Meg and Nigel

Not speaking from experience here, and I will say that the government doesn't always side with common sense, but...

If you can marry in good faith, get divorced, and still be eligible for ROC, then I don't see why you can't marry in good faith, get separated and still be eligible for ROC. Plenty of people successfully ROC while divorced so if you have the same evidence of entering the marriage in good faith, I don't see how it matters what your relationship status is now.

Just a thought, not something I would advise simply for ROC, but if you wanted to explore couples counseling or even individual counseling to work on your relationship, it might help you show some evidence that you are committed to improving the relationship in your ROC case.

I can't say that I understand the situation you are in, but I can certainly empathize. People that have the luxury of living close often date for a very long time after realizing they love each other before they move in together or get married. I am sorry to hear that you have had challenges in your relationship after all you went through to be together, and I hope you are able to find your way back together.

Go to Vegas! Great prices on luxury hotels, AMAZING restaurants, spas, pools, shows... Flights are so much cheaper than Hawaii or the Caribbean. Save your money for that first anniversary cruise. You can rent a car and take a drive through the desert, or a helicopter tour of the grand canyon. Or just stay at your resort, rent a cabana by the pool, and canoodle all day.

If your preference is to work in retail/hospital, then I would suggest continuing to look for a job as a technician or intern. Getting certified is just taking a test, so you may want to look into that. It does not require you to take classes, at least in MO. Are companies telling you personally that they want someone with experience, or is it just listed in the requirements on a job post? I would think that a pharmacy degree would count as some kind of experience and they would want to have someone about to become a pharmacist. But maybe since your Philippines experience is mostly industry, they don't think you'd know enough about their processes?

Are you interested in continuing to work for pharma? If you are interested in industry, there has to be an area of the company (maybe just not regulatory) where they could really use someone with knowledge and experience in that part of the world. Have you only looked at regulatory jobs? The areas I mentioned before might be a good way to get your foot in the door. Is there any particular company you have experience with/would like to work for/has a presence in your area? Are you able to relocate? I work in the pharma industry, but I am new to it. I do have a few good contacts though, so I will try to help if I can in any way.

Who is looking for the job? Where is your degree from? You can't get a job as a pharmacist at a hospital or retail setting (CVS, Walgreens) without exams/license, but you could work as a technician in a pharmacy while you get that stuff done. Also, many industry jobs do not require a license, just a degree. Medical writers, medical science liaisons, medical information specialists, etc. Many will want to see some experience in the industry field, but some won't require it. Medical writing is probably a good place to start looking. I would go to individual pharma company websites and search their career pages. Also look at CROs (contract research organizations) like Quintiles, PRA, etc. More info on your background would be helpful for a better answer to your question.

Fantastic day! Nigel got his interview date! It is set for March 29. Other good news: I got a great new job! I am so excited about it, but I am worried it is creating a problem. I just accepted the job, and I don't really want to be asking for an employment letter for a visa on Day 1. By the time Nigel has his interview, I will have been working there for over a week, so does that mean I should send him an updated 134 for the interview with the new job? What if it doesn't get there in time? I won't have any paycheck stubs or anything to back it up. Or can he just take the one he already has? I will still be employed at the old job, just not as many hours. This is very awkward timing and I am not sure exactly what to do.

I took a vacation a couple of years ago that disqualified me from being able to donate for one year. I cried when they told me. I feel so bad for all the UK donors that come over here and just can't any more. I feel for you all.

My god, the last 3 presidents of this country have admitted drug use, but we would bar an immigrant for voluntary admission of a single use years ago!? That is messed up.

Does anyone know the London email code of the week? Or know what number to call to get it? When I called, the girl said she had no idea what II was talking about, so maybe I called the wrong number. Thanks!

"There is no process to "Adjust your status from Non-immigrant K-1 to Immigrant Visa category".

Isn't that what you do when get married and file for I-485? Changing your status from Non-immigrant to an immigrant based on your marriage to USC.

You adjust from non-immigrant status to immigrant status, not from K1 visa to Immigrant Visa. A visa is like a permission slip to enter the country. Once you use it, it isn't anything anymore. You aren't adjusting to another visa, because you are already in. You are adjusting your status. That's why bob 4 anna says it may sound nit-picky, but the subtle differences can be very important.

But if you are marrying soon, you should have time to file AP and get it in time for August travel, so you should still be able to go on your original ticket.

I think you will have to wait until you go to the airport and check in there. I think someone has to actually look at the visa, since you don't have ESTA. You shouldn't need ESTA though, since you have a K1. I have had flights before where online check-in was not allowed, but it was never a problem at the airport. I am not certain of this, but I think you will be okay. Also, your return ticket is fine. People enter on a K1 all the time with a return ticket because it is often cheaper than a one-way, so that will not cause a problem. Your return flight will still be valid. You probably already know this, but you need to file for AP right after your wedding if you are planning on going back to Germany in August. It takes 2-3 months to get it, and if you go without it, you will not be let back in to the States. BPO might ask about the return flight at POE.

I'm so excited for you! Have a safe journey!

Did those help? Basically, after you get the NOA2, you call NVC until you get the LND number (it takes ~1 week before they have it for you). You can schedule the medical as soon as you get this number, before London even receives your case. (Nigel called on Thursday to schedule his and got a Tuesday appt.) Then start calling DOS (202)-663-1225 to see if London has logged your case (yes, you call Washington DC to see what London is doing). As soon as your case is logged, you can mail in all the Packet 3 forms. You don't have to wait for them to send you anything. By the time you have your medical and they get the results and send them to the consulate, your case will be logged in. London is moving fast right now, so it will be smooth sailing after the NOA2! Good luck!

Oh, and I am not sure, but I think you have to wait until you have an interview appt to call and pay the fee on the 1.20/min line.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jr6c9V7Z0YUrFfnlk_t58PXQXVVWEsNPR7hQbOrgBgM/edit?hl=en&authkey=CL_KmL4P&pli=1#

http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/285588-can-we-jump-the-gun-on-receiving-packet-3-and-move-things-along-more-quickly/page__p__4328947__fromsearch__1#entry4328947

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/291809-just-got-my-noa2-email-just-want-to-check-i-have-the-next-step-right/

Check out these links.

I live in Atlanta, she's from Moscow. We met here while she was traveling with her sister on a four month tour. She was out at a club with the lead singer of the band, I slipped her my phone number on the back of my receipt, she txt'd a couple days later inviting me out to play foosball with she and her sister. I went, played foosball, and proceeded to have my a$$ handed to me 30-0 before I got lucky scoring a single goal where I proceeded to cheer like I had won the world cup. We practically lived together for a couple months before her visa expired and off she went. For New Years, I spent a week in Moscow meeting her family and having the most incredible trip in my life.

As for the the lengthy K1 process, I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. The time apart allows us the time we need to make sure we are right for each other. We can focus on the mental aspect keeping the physical separate because she will turn every head in the room. I've had too many unfulfilling relationships so the last thing I want is to move this very special girl away from her family just to find out I can't give her the life she deserves and she can't give me what I need to be happy long term. All the suffering and difficulties we go through to be together only makes our relationship stronger ensuring we will outlast many of those who take their relationships for granted. Our loved ones are much too special to come easy.

Thanks again to everyone.

That is beautiful. Thank you for sharing such a positive perspective. Best of luck on your expedite!

Since she came legally and is here now, and the proposal/marriage was spontaneous, can she not just stay and file AOS now? I don't want to suggest anything shady, but I thought it was okay to do that if you didn't come here with the intent to get married? This has always been an unclear issue for me.

You are answering your own questions. You don't trust her. She has no respect for you. You are not in a partnership. I am so sorry for what you are going through. It breaks my heart, but there is no reasonable explanation any of us can provide for you. You don't trust yourself right now, but you do know. I am so very sorry.

I have a lot more to say, but to spare your feelings, I'm holding my tongue.

Members often confuse "evidence of meeting" with "evidence of relationship". They are NOT the same thing by a long shot. Also notice the word is "evidence" not "proof". They are NOT the same thing by a long shot.

I agree with Gary completely, except to say that a photo together is NOT required evidence of meeting. If you have some photos, certainly include a few but they are secondary evidence of meeting.

The foreigner's birth certificate is NOT required with the petition. It's carried to the interview. The US citizen's complete passport is not required and neither is any page of their passport. Boarding passes alone are enough primary evidence of meeting if you flew to the beneficiary's country of residence. Submitting every page of the US Citizen's passport is an optional way of showing evidence of citizenship. If the US Citizen has a certified copy of their birth certificate or a photocopy of their Naturalization certificate, they need not send anything from their passport.

Yes, you could have met at a friend's wedding reception up to two years ago, and then later made contact and started a long distance relationship with no further in person contact or photos and still get the petition approved. Petition approval though, is NOT A VISA. Take your evidence of relationship to the interview fully prepared to present and explain it as well as answer any and all questions about the relationship and the petitioner's life, family, marital history and job.

Evidence of relationship is for the interview. Even front loaded evidence of relationship is FOR THE INTERVIEW. It doesn't help get a fiancee petition approved except in very rare circumstances where USCIS suspects fraud up front.

This guy knows what he's talking about. I will add though that if you are sending boarding passes as evidence of meeting, be sure the boarding passes are dated with the year. We sent boarding passes and photos as our evidence and received an RFE. On second look, all of the boarding passes were dated with only the month and day of the flight. USCIS needs the year too. If it isn't on the boarding pass, send also copies of the relevant passport stamp(s) or maybe a matching flight itinerary. Some airlines print the year on the boarding passes, but some do not, so be sure to look.

Thanks so much everyone! It's been a long day with these forms!

question 18 of DS-156 asks for "Spouse's full name (even if divorced or separated. Include Maiden name" Does this question refer to current spouse and therefore is not applicable to K1 applicants? Nigel has been married before, so does he put his ex-wife in there? She's not his spouse, but why would it ask 'even if divorced or separated"?

Many would say the CR1 is smarter. I don't disagree, but we hated the idea of being married but living apart for so long. It just meant more to us to wait first and then get to be together once we are married. I think it is an emotional decision with no practical advantage. Weigh that against how much you want the UK wedding. You could always have a small ceremony here in the US if you go the K1 route and then go throw a big party in the UK a few months later once you have AP.

I think any AirCrew that gets arrested, should never be allowed to come into the USA on any visa type.

What are your thoughts ?

Are you kidding me? No I do not agree with that at all. Why would Air Crew be different to anyone else? People get arrested for stupid things, like driving without a valid MOT or unpaid speeding tickets. I really don't think anyone should be denied a visa for that.

Unfortunately, you will have a long wait apart either way. Your options are to get married in the UK, then she goes home and you file the CR1 and wait in the UK for that to get approved (6 months+), then move to the US and start working or you can get engaged, file for K1, wait in the UK for approval (6 months+), get married in US, file for work permit (approval in 2-3 months).

This might be crazy. It is an idea, but I have done no research on it at all. Maybe someone else knows more. Maybe if you want to sped less time apart, you could try to get her residency in the UK (I have heard it is faster to get one there than here). Then you could get married there and she could be with you while you file. You could file DCF so you would get your visa faster and be able to work when you get to the US and you wouldn't have such a long wait apart. But maybe it isn't possible for her to come there, or maybe it would take her just as long to get a visa for the UK.

You can get married, file for CR1, come to US on VWP as a visitor for 3 months, and return to UK to wait out the rest of the process. It lets you be with her at least part of the time. That is what we did. You should keep in mind that this might not work. There is always a risk that when you turn up at immigration to visit your wife he BPO could deny you entry. That would suck. A lot of people do visit successfully though. Nigel came twice.

Hope some of that helps.

A question for ladies with male fiances/spouses? As in, it is natural for men to send money to support their female partners, but a man should be able to take care of himself? The old-fashioned idea that men should pay for everything should have been left behind when women started working. I expect my fiance to support me in every way, including financially. I also intend to support him exactly the same. He gave up everything to come be with me. He sold his house, sold his car, gave up everything he had worked his whole life to accumulate. After a three month stay with me here in the states, he has returned home and is having a very difficult time finding a job, due to factors directly related to the visa process. If he can't find a job and runs out of money, I will send him some. I trust that he is a dependable man that will work and help support our family when he comes home to me. In the meantime, I will help him financially, because at the moment, I am the financially stronger partner. I am not saying that everyone should take this approach. Money is a complicated issue and different things work for different people. I know couples that love and trust each other very much but mutually chose to keep their finances separate. I am simply answering the question of what I would do in the situation, as well as expressing an opinion. If you aren't comfortable sharing finances now or ever, there is nothing wrong with that. But I personally don't see that withholding money only because he is male and should be able to take care of himself is very fair. Especially if you expect him to eventually get a job and share his money with you.

My SO finds the U.S. a wonderland! English men fall over themselves when they see the glory that is the United States of America--vast riches, big cars, gigantic microwave ovens, sunshine, and barrels of ibuprofen. Once they arrive in the States, their families demand that they immediately send back such American delicacies as Milwaukee's Beast Light, Hershey bars, and Wonder Bread--all of which would remain intact following a nuclear meltdown and thus travel well. You ladies married to Brits, you know what I'm talkin' about? Can I get a Hallelujah?

Preach it sister! Sounds like my man for sure! Although his buddy back home insists that America is a third-world country. Just wait until we get him over for a visit...

My Fiance has his medical on Monday. He has high blood pressure and is in the process of being tested by his doctor. He has all of her notes, but he is not yet on meds. I am really worried that this might case a delay in our interview with London. Any advice? I have been losing sleep over this because I a so worried.

Don't worry, he won't fail the medical for high blood pressure. My fiance was worried about that too. If you just search "high blood pressure" on VJ, you will see a lot of comments where people have asked that before. Especially if he has notes from his doctor that they are already looking in to it, it won't be any problem. We welcome immigrants with high blood pressure to this country- boosts the economy