TJ 4EVER

Will be leaving to visit my hubby in less then three weeks and I am so excited. I miss him so very much. God has allowed us the opportunity to spend two weeks with one another (16 days and 15 nights to be exact) and we will enjoy every minute. I pray that us seeing one another will lesson this anxiety I tend to feel with this long waiting process. Our anniversary is in October and I am praying and praying that he will be here by then. If not I guess I will have to take that long flight back to Nigeria because we just have to spend our first wedding anniversary together. Please pray for my safe arrival and for our time spent together.

No worries, everything will work out fine. God is the ultimate one in control. Place your trust in Him and everything will work out occording to His grace and mercy...

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. You are truly blessed...congrats!!!

Let's hope they aren't lol I would be happy if the NOA2 was May or sooner....if it's later...that will suck we all want our SO's to be here before 2012!!! HURRY UP! lol Feb. 28th is my date of travel yay!!! but I will be there for the first three weeks of march boy am I gunna miss my daughter....but I havnt seen the hubby for 8 months!!! I think i deserve it...She is actually turning 2 today!!! Totally can't believe it...I keep thinking "He will be here next year for this and then he will never miss another birthday....*sigh*

Travel mercies to you. I am happy to hear that you will have the opportunity to spend some good quality time with yor hubby...God bless

Welcome to VJ

Hi Tamika,

We also have a 10-year difference except that I am the younger one. I'm 30 and my hubby is 40. It is a diffcult and very frustrating process to go through. Especially now at the very beginning of it. I am also very glad and grateful I found VJ and see people in a similar position to mine. It helps.

Way to go on that document collecting idea. It will serve you well when the time comes plus you're getting yourself busy which is also good for you.

Good luck to us. I pray for us all every day.

Gosia

Thanks Gosia,

Keeping busy is definitely key. I prau that your journey goes smoothly for you.

Amen March seems to be the month of reunion. I pray everyone one enjoys their precious moments with their boo...lol.

Rosy...happy to hear your hubby will be visiting you soon...

Hello everyone,

I guess I will introduce me and my husband to all of my fellow December filers. My husband's name is Julius and my names is Tamika. I am 10 years older then my hubby (he's 28 and I am 38). My husband and I were married in October and I filed in December (had to get a lot of things together once I returned to the States. By God's grace I will be visiting my husband in March and again in July. It is very expensive but I am missing him so much that money just does not seem all that important. My hubby and I speak everyday but because he does not have his own personal computer we do not skype (I hope that won't be a problem). He and I do send email to one another often (he goes to the cafe) and we send each other correspondence (cards and letters) often. I am currently just trying to make sure we have all of our documents in order so when the time comes I won't have to run around like a chicken with no head. I think my biggest expense will be getting our photos together (we have hundreds on digital). I must say I was pretty discouraged when I found out the length of time it will take to receive a visa but now I feel a little better to know I am not going through this alone. I am happy to be able to go through this process with others who are having similar circumstances, it can be frustrating to try and share my feelings with others who just does not have a clue about the process. My email is tamikamariepa@yahoo.com. I welcome emails...I am currently in school so if my response is slow I apologize in advance, I will get back to you though. I pray all is well and I pray that we can all find ways to make the best out of this situation we find ourselves in (the long wait I mean).

Grace and peace to you all...

Tamika

Congratulations....God bless you and all your plans....

Hi all,

So I am in the US she is in Accra,

We are just now starting the process. I have lots of questions.

We are looking at applying for a tourist visa first.

OR as suggested by someone else go straight for the K1. We have never meet in person. So it seems to me that the K1 isn't for us? At not at this point in time. Am I correct in my assumptions?

Bringing both her and her son to the US. But that is double of what it would cost for me to visit her. So the jury is still out on that. Money is very tight.

First with the medical,

She needs to get the medical for both her and her son before she interviews correct?

Can I pay for them from over here via a Credit Card?

Is there a time constraint between when you get your medicals and when you need to interview?

We are looking to clean up a few things over here first before she interviews. Maybe a month or two.

Income.

I am recently divorced. Because of that I would not want to show my Bank account to anyone.

But I make a good living. Can I substitute my pay stub instead?

Also on the bank accounts and pay stubs I was thinking to black out account numbers is that standard practice?

Sponsorship. The guide lines suggest that I have $5000.00 for each person set-aside for when they are here? I don't have that kind of funds lying around. I can buy the tickets and everything that it takes to get them here. I need to sell some stuff to do that. So the money isn't just sitting in an account.

Since money is tight. I thought that I would run through the charges that I am expecting and seeing if you guys could tell me if I missed anything. Thanks

Medical: $300.00 US each

Visa application: $300.00 each

Agent: She really wants one. There is a lot riding on this for her. We both want to get it right.

Passport ????? Is this a need or is the visa enough?

Plane tickets: $1200.00 to $2000.00 each I've seen prices all over the place.

??

??

As I said the budget is tight. Am I reaching too far by only getting up enough to get them here? And relying on my income to support them while they are here. With little or no contingency money?

Thanks

Tim

Hi,

The likelihood of your sweetie getting a visitors visa from Ghana is VERY slim. You will be taking a great risk in losing your money by even filing a visa for her and her son. If you are truly in love (which it sounds like you are because you are talking marriage) perhaps you should spend your limited resources on planning a trip out to Ghana. The cost would definitely be cheaper for you, you two will have to meet face to face anyway before you can file for an I-129f anyway. This will also give you an opportunity to see for yourself if this is true love. Ghana is a beautiful place and I am sure you two can enjoy one another presence there and after that if things remain them same you can file for your I-129f petition. This is a long and expensive process. Just take one step at a time, trust in God and everything will work out just fine.

Thanks Darnell, that is very helpful.

Don't you have file tax for ssdi? If not, can you just get some kind of statement from the SSA?

No, I don't have to file taxes but I get a letter at the end of each year showing how much income I received for the year

I have filed an I-130 for my husband trying to obtain a CR1 visa. Currently I receive $36,000 through SSDI and my mother has agreed to be my husband's co-sponsor and she has been working for the IRS for the past 25 years. I am currently in school full time and will not be graduating until May of 2012. I am receiving SSDI because I am legally blind and I have recently received a liver transplant which took me from working. During my recovery I decided to return to school for my second masters degree. I have three dependent children ages 14, 16 and 18. My question is what is the likelihood of my I-184 to be accepted? I have been receiving SSDI for the past three years and have proof of that (no tax returns). If not what can I do? Thank you for your help in advance.

Grace and peace to you

To God be the glory...i am so happy for you Ladydare. in about 9 months God willing my husband will be facing those CO's as well, God is able. Contiune placing your faith in God and all is well.

I am 13 years older than my husband and we plan to have a child when he gets here. We have a wonderful relationship based on love and respect and in many ways, he is more mature and more thoughtful than I am. We were denied our K1 visa back in March 2010 for other reasons so we went and got married and re-filed for a CR-1. But he did go through 8 months of AP before the K1 visa was denied and I think a lot of it had to do with the age difference, race difference, religious difference and cultural difference.

excuse my ignorance but what does ap mean?

My hubby and I met in Abuja, Nigeria. I was headed home after taking a class that was being held in Nigeria. We kept in touch through facebook, email and phone calls. Our next meeting was in Lagos, Nigeria, where we said our vows...

* Customs forms and mailing receipts for gifts mailed to each other

* Scanned copies of birthday cards, etc. mailed to each other

* Purchase receipts for wedding rings & other gifts given to each other

* Document confirming her designation as my spouse in employer's personnel file

* Document confirming her designation as my spouse in employer's retirement system

* Document confirming she has been added as an authorized user on my credit card, & that a credit card on my account but in her name has been issued

* Phone call records from phone company

(Note: she WAS going to use a phone card here, but Bangkok U.S. Embassy website says phone card call records are NOT acceptable as evidence!)

In addition, we are currently working on:

* Married Filing Jointly Tax Return for 2010, which will have the effect of forcing the US Government to issue her a TIN (Tax Id Number) which in turn will be extremely useful for opening bank accounts and such, and which will itself also serve as evidence of our ongoing marital relationship and as evidence of financial interdependence.

Ok now I think I'm going to be sick. I have ordered phone records from my phone company but I use calling cards to call my husband with. I just can't afford calling him right out. The record of my calling the phone cards via reaching him will not be accepted? OMG, what am I going to do? Another thing I have heard just this evening I have to show a consistent record of him calling me and phone cards to call the US from Nigeria is wicked expensive. Me calling him is not enough even though it shows communication. Please pray for us that we find some kind of solution,,,please

ok Thank you...was getting nervous that I missed something

I have spoken to a friend of mine who has received a visa just three months ago. He told me his wife was interviewed here in the States before they sent the I-130 over to the NVC. Is this true?

ok, i am the filipina. my family wanted me to marry for money and i agreed to. but i loved another man. my k1 petitioner did leave me at the airport, half a day later, he said he was busy and I should have found my own way and made him dinner. he said many other hurtfuls things and it became clear to me that i would lead an awful life with him. i called the man i love to help me. i didnt plan this and i just want to be with him. he didnt even know i was getting married. i couldnt stop talking to him even though my mom beat me to end it. im sorry, i just couldnt go through with it. i saved my virginity for the man i love.

wow...I'm skeptical in believing you at this point. If you are being truthful I'm sorry to hear about your experience but imagine how much more helpful everyone could have been for you if you would have tried truth on for size. You would have (and if you are being honest now can still have) the support from all who are compassionate. Are you still in the US? give us the truth and maybe you can benefit from this forum

Stay positive!!!!!!!! I remember 10 years ago I was almost taken advantage of in a Russian Scam.. My gut instinct told me something was wrong. I did a little research and the woman I was conversing with had a picture posted on a scam site. Lesson Learned !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I met my current wife on a international dating site. after months of emails and skype I knew this was legit. I would show her pictures of the engagement ring I bought her on skype and she would begin to weep. We found love over the internet and after I went to Georgia I knew that we were meant to be.

The heart, mind, and conscious if they all agree then I think the right choice was made..

Nothing in life is guaranteed but we do have the wisdom to know the difference..

keep the faith

wow, I am happy to hear that you listened to your gut. I was once scammed and the sad thing is I felt it in my gut BEFORE the mess hit the fa. I just thank God He took the scales off my eyes before any real damage was done. My broken heart mended and although at the time I thought that life could get no better God blessed me with my now husband. Lesson learned and my eyes has been opened ever since. Believe me you I looked and I looked good. Fortunately I found nothing and proceeded. Now my heart is so filled with joy (except for the missing him part). I know nevertheless, there will come a day when all of this will be a memory. This time apart is just making our bond stronger but dang is it hard.

In some cases, things just don't work out, but both parties entered in to the marriage in good faith and learned over time that they were incompatible, but I also think it is a reasonable assumption that in 99% of the cases where the beneficiary was just trying to get to the US, there were red flags along the way that were ignored. Upon reflection after the fact those flags are more evident. Knowing that, it behooves everyone going through this process to reflect on everything that has happened in their relationship and if there are any warning signs, talk about them with your future spouse. Also have all those boring conversations about work, finanaces, children and everything else that makes up a marriage. If the beneficiary is not really sincere and just trying to get to the US then it will usually become evident if we approach things with our eyes open. These types of conversations are important so that both people know what to expect and what the other person expects and hopefully set the stage for a long happy relationship and also to weed out those who are just looking for a ticket to the US.

Yes I agree, when both parties are attempting in good faith...it's the others that concerns me.

Hi!

I know how you feel, Ive read so many posts about horror stories and its really sad. But I feel that there are so many people so desperate to find love, they would do anything to find somebody... for example you see so many older men looking for wifes on international sites and end up petiotining/marrying somebody they've seen only once and then OH NO! it didnt work out! She just wanted a greencard!... What im trying to say is if you have a real relationship that has developed normally you shouldn't have to worry about it! of course in any kind of relationship has it risks of not working out, but if you feel like you there might be a chance your relationship is not real then you shouldnt be going to the process. You should only do it if you're 100% sure of the relationship both ways.

Good luck and don't be paranoid!!!

Thanks for your response and you are right, I should only go through with this if I am 100% sure. I believe God is directing my footsteps therefore I am more then 100% sure that what I am doing is the right thing. I know nothing is guaranteed, not even my next breath but I thank God for allowing my heart to open to my husband. I guess sometimes I allow negativity to creep in my heart and run with it. My`heart just aches for the broken hearted, those who have been scammed. Scammers, I just don't hold any respect for any of them,

I've been trying to collect as much information as possible myself. As I guess you can all tell my husband is Nigerian and Nigeria from what I hear is really tough. I have ordered my phone records since the time that we met and he is going to go to his phone carrier and request his records as well. Trying to decide on whether or not I should print our pictures out myself or should I have them printed at Walmart so I can develop an album for him. I am also planning my next trip there and making sure that everything is documented because during my last trip I lost some valuable opportunities due to ignorance. What is most exciting about this is I will get to spend eleven wonderful days with my baby. I miss him sooo much it is killing me. I am wrecking my brain just making sure I have dotted all my i's and crossed evert t's. Well I am wishing everyone the best during this waiting season. I have not check my number yet because I just do not want to go through the frustration. I know USCIS has my app and accepted it and I think I am going to try to wait until February to check, if it doesn't work by then I think I may just freak out...lol