bigangrytexan

Wife gets here on Tuesday. I've been lurking here for quite a while, but never really posted unless I had a major problem.

I'm actually looking FORWARD to the little idiosyncrasies and the like. I made a promise to myself that if she ever did anything that frays my nerves or annoys me, that I would remember that we've spent FOURTEEN MONTHS to get her over here... and that any day that she drives me crazy is better than any day where she isn't here with me...

Just putting a thing into some perspective.

bigangrytexan, just curious: how did your wife get an IR-1 visa? i thought you had to be married for more than 2 years to get that? is there a loophole that i'm not aware of?

He most likely meant CR1. There is no loophole.

I meant CR-1 in that case. I've never really understood the difference. We did not exploit any loophole that I am aware of.

She will need a SSN before she can start working, though.

Two years ago she spent the summer over here on a J-1 visa, and was issued a social security card. It has stamped across the top "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION"

She still has it. Is it still valid? Can she use that to work?

My wife will be finally arriving on Tuesday on her IR-1 visa. When can she work, legally? Can she start immediately, or does she have to wait for the green card to come in the mail?

Didn't find the answer in the FAQ section...

Thanks in advance for your answers.

My wife used fedex and didn't have any problems sending me her certified birth certificate. You can simply state documents on the customs form. Have you tried using FedEx?

I called the NVC and spoke with operator Bailey. She told me that they are aware of the fact that Russian Customs will not allow original birth and marriage certificates to be mailed out of the country. She said to just include a photocopy of the birth and marriage certificates in the NVC package, and she will have to bring the originals to the interview in Moscow.

Thank everyone for all their help!!

After being approved by the Vermont Service Center, my wife and I are now at the National Visa Center. I have been utilizing the LingChe NVC ShortCut guide (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/LingChe_NVC_ShortCut) and it states that I (the petitioner) have to have my wife's original birth certificate and original marriage certificate. From what I understand, it has to be original because my wife's country is Russia and the Moscow Embassy requires the originals.

However, when my wife went to the DHL office in Moscow yesterday to send me the documents, they stated that Russian customs would not allow originals to be shipped and they must be removed. If that is the case, how am I supposed to get the originals to the National Visa Center?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

We are less then 24 hours away. Anyone expecting an approval for march? I am!!!

I was just approved yesterday. Longest seven and a half months of my life.

Well there have been a few in Jan for the CR1 that were approved last month so lets keep our fingers crossed. IF the trends keep up I would say late March early April

Wouldn't that be nice. When I applied first I assumed about 6 months, but from other people's dates God knows!

USAMEXIRL, I swear I was thinking the same way you are. When I started out, my mindset was, wait for at least 6 months and then (if I am lucky) expect something.... But with recent approvals and stuff... I am spoiling myself with wishful thinking ....

Good luck to all!!!!!!!

I'm crossing my fingers... I REALLY want my wife here. Please God, please...

Cody -

Being apart is very difficult. Take a look at MY timeline. It took 7 months for the USCIS to process our I-130. Have faith though, you will get through soon. It looks as though the Centers are processing a bit faster right now than they were when it was my time. I wish you luck and a speedy shoot through their machinery from now on.

<3 and good wishes,

Sam

PS: And you're right, it IS a nightmare. But eventually it ends and you quickly forget the hell you went through to be able to live like a normal couple. All you can do for now is talk as much as possible, visit when you can, and keep each other sane. Hugs.

Well, I'm very depressed that there really isn't much I can do, but I do appreciate all of your support. Thank you all.

Let me quickly explain my situation.

My name is Cody. I am 25 years old, born and raised north of Houston. I was honorably discharged as a Sergeant from the Marine Corps in October of 2008. I am currently attending College and am working as a Search and Rescue Dispatcher. My wife’s name is Vicky, and she is a citizen of the Russian Federation. We were married in August of 2008 after an eleven month separation due to my second deployment to Iraq and other responsibilities I had in the Marine Corps that prevented us from getting married until August. When I finished my enlistment in October, I went to Moscow for three months on a student visa to study the Russian language at Moscow State University and to spend as much time as possible with my wife. For three months, we lived a normal life, free of the separation of 6,000 miles and nine time zones.

I filed for Vicky’s I-130 paperwork in September 2008 and her I-129F in October 2008. They are in the Vermont Service Center in St. Albans, Vermont. Neither have been touched since October 21st, 2008 as of today (02-03-2009). The current processing time frame for the I-130 petition at the Vermont Service Center states that it will still be eight more months before my wife's case is even reviewed for approval. Even if my wife's petition is approved immediately upon review; it will have been eleven months of waiting and separation. I have already exhausted every resource that I have available to me to accelerate my wife's petition. I contacted my District Representative, Congressman Kevin Brady. However, his Director of Case Management stated that it was not possible to accelerate case processing unless there is a life or death situation. I have spent the past five years of my life honorably serving my country in the United States Marine Corps, and due to my commitments to the Marine Corps and to my country, we have already spent eleven months apart. I will do whatever is necessary to avoid another eleven month separation from the wife I love.

Here is the exact copy of the letter that Congressman Kevin Brady's Director of Case Management sent to me:

Cody:

With respect and gratitude for your service to our country Immigration will only expedite cases where there is impending death. I wish I could make this happen sooner but this is the procedure they use. Even if you were going through the Senators office they would be given the same answer.

Janet

My question is, where do I go from here? Right now I'm feeling extremely hung out to dry by the government that I just spent the vast majority of my adult life defending. I'm feeling very disenfranchised and lost, because I don't know where else to turn. Does anyone have any idea where I can go from here?

This is not even close to being fair.

The VSC is where petitions go to die.

I sincerely hope that our "fearless leader" Obama will reform the entire immigration system, not just make it easier for the Mexicans.

I guess they enjoy destrying families, maybe they are all married to american wives/husbands, that's why they don't care, if they are immigrants, SHAME ON THEM!

So I just got my NOA-1 today. I've been assigned to the Vermont Service Center. I checked the processing times, and they're currently at November 26th, 2007.

That's ten months of waiting, before they even LOOK at our petitions? I mean, honestly, how do they live with themselves? They realize that these are people's LIVES. These are people who have already been separated for years, and you're forcing them to stay apart for longer? I know the whole "be patient" thing, but how can we be patient with a government that does so little for us?

I've been reading these forums for a while now, and I've read so many horror stories about the VSC that it really worries me that I was sent there.

I've just spent the past five years of my life honorably defending our country in the Marine Corps. I've spent over a year of my adult life deployed to Iraq. I've been shot at for America and for our government. And now I have to wait (at least) 10 months for the woman I love, one of the few things in this world that brings me happiness, to be united with me? Especially after I've endured so much misery (trust me, Iraq is not fun).

I'm already at my wit's end with this whole process, and the nightmare has only begun.

Oddo, I don't believe that they enjoy destroying families. I believe that they simply do not care if they help or hurt people either way. As long as they get their paycheck and they don't draw any negative attention to themselves, then they aren't going to do much else besides the bare minimum. Call me jaded, but that's simply been my experience in dealing with the government.

###### and moan all you want but bottomline the best way to handle is to get all your paperwork ready to go when asked for and triple check it for accuracy so you won't get RFEs.

USCIS like any business screws up now and then and there's not much one can do except ###### and moan.

As more peeps in the world become more and more involved with computers there will be more and more people using immigration.

USCIS processing times will no doubt slow down because of such. Consider yourselfs lucky you can still immigrate. It will no doubt be limited more in the near future.

They recently came close to not allowing naturalized USCs on bringing parents in. More restrictions are yet to come.

Thank you for your kind words, Haole. They have been very helpful and insightful.

/sarcasm off

Jen & James & Garu

I really wish the best of luck to you. Everyone knows that this entire process is remarkably inefficient and utterly ridiculous. The only thing I can say is to make sure you vote for the presidential candidate who promises immigration reform. The system is flat out broken, and everyone knows it. I really do hope that your case gets resolved soon. No one should be forced to be kept away from their loved ones because of politicians and bureaucracy. This is a country of immigrants, and for the life of me, I really want to know where in history that part of America changed. I've spent five years of my adult life defending this country, I really would like to be reassured that it wasn't all in vain.

Canadianwife:

I'm getting out of the Marine Corps in exactly seven days (I am fed up with the crippling amounts of bureaucracy and politics). I'm not going deploy again ever (thank god). My command won't do anything for me because I lost my security clearance because I followed all of the procedures and announced my intention of marrying a Russian. They're just waiting to kick me to the curb in seven days. Even if they were willing to do something for me, the CO really can't say anything. Since I'm getting out, I won't be needed by the command, so therefore, they can't justify an expedition. And there is no expedition criteria for "honorably serving the the US Marine Corps for 5 years, while spending a year in Iraq, and getting shot at" trust me... I already checked.

In my packet, I put a letter explaining my situation and requesting an expedition, but I'm not holding my breath. I know that the people who work in these cubicle-filled hellholes have had their heart and soul drained out of them a long time ago by this leech we know as bureaucracy. Call me a pessimist, but I've had to deal with the government for long enough to know that any hopes of a speedy processing is nothing more than a dream.

So I just got my NOA-1 today. I've been assigned to the Vermont Service Center. I checked the processing times, and they're currently at November 26th, 2007.

That's ten months of waiting, before they even LOOK at our petitions? I mean, honestly, how do they live with themselves? They realize that these are people's LIVES. These are people who have already been separated for years, and you're forcing them to stay apart for longer? I know the whole "be patient" thing, but how can we be patient with a government that does so little for us?

I've been reading these forums for a while now, and I've read so many horror stories about the VSC that it really worries me that I was sent there.

I've just spent the past five years of my life honorably defending our country in the Marine Corps. I've spent over a year of my adult life deployed to Iraq. I've been shot at for America and for our government. And now I have to wait (at least) 10 months for the woman I love, one of the few things in this world that brings me happiness, to be united with me? Especially after I've endured so much misery (trust me, Iraq is not fun).

I'm already at my wit's end with this whole process, and the nightmare has only begun.

I hope you left your address as your home of record. It makes life easier. Since you're going to be abroad, it could be helpful to give representative status to a trusted family member or close friend who is willing to keep a close eye on the situation. If you haven't filed a G-28 only you can talk to the USCIS about your case. It is preferable that this person lives at the address where your official mail goes. If you have attorney, the same form is filed for them. The form is filed with your petitions. Hopefully you won't need to talk to the USCIS or respond to any correspondence.

Good Luck!

I did leave my home of record as my address. I'll also be leaving a power of attorney with my mother to allow her to take care of anything that I can't take care of from Russia.

What is a G-28?

check this link

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=302

goodluck..are you in Houston?

Yeah, I've read through that link as best I as I can. I was just hoping a few other people can put a sanity check on it.

I'm from Houston originally, thats where my family and home of record are. I'm currently in North Carolina, where I'm stationed. At the end of September, I will be going back to Houston, for about a week. I then get on a plane for 2 more months in Moscow. I'm worried about delays because I need to file my K-3 application before I get on the plane to Russia.

First of all, let me give a little bit of background.

My name is Cody, and I am an active duty Sergeant in the Marine Corps. I met my wife, Vicky in Myrtle Beach, SC in July of 2007. She is a Russian citizen and was in Myrtle Beach on a J-1 student exchange program visa. We spent every second we could together until August 24th, 2007, when I had to leave her in Myrtle Beach without knowing what our future would hold. On September 8th, 2007 I deployed to Iraq for my second combat tour. During my combat tour, we continued to communicate and I proposed to her. Upon returning in April of 2008 from Iraq, I began the process of flying to Russia to see her family and to get married in Russia. Due to visa complications and a number of other factors, I was unable to fly to see her again until July 24th, 2008; a full 11 months since I last saw her. We spent three amazing weeks together in Russia and got married on August 12th, 2008. I flew back the next day and we have now begun the long process of immigration. At the end of September, I will be honorably discharged from the Marine Corps after five years of service, and a week later, in early October, I am flying back to Russia to spend two months there as a student learning Russian and to spend as much time with my wife as possible.

I have done as much research as my brain will absorb over the past year about the whole immigration process and how it works and what forms you need, and on and on. The biggest rule of thumb that I've seen is that every situation is different, and that anything can happen. Tomorrow, I will be sending off my initial I-130 packet to begin the process. I am posting this because I would very much like people who are familiar with the process to give me a "sanity check" and to help me ensure that I have all of my "I's" dotted and my "T's" crossed. Every second I have to spend away from my wife is an eternity, and I want to make sure I've done everything in my power to make this process as smooth and efficient as our wonderful bureaucracy will allow it to be.

Items included in the packet:

Thoroughly filled out Form I-130 signed and dated

Thoroughly filled out Form G-325A for myself - all 4 pages signed and dated.

Thoroughly filled out Form G-325A for my wife - all 4 pages signed and dated.

Copy of our certified translated marriage certificate - let me elaborate on this a bit.

The original marriage certificate is in Russian. My wife took it to a certified translation agency where they photocopied it, attached a translation, and then added a third page in Russian stating that they are a certified translation agency. A possible problem I see here is that the translation agency certification is only in Russian and not in English, and that the marriage certificate itself is a copy of a copy. Should I be worried about this?

A copy (front and back) of my birth certificate

A copy of the information page of my passport

A copy of my Military Identification Card. (I know they don't need it, but I figure it wouldn't hurt if they knew I was active duty military. I might get someone who may be sympathetic to the military)

A notarized affidavit from my mother stating that the marriage is bona fide

A sworn affidavit from a mutual friend in Russia stating that the marriage is bona fide. There is no notary, so a simple signature will have to do. She is also the only person we know that is able to write a statement in English.

One passport style photo of myself and one of my wife - properly filled out on the back.

One cashier's check from my bank for $355 made out to the Department of Homeland Security

And that's all I have. The package seems a little thin, compared to what I've read of what some people have submitted. Sworn affidavits that our marriage is bona fide is all we have because our marriage was only a mere two weeks ago and we haven't been able to live together. Is that enough proof? Most of our relationship has been spent across long distances, because of my military service, so I don't have much proof to give. Is there anything else I can put in my package that will help my chances? I've already spent eleven months away from my wife, and I'm looking at a year at least until she can come to the US. I really want to avoid any delays.

Thank you in advance for your assistance,

Cody