akdiver

I guess we still have another 4 months to wait. Nebraska is saying they are working on July and they have our application as being received in November, even though they actually got it October 12th.

Not that it really matters I guess - we're doing just fine as it - I just hate having things pending, or waiting on something to happen. Truthfully speaking, from a practical standpoint, our lives will not really be any different once my wife receives her 10 year PR card. The crappy thing is that by the time she receives it, we will only get to "rest" for a year before going through the citizenship process. Ugh. Oh well.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Dear Expedia Traveler:

It has come to our attention that you are a "Moran". According to the British Airways policy manual, "Morans" are not permitted on BA flights. This includes all classes of cabins, and the cargo hold. For this reason, we have had to cancel your FIRST CLASS tickets from nowheresville to somewhereelseville, and have rebooked your flight on Moran Airlines. Your credit card has been charged a $500 service fee for his rebooking, and you are advised to book all future flights on this airline whenever you feel the need to travel. Also please note, your tickets remain FIRST CLASS , since all Moran Airlines passengers insist on paying too much for air travel services.

Thank you for allowing Expedia to serve your needs.

Sincerely,

Customer Care Department

And to anyone else passing through Cincinnati any time soon... you're also invited to take me and the wife out for a free dinner. Thanks in advance...

Had I only known you were there!! I drove right by on my way back to Alaska last week. (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

And yes, I too thought the "first class" thing was a little like, "I'm the man because I'm flying my girl here FIRST CLASS" when the post was about something else. No biggy though, I'm glad to see first class was affordable enough for you guys to get. I would do it if I could, just can't.

Well, to me the issue is not affordability, it's an issue of common sense. If one has that extra money to just piss away, it makes much more sense to throw it into a retirement fund, make an extra house payment, put it toward a vacation fund, or whatever. Otherwise, at the end of your first class airplane ride, it's like, "Boy, that gourmet chicken sure was good" and that's the end of it. I guess I just don't see the appeal. You can get plenty of leg room in an exit row or bulk head seat, for a fraction of the money it costs to fly first class. (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

Now I Think I understand why you are Bitchin about my spending extra money to have my girl fly Business and 1st class to USA!!!!! Sorry to hear your down but keep ya Shat attitude to yourself!! I'm not rich and never said I was. Yes I have a life that I worked hard for, but your poor unemployed attitude should not be directed at me.

Poor unemployed attitude? How do you figure I am poor and/or unemployed? Guess again, Hostile Boy!! Incidentially, the reason why I ragged on your post in the other thread is because you threw the 1st class stuff in there, but it had nothing to do with the rest of your post. It was just extraneous information that looked like it was thrown in for "la-di-da" value. I could care less how how you spend your money. Spend it all for all I care. I hope you spend at least some of it on condoms though.

So you got a new car because you quit your job? Wait a minute.....

Well, it's a long story. But I ordered the Jeep way back in July. Well, I gave up on it and ended up buying off a lot in VA. Quitting my job to work for myself just sort of came along - it was coincidental. However, my WIFE got a car because I quit my job. She had been dropping me off at work on her way to work and picking me up on her way home. However, now that I am working at home, with only one car, I would either be stuck at home all day with no car, or have to take her to work, come home, and then go pick her up in the evening. That would cost me two hours of time and be a real drag. So we got her a car too. Of course, it's not a Saab or a Ferarri, or whatever - just a cheap, cheap Chevy. (:

Customs is really cracking down now, so easy border crossings are becoming more and more scarce. The "sanctions" and worries of the past are now gone. They don't need to fear lawsuits and reports of misconduct and the like anymore, after all, there are terrorists out there. And who knows, maybe one of those terrorists would devise a plan to buy a Jeep in Virginia, fill it full of box bombs, then drive it to Alaska to blow up, uh, um, well, to blow up something in Alaska!

I just thought it was funny that I got into Canada much easier than I got into the US. (:

(I bought a Wrangler X about two weeks ago.... It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand.)

Why not? I'm a Jeep guy!! (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

My wife got her driver's license before we even got married, let alone before she was issued a PR card. They set the expiration date as per whatever the normal standard is - I think it is good for 5 or 6 years. Her PR Card (or lack thereof) didn't enter into the picture at all.

Cheers!

AKDiver

We sent in 1,320 pages of emails and chats .....and now we are approved!

That's great - but it begs the question - why didn't you provide it in the first place?

Cheers!

AKDiver

Hi!

I'm bored, so I thought I would have some chit chat here today (:

Long story - but I ended up buying my new Jeep (Wrangler 4-door) from a dealer in Virginia, and had to drive it back to Alaska. I ended up being gone a total of two weeks (one week in VA, one week to drive back). It was kind of strange for us because this is the only time we have been apart since my wife came to the U.S (she didn't go with me because she needed to be at work). As unpleasant as that aspect of things was, my wife did fine staying in AK by herself for the two weeks and there was no major drama in terms of freezing pipes, getting into a car accident, missing work, or any other such things. When I got home, I got quite the welcome too. As it stands today (I've been back for a couple of days), it's almost like when she first got here, except that this time, I am the one who has arrived from afar (:

In related news, I left Virginia in the early morning on January 16th and arrived in Alaska late last night on January 22rd. During this 7-day ride on the Roller Coaster of Icy Death, I covered 4,839 miles - an average of 691 miles per day. That's not bad considering the time of year. I had no encounters with the police, no crashes/wrecks, or other high-drama. I saw lots of cars that did get wrecked though, plus some overturned tractor-trailers. I got some good pictures of scenery too. Coming back through customers at the Alaska/Yukon border, they really did an inspection on me. They didn't make me empty the car, but they did ask me lots of questions, and poke around in the back, asking what was in some boxes and such, and also wanted to see my vehicle registration (which I have never been asked for before, and I've drive across the border many, many times). I thought it was interesting.

In somewhat related news - we got a loan for the Jeep as a joint loan. We have a joint credit card, but this is different. It's a much larger sum of money, and marks the Jeep as being joint property. So, it is a step in the right direction for us. We consider the Jeep "my" car because I'm the one who wanted it and the one who drives it. My wife also just bought a car (Chevy Aveo 5). She bought it using a loan only in her name, to help her build credit. We consider it "her" car because she is the one who wanted it and the one who drives it - although I am on the title. So, now we have some joint property, and finally have two cars rather than one.

In unrelated news - I quit my job just before going to get the Jeep, and now I am now self-employed and working from home. This is significant because now I am completely dependent on my wife and her job for health insurance. Also a strange feeling, but I think it reflects our strategy - working together to achieve common desires. Always a good thing in marriage. (: This is also the reason why we really decided to get a second car. When we both had real jobs, she would drop me off in the morning at work and pick me up on the way home. It was easy and convenient and reasonable. But with me working at home now, my choices were to be at home with no car all day, or to drive her to work and then go back to pick her up at the end of the day, costing me two hours of time that I could be at home working. That would have been a real drag.

In other news - we're still waiting for conditions on residence to be removed. They are working on apps received in July, and they have us down as being received in November (although they really received it in October). So, quite some wait to go on that one.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Private jets are a bit pricier crossing the Atlantic (only a few have enough range, like a Gulf V). Looking at about $50,000 minimum, each way. First Class is a relative bargain at ~$10,000 full fare. Biz class can be had for as little as $1,500 R/T from Europe to the states.

But hey, it's only money, right? Besides, what better way to prove your love than by spending way more than is really necessary on airfare? Well, I guess you could buy her a Saab and some Armani suits I suppose.

Cheers!

AKDiver

I think my fiancee should get an interview in late May or very early June based on the VJ Timelines. The problem is, I actually have to be in Paris for a trade mission 06/18 - 06/24. I wondering whether she will get her K1 visa in time (assuming she interviews sometime between May 24 and June 7) to get her K1 visa. We will then meet in Paris (she will get a tourist or transit visa to France) and return to the USA together from there. The thing is, I really want to be with her at POE -- I don't want her to have any problems and if she does I want to be there to help. Any thoughts are appreciated in advance of course.

My (now) wife was told the day of the interview she would get the visa, and I think it was available at the local DHL office either the following day, or the day after that.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Well, I have no idea what in the hell you are talking about, but I'll respect anyone man enough to make a sincere apology. Good on you! (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

Well, I am sure that with all the money you are throwing around, buying 1st class tickets on some other carrier will not be a problem. Hell, for that matter, maybe you could just charter a small private jet instead?

Cheers!

AKDiver

I am sure she would like to see her Grandchild, but this does not seem to be the issue, I ask this as a Grandparent who has been there, admittedly not at the messy end.

Ah, but once again, this can be achieved by visiting the grandparent, rather than having the grandparent visit you.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Fact is, some people will NEVER demonstrate to the satisfaction of embassy officials that they do not intend to immigrate to the U.S. the second they get a non-immigrant visa. Sad, unfortunate, or otherwise, this is often the case. The embassy website even says something to the effect of, "you can try to get a visa as many times as you want, but there is really no sense in doing so unless you have something significantly new to show us".

I'm going to have a baby so I need her here with me for the first months now!!

Why? MANY people have babies without having their mother come stay with them for several months. Besides, couldn't you just go stay there for several months instead? Seems like it might be easier.

Good luck!

AKDiver

Well, not to disagree but the requirements are that you have met within the last two years, that you have a real relationship and that you intend to marry.

Hard to get by in life by just complying with minimum requirements.

Cheers!

AKDiver

You know - you could always just go visit HER and avoid the U.S. visa process entirely.

Cheers!

AKDiver

I dunno, maybe I'm jaded because we haven't had any problems along the way - but I don't see how difficult it could be to prove a relationship is "real" (whatever "real" means).

If I had to GUESS, maybe the embassy CO takes the position that a relationship is not "real", if it fits the general description of, "we had some communication, met once for a week or so, decided to get married, and have had lots of long-distance communication since". To be fair, I don't think the average person on the street would feel it was "real", so it's not too surprising that a CO may be skeptical. That is, afterall, more or less their job - to ferret out the real from the fraudulent. Grandpas hooking up with barely legal teenagers don't help the situation any and cause unwanted scrutiny for everyone else as well.

So, the question then becomes, how to overcome this barrier, or if your prefer, discrimination? Clearly, IF relations via long-distance communications are not considered valid (or at least garner extra scrutiny), then all the evidence of long-distance communications in the world isn't likely to help much. This includes e-mails, text messages, phone records, web-cam beaver shots, and whatever else. So what else can you do? The obvious answer is meeting in person, as often as possible. Is it expensive and inconvenient? You betcha. So is an immigration appeals process. At least with the travel you get to have some fun along the way. I think they like to see meeting in person as a measure of a bona-fide relationship. I think it probably helps, A LOT, to meet more than once - and by this I do NOT mean once at the beginning, and once just prior to the interview at the embassy. FWIW, my (now) wife and I met a total of three times, spent a total of, about 45 "in person" days together, over a span of about six months. The last of these visits was more than two months before the embassy interview.

Now, to some extent, I think luck plays a big part in things too. My (now) wife was hardly asked for any evidence of relationship at all, but she was armed with more evidence than you can imagine. She had all of the standard documents and papers, as well as printed copies of every e-mail each of us had sent the other (over a period of about a year), all of the original snail-mail letters I sent (which happened to be in calligraphy, on nice paper), photos of our travels together, copies of our travel documents from different trips, photos of me with her parents in Russia, and so forth. We had no phone records of any kind (since we didn't talk on the phone hardly at all). Everything was bound up and organized in a 3-ring binder and actually looked pretty good. The CO didn't ask to see any of it.

I wish I could tell you WHY she wasn't asked for much evidence. Maybe it was because she was older (27 at the time), relative to many of the girls they see come through there. Maybe it was because we didn't have much age difference (6 years). Maybe it was because she told them she was going to Alaska (not generally known as a prize destination for young Russian women to immigrate to). Maybe it was because we didn't meet in Russia in the first place, but Egypt. Maybe it was because I had been to Russia to visit her twice, for a total of uh, about 30 days. Maybe it was because we had traveled in a total of four different countries together. Maybe it was because she owned her own travel agency, did very well for herself as far as economics go, and that her passport indicated she had traveled extensively throughout the world - all of which adding up to the fact that she didn't need to hook up with some American dude to have a better life. Maybe it was because she speaks perfect English, smiled sweetly, and was able to make pleasant conversation, in English, with the CO. Maybe it was because, at the time, I worked for the Federal Government in a high-ranking (pay-scale-wise) position and the CO figured I was not likely to engage in fraud and risk my job. Who knows what goes through their minds? SHOULD any of this stuff matter? maybe, maybe not. DOES it seem to matter? Probably.

So, we're back to, what can you do to get through this process? All I can advise is that you do whatever you can to make your relationship seem as normal as a "regular" one, involving two people in the same city, going out on dates and hooking up and whatever else goes into that. No, you can't meet that standard, but if you work toward it, just maybe you will reduce the chances of the denial, admin review, RFE, or whatever else. Above all else, I recommend in person visits. Have a minimum of two, and three if at all possible. I think that will help you out a lot.

Good luck to all!

Cheers!

AKDiver

So here is my question...can I go there without my husband? He is currently in Afghanistan (when I send my pack I included his orders and a written letter from the commander that he is not here and wont be till November 2007). So does he need to be there for this?

Why would you husband need to go? The biometrics they need are yours, not his. At any rate, no, he does not need to go. You go, take your form, have your finger prints and picture taken, and off you go on your merry way, easy as pie.

Also, after tey get my picture and signature and fingerprints...what happen next?

You sit and wait - for maybe six months or so.

Does that still mean I might have to go back there for an interview? Or should this take care of everyhting?

You might. There is no way to predict in advance. You just wait and either you will get a green card in the mail, or you will get a notice for an interview appointment in the mail.

Also I just dont understand why they have to be such f#$&(*$#%...I am only 3 hours away from the Houston Center...but no I need to drive 4 1/2 hours to go to great New Orleans to get shot (its still super horrible down there....they'll never get thmeselves straight again)! Why cant I go to Houston?

Whaaaaaaaaa!!! Life is not perfect. Sheessh.

Good luck.

Cheers!

AKDiver

PS - Neonred - Yes, I still would expect someone to call me with something so important. You may want to condone it simply because it's government, but I will not. And I don't believe me being the white night on my horse outside, ready to charge in and "raise hell" as you put it, would have made any difference.

If you would bother to read the embassy website (http://moscow.usembassy.gov/consular/consular.php?record_id=nivfaq), you would see that on the FAQ, question #12, appears the following:

Q: Can the consular officer call me during the visa interview if s/he has questions about my friend or relative who is applying?

A: No, for two reasons. First, as noted above, the burden of qualification is on the applicant, and assurances from friends, family members, or associates in the United States do not affect the applicant’s ability to qualify for the visa. Second, the sheer volume of interviews and the cost of international calls makes this impossible both in terms of time and cost.

This being the case, your expectation IS completely unreasonable for you to expect them to call you. As for being important - well, maybe it is important to YOU and YOUR lives, but in the overall scheme of things, fact is, none of us, as individuals, are important in the eyes of the government. The sooner you realize and accept that, the easier your life will be.

Good luck to you!

Cheers!

AKDiver

I really admire all of you who made an effort to learn some Russian just because you have a Russian spouse. I admire that a lot. It really is a great way to show how much you value your relationship

I finished my second semester of Russian (102) in the fall. I got an "A" both semesters, but my wife told me not to take any more Russian classes because it takes too much of our time, and causes too much stress for her because she tries to help me and I am a terrible student. (:

So, no more Russian classes for me. Nyet!!! (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

Is it possible to do the EAD right now (like today) and send it in before the AOS?

Well, technically, she is allowed to work during her first 90 days, even without a permit. However, no employer is going to believe she has the right to work unless she has the permit, so for the most part, this "right" is of little value. Besides, she would have to quit on the 91st day. Generally not something an employer is interested in, and so in general, it's generally not worth trying to find such a temporary job, under those circumstances. By the time you subtract off the time it would take to get a work permit, you're left with practically no time at all. I suspect in your case, enough time has gone by that she couldn't get the temp work permit before her 90 days expires anyway. As for the 1-year permit, she is not eligible to get a 1-year work permit until she applies for AOS. It is the fact of applying for AOS that makes her eligible for the 1-year work permit. So really, you need to apply for them together.

And how long does the EAD take to get back? If I sent it all (AOS, EAD, etc.) as one packet, she'd get the EAD pretty shortly, right? Maybe two or three weeks?

The good news is that the EAD will be approved while AOS is still pending. They say that if you do not get the EAD within 90 days of applying, you can go to the local office to get a stamp in the passport that permits work. The bad news is that it does take a lot more than 2-3 weeks (just another reason to apply ASAP). It took about 60 days for my wife to get hers. It's just like anything else - you get NOA1, you get biometrics appointment, and you get EAD. Getting the biometrics appointment takes a while, but she got her card within a week of having the biometrics done, if I recall correctly.

Just to give you some reality check for comparison purposes...we got married about 1.5 months after my wife arrived. We married during the first week of September and applied for AOS, EAD, and AP the very next day. She didn't get her AP and EAD in the mail until late November or early December. By the time she started working on December 19th, she had been here five months - and this was applying right away, with absolutely smooth paperwork and no problems.

FWIW, she got her PR card in January, six months to the day after her arrival, and no longer needed the EAD. This means we spent all that money and some 60 days of waiting for the EAD, which she only need for about a month because having the PR card itself grants the right to work. However, it was critical that she got the right to work that month early because she got such a good job with it. I consider it money well spent, even though the whole process is lame beyond belief.

Cheers!

AKDiver

If I had a newish car (within 6 years old) with no lien holder, I wouldn't be in financial difficulty!!!

People who have newish cars paid off don't usually have financial troubles... they've got their $#!t together enough to pay their car off!

Just trying to help man.

Cheers!

AKDiver

I do not have the money right now, awaiting tax return! (Poor financial planning, I know, but what can I do?)

Were it me, I would borrow the money from a friend, take out a cash advance on a credit card, or take something to the pawn shop. Anything I could do in order to file the AOS and EAD within that first 90 days, short of going to one of those "cash advance" places (do not do that no matter what).

For what it's worth, if you happen to have a newish car (say, 6 years old at most) with no lien holder (i.e. it is paid off), you can use it as collateral for a loan from the bank.

Good luck!

AKDiver

Good stuff so far...

Now, do we have to file for AOS before her K-1 visa runs out? Is she legally able to stay here without filing for AOS?

(For instance, can we wait until, say, March to file?)

You don't EVER HAVE to file for AOS, as I understand things. However, after the K-1 visa expires, if she has not applied for AOS, she starts accumulating "out of status" days. I believe one gets 180 of those before being subject to deportation proceedings.

Once again, I cannot stress enough that unless you have some unusual circumstances, there is no advantage to waiting to file the AOS. She cannot gain Lawful Permanent Resident Status until you do. In general, the sooner you do it, the better. One thing to keep in mind that the medical she had in Russia is only good for one year with respect to applying for AOS.

Once again, again...you should file as soon as possible. If you have not filed for AOS and your K-1 expires, you will be considered out-of-status until you file. Make all attempts to file before you become out-of-status. You may also file for your EAD and AP at this time.

Your legal status as a K1 expires after 90 days, married or not. The only way to protect your legal status is to apply for Adjustment of Status, and the only way to maintain continuous legal status is to file for AOS before the K1 visa expires. On the practical side, it is often difficult to arrange for the marriage, and get all the paperwork ready in time to file for AOS within 90 days. Many newsgroup couples have filed for AOS a few days or weeks after the 90 day limit with no problems. Thus far, newsgroup experience has shown this is not a major issue with local USCIS (INS) offices.

I hope this makes things clear for you (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

So you can get into bars dude!

Oh.....OK. I guess so. (:

Cheers!

AKDiver