VJ Immigration Information: Request for Help from Community

[Captain Ewok 1,859]

I-751 reminder letter information updated per the latest discussion in this thread.

[branimira250 4]

For me and my husband (already) VJ was really helpful and its still helpful .... When we started the K1 prosess that was the only place you can find complete information about how and where and when ,people help each other and share their expirience wich is so so good .....I really can say "Thank you all guys for your help!" ........ I wish the members to update their timeline,because like this we can see and make an idea for the timing.

[Mel&John 0]

Thanks for the Guides. They are very very helpful! I quickly reviewed the IR-1 Guide...it seems fine, but for past 8 months I've been stuck in the first (I-130) step so my experience is pretty limited. (At least I know from the forums that everybody who applied in March is stuck in that step!)

The only problem I have with these overview process guides is they are hard for the newbie (at least this one!) to find in the first place. Consider this scenario:

I hear that www.visajourney.com has some good information about how to bring my foreign spouse to the US. When I get there, the home page has a LOT of information on it.....The headers alone! OMG!: Home Forums Portals Guides Wiki News Visa FAQs Immigration Timelines....that's just the first line across the top, then there are Site Navigation lists and links on the right side. Where to start?

The temptation is to start with what's in front of you. The home page starts right away with Forums.....so the newbie dives right in and gets into the weeds with all the information and misinformation that is there!

However, if the newbie happens to see the small "new member" link he might go to the "New Members Guide", but even that is fraught with choices and recommendations! If you read the text and follow the links in order, you'll see an overwhelming list of 'Features', then be invited to register on the forum, then the portals, then the timelines. But the most basic of information, the outline of the processes that you need to get your head around, are buried in the lists!

I LOVED the GUIDE! But I didn't find it until I had visited the site several times and in fact had already sent off my I-130 package. I recommend that you find some way to direct newbies straight to the Guides before they start getting into the forums and other links...

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Thanks for all the updates!

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Can "front loading" for high risk countries be mentioned somewhere ?
2-5 photos and a few emails and chats won't cut it for some countries.

I would like to see an example form of the DS160 online form so people can get an idea what the questions are.
There are constant questions about "is the DS160 replacing all other forms".

We have a Wiki for the returned petition process, a bit hard to find for newbies.

Thanks Ewok for all your hard work and for asking for feedback. VJ rocks !

[Captain Ewok 1,859]

I noticed that many people over the years are curious about their USCIS Receipt Number and how to check their case status. I have added page to help explain this information to folks. It is linked from a few pages but if you can think of other places to add the link (so people can find this page) let me know!

http://www.visajourney.com/content/uscis-receipt-number

[Captain Ewok 1,859]

Can "front loading" for high risk countries be mentioned somewhere ?

2-5 photos and a few emails and chats won't cut it for some countries.

I would like to see an example form of the DS160 online form so people can get an idea what the questions are.

There are constant questions about "is the DS160 replacing all other forms".

We have a Wiki for the returned petition process, a bit hard to find for newbies.

Thanks Ewok for all your hard work and for asking for feedback. VJ rocks !

I added an example DS-160 today! I hope that helps. If you can make a list of the "high risk countries" I will make a memo in the guides for folks from those countries to add more information/evidence to their petitions.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I noticed that many people over the years are curious about their USCIS Receipt Number and how to check their case status. I have added page to help explain this information to folks. It is linked from a few pages but if you can think of other places to add the link (so people can find this page) let me know!

http://www.visajourney.com/content/uscis-receipt-number

That looks really nice.

Could you make a note there that the online system is rather inaccurate? We get so many posts from people saying "omg! Why didn't my online status move from acceptance to initial review?" and "omg! Why aren't I in the biometrics dot yet? I got a letter, should I call them!?!"etc.

The online system is not really connected to the case; it's a secondary notification system that is prone to inaccuracy. Nearly 100% of the time, people are worrying for nothing. I understand it, because the myriad of dots and steps on the online system makes it look like things should be happening, but it doesn't work like it appears it will.

Edited November 19, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[hurlr 1]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Most of the process seems good.

Some is not:

...

Note: A K-1 Visa holder can enter the United States only one time with this visa. Upon entry, the K-1 visa is cancelled, and the I-94 form issued upon entry becomes the controlling document. If the K-1 entrant leaves the U.S. before marriage to the original petitioner, re-entry into the U.S. might not be allowed without a new visa. Also, if the K-1 entrant has applied for and is waiting on approval of an Adjustment of Status petition, the K-1 entrant should not leave the U.S. without also having applied for and received approved Advance Parole -- doing so could result in the inability to re-enter the U.S., and it indicates abandonment of the petition for Adjustment of Status. (Note that even approved Advance Parole does not guarantee re-entry into the U.S.)

I-94 IS NOT ISSUED UPON ENTRY, INFO ON THE PROCESS FOR RETRIEVING IT FROM THE CBP WEBSITE SHOULD BE NOTED.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/

Some people are issued a I-94 form on entry...I was - it was stapled into my passport.

[hurlr 1]

Hi! I would add to this FAQ http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-aos.html#6.10.1
in section 6.12 re: taxes that it is important to contact/get information from your country of origin regarding whether you need to file a tax return in the US or your original country or both, and if you need special forms or instructions. For example, I needed to use the general tax form for Canada, but had to write extra information in the blank margin to the right of where you usually write in the amounts.

[Hank_ 9,173]

Some people are issued a I-94 form on entry...I was - it was stapled into my passport.

In the PAST yes... but that is not how it is done now. And now is what counts

[hurlr 1]

In the PAST yes... but that is not how it is done now. And now is what counts

Hi! I wonder if it differs depending on the POE, and whether it's a land or air entry. I entered December 2012 by land, which seemed fairly recent to me - but they may have changed the use of I-94's since then. I also received a new I-94 stapled in my passport the first time I used my advanced parole card at an airport in June 2013 - but not when I entered by land in July 2013. It may be inconsistent for K-1 entries too.

[Hank_ 9,173]

Hi! I wonder if it differs depending on the POE, and whether it's a land or air entry. I entered December 2012 by land, which seemed fairly recent to me - but they may have changed the use of I-94's since then. I also received a new I-94 stapled in my passport the first time I used my advanced parole card at an airport in June 2013 - but not when I entered by land in July 2013. It may be inconsistent for K-1 entries too.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/03212013.xml

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I thought you said a while ago that you had fixed the timeline function to make it impossible for people to add future dates. At the top of this list is someone who says they got approved in August 2014.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?cfl=

[Stevephoto 224]

Aloha Captain Ewok,

I think any minor issues that I have had going through the website, guides, forums, etc., have been addressed in the comments above. I would just emphasize the issue of the I-3025 to I-693 Civil Surgeon requirements for those adjusting from K visas. There are a lot of recent posts about this and many people are still confused. Other than that all I can say is thank you for an amazing resource.