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Thank you for this link.

Is ther ea link that explains the costs? I found something that appears to say it is $160 for the applicaiton (I think) and I'm wondering if there is a link that lists other costs or options like expediting the Visa?

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant_visas.html

Thank you, I will do that then and advise her to go to the consolate in Baranquilla

Thank you for the reply.

Is a tourist visa the only way to go? Can I fill out the forms with her input?

Hi,

I would like to bring my mother in law to the US to visit my wife. My mother in law is Colombian.

Which type of Visa should I apply for?

How long will it take? Can I expedite it?

How much does it cost?

What will she need on her side besides a Colombian passport?

Is there anything else I should be aware of?

Ok, thanks everyone for their replies

Did I understand the other part correctly?

The temporary extension is to allow for processing, and if approved she will get a 10 year permanent resident card at no extra cost and we will not have to pay anything else or do anything else until 10 years following the date her permanent residence is approved?

Hello, thank you both very much for the replies. She came over on a J1 visa in August of 2008 and that was converted to a conditional 2 year green card in July 2010 after we were married.

So if I understand correctly, the temporary extension is to allow for processing, and if approved she will get a 10 year permanent resident card at no extra cost and we will not have to pay anything else or do anything else until 10 years following the date her permanent residence is approved? Also 1 year after her permanent residence is approved, she can obtain a US passport?

Have I understood all of this correctly? If so, this is good news

(I believe this is the right forum, if not my apologies please move this topic to the appropriate forum)

My wife and I have been married for a little over 2 years and we filed her extension a few weeks ago and it was $590 dollars.

Today she got an I-751 receipt notice in the mail stating that her "conditional resident status is extended for one year". Does this mean that every single year we are going to have to pay $590 dollars to get an extension?

Can someone please lay down a general timeline of how this works (and what it will cost) so that we can set our expectations as to how much this is going to cost every year and when it will hopefully end? Also are there steps we can take to end this continuation process and get her a permanent residence, with no further need to prove anything/get biometrics or pay anything else?

Thanks!

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Thank you all for the responses, based on what you are saying, we can travel without issue and deal with the renewal when we return.

Hi,

Thank you for your response, I did not know there were "conditions" so we have not applied for any removal of them. She has a letter asking her to apply for an extension, is that what you mean? Her status is also valid until May or June of 2012.

As long as you have applied for removal of conditions and have your extension letter, I wouldn't let it stop you from traveling. We have left the country several times (even since his physical card expired) with minimal problems. We just carry the extension document and present it when asked.

Especially traveling to Columbia, you should be ok. Our biggest problems are traveling to other countries (like Canada) that allow green card holders to waive their visa requirement but people aren't always trained on how to deal with that. We were visiting his family in Honduras last weekend and it was very easy. I mean, if all else is equal, I'd obviously prefer to travel without any complicated immigration situations, but if you don't want to wait, I wouldn't worry about it at all -- just make sure to bring your documentation!

My wifes 2 year conditional green card is up for renewal in May or June.

We would like to go visit her family for a short time, in Colombia in January or February, but one of her friends had told her that it was a bad idea to travel close to the time that your card needs renewal, or if it is in the renewal process. Is there any truth to this?

Thanks

Wow! Thanks for verifying the great news Darnell!

That's awesome!

I don't know why my timeline didn't fill out correctly or save, I'll try and refill it out tonight.

timeline at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=70951 still empty

I-797-C is a general FORMLETTER, but it contains specific info about a specific event or action or activity.

any I-797-C with the words 'Approval Notice' in it, is cause for huge celebration.

Get to a spa, wax off all yer hair, go in for an expensive meal somewhere, get a facial, etc etc

because...

She passed the interview.

The greencard will be coming - you'll get some more I-797-C formletters, spewing about 'card production ordered'.

Congratulations !

Hi,

The timeline is filled out and today we received an I797, notice type: Approval notice

Do you know what this means?

Hard to know what you've done-

please fill out yer timeline at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=70951 ??

*** moving to AOS forum ***

Hi, thanks for moving this to the correct forum

I'm not sure of any of this, I'll have to look at her paper work.

We had our first interview, or last interview? this week where they ask about our relationship, how we met, etc.

Hard to know what you've done-

please fill out yer timeline at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=70951 ??

*** moving to AOS forum ***

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum

We've applied for a green card for my spouse in mid May, she got her work authorization about a week ago and we had an interview yesterday with immigration.

After the interview they told us we were recommended for approval and she'd get a card in a few weeks?

Does this mean she'll get her green card and we are done? It seems a little short/quick?

My wife and I have an interview for her green card next week.

We were told to bring 2 letters signed by friends that are notarized and swear to the legitimacy of our marriage. Is there a form for this that I should print out?

Any other recommended things to bring with us? These are the things we sent copies of to immigration.

6 months of bank statements

last 3 years of w2's

2009 fed tax return

letter from employer

last 3 months of pay stubs

2 passport style photos of me

6 of her

joint bank account

cell phone bill

car insurance as a driver

health insurance

bank account beneficiary

cards and pictures and love notes

photos from wedding

marriage certificiate

copy of her visa

copy of her passport

copy of my birth certificate

copy of her birth certificate translated into english, signed by someone who translates it

g325 form (parents information like DOB and place of birth)

I meant to put F1 ... dangit.

I can't edit it now either, if any mods read this, can you change it to an F1 visa please?

Is J-1 on au-pair or student/work program? You can also notify their organization, I know they're not happy when a program participant engages in illegal activities.

It's across state lines if that is what you are asking. It is car parts, and there are 10 or 20 people that have had their money stolen.

Is that what you meant by demographic?

Depends on what type of scam operation is being run. May need to start with local authorities, maybe report to ICE. What is the scam and what demographic is being targeted? Maybe a case for both.

What are my options when this happens, can I report them to USCIS and have their visa re-evaluated?

Hi,

Thanks for your response, I had thought the temporary work authorization would bridge the gap from filing time until the ~90 day mark, I didn't realize it WAS the ~90 day related work authorization and meant to bridge the gap from ~90 days until the receipt of the green card.

90 days is a long time, is there anything that can be done in the mean time? Can the old work authorization card be used or activated?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1k3aos

it's form I-765. It is active once she gets the card, the card can take up to 3 months to arrive... sometimes sooner. it's filed WITH or AFTER the AOS submission (it's better to send it with)

My wife would like to request work authorization while she waits on her green card to process

From the day you submit the green card forms, pictures, etc etc , how do you request temporary work authorization and how soon after the green card forms/files submission, does that temporary work authorization become active?

Will it just be another SSN looking card, like the one she had when she was here on her visa? Thanks for reading.

My concern is that her legal status ends on August 24th (aside from the month of travel) and we won't be getting married before August 24th, and probably not before September 23rd either ... so it sounds like the K1 is not an option?

Thanks for the suggestion on the guides, I'll be reading them a few times, shortly

No, the visa cannot be converted.

If you marry, then you would file to adjust her status. She can't leave the country until the process is complete.

Do some reading in the Guides to understand your options.

Has anyone ever done this?

My g/f 's J1 visa expires on August 24th and then she has a month to "travel" per her visa.

Can her J1 be converted to a K1 so that she can continue to legally stay in the US and then we can get married in 2 months?

Thanks!

Ok, we'll try this again

Does this mean she's ok for the initial waiver? This what's on her passport

Hey Nick,

Thanks for the link. I'm going to get a copy of her Visa and then try and help her fill it out.

She can extend her J1 with her au pair company for another year if she wants, so I think that seems like the best route for this right now. Her J1 is a cultural exchange/student visa, but not a full time F1 student visa

As for schooling, I can help her afford that if that turns out to be the best option.

After I fill out the 2 year waiver, what is the next step?

When dealing with visa's your agency is the Department of State can try to make heads or tails of extensions at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1296.html, I know of no attorney that works for free.

See Colombia is listed, wife was born there and her family lives there, but she went to Venezuela. Really all I can say as a USC with a US passport, all I had to do to go see her, was to buy a plane ticket and make sure my passport was in my pocket. For citizens of Colombia to come here, it's a far different story, took my mother-in-law over a year to get a visa to come visit us, had to show ownership of property, and income, to assure the DOS she was planning on going back after her visit, but was given an I-94 with 90 days, so she could extend her visit with us. Fortunately, my wife was working for a huge US company in Venezuela, dealt with the US consulate in Caracas, knew everyone there on a first name basis, had a high paying job, and owned property so she was able to get a tourist visa for both herself and her daughter in a matter of days. Thanks to Chavez, that company is just a skeleton of what it was, she probably wouldn't be working there today, practically of her friends were laid off. Almost makes you want to think, if it is meant to happen, everything will work out.

Your potential girl friend does not to overstay her visa, can really cause serious problems in the future if you do decide to get married. I am not even familiar with the J1 visa, so can't be of any help. USCIS deals with immigration. Sections of this board deal more with bringing family members, your spouse or you spouse to be to this country.