Yader&Sarah

Also waiting for NOA2, now over 140 Days since NOA1

Same NOA1 date! and still waiting also

We're over 140 days since NOA1 too...and starting to lose my mind...

I'm running out of things/activities to distract myself. I've already changed cities, got a new job, checked USCIS, explored a new city, applied for grad school, checked USCIS, made some new friends, got second job, checked USCIS, went to visit old friends, ran a 5k, went to the zoo, checked USCIS, took up crotcheting, got a cat, went hiking, checked USCIS, read 15 million books, bought a wedding dress, found a wedding venue, checked USCIS, booked a ceremony venue, decorated my apartment, went Christmas shopping, spent time with family, sent mail to Nicaragua, checked USCIS, and took a walk.

I'm ready for an NOA2. if I get any more distracted, I'll forget who my fiance is!

Nothing big something simply enough for a party of about 50 not more than 100 for sure. The wedding date is tentative and we sure hope we get approved by April...think that's likely?

It better be! That would be ridiculous otherwise - 9 months!

We are planning ours for Sept 09. At first I thought that was PLENTY of time. Now, I'm starting to get nervous. I'm sure it's a premature nervous though. I will officially be nervous if Feb arrives with no word of an NOA2. That will be 6 months and my official 'freak out' time line.

Malicant, I'm glad you got some answers. How long does it typically take to schedule an interview in the phillipines?

me too

Our K1 Visa applications must be in the same box together...

waiting for touches....

me three! just waiting to be touched!

Yours must be in our box too!

Just waiting patiently.....

Maybe we should start making some noise to get us some attention!

Let's wait until next week, then we can make some noise because everybody should be at work then........

ditto

I'll join the noise making...

looks like we'll need all of us, seems like this place has cleared out!

me too

Our K1 Visa applications must be in the same box together...

waiting for touches....

me three! just waiting to be touched!

here's the link from the post from the former USCIS employee so you can learn about what this guy did in his corner of the USCIS http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...dicator-q-and-a

I was #122 weeks ago, now I'm #116 same as last week but looks like they got a handful done this week. Who knows, maybe my letters will be moot (I hope).

If that doesn't work, I'm writing God!

thanks for the link. I'd hadn't read that before. very interesting.

I'm #41 on CSC and hardly moving now...

Just a question for Hyena and HW, and anyone else sending letters to senators.

I would love to do that to, but what exactly does it do?

Sorry to be dense, but what is the senators' role in the visa process and what are you requesting that they do in your letter?

thanks!

It gives the Senator an opportunity to earn his seat.....mildly putting it...Politicians serve the people whatever their needs are...and for now it's getting the NOA2

yep,

so when my sentor get's back from her long vacation, i'll be giving her a call

but what is it that they do? check up on the application at the USCIS or embassy or where ever it might be? urge it along? bang some heads?

does it make a difference?

Just a question for Hyena and HW, and anyone else sending letters to senators.

I would love to do that to, but what exactly does it do?

Sorry to be dense, but what is the senators' role in the visa process and what are you requesting that they do in your letter?

thanks!

bahah. I'm glad you called. although I would need to call CSC, but still. It took all my will power not to today, even though I knew from others' posts that they would just tell me that we were within normal processing times...

but anyway. I'm glad you attempted to slip some humor in. more humor is needed in this whole thing!

hey everyone!

Happy New :dance:Year~

I'm so excited to call the embassy for the interview appointment~

yay,

jazz!

COngratulations! Send some good vibes my way! This is absolutely horrible! Never again!

I feel all alone just posting to myself waiting anxiously.

I even called UCIS today just for the fun of it. I heard at least 100 phones (I'd say at least) in the background. The guy sounded like a computer. I was saying humorous things and he was like a government robot. I asked if I paid for an expedited, would that work since bribes get things done in congress. It was like I shorted out a new wire and he went on robotically for another few minutes about expedited service requirements. I then asked if he could add a #5 to the category "I"m a nice guy" and asked him if that would do? Maybe expedite because I'm nice? It was like his little computer brain couldn't handle it!

I asked him how to change the laws to get the nice guy category added to his rules and regulation requirement list. I think he had to go to therapy after that...it was too much for him (I need to read the obituaries). I asked where he was (he sounded like he was from a log cabin in Appalachia) but he told me he couldn't disclose that (all serious like) while I was asking other questions. It's not like telling me what state/city would cause a nuclear meltdown!

I can say one thing; he surely wasn't from Vermutt. He was from the twangy south.

He said they were working on March and that no one was out of the guidelines unless they filed in February. Oh well, he can tack one up for a service call...(job security)...read from a memorized script to anxious Hunny Bunny's and other immigrant categories and get kickass benefits and 5 weeks of vacation (must be nice)!

I think I'll apply for a job at UCIS and be one of the "bad" agents allowing people to bribe me! How about that? Then I could run for office afterwards and get elected!

Hi all!

Hope everyone had a happy holiday! I've been avoiding VJ and USCIS because it just depresses me lately. and I figured I would enjoy the holidays more if I tried to not check it every 5 min and get that sinking knot in my stomach... (although I secretly hoped I would walk into my apt today and find the notice laying in my mail or log in right now and see that I had at least been touched..not the case... ) Starting to seriously go crazy.

Congrats to all of you that received NOA2s in the last week. HelloWorld, let's be friends.

Yep seems like they got most petitions with kids approved, great christmas present.

Anyone wanna call how many CSC can bust out in 3 days? Also VSC?

I call CSC 13

I call VSC 6

I so hope you are right.... lucky number 13...

It is really hard for my parents, but I think since they realize that they set the curve for the rest of my family accepting our 'path,' they have tried a little more.

It is difficult because my fiance and parents don't speak the same language, and they have never met. Also, aside from cultural differences, we also have a lot of socioeconomic differences. I grew up super middle class america and my fiance grew up lower class nicaragua...during a revolution. Hard to compare. Anyway, I think my parents are scared all of these things will be too difficult for us to work out in our marriage.

I'm hoping and praying that when they meet him, they will love him (almost) as much as I do. The first step: they are planning on coming with me to Nicaragua when he has his interview. So at least they are trying...

My fiance applied for a tourist visa first, too. and he was denied. They said he needed $5000 in the bank, among other things.

The two visas are completely unrelated, just make sure you are completely honest in both so that there are no blaring differences and no reason to think of visa fraud.

so far we have no problems... then again, millions of august filers and september even, are getting approved and we are still waiting...

good luck!

Hi everyone! I just had to share that I got our NOA2 in the mail today!!! No email notification, no updated status online. I was so depressed last night after it was time for CSC to shut down for the weekend because I got the touch on Wednesday (12/17/08) and then nothing after that. I kept checking USCIS over and over again and nothing...and then the snail mail today--NOA2 dated 12/16/08. I'm so excited!! Good luck to everyone else waiting. You are in my prayers!!!

Felicidades! I'm so happy for you!! (really I swear! ) Hopefully, now you can relax a little better for the holidays!

WOW 35 for CSC? I havent seen number like this since July when they hit 41!

USCIS works on Saturday also (Limited Operations)

helloworld: we filed on the same day, maybe monday is our day. They will realize, oh woah, hey all these early august filers, that combined with goodwill and cheer towards all of us suffering.

and habibi, hopefully VSC will be experiencing the same holiday cheer!

Sarah, I was just thinking about you last night. Did you end up getting tickets for New Year's? I hope so, but if not, then I wish you the best of luck in getting your approval soon!

Great outlook Stinkerpotsam!! I needed that reality check too!

not yet... I bid too low... so I rebid a little higher. tickets are outrageous right now, but I'm ready to go at a moment's notice should they suddenly drop in price...perhaps... a christmas miracle will occur... if it's not an NOA2... please let it be a cheap plane ticket...

to all the recent recipients of the NOA2; there are just too many to keep up with these days!

I realized last night that I'm focusing too much on what I don't have (NOA2) and not enough on what I DO have (family, friends, good times smiles AND A TICKET TO GO SEE HIM IN TEN DAYS for #######'s sake!!) so today I'm turning over a new leaf and occupying myself with happier things than stalking USCIS...well maybe once more lol.

stinkerpotsam-- I've never posted on the august filer thread, but I do pop in from time to time to see how things are. But let me just say, thank you, thank you, thank you! for posting that. I was just about to burst into jealous, anxious, end of my nerve-rope tears, when I made it down to your post. Thanks for reminding me that life will go on, and it helps to think of the bigger picture and how beautiful it is ... as opposed to stalking USCIS ...

happy holidays to all! may you know that you are loved! (whether you are with or without that person this holiday season)

edit: and please, all you that have recieved your NOA2, dont take the jealousy personally! of course I am thrilled for you, dying of jealousy, but thrilled!

If you don't plan on seeing your fiance again before the interview consider taking copies of call logs, chats (if they are unable to print them), and leave a copy of your passport with stamps, ticket stubs, LEAVE a PAPER TRAIL! take pictures together and together with family members if possible. make lots of proof you were there. And make sure to leave the proof there with your fiance so that they can use it for proof of relationship for the interview.

Does anyone have a site they use in particular for the cheapest airline tickets? Or does anyone have any ideas on the best time to buy your tickets? Days of the week? Best times of the day? I used cheapoair.com last time. Thanks

I always use priceline.com for going to Mexico because you can bid on your tickets and get a much lower than advertised price. I'm not sure if you can use it for all locations throughout the world, but it's worth a shot.

Ha, I was heavily influenced by this thread...that and just finding out that I have jan 1 and 2 off... I just put a bid in on a ticket on priceline... hooray for spontanaeity...

I'm not flying to the same part of the world as you... but what I do is do the flexible search on orbitz.com and see which 'combos' are cheaper... it gives you a grid of what days of the week/dates are cheaper...and then I check those same dates on a couple of other sites like kayak and sidestep, I'm sure there are a couple others I have used too, but by then they are only a couple dollars cheaper.

Hope that makes sense. Happy Travels!

I will tell you what I was told, pray for them . My mom suggested that I tell people that the subject on my fiance and myself is closed. I have been told he was a "mail-order" husband, i am getting used, someone talk some sense into her. anyways, if you are in love, what it all boils down to is, what you do ultimately is between you, your fiance, and your God. and as i told my family and friends, if it is a mistake, pray for me, but remember, it is my mistake to make

my 3 cents

amen! and

Initially, my family just didn't talk about it. at all. didn't ask me, didn't mention, it was like 'an elephant in the room.' which of course really hurt. They are starting to come around though. At first I found it really hard not to be really defensive, but I think this makes it worse. By being defensive, it's almost like succumbing to their negative thoughts.

I thinks it's really hard too because no one in my family has met my fiance, nor can they really speak with him (broken spanglish convos on crappy internet phones...)...In a rare, but meaningful heart to heart with my mom, she gave me the best advice, it put my defensive attitude to rest at least.

She said, "You are never going to be able to convince anyone, they will have to see it for themselves with their own eyes. It may take months, it may take years, but in the end the only way you will be able to 'convince' them is by living your lives happy together."

And speaking about work.. how on earth did she get an income to pay for food, healthstuff, a place to live and all that kind of stuff for all those years? She never paid any taxes either then... what about the millions of people who actually do pay taxes every year? They pay taxes but this person, since she is illegal, did not paid her taxes once....

I am a social worker/case manager at a clinic for immigrants... more than 75% of undocumented workers are paid with checks...checks from which the SAME taxes that are taken from documented workers's checks are taken, social security, federal, state, etc... the only difference they can't claim a tax refund on their salaries of $14,000 a year.

Not to mention sales tax, and every other thing we consume that is taxed.

Just wanted to make that clear.

Sorry, OP, for the off topic reply. I actually have seen this situation a lot. My advice, go with the post that mentioned charitable organizations that will help reunite families.

my thoughts are with your friend and her child...

Before we applied, I called around and spoke with 5-6 lawyers, all whom said the K-1 (fiance) visa is the fastest route. I think people here will tell you they are about they same (correct me if I'm wrong, as soon as we applied I stopped learning and know little about the k-3 (spouse)). If you are still unsure, I would call around and talk to some lawyers, there are some that will give you a free consultation, or at least tell you their opinion (and make you talk to lawyers who have dealt with cases from Venezuela). As soon as we applied for the K-1 it seemed like peoples' favorite thing to do was to tell us about all the 'supposed' really fast K-3 that had gotten approved from Nicaragua.... I dont really believe that they knew what they were talking about...just do your research!

You definitely don't need a lawyer, the paperwork is simple enough and any questions people here are great about answering. It's really a personal decision; whatever you feel most comfortable with/can afford .

Suerte!

I would do whatever you can to include pictures, save them on a flashdrive, take the memory card to walgreens, send them via internet to print, get a new printer....

Although we are still awaiting NOA2 so I can't speak from the experience of someone who has been approved, I can tell you what we've learned from others. We originally gave our lawyer about 7 pictures and they still requested 3-5 more. And reading posts, you will find that there are more than a few VJ couples that have planned trips JUST for taking more pictures.

Good Luck!

Greetings!!!

Good day, I am married to American and we live in the Philippines full time. We are intersted in visiting the US to visit family etc. Because we are full time residents of the PI, can anyone recomend the proper visa to apply for? Also reference to any forms or agencies that can process the documents would be helpful. thank you for any help.

Greg & Geri

personally i think you both should have stayed in the US and just travelled back and forth to the philippines when you can. and if you had some business in the philippines, you could have let someone handle it. or a family member. since you cant apply for fiance visa as you are not a fiance and you already are married. it would have to be a tourist visa which is close to impossible now to get.

and again, if your husband is still a US citizen, he can go back to the US and get you on a spouse visa and wait till it gets approved and all.

and you will travel the same journey as most of us here.

if that fails, then im afraid you both will be stuck in the philippines for a very long time unless you successfully get a tourist visa. or unless you are petitioned as a spouse.

good luck!

I'm not sure that the OP was requesting advice as to how to live their life, so much as which visa to apply for. Please remember each journey is different, and respecting those differences and encouraging/helping each other is why we are all here.

to the OP-- because you are already married, and this thread is for those applying for fiance visas (for unmarried people) you would probably find more useful answers in "The Foreign Embassy and Consulate General Discussion" as was mentioned by YuandDan.

Good luck!