ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General DiscussionGod
My husband is atheist and will be struggling with this same issue when the time comes. The "just say it, it doesn't mean anything" argument, I find rather ridiculous. My husband would say "so help me tooth fairy" or "so help me Father Christmas" before he ever said, "so help me God".

For the record, I am not an atheist, but I fully support anyone's right to freedom of religion, and freedom from religion.

If you're principals tell you not to say it, don't.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-16 11:35:00
CanadaThe Vent - Part 2
QUOTE (trailmix @ Oct 17 2009, 12:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone else find this username offensive? KittyKunt ?



Yes, as a matter of fact.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 14:07:00
CanadaWeird Things Americans Have Said To/Asked Me
QUOTE (raymaga @ Mar 26 2009, 03:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I got laughed at pretty hard at work when I asked if "we had any elastics"..... they're rubber bands down here!!!!!

You can't call a shopping cart a "buggy" here either.

And when I say "I was pissed".... I don't mean I was mad!!!!!!

And I MISS TIM HORTON'S SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! Why aren't there any here????????



I was appalled when my English husband asked me for an eraser - only it was, "Do you have a rubber I can use?"
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 11:47:00
CanadaAny Paralegals/Legal Assistants Out There?
I'm not a paralegal, but a legal secretary - however, I have lots of paralegal friends @ work - PM me if you want me to put you in touch with any of them...

;)
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-28 18:31:00
CanadaIs it an AMERICAN thing???

I am from the South and I have always heard it here.



Me too - from Texas, I still refer to other women as "Miss (first name)".
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-03 20:18:00
CanadaZed or Zee
QUOTE (Krikit @ Oct 7 2009, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
laughing.gif Trailmix

OMG, I want all of the above foods!!! I said:

Zed
Zed
Coffee and a donut

I mainly say zed here in the US because it doesn't occur to me to say it any other way..... because I'm old and set in my ways. laughing.gif Plus it's not that big of a deal. Except I'll probably make more of an effort ever since the car salesman asked me to spell Z. laughing.gif



I did the same thing when my then boyfriend, now husband was calling from the airport to get his flight info, and giving me the password to his email account.

Being a USC of course, I say Zee, and I use the reasoning that Zed doesn't rhyme when you sing the ABC song...
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 07:36:00
CanadaHEINZ ketchup!!
Coke had a right to change their recipe too, and when people hated it, they changed it back.

There are ketchup brands with less sodium, including Heinz.

I really don't care either way...
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-15 17:31:00
CanadaPostcard Exchange!
Count me in - sounds fun! :)
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-29 19:37:00
CanadaWhat Are You Reading?
Just finished Freedom TM by Daniel Suarez - the sequel to Daemon - really good, and a little scary being that all technology mentioned is currently available.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-08 21:44:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionEvidence of relationship
QUOTE (Rosie420 @ Dec 30 2009, 10:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We have filed joint taxes the last 3 years together... but I don't have copies of the paperwork. I could request tax transcripts from the IRS but that can take a couple weeks. I may be able to have HR Block fax a copy of our 2008 return, that should be enough, right?


Two days before I left for the U.K., I requested my transcripts for tax years '06 through '08, and the woman on the phone was kind enough to fax them to me right then and there while I waited on the phone w/her...
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-30 15:38:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionVermont Approval!
That's wonderful news :) Congratulations!!
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-01-13 10:44:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionscam phone call from 'immigration department'???
Get the number & try a reverse look-up. Sounds odd - especially because there isn't an "Immigration Department" any official contact would announce themselves as either from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or U.S. Department of State.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-10 15:52:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionROC
It's my understanding that Affidavits are only minimally helpful. My parents live in Texas, so I had friends write them...one is a Lawyer and one is a Social Worker...we all work for the government. It was the best I could do with what I had, so I included them...I think it's only necessary that the person/people know you and your husband have a legitimate marriage and have a reasonable amount of contact with you both.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2012-06-20 21:52:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionROC
Here is the link:

http://www.uscis.gov...0-0-0-4223.html
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2012-06-20 20:43:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionROC

(2) Hearing in removal proceeding.-Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated under paragraph (1) may request a review of such determination in a proceeding to remove the alien. In such proceeding, the burden of proof shall be on the Secretary to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a condition described in paragraph (1) is met.

Paragraph 1 refers to the determination that the marriage was fraudulent.
If you Google USCIS INA 216, you will see the exact legal description and what is expected from USCIS...so yes, ultimately the burden is on them to prove your marriage is not bonafide...something they cannot do if you are.
So as I was saying...worst case scenario, just the inconvenience of the thing...

Edited by Christi and Ian, 20 June 2012 - 08:41 PM.

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2012-06-20 20:39:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAny other newbies here?
QUOTE (Anh map @ Sep 19 2009, 08:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Read the Guides and UK regioinal forum here on VJ and ditch the attorney unless there is something unusual about your circumstances. The members here are a tremendour DIY resource.

You will want to move forward with the CR1 rather than the K3. K3 has more steps and costs more in fees.

Your daughter is a USC and won't matter except when calculating household size.

Welcome to VJ



I'm not sure I can do the CR1 rather than the K3 at this point, I'm expecting everything to be filed on Monday. Also, I signed a contract with the immigration firm. I work for the Public Defenders office and our attorney is a former Public Defender who left to become an immigration attorney. I have a lot of trust in her as she is extremely thorough. Even the Superior Court Judge who married us recommended her to be our immigration attorney.

Again, I wish I had found this site a few months ago, we probably would have done things a lot differently. I am, however, encouraged by the fact that if anything does go wrong, we have legal representation, and the law firm will take responsibility since they are the ones that are preparing the forms.

Is the CR1 really so much faster than the K3? That's an honest question, I really just don't know.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-19 11:17:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAny other newbies here?
Is there anyone else here just learning the process? I have to admit that I am completely in the dark about most of the forms & procedures that I have to go through in order to bring my husband here from England. Like a lot of people I've spoken to, I thought you could just get married, file a couple of forms & my husband could stay in the U.S.

Even though he's been in the U.S. twice a year for the last five years, and we've been dating and seeing each other 3 months at a time for the past two years, he had to go back to England because we were married "too soon after he landed" this last time. If we had waited a month or so, we were told he could have stayed and changed his status. Instead, we have to go through the K-3 process in order to bring him back to the U.S.

We have hired an attorney and given her everything short of DNA & a urine sample and I believe the I-130 & I-129F are about to be filed - I've signed the original forms in blue ink and sent them back to her office. She has said that she will let us know when it is and will give us a tracking number so we can find it on the Immigration website.

Does anyone else know why both forms would be filed at the same time and does this mean we will get receipts for both notices at approximately the same time? She also had me give all of the information for and sign the Affidavit of Support. Is it normal for all of these forms to be filed at once, or is she just trying to be prepared for the future?

Also, how important are pictures? We have a lot of pictures of our wedding, but honestly, we only have 2 pictures of ourselves together in the previous two years, although we have plenty of his plane tickets / boarding passes / emails back and forth and even some periodic mail that arrives at my house.

And will they want to interview my 9 year-old daughter?

When and what can we expect from his interview at the U.S. Consulate in London?

Sorry to bombard with questions, but I'm very anxious to have him back as soon as possible and I've convinced myself that there will be unexpected delays, I just can't imagine what they could be as this entire process is all new to me. I wish I had found this website prior to getting married!

Any advice would be very helpful!

-CW
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-19 10:40:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
While it would sucketh muchly if it took him a year or longer to get a green card, it wouldn't really matter in the long run - he has a business in the UK and a business partner that takes care of things while he's here. He would really like to start a new company in the US, but if it took a while, it wouldn't be the end of the world, by far.

Ultimately, we're just impatient, probably more so on my part, since I've never been very good at patience...guess I'm going to learn it in a big way going through this process.

But if there's anyway to cut it down in any measure, even by a few days, it will be worth it to me. We were only married for 2 1/2 months before he had to go back - he came here on VW & we were married, because neither one of us understood the process. I feel like I was cheated out of our honeymoon period, & I'm going crazy with wanting him back.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 22:37:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 17 2009, 02:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Christi and Ian @ Oct 17 2009, 01:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 17 2009, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Christi and Ian @ Oct 17 2009, 11:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Did I say CRC? Sorry - have my acronyms mixed up w/work...!! I'm a dork... CRC - California Rehabilitation Center...

I meant CSC - California Service Center - I know it was sent from Cerritos, CA and received in Laguna Niguel, CA.

So...would be using today's date as the NOA1 date be cheating?

Oh - and we're going w/K-3 'cause I'm playing the odds that it will get him here faster + I'm stubborn - even a day faster works for us...

And I've promised to post a pic of myself kicking my own rear end should I be wrong - and I'm being held to it...we'll see!!


The problem is that if you file the second petition, you'll never know how much faster the first one would have been approved, because the second petition causes the first to go back to the back of the line with the second. This is a commonly overlooked part of what happens in K3 cases now. When you DO file both, you can count on the K3 interview being sooner or you can make sure there's never a CR1 interview. You can also count on going through an otherwise unnecessary additional immigration process with its associated stress and expense AND a spouse sitting around for at least three months with no work authorization.


I had no idea that the I-130 would be pushed back with the I-129F, that is news...

As far as the work authorization - I've said this a bazillion times but I guess I'm going to have to keep on saying it - the work issue is not a problem - he is self-employed and continues to get paid while he's in the U.S. Regardless, I make more than enough money to support us even if he has no income during the process.

I do know we have to go through the additional I-485 process, but he'll already be in the U.S. which, again, is our priority. He wants to be here, I want him to be here, we'll pay whatever we have to in order to make that happen as quickly as possible.


And since there's no possible assurance the K3 will be faster, only the assurance the I-130 will lose its place in line, I advise NOT filing the I-129F at all.



This is EXACTLY why I promise to eat REALLY BIG crow should I be wrong! I guess I'll base it upon other's CR1 petitions around the same time as mine, since the I-130 will be pushed back...

Don't know how I'll do it, suppose I'll photoshop myself kicking my own rear-end...as cloning myself is both out of the question & would be protested by many...
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 16:54:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 17 2009, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Christi and Ian @ Oct 17 2009, 11:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Did I say CRC? Sorry - have my acronyms mixed up w/work...!! I'm a dork... CRC - California Rehabilitation Center...

I meant CSC - California Service Center - I know it was sent from Cerritos, CA and received in Laguna Niguel, CA.

So...would be using today's date as the NOA1 date be cheating?

Oh - and we're going w/K-3 'cause I'm playing the odds that it will get him here faster + I'm stubborn - even a day faster works for us...

And I've promised to post a pic of myself kicking my own rear end should I be wrong - and I'm being held to it...we'll see!!


The problem is that if you file the second petition, you'll never know how much faster the first one would have been approved, because the second petition causes the first to go back to the back of the line with the second. This is a commonly overlooked part of what happens in K3 cases now. When you DO file both, you can count on the K3 interview being sooner or you can make sure there's never a CR1 interview. You can also count on going through an otherwise unnecessary additional immigration process with its associated stress and expense AND a spouse sitting around for at least three months with no work authorization.


I had no idea that the I-130 would be pushed back with the I-129F, that is news...

As far as the work authorization - I've said this a bazillion times but I guess I'm going to have to keep on saying it - the work issue is not a problem - he is self-employed and continues to get paid while he's in the U.S. Regardless, I make more than enough money to support us even if he has no income during the process.

I do know we have to go through the additional I-485 process, but he'll already be in the U.S. which, again, is our priority. He wants to be here, I want him to be here, we'll pay whatever we have to in order to make that happen as quickly as possible.

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 15:36:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
What's with all of the animosity w/the K-3 vs. CR1 thing?

I'm pretty sure they don't slap babies or run over kittens in the process!! Chill out, it's my petition!
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 13:38:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
QUOTE (Dakine @ Oct 17 2009, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And I've promised to post a pic of myself kicking my own rear end should I be wrong - and I'm being held to it...we'll see!!


Get it ready to post in about 10 months when you are going thru AOS and waiting for replys and hopefully one isn't a notice for removal proceedings.



Welll, in addition to the fact that there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for that to happen, that would be long past bringing him into the US on a K-3 vs. the I-130...so it would be a moot point at any rate...
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 13:28:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
Did I say CRC? Sorry - have my acronyms mixed up w/work...!! I'm a dork... CRC - California Rehabilitation Center...

I meant CSC - California Service Center - I know it was sent from Cerritos, CA and received in Laguna Niguel, CA.

So...would be using today's date as the NOA1 date be cheating?

Oh - and we're going w/K-3 'cause I'm playing the odds that it will get him here faster + I'm stubborn - even a day faster works for us...

And I've promised to post a pic of myself kicking my own rear end should I be wrong - and I'm being held to it...we'll see!!
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 13:09:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
Oops - duplicate post - sorry!!

Edited by Christi and Ian, 17 October 2009 - 01:11 PM.

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 13:07:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
I think it would be fair to use today's date as my NOA1 date, even though I haven't TECHNICALLY received the NOA1 back yet - would that be cheating?
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 12:22:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
THEY CASHED THE CHECK!!!! Y A Y!!!!!

Thank the Lord in Heaven they cashed the check!! Woo-hoo!
kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-17 12:19:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
QUOTE (jimnlena @ Oct 16 2009, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Welcome to the USCIS process! Not much rhyme or reason for anything, but Do not get alarmed yet!!! it takes weeks sometims to get NOA1! whistling.gif


Thank you so much.

It's sometimes difficult to get a hold of the attorney, she's in court for most of the day. I keep scaring myself into thinking that something is terribly wrong with the application. They haven't even cashed the check yet!
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-16 21:01:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLost before it's started...?
It's been exactly 14 days since Fed-Ex confirmed that our I-130 package was dropped off at CRC - still no NOA1. Is it possible that they got it and immediately lost it?

I see that others who have sent theirs after we sent ours have already received their NOA1's...is this...normal?

I realize there's been 2 weekends and a holiday since we sent it, but it seems we should have received SOMETHING by now...

The most frustrating part is knowing that the processing center is only 1 1/2 hours away from the attorney's office, it's not like it would be a terrible ordeal for USPS to get it there.

-Frustrated.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-16 20:39:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsK3 Visa Approved!
Congratulations! star_smile.gif
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-20 23:16:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
I'm back - and after 2 days of fevers & sniffles & coughing I'm feeling much less confrontational.

And I'm satisfied - although I can honestly say I don't recall that being in the instructions, that doesn't mean that it wasn't so and I will concede.

Alright - you win...or I'm too tired to argue - or more likely a combination of both... ohmy.gifP

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-10 17:09:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
And yes, I was TICKED that the attorney took so long to file, still irked about that as a matter of fact...

The Immigration Firm has been in this line of business for 18 years...Regardless, they have seen instances of an RFE because the HUSBAND did not provide a marriage certificate because of a previous marriage.

And again, it's a "just in case" scenario, as my attorney has advised me that it is by no means a situation where they see this regularly.

But on the other hand, if you're so adamant that it has something to do with showing supporting evidence of a name change, where is the supporting facts? Is this on the USCIS website? How do you know that is the reason, and how do you know, my attorney just made up an answer. Should I just take your word for it? I understand that you have been through this process already, but does that mean you've absorbed all of the information...and the reasons behind it?

Forgive me for questioning, but I take nothing at face value.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 20:42:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
QUOTE (Paris Heart @ Oct 8 2009, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 8 2009, 06:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Christi Wright @ Oct 8 2009, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think I'll stick to the advice of the one with the law degree & the firm with 18 years of experience.


The person with a law degree working for the firm with 18 years of experience is the one who gave you the absurd explanation for their request. I gave you the reason they found a list of documents somewhere that included prior marriage certificates and then misinterpreted it as needed for anything but to document a name change not documented elsewhere. Then, when you asked her, "Why?" and she had no clue why, she made up an absurd excuse.

This, of course, is the same attorney you indicated a wish you never hired and could now fire, in another recent thread.



I agree with Pushbrk, not to toot Pushbrks' horn, but this man knows what he is talking about. I never knew Pushbrk to be wrong, or give out bad information. good.gif



All I know is he is stating what he claims is fact without supporting evidence...
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 20:36:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
QUOTE
No, I'm not an attorney but I'm right about the reason marriage certificates are required. I'm saying your attorney doesn't understand the requirements of the process. I'm not providing an explanation of all issues surrounding name changes. Name changes must be documented. Marriage certificates can be used to document name changes due to marriage. It's the only reason a past marriage certificate is actually needed. That your attorney asked for ones not needed or misunderstands the reason she's asking for them is her problem. I'm just providing you correct information to do with as you choose.


No they don't. In the State of California all you have to do is start using a different name. If you use the same name for everything you do, guess what? It becomes your name.

VIA WIKEPEDIA:

Specifically in California, Code of Civil Procedure § 1279.5 and Family Code § 2082 regulate common law and court decreed name changes. Code of Civil Procedure § 1279.5 (a) reads, “Except as provided in subdivision (cool.gif, ©, (d), or (e), nothing in this title shall be construed to abrogate the common law right of any person to change his or her name.” Subdivisions b through e preclude one from changing their name by common law if they are in state prison, on probation, on parole, or been a convicted sex offender. If a person is not in any of these categories, then a common law name change is allowed. Family Code § 2082 also specifically states, “Nothing in this code shall be construed to abrogate the common law right of any person to change one's name.”

So there you go. And asking for a marriage certificate for a woman only because sometimes there's a name change involved is ridiculous, when in California, and in many other states, I could just start calling myself Mary Queen of Scots and presto chango, that's my name...

I think I'll stick to the advice of the one with the law degree & the firm with 18 years of experience.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 17:28:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
QUOTE (Minya's wife @ Oct 8 2009, 08:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Your attorney is right...the request is so that USCIS can verify that there was a valid marriage, and the divorce decree is so that they can verify that said marriage was terminated legally. Not everyone is married and divorced in the same state....or even in the same country. So that is why they ask for both. There will be times in the future, when a request from USCIS, or the consulate may not make sense and leave you scratching your head. There is an explanation behind each request....it may not be your logic, but it does make sense. Bottom line, you want your SO to get a visa....so if they tell you to jump, you ask how high and do it. yes.gif



This, it seems to me, is the most logical argument.

And I understand my attorney's reasoning: This eliminates the possibility of an RFE for lack thereof. Seems she's looking out for our best interest here.

The whole "track the name changes of the woman" thing doesn't make sense and seems rather sexist to me. Being that I don't do well at the whole keeping my mouth shut thing, I'm disposed to arguing this point, even if it's with the Federal Government.

Edited by Christi Wright, 08 October 2009 - 05:16 PM.

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 17:12:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 8 2009, 01:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Christi Wright @ Oct 8 2009, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
But based on your reasoning, then USCIS should not need a copy of my husband's marriage certificate from his first marriage, being that his name has not changed since birth.

Are you saying that his information would never be asked for, being that there is no name change to document?


That's right. Unless there's a marriage related name change to document, no prior marriage certificates are required or ever asked for. When the divorce decree documents the name change, that's good enough too. When they are needed is when only the married name appears on the divorce decree.



So, when my attorney says that this has generated an RFE in the past, she is lying...? Really, I'm just saying...now I don't know if it's at the processor's discretion or what, but this is what I'm being told...

And again, it's really a moot point, being that they already have everything.
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 15:19:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
But based on your reasoning, then USCIS should not need a copy of my husband's marriage certificate from his first marriage, being that his name has not changed since birth.

Are you saying that his information would never be asked for, being that there is no name change to document?

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 15:11:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
I think there's been a misunderstanding. My attorney did ask me for copies of the marriage certificates from previous marriages (for both my husband and me) and it was explained to me by the attorney that they were provided "just in case" I got that one processor who required everything down to pictures of my mother's pregnancy induced stretch marks.

Either way, USCIS has them...and I probably won't stop questioning their reasoning, but, what USCIS wants, USCIS gets... yes.gif

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 14:47:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 8 2009, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Christi Wright @ Oct 8 2009, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 8 2009, 10:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Minya's wife @ Oct 8 2009, 08:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Your attorney is right...the request is so that USCIS can verify that there was a valid marriage, and the divorce decree is so that they can verify that said marriage was terminated legally. Not everyone is married and divorced in the same state....or even in the same country. So that is why they ask for both. There will be times in the future, when a request from USCIS, or the consulate may not make sense and leave you scratching your head. There is an explanation behind each request....it may not be your logic, but it does make sense. Bottom line, you want your SO to get a visa....so if they tell you to jump, you ask how high and do it. yes.gif


No, the attorney is wrong. USCIS often needs a marriage certificate with the petition but that's not the reason. The reason is to track the name changes for the woman. For example, if the divorce decree shows both the married name and maiden name, no marriage certificate. However, if Mary Jones marries John Smith and her divorce certificate indicates only that Mary and John Jones divorced, there's nothing to connect Mary Jones' birth certificate to Mary Smith, who is now filing a petition. Mary Smith needs to document that her name changed from Jones to Smith. Multiply this for each previous marriage or name change.

Men don't have this problem. Lack of knowledge on one person's part does not make assertions by another, "absurd". It just seems that way until you get the explanation. good.gif


That's a really good point, but doesn't explain why my husband also had to provide a marriage certificate to his wife - I guarantee he didn't take her name...

And I STILL think it's absurd...divorce decree...has last name on it...and again, I'm pretty sure that the State of Nevada isn't in the habit of divorcing people who were never married to begin with...

And furthermore, as well as the divorce decree, my birth certificate, my tax forms, my social security card - these all show what my name is or ever has been...


It's certainly possible YOUR attorney misunderstands the requirements of the process but now YOU don't. good.gif



I will repeat: Marriage is NOT the only means of changing one's name. If a marriage certificate is required simply for this purpose, it's a highly ineffective means of tracking one's names. My ex-husband change the spelling of his last name through "common usage" It's highly unlikely that your reasoning is correct.

Are you an attorney?
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 14:05:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
Side note: Getting married is not the only means of changing one's name...
Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 13:10:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsQuestioning the absurd
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 8 2009, 10:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Minya's wife @ Oct 8 2009, 08:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Your attorney is right...the request is so that USCIS can verify that there was a valid marriage, and the divorce decree is so that they can verify that said marriage was terminated legally. Not everyone is married and divorced in the same state....or even in the same country. So that is why they ask for both. There will be times in the future, when a request from USCIS, or the consulate may not make sense and leave you scratching your head. There is an explanation behind each request....it may not be your logic, but it does make sense. Bottom line, you want your SO to get a visa....so if they tell you to jump, you ask how high and do it. yes.gif


No, the attorney is wrong. USCIS often needs a marriage certificate with the petition but that's not the reason. The reason is to track the name changes for the woman. For example, if the divorce decree shows both the married name and maiden name, no marriage certificate. However, if Mary Jones marries John Smith and her divorce certificate indicates only that Mary and John Jones divorced, there's nothing to connect Mary Jones' birth certificate to Mary Smith, who is now filing a petition. Mary Smith needs to document that her name changed from Jones to Smith. Multiply this for each previous marriage or name change.

Men don't have this problem. Lack of knowledge on one person's part does not make assertions by another, "absurd". It just seems that way until you get the explanation. good.gif


That's a really good point, but doesn't explain why my husband also had to provide a marriage certificate to his wife - I guarantee he didn't take her name...

And I STILL think it's absurd...divorce decree...has last name on it...and again, I'm pretty sure that the State of Nevada isn't in the habit of divorcing people who were never married to begin with...

And furthermore, as well as the divorce decree, my birth certificate, my tax forms, my social security card - these all show what my name is or ever has been...

Edited by Christi Wright, 08 October 2009 - 01:03 PM.

Christi and IanFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-08 13:00:00