SaysWho

Hi all,

We were just reviewing the Packet 3 instructions example here on VJ (as I'm expecting mine in the mail any day ), and we just noticed it doesn't list or say anything about the Affidavit of Support. Is the form just included in the package? or is it requested in Packet 4? or do we just go ahead and fill one out and take it to the interview?

Thanks for your help!

Annie & Tim

Train for Montreal = booked!

Hotel for Montreal = booked for FREE! I used my air miles. We are staying at the Best Western which is pretty darn close to the embassy.

Uhaul for moving day = booked!

I'm just so thrilled I was able to use up all my air miles and get a free hotel room! WOO HOO!

On my way now to get my passport pictures taken for my medical on Monday.

Kind of upset that I didn't get my package 4 yet, it will probably arrive on Monday.

Oh well.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!!

Hey! this is just like one of my favorite commercials -

Train for Montreal..... $$ Visa

Hotel for Montreal.... $ Free! Airmiles

Uhaul.....$$ Visa

Passport Photos....$$ a few toonies

Moving to the US to be with the love of your life.....PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!! You are all set!

Annie & Tim

Hi!

So, when my K3 is issued, I understand that I will be in the US on a visa and will not be a PR until after AOS. But when exactly does my country of residency change? The day I arrive at the Border with my K3? When I get all my stuff moved? Do I have any choice in the actual date? I live very close to the border and my US spouse and I have been visiting back and forth without any difficulty. I may have my K3 within a month or so, but it would be an advantage if I could wait until my current job contract ends later in the summer to actually move to the US and would need to keep my Medical, Drivers License, and other resident items while I would be working - up until I actually pack up my things and move. But, will I be deemed a US resident and unable to keep all these things, if they activate my K3 on my first visit south after its issued..

I am sure this question has come up here before, but my searches have not found anything...

many thanks for any info you can provide

Annie

Hi all,

I am awaiting my interview for K3 and would like to petition to have my daughter join us later, after I have PR via the "Following-to-join" as she wasn't eligible for K4 (she unmarried under 21 but we didn't marry before she was 18).

From the Guide and other Forums, I have a pretty good handle on how that process will work once I have completed AOS, but right now I need to know about question #21b on the DS-230 - do I just list her on question 21b (which asks "..persons....who will follow you to the United States at a later date"). ? is there anything else I need to do at this stage of the process?

Thank you very much in advance for any information you can provide!

Annie

Hi all,

I have already posted this on the forum for "Bringing Family Members of PR to America", but it doesn't appear that forum gets a whole lot of traffic.....any other Canadians have any experience with this??

I am awaiting my interview for K3 and would like to petition to have my daughter join us later, after I have PR. I have been searching the guides and the forums extensively and I think I'm starting to understand how this works. Here's what I think I understand.....please let me know if I'm on track.

After I do AOS, I will have a conditional Green Card, as hubby and I will have been married less than 2 years.....but I think I can petition for my daughter even though I am "conditional". right?

And although my husband couldn't petition for a K4 for her, as she was over 18 when we married, I think I can have her join us in the US with the "following-to-join" (she is under age 21 and unmarried). right?

If the above is correct, then I believe I will just need to file an I-824 (after my AOS, of course) and then she can go to the Consulate and apply???

Also, on the DS-230 (APPLICATION FOR IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION) I fill out for the K3 interview, do I just list her on question 21b (which asks "..persons....who will follow you to the United States at a later date"). ? is there anything else I would do at this stage of things?

Thank you very much in advance for any information you can provide!

Annie

Lot faster and easier if you bring her with you.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

We can't bring her with us on a K4....she was over age 18 when we got married so she is not eligible to come on a K visa.

Yes, that would have been much easier...I wish we could have done that. Thanks very much for you reply.

Hi all,

I am awaiting my interview for K3 and would like to petition to have my daughter join us later, after I have PR. I have been searching this guide and this forum extensively and I think I'm starting to understand how this works. Here's what I think I understand.....please let me know if I'm on track.

After I do AOS, I will have a conditional Green Card, as hubby and I will have been married less than 2 years.....but I think I can petition for my daughter even though I am "conditional". right?

And although my husband couldn't petition for a K4 for her, as she was over 18 when we married, I think I can have her join us in the US with the "following-to-join" (she is under age 21 and unmarried). right?

If the above is correct, then I believe I will just need to file an I-824 (after my AOS, of course) and then she can go to the Consulate and apply???

Also, on the DS-230 (APPLICATION FOR IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION) I fill out for the K3 interview, do I just list her on question 21b (which asks "..persons....who will follow you to the United States at a later date"). ? is there anything else I would do at this stage of things?

Thank you very much in advance for any information you can provide!

Annie

Also wanted to add...depending when you want your interview, whether it be asap or at a later date, you can request certain days or weeks for your interview. I got package 3 in early September, and at that time, they were booking appointments early October, but I didn't want an interview until mid November due to my end date for work, so I requested the third week of November, and they accomodated. There is a space on the notice you'll send back that will allow you to request certain times.

Thanks! That's really good to know, as I my husband would like to attend the interview with me and he sometimes doesn't have complete flexibility around business commitments.

Annie

Many thanks to you all, for your responses and support!

Barring delaying the surgery, or delaying the interview (and that's NOT going to happen! LOL) I will just have to hope for the best. I'm expecting a full recovery, but at 52 years old, it is possible it could impact my ability to work and/or have a risk of future difficulties...which is a factor that's considered in approving a visa medical exam. We're not completely stressed out about this, but it sure would have been nice for this not to be occurring right at the same time.

Thanks again!

Annie

Just trying to get a sense of what Vancouver interview date we might be looking at...the stats page here says about 40+days, but I know that estimate varies quite a bit.

Anyone out there have a Vancouver interview date assigned in the past few weeks?

Thanks!

Annie

Hi all,

I will be having shoulder surgery in a few weeks to repair a small tendon tear. It will be arthroscopic surgery in a day care clinic, so no hospitalization or large incision.....but, I will need to keep my arm completely immobilized in a sling for six weeks. I will then have a rehab/exercise period, but my specialist says there's no reason to expect anything but a full recovery after a few months. I don't have a K3 interview or medical booked yet, but it is very likely to be sometime during the six weeks sling/recovery period.

Does anyone have any experience with something similar during their medical exam? Is this going badly impact my visa medical exam?

HELP!! After six long months of waiting for our I130/I129F approvals, we are now worried about how this could impact the medical for the visa. oh man, oh man..

Annie

We are beside ourselves with joy and thanks to God!!!!!!!

We received approvals for both the I-130 and I129f in the mail. No email or update on the USCIS website, but the NOA2's say our petitions were approved on May 6, 2008 (we had a touch that day). Now, we have to read the guides and get up to speed on what happens next.....we've only had six LONG months to figure it out and here we are not really sure what's next!

My husband needs to head to Costco right now for a case of tissue....I can't stop bawling!!! LOL

Annie & Tim

Nebraska approves I130? I did not know that.

We filed Nebraska (as per the instructions back in Nov.) and it was forwarded to California. :-)

We are beside ourselves with joy and thanks to God!!!!!!!

We received approvals for both the I-130 and I129f in the mail. No email or update on the USCIS website, but the NOA2's say our petitions were approved on May 6, 2008 (we had a touch that day). Now, we have to read the guides and get up to speed on what happens next.....we've only had six LONG months to figure it out and here we are not really sure what's next!

My husband needs to head to Costco right now for a case of tissue....I can't stop bawling!!! LOL

Annie & Tim

We really feel for you....but hey, as soon as you are approved (very soon!!!!), I think we are in line to fill your #1 spot. Sadly, we are only about 3 or 4 weeks behind you, and nothing. If I thought I was impatient a few months back....I'm about on my last nerve.

We'll keep you in our prayers...

Annie & Tim

I'm sure you've had enough replies to your question....but here's our 2 cents worth LOL...

my US hubby added me as joint to his US Bank of Washington account with just passport and picture ID (BC DL)

Good luck!

We are looking for anyone thats in the same boat as us. I'm from Canada and my husband lives in the US. We got married in September (2007), applied for our K-3 visa at VSC by sending in our I-130 in October. They apparently didnt "receive" it till January and once we got confirmation of that, we sent off our I-129f. We had touches for both files on Feb 24th and we havnt had any touches/movement since then!

We are getting really distraught and are wondering if theres anyone else out there in a similar situation? I hear about all these people getting touches and approvals and it makes me so stressed that we havnt had any movement since Februay! I know our turn will come and I need to be patient but just looking for some support. Thanks..

We are in a very similar situation, only we sent our I130 in November and I129 in late Jan after a long wait for a NOA1...the rest of the story is identical, except we filed CSC. It is very hard to stay patient when we see tons of folks who filed long after we did getting approvals. I am very happy for those getting their approvals, but it is very hard to understand.....and VERY hard to stay patient.

so, if it helps at all....you're not alone...

stay strong

Annie & Tim

Gogo. My husband just got a call from the senator's assistant and guess what she just told him....

We're APPROVED!!!

I can't believe it. So many years of waiting have come to an end. OMG! I am so happy. Thank God!

Keep us posted on what happens with your petition. I can't believe that you are still waiting to hear about your case after all this time. That's ridiculous. Big hugs to you and your wife for all that you have to endure. I hope the law firm can light a fire under everyone for you.

Congatulations!!! I have just been reading of your horribly long visa journey and I was so very happy to read this last post! All the best...

Annie & Tim

I wasn't able to call from Canada either...my US spouse had to call. We filed Nov 07 and haven't heard a single thing, either. We've coped fairly well so far, but we are really starting to feel the strain now.

....praying for an approval,

Annie & Tim

Hurray!!! We are so happy for you! Your family will be with you soon...

and God speed the rest of your journey,

Annie & Tim

We have a long history of visiting back and forth between Vancouver BC and Tacoma WA, before and since we have been married and in the Immigration process. The vast majority of the border crossings have been completely easy and trouble free. However both of us have had crossings (entering the US and entering Canada) where we have been called into secondary, grilled and been very thankful we had our file folders full of our proof of ties to our home country. It can happen anytime crossing the border, and it usually goes well...as long as you are prepared with your proof and you are completely honest and patient with the questioning, car searches, etc.

We read of spouses in other countries who cannot ever get visas to visit their US spouse and feel very blessed that our two countries allow us to visit with very little scrutiny.

Annie & Tim

Just a reminder that the CIS Ombudsman Teleconference this coming Friday is “Requests for Evidence (RFEs): How Do They Affect You?”

Friday, March 28, at 2:00 EST. This may be of interest to those on this Forum. There are a few new procedures for these Teleconferences - one thing new is that you must respond 48 hours in advance if you wish to participate, so time is running out.

Ombudsman

Annie & Tim

Happy Easter to all!!! HE is Risen, HE is Risen indeed!!

yes, today we will join you in praying that each and everyone here on VJ is together with their families very soon. We thank God for the encouragement and support all of you here give us.

God bless and have a wonderful, joyous Easter day!

Annie & Tim

If you need to vent, have a beef or just want to make your opinion known....check out our new website (link is below). There is a specific section for Immigration related posts.

Happy Easter, to all!

Annie & Tim

Hello Guys,

I just didnt expect this, this time, USCIS called and informed my husband that we got (IR-130)approved today and our paper will be sent today to NVC via DHL..

When i check the USCIS site , our IR-130 was being updated MARCH 18,2008. But the case still says pending.. I hope later when i check it again it will reflect the approval already..

I just cant believe this will happen today.. Its our Marriage Monthsary..

We filed IR-130 September 25, 2007 , and Approval of March 18, 2008 (176 days)

My husband and me are both happy today..

Thanks God..

As for our K3, its not updated since FEB. 14..

Congratulations!!! You will be together soon!

There may have been the rare I-130 that took a year to get approved by USCIS, and many CR1 visa timelines from submission to visa were a year or more but you seem to be confusing petition approval with getting a visa.

Average I-130 approvals were faster in 2006 than in 2007. Three to four months was the norm in 2006. The November 2006 change in policy is one factor in the slow-down but there are a couple other major factors like an unexplained May and June slowdown in NOA1 issuance and the July rush in filing.

What you haven't done is compare I-130 approvals where no I-129F petition was filed to the cases where both petitions wer filed. For instance if Bill and Jane are going the CR1 route and file in May, you'll see their petitions approved in three or four months. Their neighbors Jim and Mary going the K3 route file the I-130 the same day but don't get their NOA1 for three months (or more). They then file the I-129F and 4 months later get their approval. Ask Jim and Mary if filing the I-129F slowed their I-130 approval. Remember, they watched Bill and Jane's petition get improved three months faster. Jane and Mary both arrived in the USA last week but Jane can begin her new job April first, while Mary an dJim will have to pay $1010 and wait for the EAD and SSN. Maybe she can plan to work in July. Those of us here and watching closely, say Bill and Jane and Jim and Mary experience this and remember it well.

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It's always dangerous to approach facts and statistics with the intention to support a predetermined analysis.

In November, 2006 USCIS and DOS put their heads together and announced they would effectively do away with the process that allowed petitioners to have both a CR1 and K3 process proceed through the system simultaneously and choose the winner. On paper, they said you could "clearly indicate" you would use the Consular process and get both petitions forwarded to NVC but in practice they simply ignored the requests in cover letters and even big red sharpie notes on the petitions themselves. This policy remains ongoing. From it comes the advice, "If you want an immigrant visa, don't file an I-129F."

They, USCIS, CAN and DO take actions that reasonable people would interpret as illegal or certainly against the spirit and intention of laws governing the visa process. They do it no matter how aggresively others cry "YOU CAN"T DO THAT!" Fighting them on these things can be successful but can also take many months to years, by which time relatives usually arrive through the process being protested.

It looks like, what I suspect are members of Congress, got USCIS's attention on the K3 petition closure issue and things are back on the track in place since November 2006. That change left a lot of petitioners in the lurch but we haven't heard much about how they resolved their issues.

One year ago it was taking 1 year to get an approved I130 petition. Now it take 3-5 month to get an approved petition. hhhhmmm

Now that they have changed the process to combine the petition it is going much more faster.

The proof has been posted a bazillion times.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/PN_i-129f.pdf

The above press release along with all the timeline information showing I-130 and I-129F being approved the same day even when the petitions were filed 3 to 5 months apart is proof enough.

Before Nov. 06 the two petitions were processed independently at separate service centers. NBC (MSC) was the only center processing I-129F for spouse. The I-130's were processed in CA and VT and had their own queue independent of the I-129F. Once the service centers were up to speed with the new policy (see link above) not only did the pick the winner (or change your mind and pick the loser) scenario die but the I-130 was handicapped by the I-129F filing. The I-130's were taken out of their queue and put in the I-129F for spouse queue, effectively losing their place in line.

This comment is similar to something I posted here a while back regarding what priority date is used for those petitioning for K3 - I'll repeat a bit as this is also an observation to what is being said here.

Many are saying or implying that an I-130 filed for CR1/IR1 is processed sooner than an I-130 filed for K3 (and later followed by an I-1129F, of course) - i.e. that if you file the I-129F four months after the I-130, that your I-130 will processed four months later than those who have filed an I-130 alone for CR1. The actual approvals we are seeing right now, do not support this at all. It appears that the big bunch of I-130/I129F approvals (petitions for K3) that came through in the past week or two, were almost all from the I130 submission dates back in August. Have a look at their dates for filing their I-129F!..A whole lot of their corresponding I-129F's were from Dec/07 and Jan/08 (filed after receiving I-130 NOA1's many months later) At this point in time it appears they are using the priority date from the I-130. Now go and look at the recent approvals of I-130's for CR1/IR1...they appear exactly the same - the recent approvals are from August, too!

I think there is a huge misconception out there that filing an I129F takes your I130 "out of the queue" and back in from the date of their I-129F and that an I-130 petitioning for an CR1, will be approved much sooner than if petitioning for a K3. I understand that I-130 approvals for K3 are no longer faster, but let's be clear! Recent approvals clearly show, it does NOT delay processing the I130.

(Now, what happens from the time of approval, is an entirely different story....for instance in my spouse's country, two couple with I-130's filed the same day and approved the same day - one petitioning for K3 and one for I-130 - The person will have a K-3 in hand close to a year sooner than the person receiving a CR1.)

I completely concur that there are many, many individual factors that determine which visa is right for an individual couple - do your research and determine which visa is best for you and petition for it!!!!! What I find disconcerting is when , I read on these forums (not necessarily or specifically on this thread) that people who really do want a K3, are concluding (or in some cases told!!) that filing an I-129F will delay approval of I-130.

Annie & Tim

This is exactly what happened to me. I planned to file K3, but after reading on VJ I decided not to because many users were reporting K3 as a cancelled visa or if I-129F was filed it would slow down I-130. So I decided to wait, and it’s been about 3 weeks since I received my I-130 NOA1, and now it appears the K3 visa is back. Have I wasted 3 weeks?

I don’t really care if its immigrant/ non-immigrant, or about the money, I just want the quickest route.

Right now there is little, if any difference, in the approval time for the I-130 either way, but, of course, that can can/could change at any point. I would suggest you research what the time difference (between the two visa types) is for the Embassy appointment in your spouse's country. (The country portals/forums are a great place to ask that question). Then make your best estimate of what might be quicker.

We too, didn't care about work permits or the money, just wanted the fastest possible road to being together....we really wanted the K3 (due to the huge time differences between the Visa interviews at our Embassies). So, we decided that if our I129F was "administratively closed" as many were reporting at that time, the worst case scenario would be that we would be stuck with the longer CR1 route, but, if the K3 was still alive, we would be together much, much faster. (By filing only the I-130 petition, we would have locked ourselves into the longer route....by filing the I130 and then the I-129F, we kept the door open to the shorter route if the K3 processing resumed - and it is looking like it is!!!) And, as we have now seen, filing the I-129F has not lost us any time, so what did we have to loose??!!

It is subjective as to whether you have "wasted three weeks"...I don't necessarily think so. Do your research and determine if one or the other might be faster for your particular situation. If you decide to submit an I-129F petition for K3, I would do so asap.

Best of luck! I hope you are together soon.

Annie & Tim