zhongyuan34

To the AOS experts out there: I plan to leave my job in the States and move back abroad but I've already filed the K-1. As someone suggested, one option for us is to continue with the K-1. But this obviously creates an AOS problem. I plan to overcome the problem through 1) some savings and 2) getting the folks to do the I-1864A AOS. But can/should I also include the income I'd be getting from my job abroad? Should I inform USCIS when my job changes, or can my fiancee just bring the new employment information to the interview?

Also, on taxes: What are they looking for? I was working abroad for the last five years and made so little that I filed an "exclusion of foreign income" document. Will that cause problems for me?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Donna-Marie, I do apologize, my post to you was rude. I am sorry. Emotions got the better of me. Your latest post about my intentions show that you very much understand the idea I had.

"The Dear USCIS" letter was intended as satire -- originally. But the more I think about it, maybe it's not a bad idea to make a life over there. I moved back to the States after living in China for five years, found a job and dove right into the K-1 process -- rather ignorantly, my mistake. If I had figured out what a backlog there are on apps, I would have stayed in China and done things differently.

I have more of a life in China than I do in America, for better or for worse. Insofar as I have meaningful work, it's also there -- I speak the language fairly well. The two of us could have good lives there. I don't really want to be an expatriate for the rest of my life -- and I think my wife-to-be deserves a chance to experience the States, but maybe it's a way for us.

I am a total wuss on the separation thing, compared to other people on this forum. I've said before and I'll say again, to people who have been waiting years...I bow down to you. I just can't do that.

And yes I'm the "same guy" who was asking about a student visa -- I, in my ignorance, had no idea that it was fraudulent for someone to come to the States as a student and also get married. (Again, this seems incredibly myopic of the G -- people can't genuinely want to study AND get married, as she does?) Obviously we won't do that since it's illegal, but it seems bizarre that that's the case.

I just can't believe that canceling the K-1 and starting a different process once we're married in China would somehow be fraudulent though. I guess I can ask a friend at the consulate over there if that's the case. Plus, if the K-1 takes a year or more as it seems too, she still would have to spend another nine months or so getting the green card once she's here. The time-to-benefit ratio of the K-1 seems to go out the window.

Thanks to all the posters here, and again, sorry for any offense to anyone that my post may have caused.

Donna-marie, for the most obvious reason of all: We wait TOGETHER instead of 10,000 miles apart not knowing when we'll get to be together!!!! Isn't that obvious from my post?! Pshbrk, thanks for your usual clear-headed and knowledgeable response.

Dear USCIS,

Ok, you win. I just can't handle it. The not knowing. The waiting. The desperate desire for touches... (What am I, a leper??) All I wanted to do was get my girl to the States, marry her, and become a good, football-watching, beer-drinking taxpayer. But I can't stand it anymore. I'm moving back to China, for a life of expatriotism. At least we'll be in control of our destinies, and not you.

I know you don't care: this is like writing a nasty letter to the ocean. But you should. Are you not comprised of individuals, individuals with beating hearts and maybe even -- gasp!! -- love lives? I wonder what would happen if every USCIS case officer had a foreign fiance(e), or a relative with one...hmmmm....somehow I think things would move along a lot faster...

I understand there is a backlog. I understand there are real threats of terrorism. But what's with the utter lack of transparency? Why, when there is a branch office right down the road, can I not even schedule a meeting with a representative of my government to discuss my case? Why that...kind of reminds me...of....China! I am so confused... I thought you were a government "of, by and for the people." Anyway...a fond adieu...and I wish the best of luck to all those compatriots out there -- stronger, braver and more patient than I -- that are in your hands.

Love,z

P.S. My real question for you guys out there: Since I plan to go back to China, get married, and do this thing the other way, do I need to formally cancel the K-1? Or is it enough just to ignore it? At some point, I'm concerned that the consulate in China will have two different petitions for the same couple.

I'm curious what people think about this. A friend of mine seems to think that come January, all of these seriously delayed visa applications will speed up quite a bit. I'm somewhat doubtful. What do people out there think?

I'm curious what people think about this. A friend of mine seems to think that come January, all of these seriously delayed visa applications will speed up quite a bit. I'm somewhat doubtful. What do people out there think?

Thanks for the answers. Yes, I think there was miscommunication on some issues. HelloWorld, you mean when SHE is at the interview, right? Ok, good to know. But what does she need to take: Pay stubs? A letter from my employer?(oops...pushbrk, just saw your info...Thanks!! Me too, overprepared is the way to go.) Jomo's girl: I was talking about moving back to China, getting married there, and spending the better part of the next few years getting back here to the States with my wife. I don't think that's fraudulent, especially if we request to discontinue the K-1.

My timeline: Lived in China from 2003-2008, met and began dating my fiancee in 2006,moved back to the States four months ago, filed K-1 Aug.30 and received NOA1 Sept.3.

Perhaps that's a big difference between my case and many others: I was actually living abroad with my fiancee for quite a while. It's just agony to be apart. Life in China, all things considered, was pretty good, which, coupled with all of this nonsense, makes me think I should just go back. We still have a nightmarish process to deal with but at least we are together.

Probably a dumb question for the very knowledgeable out there, but when in the K-1 process do you have to prove financial support? (I filed two months ago, got NOA 1, utter silence since then.) I want to be ready when, a million years from now, we get to the next stage. Do I have to have previous years tax returns ready? What should I have prepared to prove my income? Pay stubs?

Also: If I were to return to live abroad, would it be smarter -- or faster -- to bag the K-1, get married and go straight for the green card? Or we could stay with the K-1, get the parents to be guarantors and continue with that.I'm curious what people here think.

Also: I have to express my admiration for people on this forum. I just can't imagine being separated from my loved one for as long as many people here seem to be. I find it incredibly depressing. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Calling the legally knowledgeable...I don't know why I didn't think about this before. But wouldn't a student visa to study English followed by a marriage in the States be a quick shortcut around all of this nonsense??? I have in fact taught plenty of students in the past who easily got visas to study in the States. She applies for one of these non-degree English programs and gets a visa in a couple of months. (We have the means to make this happen.) While here, we get married, and do an end-around around the ABSURDITY of the constantly changing time frames of the G. Anybody see a reason that wouldn't work?

All the people who are saying that it happens faster than expected are missing a key point: your cases started a long time ago. 2003-2004, 2006. The number of cases that USCIS got last year was a MILLION more than those filed the year before. (Though that's the total number of cases; it would be good to figure out how many of those were I-129f s.)

I've recently spoken to three agents who've all told me the same thing; 7 month wait, THEN they process. (I filed a month ago.)

It's absurd. The whole point of a K1 is an expedited process. I'm moving back to China and we can deal with this nonsense together. I just wish I had figured out that the K1 was going to take a year before I spent so much time getting situated in the States.

As most users I hope will agree, deciphering instructions and information from USCIS is about as clear as reading the Talmud from behind a stained glass window.

My question concerns the timeline page for the K-1. Right now, as best as I can determine, it says that as of July 31st 2008, they are processing applications received in February 2008. My question -- Clintonian in nature -- is what is the meaning of "processing?"

Does that mean they are BEGINNING to process these February applications as of the end of July? Because if so, it's not a round-about-six-month process, it's a 13-month process. Or that they are done processing? In which case, the original description of the K-1 timeline would hold true. I've posed this question to a number of USCIS workers on the phoneline and seem to get different answers...hmmm...

I filed a month ago. I can wait 6 months but not 13. I can always move back to China -- then at least we could deal with all nonsense together.