Mike and Minchian

So I got in touch with someone useful at the DoS today. My fiance's appointment was made on 3/16 and the interview letter won't get to us before the interview date in all likelihood. The guy advised us to just go to the interview and worry about filling out any missing forms or whatever later, and our medical exam info was probably sent to the consulate already. So a ray of hope in an otherwise gloomy period....

So my fiance are on the last leg of our visa process and having some pretty critical problems. Not sure whether this should be posted here or in the Taiwan embassy section.

My fiance mailed in the DS-230 part I, 156, 156k that were requested. She wanted to wait on sending the checklist in until she had completed everything, and sent that in a bit over a week ago after she had her medical exam. We have never heard anything back from AIT. We never got any mail from them. We tried calling the numbers on their website and they kept telling us they don't handle anything for K1 visas.

So, I called the department of state last Thursday (3/17) to see if they could give us any info and they said there is an interview date scheduled for 3/23, which is coming up very soon. We don't have a letter from AIT about our interview date/time to show them though, and no idea how to pay the fee for the interview. They also didn't give my fiance the medical report when she had the exam, they said she needed to come in and pick it up later but she hasn't heard anything back from them.

Just trying to figure out if there's anything we can do, are we worrying over nothing, or what....she's freaking out and I'm pretty much at a complete loss with no way of communicating with AIT.

I called in the day my 5 months was up (1/26/2011) and after being escalated to tier 2 they put in a service request and expedite request. They gave me a confirmation number and said I would hear back next Monday at the latest. It was approved that day and I received an e-mail this morning that there was no longer jurisdiction for my service request and expedite request because the file had been sent to NVC.

The tier 1 said they couldn't put in a service request. It's BS. Don't waste your time on them.

Did you guys get confirmation numbers if they sent in a service request? I just have a gut feeling they say they are doing something to get you to buzz off and then don't do squat.

I haven't gotten an e-mail either.

Feels so good to be on Igor's list! She was really sad today that we hadn't heard anything so she was extremely happy to hear our time in limbo is almost done. Good luck and best wishes to everyone who is waiting. It's an incredibly frustrating process. Get that escalation as soon as you can and make your best case for why you need that damn visa!

I did the steps noted in my post earlier today. Just got a text message that my case was updated (8:00pm PST) and checked it out. Petition approved. Yeahhhhhhhh!

Called USCIS as my five months is up. Also, previously a congressional unit made an inquiry on my behalf and forwarded me an e-mail saying everything should be done by January 24th (5 months from when they received the application, rather than 5 months from the NOA1). First service rep told me nothing could be done until tomorrow and even if she made a service request it would be bounced back to her by the computer. Asked to be escalated to the next level. Second person was much more helpful and said she submitted a service request and a request to expedite. She said I should here something back by Monday. Also sent an e-mail to the congressional aide I had worked with previously seeing if he could do anything. Hopefully something will stick.

Congrats to all who have received their NOA2. One more day and I will be on the phone....

Really encouraging to suddenly see all those approvals for late August NOA1s! Nothing new here but fingers are crossed we'll hear something in the next couple of days...

After all that waiting I'm happy to share that we've been approved as of January 13, 2011 exactly 5 months since receiving NOA1. I hope this gives peace of mind and hope to all of you who are anxiously waiting any type of progress or updates...just waiting for hard copy of NOA2 and process to schedule interview...hope everything moves quickly from here...hang in there August filers this is our month!!!

Awesome...getting closer....

I'm 8/26 but CSC. Hoping to hear something back in the next 2-3 weeks. Seems VSC is slower though, feel bad for you guys. I'm at my wit's end. Can't imagine doing this for another who knows how long.

I got a congressman to make an inquiry about a month ago (well before the 5 month period) and it didn't really do anything. They offered to help with an expedite but by that time we were within less than a month of the 5 months so I figured we'd just wait it out. I think they don't have too much effect until the 5 month period is over at least. He forwarded me an e-mail from USCIS and they did say the period was from the date they received the application, although everything I've been told by USCIS and what has been posted here makes it seem like 5 months from NOA1. Only makes 2 days of difference in my case so not a big deal. I've got his e-mail and will definitely ask him to make another inquiry when 5 months is up.

I am feeling VERY confident we will see ours by the end of the month. So exciting to start off the year with good news of August approvals!

When we filed, I was pretty confident we would get it in December. Now not so confident we will get it in January. Looks like they might be moving forward faster now that the holidays are over though. Seeing some from middle of August already. Hope both of us get to be one of those lucky ones to get it by the end of January!

Every person there gives people a different answer. They seem to just do their own thing and give people an answer they think will shut them up. I have heard and read so many different stories....

Congrats!

Congratulations! Awesome to hear some news!

My fiance is temporarily unemployed waiting to see what will happen with the visa, but if we don't hear anything by February she will want to move and start looking for work (can't find decent work near her mom's house). She would probably be moving to work in Australia again which would cost a lot to move. Five months is up at the end of January. I have tried just about everything to get some sort of status update so we know they're at least looking up the case to reassure her and nothing. Even got in touch with a congressman through a family friend and he put in an inquiry for us and got nothing back. Tried getting a call escalated and they called the five-month period their minimum processing time and they couldn't disclose what they were doing on my case due to security reasons. I have a sinking feeling we're going to pay all the expenses for her moving and a few days later we get the NOA2. There were some 1-2 month cooking classes in China she wanted to take that would give her something to do but they're closed for Chinese New Year. Sigh....starting to really hate USCIS.

Yes, because only those who have the ability to support someone completely should be able to fall in love, get married, and be with the person they love. Right? (That is sarcasm.)

Some people that go this route are students. I guess students shouldn't ever get married either?

Sorry, but I really have to disagree. Its great you aren't in that situation and its great you wouldn't want to be. However, not everyone is as lucky as you. Being a student and needing a sponsor is not a shameful thing at all. Its unfortunate that you disagree.

Absolutely. Students who cannot support someone else should not be looking to marry someone from another country who will have to depend on them for support. Passion does not conquer all. Marriage is a practical establishment.

I'm not lucky. I didn't date much in college or graduate school because I was doing mostly volunteer work and was moving all over the country in pursuit of a better education and job. We met over the internet when I was in graduate school. I saved up money to go meet her over spring break but got in a very bad car accident that used up all my savings. It caused us to drift apart but thankfully we re-connected later. So I know first hand that money and stability is pretty important to this process.

I suppose we should just have kids whenever too, right? Don't worry about finances, just pop them out and hope things work out? If we can't afford to raise them just send them to mom and dad?

Having dependents is a large burden and shouldn't be taken so lightly.

I did a bit of reading before I filed and it looked like it would take 3 months or so to get an NOA2. Hasn't quite worked out that way. The uncertainty is worse than the waiting. I'd gladly pay for some certainty.

If someone is applying for a k visa with their parents or co-workers money...well, glad I'm not them. How do you support him or her once he/she gets here? Presumably if s/he doesn't provide airfare, the foreign fiance is not particularly rich. I am fortunate to have generous parents but no way in hell they are going to support my fiance/wife. Sorry, not going to get any sympathy from me. I'm selling my boat (which I love and put a lot of work into) just in case I don't have enough saved. Such is life. If you are borrowing money from co-workers and friends you shouldn't be moving towards supporting someone. While many immigrants find jobs it's not that easy and takes a while in this economy.

I have an S corp and am employed through it. Sorry I didn't include that. Guess I will do my taxes and if I'm sure line 22 is above the requirements I'll just file. Would like to get them taken care of in advance anyways.

What's wrong with paying more for better service? Everyone makes choices like that every day. Some people pay more because they appreciate good service or they're in a rush, others may be more patient or not care if they get bad service and would rather save the money.

I'd be happy to pay $1k for a 1 month processing time with prompt updates, and I'm definitely not rich. Normally I'm pretty cheap but damn this process sucks :/. $1,000 is not enough to price most people out. Anyone applying for a k1 already makes enough to travel internationally.

I started a business in 2009 and on my tax returns I had a gross personal income of $35k that year (business gross was around 80). I was a graduate student before that and didn't earn much money for those years. So right now I only have one usable tax return for the affidavit of support. It seems like I may want two for her interview but I'm in an awkward position. Between visiting my fiance and the holidays I took a lot of time off work recently and as a result fell way behind on billing clients. When I bill them I take money out of their deposits and pay myself. However, now we're in a different tax year and I will be paying myself a pretty significant amount of money that I really earned last year. I also had a lot of business expenses early in the year. On my income tax for 2010 it will look like I made significantly less than I actually did. I should still be above the guidelines for my gross personal income but my AGI will be pretty low. Normally I would just file in April but I'm not sure if it will screw up her interview if there's only one year of tax returns and no paystubs. I also have a house with equity in it. The income from the guidelines wouldn't even cover my house and student loans, so it's pretty obvious I make more than that, but....just want things to go as smoothly as possible. I will hopefully have $15-20k saved by the time she has her interview and in a bank account if that would help (for our honeymoon, car for her, travel and AOS expenses).

How is family immigration a right? We didn't have immigration laws for over half our country's history, and when we first started them they were basically racist laws to kick out one group or another. This new idea of quotas and visas for specific types of people isn't a right, it's just a way people who are afraid of foreigners limit the numbers who come in somewhat. And an attempt to keep entitlement spending down because the government promised too much in the way of social security and medicare. It could be considered limiting our rights of association, but I can't think of any way it would be considered a right or privilege.

It is what it is and we have to deal with it, but didn't really sit well with me for it to be called a right.

If nothing has happened by the beginning of February I think we're both going to go nuts....but looks like they're still working on July filers. Wish people would remember to fill in their information so that we could have a better idea of what's going on.

Judging by some other USCIS timelines, it's probably supposed to be a 150 day period to process and then 30 days for it to get to you by mail. If you haven't received it in 180 days they've used up all their excuses.

I noticed later that it was expedited. Was hopeful there for a couple hours.

I think you really have to go through this process to know what it's like. Forced long distance with no definite horizon is not something people should have to deal with for so long. Constant disappointed every day when you check your mail and still nothing, wondering what the heck is taking so long. Zero feedback in any way for 4-5 months. The first 2 months or so weren't bad but after this last trip especially, it's much more difficult. Someone else mentioned they felt like a robot...that's definitely how I feel. Thankfully it's the holidays and things have slowed down a lot at work but even so I'm starting to get behind. Just feel so down some days.

It looked like quite a few people at the end of July still had to go. Hopefully snow and the holiday season don't slow things down too much. My fiance has been staying with her mom temporarily but wants to move and find a different job. She's holding off for a while to see if the visa goes through. Hopefully will hear something back by the end of January at the latest. Would hate for her to go through the expense of moving and then a week later find out we get our NOA2. But then if I encourage her to stay and it takes forever she'll be frustrated too.