Wayne and Claudia

Obamacare is about one simple thing: more transfer of power to the imperialistic federal government. Their insatiable appetite for power will continue to degrade the value of the U.S. Constitution. I still sit sometimes and shake my head and wonder why I devoted 6 years of my life to defending this nation as a member of the U.S. Army when I see the direction it is headed.

Look at the K-1 visa guide and/or flow chart. It will normally answer most all your questions. Once the embassy receives the package from the NVC the embassy will prepare a letter and packet and mail it to the beneficiary at the address that was provided. Good luck.

The wife to be is just waiting on getting the visa in hand in Colombia before she returns to the States with the 2 daughters, will get married in 30 days.

The question is ,now what?

How long to get a green card, costs involved? Same costs for her 2 daughters, 14 & 16?

They dont plan on returning to Colombia anytime soon, maybe next Christmas.

Also she is wondering how long until she can legally work in the US?

Took us 10 months to get the visa approval, twice as long as we thought, now a new process, oh boy can't wait.

Congrats. As for what is next just take a look at the K-1 flow chart http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow . It gives you a quick view as to what is next. And the money keeps needing to be doled out for each step...it's just the beginning as each step requires fees, fees and more fees. Good luck to you.

Way to stay positive and not let a small item get you down. It shows tremendous maturity on your part and I am sure you will survive your journey with ease. Wishing you good luck the rest of the way.

I completely agree with most of the posts. If you are having trouble coming up with the funds then the future will only get more difficult. Immigration isn't "cheap" and I am actually glad it isn't. I have actually written before that I think the cost of immigration is a bargain and should actually be much more expensive. Sorry if that cheeses some but it is my opinion. Good luck to you and your new family.

If the CO doesn't like something in the application then he/she doesn't have a reason or need to look at supporting documentation. I have personally known a few people who were approved and a few who were denied. The CO has a tough job and are normally very good at what they do. What specific reason does the CO give for denial? Have you went with your wife for her visa appointments?

Not good at all...don't do it.

Simply follow the link tha apple21 provided above. If you read down, under specifics, you will see that the applicant will be given an option of a DHL document pickup and dropoff point. Good luck.

The cost is all going to depend on what is needed. In my wife's case she had no records of immunization since the hospital where she was immunized as a child has since closed and all records lost. She had many of the vacinations that she knew she would need before even going to Bogota. I believe the entire cost was between $250 and $300.

My opinion: I trust no sites that advertise. Consumer Reports purchase items from the shelf and test and never accept advertising. It costs, but then if you want totally unbiased information it is worth it. No, I do not work for CR; I work for a German engineering firm located in the US. I truly feel CR's science is solid.

I talk to them all the time: "Officer, if I let you hold my beer will you let me hold your weapon? I promise to be careful."

I like the region-specific forums because there is a lot of stuff that applies to other countries, but not mine. I didn't find out about the region-specifics until later in the process and ended up doing a bit more work than I needed to because ours is an easier embassy.

Honestly haven't gotten too much help from individual members when I do post questions. It seems that most of the responses I get are either from people who are newer than I am and have the same question or are veterans who get irritated at you because you misread something, didn't catch a post on page 56 of a forum longer than the collective works of Shakespeare, or are just in information overload. I like the advanced search feature and have gotten a few questions answered that way, but a couple times I've had a question and the only previous forums I could find were several years old so I didn't know if the answers were still correct. A lot of stuff, including some of the posts pinned at the top of topic forums, is very outdated.

It is page 55...get it right next time .

Don't take away my Canadian friends...I won't ever be able to say ay again and sound normal. Keep the regions, dump the politicians.

I say the regional forums should be deleted. There is not point in congregating with people from your country, to me, when most of the questions are the same for all countries. Sometimes there are some specific consulate issues, but there is a consulate forum.

I love OT..It's how I survived my journey.

PS Where the hell is my Obama phone?

thank you. that was strange and hard to read. I love my wife with all my soul. It makes me sad to see some folks "struggle" here but they just don't understand that, if they are truly in love this is nothing. the real test is when you are together each day. I have posted before and I still stand firm, K-1 should not be allowed. If you truly love, then marry...it matters not how far you travel to do it, do it and be happy. Many argue that "it is expensive." Love, unfortunately, costs.

I am assuming that you are staying in Colombia since you said " until we physically get to the US." With that said do you have a domicile in the U.S.? If you do not then I would use a parent or other close relative's address.

Thank you so much Wayne!! That is very helpful!. So your wife didn't change her name when she filed the DS-230?. I was worried about matching the names on the visa and passport. I don't remember in what forum was, but I read someone said that the DS-230 is the one establishes the name on the GC.

But I also found one of your posts earlier and base on it I posted this topic. I didn't have any hopes of changing my name before getting my GC and all the documents that I'm going to need when I get there, because I didn't do it since the beginning of the petition. That meant changing my passport and all the other identifications that we use in Colombia, even birth certificates before filing the I-130. If this is what worked for your wife then I would prefer to do it that way, it is easier! Thanks again!!!

To add one point, the CBP agent at POE informed my wife that since her GC will be in her married name and her passport (Colombian) will be in her maiden name (visa was in her maiden name as well) to carry an original copy of marriage license. He stated that it is actually to make leaving the foreign country easier than actually re-entering the US since all that information will show up on their computers. I know my wife must have showed our marriage license 4 times before boarding the plane. It could just be a Colombia thing, not sure. Of course once she has her Colombian passport name change it won't be an issue. Just wanted to share that tidbit.

Ah yes, I remember those naive days haha. That was written just after POE. Since then, as with any journey, we learn things. What I posted in this thread is accurate. Since then she has been back to Colombia three times and never a problem, not even a second look. Just make sure to fill out the name change form at POE. I have had private IMs that state how easy it was, yet one actual friend of mine, his wife forgot and it has cost them at least 2 grand changing things. Good luck to you. I am always here for all my journey friends, especially those navigating Colombia.

All documents? No. The only items that need to be notarized are the items that NVC asks to be notarized, such as certified original copies. I have been out of the NVC stage for quite a while so all the documents necessary are not on the tip of my mind.

Jlo.

As the process has started do not worry about the name change. When you reach your POE you will be taken to a small processing room and at that time you can request that your name be changed to your married name. It is the easiest and least confusing of any option. Just be sure to do it before leaving the processing room. Any information from that point on such as your GC will have your requested name change. My wife and I went through this and we never had one moment's problem. Just make sure from that point to write your married name on any document.

As to the passport, it is difficult for Colombians to change the name on their passports (this discussion happens here from time to time) whether in Colombia or at a consulate here in the U.S. My wife has travelled several times back and forth and was only one time asked for her marriage license which was the first time she came. Good luck.

I will definitely wait for the appointment letter but was wondering if I want to do early walkin as a matter of convenience what reason I need to give them and how strict they might be in making sure that I have a real and urgent reason.

Always, always, always be honest. If it is for convenience, tell them so.

I am well aware of that, but why wait? May as well go ahead and complete this last leg of government paperwork. Sooner we get it rolling the sooner we cross the finish line.

Oh crapola!!! My wife's date is 12/29/2010 so she can apply 10/1/2013. I was thinking it was three years which would have giving us three more months. Well, there goes our nice, relaxing weekend....oh, well. If this goes as smoothly as the last process it should not be so bad since she is so detailed and organized.

Oh, and it was just getting good. Felt like I was at a tennis match.

Just relax and keep busy. The process, looking back, wasn't that bad. The trick is to keep busy and don't think or obsess about it. Good luck.

yea very true. majority of foreign marriages are fraud. doesnt mean you cant have a real marriage but you have to be aware of situations. too many ppl fall in love in 2 days time and get married. then are shocked to find out they have been scammed.....

It is very true. Sad, but true.