Helen Louise Pile

I included a letter saying that I did not receive the NOA2 and I included my interview appointment letter and all the other required evidence.

I was approved very quickly without RFE or interview.

Hi everyone,

My husband and child are both born US citizens and I am an Australian citizen. I have not yet applied for a green card or any other type of visa but my husband has now gained a job in the USA and I need a visa fast. They want him there late march so I obviously don't have much time to wait. I honestly don't plan to work (it would be nice to make time go faster) so I can be a stay at home mummy... (I'm also 4 months pregnant). Ive looked Into the b2 tourist visa and then maybe doing an adjustment of status. Im not too sure how that will go though. I just don't have enough money to prove that I'd be supporting myself without working.

Please someone help me!!

Hello!

Congrats on all the life changes!

Do some research here http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1, the tourist visa is not an option because you actually want to move to the US, not visit.

I have heard on VJ that people are being approved very very quickly right now when both beneficiary and petitioner are abroad...I don't know the details or if you meet the criteria for such fast processing, someone will give you more info on that.

Best of luck!

We've been together four years now, with two children. Maybe adjustment is difficult for some people, but it certainly wasn't for us. Yes, of course I had to be patient with a girl 30 years younger than me from the Philippines. But some people made way too big a deal about moving from the most densely populated city on earth in tropical Philippines to the edge of the wilderness in a log cabin of interior Alaska. She had never seen snow of course. We drive snowmachines, four-wheelers, and track rigs every day but autos only once a month other than logging operations, which are off-road 4WD chain-saw-and-winch-your-way-through fun.

Seems to me that maliciously-minded people tried real hard to point out all of these differences in age, culture, education, language, ethnicity, weather, etc. instead of looking at what our common interests and values were. Some of them insisted I should have her spend a lot of time away from here meeting new friends and doing town activities, the Fil-Am society and whatever. Pffft. We went to town one time in the six weeks of deepest winter here, and both of us were REALLY glad to get back to the cabin where there is nobody but us and our kids.

We hear from some people the emphasis on all these sacrifices they made to get married and immigrate, or for me it would be giving up the international playboy gig and dropping all my money into modified bush airplanes and crazy expeditions - but neither one of us feels that way, not in the slightest. We're thrilled to be together and thank God we are not thousands of miles away talking on yahoo chat instead of deciding whether we are going to get another round of nooky in today. That life of waiting on immigration was WAY harder than being together for us.

My husband is from the interior also and I can understand finding it easy to fit in there. Almost everyone is a transplant from somewhere else!

My husband grew up there and his family are all still there, we own a cabin there and I imagine we'll move back some day. My question would be where does your wife meet people, friends? Does she work? It would also be interesting to hear what she thinks about it all. In some ways I think the interior would make the transition easy, in some ways hard. I've spent extended time there and I'd move back in a heartbeat. People were so friendly and Alaska truly is a special place.

Stay warm!

I havn't been on this website in so long. When I can remember going on this site mutiple times a day for a year while going through the k-1 process. I'm very thankful my husband Nattoy made it to this country and has been a better man for me than I could have ever imagined. He got a great job and mine is ok for now. We started out living with friends and now have our own apartment and continue to build our lives together. Things are not always easy as I had to be patient with him as he relied on me to show him the ropes. Sometimes I would get upset that he didn't know something. LOL Which is why I learned to be patient and understanding to someone in America for the first time. He is very smart and has come a long way. We even argued quit a bit after about 8 months of him being here, married life is a whole different ball game, but learning and growing in our relationship has brought us to a point where we treat each other respectfully for the most part. We have both givin each other many lessons and a richer life. I feel the love he has for me and am very greatful. Without this website I wouldn't have beable to do it. We will be married a year April 30th. I feel I've found a diamond in the rough:) Maybe some kids in a few years :)

For anyone affraid in the process,if your willing to do the work, and your motives are good and right, God will take care of the rest.

I totally agree with the title of your topic!

People get caught up in the wedding and getting the visa they think coming here is the end of the hard work, rather than the start of it.

It sounds like you are building a solid foundation for your future.

Best of luck with everything and congratulations on your upcoming wedding anniversary!

Helen

screw dat.. i think most of these replies are from beneficiaries.. i mean i understand homesick, but dang, it shouldnt be a reason or excuse.. im a guy and a petitioner.. shld a petitioner be future sick? cuz i knw hw much of one's future gets put on hold while goin thru visa process.. as a matter of fact a beneficiary continues their life in their country until they get visa meanwhile a petitioners future is on hold right from NOA1.. and flirting wit a girl is not a sign of missin home.. unless dats wat he was doin then... yah, dnt hld da GC over his head.. but dnt settle for hmesick each time.. both couples nd to knw sacrifices comes from both sides.. otherwise, why da heck do couples tell each other "i will be with u no matter where and how".. luk for signs..okay, marriages are difficult but distrust is sign of danger.

You won't understand until you're further into this process.

Both of your futures get put on hold, yes. But when your fiance arrives is the beginning of the process, and many people feel like it's the end after all that waiting.

Of course the OP's husband flirting is unacceptable and most people who empathize with him would not condone that. But his difficulty settling in is something that most of us have experienced and having a supportive spouse can make all the difference. You can make things better or worse for your fiance, you don't need to be future sick, just ready to deal with issues that arise. Like: will your fiance be able to drive in your state right away? Do you have a car or is there other transportation for them? Will they be able to volunteer or find something to do every day while they wait for their EAD/AOS? Do they speak English? Do you have friends who will be welcoming and supportive and spend time with them while you have to work? Where are they going to make their own friends? Is there going to be an adjustment living together, have you lived together before?

I did a K1 also and adjusting to your new life when it can't really start yet because you are unable to work is tough. I'd lived with my fiance for years before we moved, I speak English, I had a car and I spent my time volunteering and I still had a hard time settling in! That phase is normal and difficult and my husband made it all much easier for me. It seems like the OP might not have been prepared for that and her husband may resent that. I hope they can work it out.

Best of luck with your process too.

I agree with what most people have said here. My husband and I lived in Scotland for 2 years together and we went through an adjustment period when we moved here. I have a life, a job, classes (college, exercise, art) but I am still a little bit homesick. It was hard when I first arrived and couldn't work and my husband worked hard to make it easier for me. Even suggesting that he should go back home is unacceptable. If I were you I'd apologize for that remark, it's rude.

This is the risk people take when they marry someone they don't know that well. But it seems like he wants to work on it, and you do too. And isn't that what makes a string marriage? Get some counselling. Admit to him that you don't know how to help him and you are finding it hard too. Also, tell him that your experience is a normal one and others go through it too.

Best of luck!

No I was given this information by a VJ member.

Urgh that sucks. I have been given wrong information by a vj member...several actually...luckily I always confirm any advice given with an official source.

VJ is helpful, but no one here is an expert, just a bunch of people who have knowledge of this process. Don't take anything as factual unless you check it out.

I hope you get this sorted out soon.

Best wishes!

People do make judgement based on appearance so it's a good question! I dressed nicely for my interview for that very reason.

I shouldn't think it'd be a problem, as with all of us, he should just be cordial to the officers, have his documents in order and make sure he doesn't take anything he's not supposed to. The only people I would think would be an issue might be security at the front door, they didn't seem to be overtly friendly

Best of luck!

Hello! Thanks for your quick replies. Well, those pics are approx 3 months old (and i still look the same). I guess i will use them and will submit 6 pcs to be safe. Thanks again!

No, you can't use the same photos. Instructions state that photos must have been taken within 30 days of filing forms. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-485instr.pdf

I don't know how strict they are about this, but that's the info they have put in the instructions!

Best of luck.

Nich-Nick is right, you won't need anything like that in London. But if you want to take the original items you submitted then do, in an organised fashion.

It is more important for him to have the correct forms, passport pics, his passport and the I-134 all filled out nicely.

Read reviews of the London embassy K1 interviews to see what people are being asked for, it's really helpful!

So, my fiance arrives this Friday the 10th. I secured the United Nations and our marriage officiant for a short, funny ceremony on the 19th..... but that's it. The anxiety of having everything perfectly organized for his arrival has been overwhelming, I've totally put aside anything regarding a wedding ceremony. Our reception is scheduled at a later time, so I'll worry about that later.

Can someone list a couple of simple points on how to tackle that day?

Make sure you get your marriage license as soon as your fiance arrives! I don't know how long it takes in your state.

Relax and have fun!

I can't imagine that a ring would be required. She can tell them she has one but you are waiting to be reunited to give it to her. They did ask at my interview if I had a ring though and he said something like 'Let's see the ring' But very informally, the whole interview was informal. Talk to your fiancee about what she'll say if she's asked, but I agree, don't mail it! Not everyone choses to have an engagement ring so I can't imagine it'd be a problem.

Hello,

How much emphasis is placed on the previous years' income tax? I ask because my husband was a student for the past 3 years and just recently started working in 2011. His income now exceeds poverty lines. Thanks.

We did a K1 then AOS but our financial situation was similar. My husband was a student in the UK for 2 years then worked in the UK for a year but didn't make enough to have to pay tax in the US for those 3 years. We moved to the US when he got a good job offer. He'd been working for about 4 months when we filled in the I-864 and the most recent tax return had some of that income on it, that was enough for us to be approved no problems. File for 2011 asap and include that with his current earnings on it.

Best of luck!

According to VJ timelines it's currently taking 71 days from submission to approval of EAD. It will take another 1-2 weeks after that to get the card.

You can call 75 days after NOA1 date and ask for a service request. If they say 90 days, keep calling until you get someone that says 75 days. I called several times and was sometimes told 90 days, and sometimes told 75.

It makes sense to look at current processing times from the service center you are working with.

Mine took 40 something days and it came after the GC. But that was about 9months ago.

Check current times, I hope it comes soon!

I'm sure that is the most common scenario but I live and work outside the US, where I met and married my husband. Now we want to move back together. Are you sure it is a requirement? I wasn't under that impression. Confused now!

My husband and I were in a similar situation. He had to move back and set things up before we could properly move together. He had a job offer in the US when we filed and when it came time to actually show our financial documentation he'd been working for a couple of months and we were fine. I don't know when you have to show financial info for the spousal visa but you can move now and your spouse can join you when they get their visa. They can also visit you while the visa is being processed. Are you eligible to file DCF where you are?

We also realized that it was not set up for us to move together, it's a little frustrating but it worked out fine for us.

A person in a situation like the visa process does not play games like this its totally unreasonable and thoughtless.

Its not like they're at work and you have to wait an hour or two to hear it.

Tell him or her that what they've said is not acceptable in the circumstances as its messing with your mind so they need to tell you.

Maybe don't make threat like you won't file the paper work or cancel it (unless the conversation comes to that) but just you need to know --- and if they don't tell you then say how am I to trust you when you say something like that under the circumstances we're in, because you could be coming with bad news and I want to know now.

Yikes!

I wouldn't like to have to wait either...but threatening not to file paperwork is worse than what the OP's fiance did.

Wait...so he is here on tourist visa and they got married???? I don't think this is a legal process. Well no wonder they are having a hard time. This is illegal ...If that was ok to do then everyone from here would be brining there segnificant others on turist visas and the immigration/govern would not make any money:)

hm..there is a spousal/fiance visa ap and also spousal visas apt for such things...good luck

please people stop scaming the system!

It can be legal process, there is not enough information to make the assertion that they have committed visa fraud so please do not do so.

Spend some time reading the guides so you can decide what to do to best fit your plans.

My husband and I were in your situation this time 2 years ago and we decided to go the K1 route. At that time the home office required any non-resident (my husband, then fiance was in Scotland on a student visa) to obtain a certificate of approval before they could get married.

That is no longer required so you could get married in Scotland then you could come over to the US to get a job and get set up and he would join you in 9ish months (check current processing times for a good estimate). Or you can go to the US to get married and he could fly back to the UK. He could visit you on the VWP during that time. He'll have to have a medical and interview in London and you have to provide proof that you can support him or have someone agree to sponsor him if you do not meet the income requirements.

You can also do a fiance visa (K1) and you'd apply and you'd move back while it was being processed (6-8ish months - check current processing times) and then he'd have a medical and interview in London and you have to prove you can support him, then he'd come over to get married to you and then he'd apply for adjustment of status and he'll be able to wait in the US while that is processed. The down side to the K1 is that when he arrives in the US he cannot work or leave until he gets certain documents and they can take months.

Reading the step by step guides is really useful. There's a lot to learn and vj is a great place to learn it!

Your choice is down to what works best for you and your fiance. We chose K1 because we didn't want to be apart after we were married, so we chose to spend the extra money and have to wait for a few months after I arrived until I could work.

Congratulation on your engagement and on starting your journey!

Where in the vows do you agree to provide for your spouse forever ? regardless of divorce... until they decide to become citizens. Heck... I don't have to legally provide for my children after they are 18!

For us over 50... with good jobs, adult children, homes in two countries and a mutual prenuptial, this document is still flawed!

The 'As long as you both shall live" bit.

the I-864 is a scary legal document. If I do not sign it, will the visa be denied?

Yes.

What's scary about it?

You are agreeing to provide for your spouse and if you're married, you've already made that vow.

You are right, she should wait for AOS to change her name, it is easy to do that and she will have her married name on her greencard. And, at that time it will actually be her name.

Remind her that she only needs the visa in her passport when she enters the country, after that it is irrelevant so she can go ahead and get a new passport in her married name. Perhaps she thinks you need to keep the visa in your current passport or something??

Perhaps she is stressed about her upcoming interview and making sure she does everything right?

Good luck with everything

Helen

Hi, I am just curious as to whether it would be better for my fiance and I to buy myself a return ticket for 2-3 weeks (Aus- US) and then change the ticket afterwards after I have gained entry to the US to extend my stay?

Is that allowed?

We just started our K1 journey and I plan to take a 83 day visit in April so I can make my friends wedding, see my fiance and familiarize myself with where we will be living before I move there permanently (to hopefully aliviate culture shock and problems down the road).

Thanks!

I visited the US 3 days after we filed the I-129F for an 88 day VWP visit. No problems at CBP, no questions about the length of my stay, I did not have to show ties to my home country...but I had all that ready with me.

It seems really suspicious to me to book a return for 3 weeks and then change the flight. Why not be honest up front?...what if they ask questions and realize that you are lying about the planned duration of your stay. The lie is not legal and is not necessary, you have up to 90 days on the VWP. Just take lots of evidence with you and prepare for questions.

I was nervous before my 88 day, so I understand your concern.

Best of luck!

Lol.we are 30(man) 37(woman).i was just asking to know what's going on.

I see you have changed your flag. Your age difference is normal in the UK...I have no idea about Nigeria. I hope you get some good answers!