Journeyer

Well, I see, as expected that our resident Team cheer leaders don't have any answer to my challenges.

Look, if you care anything about immigration, then you need to learn who your friends are, or not. I can't do anything here to help, apparently.

A sensible post indeed.

Thank you, sir, for being a sensible person. Apparently you are more familiar with the American political system than most of the MY TEAM vs YOUR TEAM cheer leaders here.

How do I know what for sure? That libertarians are a waste of space politically? Common sense.

You just said nothing. I want examples. Why are libertarians wrong? Do you even know? I think that you don't.

Man, you're chugging that kool aid down like no other. By the gallon. Congratulations!

That's a very objective argument. No surprise. You can't tell me why you think I am wrong and you have no real reply. I am waiting for you to do better, but I don't expect it.

Baiting is the true name of the game for sock puppets. Have fun for the short time it lasts. I don't favor any US political party but I do know for sure that libertarians are not the answer to anything at all.

I have no problems with the immigration system by the way, I played by the rules as they are and it's working out well for us but thanks for your concern all the same

How do you know that, for sure?

The fanatical right in the US has a problem

Sure, and the radical left doesn't have any problems, right? They just love you and only have your best interest in mind.

Look, I have lived in this country all of my life. I'm going to set this straight for you, whether you want to listen or not. The establishment of both big tent parties, do not have your best interest in mind. They have THEIR best interest in mind.

So, stop being played like a fiddle and learn who is your friend and who is not.

The real truth is that both parties are filled with dishonest crooks, and the few that are not, are not exclusively Democrats. There are actually more honest politicians in the GOP, although they are really libertarians, than in the Democratic party.

Biometrics completed this morning.

We were there about 30 minutes. The lady had problems with my wife's fingerprints and kept trying until she was sure they were good so that we wouldn't have to come back again.

Everyone there was too nice, which is another reason we were there for so long, because one lady needed to talk to my wife about Brazil. She had been to Salvador and loved it there and wants to go back again.

Yes I got the new appointment by mail

Very cool, glad to hear that you are all set to go now.

I'm not an expert on interviews of this type, but I'm going to take a wild guess here. I would guess that there is not more than a hand full of couples on the entire planet who could be separated and asked 150 questions and not miss more than 3.

Then, I guess it would depend on the questions. I know that my wife doesn't take any prescriptions meds, and she would know that I don't either. However, she was taking a couple prescription meds that were prescribed in her country, when we first met, that she no longer needs, and I couldn't tell you what those were if my life depended on it.

I would think that if you got only 3 out of 150 questions wrong, that would be an easy case for you 2 are legit. But I would also hope that the people who do these interviews are really good at spotting whether a couple if real or not.

I got a new appointment on Friday for april 22nd,

Great to hear. Did you just hear back from them by mail, or did you have to call/walk in?

Update. Biometrics in Balmer, hon. - 4/23/2014

Not sure if the interview process is different in different countries, but I can tell you this much. Our interview lasted all of about 3 minutes. The lady asked us where and how we met, a couple other trivial things, and then I think a trick question. Because she asked my wife about the state I lived in and where we were going to live, and then she said she didn't know much about that state and used the wrong state name. My wife looked a little confused for a second and then said, NO, it's [this state], not [that one]. Then the lady smiled and said congratulations, I am approving your visa. It was that simple. You can read the entire thing if you want to look at my profile, but there isn't that much more to it.

Hope that helps.

We have spent a total of two weeks together. 1 week in December and 1 week in January. We met online in November.

We spend about 2 hours a day on skype. I am planning another trip in June, but we want to get the paperwork started now.

Ok. I don't really know that much about the fiancé visa. So not sure if the lawyer is being honest in saying that is 'not enough'. I think the people who have done fiancé visa here can help you more, as I don't have any experience with it, we did a CR-1 because we were already married.

You will get some good advice here though, I am sure. I did. Good luck.

So I have visited 2x's each time for 1 week. The lawyer said that was not enough?

Are you saying that you have only spent a total of 2 weeks together, period, or that you have only spent 2 weeks with her in her country?

I definitely agree with the suggestion of going with your fiancee to the interview if you're willing to spend some money.

This. I definitely think spending money for that is worth more than a lawyer. I spent the money I would have spent on a lawyer to visit my wife 2 times in Brazil and go to the interview with her.

Just my opinion, but I think this site is worth more than a lawyer, and it's free!

If you have a good lawyer that has been recommended by people who have already gone through the process, then it might be worth it to spend the extra money, if that gives you some peace of mind.

My overall experience with lawyers, was bad and worse. I had an initial consultation with 3 different lawyers, and they all told me things that I already knew were not true. There was even one who told me to apply for a fiancé visa even though I was already married!

She made an appointment with a lawyer and they filled her head full of doubt

Yeah, I had the same experience, one told me 'You'd better not try to do this yourself! You'll get into all sorts of trouble! I'm an immigration expert, you need me!'. That, after this lawyer had already told me things that I knew were not true from the research I did here. Well, I did it myself and we didn't get into any trouble and were approved.

My advice. Read here, ask questions, and educate yourself as much as possible. Then you will be more prepared to know if you need a lawyer or if you are hiring the right one if you decide to go that route.

Oh, and I edited this post to add: I think it's natural to feel nervous. This process does that to you. I think anyone who doesn't have nerves of steel is going to feel nervous. My wife and I were both nervous, but it all worked out in the end.

Check still hasn't been cashed yet

Feeling paranoid that I forgot to include it at this point D: D: D:

Realistically - they received my package on a Friday. It's only Monday. hhnngngngngng

I was the same way. I kept looking at my bank account and checking the mail every hour or so.

They received mine on 25, check cleared on 28, and I received the NOA1 on 29, but it was dated 25, the same day that they received it.

Oh, I absolutely agree with you! It is an important date and I'm sure would be helpful for others to know the receipt date and the actual date you received the NOA1 by mail (kind of give them an idea of when to expect the NOA1).. I think it's just too many dates for a post like this! However you can always be more detailed in your signature if you wanted?

Ok, thanks for the suggestion. Right now, I'm feeling too lazy to include a signature

It seems that the date on the letter is going to be somewhat dependent upon how you mail the package. I did overnight. But it also seems like some have said that the USCIC received their package and the NOA1 date didn't happen for several days after. I guess I got lucky on that one.

Oh, I tend to over analyze everything. It's just me, it drives my poor wife crazy sometimes. So please feel free to ignore my ramblings, like she does.

Sorry, I didn't meant for that to sound rude or condescending... Just wanted to explain the reasoning behind why they chose to use those dates!

No, that's ok, I get it. I just thought that the day you receive the NOA1 is important. Because until then, you don't know what's happening.

But now, I'm confused. Isn't the NOA1 date the date that I received the NOA1?

So shouldn't my I-751 date be the date they received the package, 03/25/2014 and the NOA1 date be today, 3/29/2014?

Sorry, I'm confused here.

Updating Journeyer's NOA date

Thanks!

What is the Recipt Date on your NOA letter? You need that date for the list

3/25/2014, the day that they received the package.

Here's another bit of trivia, if anyone is interested. There's also a time as well as the date.

The package was received and signed for at 12:12PM and the NOA time is 12:57PM.

For what it's worth.

Just received NOA1 in mail!

I merely want to ensure it's clear to the OP that when the above poster mentioned... "if you are sure about marriage, is for your fiancé to come here on a tourist visa, get married and then file for a CR-1.", ... after marriage your husband would have to return to the UK and only come for visits until the CR1 visa process was complete. He could not stay permanently in the US right after the marriage as it would be fraudulent to arrive on a tourist visa with the intention of marriage and staying/adjusting status.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Well, I did tell the person to check out both processes and see what they thought. I was only saying that IMHO, I think CR-1 is better. But thanks for clarifying that.

My wife had to go back to her country, of course, and we were apart for 8 months, except that I was able to go visit her a couple of times, and that helped a lot.

The nice thing though is that you arrive with your 2 year GC, there is no need to AOS. If I'm not mistaken, getting a CR-1 will save you money over fiancé visa and AOS.

Also, you do know that there are people who have come here on a tourist visa, married, and were successful with AOS, right? I didn't and am not suggesting to try that, but it has been done.

It's clear that no one here, so far, agrees with me that CR-1 is better. I'm only saying that for us, we thought it was better. Other person needs to research both options and decide what is best for them.

Congratulations. I'm sorry to hear you had to go through all of that.

The K-1 is faster than the CR-1/IR-1. Bring him over as a fiance and he will be here sooner.

For getting a GC? Must have changed since wife and I went through the process. Also, the CR-1 process seemed a lot easier to me when I researched it.

I am serious, you obviously don't understand law enforcement. If this post is for real, even partially, then I hope this person has read the good responses and gone to a DV shelter. Possibly not based on fears of retribution against her family. If this post is 100% bogus, it still might be a case for law enforcement to review.

A post like this should have been passed on as a tip to the FBI. The FBI has highly advanced capabilities to follow up on internet leads related to crime in any format.

How do I know? I was instrumental in providing evidence to interpol that fingered suspects in a criminal case uncovered on the internet. And yes TWO FBI special agents did show up at my door. Serial killer? Mass murderer? VJ better have passed this post on for review. I highly doubt the VJ moderators will tell us however, and they shouldn't.

It sounds more like a case for local law enforcement to me.

That is, IF it's a true story. That's a really huge IF right now.

I'm also having serious doubts that the VJ moderators are going to send that post to the FBI.

But, I apparently don't understand these things like you do, so I'm going to leave matters of uncovering super villain plots, to you.

I think I'll go back to trying to help people with immigration issues, with what little knowledge I have learned on the subject.