Mo_Mati

Thanks for this information. We actually threw away that post card when it came because we did not really understand what it was for. I really appreciate this heads up. We are now having my husband register online!

I cannot add anything specific in terms of Haitian traditions. But it is great that you already know of a Haitiian Community in the area. That could be a big help.

I know that in our expereince my husband couldn't really think of "marriage traditions" that were specific to his country. So instead, we took the route of integrating more cultural pieces to make his friends/family/culture present. For example we had a bilingual/bicultural mass (including typical music from his home church, etc) and his family wrote a letter that was read during the mass (no one was able to make it for the ceremony because they were denied tourist visas...grr). Then, at the reception we invited a Chilean dance group to come to present the traditional dances from the regions (so that family and friends who had never gone to Chile could feel a bit more of the culture)...and we also got up to dance the traditional cueca. We also had some typical chilean food prepared, pictures and stories from Chile as part of our decorations, US and Chilean flags, etc.

Good luck

Thanks guys for the support and for concuring how hard this is. It seems like some people have great luck and find work very quickly (and I keep hoping that one day it will work out for all of us just like that). But, for others, it is clearly a much longer journey. And it is true, Songbird, that he contributes in SO many other ways (least of doing all of our house cleaning, dishes, laundry, etc), and he also understands that it isn't him but the economy. And yet...it is still hard to swallow every day.

We still try to answer the question of What More Can I Do?? He has been taking ESL daily for 10 months, has gotten volunteer jobs, has been working with a temp agency, has working with employment specialist (who is also chilean), today went to a training course for people looking for work, has built a group of friends who he really enjoys being with....but none of it replaces the feeling and experience of actually having a job. I know he still feels unsatisfied....Although we knew he would not be working when he immediately arrive here, he never really thought it was going to take THIS long.

And Susie, I can totally understand as I live in SB for 4 years (am also an ND grad) and cannot imagine trying to find work out there right now! Knowing that Obama has been out in Elkhart talking about unemployment rates and all, not good!

I figured that there were more people going through this than just ourselves. I will keep you all in my prayers, too, as we try to make it through THIS step of the immigration process....

Hey Guys

So, not to hijac the thread---cause seriously, my heart goes out to those w/o their much deserved greencards.....and for those who have just gotten theirs CONGRATS

But seriously, yesterday was just one of those days where the "this sux" feelings came flooding in. Although the hubby has been looking for a job every freaking day since...well...months ago.....he still has not been able to land one. And it is not like he is too proud to apply for ANY job that he might be remotely qualified for. Tons of applications, emails, phone calls, working with Temp Agency, working with an employment specialist from his country, working as a volunteer to gain some skills and references, going to ESL class almost every day for the last 10 months, going to a good 10-15 interviews later....still has not been able to actually land a paying job. And this last one, I really was pretty hopefully that it was going to come through for him. But it just didn't. His priority has been to get working for a long time, and I know how important it is to him to contribute to the household, to feel like he is really estabilishing himself here in the US, and simply to feel produtive as a man, and it for some reason just broke my heart yesterday to think of how darn hard this has been. To be in limbo like this has made it hard for him to even think of going back to his country to visit family and friends, or to think of returning to school to finish the degree he left uncompleted to come here. He so wants to work. Why aren't the pieces falling into place!?? (rhetorical)

Sorry for the debbie downer moment....maybe someone else has had a similar experience??

Didn't you already send in a description of how you met with the initial petition? It would be pretty risky to change your answer to how you and your SO met at this stage of the game. The truth is a lot easier, and as others have shown, many have met on the internet and then proceeded to have successful interviews.

We did a bit of everything. Read the two H. Norman Write books you have listed, read "Saving your Marriage Before it Happens" (there is a version in Spanish, so that was good for sharing while we were in separate contries) and did marital preparation with our priest (bilingual/bicultural) when we were finally both together. I also read some other stuff on intercultural relationships and marriag, but found a lot of it "fluffy".

In terms of books, the absolute best that I read was "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work". I work with a lot of marriage therapists who also recommend it to other couples. It is backed by scientific study, is very concrete and practical, and includes exercises for the couple to use and process with. Double thumbs up for any marriage.

http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Mak...k/dp/0609805797

I also recommend finding an expereinced counselor/priest to talk with. There is nothing better than having a third party person to process with in the real world.

Good luck in your journey!

Wow, Tre, the incompetency never ceases to astound me. I am really sorry you have to put up with all of that craziness..... I am totally annoyed for you guys

Stay strong everyone, it will all work out soon!

Congrats everyone! Sounds like there is lots of good stuff going on in this thread.

Anyone know where Jeraly is at? I would love to see the August spreadsheet at this point. As a collective group, our visajourney should be getting close to ending (for almost two years)

Just came back to check in on everyone and send you good vibes!! Congrats to everyone on their good news. And for those still waiting---hang on, your time will come!

After having a stranger in public ask us if we were speaking "Mexican" and later pointing directly at my husband and asking "Well, is HE Mexican?" she was totally blown away when we said that he was actually from Chile. She pondered our claim for a while before responding "Is that like CHinese-Mexican?". How is one suppose to respond to that?

With regards to the religious ceremony piece, in the Catholic Church it is called a "Validation of the Marriage" (not "Marriage Vows" because that was already done) ceremony. Our Catholic priest was willing to do it for us if for immigration purposes we had done the Civil Ceremony first. Check with your local priests and see if they would also be willing.

Good luck with your journey.

Yes, religious ceremonies also do count for civil cermonies in the US. If the pastor is licensed in the state of Michigan, then the religious ceremony that is performed by that pastor would be valid for immigration purposes. The pastor will submit the signed marriage license and you will have all of the documentation that you need for AOS when the marriage certificate comes back. No reason to worry on that end.

As others have said, I would look in to the requirements of how to obtain a marriage license as you might have to be present and/or have a time requirement. These issues might dictate your living situation to some degree.

Good luck in your journey

Sounds like people are getting close!! Good luck to everyone, I hope this week is a good one for approvals!

On our end, we have not been so lucky at being able to put the AOS to use. No job, no trips out of the country. I am so glad that my husband is so darn patient, but sending out resumes, getting interviews (or not), and not getting the job seems to be getting old. I know that we are really blessed to already have the GC, it just seems like there are still further hurdles to get passed. So yeah, it isn't done yet......

Make sure to keep your ticket stubs from during your travels. Tickets/ATM receipts, etc are considered primary evidence, while receipts of an engagement ring are given less weight.

Good luck on your journey

Quick update...we went to the INFOPASS meeting on Friday to explain the difficulties with my husband's name on the GC. After talking to a few people they decided he should keep his current GC as both of his name alternatives show up in the immigration computer system. (under "aliases".. it appears as (1) Sole Paternal Last name and 2) Paternal and Maternal last name together. Who knew I married a man with an alias?) So, they think there should be no problem. My husband went to SS yesterday to change the card to say only 1) Sole Paternal LAst name. And, so we are going to go with it!

So, it seems we are done with immigration for two years. I don't feel like it is really real....like maybe there are lurking problems for the first time we fly out of the country. who knows....but we are going to try thinking happy thoughts (with the -0 F temps in MN!)

Take care everyone. "Stay Warm"

ATM receipts prove your location. The assumption is, if you take out money from an ATM in Bogoto, well...then you were there...

GFL---that sounds just terrible. I am so sorry. Sometimes things seem so unfair, though I know that you will get through this!

Congrats Jundp on your quick approval!

Congrats to everyone on their news. Sounds like lots of movement. Congrats to those who have gotten GC, EAD, AP, and interview lettesr....and GFL...it will work out!!

So, here is our story. GC came in the mail today, which was just a little too good to be true. I didn't really think that we would be done with immigration this soon, and well, we might not be.....So, the card came without my husband's two last names. It only has his first one. This is the same thing that we thought we had fixed during the biometrics appointment, and then again during an hour long conversation with USCIS. And what really bums me out is that both the EAD and AP DID in fact get fixed....so why not the GC??? (rhetorical)

So anyone want to take a guess at what the risks would be for us having him use the GC as is?? The names that are listed are all correct, all in order, all written correctly....just missing his second last name. I should say that his SSC does have all 4 names listed.....

booo.....any ideas??

It is pretty normal I should say. In America most people have one middle name and therefore use of only one middlename is pretty standard. My Greencard spells out my first and given name in full and displays only the first initial of my middle name on the top and spells it out at the bottom. My 2nd middle name is not there.

Yeah, the problem isn't with his middle name, it is the fact that he has two LAST names, both which should legally be spelled out completely (and one of his is completely absent.). We have an info pass meeting scheduled for Friday.....

We received my husbands 2 year GC in the mail today, only to find that only his first of two last names are included. We thought this had been fixed during biometrics and then again through an hour long phone call to USCIS....and in fact it was fixed for both AP and EAD. But, somehow, GC only contains one of the last names.

1) Any chance he can use the GC as is? What would be the risks and how likely are they? His SSC does contain both last names (as does his passport and expired I-94).

2)Assuming that it is not acceptable to use GC as is, what is the process of getting this fixed and any time estimates involved? I am assuming that I need to make a phone call and maybe send a letter including the card. Is there any problem of using the Employment Authorization and AP documents during this time period?

Thanks!

Congrats to everyone on their news. Sounds like lots of movement. Congrats to those who have gotten GC, EAD, AP, and interview lettesr....and GFL...it will work out!!

So, here is our story. GC came in the mail today, which was just a little too good to be true. I didn't really think that we would be done with immigration this soon, and well, we might not be.....So, the card came without my husband's two last names. It only has his first one. This is the same thing that we thought we had fixed during the biometrics appointment, and then again during an hour long conversation with USCIS. And what really bums me out is that both the EAD and AP DID in fact get fixed....so why not the GC??? (rhetorical)

So anyone want to take a guess at what the risks would be for us having him use the GC as is?? The names that are listed are all correct, all in order, all written correctly....just missing his second last name. I should say that his SSC does have all 4 names listed.....

booo.....any ideas??

Excuse me for maybe being here with a dumb question, but when you say you got a visit from a senior CRIS, what exactly do you mean?

Through the immigration case status page you can sign up for email updates (they come only when something changes in your status of the petition...not with touches), but the name of the system that sends the email is CRIS, as stated above. If you read my previous post again it should hopefully make more sense

By the way, EricC...I didn't know your wife is pregnant! Congratulations....did I miss that post somewhere?

Thanks No I didn't make a post, I like to be more subtle

And subtle you are. That is awesome. Could you have imagined way back in September 2007, (the day we both petitioned for the K1) that you would be here by years end? crazy How is your wife feeling?

Wanted to let you guys know that we had a nice visit from Senor CRIS today. He came to tell us that the welcome letter was sent for GC. No pre-warning, no door knocking, no touching....he just showed up this morning. It was a nice suprise for the holidays. Hope everyone gets their own visit from CRIS, too! He comes bearing good gifts, (at least, usually) Keep up the cheer

Still nothing on our AOS yet. Not even on the website still

By the way, EricC...I didn't know your wife is pregnant! Congratulations....did I miss that post somewhere?

I agree with the other posters, if your fiance does not meet the qualifications for a B2, then he does not meet the qualifications. A lawyer does not change that.

Would there be a possibility of continuing with the K-1? You have already paid for it, stated your intention for marriage, and if you do not marry before 90 days would return to Colombia. If you married in the US you would simply return to Colombia without adjusting status (and not losing more money by applying for a B2 visa which is not a guarantee)

Legal documents should continue to use both last names. This is your fiances' legal name, and therefore should not be changed while filing papework. When processing the AOS paperwork make sure to write both last names where it asks for "Family Name". We screwed up on this and then had to correct it to make everything official.