Andrew-Traci

Thanks for the fruit tray Had to smile at one of the responses regarding cultural food, as in the US I found 'an ethnic British food shop'...mind you as he was selling clotted cream for my homemade scones I didn't care what it was called!

My hubby made the mistake of introducing me to clotted cream... thought I died and went to heaven!!! Rather have that than chocolate any day !!! The trip before last we bought a small insulated bag and filled it with frozen ice packs and clotted cream. Bought some good scones and strawberry jam. All survived the 25 hour trip home so I was able to share a bit of heaven with the girls in the office. Darn I miss clotted cream.....

I am dropping in from the AP thread thanking you for the fruit tray . May we share some of our wonderful dishes with you. Anyone feel like indian food?

Thanks Starlight95 - Some Balti Chicken, Naan Bread & Onion Bhajias would be lovely -

Traci

Oh Tree... I'm so sorry. I know how it goes - you brace yourself for the worst news, and yet, you somehow hold out hope. I feel like that when I click the link to check the list. I tell myself not to get excited, that it probably hasn't changed. But preparing myself still doesn't take away that sinking feeling that accompanies reality.

This past change was the worst. They updated on the 29th with April 30th at the top, as if to say, yeah, that's right, we didn't complete any. And we won't be completing any TOMORROW either.

Reading the adjudicator's manual has given me some insight. It sounds like the file goes from this person to check A, then to another to check B. At each stop, I'm sure the file gets behind other files, and if the employee is on holiday, it stalls.

I'm resigned to go about my business here as if I'm not even on that list. For a while, I was freaking out about it, but all that did was raise my anxiety level. It did nothing to mow my lawn, till the garden, cut down this winter's firewood, etc. So I'm starting all that next week. My husband has planted his own garden. He tells me that he won't be there to harvest any of it, but just in case we are denied, or end up like poor C2C, he won't starve.

Things were much easier for me when we first filed our I-130. I was braced for the 6 months they said it would take. This last wait seems to be the worst - maybe because it's the last.

I absolutely agree with you JustJ - life was much more bearable when we were waiting on the I-130 - We had timelines to look at, we got NOA1's and NOA2's and expected a wait. Now we're dealing with the unknown...and it is the worst wait, and you're right I think it is because we have finally reached "the end" ??? My frustration level is through the roof - I am going to try to borrow some advice from you and keep myself busy this weekend so that I have no spare time to think about my current situation.... I feel like I am going to lose it soon if things don't start moving....

Take care and have a nice weekend!! Pray that next week will bring us all good news!!!

Traci

It'll come as no surprise, J, that I agree with everything you said. Thanks for the empathy - it really does help. Even before this AP mess I found others really don't understand just how stressful this process is, and now that we're on hold...I think I'd have lost my marbles if it weren't for everyone here

It's slightly easier for my husband as his daily routine hasn't changed, he 'just' wants his wife back. On the other hand I'm of course much more directly involved in the whole thing, whether it's attending medicals or interviews, packing, saying goodbyes etc, but it's not just that. I also gave up my job, and there's no chance of going back, so it seems like I have nothing to do but wait around. I've started looking for voluntary work, and perhaps some short online courses all in order to try and keep myself busy. I'm even contemplating asking for my passport back, as I'm not used to the idea of not being able to travel and I'd like to be able to go away with my husband if this goes on for much longer, but at the same time I worry if I ask for it back it'll delay things further.

It's not only about wanting to be with one's spouse, but it's the feeling that one's entire life is on hold. Life's too short as it is, and to spend it in limbo like this is just torture. :bonk:

Ok everyone, it's the weekend! Over on the AP tracker thread we're celebrating the sixth visa recieved this week, and encouraging news about another three...let's hope that the month of May is a very happy one for the rest of us :)

Hi Treehugger -

Totally agree - I am in the same boat as your husband - just waiting for my hubby to finally set foot on US soil. He also did vouluntary redundancy thinking our waiver would be done shortly and he could use the "short" time off to get his affairs in order while he waited for the Embassy to ask for his passport...little did we know.... It's good that you are thinking of ways to keep busy. Anything to help the time pass more quickly!! Tough decision on asking for your passport back - definitely don't want to do anything to delay your case further.... I hate not knowing what my next move is too.... everyone keeps asking how things are going... sure get tired of saying "still waiting"

Well, at least you are getting some encouraging news on the AP side!!!! Let's hope next week brings more good news for your side and some movement on the waiver side!!!

Enjoy your long weekend

Traci

I'm glad you have the strength to get angry.

Frankly, I'm so deflated that I feel nothing at all.

Mother's Day is coming up - painful reminder that yet another year has passed without the opportunity to even try our alternative reproductive therapies.

I am so sorry JustJ... I wish I had some great words of encouragement to offer you, but I am at a loss for words at present I can't believe that they have already released the update with tomorrow's date on it....I have a few choice words for them (none of which are printable) Almost time to flip the page on the calendar to a new month and still NOTHING.

Well to my hubby...we missed your birthday together, if things keep going the way they are I don't think we will be together for my birthday... maybe we should set our sites on our anniversary???? So disappointed in the bloody immigration system... so disappointed.....

Hi Traci,

I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to upset you or anyone else reading this You probably don't follow the AP Tracker thread, but four people this week alone have finally received their visas, another one about a week or so ago, and there's been some kind of 'movement' in another two cases (incidentally perhaps the two longest cases with AP status going well over a year)...so, take heart, some of the positive vibes coming out of the 'black hole' are coming your way

AP is at DOS, and I understand waivers are at USCIS, so it seems it's a different bunch of people working on both, but you never know, some of that productivity might rub of!!!

Wishing everyone all the best

Tree

PS And it's only Wednesday,who knows there might be more good news before the weekend :thumbs:

Hi Treehugger-

Nah, you didn't upset me - hope I didn't upset anyone with my rant... it was just one of those days and I was venting my frustration over no update again .

That is wonderful news about the AP movement at the DOS - I hope you are right and some of the DOS productivity rubs off on the USCIS!!!! Hey USCIS if you're reading this the DOS is looking much better than you!!!!

I hope this movement means good news won't be far off for you!!! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!! Monday is a holiday for the Embassy, so I'm hoping maybe they want to clear off their desks before the long weekend (hint, hint)

Take care everyone - despite my frustration I am still trying to stay positive that an end is in sight soooooon for all of us - we've made it this far that says something for our group!!! Either we're all nuts or very much in love - I personally think it's the later.

Traci

Oh no...what are they doing???? I honestly wonder if they realise how much impact they have on people's lives? Once again I say, by all means carry out checks, certify the validity of relationships etc, and of course the sheer number of cases they're dealing with means things aren't immediate, but this really is something else

Only today I received an email from an American firm advertising the fact that their sale was about to end or something similarly trite, and they used a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "How much of human life is lost in waiting" and I wanted to yell at the screen 'there's no point telling me, I know that, tell that to those making us wait!'

Anyway, I do hope that you, and everyone else, gets good news really soon, probably when you're least expecting it!!

Hi Treehugger -

You couldn't have come across a better quote to sum up our current statuses....our lives have been put on hold for months...years...waiting for the higher ups to make "our" future life decisions...So much time wasted - only getting brief glimpses into what living together might be like through short visits here and there - Seems so unfair that our lives have been reduced to a stack of papers and decisions are formed based on what they read and how they interpret it...having to prove to perfect strangers that our relatonships are real! While I understand the need for all of these procedures - the need to keep our country safe, some sense of compasion for those of us going through this arduous process would be greatly appreciated. But, alas, I know, we are just numbers in a computer system waiting to move up the que... how dehumanizing this has all become.....

Sorry, I will get off my soapbox now... it's just what Treehugger wrote really struck a cord with me. All I want is to be with my husband - living all of those dreams we have talked about - having a "real" life....finally being able to say "yes" I am complete and I am truly happy!! Surely this isn't too much to ask of you - USCIS???? Let there be some good news for all of us soon!!!!

Take care everyone -

Traci

Hi Tree. well it really does seem like we're in the same boat then, up the creek, without a paddle !I was informed today that despite USCIS completing my case, there is still some sort of dispute over the decision So I am not even in AP (i wish I were) I am trying to dig deep and continue on as we must all do..(talk about the old Dunkirk spirit ) and I hope you all hear something today to cheer you up

Hi C2C-

I am so sorry to hear about your latest set-back and am also having a hard time getting my head around the fact that they are now disputing the decision???? Gosh...is there any hope for us?? Please know that we are thinking about you and looking for a favorable response. No news for the rest of us - no suprise there Take care and keep us posted.

Your wonderful spirit is uplifting

Traci

LOL, "Eagle Eye"

I couldn't get the link to work.

I know, I know, pretty pathetic, but heaven forbid you get stuck waiting around as long as we have been - You start searching the web for anything that with give some rhyme or reason to all of this !!!! It's the only thing that keeps me from going completely mad!!! Hoping for an update tomorrow!!!!

You have GOT to be close. Look at it this way...2 down that were in front of you (can't count the one that straight from pending to complete, I guess).

I hope you're right J - sure hope they don't decide to skip ours and do all the easy 1 dayers Come on USCIS - lets see some more movement like last month!! I'm starting to lose faith....

Traci

Original post updated....

Forgive me for failing to concur with you on what you consider to be ranting. For those of us who are waiting on waiver decisions many of us can relate to the information posted. For those who may face possible visa denials due to CIMT’s and who have done any travelling to the US and failed to tick “yes” to question B, the information posted here is invaluable. We wish that we had known this information when we first applied for our K1 visa as it would have saved us a lot of stress, time & money, because if we knew that we were going to get a misrep/fraud charge against us, we would have gone straight for the K3/CR1 because You must have a qualifying family member in order to qualify for an extreme hardship waiver which is a requirement if you receive a denial for misrep/fraud. You can not apply for an extreme hardship waiver to cover misrepresentation or immigration fraud under a K1 Visa. Had we known this we could have foregone the K1 Visa, gotten married sooner, applied for the K3 and submitted all required waivers at the interview. We could have saved ourselves a year of waiting for nothing (K1), not to mention the additional costs (K1 Visa + Legal).

You have not had to go through the waiver process in order to obtain a visa. You have no idea of the anguish and frustration that those going through this process deal with. I don’t expect you to understand the meaning behind the post, nor the significance of how important the manner in which a “piece of paper” is worded can affect a person’s life. Had the wording on the VWP been as concise as it now is on the ESTA there would have been no way to misinterpret the question. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any reason is a very clear cut “yes” or “no” answer. On the other hand the term moral turpitude is a very grey area and quite easy to misinterpret. Apparent from the number of applicants who have CIMT’s and have also been hit with misrepresentation/fraud, an automatic denial.

If the post you are calling ranting can help even one couple make it through the visa process with less heartache than my husband & I, along with others we have met, than it has served its purpose. After all, this site is primarily used to ask "purposeful" questions, and post information to assist and support others.

What exactly are you ranting about, your preclusion from use of the the VWP, or is this more of a rant against unclear verbiage on a piece of paper?

Forgive me for failing to concur with you on what you consider to be ranting. For those of us who are waiting on waiver decisions many of us can relate to the information posted. For those who may face possible visa denials due to CMIT’s and who have done any travelling to the US and failed to tick “yes” to question B, the information posted here is invaluable. I wish that we had known this site existed when we first applied for our K1 visa and someone had posted this information. It would have saved us a lot of stress and waiting. You must have a qualifying family member in order to qualify for an extreme hardship waiver – a requirement if you receive a denial for misrepresentation a required Had we known this we could have foregone the K1 Visa, gotten married sooner, applied for the K3 and submitted all required waivers at the interview. We could have saved ourselves a year of waiting for nothing, not to mention the additional costs.

You have not had to go through the waiver process in order to obtain a visa. You have no ideal of the anguish and frustration that those going through this process deal with. I don’t expect you to understand the meaning behind the post, nor the significance of how important the manner in which a “piece of paper” is worded can affect a person’s life. Had the wording on the VWP been as concise as it now is on the ESTA there would have been no way to misinterpret the question. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any reason is a very clear cut “yes” or “no” answer. On the other hand the term moral turpitude is a very grey area and quite easy to misinterpret. Apparent from the number of applicants who have CMIT’s and have also been hit with misrepresentation, an automatic denial.

If the post you are calling ranting can help even one couple make it through the visa process with less heartache than my husband & I, along with others we have met, than it has served its purpose. After all, this site is primarily used to ask "purposeful" questions, and post information to assist an support others.

Thanks, C2C! I am not sure how to handle my nerves now. Perhaps Andrew & Traci can give me some advice on that!

C2C, have you had any news on your end?

Hi JustJ,

I was so happy to see you under review - had to keep asking Andrew when we were updating the spreadsheet "Now you're sure - no other Dublin's" !!!

Only advice I can give you is just stay positive - Keep your hopes up that you will not be under review long, but don't get disappointed if it doesn't happen as soon as you are anticipating. Just keep reminding yourself that your file is finally on someone's desk physically being looked at!! Lots of cases under review so I will be keeping my eagle-eyes on the updates for any movement so the Spread Sheet King can get the news out to you!!!

C2C - thinking about you also - any news????

Traci

Imagine if we got this visa now & couldn't get a flight because of the volcano.....

OMG - knowing our luck that's what would happen - I don't know if I would cry or breakdown in hesterical laughter...

When's the next holiday with chocolate? That's when we'll be updated. Seems they move on holidays associated with candy (Valentine's Day, Easter).

Frankly, I'm about all in. I really can't take much more. I'm sure that would make them happier than any heart-shaped box or Cadbury egg I could offer.

Hey JustJ,

If I thought it would help I'd send a case or 2 of Hawaiian Chocolate their way. I know you've had a rough week, I'm so sorry....hang in there... I'm not suprised there was no update - I've been analyzing Andrew's spreadsheet and the update page until my eyes went bonkers - Unfortunately all of the cases currently under review (with the exception of 2) are new - put on the end of March. If the averages hold true than hopefully there should be some movement next week - possibly into the following week. At least that's the logic I am using to keep myself sane... otherwise I would be at wits end too... You can't give up - whose shoulder will I cry on!!! Take care - we're here for you...

Traci

Thank you Traci, you made me cry but thank you it is good to know I'm not alone.(I'm just not having a good day I guess) It would really help though if someone who had gone through this would help us out and tell us their waiting times, but i guess we're SOL there. Very best of Good Luck to you and Andrew and hope your case is resolved soon .

Ahhhhh C2C - hope it was just tears of thankfulness knowing that you aren't alone in your quest for happiness.... I think you are correct - I think we are SOL on getting any much needed support from those who have completed this process - they appear to have definitely moved on - all the more reason we all need to stick together - We've become a little online family. Hope you have a busy weekend planned to help you pass the time. No updates for the rest of us today - hopefully that means they are working hard to bring us good news for next week???? Yah, I know...wishful thinking

Please take care,

Traci

Hi Andrew, thank you for takng the time to help me out. I had to file an I212 and it was adjudicated and completed in London, the department of state has been informed of its findings and now I am just waiting for them to request my passport to stamp in the Visa, I was expecting it to be within days of that notification and now its five weeks ago I am way beyond fed up, frustrated, depressed blah blah blah and am now just nonplussed and just feel like throwing it all up in the air and finding a cave somewhere Tell me though, was it the London Embassy 9000 number that you called when you got that good info ?

Hi C2C,

Thanks for the info on you case. Chin Up!!! Please don't give up - I definitely know how frustrating the not knowing & waiting can be , but you're sooooo close. I can't wait to be where you are right now. Hang in there C2C!!! My fingers, toes & eyes are crossed hoping that we will all have some good news very soon!!! We're all here for you Take care...

Traci

Hi JustJ,

I am glad to hear that you made it back safely. I know how you feel... having to leave Andrew and travel 8,000 miles 'home" - I have no words to adequately describe how it made me feel I know your heart isn't where it wants to be, let alone your mind and body. As Andrew stated previously - keep busy!! I pour myself into things to make the time pass faster - 3 months have already come and gone since I left London...

Advice to ALL ...Communication - we know what happens when we don't do that Express your fears - concerns, your relationship will grow stronger through this.

When I feel really down I look back through all of the pictures we took and think about all of the good times we have had -Then I remember what all of this waiting is for... to be able to spend the rest of my life with the man I am so deeply in love with

Hang in there... our day is coming and all of this waiting will be behind us....

Take care JustJ - Hugs

Hi JustJ,

I am glad to hear that you made it back safely. I know how you feel... having to leave Andrew and travel 8,000 miles 'home" - I have no words to adequately describe how it made me feel I know your heart isn't where it wants to be, let alone your mind and body. As Andrew stated previously - keep busy!! I pour myself into things to make the time pass faster - 3 months have already come and gone since I left London...

Advice to ALL ...Communication - we know what happens when we don't do that Express your fears - concerns, your relationship will grow stronger through this.

When I feel really down I look back through all of the pictures we took and think about all of the good times we have had -Then I remember what all of this waiting is for... to be able to spend the rest of my life with the man I am so deeply in love with

Hang in there... our day is coming and all of this waiting will be behind us....

Take care JustJ - Hugs Traci

I was very disheartened when I saw C2C's post - Guess I figured once you got the Waiver approval it was smooth sailing...

If there is anyone out there reading this who has completed/been approved on their waiver and have gotten their visa in their passport could you please reply and let us all know what the procedure forward was - how long did it take??? Please share your experience. Any insight you can give us would be greatly appreciated as I am totally in the dark about all of this...

To all of us waiting - hang in there - we all need to stick together.... I know the waiting and constantly checking for updates is agonizing. Kudos to my hubby for creating his spreadsheet to keep us all informed

Take care,

Traci

Let's hope that the USCIS continues with these daily updates and we all hear good news soon!!!

Take care everyone,

Traci