biggish data

Fiance from Macau, with Portugese passport, Hong Kong Embassy?

QUOTE (Jeremy&SioTo @ Mar 28 2009, 07:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Alias @ Mar 28 2009, 06:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Jeremy&SioTo @ Mar 28 2009, 01:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We just received our NOA2 for our K1 visa, and now we move on to NVC, then the embassy. I am wondering, what embassy will get our K1 package?

I am wondering this due to the the fact that my fiancé, who is from Macau, holds a Portuguese passport. Macau used to be a part of Portugal, my fiancé and many other Macau residents are Portuguese citizens. The nearest embassy to Macau is the US embassy in Hong Kong. The US embassy in Hong Kong handles all embassy matters for people living in Macau. But, since all of my fiancé's papers, passport, birth certificate are from Portugal, will NVC still send her packet on to Hong Kong? She was born and raised in Macau, and lives in Macau, with Macau ID and permanent resident status. She has never even been to Portugal except for school holiday.

So does the NVC forward the K1 package to the embassy nearest the fiancé, or to the embassy in the country where the fiancé has citizenship?

I know the chances are slim, but I wanted to see if there are any other VJ members working on a K1 for a Macau resident who has a Portuguese passport.

Anyone have a guess?

Congratulations!!!! Regarding your question, I believe they will send it to Hong Kong. After all, she is a Macau citizen and Hong Kong does handle all of Hong Kong and Macau embassy matters.

NVC confirmed for me today, residents of Macau always have their applications sent to Hong Kong Consulate.

Hey Alias, thanks for reassurance, now we just wait on NVC for the next step!

Jeremy

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-04-03 16:38:00

Fiance from Macau, with Portugese passport, Hong Kong Embassy?

QUOTE (Alias @ Mar 28 2009, 06:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Jeremy&SioTo @ Mar 28 2009, 01:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We just received our NOA2 for our K1 visa, and now we move on to NVC, then the embassy. I am wondering, what embassy will get our K1 package?

I am wondering this due to the the fact that my fiance, who is from Macau, holds a Portuguese passport. Macau used to be a part of Portugal, my fiance and many other Macau residents are Portuguese citizens. The nearest embassy to Macau is the US embassy in Hong Kong. The US embassy in Hong Kong handles all embassy matters for people living in Macau. But, since all of my fiance's papers, passport, birth certificate are from Portugal, will NVC still send her packet on to Hong Kong? She was born and raised in Macau, and lives in Macau, with Macau ID and permanent resident status. She has never even been to Portugal except for school holiday.

So does the NVC forward the K1 package to the embassy nearest the fiance, or to the embassy in the country where the fiance has citizenship?

I know the chances are slim, but I wanted to see if there are any other VJ members working on a K1 for a Macau resident who has a Portuguese passport.

Anyone have a guess?

Congratuations!!!! Regarding your question, I believe they will send it to Hong Kong. After all, she is a Macau citizen and Hong Kong does handle all of Hong Kong and Macau embassy matters.

Hey Alias, thanks for reassurance, now we just wait on NVC for the next step!

Jeremy

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-03-28 19:33:00

Fiance from Macau, with Portugese passport, Hong Kong Embassy?

We just received our NOA2 for our K1 visa, and now we move on to NVC, then the embassy. I am wondering, what embassy will get our K1 package?

I am wondering this due to the the fact that my fiance, who is from Macau, holds a Portuguese passport. Macau used to be a part of Portugal, my fiance and many other Macau residents are Portuguese citizens. The nearest embassy to Macau is the US embassy in Hong Kong. The US embassy in Hong Kong handles all embassy matters for people living in Macau. But, since all of my fiance's papers, passport, birth certificate are from Portugal, will NVC still send her packet on to Hong Kong? She was born and raised in Macau, and lives in Macau, with Macau ID and permanent resident status. She has never even been to Portugal except for school holiday.

So does the NVC forward the K1 package to the embassy nearest the fiance, or to the embassy in the country where the fiance has citizenship?

I know the chances are slim, but I wanted to see if there are any other VJ members working on a K1 for a Macau resident who has a Portuguese passport.

Anyone have a guess?

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-03-28 15:45:00

How many pages of TAX return should I include for my I-134?

For the past 3 years I worked for a company in Macau, and they did not issue W-2's (not an American company). I had to do my tax returns each year by adding up my monthly deposit records showing the transfer from my employer's account in to my bank account. This always worked for the IRS.

Should I just send the 1040 forms? I did not even think about this until everyone here was saying we need to send in W-2's. I do have one W-2 for the portion of 2008 that I did live in the USA, from November through December, but jsut no other W-2's for the previous two years.

I could apply for transcripts, but I am afraid they will not arrive in time to send to the embassy with my fiance.

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-04-09 15:19:00

Hong Kong Consulate Support Affidavit Requirement?

QUOTE (walls1010 @ Apr 3 2009, 04:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As far as I remember, when I received the K1 packet from the USE Hongkong the form of affidavit of support (I-134) was included, and the form I-134 now my husband filled out and sent it to me which I submitted on my interview at the USE Hongkong. We used the form I-864 when I filed my AOS here.

Got the packet 3 today. I need the I-134, as everyone suspected. The Hong Kong Consulate website is confusing, but the packet 3 is very clear.

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-04-19 15:40:00

Hong Kong Consulate Support Affidavit Requirement?

(Re-posting this in the Embassy and Consulate area)

I finally got my NOA2 letter in the mail yesterday, I was getting worried that it was not coming, since I got the approval email a week ago.

I called NVC this morning and they said everything has already been forwarded on to Hong Kong, so that is great news. I have my employer's letter, letter from my bank, last 3 years 1040's, pay stubs, NOA1 and NOA2 all together ready to send over to Dora in Macau to prepare her for the interview.

The last thing for me to get a clear answer on is what does the Hong Kong Consulate want; I-864 or I-134. Everything on VJ and the WWW says that I-864 is for "immigrant visa apps" so it is not used for K1 visa applications, since they are non-immigrant, and that the I-134 should be used for non-immigrant visa such as the K1.

BUT! The Hong Kong Consulate website specifically states to file the I-864 for the fiancé to bring to the interview date:

http://hongkong.usco..._checklist.html
Applying for an Immigrant Visa
Document Checklist for Immigrant & K & V Visa Applicants
Please bring all applicable documents (originals plus copies if noted) on this checklist. Visas are often approved the same day for applicants who are prepared with these documents. Visas will not be approved until applicants submit all required documents.

6. Immigrant visa applicants require an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) with sponsors' federal income tax return that was current when the I-864 was signed if the affidavit of support has not been submitted to the National Visa Center. K & V visa applicants should provide proof of self-supporting in the U.S. or a job offer for you or a letter from the petitioner's employer. Form I 134 (not Form I-864) executed by the petitioner and his/her federal income tax returns for the most recent tax year may be required when the consular officer deems useful.

The Hong Kong Consulate website lists the K-1 Fiancé visa under the section for immigrant visa, and the 18 item checklist on what to bring to the interview begins with "immigrant visa" and later lists "K&V visas" in the body of the item, stating to use the I-864 for the K1, and also that form I-134 "may be required when the consular officer deems useful". That is confusing! I guess the only safe thing is to just do both the I-864 and the I-134, just to be safe.

Also, one other question about fees. The same 18 item checklist says this about the fee needed to apply for the visa:

For family-sponsored or employment-based applicants, the immigrant visa fee of US$400 (HK$3,200) for each applicant is required if the fee has not already been paid to the National Visa Center. The fee for Diversity Visa applicants is US$775 (HK$6,200). K & V visa applicants need payment receipt from the Dah Sing Bank Ltd.

This does not apply to the K1 does it? We paid our fee when we applied with our I-129, right?

Doing this part feels more stressful since I can not talk to Dora face to face about the docs and forms, so I want to make sure I send everything over to her so that the day she goes in to interview is as stress free as possible. I just wish I could be in Hong Kong to give her support at the interview, I would be stressed to go there alone!!

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-04-03 16:24:00

QUOTE (Alias @ Jul 10 2009, 03:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jeremy,

So this blue sheet is almost the same as the first blue sheet. Except this one doesn't say to submit your passport and also doesn't state that you will receive your visa upon receiving the document(s). If it is similar, then it shouldn't take months. I would suspect it would take a couple of weeks. Then if they have to reschedule for another interview, it might take another month. I think US Consulate in HK is not really that busy so they will be able to work much faster they say.

Alias,

Thank you for your positive thoughts, I really hope that you are right. I have searched VJ and the WWW about being in AP, there are a million reasons to be in AP, and every embassy has a different process. I guess so far we are lucky that the embassy is working the file from the Hong Kong side, the alternative is that they kick the file all the way back to the USA side for the USCIS to research our case further, if that happens it is really a black hole. We are both a little discouraged right now, as we were so sure we were almost back together. Honestly, I have just gone from sad to depressed to tears to angry back to depressed for a couple days now. I will have to find some way to deal with this or I will not be able to do my job anymore. I am reading up on getting married in Macau, then canceling our fiance visa app and applying for a CR1. The CR1 process only takes around 6 months, if we had just married in Macau when living there Dora would already be here in the USA. It is amazing that it has taken almost 8 months to get a non-immigrant fiance visa, so Dora can come here, marry, then apply for an immigrant visa!

Jeremy

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-07-10 20:56:00

QUOTE (Jeremy&SioTo @ Jul 8 2009, 03:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Jeremy&SioTo @ Jul 7 2009, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am so depressed. My fiance Dora was rejected at her Hong Kong embassy interview. They said we needed more proof of relationship. That was OK, but then afterwards when we submitted all the extra docs they asked us to send, then again sent a letter that said they are not sure of our "timeline". HK embassy has now said we need to send over all immigration records from the Macau immigration offices to show when she went in and out of Macau, Dora is from Macau.

They worst part is the girl from the embassy told Dora, "after you send in the immigration records we have no idea how long it will be until you can get a new interview date, and then we are not sure you will pass that interview, you have to wait and see."

We are both so upset and low now, it has been almost 8 months now, and it seems that things are getting worse not better. I just can not take the endless "one more doc" "one more letter" round and round, it is so depressing.

We are now thinking Dora might try to come visit me in the USA again, while we wait on the HK embassy to review the latest set of papers Dora will send tomorrow, they said this process may take 6 more months!!!!!

I feel so hopeless and sad, I do not know what to do to get this visa through.

Should I call a senator, or call the embassy? Anything I can do? Help.

Jeremy

I just called the Department of State, the operator told me "as of July 7th your file was marked as in Administrative Processing". This is bad news, really makes my stomach hurt to say it. I guess this means we are in for a really really long wait, with no updates.

We had decided to just have Dora come over here and wait out the 6 months on her VWP Portuguese passport (some Chinese residents of Macau have Portuguese passports due to Macau's previous colony status. But if that could raise a red flag, or delay the AP should she come here? I search all over VJ and every other post seems to disagree about VWP visits causing problems with the K1 process, or possible rejection at immigration POE when she tries to visit.

I did find the form to fax to my senator to deal with other government agencies, I am worried about trying to explain the entire process and issues to the senator's office via a small fax page. It seems like bringing in the Senator's office could complicate the entire process.

Dora's sister in Macau is an attorney and has immigration attorney contacts in Hong Kong. We are going to have her ask some questions to them to see if there is anything we could do now to help.

If the consulate had not got our hopes up so high when they took her passport and had her pay for shipping once the visa was issued we would not have got so excited, we were so expecting to be together by this week. So changing gears back to the mode of "it may be 6 more months" is just hard to swallow, we will just have to get adjusted and get used to being alone again, with not hope for quick resolution.

Just in case anyone is curious, I will paste the letter from the Hong Kong embassy below stating that we are in administrative processing. The re-type is quick and rough, but you can get the general idea.

"this is office is unable to issue an immigrant visa to you because you
have been found ineligible to receive a visa under the following
sections of the united states immigration and national act:

1) your case has been suspended under section 221(G) of the united
stated immigration and national act, pending the receipt and review of
the information and documents listed below:

enter and exit record from Macau immigration authoities for LOU, Sio
To and Gary Souders,

your cas has been suspended under section 221(G) of the immigration
and National act, pending additianl proccessing. We will contact you
should additional information be required or when the processing is
complete.
No further action is necessary on you part. If you wish to inquire
about the status of your case, please use the inquiry form on our
website at http:/.hongkong.usconsulate.gov.

you or comeone desingated by you can submit all document exactly as
requested to the Visa information unit's outside window at the
consulate general way working day, form 3pm until 4pm. no appointment
necessary.please remember to bring a copy of this letter.

please do not drop your passport at the us consulate when u submit ur documents."

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-07-10 15:28:00

QUOTE (filamrogers @ Jul 9 2009, 09:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Jeremy and Dora,
We have been through on that situation. Until, finally we both decided to get married outside of USA and my country. And we applied for Petition of Alien Relative (Form I-130). We both present in US embassy to submit all the documents and they were so helpful to us because they advised and helped us to finish it with in at least 2 months. I received a CR1 visa then flow right to Miami. But before 2 years (before my green card expired) I applied for Removal of conditional status (Form I-751). Then, now I just received my 10 years green card after 6 months waiting. I hope this letter will serve you guys an idea to help your problem. Good luck.

Filamrogers,

Thanks for the advice, if this goes forward much longer we are going to consider the marriage option, and do an I-130. Congrats on the 10 year card!

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-07-09 18:37:00

QUOTE (Alias @ Jul 9 2009, 05:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jeremy,

I really am so sorry to hear the bad news. After all that you and Dora have gone through, now it is again hurry up and wait. I just feel really bad and I can understand how you feel because we all know it is so hard to wait. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Thanks you Alias, we are both calming down a little now. We will just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. I wrote an email to the HK embassy, and just doing that helped to make me feel better. I will wait to see if their return email has any more details on what will happen next.

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-07-09 08:17:00

QUOTE (Jeremy&SioTo @ Jul 7 2009, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-07-08 15:56:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-07-07 09:20:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

NOA2 approval email came today! Yes!

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-03-27 09:14:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

QUOTE (KAT&Allie @ Mar 26 2009, 09:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Jeremy&SioTo @ Mar 17 2009, 09:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I saw this week many late November and early December VSC K1 filers have been getting NOA2, so I just started feeling very nervous this week. I have been trying to tell Sio To no to worry, as we are still not running behind the average, an I am sure will hear something by April. But inside i am getting more worried each day that there must be an RFE coming since I see so may other getting their NOA2 already.

Jeremy

Try not to worry. I know it's easier said than done but you are still well within VSC’s approval dates. Your NOA2 can happen any day now. Even RFE is not such a big deal (for most people anyway

). Once you see January/February people getting approved and you are still waiting, it's time to start worrying. I sincerely hope it won't happen to you. Wouldn't wish it on anybody for that matter.

Good luck on your visa journey.

Thanks! I had not been checking USCIS for updates, to keep it off my mind until this week. Now that it seems I should be getting close I am checking my case status every hours all day at work. Then opening my empty mailbox each night at home like a kid who did not get anything for Christmas!

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-03-26 09:36:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

QUOTE (Alias @ Mar 26 2009, 12:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are so lucky that she has a Portuguese passport. My fiancee is also in Macau but has the Macau/China Passport so no visa waiver. I wish she is able to visit me but instead, I have been going back to Hong Kong/Macau every quarter. My last trip was in Feb and next in May. It is always a long, torturous 3 months. Good luck to us all!!!

Yes, we are lucky her Mom went through all the trouble to get a passport for her form Portugal, before the 1999 handover to China. I wish I could go back to visit her, but my job will not permit to go on holiday right now. Best of luck and touch wood that our other half can join us soon! (Next time you are in Macau have some Chau siu faan for me!)

Jeremy

Jeremy&SioTo

Male

Hong Kong

2009-03-26 09:32:00