ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCSC Processing
Hi - I am sick of looking at the CSC site with the same month and date for processing staring back at me - and SO happy to have found this site. What a great idea and much needed support.
The visa application process can feel like such a lonely road to travel at times. Sometimes I feel like I have an imaginary friend rather than a fiance. ;-)

Does anyone know just how useful the CSC processing list is? How often is it updated etc? Apologies if this is an ancient question but I am new to this and it feels so good to have people to ask these things. :thumbs:

GOOD LUCK to all of you who are in the same boat (uh-hem....please excuse the travel pun..... I thank you), it's great to hear how you're all progressing and lets me know that there really IS something happening in California apart from surfing and looking "kewl". :devil:

Take care

JD :luv:
x

Edited by Uzume, 15 March 2007 - 07:48 AM.

UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-15 07:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCSC Processing
Thanks for all your responses and ideas.....

Does anyone know WHY my case was sent to California when my fiance lives in Tennessee? Is there a system to the referrals or is it quotas? It seems a little odd that it wasn't sent to Texas for processing.

Cheers guys, it's good to hear about your experiences.

x
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-15 12:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCSC Processing
Hi - I am sick of looking at the CSC site with the same month and date for processing staring back at me - and SO happy to have found this site. What a great idea and much needed support.
The visa application process can feel like such a lonely road to travel at times. Sometimes I feel like I have an imaginary friend rather than a fiance. ;-)

Does anyone know just how useful the CSC processing list is? How often is it updated etc? Apologies if this is an ancient question but I am new to this and it feels so good to have people to ask these things. :thumbs:

GOOD LUCK to all of you who are in the same boat (uh-hem....please excuse the travel pun..... I thank you), it's great to hear how you're all progressing and lets me know that there really IS something happening in California apart from surfing and looking "kewl". :devil:

Take care

JD :luv:
x

Edited by Uzume, 15 March 2007 - 07:48 AM.

UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-15 07:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVISA APPROVED!!!

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

Dear all,

I just wanted to share that I had my embassy interview this morning and was approved for the K1! Now I just want to get my passport back in my hands to see that it is real! I will write up a review of my experience later in the hope that it may be helpful, in the meantime I just wanted to say thank you all on VJ for your support and advice, it has been invaluable!

Thanks again,
Lauren


OH WOW!!!! That'a fantastic news. GOOD LUCK :star:
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-20 17:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCSC appears to be working this week

Way cool news in that we got famous CRIS e-mail saying we got our NOA2 today. Total time was 82 days, no RFE and 3 touches on 01/04, 3/19, & 3/20.

We're CSC via Nebraska.

Best of luck to all,
PPFKL


Fantastic - So great to hear things moving along on here! Good Luck with everything ;-) x :luv:
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-20 14:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-129F Filed

Hi all,

I filed my I-129F yesterday and got that process started to get married to my fiancé Chantal and move her here to Florida from Montreal. I have pretty much been lurking on VJ for awhile now absorbing as much knowledge as possible and I just wanted to thank everyone on the board for their collective knowledge and help, even if it was unbeknownst to them.

Thanks,

Stacy


I hope you'll both be very happy and wish you good luck :luv:
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-25 05:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswaiting time I-129f

Ken,
VSC doesn't need stats because no one's petition is sitting there long enough to require any.


Yes, that is why they are not included. I did not read the original post thoroughly so I missed the "VSC" part until after I posted. Hats off to VSC filers, I wish I was one of them. :angry:


Me Tooooo.... C'mon CSC..... touch me, touch me NOW! :devil:
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-04-18 06:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIs it worth hiring a Immigration Lawyer to file for a K1

Me and my fiance r scared to do something wrong. we already been separated for 4 month and want to do everything right the first time so we can be together again asap. online u find tons of IMMIGRATION LAWYER that do it for a flat fee, but i am worried about scams. :help: Is anyone using an ONLINE LAWYER?


Meant to add:

We didn't use an online lawyer as such, we did find the info online but they have business premesis and do other cases too. We contact them on the phone etc and they are members of the BBB (better business bureau) in the USA.
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-04-25 16:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIs it worth hiring a Immigration Lawyer to file for a K1

Me and my fiance r scared to do something wrong. we already been separated for 4 month and want to do everything right the first time so we can be together again asap. online u find tons of IMMIGRATION LAWYER that do it for a flat fee, but i am worried about scams. :help: Is anyone using an ONLINE LAWYER?


Hi

We did use one but are now regretting it. It's not that they have done anything wrong, just that for the tiny amount of work they did, it seems we paid a lot of $ for very little work (and nothing we couldn't have done ourselves). Like you, we were worried about messing up but there are so may helpful guides on here that had we found this site sooner I doubt we would have bothered.

The only advantage I can see is that part of the fee covers the appeal if we are denied, like any insurance, we hope we don't need to use it. Apart from this... waste of time and money in my opinion.

Obviously, only you can decide what is best for you.... good luck and I hope it all works out for you. :-)
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-04-25 16:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMoving House

I don't have 'personal experience' with this, but as the consular phase of the process is all about your fiance -- meaning you won't be receiving any correspondance again until AOS phase. By then, you would have already moved so you can just put the new address on the AOS forms.

You may want your fiance to put your new address on the forms he fills out for the consulate - assuming you will know the new address by that time.


Thanks for the info TracyTN, I'm not sure what effect it will have, I am the beneficiary and so it might affect things from what you have said.

I'm going to try and stay here as long as I can, hopefully, I will have my visa in hand before I move which (I assume) means I will be OK.

Thanks again

JD


As long as your mail will get to you, it is no problem but changing the address with the Embassy is far easier than changing it with USCIS. Just do it if you need to.


Thanks for the info - and to TraceyTN too - (I should've stated I was beneficiary...didn't cross my mind). :-)
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-05-07 16:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMoving House

I don't have 'personal experience' with this, but as the consular phase of the process is all about your fiance -- meaning you won't be receiving any correspondance again until AOS phase. By then, you would have already moved so you can just put the new address on the AOS forms.

You may want your fiance to put your new address on the forms he fills out for the consulate - assuming you will know the new address by that time.


Thanks for the info TracyTN, I'm not sure what effect it will have, I am the beneficiary and so it might affect things from what you have said.

I'm going to try and stay here as long as I can, hopefully, I will have my visa in hand before I move which (I assume) means I will be OK.

Thanks again

JD
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-05-05 10:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMoving House
Hi

I have received my NOA 2 (woo-hoo) but I may have to move house in about 8 weeks.

If anyone has personal experience of this, please will you let me know if it affected the rest of your K1 process or if it still went OK?

Many thanks

JD

:luv:
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-05-04 05:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1... Immigrant or Non-Immigrant????

I was sure that the K-1 was a non-immigrant visa yet while at the consolate in Frankfurt yesterday for our interview appointment we were told otherwise. First while waiting in line outside a consolar employee came around making sure that everyone had their appointment letters and asking people if they where there for immigrant or non-immigrant visas. We replied non-immigrant but when he saw my fiance's letter he said ours was for an immigrant visa and to move to another line.
Once inside we were directed to a window labled "Immigrant".
So is a K-1 an immigrant visa??? If it is not then I don't understand why people at the US Consolate said otherwise.
What gives?

Anyway our interview appointment was successful.... to those who will have an interview in Frankfurt, check out the full review of interview that I wrote up here.


I always thought the K1 was a non-immigrant visa because the AOS is the bit where you apply for permanent residency. As there is a condition to return home on a K1 unless you fulfil the criteria (get married), it's non-immigrant and has an expiry date.

That's my understanding anyhow. I suppose people who deal with them a lot know they mainly lead to immigration so maybe they just see it like that.
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-06-30 07:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage License

For some States, you can obtain a waiver explaining why you don't have a SSN. I'm not sure how you do that though.
You can also shop around and check if there are States around you where it's not required.

Unless you are planning something special with family, keep in mind that it's not required to get married in the State you live in.


Thanks for that, we are having family and friends from TX, seattle and UK so TN is as good a place as any ;-)

I can't wait *eek*

Thanks for all your help.

Edited by Uzume, 04 July 2007 - 05:48 AM.

UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-07-04 05:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage License

Just go to the county office in your area and they will tell you exactly what you need. Like everyone else said your passport is all you will need.
Good luck! :thumbs:


Thanks everyone - you're all officially stars! :star:

I panicked a bit as I am marrying 1 week after I arrived and this was the first time I had seen this requirement.

Thanks so much

JD
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-07-03 07:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage License
Hi

I have read on the Tennessee government website that they will not issue a marriage license without a social security number.

I'm not sure when I will get my SS number so is this going to be a problem or will I get a number straight away?

Thanks
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-06-30 07:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat happens with foreign fiance's passport?
I am currently living in the USA and can apply for a renewal on my passport at the British Consulate in Washington DC.

Maybe check whether your fiance can renew within America and then decide what's the best option.

:-)
UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-29 11:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures1st post former NSC adjudicator now petitioner

...bump...please PIN THIS!

HUSKER I think you are getting more than you bargained for! But those of us who have chewed our nails to the bone waiting are glad you are here to shed some light.

Now, my question :) Since Texas and Nebraska are no longer servicing I-129F's, it all seems to be going to California, with CSC now handling 3/4 of the work load and taking 2.5 monts minimum. Yet, Vermont has them cranked out in a few days sometimes. Why did TSC and NSC quit processing those apps, and why on Earth did they shovel all the work disproportionately to CSC?

Thanks for your insight.

Not a problem, I'm happy to share what Iknow.

As for your question - I don't have an answer for that. I would imagine some pinhead in Washington did that.

Then again you could always file a Congressional because those get pulled and worked right away. But you didn't hear that from me :whistle:
(usually)...


Hi Huskerkiev,

Welcome and I hope you are not yet regretting your decision to offer information :wacko:

Thanks so much for your help.

I wanted to ask you, in your opinion does it make any difference to RFEs, processing times etc if an application is submitted using an immigration lawyer/service?

Cheers

JD

:luv:

Edited by Uzume, 14 April 2007 - 08:15 AM.

UzumeFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-04-14 08:13:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
jpkeswim, i'd say put the names of the companies mentioned into google and check out their sites to find out. sure you'll find they ship from all over. thanks for the recommendation, sunnybear - have just filled in their contact us form. blimey, i have to say, as a web designer, the websites i'm having to look at for these shipping companies offend my vision!!! they're definitely not these guys' top priority! tongue.gif
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-27 17:07:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
and i MEANT to ask, has anyone on here used john mason to ship before and can give me any feedback on them?
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-26 10:02:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
well, excess baggage have come in at not too expensive - they quoted me £615. to specify, we're only moving 10 boxes of stuff, a sewing table with legs removed, an armchair that's partially dismantled, a mirror and a medium sized brass instrument.
i have really been impressed by john mason. i was contacted quickly by a representative, he asked me a couple of questions over the phone and then got back to me within the hour with a quote (their website has a cool application where you click on all the rooms in your house and then click on the items to add them to your list - it's fun!) - the quote was £560. i emailed back saying i'd like some more info about their company etc. and they said no problem, 2 days later i have received the quote as a document, including insurance forms and full explanation of costs and services. right now it's looking VERY likely we'll ship with them as their customer service has really impressed me smile.gif
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-26 09:59:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
good to know - thanks redkitty smile.gif well they're one of the front runners for me right now! i guess as soon as you say yep, we're going with you, they start laying on the customer service tongue.gif
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 13:20:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
woof! sterling international say £995.00 ... yeah won't be going with them smile.gif
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 11:28:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
someone tell me if this is too much information wink.gif
ok, feeling more impressed with john mason than upakweship - asked them both for a brochure and info, john mason replied back saying they'll send it today, upakweship just said that all the info's on their website. their website seems pretty unintelligable to me! bit of a mess. i couldn't find any of the info. i guess they're not too interested in sending you stuff unless they've definitley got your business. anyway they might be £10 cheaper than john mason, but they're putting me off with their brief and unhelpful emails.
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 10:20:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
John Mason International have just come in at £560 (plus insurance). seems good, but i do wonder a bit when the email is literally one line long with the price and no further info - no what to do next, no info about their insurance services, etc. have emailed them back requesting a brochure...
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 09:57:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
wow i am doing 1/2 hourly updates wink.gif
just got a quote from www.moveme.co.uk - most expensive yet, came in at £742.50 and that's not even door to door!!! wayyyy more than even doree bonner with all their extras and professional service claims! so, yeah not recommending that one!
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 09:39:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
jeraly - will post links and phone numbers when i get an opinion on who's best. was going crazy on google earlier and now the emails and calls are rolling in smile.gif John Mason International just called and is getting back to me soon with a quote, he said they didn't even need my visa details.. hmmmmm ok it goes on... bizzare.
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 09:18:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
breaking news - upakweship will do it for £550, best price so far. am having a thorough read through of their terms on their site - they've only quoted on what i told them we're taking, so could be the situation that they turn up and go tsk tsk tsk no this will cost a lot more wink.gif
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 08:19:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
ok that's interesting, thanks lansbury! think it might just be simplest to get it all done in my husband's name to be on the safe side. the guy who said it might be a problem was going on about having to take a SS number from me now and then there being problems if it didn't match up after going through customs! i said ok, so what do most people do who are in my situation and need to ship stuff... he said... they don't. huh. anyway, got the quote back from these guys, doree bonner, huge glossy brochure - they did not email me the quote as well as they said they would, they did not get back to me regarding any of these SS issues that they said they would look into. anyway the quote was £615 as well, same as excess baggage - though i see DB's quote does not include VAT, wheras the excess baggage quote doesn't even mention VAT. oh this is getting annoying. i have just asked for a quote from upackweship so guess will see how that one comes out. good thing about doree bonner is they gave me all of the necessary forms that we have to fill in so i have them now. oh well, will keep you guys updated!
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-25 06:37:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
yep, good point. am still waiting on the quote. one thing i discussed with the guy that came out was about not having a social security number yet - you can't ship without one apparently. so i said well, it can all be done in my husband's name and he thought they might think all my women's clothes would be a bit odd to be shipped in a man's name! was suprised that this might be an issue! surely you can ship whatever you want as long as it's not illegal!! anyway, also they need my visa details to ship and i was thinking that this would delay us shipping until we got the visa, but then again if we do it in my husband's name, surely it can just go off straight away... anyway it all sounds a bit overly complicated! anyone else come up against any of these issues?
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-18 16:55:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
excess baggage got back to me with a quote of £615 - we have 10 medium sized boxes, one armchair, decided to leave behind the kitchen chairs, one table with removable legs and a mirror... i have a guy from Doree Bonner coming to look at the stuff we're taking and give me an estimate in about 10 mins! will report back. kinda cool that they will come out free of charge, no obligation to give you a quote.
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-14 06:50:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
thanks! will look into them and maybe get another quote too!
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-13 04:05:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
thanks so much - i will take a look. sounds pretty straight forward smile.gif
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-12 18:14:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
very cool - thanks for the info. and ouch, yeah will have to think about the computer. we already shipped one computer across, an old imac and it's just running with a plug converter, has been no problem, but my main computer is a bit more important, so will have to look into it properly. how do i find out these voltage things?
ahhh the cost may be more than they are worth, but in sentimental value, these things are priceless wink.gif (not the computer, the chairs!!)
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-12 14:04:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
cool - thanks! have just requested a quote from them. they have a cool system for estimating your shipment by entering numbers of things you're taking, chairs, tables etc. on a form along with their standard boxes for shipping and how many you'll need, and it works out a volume for you. will report back with how reasonable they are. any other companies i could try as a comparison?
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-12 11:40:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
hi guys
it's time for me to think about shipping! i'm moving from near London to New York - has anyone else made a similar trip, and can advise on a good shipping company to use? we don't have much stuff, 3 chairs, few boxes of books, a computer and that's about it. can anyone advise costs, good reliable companies to use... or even bad ones to avoid!! thanks heaps! smile.gif
emma.
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-03-12 11:12:00
United Kingdomwe made it! thanks for all the help!!!! :D
thanks guys! biggrin.gif woo yeah!
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-23 19:47:00
United Kingdomwe made it! thanks for all the help!!!! :D
that would be JFK. not exactly super-friendly woman at the first desk, but the second guy very friendly, sense of humor and helpful too. was a little nervous for it, but nothing to worry about at all smile.gif
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-23 08:29:00
United Kingdomwe made it! thanks for all the help!!!! :D
so here we are in NYC smile.gif wow! i had a slight nightmare with the courier service from the embassy who were bringing my passport with visa back to me - was on the phone and hearing different things from different useless customer service people - one told me my visa had gone back to the embassy because they'd tried to deliver it when no-one was home... and i wouldn't get it until a week's time... then it shows up the same day on my doorstep at like 10 minutes to 6pm. anyway it was a bit crazed but i got the thing and we flew out just 4 days later. immigration was a breeze. simply took my packet at the desk, looked through it a little, stamped 'approved' and sent me round to another desk. waited a couple minutes, then a guy saw me, took fingerprints and signatures, said welcome to america, congratulations! it was great. that was on monday - yesterday we spent a while at the Social Security office queuing for a card application. was worried that i needed my birth certificate with me (hadn't taken it with me) but they just needed my passport! the lady seemed really suprised i was there to apply for it just the day after i got in the country! but this card is what everything else is hinging on! can't get a job, bank account, credit card, health insurance, anything until i have a social security number. they told me up to two weeks... hope it doesn't take that long! off to buy a cell phone today as that's about all the productive stuff we can do right now! but nice to have a little time to chill in the city before we get down to normal life. anyway wanted to say thanks to everyone on here for all their help, reports and advice. it's been wonderful and i don't know where we would have been without you guys. hope everyone's cases are going well and i'll be sure to report back about any other things i think would be helpful. we went with john mason shipping in the end and have paid the bill but not heard any date when we might get the stuff at this end yet. hope it's not too soon - haven't even finished unpacking the suitcases yet! biggrin.gif
thanks again
emma+arsenio
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-23 08:23:00
United Kingdomtransfering funds to US
hi
question about xe trade - i have it all set up for transferring money between my uk and us bank accounts... and have initiated a trade with them but now they want me to wire the money to them but haven't given me any info about how i do it!! what do i do next?! have been searching my bank's website in vain trying to figure out how to wire money to a company that haven't provided me with any account number or anything for doing this... and they say i have to get them the money in 3 days and now i'm panicking! can anyone who's used them pm me asap with what to do??! my uk bank is nationwide...
thank you!!! emma.
zoobuffaloFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-05-02 14:38:00