Joe & Yumi

Yumi and I had our interview at 8:15 this morning in Spokane, WA.

We didn't have a "ton" of stuff like Pegbert, but I know my valise had at least 20 pounds papers ! We had everything but the sworn affadivits( 'cause we never thought of it) plus one file with every paper ever submitted or received from the beginning of our K-1 application. We had an original of everything and an additional file of photocopies (185 of them) to give to the Officer, should they want one.

We had 38 original photos, just in case. They ranged from the day we met, our first date, when I met her family, when she met my family, and about every other social event with her family and my family, just in case.

We arrived at exactly 8:00 a.m., entered the office, placed our appointment notice in the box and waited every bit of 15 minutes when they called Yumi's name. Our Officer was a really nice, rather formal, straightforward, but also totally non-intimidating lady. She had us swear in, sit down and then promptly asked if we had any government issued id. I gave her my driver's license and Yumi gave her her passport and also her driver's license (same address). The lady asked if we could wait just a moment and she went and photocopied them. She came back, read a short list of "required" questions: are you a prostitute, drug dealer, terriorist or Communist, and have you ever been arrested? Yumi answered no to all and the lady apologized for having to ask.

She then explained that Yumi was approved, turned around and entered it into her computer, explained that Yumi would receive her card in a couple of weeks and that was it ! We had been in her office for everybit of about 10 minutes.

We showed her all our "stuff" and asked " Aren't you going to ask us questions and look over any of our documents ?" She smiled and said, " There's no need, I've already read your file."

Yumi asked her if she liked living in Spokane. The lady then seemed to relax, responded quite warmly to the question and we began to chat. She, Yumi and I spent the next 10~20 minutes talking. Afterwards she told us she enjoyed our "visit" and she hoped she would be the Officer when we came back to the Immigration Office to renew Yumi's card. We said goodbye and left. It was over !

Yumi learned a new phrase in English : " Piece of cake " !

Well, it's been a long, anxious road(we filed the I-129F on 4/25/07) but Yumi received her visa in the mail Oct. 17, 2007 ! She has to give her company a 30 days notice (collect the $8K seperation pay), fly over to see her family for the last time while in Japan and, hopefully, arrive in Seattle by Dec.15th, 2007.

She told me that the US Embassy in Tokyo was super nice to her. She arrived at 7:30a.m. and was about 2nd or 3rd in line. She went in before 8a.m. and the workers reviewed her paperwork. She then went into the interview room with a US Immigration Officer. He told her she had "every paper known to us and they're all correct". He teased her and said "you're really moving from a city of 25 million to a city of 3,000?" he wished her luck, said she could call if she had any questions, and told her she'd get her visa in 7 to 10 days in the mail; it came two days later !

Lots of people on here told me it'd take about 6 months from filing to approval but I was really hopeful that we'd get it sooner. Turns out that it took 173 days; guess we got it a week early.

Thank God the visa has been approved and we can finally be together and start the long process for the AOS ! I wish all the rest of y'all " God's Speed".

Sure wish Yumi and I were on your lists !

I also wish I had something to update! I filed an I-129F petition on April 25th and the USPS returned receipt showed the USCIS received it on March 27, 2007. Since that time, I have neither received nor heard anything from the CSC....nothing......NADA....!

I got seriously concerned several times and called the Customer Service line. After 3 tries and what seemed like hours I was transferred for the fourth time and received an Officer Taylor. All he could tell me was that they had my correct mailing address and .." the fact you haven't recieved a NOA1, any RFE's, a NOA2, or that nobody has even touched the petition yet means nothing; all that means is we're working on it!" What a consolation....!

Trust me.....as soon as I hear or get anything from the USCIS I will update my timeline immediately.

Sorry 'bout the cross posting, I'm a newbie !

What am I doing wrong ?

After 5 years in Japan, I met a wonderful young lady who agreed to marry me.

We moved in together (really, really hard to do with conservative parents) and lived together in bliss for 8 years. Then, we consulted an attorney who advised the fastest way to move to the US was for me to return, find a good job, file a K1(fiancé visa) and wait 4~5 months.

Well, I returned to the US and finally got a really good job with state government, prepared the I-129F and mailed the 129F to the Nebraska SC, as instructed, on April 25th and they signed for it on April 27th. For some unkown reason, they NSC forwarded it to the CSC and the CSC showed it received on June 15th in CA. (What the hey?)

I called the Customer Support line 7 times and spent 3hrs, 41min. and finally got an Hispanic lady that was really nice; she explained that they're behind approximately 6 months and I would get a letter soon. I've yet to get a letter and the online processing time still shows Jan.13th.

Since it usually takes 6~7 months to process the visa for Japan, does this mean Yumi and I aren't gonna' get a visa for another year ?

After having made three visits at $3500 each, missing each other very badly, and having to put our future plans on hold, this is getting ridiculous!

Anybody have any suggestions/information that would possibly help ?

Hey all,

My fiance is preparing/assembling our I-129F packet now to be mailed to TSC tomorrow, so I guess that makes us an April filer! Can't believe it's April already! Where did the time go?

Anyway, here's to us all April filers, let's keep each other company here on this long K1 journey! Cheers to a speedy and trouble/fuss-free journey!

Anybody want to co-miserate ?.........

What am I doing wrong ?

After 5 years in Japan, I met a wonderful young lady who agreed to marry me. We moved in together (really, really hard to do with conservative parents) and lived together in bliss for 8 years. Then, we consulted an attorney who advised the fastest way to move to the US was for me to return, find a good job, file a K1(fiancé visa) and wait 4~5 months. Well, I returned to the US in January. I finallygot a really good job with state government, and I mailed the 129F to the Nebraska SC, as instructed, on April 25th and they signed for it on April 27th.

For some reason, they forwarded it to the CSC and they first showed it received on June 15th in CA. (What the hey?)

I called the Customer Support line 7 times and spent 3hrs, 41min. and finally got an Hispanic lady that was really nice; she explained that they're behind approximately 6 months and I would get a letter soon. I've yet to get a letter and the online processing time still shows Jan.13th.

Since it usually takes 6~7 months to process the visa for Japan, does this mean Yumi and I aren't gonna' get a visa for another year ?

After having made three visits at $3500 each, missing each other very badly, and having to put our future plans on hold, this is getting ridiculous!

Anybody have any suggestions ?