GiveMeStrength

What's the best visa if your spouse is not permanently immigrating but does not want to always apply for a visit visa which Consulates/Embassies are reluctant to supply to spouses of US citizens? I applied for the K-3 because it was a two year visa multiple entry. I don't work permanently in the US and don't want to be restricted to job opportunities because of the CR-1 visa. Thanks.

Haven't been on in a couple of weeks. Just wanted to get through the holidays. Sad to see that little has changed and no one has received their NOA2. I've contacted my Senators and Congressman. I hope at least they can determine what 'background check' is taking so long. I've stopped calling USCIS because every person says something different. The last person told me to wait 180 days from my last notice. Another 6 months!! What a joke!! I'm already at month 6 and counting.

Thanks GMS - how often do you get to see each other?

We haven't seen each other since Aug 2010. I am thinking of going to Cameroon for Christmas or in early January.

So - I've been feeling discouraged about the length of this process and the sense of unfairness about the transfers, the order in which they are processing files, and the mistakes they've made. On most days I am able to be positive, often by visiting the VisaJourney site. I would like to know what you do to stay positive?

Some days I loose it like today. It is very hard not being with my husband especially as the holidays approach and the USCIS staff hanging up the phone on me this morning. My love keeps me in this battle. When you feel the negativity, reach for your love. That's what saves me. We will get through this process and be stronger as a result.

I'm thinking of getting a lawyer to take over my case. Does anyone have a lawyer? Has the lawyer been beneficial? Or will it be a waste of money? Thanks!

I called USCIS yesterday. I asked for TSC number and they told me that they do not have number for TSC we can contact.

I called USCIS today and they ended up hanging up on me before I finished my question. What kind of service is that?

This is getting very exciting!! I got a touch yesterday 11/28 and today 11/29. What's going on?!? I feel the love USCIS work out my NOA2 this week!!!

Well, I got an email today as well stating that my application was being transferred to a USCIS center for processing. It is my first 'touch' since being transferred to TSC. I'm a July filer - receiving my written NOA1 on 9 July. I hope this is good news.

Does anyone know the next steps once I received the NOA2??!! I'm applying for K3 visa.

sorry not understanding,,, is the interview for what, k-1 or aos, or roc, or citizenship or what .. let us know

K3 visa

My husband will have his interview in Cameroon. And am wondering what type of questions he can expect, how long does it take, etc. Any thoughts/comments greatly appreciated.

Hello All,

I just want to say thank you all for your support through this process and my wife has been granted her visa and is in the Washington, DC Metro Area with me now! We are very grateful to have made it through. My wife's interview experience was frustrating to say the least. Here it goes:

Interview was scheduled for Oct. 5th at 7:30 am. Apparently, the Embassy has interviewees come on the assigned date to submit any necessary paperwork, documents, ID etc. and rescheduleds you to return the following day for the actual interview. I was at the embassy from 6 am until about 3:30 pm on the 5th.

We returned to the Emabassy of Oct. 6th for the interview about 5:30 am and were about # 20 in line. After alot of waiting interviews began about 10 am. After awhile, my wife was called to the window. The guards there were nice and allowed me to enter the Embassy for her interview. I think my US Govt work badge helped in getting in to attend. I accompanied my wife to the window and the CO just looked at me. My wife stated that this is my husband and she replied "I don't need him.. Sit down". So, I sat back down. She asked my wife a few questions about me. She then asked my wife, how much money do I earn. My wife gave the correct figure and the CO told her she was wrong. My wife again indicated that it is indeed correct and the CO again said, it was not. Finally after going back and forth on this a few more times, the CO said, OK, you were right. Go figure.

Next, she asked my wife why I don't pay taxes. Of course, my wife had no idea what she was talking about but stated that my husband pays all of his bills including a mortgage and supports his son. She then told my wife "You don't know what you are talking about". The CO then told my wife to get me. I approached the window a bit surprised since she told me to sit down previously. She said "You don't pay taxes"! I said, Ma'am, I work as a US govt contractor, possess a Secret Security Clearance which is hard to obtain and I pay my taxes. I sent NVC 6 months of pay stubs showing taxes being taken out so was wondering why would she ask this and where is this info coming from. She should know that as you CANNOT get cleared with debt of any kind, especially to the IRS. I think that pissed her off as well since she has to have known this already. She then asked, why didn't you pay taxes in 1997, I believe. I said that I worked as an independent contractor at this time and was in grad school. I filed taxes, owed money and paid it off over the course of a couple of years. This really threw a monkey wrench in my game for I was wondering why she would ask me this line of questions, especially regarding resolved debt from 13 years ago which was resolved 11 years ago when I was 23 yrs old.

The CO seemed very annoyed and told me us to sit down. So, we sat and we sat and we sat. I then began over hearing some of the comments made to others being interviewed by many of the CO's and was a bit appauled. One CO asked a guy, "So you came ot the US to have sex". He said, "No, I didn't". The CO said, yes you did. This went on for some time. I am not sure whether he was granted the visa but probably was sent back for additional evidence a smany had. This is really disheartening since this Embassy services (14) countires and many have traveled extremely far.

There were numerous stories that I can tell but it would take too long. It hit about 11:30 am and my wife was called to a different window and given a blue slip that have a "F" written on it and was told to come back at 2pm now. Noone else was given this and others we talked to were approved without incident in less than 10 minutes. The women who told us to come back did ask, how she would like to get her visa, mail or pick up, if approved. That was a good and bad sign all around.

Now, my wife and I are both really concerned. I was still offended by the question especially about not paying taxes since I feel that I contribute to the health, welfare and life of 1/4 of America due to my income which is very good and that most are unemployed and receiving federal and state assistance just to survive. Also, we were never asked for any evidence of any sort. We both felt abused and unfairly treated.

Now, it's nearing 1 pm and I am about to go postal due to the experience and was about to ask to speak with a supervisor for the mistreatment in addition to the cots I've incurred for everything including the medical and flying there to attend the interview and taking time off unpaid from my work.

At 3 pm, My wife was again called to the window. I approached along side her. Another CO, seemed to be a Kenyan American indicated that he was going to interview my wife then he would interview me after. We were happier now because we had so much to say and I had alot on my chest to let out. She was in the closed in room for about an hour. I thought that she would come out crying due to the interrogation. However, she did not.

The CO called me to the window as my wife walked out of the room and took her seat. He asked me many of the questions she was asked and compared my responses to what she had stated. I also presented my govt babdge and he photocopied it. He then stated that we are all set and she will get her visa. I know that, if i were not present for her interview, it would have definitely been denied!

While waiting, I asked my wife, what happended. My wife is one smart and brave cookie for she layed it all out systematically from beginning to end to the CO. We had a bag full of evidence so we were never worried there. The CO asked her for all of her evidence and systematically went through every communication, pictures, Skype chat/call logs, email, Facebook pictures, wedding pic's, misc pic's from my visits, Western Union receipts sent from March of 2009 to present on a bi-weekly basis, my old passport with (4) visa stamps to Uganda and (1) to Thailand where I mailed her gifts, gifts such as clothes and jewelry and much more.

After her interview, he mentioned that he could see that this was a bonafide relationship and marriage to her. This CO was a blessing for he was NOTHING like the rude lady we intially experienced. He appeared to be higher up than she was. As they were preparing the visa, that mean CO lady came to the window and said that we're lucky because most visa's are not approved the first time around which is probably true but so what? What does that have to do with me and my case? I was happy to get the visa and took her comment with a grain of salt due to the insults thrown our way earlier. She then says that there is one problem. The police certificate is now expried and she would have to get a new one. I said, that's incredible. My wife has already left Uganda for the 1st time in her life to travel for a day to Nairobi for this and now you want to send us back there and there's no way i can stay any longer due to work and her awating the PC. It's been sitting at NVC forever and now this? After looking again, she says, ok, you still have 28 days on it since it's not 6 months yet. Again, I was happy but pissed since it appeared that she wanted to sabotage our chances of walking out with the visa, by all means necessary.

I am sure that my wife can add another (20 pages of our experience dealing wiht the Embassy, however we are happy and grateful to be together at last and I have moved on from that experience and now trying get my mind right from this ordeal and the distance away from my wife for a year plus. It took some time before I was even able to read VJ responses or comment for i know everyone's experience can be different due to the consulate office.

This experience has been a textbook "critical incident", however being a student of psychology I know that experiences like these help to create bonds for life and we love each other more and more everyday....

WOW!! I just read this as my husband will go through the interview in Cameroon and was looking for information on what to expect. thanks for sharing your experiences.

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and I have a few questions that maybe you guys can help me with. I sent in my I-130 to the chicago service center in June. They recieved it on the 1st of july. I got a notification by mail on July 15th that said they had recieved my case, however the letter was sent from the California Cervice Center. Once i made my USCIS account for status update i checked it EVERYDAY and i never got a touch. Four months passed n i get a notification on the 5th of November via e-mail that my case was also transfered to Texas service center on November 1st and on the 7th i got the letter notification at home. I never got a notification that my case was sent to the CSC after i sent it to the Chicago office. Is it normal that my case hasnt been touched other then this or that i have not heard from them about my case?

Hi there - I've never seen a touch on my petition either. I've only received the NOA1 and the transfer notice.

glad thats clarified

cheers.

How did you expedite your case?

Btw i have got a touch today as well. I guess the petition has reached Texas or is it a approval

How do you know when your file is 'touched'

This is as good a time as any to cease calling a petition an application. When your petition is approved, your spouse will be given an opportunity to "apply" for a visa using a "visa application".

OK thanks. Still working my way through the correct terminology. It's good to see folks think the transfer to Texas is a positive thing and that the clock doesn't start over. Will the fingerprint documentation be sent to applicant or beneficiary (non-US citizen)?

My application was transferred as well. I hope that the time does not restart as I filed in June 2010 and am expecting the visa this month. December at the latest. Oh yeah, what is RFE mean and is the NOA2 the approval letter.

Someone stated I should be on the lookout for fingerprint papers -- do they arrive before or after the visa is approved? So confused. Thanks