maya62

Another update:
We just returned from 2 weeks visiting family in Nepal and came through Customs just fine with our son's original greencard, which we did not update when he turned 14 (see above thread). The CPB agent didn't say a word about it. Just the usual "go talk to Ag about your water buffalo butter.... and welcome home" lol
Since CPB is under DHS, and we have an N-400 pending with USCIS, and that application for an updated card for our son was returned by USCIS, I wondered if they would have that info or ask about either one, but.... nada. I wonder how much of USCIS's stuff they share with DHS (and vice versa). As a (state) govt employee myself, I know agencies sometimes do not communicate well with one another (to put it gently).
Just thought I'd post this since I'll bet others will have questions about international travel with a teenager for whom they did not get an updated greencard when their son/daughter turned 14...
maya

Update:
We had our infopass appointment this am. At our local office, you go through security, then get in line at a front desk/counter, where you are screened for the purpose of your visit and directed from there. We got to the screener and she asked us our purpose (kind of like the guy guarding the bridge in Monty Python's Holy Grail). She read our confusing letter with a furrowed brow and declared that our stuff was sent back because it was 2 days late. I tried to debate that angle and she said, for the first of several times, "AGAIN, blah blah blah...." and repeated what she had just told me as if I were about as intelligent as a box of rocks. And I said "So because it is 2 days late, we have to pay an extra $290?" and she said "Well, you could try resubmitting it with a cover letter... it is up to that office." So I asked her about the part in the letter about expiring or not before he turns 16... "AGAIN, blah blah blah". So then I told her what I was told in both of the 800 number calls and finally she admitted that a lot of people don't even bother with the new I-90 at 14! She said something about his school maybe having an issue with it. HA!!! His school has never even asked if he's legal, nevermind asking to see his greencard, never mind being anywhere near informed enough to know that, even though his greencard says it's good until he's 23, he actually should have a new one issued at 14. HA HA HA. And then she looked at the photo on the greencard and looked at him and said "well, it still looks pretty much like him...". (the card was just issued last May). And I tried to lighten things up a little saying "yeah, if he would just cut his hair!" And she actually cracked a smile for a second. But the bottom line is, when I told her that the second guy at the 800 number told us to forget about this and just apply for citizenship for my husband and this will all go away, she pretty much acquiesced and acted like that was probably the best thing to do. So we never made it past the front desk. But I feel a lot better about just going ahead with the N-400 full steam ahead. And we had a lovely lunch at Chipotle.
Citizenship, here we come!
Hope this helps someone... I can't recommend skipping over the I-90 at 14 nonsense, and it would certainly be different to me if his greencard were issued, say, 5 years ago rather than less than a year ago. Our path aims directly at citizenship anyhow, so it didn't require a major change of plans. So IOW, your mileage may vary! I am not advocating blowing off any requirements of the USCIS.
Maya

Sheriff Joe to hold Press Conference on Obama's Forged Birth Certificate July 17th
zzzzzzzz
oh yeah, and: zzzzzzzz

OK the thread is about lightbulbs, but someone opened the floor for a discussion of the Era of Darkness...
What ushered in the Era of Darkness was the
CRUSHING DEBT incurred by George W Bush's unbelievably misguided war in Iraq, that we are all (along with our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren) going to have to deal with.

Wow. This story is so sad. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. But looking back, I see now that my former situation had nothing to do with love, and frankly (sorry to be blunt) but I don't think love for each other has anything to do with your situation as you have described it here.
I think you have been in love with some combination of: an idealized romance involving "rescuing" someone from their predicament (the previous sponsor backing out), an idealized romance with an exotic foreign woman, an idealized vision of who you think she could/should be (not who she really is) or some toxic combination of those, with a garnish of codependency.
And she seems to be in love with the idea of getting something for nothing, including a ride to the US.
Beating yourself up about what has happened is adding insult to injury. I am guessing (and forgive my presumption) that you already have fairly low self-esteem to have tolerated her behaviour thus far. Don't make it worse by saying, either out loud / in writing / to yourself that you are stupid. Just learn and move on. Think about what real love and a happy marriage would look like, not only at the beginning, but 5, 10, 50 years into it... then look for that.
I can't imagine why you would think she will have a happy relationship with anyone. Once the first blush of new love wears off, look what they're in for!
Best wishes OP,
Maya
PS I found it very helpful to take an extended break from dating anyone (years), just to learn how to be happy and peaceful on my own.... you may find that helpful too...

Drying is an effective means of food preservation because the "water activity" of the food (the hydration level, if you will) is lowered below the threshold where it can support pathogens. I'd be surprised if they raised an objection, but they may.
APHIS (part of USDA) is charged with regulating the import of food. I didn't see anything on their website regarding dried fish, but there is a phone number.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/products_for_personal_consumption/index.asp

I can't claim familiarity with the US Consulate in Kenya, but I have read about previous immigrant marriages, and the prospective immigrant having family (especially close family members) that have already gone through marriage-based immigration, both listed as possible red flags. Add that to a mis-step in the interview and the overall picture may have looked suspicious to the CO. I am not in any way saying it is justified, just that that looks plausible given what I've read thus far on the thread.
What I am not seeing is an urgent sense being communicated to you that you must RUN, do not walk, do not pass go, do not collect $200, to do whatever you can to keep your case at the Consulate. If it were me, here is what I would do first thing tomorrow morning (I'm writing this at 7:30 pm EDT, so too late to do this today I think):
Get a hold of the immigration liaisons for both US Senators and US Rep and request in no uncertain terms that their help is desperately and immediately needed to get the case re-reviewed at the Consulate. Find out from them any other suggestions they may have to facilitate this. It is my understanding that a LOT of time, effort, and heartache can be avoided if the decision is reversed before the package is returned stateside, rather than having to either appeal or get married and re-apply.
Call, email, and/or fax the Consulate until you get an answer and ask: why was the visa denied? What can I send you that will help to clarify things for you? Will you schedule another interview (and if they will, invest in a trip to be with your fiancee if at all possible)?
I wish you best of luck...
Maya