Tosh Love

I personally don't think adding receipts for money wired is good idea.
in case u didn't, give all your evidence to the first person inside who asks for your documents .
u said u couldnt answer all questions, discuss your history etc to equip yourself with any info that may be asked of.
when u walk to interview together and your partner is asked to sit, show some affection before he leaves, like a peg or short kiss, let the love show in your smile to each other and your faces. just the way your friends see u together and see u r in love. it should be like something u do all the time.
very important, be confident and look CO in face. when u answer questions, sound like u know what u talking about, not tutupaapasu, I can imagine how u were sounding and answering questions since u said u couldn't hear him well and was contradicting yourself . not convincing for CO kraa.
also, before interview starts, ask CO if he can give u a minute to say something, if he says OK/yes, tell him how u and your mean to each other, how shattered u have been since your first interview. remember u have about 40sec because he'll likely cut u off.
then u proceed to questioning.
if u don't hear what he's saying, politely ask him to repeat and speak clearly, don't assume u heard him. it may go against u, u might not be answering his question if u thought u heard isn't what he said.
the B2 denial isn't an issue, I was denied B2 twice too.
get the pictures you talked about, write the month and year, place and people in it behind it.
any pictures any friend or relative has, get them, print and write the info behind. u said u only talk on phone so u need any form of evidence u can think of. for me, knowing I was in this process, I was making evidence over the period.
do fast and pray for God's favor, I wish u the best.
-TONY

This is not only to benefit his family, or the others who take part.This will benefit all I-130 petitioners who feel that they system has failed them miserably. Look around this place enough and you'll see it. What part of this do you not agree with? The word choice? At what point would you stand up to reunite with your family? How long of a wait would you endure before doing something about it? Would you wait indefinitely? At what point would it no longer be foolish to pursue this?
Take a good hard look at our situation: our petitions have again shifted to other locations, and the adjudication rate is still not even fast enough to keep up with incoming petitions. Adjudications are just getting started on March, and they're already starting to send April files over. Something needs to happen, and soon. We all keep thinking next week USCIS will surely start getting a move on, but another week passes with only a trickling-in of approvals. USCIS responds to pressure, but nobody is going to apply it for us unless we are convincing.
It seems that you have already resigned yourself to wait, and that is your choice. Inaction is easy, but it comes at a price. How long of a wait would you endure before doing something about it?

How long can the USCIS this month spend processing last year's October I-130's? Sounds almost like a Chinese riddle.
The USCIS has lied to us. Our country has betrayed us. We followed the laws, but the law breakers got to stay while we got to pay.
To quote the famous founding document of this country "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." Well, I don't know about you, but I am not in the mood to overthrow the US government, and if I were I certainly would not be saying so on a public internet forum. I am, however, in the mood to shake things up. "A long train of abuses and usurpations" seems a little bit too close to home to ignore. Our government has wronged us, our government has broken and ignored its own laws to the benefit of foreign illegal aliens at the expense of citizens.
So who will make them pay like we have paid, are paying and continue to pay for every day of USCIS incompetence, lies, and screwed-up priorities? Certainly not the President's own party, nor the majority of Americans who now find the slant of the Republican party too much to bear even when the President is fairly unpopular. And as to the Republican party, even stalwart conservatives have illusions left that it is an organization dedicated solely to the benefit of this country and its citizens. So who will address our grievances? Who will save us from this "absolute despotism" of family separation?
The USCIS thrives in the dark. It is the one agency of the federal government which derives most of its revenue from the people it "serves" and it is an agency most Americans (they don't know how lucky they are) never have to deal with. What does a cockroach fear more than shoes? More than traps? More than predators?
It fears the light. In the corners, the dark places, hidden away, preying on defenseless morsels of human consumption, it is safe. Exposed to the light, it is the easy prey of larger predators and angry humans. We need to expose the USCIS. We need the country to know what it is doing to us.
How many times have you told shocked, unbelieving friends, acquaintances, and coworkers that you won't be seeing your spouse for years? How many times have you had to explain the arduous process? How many times have you had to listen to people who don't know their proverbial bottoms from a hole in the ground on immigration tell you that it will all be alright if you just hire a lawyer, call some representative, or get a tourist or other non-immigrant visa for your loved one?
People don't know. They don't understand. But if they did, there would be an uproar. If they did, Obama would have to take a few minutes of the time he spends worrying about the illegals in this country to focus on us, the legal and law-abiding citizens of this our country.
We, the USC Green Card Petitioner's Committee, are putting together a video series for Youtube, and we need YOU. We need your spouse. We need to you to tell your story. We need America to hear your story. Alone, we are nothing against the bureaucratic weight of the USCIS, but like fingers closing into a fist, together we are strong. Let's close our fingers, make our fist, and smash the USCIS, the US government, their lies and their love of illegal aliens!
If you interested in taking an active part in the struggle in the fight to reunite our families, if you're ready to take the fight to them, send me a PM. Please provide me with your real name, email address, and some form of phone contact. Let's get this thing done. Let's show America the truth.

Okay so you want no sympathy? You won't get it from me. My bet is she will not be issed a visa until the other/s are cancelled in writing.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index-can.asp

I've said this before and I'll say it again, there should be a drama series....Days Of VJ.
I'll play Gowon of course.

if his parents are that rich why didnt he start a business and get a visa that way......this complete story sort of screams something is not right.......
just my opinion
sara

I understand the pain of being separate from families for an extended period of time. We all go through it and we all should give each other strength and support. But who gave you the right to vent your frustration and to be upset on this poor lady who is going through a difficult time in her life.
Your case has been allocated its own resources. No one else is interfering with that. Unexpected things happen in everyone's lives. You owe an apology to this woman.
This forum is for getting help and advice from fellow VJer's. Please stop venting your frustration on others in this community. I wish you best of luck in your family reunification.

Thanks for the info ToshLove, you're the second person out of Accra recently (read another in the Embassy Review section) that has said to give ALL evidence at the first window upon arrival and they give the evidence 'approval' stamp on the documents before given to the CO... kind of like a happy precursor to the actual interview.

A quick synopsis on my specific case. I applied for K1 for fiancé and he went to the interview and was asked to come back with more evidence which I flew down to Ghana to attend with him but we were denied and told by the CO that she does not believe we have a "romantic relationship."
UPDATE -- I requested a congressional inquiry and got the letter yesterday and their reasoning was that we did not provide ANY evidence when we came back the second time. This are some of the items we brought with us to the second interview: Proof of 5 visits to see him in the last 2 years, email correspondence, more photos, Fb conversations, a site plan for our new home we are building in Ghana with both names, a copy of a tattoo of his name on my wrist and the date he proposed and MYSELF.
So why did they say we did not bring anything? Because we held on to everything until we got to the window where I was asked to have a seat while they spoke to my fiancé (now husband) and then I was called to the window and given the determination and CO already had the sheet in front of her and was not even interested in anything I had to say by then.
The moral of the story is to try and give all your evidence to whomever collects your interview letter once you get into the building because by the time you make it to Window it might be too late. Just my two cents and thanks to P.A@2013 for also pointing out this fact to me.
Best Wishes and Good Luck to those who are in the process!

Wow! This is a lot for anyone and my heart goes out to you for starting anew in a place after giving up your lifestyle and your comfort zone. That being said, I think only you can answer the question you posed. A wise woman once told me that there are basic things most people want in a mate--looks, prosperity, love, sexual compatibility and a protector (all these in various form or fashion). The most you can hope for is three at the most in one mate so if your mate cheats on you it is up to you to decide if that is non-negotiable or if there are enough things in that mate to make you stay. To some people, cheating is not a deal breaker per se and other things rate higher on their list. Whatever you decide has to work for YOU and you only. Best Wishes and Blessings.

Humans will first find a group to blame for their angst in life. If no group is available, they'll settle for a religious reason.
It's human nature to band together when faced with adversity.
I can only assume it's because misery loves company?

Thank you so much to everyone who posted with suggestions. I truly appreciate everything. He woke me up early this morning and we drove to AMA in Accra and just got married and I will file for CR1 when I return. He was so disappointed yesterday and I felt so bad for him but we rebounded and I honestly believe that everything happens for a reason and in its own time and I am very happy at the moment and know this is my life-mate forever no matter what. One day at a time. We are both on a complete opposite emotional realm that we were yesterday at this time....God is great!

Thank you so much to everyone who posted with suggestions. I truly appreciate everything. He woke me up early this morning and we drove to AMA in Accra and just got married and I will file for CR1 when I return. He was so disappointed yesterday and I felt so bad for him but we rebounded and I honestly believe that everything happens for a reason and in its own time and I am very happy at the moment and know this is my life-mate forever no matter what. One day at a time. We are both on a complete opposite emotional realm that we were yesterday at this time....God is great!

Thank you so much to everyone who posted with suggestions. I truly appreciate everything. He woke me up early this morning and we drove to AMA in Accra and just got married and I will file for CR1 when I return. He was so disappointed yesterday and I felt so bad for him but we rebounded and I honestly believe that everything happens for a reason and in its own time and I am very happy at the moment and know this is my life-mate forever no matter what. One day at a time. We are both on a complete opposite emotional realm that we were yesterday at this time....God is great!

Nope. She did not look at anything. We brought email correspondence, more photos, Fb conversations, a site plan for our new home we are building in Ghana with both names, a copy of a tattoo of his name on my wrist and the date he proposed and MYSELF.

This too shall pass! You are almost at the finish line.

the 1-94 shouldn't apply to you due to your visa type and will be overwritten once you Adjust Status (someone I am sure will correct me if I am wrong on this one)
regarding your concerns on POE, yes it will be NY and no your previous F-1 denial is a non issue.. if it was an issue, it would have been addressed at your interview.

Sarah,
This is a difficult decision for you to make. Get a piece of paper and write down all the positives and all the negatives...Sometimes love is not enough, especially when the rest of your life is involved.
Good luck!
Ps: feel free to PM me!
Sarah,
This is a difficult decision for you to make. Get a piece of paper and write down all the positives and all the negatives...Sometimes love is not enough, especially when the rest of your life is involved.
Good luck!
Ps: feel free to PM me!

Just file for divorce. Life is not so good as a grunt in the Military. Be glad you found out early. Take control of the situation.

Well I thought I would start this topic it is something new and I want to tell folks there is are several different way to report fraud to USCIS. In my long road over the past several months I have some information I wanted to pass on.
If the USC spouse thinks they are a victim of marriage fraud or their immigrant spouse entered into a shame marriage for the sole purpose of gaining immigration benefits. Please make a info pass appointment, when you arrive ask to speak to the on duty FDNS officer.
FDNS.......Fraud Detection & National Security Directorate. This is the Department within USCIS that will investigate individual marriage fraud/ visa fraud cases/ false VAWA claims.
This department is within USCIS, that several years ago was "upgraded" to the directorate level in order to combat small scale fraud within the system, the FDNS does not conduct interviews for green cards, that is for the IO's in each office, what FDNS will do is work with the IO's and ICE and any DHS officers and local law enforcement. To give you a hint how overwhelmed the system is the are three officers assigned to the South Texas Area ( this line is from Del Rio all the way to Houston almost) these officers function with a crushing workload . They will come down and listen to what you have to say and take notes.
Please note do not waste people's time with a bitterness and just go in there and vent...take PROOF, from a outside source or from the police or a court official, something someone can pick up the phone and confirm.
After you see this officer, they either will or will not have a investigation, you will never know, if proof is provided they will look into it. Also, to some folks it is like I told them why will they not come and get my ex spouse and send her home? There is not a immigrant bus that runs around and knocks on doors and the USCIS driver says "Okay, time to go home" It can take up to a year to deport/remove your immigrant ex-spouse (with appeals).
Also do not call back and ask for a update according to the Privacy Act of 1974 they are not allowed to discuss your ex spouses case with you, her green card is not between you, her and the government it is between her and the government, it is the immigrant's green card.
A bad or rough marriage that is terminated does not mean you are a victim of fraud, it means there was a bad marriage, USC's please ALWAYS think, your spouse is under a horrible amount of strain, make new friends, no family, maybe lost expectations, twisted thinking, and to top it all off you are fighting with the person you depend on for support, PLEASE I ask all USC's if your marriage is in trouble or a divorce is filed please, get to a marriage consular ASAP. (if they will go) (even if your spouse is cheating the marriage can still be saved in my thoughts).
Reporting a false VAWA claim or blocking a false VAWA claim is very hard but can be done. Once again you must have proof. If there is a police report written that shows you the USC as the aggressive party more than likely there is a claim. Always remember there is many different kinds of abuse out there some immigrant spouse's here have been victims of physical abuse, and there is just cause for the claim, some it is mental abuse or emotional abuse. Please, note to any USC that files with USCIS to block these claims they are not criminal complaints against you, it is a administrative process, if it was criminal you could face the accuser in a court of law (this is a constitutional right), which is why USCIS makes this administrative in nature. I am sure there are many spouses that will back up the claim a VAWA process is not easy and it takes a LONG time to do and the immigrant is in "limbo", is the system abused...yes but claims take so long to adjudicate that VAWA IO's look for ANY proof of fraud or a false claim, I think most of the lady's on VAWA part 4 will say almost all of them get some kind of RFE. IMHO some of the women are abused simply because their USC spouse does not want to get them a green card to keep control (USC please, even of the marriage is rough, get the green card, your immigrant spouse should be allowed a stable safe environment to live and not having a green card could be very scary).
I urge and USC's that are filing this type of claim to be very careful and do not act out of emotion and look long and hard over the course of your marriage and think to decide weather you have been "duped". Do some immigrants come here and abuse the system...yes are they caught? sometimes yes and sometimes no.
An example I use to work in a bar where a lot of IO's used to come in and relax, there was a story I overheard them talking about, A lady from Russia moved here 18 years ago and recently was just sent back to Russia, why? Fraud at the inception of marriage for the purpose to gain immigration benefits, she was put in jail and put on the next full plane back to Russia. 18 years well it took awhile and it is not like I heard the story you could hear the whispers around the table. The system works
Also I ask if you know of any human smuggling or any time of activity that involves human trafficking to notify ICE ASAP, call you local office or 1 866 DHS 2 ICE. Help stop this from happening.
One last thing USC's the chances of being taken to federal court under the I864 are very small, this form is used in a few states as a bar for spousal support. But always remember it takes a special degree or permit to practice law on the federal level, one case out of Florida Federal Court (Winters v Winters) rejected the federal case stating that these type of cases belong on the state court level.
I hope this is helpful to people:)

If you know he is doing these thing report him to the FBI or DHS . Tell them you want to report adverse behavior on the part of someone with access to classified data. Report only known illegal activities and leave the bad husband behavior out of it. They will care much more than ICE

Mrs. T-B. attended her oath ceremony today (23 Jan 2013) and got her Certificate of Naturalization, si man. She is a citizen now, after a 5.5-year visa journey with some giant obstacles.

The story is posted in the K-1 Case Progress forum because, if you're like I was, you don't visit many of the later-stage forums or have a firm vision of the entire visa journey just yet. Indeed, I remember a buddy in my own monthly I-129F progress thread who got the NOA2 for his petition and wrote, "Can someone please direct me to the next forum?"

Some of the following might yield some perspective on "the visa journey" and perhaps help you in your visa journey.

I joined VisaJourney in mid-2007. I was overwhelmed, nervous, and bewildered by the upcoming K-1 process and the voluminous information on the site. Many of my first questions were met with patient variations of "read the Guides!"

I sent off the I-129F petition to USCIS (the CSC) via overnight mail with green reply card. I was frantic when the card didn't come back for several days.

I checked on-line case status of the I-129F at least once daily. Except for me, everyone else in the May 2007 filers group had received their NOA2 by 6 months (the timeframe then). I made several calls to USCIS (waiting on hold sometimes for hours, listening to that maddening "hold" music). I finally reached a kindly Immigration Officer who determined that my file had been sitting on a transit station for some time. I asked him to please send an e-mail to the processing floor to ask someone to move the file to the next place it ought to go. A very few days later, I got the NOA2. On this site, I reported the foregoing method of loosening the stuck petition; the message was twisted and roundly mocked by a group led by a viper who still sometimes poisons this site.

Being naive, I underestimated the consular process nearly 100% and was not on the premises during my fiancee's interview. She was kicked out after about 3 minutes, without her brought evidence having been considered, with these exact words: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!"

In subsequent correspondence, the devious consulate referred to the second interview as a "marriage interview," hiding the fact that it would be a Stokes.

The Stokes interview was not even conducted by an American, but by a Foreign Service National (a local Ecuadorian employed by the consulate). A decision was not even to be made on that day. The first interview was "not enough evidence -- go away!" and the second was "too much evidence -- go away!"

I got perhaps 45 minutes of sleep on the 5.5-hour return flight. Being home was worse.

After weeks of utter torment and of calling the State Department's visa line daily, I fought through the phone lines at the consulate by insisting on speaking with an American. After 20 minutes on hold, I ended up speaking with the Section Chief of the Immigration Visa Unit. We discussed the situation and I sent him a confirmatory e-mail. Within 72 hours, the visa was approved.  My contemporaries and I, who had all been hosed by this grossly mismanaged consulate, remained angry for years afterward.

Mrs. T-B.-to-be wrapped up her business affairs and arrived through the Port of Entry without incident, but very ill with an upper-respiratory infection. Our first week consisted of an expensive out-of-pocket medical appointment + prescriptions toward her recovery.

We married by the third week and filed for Adjustment of Status (AOS). I mailed it overnight but without extra receipt confirmation. I checked on-line case status sporadically. The NOA arrived in timely fashion, and there was no interview.

Mrs. T-B.'s EAD and AP arrived in due time and without incident. We used the AP on a land border trip to Mexico. Upon our return, the CBP agent knew what AP was but had obviously never actually processed one. Parts of this were quite comical. However, having our marriage certificate with us was perhaps the chief element in our approval for re-entry. Little did we know that Mrs. T-B.'s green card was in the mail to us (and on schedule) during that very trip.

We later took a driving trip through south Texas. The CBP agents at the internal checkpoints most certainly would have given us huge trouble had Mrs. T-B. not had her green card with her. The experience taught us to keep it -- and our marriage certificate -- with her at all times.

We filed for Removal of Conditions (ROC) as soon as Mrs. T-B. was eligible. I had taken others' advice and, since AOS, had taken appropriate pieces of evidence and thrown them into a box. By ROC time, there was more than enough support of our merged financial & personal lives through the span of our marriage. I mailed the package first-class with delivery confirmation (yellow sticker). I never signed up for on-line case status. The NOAs were timely, and approval was timely and without interview.

About a week before we filed for ROC, Mini-Bone was born, made of genuine U.S. & Ecuadorian parts.

We filed for Naturalization (citizenship) somewhat after Mrs. T-B. became eligible. I mailed the package regular first-class mail and never even thought about signing up for on-line case status. The NOA2 was timely, the process was uneventful, and her interview was easy. The Oath Ceremony featured 2,272 new citizens from 126 countries.

Lessons learned and insights gained from this visa journey and from spending it as a member of VisaJourney:

1. It's not necessary to freak out over how to mail the petitions or how to assemble the packages. Just include what the VJ Guides recommend, plus what knowledgeable members before you recommend (for example, front-loading evidence for tough consulates).

2. Rely upon advice from the most knowledgeable, trustworthy VJ members. Chief among these for me were JimVaPhuong, pushbrk (who thankfully is still active here), and Kathryn41.  I read every post of theirs that I happened across, and I invariably learn something.  When he was alive, geowrian was well worth heeding, and his posts remain valuable. Jan22 is a blessing to this site.

3. The squeaky wheel truly can get the grease. If your USCIS filing is grossly out of timeline, or if you have truly been wronged at the consulate, polite phone calls might yield action. (NOTE: "Grossly out of timeline" means exactly that. It does not refer to "I want my fiance(e) here NOW, no matter what. I have no patience or circumspection about the petition process, and I don't WANT any patience or circumspection!" Read the VJ forums thoroughly to see what objective factors might be influencing the processing of petitions. As hard as it can be, avoid "ready, fire, aim" reactions during this stage.)

4. Procedures, policies, and outcomes at the Manila embassy are, chances are, unique to Manila and not automatically transferable to other consular experiences. Go atop any VJ page and click "Embassy Info" and "Reviews: Embassy." Read the reviews for YOUR consulate, attending particularly to the WORST stories. Prepare accordingly. Also pay attention to general cautions offered by experienced members who did not deal with your consulate. Take offerings of "No worries -- you will be fine!" with a large grain of salt -- yes, the interview might turn out fine, but no one can assure you of this in advance.

5. Never EVER underestimate the consular phase of the process! The consular officers have 100% power over the continuation of your visa journey. Treating the consular phase casually can be like loading a revolver with 5 bullets, spinning the cylinder, and putting the gun to your temple and pulling the trigger. Bear in mind that a previously "easy" consulate's policies and procedures can change without notice if a new Section Chief is transferred in. Expect the best outcome, sure, but prepare for the worst conceivable.

6. We never got an RFE. However, an RFE is a golden opportunity to provide not just what USCIS requests to satisfy the RFE, but also to add additional evidence of bona fide relationship for the consular officer's eyes, later. Everything that you submit to USCIS goes to the consulate after the petition is approved. Front-loading (or, later, "loading along with an RFE") ensures that key information that you want the consul to see is there before the beneficiary's interview at a tough consulate.

7. There is never a disadvantage to a petitioner's being on the consular premises while the beneficiary is being interviewed. In fact, the advantages are many and distinct. Emotional support for the beneficiary is the minimum. If you the petitioner are on the premises or within range, the consul can call you in to ask questions.  Your ability to provide answers "on the scene" can ward off the issuance of a 221(g) and prevent a return trip to the consulate.

8. As outrageous as this may sound (and as outrageous as it would have sounded to me during the I-129F wait), it indeed can be a relief to return to dealing with USCIS after having dealt with a consulate. Nevertheless, to this day, if I'm on hold on a business call and the music is the same as USCIS's "hold" music, my heart begins pounding faster.

9. Like me, you'll start with close friends who post regularly and support you in public and private. Sadly, many will fall away from VJ along the way. Some of my earliest friends who are no longer around are:
StillThePrettiest - last log-in, 6 Aug 2010;
Toshtishtash - 7 Oct 2011;
Jeraly - 23 Aug 2012;
DanielParul (of incomparable support during my consulate torment) - 15 June 2010.

10. As I wrote to Captain Ewok privately tonight, I could not have negotiated this visa journey -- either procedurally or emotionally -- without the help of this site and the good people on it.

I hope that the foregoing will confer some helpful circumspection at this early stage of your visa journey, si man.

Life gets in the way of things sometimes... I have to live apart from MY wife when she is gone with the military, yet we love each other and are married and we dont like being apart. My sister lives in another state than her husband because their jobs keep them apart. They can only be together when they are off work a couple days. My neighbor lives 2000 miles from her husband because of their jobs, yet her husband is visiting this weekend for their wedding anniversary. Dont judge people about things you know nothing about and that is none of your business.