biggish data

Hi- I just thought I'd update you all really quickly that my husband made it here and it is wonderful. Seeing my daughter AND my husband both cry with joy at their reunion was probably one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. He did have a bit of trouble coming through the POE. Not really trouble, but they did spend AGES questioning him about his denied entrance last year, which we both found odd considering this had been discussed already at the visa interview and really isn't applicable anymore now that he has a valid visa. Will this follow him straight through to the AOS interview? I don't know. I thought I was going to throw up waiting in arrivals- and when he didn't come through and didn't come through I really started thinking that's it- something's wrong! I burst into tears like a big girls blouse when he finally walked through the doors!
Anyway, we will now apply for his EAD and his AOS as soon as possible. I wanted a paperwork break, but part of me just wants to get all this stuff sorted and out of the way so I can turn my back on immigration stuff!!

Thanks to everyone here who has offered and continues to offer such great advice and support! :luv:

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-03-01 15:55:00

Thanks for your good wishes. Yes, I thought I might be pregnant, but waited until I went to the UK with my husband for his interview to take the test. We took it after he was approved, and were both very happy (if nervous). The little one is due in mid- September. I was so excited for hubbies arrival today I could barely sleep last night. I am leaving for JFK in a couple of hours. :dance:

As for the UK visa process- I got both a UK fiance visa and a UK spouse visa (also known as Limited Leave to Remain). You must apply for a UK visa in your country of origin. It takes either one day or four- five days, depending on how you choose to do it. You can apply on line, get all your paperwork in order, choose your interview day and then go in person and receive your visa that day. Or you can apply on line, get all your paperwork in order, mail it in, and receive your visa via courier four or five days later. Approval rate for US marriages is something like 98%. Proof of your relationship (or marriage), proof of your finances to support you in the UK until you find work (you are allowed co-sponsors and they can either be US or UK citizens), proof of both your own and your spouses citizenship, those are the basic requirements. It is SO easy and stress free in comparison to the US type. (which is why we originally headed in THAT direction) I got my UK fiance visa in about 4 days. I went to the UK, got married, and then changed my visa to a LLR in a few hours in Liverpool. I am pretty sure you are allowed dual citizenship. I'm really happy that our little baby (who we refer to as "Keanu" after The Royle Family) will have automatic dual citizenship. Most of the world will be available to him without torturous visa issues to deal with- lucky kid huh?
:luv:

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-25 07:38:00

My husband is arriving on Saturday and my little daughter and I are really excited. We are very fortunate in that he spent approx. 7 months in the US utilizing the VWP so he knows what to expect- he knows the area, our friends and family, etc from being here before. We have also lived together so we don't have the "newness" factor to add to all of our stress either. So that's what we are fortunate about- but we also still have to deal with him getting EAD, then his green card, plus our baby is on it's way....so we have enough stress to last us for a little while! (F)

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-23 13:40:00

I love Love Actually as well........it's the one movie my husband and I put on over and over when we are bored or when we want background noise. That, and Apollo 13. Not sure why.

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-14 14:45:00

Estella- So glad Adam made it!! I was diverted to Newfoundland- would have much preferred Montreal! I told my husband last night I wish he had flown with me- I am sure going through the POE would have been pretty easy yesterday- with everyone's mind on the snow and planes- probably little chance of being turned back!! (not that he would be of course!!) Anyway, congrats and glad he made it safe.

My husband arrives on February 25- I would have preferred he flew back with me, but he needed to tie up some loose ends, so will have to wait 13 days til he is here for good.

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-13 15:39:00

Affidavit of support

We used the I-134. I initially began getting the paperwork together when we received the NOA2. We needed a co-sponsor, so I started making lists of things needed for my stepfather at that point. Once the embassy had our papers I finalized everything. We had all of our financial papers in order when we sent back the Packet 3. It didn't take me very long as my parents are quite organized- I filled out all the papers for them, it took one day for my stepfather to get the letter from his work- my work gave me my letter on the same day. The bank information took a couple of days. I had a copy of last year's tax records on hand. I don't think I need it, but I'm bringing it all the same. We made 2 photo copies of everything and that's about it. Good luck!

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-01-30 06:17:00

Letter to Consular

My 2 bits ...

If the Consulate and the COs out there are anything like that in the US Consulate in Mumbai, India then the letter will be opened, glanced thru', then passed around to the other staff, some will gather around the CO, then they will laugh aloud, point to something in the letter and make faces, some will gesticulate like a ape in heat, every effort will be made to let you know that you and your wife are being ridiculed and your realationship is being mocked. This time is also utilised as a extempore coffee break.

Then the CO will turn to you and hand you the I97 sheet and tell you that the Consulate has decided to honour you with a Administrative Review. And hastily add that you "need not contact us. We will contact you when its over".

My Case Specifics : Interracial marriage, brown man marrying white woman. In my case it was our Wedding Photo Album which was used to humiliate me.

Charuhans

How terrible for you- I am really sorry to hear you went through something like that. It really shocks me, though perhaps it shouldn't? I may sound naive- but I thought it would have been Americans at the embassy interviewing your husband?

As for the letter- I agree with everyone that it is too long. I do appreciate what you are trying to do, but think you should edit way down, take out most of the specifics, and show other proof such as telephone bills, letters between the two of you, and photos.

Edited by shakysgirl, 30 January 2006 - 06:02 AM.

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-01-30 06:00:00

Approved

Congratulations on your approval!

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-11 07:42:00

K3 approved in London on Monday

Congratulations!

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-11 07:41:00

Approved

Just an update that my husband's visa was approved on February 6. We filed our original I-130 in late August, our K-3 papework in September, and got our approval in early February. I know people who have taken a bit longer, and others who have taken a little less time, and I know of one person who was pretty much spot on the exact length of time as me. Good luck to everyone waiting, and to those just starting their K-3 journey. :luv:

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-09 05:03:00

Visa Approved!!!!!

Congrats!!

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-13 15:22:00

We got our interview date!!!!!!

Congratulations and good luck!

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-17 19:11:00

mad at Bank of America - RANT

I did not give them a letter from my bank- incidentally it is Bank of America. I gave them 3 months worth of bank statements. Nothing was said to me about it. My co-sponsor did not have a bank letter either just a bank print out showing he had a certain balance for 12 consecutive months. The bank stamped it and signed it, but it was not on official letterhead. It was from Trustco and was free. As far as I'm aware, they never gave any of the financial stuff more than a cursory glance.

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-14 12:41:00

Feeling betrayed

I'm sorry you are going through this as well. It is very difficult to swallow your pride and reach out for help. I had to do it as well, and it was tough. When I first arrived in the US in December I had to take any job I could get, and that required me to have a co-sponsor. I waited ages before I finally approached my mother and stepfather and they said yes. My father, whom I love dearly and I know loves me, said no. I am not angry at him for that because i realized that he took careful consideration before he answered. Your friend may be hurting just as much as you are by feeling the need to say no to you. I'm sure she probably didn't want to, but felt no other choice. I was fortunate to get a very good job a few weeks ago, which means I no longer need the dreaded co-sponsor for the AOS paperwork. I think you should go out and get whatever job you can find- someone mentioned Burger King. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do in the short term to make the long term better. Good luck to you- I'm sure you will find a lot of support here if you feel the need to talk about anything or vent your feelings.

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-25 07:26:00

RFE

I find the requirement of joint financials slightly laughable because, at least as far as joint bank account is concerned, we can't legally set up a joint account if my husband is not in the country (which of course he's not allowed to be because we're filing for the visa). Has anyone else gone through this? And if so, do you think the documentation I have is enough? Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!

I am sure that the USCIS finds it just as laughable as the fact that you entered into a legitimate marriage with an overseas person and the only evidence of this relationship you posess are some ticket stubs and a phone record.

Wow- I don't think that comment was necessary!

shakysgirl

Not Telling

England

2006-02-23 13:32:00