Mo_Mati

This too will end. Praying that it will be soon!

Yep, printscreen function is the way to go! A bit tedious, but it works.

The 6 month rule exists in the Catholic Church. We began talking to the priest months before the interview, let him know of our situation, and began all the paperwork to comply with that rule before my then fiance made it to the US. We were able to be married within 2 months at the church (no courthouse ceremony).

good luck with your journey

Great news, Sara! Your sacrifices and patience will pay off! Many blessings on the last leg of the visa journey

So sorry that this happened to you. Immigration can be an incredibly frustrating process, which can often start with getting correct information from people we assume should have that information. I do not doubt for a second that you were given mis-information from USCIS and the embassy although you really thought you were going about everything in the right way. That is what makes VJ, a non-governmental third party to the system, so useful. It is actually based on collective knowledge of real people's experiences. You will find a wealth of information here that you would not be able to figure out through direct contact with the gov. It seems counter-intuitive, but it is true.

And yes, sometimes it can seem crazy and ridiculous that immigration law can be hinged on the immigrants' intent when crossing the boarder. As you said, if you had not told boarder control what you had, this story could have ended differently. Yet, the reason it is so important is because it can establish mis-representation (lying at the boarder) and/or did you use the right paperwork to get into the US to begin with. VWP/visitor visas/crossing the boarder for a visit from Canada are essential non-immigrating form of entering the country. Hence, the need to now go through the CR-1 or K-1 processes to obtain a visa for the purpose of immigrating.

You will figure out the next steps! Good luck on your journey

I am surprised by the hatred for Tmobile in this thread! i never knew....

We have tmobile and tmobile@home which we have NEVER had a problem with. Never had a dropped call, always clear calls, great prices--generally good coverage overall. And on top of that, I have had some great experiences with their customer service which has had me suggest to family and friends to also switch to them (which they did, which now saves us even more money as minutes spent talking to other tmobile customers don't count against us).

This is after having about every call I made with AT&T being dropped even when I live in and work in the larger urban areas. It was so frustrating, especially when the tag line is "least dropped calls", which was not my experience at all!

Yet each location is unique and the coverage from different carriers can vary depending on where you are. We were sure to research tmobile's coverage in our area before going with them.

happy cell phone hunting

it's not as if the job market is exactly bubbling over these days. Even if you had the card in hand as we speak, how can you be sure you'd already have a job offer?

I've been getting them for years since I was studying. MTV, Dreamworks, etc.

I could be working at a major entertainment studio by now. I have what it takes.

Besides, entertainment is practically unaffected by recession. I'm a good professional. I kick serious *ss.

And even if not, I would work at Wienerschnitzel dressed as a hot dog, if that was the only position available.

But I wasn't given the opportunity. Hey, the "land of opportunities"... They give them everyday to incompetent people, and they didn't have ONE to spare, for me?

It is understandable your frustration with the situation and your desire to work is honorable. But honestly, it doesn't get you anywhere to blame everyone else and not take any personal responsibility for the situation you are in. 1) It is your responsibility to be informed about the immigration process and choose which process is best for you 2) It is up to you to keep track of your case and if it is being processed outside the norm to follow the set protocol to at least try and get it back on track (easier said than done, but it is what VJ is for. And it looks like you have been a member for a while, so it is something that you should have presumably known about) and 3) It is your responsibility to get that RFE turned in like yesterday if you want your case to resume being processed. Until that happens there really is no reason to blame the USCIC. It is on your shoulders at this point. (These responsibilities are obviously on top of the contract that your wife and you made with the government when you said that you would be sponsored financially until your paperwork came through…no matter how long that is)

You continue to speak of the fact that you were not given an opportunity and that you deserve it (even more than others). I disagree. You were given an opportunity to follow the legal process as set up, and to do your part. Opportunities do not just appear as clear as day. Sometimes you have to work for them.

It has been said many times on these boards, and it will continue to be said. Immigration (and the rights that come with them) are not a right, they are a privilege. To be successful you might want to start treating them as such. Good luck on your journey

Usually you have to repay this but this year if you file as an amendment it is not repayable.

You do NOT have to file an amended return.

As long as you are a first time homebuyer and close on the house BEFORE December 1st, you will qualify for the tax credit and will not have to repay it if the home is your principal residence and you remain in the home for 3 years.

I have been told that you must be closed by NOV 30, but also to remember that that is the Monday after Thanksgiving. There probably will not be that many people closing on that date, and especially with people being out of the office on Thur. and Fri. of the week before....well, time is of the essence!

Good luck

There is no way to say CONGRATULATIONS that is sufficient for this occassion!!!!!!!

You certainly have the WHOLE VJ community behind you, jumping for joy, tearing up, and praying for the speedy end to you K-1 process. I think we are all on edge, hoping to hear the next piece of news and celebrating each achievement. Just plain awesome.

I know that Matias and I have been watching your journey in a special way (since we actually have been with you since applying for the k-1 together back in August 2007), praying for a positive news! And well, here it is!

We are smiling with you

I worked with a group of 4-5 year olds who decided to throw me a going away party on my last day. Someone put on the local radio station, and a very similarly disturbing scene broke out. Not one other "adult" seemed to bat an eye. I was so disturbed and looked for anything else to put on. I found a Barney cassett tape and decided to put it in, completely expecting for a backlash from the kids because Barney obviously ain't "cool". Instead, all the little girls and boys stood up straight, put their arms around each other and became a chorus of "I love you, you love me.....". They were as happy as could be. Ummm...apparently kids do follow the examples set for them.....

Hi rnkew

Congrats on receiving the B2 and being able to bring your seres queridos together! What a wonderful gift.

Questions around frequency and predictability of receiving another B2 visa in the future are really embassy and case specific. My husband is from Chile, and in our case we also were approved for a B2 (with the goal of having him meet my family/see where I came from) before going for the K1. We did not apply for another B2 during our K1 process and instead opted for me visitng him. Although he had abided by the rules of the B2 and was back in his country way before the I-94 expired, we also thought that there was a chance he could be denied because he had lost some of the "ties" to his country (had quit school to start earning money) and because having a K-1 in the works can also show "intention to immigrate". So, we just held off.

One anecdotal story, On the day of the K-1 interview the consul who approved his K-1 visa was the same one who approved the B2 (and remembered us/our situation)...which I think helped in the speed that he approved our visa. Hopefully, having had a B2 and following the rules will also benefit both of you in your journey!

Suerte

We just went through this, too. Huusband just passed the driving test last week (after failing the first time for not having paid attention to the fact that the light was red!).

No paid for driving lessons for us. I was the main instructor (with some help from a friends and my dad who took him out a few times). We spent a lot of time doing short/easy trips until both of us gained some confidence in his abilities behind the wheel. He does very well with the mecanics of driving, but making him also "think ahead" or "figure it out on the way" is overload and asking for trouble. Keeping it easy and predictable was key.

Good luck!

Found it

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=156939

Wasn't there a thread about this a few months back? Specifically stating that, yes, immigration can (and has on occassion) check out Facebook and MySpace pages to verify the authenticity of a relationship.

Not to say that it happens to everyone, but I remember a discussion reporting that it has begun to happen on occassion and that it is part of the terms of use that gives access of these sites that to the government even if they aren't your "friend".

Mo_Mati,

Did you read John and Marlene's post?

I sure did. And the first two cases that I stated that I knew personally both misrepresented at the POE. Obviously what "can" happen did not. They are both here with residency status without a question even asked by the CO. To me this shows that what happens in immigration-land isn't as it should be.

Is that what you were getting at with referency John and Marlene's post? Did I miss something?

I should say that I am not suggesting that people should go this route. Obviously, me and my husband adjusted from K-1 and are happy we did so.

What I am saying is that I am questioning the assumptions that many people seem to work off. The assumption that 1) people who enter with intent at POE will be found out and the majority will not be able to adjust status 2) If they did adjust status it is probably because they did not have intent upon entry and therefore the system worked as it should 3) It doesn't matter if people do make it through illegally. You should just worry about your own visa journey and be happy that you are doing it right.

And in terms of the stats that I was refering to...I am more interested in status that deal specifically with intent upon entry. I recognize that people who enter without intent and get married have every rgith to. What I am more curious about is if anyone in the gov. (or anyone else) has reported on how many people they believe enter the us with intent and get married, and how many are denied adjustment through the process.

I am curious if anyone has statistics around using VWP or Tourist visas and adjusting status. There seems to be a general belief on VJ that for those who choose this route, and do so with INTENT at the POE....well, that it is just too difficult and in all likelihood they will be found out and sent packing. I am wondering if anyone has hard facts that prove that this is the real case for the majority of people because it just does not coincide with what I have seen on VJ or with other friends.

I know 2 couples that did just that in this past year (read-entered on B-2 visas with INTENT to bypass the visa process) and have SUCCESSFULLY adjusted status. Both had interviews that lasted less than 5 minutes, and neither one was even asked for information that would prove or deny their intent upon entering the US. (In fact, the night before the interview, one had told me that he wasn't even sure what they would say if ASKED about what their intent was upon entry). But, lets be honest, no one even asked. Their interviews were quicker than many, very easy, and they walked away aproved. (oh, and yes, I had told these couples about VJ and repeatedly suggested that they get involved and learn about the process before filing and before the interview. Both choose not to, and instead to rely 100% on what their lawyer told them to do....and believing that they would be just fine adjusting after entering on a B-2 while using the 30-60-90 day rule. We all know that this is bull...but that is what they were told to do and it worked just fine for them). Now I have to suffer through them (and their mother) telling me how easy immigration is and that they don't understand why so many people whine about the process.

I know another woman who had come on a tourist visa, overstayed for 3 years, met her fiance and were married. She decided to keep working under the table, without a SS or visa, while applying for AOS. In this case we recommended for her holding off on working until she got her EAD or GC approved....she decided to go against that and to continue to work. Her interview was super easy, lasted less than 5 minutes, and was never once asked a deeper question with regards to her finances. The couple obviously ommitted information about their families' finances, and by doing so never had one question asked.

Does this not make anyone else think that the COs really aren't as good at their job as we would like to believe? I would love to believe that they are wonderful detectives who are able to weed out the fradulent applications from the legit ones...but seriously, that does not seem to happen. It seems to me to prove that the system is completely broken, and that by telling ourselves that the majority of cases are processed correctly seems absolute absurdity. Can anyone give evidence to prove that it is true???

As an aside...I was really upset knowing these three couples personally who went about immigrating in illegal ways and played with the idea of letting someone know about it. In the end...we didn't. I figure that until the system gets fixed it really wouldn't do much. Though sometimes I wonder if by "ratting out" couples that we know who have done this...if it would make USCIS/Embassy/COs look at the facts of how poorly they are doing their job and force them to make some changes. Maybe that is wishful thinking.....

It seems that the obvious has been stated repeatedly in this thread. You now know what you need to do.

To help clarify the fraud accusations, you might want to let us know two pieces of information.

1) You country of origin

2) When and where you met your current wife. Specifically if it was before or after your ex-fiance peticioned for the k-1.

Both are pieces of information that you will need to address throughout the visa process

Good luck on the journey

Congrats on the recent approvals! Lets hope the GCs are not too delayed

My husband and I did meet due to my working in Chile in a missionary/service capacity. My husband was also a very active memeber of the community and it was well known by everyone when we finally did get together. In fact, they all suspected that there was something there before we actually figured it out. We were both very open, honest, and authentic throughout our relationship and with balancing our other responsibilities (including those that I carried due to my work). I should also say that we had known each other over a year before we began dating. I did go through a month long orientation process before moving abroad. We did not discuss romantic relationships in the orientation, but we did discuss "intimate" relationships (emotional/physical intimacy, how the vulnerability of moving abroad can induce a desire for intimacy and how that can be manifested in both healthy and unhealthy ways). I think that it was appropriate to disucss the topic in such a light because it pertains to understanding our emotions and reactions in a new setting. But it would not be appropriate to talk about immigration process, etc, as it only pertains in very specific situations (and could be very unhealthy in terms of how peope would enter their experince abroad and could really mess up thier ability to hold and maintain healthy relationships without the extra burden of having "the immigration talk" in the back of their mind). And most importantly, I have never met someone who entered a service/mission position with the goal of meeting someone and getting married. Therefore, as it is really not a goal for the majority of people it should be held as secondary in the orientation. Meeting my husband was not the goal of moving to Chile and clearly a unimaginable surprise...and a happy one at that!

Congrats on the new bundle of joy, EricC! Hope the first days of parenthood are going well

Congrats Tre! You have been very patient! This journey can seem unending, and yet then there are days like today where something unexpectedly works itself out (after a lot of dedication, sweat and tears.) Congrats and good luck on getting the card on time!

I agree with Lucyrich on this one.

Policitcally correct norms do not exist the same way outside of US cultures, and it is not fair to assume that they do.

It is quite common to hear people use, what they consider, terms of endearment in Spanish which can refer to physical features/characteristics of a person. My husband is known as pelado (baldy) by most of his friends, my sister in law calls her husband "gordito" (fatty) "gordo" (fat) "negrito" (little dark skin) (sometimes placing a "my" infront of those names to sweeten it up). I have also known a "chino" (someone with thinner eye slits but not of asian decent), "flacita" (skinny chic), and the list goes on and on. Sometimes it doesn't even actually have to do with their actual physical appearance (people have called me "negrita" and "flaca" as nicknames...and I am going to tell you that as a typical Irish American I was not expecting it). A cultural comparison could be calling someone "shorty" in english. I think it is important to remember that in English we often only remark on these types of physical charictaristics when it is something that is part of one's genetics (height, hair color, eye color) but not things that we actually have a different level of control over (weight). But that has not been true in other countries that I have lived in.

People also call their kids "mamita" o "papi" (mommy and daddy)...but once again, it is a cultural difference. They don't actually believe their 10 month old is their daddy...it is what they say.

I agree that it is really important to talk and communicate how these words make you feel. Most people knew that I did NOT want to be called gringa (I do have a name) while living abroad, but in a general conversation around "gringos" I do accept the term. My husband is VERY aware to not use termonology around being fat because it isn't something that roles off his tongue, but also it is something we have talked about and I have told him how it makes me feel. "Tonto" is a whole other league....

Thanks Songbird and EricC. You are both way too kind. Have a wonderful day

Congratulations EricC on the good news of the interview....from Sept 2007 to now.....oh, the journey we have been on!

Definitely have to keep us updated on the baby. I hope that you post some pics, too!

Good luck to everyone who is still waiting

(oh, and on a side note....after the work-related-rant from a few weeks ago, my husband got a temp job and today received his first pay check. Isn't it so true that it is always darkest before the light? )

I am just in shock. This thread pertains to two extremely strong woman who have walked through extremely difficult times. It is just unbelievable. So many people will be thinking of both of you and praying that you might find peace. Thank you for sharing your story....