Brad&Meera

I'll persuade my fiancee to do the same. I'll let you know if we have any issues.

Thanks, I'll keep you informed of any interesting developments as well

She called the consulate this morning, and they told her to go ahead and fill out the packet 3 paperwork with the old passport number (with a note about the renewal), and that she needs the new passport for the interview. But they mentioned that it usually takes a month after packet 4 is received to schedule the interview, so she should have the new one by then, even without expedited processing. If she doesn't, we'll reschedule.

Blah. Thanks for the help, everyone

~Brad

Maybe I'm suffering from linear thinking here but I still don't understand because there are years mentioned to go with your dates. Will she apply for new passport at the end of this month and receive it well before her old one expires. If so, all you're dealing with is a new passport between petition filing and visa issue. Communication will solve that.

Yes, she's going to apply to renew her passport at the end of the month (January 31st 2008), since it expires on July 31st 2008. She should have the new one by the end of February. And unless the embassy tells her something different, we're planning to return packet 3 ASAP with her old passport number, and include a note with it about the pending renewal and number change. I'm sure the embassy is aware of the change in passport numbers, and it will not be a major problem.

Just to clarify, you seem to be saying she can't apply for a new passport until six months after her current one expires? That's what the above dates indicate.

Brad/Meera, please clarify, but I believe the OP's passport is expiring on July 31, 2008, meaning that the "6-month" requirement would dictate that she'd need to have the K-1 visa by January 31st, 2008. As YuAndDan suggested, they might just issue the K-1 with an expiration date of July 31st, 2008. Worth checking with the embassy on. Port of Spain consular officials are very good at returning emails.

Why can't she get a new passport until January 31st? My fiancée mentioned something about the move to "new style" passports that are replacing a recent new style or something something something. I didn't understand what she told me, but maybe that's related?

Yes, she was told that she could not apply to renew her passport until January 31st (6 months before it expires, sorry for the confusion). She is checking with the embassy, but we're planning to do what you suggested to your fiancee: affix a note about the passport renewal.

The new passports are a common passport for all nations of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community (see link in my first post). If I understand correctly, the old Trinidad ones are valid until their original expiry date, but all renewals are CARICOM.

Great, thanks for the response. Getting a visa that's valid for less than 6 months won't be a problem at all

~Brad

Our paperwork is finally on the way to the embassy, woo! But we need some advice about her passport.

Her passport expires on July 31st. We've read that it needs to have 6 months of validity after the visa issue date, so that makes it January 31st (I don't think she'll get an interview before then). She has been told that she can't apply for a new passport before January 31st, and that issuing the new one will take 31 days.

One more thing: it's a new type of passport (CARICOM), so it's a new number...we're concerned about filling out forms with a passport number that will change.

How should we proceed to avoid delays? Wait for the new passport, or fill out the forms with the old passport number and make a note about it being renewed? Or another suggestion?

Sorry if all of that is confusing; it's perplexing to us as well :/

Thanks!

~Brad

So I'm guessing nobody knows of anything better than the 10-11¢ a minute I am paying now? I wouldn't expect much cheaper than that, but worth asking, I guess.

Yeah, I haven't found anything better, either...I stayed with Union Telecard. I use this one: 11¢ to land, 14¢ to cells. I tried the ones mentioned in the last few posts, but had problems: poor call quality, customer service, etc.

Dice.com is a good resource for a tech job hunt. Other than that, the usual CraigsList, etc. are helpful. If possible, having a contact within the company is always better than a cold interview.

Unfortunately, as with any job, it's difficult to get in the door without having contacts. Also, many companies require listing a position and interviewing a few candidates even if they already have a person lined up for the job. Don't give up, though; your interview skills will get better, and you'll find a good fit if you work at it enough

What are your degrees/certifications/experience/qualifications? It's easier to give advice about where to look with that info

My (Trini) fiancée did. She actually got her B-2 visa after my I-129f was filed. We were just very honest and up front about everything, and my invitation letter explicitly said I wasn't going to marry her while she was on the B-2. There was no problems for us at all. (Every case is different, of course)

Good luck! Trinidad represent!!

Hey, thanks for the note. Good to see more Trini couples on here! We've just decided to wait it out, though. I'm going to see her in December, so no white Christmas for me this year

Congratulations on your approval, by the way

~Brad

Try this link...I feel like I just won the lottery and I want others to get it too

http://www.discountedcards.pushline.com/index.php

Hmm...hidden fees galore, but if the rates are accurate (had problems with some other sites where the rates to TT cell phones were much higher than listed), it looks like a pretty good deal. I'll check it out soon, thanks!

mapanti, have links for the net2net thing? I can't seem to find it. And the other one...is that this? The rates look good, but I fear they play the service fee/minute rounding game - I see no mention of those.

Argh...I hate these companies. They're all vultures, preying on people who just want to talk to their loved ones. Connection fees, service fees, minute rounding...all hidden from the customer as much as legally possible. Blah.

Hello! You already PMed me, but I thought I would say hello here as well. Any other Trini couples active on the board? Doesn't look like there's a lot of us...hopefully that will mean short lines at the embassy!

Well, still waiting on the NOA1 :/ It's been a while now, should we call in?

I sent it to the Texas center, I assume it takes a bit more time to be forwarded to Vermont, but this is getting to be too much...almost a month when others received theirs in a few days.

I just read in our local paper about Charter Communications starting some sort of international 250 minute a month calling plan for $20 a month. No connection fees or hidden charges. Trying to tap into the growing immigrant population. Haven't really looked into it; but it sounds like something I might.

I use 3U Telecom....17 cents a minute for us. Can't be bothered with purchasing calling cards.

3U is 17.9¢ per minute for us - still more than the cards. And I like the cards - they prevent us from being on the phone for hours, wasting too much money

And Charter isn't in my area. My local phone/cable companies charge insane international rates.

Thanks anyway!

When you access your credit reports (you can do so free once per year), be sure to use AnnualCreditReport.com.

As advised by the FTC here.

Hey, I found another cheap one! Has anybody used Phone Card Mania cards before?

The rate is *really* cheap...a little bit too cheap, actually. I'm kinda wary about trying it out :/ I can't find anything too fishy on their site, but I'm worried about hidden fees, etc.

Also, some more research: BBB reports an unsatisfactory rating for the company US Prepaid Telecom - which I found by running a whois on their domain name. But then again, so does Union Telecard, and I've had good service from them (haven't deal with their support, however).

My K-1 visa was denied. My lawyer received an RFE asking if I had been convicted of any crimes. I told her the information and she sent it in without my signature and IT WAS DENIED. Now I must reapply for a new petition all over again. Now I think I need a waiver.

I had a k1 visa 8 years ago. The marriage lasted 5 years, ending in divorce. Do I need a waiver, and if so what are the chances it will be approved? Or should I appeal the decision?

The letter my lawyer received is below. My lawyer did not send me this RFE to put my signature on it, she just asked me to tell her if I had been convicted of a crime. She sent it in without my name on it. I think anyone who sent in a petition should state convicted crimes up front to AVOID RFE!

On the petition you filed on April 2, you failed to complete part C of the form. In a Notice of Action may 18 you were notified you must complete the form. You were then asked to respond to the question in part C and sign and resubmit the form that was sent to you. Your response received by the office May 29 did not include your signature on form you resubmitted. In view of the above the petition is DENIED.

All NEW APPLICATION ALL OVER OR SHE WILL GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK NOT SURE WHAT TO DO YET (??? - confused on this one, but I don't think it's important)

Above are the OP's posts, corrected for grammar and spelling. I'm not trying to belittle you, I'm trying to help and this was the only way I could understand the situation.

It appears that the OP didn't fill out the questions about criminal background, and when his lawyer resubmitted the form, it didn't have his signature on it. That doesn't seem fair for them to deny a petition based on a small oversight.

In any case, get a new lawyer that will be more thorough. I personally would just try to get started ASAP, and worry about returned fees, etc later when this is overwith.

~Brad

If he's really concerned about it, he could supply some proof that the university he attended is accredited by a Mexican college accreditation firm such as SACS for the southern US region.

But experience counts for more than education in most fields; employers usually don't bother checking up on your college credentials after you get a few years of experience. A recommendation letter from his previous employer would probably be more beneficial than the proof above.

Oh, and yes, check on getting him certified ASAP...that will help out a lot.

Buy Japanese. They're by far the most reliable, and have been for years, especially Toyota and Honda. I'd suggest getting a subscription to Consumer Reports if you want check the reliability of specific makes/models. It's well worth it for other large purchases, as well.

As for actually buying, you can check classifieds in the paper (look at the online edition too), and local convenience stores probably carry an auto trader magazine. Craigslist or similar online sources are good if you live in a good sized city. You can usually haggle the seller down a bit, let the better haggler deal with the seller. In our case, that's my fiancee

Oh, and while you're taking the car for a test drive, have a mechanic you trust check it out.

Good luck!

~Brad

Let it go. Your attention and energy will be better spent somewhere else. In the end, it was a conversation and you don't have proof of any wrong doing on the guys part. I'm glad the two of you took the time to research/follow up on your own.

If you had taken that route and things had gone badly- I'd say yes. But since you didn't there isn't much you can really do- especially if you have no evidence that this person gave you such great 'advice'.

Yeah, we'll likely just let it go. It was a very frustrating experience, and we'd hate for others to have a similar problem...but in the end, it seems that there would be little effect from a complaint being filed. I guess I just wanted to vent

Three years ago, my fiancee had to go back to her country to fulfill a work obligation from a government scholarship she recieved (we met at college here in the US). So we researched online to find out about immigration and were very confused by the number of options available, etc (unfortunately didn't find VisaJourney at that time :/). We made an appointment to talk in person to an immigration official to find out the best way to handle all of this.

So! We went to the appointment, and after explaining our situation, the officer told us that there was a "loophole" where she could come in on a visitor visa, get married to me, and apply to change status to Permanent Resident. My fiancee even pointed out that it seemed deceptive to do it that way, and asked if that was legal. He replied, "Well, we do it all the time", referring to Mexican immigrants. He gave us a fairly detailed timeline of when to start, what to file, etc. We were a bit worried, but figured that he knew what he was talking about.

Her work contract is up in about 6 months, and we started to do some research to see if any immigration procedures had changed, etc. We found out that what the official recommended would be serious visa fraud! Obviously we were furious!! Granted, we could have looked up this information at any time, but we assumed that an immigration official surely wouldn't give us advice to break the law. Lesson learned there...do your own research.

Anyway, what should we do about this guy? File a complaint? Let it go? Has anyone else filed a complaint, and how did that go? Any other options? We've already filed for a K-1, so we weren't seriously affected, but I'd hate for others to be misled this way.

~Brad

PS. Sorry to bring down the lighthearted mood of the poll forum Mods please move if you feel it's appropriate...I couldn't find a good fit for it.

On the bread is the only way to go. And I should know, I worked as a Sandwich Artist at Subway in high school My fiancee is by far the superior cook, but she swears I make better sandwiches

Added myself to the map as well. Great idea!

Also, a tip - after placing your marker, center the map to view the whole US, then hit "Save and Generate Code". That'll make it easier for everybody to see the whole map ^^

~Brad

ScreenName-------received**---NOA1***----NOA2***-----NVC-------Embassy-----Medical------Interview----Visa

CSC *

Weedebz-----------07/06/07----07/11/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Samby--------------07/12/07----07/17/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Tony and Tess-----07/16/07----07/26/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

niceguy26----------07/18/07----07/21/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

chris4gretchen-----07/18/07----07/23/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Jeraly---------------07/20/07----07/25/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

JCochranUSN------07/24/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Rick and Dixie-----07/27/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

VSC *

Babybluesusie-----07/03/07----07/10/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

English Muffin-------07/05/07----07/10/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Jason-Sasha--------07/16/07----07/20/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Mel and Rene -----07/17/07----07/20/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

thejoz---------------07/18/07----07/23/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

StillThePrettiest----07/19/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

julezabelle----------07/23/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Bill y Bella -------07/27/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Brad&Meera------07/27/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Selby226------------07/23/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Arrta ----------------07/28/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

michellemilitza------??/??/??-----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

cdherrick981------??/??/??-----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

Please Move To Correct Service Center:

GeordieLover----07/19/07??-----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

a-jeanne---------07/09/07-------07/13/07----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**----**/**/**

* If your application was transferred, please enter your data in the section for the 2nd service center.

* * Received date should be the date the application arrived at the service center where it will be adjudicated.

* * * NOA1 & NOA2 dates should be the dates when they were issued, not the date that you received a hard copy.

To add or update your data, simply reply to the latest post that contains the timelines and then edit the quote.

Data should be sorted by service center, then by date received.

If posters are not sure how to add themselves, just add a reply to this topic with only your info and someone will place it in the list

My fiancee sent me the paperwork for our I-129F packet, and it was delivered to me the next day by UPS. It was about US$40 to send, but it was worth it because we beat the recent fee increase

Also, in my experiences shipping locally, UPS blows everything else away...I used to work in an office with a shipping/recieving warehouse, and the other services were always slower and had more problems. UPS deliveries to my home have been smoother as well.

~Brad

Please help me get a good Webcam website. The problem I am having is that the computer locks up and the signal is choppy. We have tried Yahoo, MSNmessenger, Skype (almost damage the computer), Camfrog. None are reliable. Anyone know of any other free Webcam chat websites?

Charles

Since you're having problems with multiple webcam services, you might look for a problem with your computer. Your webcam really shouldn't lock it up.

~Brad

And for those who use calling cards try the western union it gives ~8 cents a minute to land lines and ~32 cents a minute for cells. You can recharge it over the phone.

but the Jus Talk from C&W gives 5 cents a minute and you can use it to call Ja from here or they can use it to call here from Ja. Your SO can recharge this card in Ja

The sprint card from CVS is good but you have to make sure to buy the international card. It gives 16 cents a min to both land lines and cells. You can rechard this over the phone too but if you do it in the store you get 10% free.

None of these cards steal your minutes. If you use 5 minutes it takes 5 minutes not 30

Good luck!

^^^those rates are for jamaica but I'm sure it's comparable for T&T

you can call them and find out

Western Union: $.18

Jus Talk: appears to be available only in Jamaica

CVS: $.16

Still can't beat the $.11/minute I'm getting currently, I'm afraid. Thanks anyway