soko

to sum this up,usually AP and EAD get approved way ahead of the greencard,so there is a chance that you will get the AP before the greencard.

as far as your last question goes, judging by the grounds of the defination of emergencies and expedites in USCIS,i dont think you have a good chance of that.

good luck

And that's why all of this is so confusing. What classifies as "a severe financial loss?" Also, we've seen posts by people who were able to get emergency AP because of a relative's wedding. Like everything in this whole process, it seems everything is a ####### shoot.

Sorry, posted this in the wrong forum. I reposted in the travel forum...can't find a way to delete this one.

Sorry, just realized I posted this in the wrong forum initially!

Hi all. I know many people have asked questions about AP over the years, and going through the threads I see there is a lot of different information out there.

Most of it, however, is anecdotal. I would love to hear from people who have actually been in a similar situation and can tell me what they personally experienced.

By way of background, we came in the U.S. on a fiancee visa, got married and submitted our AOS, EAD and AP forms. They were received on May 3. We got an RFE at the end of May tied to my income (I am the petitioner...I live overseas and just moved back here with my fiancee, who if from Iran, and I hadn't lined up a job yet so I was freelancing. I landed a job shortly after we filed, so I sent in the offer letter and two tax stubs as proof that I can support her). They received our evidence on June 16. So we had about a three-week delay. We have our wedding planned in another country in early September. It was the only time that her family could make it. So it was either that or not have a wedding with her side. This is obviously important, particularly because it would help cement our lifelong bond if our families could meet. She also hasn't seen her family in two years and this is probably her last shot for another few years.

So, here are my questions:

- Does a delay in your AOS also delay your AP application? I know this has been asked before, but I'm wondering if people who have actually had this happen can answer.

- Do the average processing times on this site and on the USCIS Web site include all filings, or just those with no delays? In other words, if it takes 69 days to process AP now, does that include applications that were delayed?

- I'm wondering if the three weeks our AOS, AP and EAD were being processed BEFORE the RFE came through will count toward the total time. In other words, if it takes 69 days on average to process an AP, and they were reviewing it for three weeks before we received the RFE, should we expect it'll take 48 days or so, or does the process essentially begin onthe date they receive the evidence?

- Lastly, can someone who has applied for emergency AP recently - and perhaps in Denver? - give me an idea of their experience? If we don't receive AP in time, we plan to make an InfoPass appointment and request an emerency document under the justification of severe financial loss. We have already paid $5,000 as a deposit for the wedding, and two dozen people have already bought tickets and hotel rooms.

I'm hoping none of this will be an issue, as we applied for AP four months ahead of our travel date. But we're just a bit worried because of the RFE and the fact that we've heard so much conflicting information about Emergency AP.

Thanks ahead of time...

Hi all. I know many people have asked questions about AP over the years, and going through the threads I see there is a lot of different information out there.

Most of it, however, is anecdotal. I would love to hear from people who have actually been in a similar situation and can tell me what they personally experienced.

By way of background, we came in the U.S. on a fiancee visa, got married and submitted our AOS, EAD and AP forms. They were received on May 3. We got an RFE at the end of May tied to my income (I am the petitioner...I live overseas and just moved back here with my fiancee, who if from Iran, and I hadn't lined up a job yet so I was freelancing. I landed a job shortly after we filed, so I sent in the offer letter and two tax stubs as proof that I can support her). They received our evidence on June 16. So we had about a three-week delay. We have our wedding planned in another country in early September. It was the only time that her family could make it. So it was either that or not have a wedding with her side. This is obviously important, particularly because it would help cement our lifelong bond if our families could meet. She also hasn't seen her family in two years and this is probably her last shot for another few years.

So, here are my questions:

- Does a delay in your AOS also delay your AP application? I know this has been asked before, but I'm wondering if people who have actually had this happen can answer.

- Do the average processing times on this site and on the USCIS Web site include all filings, or just those with no delays? In other words, if it takes 69 days to process AP now, does that include applications that were delayed?

- I'm wondering if the three weeks our AOS, AP and EAD were being processed BEFORE the RFE came through will count toward the total time. In other words, if it takes 69 days on average to process an AP, and they were reviewing it for three weeks before we received the RFE, should we expect it'll take 48 days or so, or does the process essentially begin onthe date they receive the evidence?

- Lastly, can someone who has applied for emergency AP recently - and perhaps in Denver? - give me an idea of their experience? If we don't receive AP in time, we plan to make an InfoPass appointment and request an emerency document under the justification of severe financial loss. We have already paid $5,000 as a deposit for the wedding, and two dozen people have already bought tickets and hotel rooms.

I'm hoping none of this will be an issue, as we applied for AP four months ahead of our travel date. But we're just a bit worried because of the RFE and the fact that we've heard so much conflicting information about Emergency AP.

Thanks ahead of time...

thanks for the support. actually, we just received a letter from the embassy saying that the visa has been processed and its with the courier. of course, it just HAD to happen on the eve of a really long holiday here, so we will have to wait until monday but at least it's coming (we think).

best,

chris

i can only imagine how frustrated you must feel. hang in there! we got lucky that it didn't get held up any longer. i hope you hear something in the next day or two.

How have your dealings been with the embassy? We are actually able to call and get through relatively quickly here in Seoul, and each time they look up our specific case and check on it. It seems we're lucky to some extent - judging from other comments, most embassies don't let you call, or they charge you (in the U.K., I think). The main woman we deal with has been very nice and encouraging, but I wonder how much she truly knows about what's going on. She did say she checked with the visa processing unit last time, and that we should have the passport back soon. My fear is that there doesn't seem to be great communication between the embassies and the DOS. So perhaps the visa processing unit here thinks it's almost ready to go, but the DOS plans to take its sweet time.

(Oh, and I am definitely impatient too...and I've learned that my fiancee is even MORE impatient than I am!)

Good luck!

sorry to hear that! must have been really sad when he had to leave without you. we might be in a similar situation if we don't receive it in the next month or two, as i will have to go to the u.s. and start looking for jobs. let me know how it turns out for you, and best of luck. hang in there.

thanks for the reply. we are in a very difficult situation now, because when we were told it would be here in five business days we made plans to leave for the u.s. and gave notice to our employers (she's iranian, but we both currently live in seoul). we have another four weeks before our tickets to the u.s., but we're really worried now. the crazy thing is that my fiancee's korean visa expires in two weeks, and she needs to extend it. but she can't without her passport, as it's with the u.s. embassy. so if she doesn't get it back, she will be foreced to live here in korea illegally! not sure how all that is going to work out. there's a big korean holiday next week and everything closes from wednesday through friday, and then it's the weekend. so the clock is really ticking.

again, thanks for sharing your experience. the difficult part is that they keep telling us that it'll be there in a few days. if they had just told us initially that it might take a month or two we could have adapted. let me know what happens on your end, and i'll do the same.

Hello. I'm wondering if people who have been through the K-1 process in Seoul can tell me how long it took them to get their passports back after the interview. My fiancee was told she had been approved during the interview and that the visa would be here in five days, but it's now three weeks later and we still don't have it. Also, do they tell you at the time of the interview that you'll be in AP? We haven't been told a thing on this end, so we didn't think she would go through AP. But with the delay, I'm wondering if that's exactly what happened.

Thanks,

Chris

hi there. i think i'm in your same situation. my iranian fiancee had her interview at the seoul embassy, and they told her to wait five business days. so we made plans to leave, gave work notice, etc. after all, the person who interviewed her TOLD her that it would be there in a few days. he didn't mention anything about AP. we waited two weeks and then called. they keep telling us it'll be another few days, etc. but we still don't have it. i called again on friday, and the woman went and talked to the visa processing unit, and she said it will just be a few more days. i kept pressing her on it, and she said it won't be long. i'm not sure what the heck is going on. but my fiancee is in korea on a student visa that expires in two weeks. she needs to get it extended, but the u.s. embassy has her passport. we plan to call the DOS on Monday. this wouldn't have been a huge deal if they hadn't told us it would arrive in a few days in the first place, and if they didn't keep telling us it'll be here shortly. now we're worried about being in AP, even though they insist that we're not.

let us know when you actually get your visa, and we'll do the same. good luck!!!

Thanks for the replies. The problem is that we were told five days, and then we were told this week. If it was stuck in AP I don't think they would have given us such specific information.So we're not sure what to think at this point. When they told us five days we started making plans and booked tickets to the U.S. in mid-March. That's a ways out, but now we're worried about getting it by then. We wouldn't have made all these plans if they hadn't specifically told us when to expect the visa.

Hi all. So, my fiancee - who is from Iran - had her interview at the Seoul embassy on Jan. 10 and was told she would get her K-1 visa within five days by the guy who conducted the interview. Here we are nearly three weeks later, and she hasn't received her passport back. I assumed they meant five business days, and I figured that it would take a few extra days. But it's been 14 business days, and we're about to hit a big three-day Korean holiday. Has anyone experienced such a delay? I called several times and the lady said we would get it this week. It's Friday and it hasn't come, so my fiancee called again and the lady said it's still being processed and she has no idea when it will come. It could be tomorrow or it could be a month. I've been very patient with the whole process, but this is driving me nuts because we're trying to plan everything. We assumed when she was approved for the visa that she had already been through the necessary checks. Why on earth would it take another 4-5 weeks to process a visa that was already approved? We were told that everything is fine and she's approved for the visa and that this is just a standard step. It's not in advanced processing. I'm wondering if it's because she's from Iran?

Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated. My fiancee's Korean visa expires in three weeks, and she needs to get it extended. But of course she can't without her passport. So if it expires she will have to leave the country...but she can't without her passport. So she would be forced to live here illegally. What a messed up situation.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

My fiancee has her interview in a few days. I remember reading somewhere that me, the petitioner, has to submit another letter of my intent to marry. But now I've looked over all the information again and scoured the Web, and I can't find where I saw that. Can anyone tell me if this is true? Also, we currently live together in Korea and I will be going to the embassy with her. So how much supporting documentation do I need to prove evidence of a fiancee relationship? It's not like we've only met once or twice...

Thanks in advance

Hi all. I'm living with my fiancee now in Seoul, which means I don't have a job in the U.S. and probably won't have one lined up until we return. So I won't have sustained income when I leave.

I'm very confused about which supporting documents to submit when my fiancee goes in for the interview. I can probably get a letter from my bank with my current balance and deposits over the past year. I have a mortgage (though all the documents are in storage in Colorado) on a house I rent out; stocks and mutual funds via Ameritrade, a 401k plan with a substantial sum as well as some IRAs. Does anyone know if copies of online statements from these accounts is acceptable? Also, how do I prove that I own my home? Should I submit a copy of my monthly mortgage bill? Lastly, am I required to submit tax forms as proof of income?

I haven't been able to find much information for people in my case (where I'm not currently living in the U.S.)

Thanks in advance.

Is it possible to save forms DS-230 and DS-156K on your computer? They download just fine, and I can save them to my computer. But the forms always remain blank, and a message says that if you can't save any data you enter and should instead print it. It's a major hassle, as we don't have a printer at home.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Chris

thanks for all the information. looks like you were successful in getting your hubby to the states? we are now waiting to hear from the embassy. i will call them soon if i don't hear anything, as you suggested!

and by embassy of course i mean consulate sorry, trying to write this from a beach in thailand right now. also, i know the average interview time according to this site is about 2.5 months. but i'm wondering if that's because it sometimes takes a while for applicants to gather all the necessary documents and so they need more time until the interview, or if it's because the consulates are scheduling interviews way out.

hello. thanks for all the help answering my previous questions. we just received word that our noa2 was approved from the california service center! it took just a little over four months. i'm trying to get an idea of what to expect next in terms of timing. we both live in seoul currently. according to various information on this site, it appears it will take a few more weeks to go through the necessary channels to get to the u.s. embassy in seoul. my question: how long does it usually take to get an interview date once the embassy receives your information? does the embassy schedule it for you, or do you get to choose a date? can you get an interview in, say, two weeks, or is it usually a couple months? i imagine it varies depending on the embassy, but any help on what to expect here would be great.

thanks in advance.

chris

Hi all. I have applied for a K-1 visa for my Iranian fiancee. Given that she's from Iran, it's very difficult for her to travel internationally, as she needs a tourist visa to visit most countries. Once we get married in the U.S. and she recieves advance parole, I'm wondering if it will become easier for her to travel abroad. We would like to have our honeymoon in Europe, for example. As it stands now, it's very hard for her to get into Europe with an Iranian passport. Will it be easier for her to get these types of travel visas once we are married? When will she get all the travel benefits of an American citizen? I'm a huge traveler and love to explore the world, so I'm hoping we can take lots of trips together.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

thanks for the initial help. she'll be applying at the u.s. embassy in seoul, south korea. she's iranian.

hi all. i have a question regarding the I-134. my fiance (from another country) and i both live currently live in south korea. i have a job here that meets the financial requirements to sponsor her, but i will quit once/if her k-1 visa is approved and we move to the u.s., as my current employer is a korean company. a lawyer told us we won't need a co-sponsor, as my tax returns from last year are adequate. but i read on here that they really scrutinize this part of the process. i won a home and have stocks and savings in the u.s. but, again, i won't have a job right away. has anyone dealt with this? should i find a co-sponsor anyway?

also, does anyone know what happens after the I-129F is approved, in terms of what we actually receive? do we get the documents to fill out - like the I-134 - and other information on what to do next? do we just schedule an interview after the NVC approves it, or do we have to wait? just trying to get everything in order ahead of time so we'll be ready.

thanks in advance...

I'm filling out the G-325A forms required for a fiance visa, and there's a box that says "If your native alphabet is in other than Roman letters, write your name in your native alphabet below." I found another online help site that said you should print it and then write it there yourself, rather than fill that part out online. But my girlfriend said she has the Farsi fonts and can simply write her name in Farsi online. Does anyone know if we're allowed to do that? We are currently living outside the United States and want to email everything to a lawyer who is helping us. He will then assemble our package and mail it in the United States, which will cut down on the time, as we won't have to mail it from Asia.

Thanks.

I'm filling out the G325A form, and I'm confused on two parts. Do either me or my spouse need to fill in the "file number" section at the top? The blank starts with the letter A.

Also, it asks us to list "applicant's last address outside the United States of more than 1 year." I read this two ways: they want your last address abroad if you were overseas for more than a year - no matter how long you were at that particular house - or they want the address of the place you last lived in for a year while outside the United States (in this case you would have had to have lived in the same house for a year).

Lastly, it says "if your native alphabet is in other than Roman letters, please write your name in your native alphabet below"

So, my girlfriend is from Iran, which uses the arabic alphabet. But she's living in Korea and will apply via the embassy here, and the U.S. has no relations with Iran. So does she still need to write her name in Farsi, even though she only uses English where she's living now?

Thanks

great info. thanks a bunch.