LewisandAlena

Just thought yinz guys might like to hear my experiences calling USCIS:

11:16 called and looped through automated system for a bit.

11:26 pressed 6 to speak to a person, got a CSR. She was polite, told me about July 24th, said it might take 30 to 50 days. I said I had heard about other people getting theirs and wanted to talk to an ISO for a more detailed status. She said she COULDN'T transfer to an officer, just another CSR. I questioned that a bit and then said fine, thinking I'll just ask the next CSR.

Put on hold at 11:38, not sure how long this lasted, but a good few minutes.

Got an officer! Yay! She was really nice and even made some jokes about her computer being so slow. She started putting in a service request and said it wouldn't let her because of July 24th. Then she said "Let's see if we can do this another way..." and some way or another she put one in! She gave me a confirmation number, told me I should receive a letter of some sort by February 15th and that I should call if I don't, and congratulated me (I suppose for my engagement, but maybe also for my soon-to-arrive NOA2???). Call ended almost right at noon.

I'm feeling a bit better about it all. Hopefully they follow through on it!!

Ok I am having my 2 cents worth here. I can't believe people are giving you advice and information on fiance visa's and so on. What they have told you is all correct and good but as a mother no way in hell would I let my daughter even think of such a thing at 17.

You have school to finish and the college as you said he has to finish yr 12 and then uni or do college to get a trade.

...

Enjoy life and go out with lots of boys cause I am sure he will date lots of Aussie girls.

I don't mean to sound mean but just the mother in me and if i was either of your mums I would try and discourage these thoughts a lot. Sorry for being negative.

I WISH I knew this stuff when I met Lewis at 17. I'd be married by now. Instead I'm waiting for my August-filed visa because I had no clue how long this thing would take. Certainly, it's a young age, but everyone is different. I get really ticked at people who tell me I'm too young. Date a few other guys first. Seriously? Be immature and create unnecessary attachments with young men who mean nothing to me?

To the OP, I think it's fantastic that you're looking into this now. As I said, if I had known then what I know now, my Lewis would be here. I think it's good that you want to know up front what it will take, so that if and when marriage comes up, you'll know how to plan.

Also, it's not impossible to finish college married. But it is very difficult to accomplish ANYTHING when you're driving yourself crazy missing the love of your life.

Our decision was a combination of school, work, and family. I'm still in college, and transferring isn't an option because I'm on a scholarship from my university. Lewis is a plumber, and although some things are a little different here, everyone everywhere needs a plumber.

The family was the tough part. We both have very close families, but he's said that he always sort of felt like he'd move away. We've discussed living in England later on, which as others have said, is a lot easier to do than starting there and moving here later.

That, and what he considers to be 'good' tea. Even when I buy him British tea, he complains that the milk isn't right here.

I hear ya. Lewis says our "British tea" is weak. And now he's got my dad addicted to the "real stuff."

We pretty much knew we were getting married when we started dating in Sept '08, but it took us until June 2010 to make it "facebook official" and until October 2010 to get a ring. Neither of us remembers a specific conversation where we "decided" to get married, it was sort of just understood.

It wasn't really a cultural difference, although it was funny to see everyone take the facebook change so seriously when we had already been planning a wedding for months. And of course, he hadn't actually proposed, so I had to explain that to a lot of people.

I dunno, you should get an ISO http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1221837986181.shtm#5

then when you have an ISO - ask them to review case status - THEY can - it's on their screen.

Thanks so much for this. I've begun mentally preparing to call at the end of the month and this will help loads!

a RIGHT the US gives you.

Not to bandy words, but it's really important where rights come from. NOT the government. That's a major founding principle of this country.

We've been fortunate to spend about 7 months in person(when you add it up) since we met in May 2008. We spend a lot of time on skype, and when there's not time to talk it's because we're keeping busy which is a good thing, too.

I also just realized that we had sort of accidentally created a great diversion for ourselves. We're both really into Victorian antiques so we've been collecting mismatched vintage tea cups for our wedding. We finally just finished collecting enough for every guest and I realized that's when I started fretting about the visa and checking VJ every day!

What's the deal with the tourist visa? How does it compare to the fiance visa? Is one faster to get? Is one easier? Can you get married with both of them? I imagine it depends on the country, I'm talking about Peru... any insights?

It looks like you've already applied for the fiance visa, so I would just stick with that. My fiance is from the UK, so he's never had to get a tourist visa, but from what I've heard it can take just as long and you might be denied since you're doing the K-1. When you get the fiance visa, you've already been approved to enter the country and stay (as long as you marry and file the rest of the paperwork) whereas with the tourist visa I think there's a chance you'd have to leave after the marriage while you file for whatever spouse visa you choose (Someone correct me if I'm wrong).

California average approval is 8/25 to Vsc 7/25.

I remember being so relieved to find out we were with VSC. I'd actually have a reason to check the mail tomorrow with CSC...

a dirty job of Isrealian government

Those darn juice!

Scans of your passport stamp page (in color) are good to have. We're both very disorganized and lost all our boarding passes too, but the stamp page is pretty good evidence. Also, I think they're more concerned that you've met in person over the past years than where it happened. If you have pictures of the two of you together, that meets that criteria.

Don't stress it! I'm sure you have plenty of evidence.

Congratulations!!

I am a bit worried b/c I see people talking about FB & Skype transcripts. The extractor program for skype does not work on my computer (mac) so there really is no way to prove that. I have FB message and emails, however, as far as phone calls go (many a week for the past year) I have no evidence b/c it was all skype to skype. Ugh...

I had trouble getting our actual call history, too. I ended up actually just print-screening samples of skype conversations and facebook messages. I highlighted call lengths on skype (hours and hours and hours) and blanked out everything in the facebook messages except things like "i love you" "xoxox" and "___ days until I see you again!" It probably wouldn't stand up in a court of law because it could be edited so easily, but along with our pictures and stamped passport pages I think it proves an ongoing relationship. Why would you quit your job to visit your girlfriend and then fake skype records?

I trust that all you voted?

Maybe you will consider what is really important to your life next time?

Oh, how I wanted to vote. Unfortunately I was a little too young at the time.

August 26th filers and an October 3 touch. I've seen some more recent filers posting touches in their signatures, though. It seems like the touches don't really mean anything.

We'll hit 5 months at the end of January. Starting to worry about rescheduling our May wedding.

What's really annoying is we scheduled a meeting at our local branch and asked very specifically when we should file if we want to marry in May. They said OCTOBER. Good thing we didn't listen to them, or we'd really be screwed.

You don't need to send the I-134 with the I-129F. It's only needed at the interview, and there is no fee.

Hope that helps!

We won't get an RFE for it? If we don't have to send it in, yes that helps a lot! Thanks!

And minimum wage sucks, but we've all been there! At least you have a job, that's what counts!

Oh, I'm not complaining! It would just suck to have to pay $70 twice over. Thank you and everyone else for your quick answers!

Regardless of the income amount the fiance Petitioner is always considered the primary sponsor. They're going to want to know you can support your future spouse. You'll have to fill out a I-134, but as soon as they see you don't make enough to qualify they'll switch to your co-sponsor's info.

*sigh* I figured. Thanks.

Personal questios, but do you make anywhere close to the guidelines (just over $18k for a household of 2)? If you make enough now to qualify, even without the tax returns, you can provide a letter from your employer stating when you started, how much you make, and that you're a regular (not temp) employee in good standing, and attach copies of your pay stubs. You might consider also including a copy of your parents' tax return for last year showing you were still considered a dependent. It would be smart, however, to include a co-signer's form and documentation JUST IN CASE they ask for it.

Good luck!

No, it's minimum wage part time. I'm still in college. Thanks, though!

Hi

There is no fee for the I-134 for the K1 visa for the embassy.

Does that mean if we don't send it with the I-129f and instead hand it in at the embassy interview?

I hope this is the right place to post this...

So, it may sound silly, but at the ripe old age of 19 I just got my first job in June. I have pretty much no money of my own, and certainly no income tax statements or anything of the sort. My question is, do I need to fill out an Affidavit of Support at all since I clearly don't make enough money? My mom is more than willing to file and she makes enough. Can we just send an Affidavit from her? I saw that if you're filing from within the US there's a $70 fee, so if we didn't have to pay that twice that would be splendid. Thanks!

Also, you can travel between Countries while you are waiting for the Visa to be approved. My fiance has been here twice since we filed without any issue. Good luck!!

Are you positive? I knew I could go to England, but when I asked the immigration officer whether he could come over she said no. But I'm starting to doubt pretty much everything she told me.

Awesome! Thank you both.

Keep in mind that your fiancé will have 6 months to use the visa after it is issued, so if it isn't issued any earlier than Nov. 7 (roughly), he'll be OK.

I saw somewhere else that it was 4 months, which has been the root of most of our concerns. Is it definitely 6?

Hi there! My fiancé and I are trying to sort out when would be best to send in all the initial K-1 paperwork so that it goes through at the right time. We wanted to get married in December, but that doesn't sound like it will work. We're planning for May 7 now, but we don't want to file too soon so that he can still be in England for his brother's wedding on April 7. I spoke to an immigration officer today, and she said to file in mid-October. Based on your experiences, does this sound about right?

(PS If it is, that would be great, because we wanted to have one last visit before filing and "the big wait")

Thanks!