Techbrarian

Conversation Number 2 with the NVC over Bulgarian Military Records

ME: Hi, I was told to call back and see if my RFE about my husband's military records has been resolved.

NVC Operator: The military book is a required document for that country.

ME: No, its not. Its treason to make a copy of that book and mail it out of the country.

ME: My husband went to his military office and tried to get a document, they said there aren't any. We called the US Embassy and they said it wasn't needed. I told the last lady I talked to last time I called here that the RECIPROCITY SCHEDULE for BULGARIA on the DOA website says it is NOT AVAILABLE! So she sent our papers to a supervisor for review. I sent you guys an email with the reciprocity schedule attached and got an asinine reply that didn't address a single bit of information I included.

NVC Operator: Hold on a moment ma'am.

...

NVC Operator: I'm going to send this to a supervisor...

ME: What? How long am I going to have to wait for this?

NVC Operator: I see that the book is unavailable for Bulgaria. This is probably just a mistake.

ME: That's what the last operator said when I called and then she sent my papers to a SUPERVISOR and here we are. Am I going to have to do the impossible and get this damn book or am I going to wait for eternity for you guys to figure out its UNAVAILABLE. I've been waiting for my husband since FEBRUARY. What am I supposed to do?

NVC Operator: Its okay you won't have to wait 10-15 days this time.

ME: How long then?

NVC Operator: You can call back next week. As soon as I get off the phone with you I am going to take this to a supervisor.

ME: Monday?

NVC Operator: Um, wait till Tuesday.

ME: Okay. Thanks. Sorry.

She hung up on me.

So what I want to know is how the hell can every NVC Operator find the information that says these records are UNAVAILABLE but a SUPERVISOR looked at our papers and said that we still need them?...

Can you demand to talk to a supervisor at the NVC? If this happens again I will see I guess.

Urgh.

<3 Samantha

Zdrasti Viktoria

Thank you for easing my worries. I did not submit a Police Certificate, I submitted a Court Record (Certificate of No Convictions). They did not send me an RFE for the Police Certificate either. I think the mess up happened because Metodi had to put his military experience on the forms but then there were no documents to serve as proof. I hope you are right and that they send our documents through to the Embassy SOON!

I also just finished completing a page for Bulgaria on the VJWiki if you want to look at it and help me with your own experiences. It is here: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Bulgaria

Nice to meet you and thanks for the kind words!

<3 Samantha

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Hi Samanta and Metodi

I am from Bulgaria too. The website spesificly says. Military and Police Certificate not available. I believe NVC missed that fact and that`s why they are asking for one. Once you brought to there attention and they did check that you are right which is NOT AVAILABLE they will process everything just fine and won`t ask you to obtain a document that it`s not abtainable unless. So don`t worry, many people don`t obtain this and they are just fine. Your person reviewing the docs is not very familiar with the process but now they now and is gonna be all right. Did you submit Police certificate? I was just curious since it`s an available too.

Don`t worry, they will correct their mistake

Nao

Thank you. Metodi called the US Consulate in Sofia when I asked him in the beginning to get the military records. He is the one who found the information on the US state department website that said the documents are unavailable after trying in vain to get some sort of documentation from his department of military stuff in Pazardzhik. Then he called the US Embassy to confirm and make sure he didn't need them. They told him that they were not needed for a spouse visa.

I think there must be some miscommunication or the fact they hired some new people at the NVC. I will attempt calling the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington like you suggested but last time I did so only one guy knew English well enough to talk to me and he had no idea about the specifics of immigrating Bulgarians to the US only vice versa. I could email the same guy probably... Additionally the Bulgarian Consulate's "website" is full of a lot of useless information.

I don't plan on waiting 15 days to call the NVC, I plan on calling them daily till they give me an answer. Though I have no clue what to do if they still want military records. As far as Metodi and I can tell, making a copy/translating (If anyone would even translate them!) his military records and attempting to send them out of the country could very likely put him in military prison for 7 years for treason. I suppose I could also attempt to call the US Embassy in Sofia and see if they can give the NVC a clue. Sigh.

Thank you for the suggestions and help.

<3 Samantha + Metodi

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Hi Sam and Metodi.

I am sorry about what has happened.

I am not an expert here, but here is what I would do if I were you.

While waiting for 15 days....

I will go to Bulgarian Consulate close to you and ask them to write USCIS a letter explaining your situation.

I will print out information regarding the Bulgarian military documents from "credible source" such as consulate's website and prepare them in case you have to respond the RFE.

I will let u know if I could think of more things you may be able to do.

Good Luck

Nao

So I just got an RFE in the mail saying that they need my husband's military records:

The fun thing about this is that I had Metodi attempt to get this document and the office in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria said that they can't let this document out of the country nor do they have a print-off that they can make to send in lieu of the actual document. Then again, my friend Mitzi who just went through the same thing went to the office in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and they printed them off a half sheet of paper with basic info about when Dimitar (her hubby) had been in the army and dates and such...

So I called the NVC in my normal immigration panic where I am half sobbing...I'm not so good with this kind of stress. Anyway I told the girl that the Bulgaria Reciprocity Schedule which is a online resource from the state department that you all probably know about, says this about Military Records from Bulgaria:

"Military Records

Unavailable. The military booklet (voenna knishka) issued to every person who has completed military service may not be sent or taken out of the country. The bearer of such a booklet must surrender it upon application for a passport. No other military records are issued." http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciproc...ocity_3523.html

I also mentioned that my husband had tried in vain to get some sort of documentation of his military service despite what the reciprocity schedule said and was still denied. She put me on hold and came back saying that yes I was correct, that it does say that military documents are unavailable and that she'd have a supervisor review our case with this information. AND to call them back in 15 days?????? Argh. I asked if she was sure that I would not have to attempt to get some sort of documentation and she said to just call back in 15 days. So I have no clue, again.

I'm really annoyed because if this was not a problem the fact that they had looked at our documents means that they likely would have been sending them to the Embassy soon for Metodi's interview to take place. And it would have possibly worked out for Christmas. I'm also annoyed because IF they do decide I still need the documents that is going to take a lot more time, because we will be waiting for 15 days and then find out, then Metodi will have to travel and find a way to get them, then he will have to send them to me, then I will have to send them to the NVC...then they will have to get to them. But hell, he already tried and they wouldn't give him the damn things so why would it be different this time??? I'm just irritated and angry.

Sigh. Back to work and trying not to cry in frustration. Wish us luck and good hearted NVC workers!

<3 Samantha + Metodi

Sorry I forgot to say thank you. I've been very busy. I just got a job...that would have been lovely support for the I864, my grandma died, my best friend's car got totalled and I've been busing her and her 2 kids about...ugh, everything at once.

I used your advice and I'm glad you added that you sent them both at once. I will as well. I just finished compiling everything that doesn't have to be printed out tomorrow. I will print, make copies of DS230 docs, make copies of everything and then send send send tomorrow (hopefully). Last time I think I spent 4 days making sure it was all correct for the I130!

I also added a copy of the Acceptance Letter from the company I start for in January that I had to sign and send back to the company for verification. It had my salary on it. Maybe they will accept that and my joint sponsor will get away scott-free. Either way, at least that's one less stress for this recent graduate! Now gimme my friggin husband!

<3 Sam

So I have a question. I have all my financial documents I864 and everything together. My status on my AOS fee online is PAID. My husband sent out his email for Choice of Agent a few days ago. I used the shortcuts to print out a barcode page...but then I saw on the Online payment site that there is a place to print a barcoded page. Okay 2 questions actually...

1. Am I ready to send out the I-864 packet now or do I wait for the confirm email from the NVC to my husband?

2. Which barcoded sheet should I use. (They look very different to me...)

Thanks and <3,

Samantha Hristova.

My hubby and I are filling out our DS-230 and question #14 asks for (Name of Spouse (Maiden or family name))

That's me obviously but would I put: Hristova (my married name) or Cunning (my maiden name)?

Right now even my questions sounds stupid because it SAYS (maiden or family) but....I don't want to mess up. My family name is NOW Hristova, lol. ARGH. Someone just straighten me out...please. I'm having a special day...

<3 Samantha

LOL, well this should be the Albanians thread. As far as my Bulgarian husband goes: He has about a week's worth of clothes...sort of, can't cook, and has some interesting ideas from his male dominated society, lol. Good thing is that he was raised by his mom and is respectful and neat. Actually he is much neater than I and picks up after me all the time. Lucky for me, he is willing to learn to cook, though while I was there in Bulgaria he WOULD let me stay in the kitchen for hours trying to make food out of the 5-10 ingredients available in Bulgaria (only slightly joking) and not come in to help or say 'boo'. As far as cultural norms:

1. Bulgarian men will eat anything, they don't want to waste things and will do their best to never throw anything away. He got mad if we ever had to throw anything out. He says he loves my cooking but can I trust that statement, lol?

2. When at a family gathering all the women do the cooking, serve the men, and stay in the kitchen nearly the entire time. It took me a long time to notice this because I was caught up with Metodi, but one night I realized that I was the only woman in a room full of men. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water (because everyone was smoking and I hate it) and all the women were in the kitchen filling, cleaning and moving plates and chatting. O.o For a moment I felt guilty for not being in there too, lol. Then I got my senses back. I realized that this is how it always is, women pouring drinks for men constantly, refilling plates, going to fetch things for them, ugh!

3. I don't want to make a generalization since my husband is an Aquarius but HE very often goes into lecture mode like I'm a child and don't know what he's talking about. To me it's really amusing, I mean, I have a Master's degree... But it does get annoying. I did notice that he also does this to his mother. I wonder if all Bulgarian men have this feeling of being more intelligent than women and needing to be a teacher regardless of whether they know what they are talking about or not, lol.

4. Foriegners in general I bet, have some very funny ideas about the US... Before his friends met me they said, 'YOU MARRIED AN AMERICAN??? WHY?' All Americans are fat, greedy, stupid, RICH (ha) and loyal followers of our president, lol! His grandma suggested we go to McDonalds in Sofia for lunch one day so that I could have American food...I haven't been to McDonalds since I was in grade school. All Americans love McDonalds. Yum Yum Yum.

5. Food. If you do not like bread for every meal do not go to Bulgaria. If you marry a Bulgarian you will spend the majority of your grocery allowance on bread and yogurt. Interesting things I was given to eat are: pasta with milk and sugar for breakfast (overcooked pasta that is), more bread than I normally consume in a year, raw pork fat, turnip pickle juice, boza (lightly fermented, really thick prison hooch), ayran (1 part yogurt/1 part water drink), warm milk with honey (good), turkish pastries that are insanely sweet such as my husband's favorite; tatlia, and homemade yogurt (yuck!).

The good food: Sarmi (stuffed grape leaves), moussaka, local wine (yum), duner (shwarma), turkish coffee, homemade picked cabbage (I like it, I'm german *shrug*), FIG JAM (OMG GOOD), sirene (feta sort of) and kalamata olive sandwiches, snejanka salad (tastes like dip!), tarator (yogurt, cucumber cold soup), fresh fruit from the local trees, grilled fishes, turkey cooked with rice or cabbage instead of stuffing (yum), bean soup, and anything Baba Spaska made (she's a chef) except for the time she brought in a sheep's head on a plate and asked me if I wanted her to 'warm it up'.

I also figured out how to make chocolate chip cookies...for about $15! Next time I bring: one dollar brownie mixes and bags of chocolate chips!

My all time favorite snack was: bread with a little butter, loads of shipka (rose hip) marmalade, and kashkaval (the mozzarella-like cheese). Metodi thought this was gross, sweet and cheese do not belong together. Wait till I make him a cheescake, he'll change his tune...I think.

6. Family. Very important and all nice and intrusive, lol. I love them. I have a typical American, all over the country never see each other family. His family loved me and talked to me like I was 2. This is how you learn apparantly. Bebe za mama. His parents call me 'baby' and his mom has 1000 cute things she calls me. Oi!

7. Country. Everyone is patriotic but critical...much like everywhere. But you should have seen the Bulgarian flag coloured gym suits that I saw on so many men, lol. ROFL. They also have a really sad habit of littering and not neutering their animals. Bulgaria is an absolutely gorgeous country covered by litter and infested with mangy cats and dogs!

<3 Samantha

PS: you may now continue your Albanian discussion, lol.

Thanks Sasha,

I have a feeling that in a weeks time you will be approved as well. Good Luck. Lots of love.

<3 Sam

Approved September 16th.

"Application Type: I130 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN

Current Status: Approval notice sent." <---/dance.

hey congratulations guys!

I wouldn't worry so much. I sent regular rectangle shaped photos (like you got in grade school) of my hubby and i for the I-130 and I just got approved with no RFE. ALSO he INTIALED all the forms instead of SIGNING them!!! Give her a break, she didn't understand. Just like Metodi didn't understand what 'sign' meant. In Bulgaria it means, 'initial' lol.

Lots of luck!

<3 Sam

PS I think the 2x2 photos are more important for the VISA.

Approved September 16th.

"Application Type: I130 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN

Current Status: Approval notice sent." <---/dance.

Metodi and I just got a transfer email yesterday. My case has been transferred to Cali. I'm rounding up documents for part 2 in preparation. We were waiting for just over 6 months with no action before this by the way.

<3 Sam

Hope everyone's stuff makes it through quickly, we've all been through hell.

Just updating the thread on my own I-130 petition

I-130 Timeline

02/09/2008- Sent I-130

02/11/2008- Received in Chicago signed for by V Bustamante

02/21/2008- Check cashed

Cheers,

SantiJS

My check was cashed too! 2/20/2008...is that good...what does that mean, lol.

I mailed on the 4th...sent it to Texas instead of lockbox because I'm dumb...but that's what the I-130 instructions said on the damn paper. Hopefully it's been forwarded to the lockbox...sigh. So I'm in here too. I'm not always around on this forum but I'll keep in touch, frankly this place just makes me cry....

TSC will forward your application to the Chicago Lockbox who will complete the initial data input and then forward it to either California or Vermont for processing.

Sigh, thanks. I bet I still lost myself at the very least a week.

Sigh, I read so much stuff...and I thought I did everything right. I sent my I-130 yesterday and it was recieved and signed for in Texas today...but I was supposed to send it to the Chicago Lockbox? I hope that isnt' a HUGE mistake....This is all so scary and uncertain. Reading now I see that it says you are 'encouraged' to send it there...does that mean that they will still take it and that it won't hold us up more? Sigh....

Hi!

Thanks. I mailed out my package yesterday, it arrived and was signed for today so they have it. I included 20 pages of Skype dialog, 20 pages of emails, photocopies of physical letters from him and me, an affidavit from my mom, one from his grandma and his dad, and labelled wedding photos with his entire family in them with us that the wedding official took, I also copied the visa page of my passport like you said (thank you) and my ticket stubs from my trip. I can't give them anything else unless they want blood or something...which I wouldn't doubt... Sigh. I can't afford a lawyer, this is my last semester of grad school and I can BARELY scrape up enough money to visit my husband again in May when I graduate for a month before I start a REAL job as a librarian...hopefully, I'm APPLYING to several that look good. So yeah I'm a knotted ball of so much stress its driving me nuts! I'll send you a message with my skype name if you want to talk though, its nice to have someone else in nearly exacty the same boat as me. Though I wish neither of us was in THIS PARTICULAR boat...no one should have to endure this...

Lots of Love and Good Wishes,

Samantha Hristova

I don't have any advice for you since I haven't actually started the process yet, but I definitely feel what you're going through because I wish I had known earlier that the process was this long and caused a separation. I have a question though- is it possible for me to file the I-130 and everything else from here in Chile? I'm able to wait it out here with my fiancee, but we wouldn't be able to go back together until he got the visa. I'm not sure if it's required that I be in the U.S. when I file the papers.

I'm not sure, you could check at the US Embassy in Chile. I know that you cannot file them from the Embassy in Sofia or I would have started it there while I was in Bulgaria. I'm sure you can submit them at some Embassies. Good Luck and I wish you the best.

Sam and Metodi

No, no, no, you don't need a copy of his birth certificate nor a copy of his police report to send along with the I-130. You will need them once your petition has been approved and sent to the NVC though, but not now.

Since he has to send you his signed G-325As, it would be a good idea for him to send you a couple of his affidavits. Make sure they're translated, they don't have to be certified nor apostilled.

This is all you need for a CR1 visa;

I-130

G-325A (4 pages each, signed)

Copy of your passport or birth certificate or Naturalization Certificate

2 passport style photos each

Copy of marriage certificate

Affidavits with translations if you have them

That's all.

Diana

Well it says on the I-130 instructions that the affidavits should be sworn to or affirmed by a third party so I was assuming it would be best to do that at the Bulgarian Ministry and Metodi and I already know they are fond of making us buy lots of expensive stamps and taking a day to three to process and apostillate or whatever they do to the forms. What other kind of third party would be acceptable? The translator? He could translate them himself but I think the US would probably want someone certified to do so. Could the City Officials in his town be the third party? Bleh.

Metodi just filled out his G325a btw while complaining over Skype about inadequate space for Bulgarian Addresses and trying to remember his residence for the last 5 years since he was in college. All the while telling me to keep my head up and not to cry and that it would all be okay, that he would be with me eventually, what a guy...

Speaking of G325a space problems: I've been in college and my last 5 years of jobs don't fit in those 5 spaces (meaning a job or more every semester and sometimes an internship in summer), should I add a page (4 copies) of handwritten continuations of that section?

Thanks again,

Sam and Metodi

As I stated in my first post, USCIS and Consulate are not conserned with this for newly weds, they KNOW you will not have any of this. You will provide this much later after you have established a life in the USA when you apply to remove conditions on the Green-Card.

SEE my first post: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1474792

You may also want to read the I-751 guide to get an idea what removing conditions is about, it has in the list of evidence the list you posted above.

Again don't worry about this now, worry about it 2-3 years from now after living in the USA with the conditional green-card.

This list has to do with a couple living abroad for more than 2 years as a married couple.

Can visit, but MUST NOT OVERSTAY the allowed visit time.

Okay, so I can just send the I-130, the G325a's, our marriage certificate (copy), a copy of my entire passport, our passport style photos, and some marriage photos? Do you think Metodi should still get a few affidavits from his family saying that they saw the wedding and knew we were living together for a month? He has to mail the G325a anyway and it seems to me that every little bit might help...

Thanks so much for being patient with me. I'm still a mess, all of this paperwork is daunting and confusing. I contacted the Immigration office by phone several times before going to Bulgaria and they were largely unhelpful and sometimes rude. Us not knowing the half of what we were in for is a testament to the operator's and the website's faults. I will tell Metodi tomorrow when we speak again what he should do and pray that DHL is an excellent mail service so I can recieve these documents ASAP and send out my I-130 and supporting info. Until then I will keep checking here in case anyone else has some more words of wisdom. I can thank you guys enough for helping me out. I'm glad this place is here for support.

Sam and Metodi

I know, it's a long wait. The processing times vary, but Margot is essentially correct - there is the time it takes to get the petition to apply (I-130) processed, then further time at the NVC before it's sent on to the Embassy, then some more processing at the Embassy, the interview, and then the visa is issued. Any of these steps can take a while...usually, it's the initial approval that takes so long (although the Embassies can sometimes take their sweet time in scheduling that interview!)

He will be able to come and visit you provided he has a visitor visa or can use the Visa Waiver Programme AND can prove ties to his home country. My husband has visited during the process; the down side is that of course he cannot work, has no social security number, and has to basically hang around while we're waiting for the visa. There si no temporary visa that would allow him to wait things out with you, unfortunately.

It's a long road, but the end result is SO worth it. Stay strong!

We were told by the US Embassy in Sofia that he could only get an immigrant visa and that he could not get a visitor visa if he was planning on staying here. But...I suppose he can't stay and wait for this anyway, yes? So paying for an immigrant visa is useless? So he CAN get a visitor visa instead? Provided we're getting him a round trip ticket and such... What is the Visa Waiver Programme? We can't really afford to do this multiple trips thing but seeing each other is important enough to try to save up for that. Sigh. I suppose what I should do now is just pray that the documents he sends arrive quickly and that I can send this stuff out and get us on our way to actually being a normal married couple that lives together, sigh. I hate bureaucracy...

Sam and Metodi

I'm sorry to hear about everything being so unexpected - I can understand, and I am so grateful I was able to live in Britain with my husband while we sorted out the visa.

You are right that you do not have to file the I-129f for a K3 visa. You can file just the I-130 petition with G-325As and supporting documents, and following just that path will result in an immigrant visa for him (CR1 in this case). This is the best visa available to him now because when he arrives in the US with it, he will be a permanent resident and able to work from day one. With a non-immigrant visa like the K3, he would have to apply for the Employment Authorisation Document, which takes at least three months, before being able to work or apply for a SSN. With the K3, he would also have to file Adjustment of Status, which costs $1,010 USD (that includes the fee for the EAD though at least).

With the I-130, the documentation to support an ongoing relationship doesn't need to be focused on too much, especially for a couple that has not lived together and is only recently married. Do you have any of the things in the previous options? If you have any of those, I wouldn't bother with more than one or two letters and photos. If you do not, something addressed to the both of you in Bulgaria would be good - just to show that you had stayed at the same address together for a while, and a few bits of correspondence and proof of visits. Hopefully someone else can add more about this as well as I am not sure how it's viewed when applying through a US service center rather than directly with the consulate.

Do you have someone who would be willing to be a joint sponsor? You will need one if you do not make more than about $17,500 USD a year or have about $53,000 USD in assets (which I am guessing you do not). A joint sponsor can be any USC with sufficient US-based income or assets who is willing to sign the form.

It is very sad that you are looking at close to a year from now before he can be in America with you. I would not regret it too much that you passed up the K1 visa though. That would only have saved you a few months time and would have cost more and been more hassle in the long run.

Any chance you have some type of residency in Bulgaria and were living there since about July before coming home this month? If so, and if you could return for a bit, you would have a much faster option.

E. Documentation showing joint ownership or property;or

F. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence;or

G. Documentation showing co-mingling of financialresources; or

H. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, thepetitioner, and your spouse together; or

I. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties havingpersonal knowledge of the bona fides of the maritalrelationship (Each affidavit must contain the full nameand address, date and place of birth of the personmaking the affidavit, his or her relationship to thepetitioner of beneficiary, if any, and completeinformation and details explaining how the personacquired his or her knowledge of your marriage); or

J. Any other relevant documentation to establish thatthere is an ongoing marital union.

I have none of this. Metodi is getting us some affidavits from his family that he will have to take to Sofia, have translated and legislated I'm assuming. I'm hoping that these can make it to the US quickly if sent properly by a credible and fast international mailing firm. I mailed him a package before we met that took 2 months and it was 5 day delivery from the post office... We spent money together only not in any way that could be documented. We stayed in an apartment together that his family owns but there is also no verification of that since we didn't recieve any mail. The city office in Peshtera has some sort of welcome note that we get after being married...will that help? I'm guessing I'm just going to have to wait on these affidavits and send some pictures. How many affidavits should I get. I was guessing that 2 should be sufficient...am I wrong? I have my trip itinerary and my plane ticket stubs, I might have some reciepts from buying stuff over there, but I didn't buy much. Mostly what I have is my translated apostillated marriage certificate and lots of pictures and an epic of premarriage emails, blogs and skype conversations...sigh.

I have a friend who will be my joint sponsor. I asked her before I even went to Bulgaria thinking that this was a little easier than it is. I don't have to worry about sending that form until after they approve the I-130 and G325a though, correct?

Thanks so much, I'm beginning to be able to take all of this in I think and stop crying so much. This is such an evil mess.

Samantha and Metodi

This question come often about these items on the I-130 form. USCIS and the consulate both know that a newly wed couple will not have a lot of evidence of a bona fide marital relationship and will just accept the marriage cert, and perhaps a few wedding pictures.

USCIS issues a conditional green-card because of this. You will then be given 2 years in the USA to develop this evidence, and when you file to remove the conditions on the green-card, you will provide the evidence of bona fide marital relationship.

If you have been living overseas with your spouse for several years as a married couple, then you would be more concerned with providing evidence of a bona fide marital relationship, because the IR-1 visa issued results in a permanent green-card, no conditions attached.

And YES I often tell people to avoid filing the I-129F for K-3, K-3 has the added pain of adjustment of status ($1010) and the K-3 holder cannot take a job for at least 90 days while waiting for EAD. Compare CR-1 to K-3 timelines for your country, in most cases CR-1 takes thus a bot longer to get.

Well I have tons of wedding photos and other photos from the trip of us together. Am I really not going to be able to have Metodi here with me for a year? The USCIS or whatever said that the I-130 takes 6 months to process or something. I was hoping that he could come here and wait for the documents to go through and get some sort of temporary permission to stay until they are processed. Sigh.

Thanks,

Sam and Metodi

Hello eveyone -

My husband Metodi and I were married in Bulgaria this December and now that I am back in the US I am working on filling out these damnable forms. We were sadly under the impression that this would not take as long as it seems to take from reading many of your signatures. I'm assuming that filing an I-130 and the G325a is sufficient and that filling all the extra for the K3 or whatever might be superflous. I'd love for anyone to tell me their opinon on this or to tell me how long it took for them if they followed this route vs. the K3. I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing and I have to wait for Metodi to mail me his G325a and some affidavits from his family so that I can send this mess off in the first place. I just wish we had known how complicated this was beforehand and we might have just waited for a fiance visa and gotten married here. At least then we could have stayed in each other's company afterward.

Also if anyone knows what exactly this 'J. Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.' might be considered, I'd love to know. We have hordes of correspondence and skype messages including recorded conversations. I just want to begin this as soon as possible so that we can see each other again as soon as possible. We are far from rich. I am a grad student and he quit his job thinking that he would be coming with me soon... Given he will get a new job soon since now we know what we are in for... How can we survive this?

Thank you everyone...

Samantha Hristova and Metodi Hristov