawyer on monday....I haven't called him in a month though, maybe he will get some good news for me.....

I don't think the lawyer will help much there, I think its a matter of they won't blow you off as it gets witnessed by someone who if they complain gets paid more attention to than just any old random person.

The real reason I hired a lawyer (outside of checking our paper work and being present at the POE to represent my angel in case something happens) is to have one more person to complain too that at least has to have the pretense of doing something.

They are not infallible though, just a second set of (hopefully better educated) eyes. After all the filings and papers we did, it was reading here on VJ that lead me to find out that we need a police clearance from japan (where she once worked) at the interview. My lawyer who is ranked very high in the state (and by far not the cheapest) didn't know this was a requirement, but once I read it here, they were able to do the research and confirm it.

You should consider them an extra resource, but they are no substitute for your own mind, nor your own research.

My $0.02 billed at $350 an hour

I really hope everything will work out with this case number..

Look there's really no point in all the speculation ... you have a lot of options to clear this. If he can't just hold the thing up to a web cam, he can scan the NOA1 in as a pdf and have him email it to you, you (two) are obviously competent enough in your computer skills to handle this. Same with the check. If you don't have a scanner a digital photo works, if you don't have a digital camera Kinkos (found in all the major cities in the US) will scan them both for a couple of bucks and hand him a cdrom with the images.

So deal with that. get past it one way or another but don't dwell on it as it will become more than it is quickly.

Next get the mystery out of your relationship and the trust back in it.. share everything, email, chats, etc. if your really going to be a couple, then end all the secrets now and work together. Above all, look/hear that other person and make sure thats the one you want to be with.