ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
Think I'll be here a month ... maybe 2. We'll see how it goes.

At POE, it was actually quite funny:

First he goes through all my forms and stuff, places the date stamp on the I-94 and asks "What y'all doin in Kentucky?" which is kinda funny in itself. Then when I tell him, he pages through ALL of my passport, then spend another 6-8 minutes clicking through on the computer (I assume my travel history) then he says "Been travelling a bit?" and I am like "Yea. Especially in the last year or 2 and especially for work" He stamps my I-94 while asking me what I do for a living. And when I tell him, he says "You're all set. Enjoy your stay."

Well, I thought it was funny anyway. tongue.gif
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-13 21:43:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
QUOTE (kimmykashi @ Jan 13 2008, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cejf @ Jan 13 2008, 08:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It was a breeze and I am here and happy. Wewt!



Good for u..si u a worry ova nuttin...what state r u in ?


smile.gif so mi realize. i'm in KY. smile.gif

QUOTE (Sonshyne @ Jan 13 2008, 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cejf @ Jan 13 2008, 05:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It was a breeze and I am here and happy. Wewt!


Relax and enjoy your stay good.gif


tonx. smile.gif
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-13 17:03:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
It was a breeze and I am here and happy. Wewt!
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-13 08:46:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
dem seh duppy nuh mean yuh nuh good ... nuh tink meeda like name duppy still biggrin.gif soh mi wi show mi face likkle.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-04 23:38:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
Thanks Jengles, Jesse and jawi ... I'm always around, just not as vocal as some. Not much of a talker, see. wink.gif But thanks for the welcome ... I'll be sure to stay in touch, if it's even to pop in on the yawdie thread and say "howdie" biggrin.gif
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-04 23:06:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
cool.gif Thanks for the responses guys. Very supportive, even to those of us who don't say much.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-04 12:02:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
QUOTE (kimmykashi @ Jan 4 2008, 06:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
welcome, what kind of visa are u planning on traveling on ? I'm not sure I understand the question. If it's just that u don't have a job in Jamaica anymore, don't think a job is any real tie to the country. what is ur question exactly ?


Hi Kimmy: I am traveling on my B1/B2 visa which I have had for a few years now, and from what I understand is still valid even with the K-1 petition filed.

QUOTE
Did you have to show proof of a job and apartment last time? Or just tell them?


Hi Jomo's Girl, come to think of it, never had to show any proof. Just answer the questions.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-04 10:41:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaA Yaadie intro and a k-1 processing question
Yardies, howdy.

I've been trolling here for a couple months - ever since a friend of mine pointed me to this site to help the fiance and I get the best information on how to legally get married.

I have to say that the site has been invaluable to me. I have learned a lot from just reading and re-reading others' posts and the guides. But now I need to step out from my little lurker cave and actually ask for help.

I am in a panic. I am schedule to depart Kingston for Louisville, KY on the 11th of January. I have traveled to and from the US many times - especially in the last 18 months not only to visit my fiance (boyfriend at the time), but also for work reasons. However, now I no longer am employed, nor have I maintained my apartment. I now live at home with Mom and Dad, awaiting the K-1 visa process completion and just want to spend some time with my honey while I decompress from the job.

On all my previous visits, I have been asked what I do and where I work. This time around, if asked, I will have to say I no longer have a job.

After all my careful planning, it seems about to fall apart for me, because I know that will just raise all their respective red-flag indicators and I will have to turn right back around and come back to Mom and Dad here in Kingston and wait ... and it's already been so long since I have seen him.

I have no proof of ties to Jamaica except for the paperwork for our K-1 application and a copy of the NOA1 notice that FedEx will deliver to me tomorrow, along with my return ticket.

My only option really is a letter from my bank - does anyone know what I should ask them to put in such a letter?

Of course, considering I leave in 10 days, I don't even know if that letter is possible either - knowing how everything moves like molasses here on the island when you want things to move fast.

*sigh*

What am I to do?
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-04 03:35:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaSMADI PINCH MI
Gratz. =)
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-13 09:15:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaVERY Large AGE difference
Well, this certainly makes me feel better about our 15 year diff.

I gotta tell you tho, we're both BIG kids at heart anyway, so it really doesn't even show. =)
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-13 09:08:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaEr, I feel lost now...
I will need it. So it's all good. smile.gif
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-27 22:41:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaEr, I feel lost now...
Ok...

Marlita: nuh fret, I feel your NOA2 is not too far away now. a friend of mine had her K1 process take a year ... in particular, 6 months to when she got her NOA2. I suspect that might have had something to do with the embassy in Kingston moving house. If they are processing K1s this fast now, maybe all the other processings have speeded up also. Keep de fait', my gurl. Your time soon come.

Sarri seh mi neva seh nutten. I guess mi ongle excuse was being here wid hubby-to-be is taking up a lot of my time and energies ... heh. Plus, as mi seh above, dat 2nd response from Claire kinda discourage me. Mi check mi fren' who jus' done her K1 herself fi advice and shi did tell mi fi jus' email de embassy wid de new address and chill, cos de pkt3 is at least 3 months away.

Imagine my surprise to hear from Mom today. *glee*

JaTam: Tonx. DS230 ASAP. Gotcha. Altho, the letter that Mom tried to read to me said something about te DS156 and an application fee that had to be submitted before they could give me my interview. So I am a little more confused now. What I decided tho, was that it was best to have Dad FedEx me that package ASAP, go through it thoroughly, leave a copy for hubby-to-be and head back to Kingston in 2 weeks and start the running up and down.

Jomo'sGirl: Thanks SO much for that. That was helpful - pictures, police cert, shots, et al .... got it. The package that Dad is sending has a case number in it. And they sent it to the correct address. I had emailed them last week with the case number off the NOA1 and the new address, looks like it was just in time. smile.gif

Ok ... thanks for all this good advice, I'm gonna print this thread along with the guides and start reading. I am so flustered right now, I don't know which end is up. /sigh Thanks for the support tho, I REALLY appreciate this.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-27 19:35:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaEr, I feel lost now...
whatcha now! afta mi get dat firs' response tellin' me to go pan de yawdie t'read, mi get likkle discouraged ... caw dat t'read is very overwhelming fa me ... soh mi neva even check back yah so.

let me read everybody's post... but just so you know, the NOA2 arrived in the mail today here (I am still in the States visiting) and Mom called from Kingston to tell me that what seems to be pkt3 is there with them also. It says I need to pay some money and fill out a form. At least that's what I could make out from what Mom was reading. I am having Dad FedEx me that package so I can make a copy and leave here with hubby-to-be, and then fly my behind back to yaad to start de running around.

Wow, things moving fast for us. Wish I knew why ... at the same time, I don't care why ... I am just happy.

Thanks for the responses, let me go read now.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-27 19:22:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaEr, I feel lost now...
Well, looks like we're on our way - the NOA2 was mailed out today (yay! for emailed updates from USCIS) ... and then it hit me that I have NO idea what to do now. I never expected it to be this soon and I really am not prepared - not in the least.

The guides aren't really telling me what I need to know now either - anyone who's been through Kingston want to help me figure out what's next?

I think the address and phone number on the petition is incorrect right now; since we never expected the petition to be processed so soon, we never got around to calling to change my address. We couldn't do it online since the site won't accommodate the Jamaica address formatting and since we figured March or April was the earliest, we procrastinated on calling the 1-800 number. Considering the petition is now approved, who needs to be called with the new address?

The other question I have is: any current guesstimates on how soon they might call to schedule an interview? I'm still in the States visiting and I want to know when to change/reschedule my flight back home for, if at all. I see someone's timeline notes a interview date within 79 days of NOA2 and someone else wrote about the DS 230 form ... all-in-all, I am confused. Seriously not sure what to do now.... any help would be appreciated.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-12 22:06:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaDS230 and Kingston Emabassy
Oh. Yes. I am the beneficiary and I am currently in the US visiting my fiancé who is the USC. Well, that is good news being able to FedEx the form. Thanks. smile.gif
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-29 14:16:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaDS230 and Kingston Emabassy
QUOTE (Jomo @ Feb 29 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm confused as to why you would want to air-courier it in. It has to be signed in Jamaica. Why not car-courier it in then? Much cheaper!


Oh. Didn't know it had to be signed in Jamaica. Guess that answers that, then. Was just hoping to stay here with the fiancé for as long as possible.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-29 13:12:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaDS230 and Kingston Emabassy
QUOTE (Mrs. Scott @ Feb 4 2008, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
For the DS-230, there are two options (1) Make an appointment by e-mail to drop it off. OR (2) Send the form to the Embassy by courier (e.g. Air Pak, DHL, Fed Ex). Therefore, you have a signature to verify receipt of the envelope.

When we went to pick up the Packet 3 in person, we had to make an appointment. I saw people get turned away because your name must be on the security officer's list. There is a clip board that the security checks before you are allowed to enter the building.

In the mean time, get all of your ducks in a row (Non-Impediment, fiance's police certificate & birth certificate, tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, employment letter). Planning ahead is a great way to occupy your time. Have all of your documents neatly organized. Let us know if you have any more questions.

Mrs. Scott


Just FYI, I got my packet-3 with the DS-230 form in it already ... that was something like a week from the NOA2. It looks like they may be getting better at getting the packages out. Well, hopefully anyway. smile.gif


For clarification though: you CAN air-courier the DS-230 in? I am currently visiting with the fiance so if I can fill out the DS-230 and fedex to the embassy in Kingston and wait another couple of weeks before flying back to Kingston, it'd be great.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-29 12:03:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaYardies, at home and a farrin' (Part 5)
i sorry still ... i keep gettin' invited to dis t'read, but i come in only so often. why? it kinda overwhelming for me. so much going on, and i can't keep up.

anywho, i just wanted you to know still.

i still struggling with my processing. The NOA2 arrived in the mail here today and the package from Kingston with our case number and instructions arrived at my parents today also. So, it's time for me to get my behind back to Kingston and start the running around.

/sigh

Just thought I'd keep you all updated.

Sorry I haven't participated in the ongoing discussion.

YUSH
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-02-27 18:48:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaYardies, at home and a farrin' (Part 5)
Had every intention of starting a walk/run regimen wid de SO now that I am here for a month or 2 .... stepped out of the airport into the open air and that idea went flying south with the birds .... it is way too cold for any kind of outdoor exercise. Going to have to come with a different plan. /sigh
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-13 21:57:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaYardies, at home and a farrin' (Part 5)
::wave:: hi hi ...
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-01-13 08:48:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaDelivery of passport?
QUOTE (Marlita @ Jun 23 2008, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey girlie, I'm sure that sucker is on its way. There seems to be no sort of undertading on how to streamline a process when it comes to this immigration stuff. You'd think they'd at least give you a tracking number for such an important document so that you could at least see where it is. So are you all packed and ready to go?


Well, I do have a claim ticket number. But searching using that gives me "that information is not found on our system". All this time, I was thinking that was querying the courier system. Couriers say it's the embassy system. Which seems to suggest they haven't even LOOKED at my passport yet. Wonderful, huh?

Oh well, I am well on my way to just accepting that I have to pay the airline re-scheduling fee and just try and enjoy the week with my honey. Yea - he's on his way here as I write. I'm trying to get REALLY excited, as well I should be. But this passport thing and the holdup yet AGAIN is putting a damper on my mood. It's his first visit here EVER. I have SO much to show him and NO time to do it in. But I'm sure I'll manage some to show him the most important things.

As for being packed? *giggle* I was looking for a blouse to put on this morning only realize that most of them are already in the boxes ready for shipping. Hehehe.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-23 16:55:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaDelivery of passport?
QUOTE (BelwinMills @ Jun 23 2008, 01:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cejf @ Jun 23 2008, 11:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am here chewing the skin off my fingers, because my passport doesn't seem to have been processed at all yet and I travel in a week (or rather, I planned to travel in a week). It's been 2 weeks. All documentation stated it would take up to 2 weeks. The interviewer said 2 and sometimes up to 3 weeks. Airpak express told me this morning it can be up to a month.

This is so unreasonable. They TELL you it takes up to 2 weeks, and any reasonable person has an expectation of being able to plan around this information. Come ON already. What's the holdup?

Anyone else in my position?

Some peoples passports in the yardies thread has taken anywhere from 5 days to about 2 months. That is why on the yardies thread they advise you not to buy the plane ticket until you have received your passport. The agent (interviewer) at the window also advised us to wait and buy the ticket when the passport was in hand.

I am wishing you all the best that is comes in time. Positive Vibes good.gif. Congrats and all the best with your new life journey.

One Luv


Indeed. Wonderful. They DO tell you not to make any travel plans. I guess I was just optimistic that they would actually function as an organization instead of a patty-pan sidewalk operation.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-23 13:50:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaDelivery of passport?
I am here chewing the skin off my fingers, because my passport doesn't seem to have been processed at all yet and I travel in a week (or rather, I planned to travel in a week). It's been 2 weeks. All documentation stated it would take up to 2 weeks. The interviewer said 2 and sometimes up to 3 weeks. Airpak express told me this morning it can be up to a month.

This is so unreasonable. They TELL you it takes up to 2 weeks, and any reasonable person has an expectation of being able to plan around this information. Come ON already. What's the holdup?

Anyone else in my position?
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-23 11:42:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaThe POE experience
It WAS long wasn't it? Their "Sorry for the delay" makes me think maybe they ... forgot me. biggrin.gif Anyway, they got it out to me in record time - like 24 hours. So I guess they kinda made it up to me.

I am thinking that the airport experience was because it was early morning and we were the first set of people they had to deal with - so maybe they were in a good mood. biggrin.gif

Final destination is Kentucky... it's SO good to be ... well, home. biggrin.gif

Thanks for the welcome ... it's just today that it hit me ... this isn't the END of the journey at all, this is only the beginning. I got lots of thinking to do .. all this time, I've been so focused on the getting here, that I almost don't know what to do with myself now.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-07-05 18:37:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaThe POE experience
Just for those who are curious about my experience, here it is:

I had emailed the embassy on the day marking 2 weeks after the interview date asking whether there was any way at all I could get more information about whether my passport was being processed and when it might be ready. 7 days later on June 30, I got an email from them saying that I could check with the couriers within 2-3 days and apologizing for the delay.

The NEXT day, when I called Airpak Express (the couriers), the passport was ready and waiting for me. So of course you know I went straight there to pick it up. No errors, all was fine. And we re-booked our departure date for the 3rd of July.

We were both a little worried about being processed in Miami ... there is one flight a day to our final destination out of Miami and it was the one route we could find with the longest lay-over between flights without having to stay overnight. Two and a half hours layover with people saying it had taken them 3 hours and more to be processed.

Anyway, it was early morning, there was just one other flight in at the same time, and after inquiring at the assistance counter, we were directed together to the US citizens line - one in particular had just opened and we were first in line. He took our passports, that envelope (which isn't so mysterious now that I've seen it), my photo, my fingerprints ... entered some stuff on the computer, stamped a few papers and then led us through to a glassed in area to the far right of the immigration hall.

There was one family ahead of us and one officer in the room. He took about 15 minutes to start processing us (doing some data entry on a pile of files it seems like) and then he was done with that family in about 20 minutes. Next up was us and while my fiance and I sat doing word puzzles, he did some more data entry, stamped some more papers and then just called my fiance over, handed him my passport, they exchanged a few words and that was it. All done. Released to customs.

I couldn't believe it! I STILL can't believe it. It seems TOO easy.

I see what COULD be an employment authorization number in my passport, but we never asked and it's pointless anyway ... since I probably won't be working until after the wedding anyway.

Point is, with no hassle at all, little delays ... I am here, landed. And on my way to my wedding in just over a month.

And while I wasn't very visible on the site throughout this part of my journey, I still want everyone to know that I am available if anyone wants to quiz me about my experience. I may SEEM anti-social, but I really am not - just shy and soft-spoken.

Anyway, enough of that ... thanks for the help and the ear and patience.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-07-05 16:10:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaVisa granted!
QUOTE (Trelawny20853 @ Jun 10 2008, 10:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cejf @ Jun 10 2008, 10:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (sus @ Jun 10 2008, 07:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Congrats! When are you planning to come to the US?


Well, we are hoping he gets his leave approved for June 22. He will come for me and we'll both go back on June 30 - assuming everything falls into place. I hear the passport will take up to 3 weeks to get back to me. I am hoping against hope that it'll be here MUCH sooner. We have a wedding date planned tentatively for Aug. 23 and lots to do between now and then. It's a tight deadline, but I am hoping things continue to run as smoothly as they have thus far.


Hey Girl,

Congrats...3 weeks for the passport. My friends have been getting them in 3 to 7 days and they live on the other side of the island. I hope you'll fall into that category. Question? How may passport pictures did you have to turn in?


Hey - I hope so too. smile.gif

They tell you 6 photos, but they only took 4 from me.

QUOTE (Marlita @ Jun 10 2008, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
kicking.gif WOO HOO!!

Congrats girl!!! I know you are just happy that its all over with. So how long were you there? They seem to breeze thru some folks.

Oh! Your comment about the lady wanting to spit on you made me gag my cake just now from laughing so hard!! rofl.gif


Yep. Happy as a lark. So happy I stayed awake until 1am watching movies. LOL.

Total? I was there like 3 and a half hours. With the officers? Maybe 15 minutes all-told. Ridiculous - the place was packed like a sardine tin.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-11 01:16:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaVisa granted!
QUOTE (sus @ Jun 10 2008, 07:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Congrats! When are you planning to come to the US?


Well, we are hoping he gets his leave approved for June 22. He will come for me and we'll both go back on June 30 - assuming everything falls into place. I hear the passport will take up to 3 weeks to get back to me. I am hoping against hope that it'll be here MUCH sooner. We have a wedding date planned tentatively for Aug. 23 and lots to do between now and then. It's a tight deadline, but I am hoping things continue to run as smoothly as they have thus far.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-10 21:27:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaVisa granted!
smile.gif Thanks for all the well-wishes. I kinda didn't expect them. I just hope that it helps someone else.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-10 21:24:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaVisa granted!
Howdy.

Almost just got back from the embassy. What a joke. There was no suspense, no grilling, almost like no interview. It felt to me that any questions she asked were literally just to keep me occupied while she did the paperwork. ugh. All that stressing and fretting for this?

Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic. But it seems so anti-climatic, I am still expecting something to go wrong.

In any case, here's my story:

Simply, there are 3 windows. They take your paperwork at the first one. I got a very sullen woman who looked like she would rather spit at me than process my paper. I ignored her and just handed her the sheaf of papers. It wasn't until WAY afterward that I realized I had forgotten to hand her my "proof".

The second window is where they take your fingerprints. Easy as pie, no issues.

The third one is the real deal. For me, it was almost too easy. She was canceling my visitor's visa before she had even sworn me in. She asked some lop-sided questions like why the fiance wasn't with me, if we had a date, if I'd had any trouble with the police or my health, if I'd had my prints taken .... seriously, it did indeed seem like she was just passing the time. Turns out I didn't need to hand any proof at all! CO said "Ack, nah. I believe ya." - just like that.

It seems to me that this process is designed for those who would attempt to defraud and deceive. Once you're honest and frank, there's nothing to worry about.

Then again, I could just be one of the lucky ones.

Good luck to everyone who is waiting .... I hope your experience was as uneventful as my own.
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-10 17:14:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaJamaica Airpak Delivery
QUOTE (Marlita @ Oct 24 2008, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
OK!!! I am freaking out!! Evan has his visa in HAND!!! Thank you Jesus!! We tracked the visa on the airpak website. it said it would be delivered today. So he called them this morning and sure enough it is in Mobay airport. Evan was in Rose Hall area so he picked it up. Last night we talked about him coming up Saturday (tomorrow), and I started freaking out!!! but then he decided to go to church on Sunday and say a last goodbye so he will be on the plane this MONDAY and be here for his bday AND Halloween, AND the elections. Everything I prayed for!! Praise jesus!!

kicking.gif SO happy for you Marlita. FINALLY!

*hugs*
cejfFemaleJamaica2008-10-30 05:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDelivery of passport?
Oops - wrong forum.

Edited by cejf, 23 June 2008 - 11:42 AM.

cejfFemaleJamaica2008-06-23 11:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYes, you can visit!
My first post and boy am I glad I decided to search the forums before I went to visit my honey again.

You see, I've had my B1/B2 for over 3 years now and have visited him on at least 5 visits over the last year and a half. We've filed the K1 petition and we just received our NOA1 (and touched once I believe) so we wait for NOA2 now.

I've been hemming and hawing (is that how those 2 words are spelt) about leaving my current job for a while and we thought that it would be nice to completely decompress from it (it's been a pretty bad experience these last few months) with a month or two with him while we wait. Reading this thread tho, I remember that immigration ALWAYS asks me what I do and where I work. I am fearful that if I say "I'm in between jobs at the moment" they are likely to turn me back.

Man - this long distance thing is tough and the waiting even tougher. I just keep my eyes on the end and hope that it's actually as near as it looks and not just a mirage.

Any advice on the job issue?
cejfFemaleJamaica2007-11-21 15:46:00