James And Oksana

Congrats everyone!!

Our Fiance visa has been approved and we will soon be going in for the interview process. We want to plan our wedding together in the US but there is no way in hell we could do it in three months.

What constitutes a "marriage" in order to apply for a change of status to become a permanent resident?

We want to have more time together to plan our ceremony... I mean typically planning for a wedding take 6 months or more... so... help please!

A legal marriage is one in which a person gets a license in the state in which they reside, and then are married by an official that is licensed to do so. What my fiancee and I plan on doing is getting married at the courthouse soon after she arrives, apply for a marriage license and have a judge to marry us, and plan a wedding ceremony for later. This also allows for the adjustment of status paperwork to be submitted as when a judge marries you, at that point you are legally married. At the ceremony it will not be considered a legal marriage, and is more for the memories and such. Of course pictures of such a ceremony could be useful if interviewed for adjustment of status, but can easily be explained why they were separate, and many people do this for the very reason 90 days is insanely small time to coordinate a wedding.

I don't know!!! We called a while ago to make sure we hadn't had any RFE's that we could have not received, they told us our probable date was June 2nd so that was the date I was considering and we got it one month before!! I'm so happy!!!! It didn't even take 4 months from NOA1!!! WOW!! I'm speechless!!

Congrats!!

There are several misconceptions that I found out during interview:

1) There is a common view that you cannot get into the embassy for the interview. Actually you CAN. I flew to Moscow and asked at the entrance if I can go with my fiancee. They allowed me and in fact I was sitting right behind her and heard every single thing she was asked or answered.

2) Being at the interview actually was viewed favorably by the CO. In fact, he asked if this is your fiance and asked just two more questions as a formality. In fact, they did not ask a single piece of evidence! None. She did not even open her evidence folder.

I see a lot of members here saying that there is no way to:

1) Change the interview date to an earlier one. In fact, you can even without strong reason, just because you miss each other and took a liberty of writing them

2) If you really want to you CAN be present during interview.

WOW, thank you for this information. I was going to be there in Moscow but never dreamed I would be able to go. Now I will go with her and ask nicely to be allow to be present. I thought that it would be favorable that I was there, as we were going to have her take in pictures in front of the Embassy together and other eveidence to show I was there...but this is even better!!!

Hi guys I've asked this in another topic too, but I just thought I'd repeat the question here as well (cause yes, I am getting quite nervous):

I'm flying out to JFK this Friday to visit my fiance for 11 days. If asked purpose of visit I'm still not sure whether to say "vacation" or "to visit my fiance"...is it really OK to say vacation? I don't want them to think I was lying if they ask further and find out I am staying with my fiance...I am so nervous once again, it'll be my first visit since we filed in January.

Based on other things I have read, I would be 100% honest and just bring document of ties to Germany. Being honest about proceeding with K1 visa and having the NOA1 with you shows you are doing things the right way and avoids any chance they may think you are trying to put one past them.

I go to Russia for my birthday. May 18th-25th!!! Nothing better than a birthday wish come true, well except an approval. That would be icing on the proverbial cake!!

OK, so I am ultra happy. I will be spending my birthday in Russia!!!!

The only thing that would make this better is if the approval could come through soon!!

I checked on this for my fiancée. I even emailed the UK immigration because it was less clear that a fiancée with a K1 could do this. The communication I received back was that it is ultimately up the the border guard at crossing. From everything I know, if you hold a green card, that is treated in visa waver countries as pretty much the same as being a US citizen. I believe that so long as the people traveling have a green card with their passport, they will not have an issue as indicated above.

WOOHOO! Just got a "Post Decision Activity" email from the USCIS this afternoon!! Two and a half months earlier than expected!

I am SO busy with work and packing up my house in the next few months, I don't know how I'm going to squeeze the next round of paperwork in there too, but I'm so excited about being able to get married sooner than we planned!

Called my fiance, called my mom -- wanted you all to be the third to know.

Hope it happens to more of you soon!

R

Keep us up to date on how your petition is progressing and what you did for NVC and Embassy phase. Good thing for you is you have your approval early. Good thing for the rest of us, we can be educated from your experience. Many thanks in advance!

WOOHOO! Just got a "Post Decision Activity" email from the USCIS this afternoon!! Two and a half months earlier than expected!

I am SO busy with work and packing up my house in the next few months, I don't know how I'm going to squeeze the next round of paperwork in there too, but I'm so excited about being able to get married sooner than we planned!

Called my fiance, called my mom -- wanted you all to be the third to know.

Hope it happens to more of you soon!

R

YEAAA!!!! Congrats!!! Best wishes on the interview.

I will meet my fiancee again on July ,can I marry her while we are waiting for our K1 visa ?

There is nothing legally preventing you from marrying her so long as you are both single. The issue is, after you are married you no longer are single and able to marry which is a requirement of the K1 visa at all points during the process until after entry in US on said visa. If you choose to marry before entry into the US with a K1 visa, then you abandon the time and effort for this and must file for a CR1 spouse visa.

that's funny!

How did you manage to find such a cheap ticket by the way? They always cost me about $800 (and that's with a student discount)

flights24.com. If you fiddle with the dates and fly from New York, it is possible to be on a carrier called Transaero. They run specials and I got the ticket for just over $500. I was like Oksana in that I could hardly believe the price, so I purchased it and now the surprise was hers!

Priceless expression! Loved it, I hope you have an awesome time together!

Perhaps I should apply for a MasterCard commercial. Ticket to Russia, $500, meal at airport $12, being able to surprise your fiancée, priceless.

Hope everyone is doing well. I finally was able to travel to Russia after a plane mechanical failure caused me to need to reschedule the trip. I uploaded a new picture of my fiancée's surprise to see me. Shortly after this picture, she fell to the floor in complete surprise that I was indeed there. Now the only thing that could make this week better, is to get good news about the petition while we are together...that would be COOL!!!

Ok, i wont be seeing my baby this next month.. because he JUST GOT HIRED!!!

His first job after college, aww, im so proud of him!!! No more working for his Dad!!!

God is Good ALL THE TIME!

Congrats!

Hey January friends, hope this post finds you all well.

So Mark is finally being "evacuated" from Japan today and now our next plans to see each other are all up in the air... on top of that I am moving this weekend and have been STRESSED beyond belief but thought I would drop in to wish you all a happy Friday and a great weekend.

Have you asked for an expedite yet? I would be for sure, as it is a mess over there.

I just submitted today but I am already looking ahead. I don't want to jinx anything and I am not being impatient, I just figured it doesn't hurt to look. So I found airplane tickets for dirt cheap in October. Literally under $400 one way from Moscow to LA. Very cheap. Now here is the interesting part: If I know for sure that this ticket can be exchanged or adjusted, should I buy this ticket and save my self, probably a $Grand ???

Thanks for your input as always!

With the unpredictability, you just do not know. California Service Center has been approving February petitions, yet still has Octobers - January they need to do. My advise, do not worry about travel arrangements. Worry about being ready with all your paperwork for the embassy interview, and preparing for the interview itself. Ticket cost will not matter if by some stretch you get approved very quickly, and are unprepared with paperwork and interview questions and get turned down. Then again, just my opinion...take it for what it is worth.

ok thats awesome, ill ask ash to order a transcipt of it.

Do u think ill need a co sponsor. Ashley earns way above the poverty line (above 40000) but shes only worked full time since last june, as she only graduaed then.

I think with recent pay stubs and a letter from the employer you should be fine. They will likely wish the tax returns regardless, so yes have them ready so they do not have an excuse to delay the visa.

I ordered tax transcripts for 2008-2010 today, as it has been about a month since my returns for 2010 have been done.

I'm not seeing the second one (the Texas one) on the list at all.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/300242-got-noa2-today/

Timeline is little out of sync with his signature. Not sure with NOA1 date to actually use, the first one with incorrect fees or second one. Either way, very recent and originally they were January filers. With another Jan 10th coming through yesterday I am kind of getting excited.

Just a heads up. There were 2 January 10th petitions approved by CSC yesterday. Only 1 shows on Igor's list because the other person incorrectly is put into the Texas bucket. For those near that NOA date at CSC, be prepared as it appears like they are indeed still mixing recent petitions with older ones.

Praying for everyones quick approval!

It is really good to hear so many people from the January group getting close to visits with their significant other. It is really inspiring, and for those that are considering whether or not to go, I would encourage this if it is possible. We all are on a long road, and sometimes even a short visit can do worlds of good at recharging spirits. For those of us going overseas in April, I pray for good weather, ease of travel with minimum delays, and a safe return with many great stories and pictures to share.

Keep up the faith. In the end, coming home to your significant other, waking next to them, holding them, saying I DO....it is what we all need to hold on to right now! God does provide, keep a watchful eye for those opportunities He will give and cherish those opportunities when they happen. Keep in mind, most of us have an advantage over most other couples. We know what it is like to be separated from our significant other. For us, every day we are able to be with our one and only should be a celebration. Never forget the trials that we go through now, as it prepares us for appreciation later.

One of my favorites that I remind myself,

Count it all as joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:2-3

(English Standard Version)

I really wonder what is going on with the Vermont Service Center.

They only processed one application on Thursday and none on Friday!

I see that CSC serviced 5 on Friday.

This is kind of frustrating. I am starting to feel like maybe I need to push back our november 11th wedding date!

That would kind of stink because we are getting married outside in Texas. Any later and the weather could be too bad.

Just feeling a little frustrated this weekend.

Spending too much time looking at the data, looking at one or two days of processing and it will get you down. Concentrate on the positive aspects of you relationship, and just know everything will happen at the time it is suppose to. Have faith that whatever happens, you will be together in the US.

That's actually the third report of a short estimate.

Two over the phone, one in e-mail.

So it isn't just one isolated incident of it.

Then again, we haven't seen much more in the way of recent approvals.

So I'm still maintaining my skepticism for now.

Skeptical, but just a little excited at the prospect.

Yes, it is one of 2 things. Either they have been instructed to give small time estimates to get people to leave them alone or they actually have a plan to continue to mix recent petitions with older ones. Since I was told specifically my petition was on way to adjudicator and Tuesday there was another 2/1 approval, I am thinking this information is accurate and not just a story to get us to leave them alone.

Thank you everyone for all your positive replys!!

Hey James and Oksana, what do you mean they told you 35 days? USCIS told you this when you called? That you only had to wait 35 more days? Where did they get that number from?

I contacted CSC through their email address because of critical revisions I was advised to send in by the NCSC without an RFE. I followed up via phone to no avail, so I emailed them to verify that the revisions were put with my original file. The response in the email on Monday was:

Just like us

So, I just got off Skype with my baby, made him call to NCSC again about the problems with checking the case status online. They said that they are aware of the problem and IT department is working on it, but they can't give him the time frame for when it's going to be fixed. They also said that our petition is likely to be processed in 45-60 days What was that? Early April's fool day from USCIS? Cause when he called before they kept talking about good old 5 months...

Well if it is April fools, they told me Monday 35 days. I am beginning to wonder if there may be some truth to all of this.