biggish data

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

hi guys its been for a long wait and i havent heard anything from uscis yet, no RFE nothing, my NOA date is 11/28/2011 should i call them or wait ? are you guys still waiting too ?

Our NOA was a week before yours and I just got my green card today so hopefully yours will be any time soon.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-09-14 20:31:00

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

We received the green card today. We were notified it would processed on the 8th and on the 10th we were notified it was sent and then another notification today showing it was delivered. I just thought it might be helpful for anyone trying to figure how long from approval to the card actually arriving. Oh and the 10 years is from the date they mailed the new card not from when the old card expired.

And the green card is actually green now!

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-09-14 20:02:00

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

I got my approval notice. What an excellent start to the holiday weekend!
:dance:

This would be the time for an unscrupulous person to leave the spouse and run but I'm still sitting here with Diane so I guess it's real love! :lol:

I think I'll wait till I've been here 5 years to do the N400 so we don't have to go through all that prove it's a real marriage ####### again. I'm not that desperate to become an American. I'll stay Scottish just that little bit longer.

Good luck to all the rest of you. I hope you get the letter real soon. :thumbs:

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-08-31 19:01:00

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

I agree with you 100%. I could drive there in less than 2 hours if that would make it easier for them, than sending it snail mail.
in December, January and February. Yet we still wait. Not a fair system.

I'll come with you. We're just down the road from them too.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-08-28 18:21:00

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

I see there are people approved and have their GC that filed at VSC in December, January and February. Yet we still wait. Not a fair system.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-08-28 16:52:00

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

Are all you guys who are receiving approval notices and RFEs getting email notifications and updates on the website or are you just getting letters by snail mail?

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-08-21 14:53:00

Traveling on a green card extension letter

Hi Everyone,

We just returned from a one week trip to Scotland to visit my family. My Greencard expired on Feb 8th and I have the extension letter allowing me to work and travel for a further year. We flew from Boston to London Heathrow then on to Edinburgh. Leaving the US I was never asked for my Greencard. When we checked in at Edinburgh Airport with British Airways the woman at the desk asked for my Greencard. She scanned it in the system and it told her it was expired. I told her about the extension letter and she asked to see it. She then manually changed the expiry date of my Greencard to 2013 and checked us in. When we arrived back in Boston I gave the CBP Officer my passport, Greencard and extension letter. He immediately handed me the extension letter back and scanned my Greencard. Obviously the extension is in the system and they don't need the letter.

So basically there was no issues at all traveling with an expired Greencard and extension letter. They don't seem to require the letter in the US but make sure you take it with you in case they ask for it in the country you are traveling to when you return.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-03-19 06:33:00

Philippines

TATTOOS during Medical at St Lukes Manila

I'm pretty sure tattoos aren't contagious so I don't think it will be an issue! :hehe:

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2011-12-30 12:34:00

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

August 2009 CSC filers....

We got our NOA 1 on 6th August. Our service center should be Vermont but got it from California. I was worried they'd sent it to the wrong place from the lockbox but I see this has happened to other people on here. Hopefully that's a good thing as CSC seems to go quicker. Either way it's gonna be a long slow painful process but worth it in the end.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2009-08-12 05:30:00

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

April 2009 K-1 Filers

QUOTE (Allie and Nigel @ Nov 12 2009, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Got our subject access today! It had what we needed on it...waaaaaaaahoooooooo!! Nigel's got the courier booked for Monday AM...!

I was just checking up to see if Nigel got the info on the subject access report. I see he did. That's great. I'm glad I was wrong! We just got case complete at the NVC and I had my medical on tuesday so just waiting for an interview date.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2009-11-20 12:27:00

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

rumor when entering US

When I entered with visa in hand they blasted out James Brown's "Living in America" while all the CBP officers danced! :rofl:

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-12-20 16:59:00

Spouse Visa and Cosular Processeing

http://www.uscis.gov...ources/A2en.pdf

This is the official form on the subject. It gives two options. Either get get a fiancee visa or get married abroad. Sure you could get married in the US under the VWP and leave but your boyfriend would have to convince the border official beyond any doubt that he will leave within 90 days. If they do not believe him (and they are trained to be suspicious of everyone) then he will be refused entry and will never be able to enter under the VWP again. There is no right to appeal. He will be sent back on the next plane. (Wedding cancelled, lots of money wasted, heartbreak). It is obviously entirely up to you if you are willing to take the chance.

Marriage in the UK (or anywhere else) then waiting for the CR-1 visa is the safest option. (In my experience and opinion. Don't shoot me for having one!)

However you do it I wish you the best of luck and hope it all goes smoothly for you and that you have the same kind of happy marriage and life in the US that we have.

David.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2011-12-05 16:33:00

Spouse Visa and Cosular Processeing

You can legally get married under the VWP if it is spontaneous. For example if you came here met someone and decided to go to Vegas. If you enter the US on the VWP with the intention of getting married you are breaking the law. That is why there is the Fiancee visa. If you do break immigration laws and you get found out you are likely to have great difficulty ever being allowed to enter the US again. There have been hundreds of people on here having their lives ruined because they broke one seemingly harmless little rule. It is best not to take any chances and do everything properly. My wife and I got married in Scotland and she returned to the US and started the application process for the CR1 visa. She needed a visa to get married in the UK. You apply online and pay around £50. She had to go Boston to get biometrics done and sent her passport to Washington. She got the passport back in 2 weeks with the visa in it. It was very easy. When we got married the registrar looked at the visa and then went ahead and married us.

The CR1 is the best way to go as far as we are concerned. It doesn't seem to take longer than any other visa and seems to be cheaper in the long run and I was able to work and travel from the day I arrived.

When we were waiting for the visa I visited the US about 5 times on the VWP. I had no problems getting in at all. I brought a pile of documents to prove ties with home but was NEVER asked for it.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2011-12-04 17:57:00

G-325A form

Is the PC term not homemaker? Lol.

Why not put "Seeking Employment"

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2011-12-30 08:37:00

Passport: Certified copy or just regular copy

We never sent certified copies of anything and sailed through without an RFE.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-15 17:37:00

Waiting period for green card in mail?

I got my Green Card in the mail about 2 weeks after arriving but I never got a SSN. After 3 weeks I went to the SS office and filled out a form and got my card about a week later.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-26 21:48:00

entering the country while visa pending?

So am I correct in assuming that she will only be turned away if there is a legitimate concern that she will overstay her tourist visa and remain illegally in the country? What would be the best strategy when speaking to the immigration official at the Port of Entry? To say that she is visiting her husband, her visa is pending and here is proof that she intends to return in a weeks time (showing the necessary documentation?)

I am just worried that we waste a huge amount of money on a flight ticket and then be turned away!

She should bring proof of ties back home and any communication with the USCIS to prove you are going through the legal process and she is not likely to overstay and waste all the money and time and effort. I entered 4 or 5 times on the VWP while my visa was pending and never had any problems. I told them honestly I was visiting my wife. If your wife says she is visiting family then they will ask her which family members she is visiting. They are trained to get to the truth. If she then says she is visiting her husband they might think she was trying to hide things and be tougher on her. Better to be upfront from the start.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-29 14:59:00

Feeling naked before interview

I took copies of everything and a stack of relationship evidence 'just in case', but I didn't need any of it. The checklist that came with your interview letter should confirm that you have provided NVC with everything that was required.

Good luck.

We took copies of everything too but didn't need them. Better to have too much than not enough.

Our interview was more like an informal chat with a very nice lady who seemed genuinely delighted to tell me I'd been approved. All the nerves and worries are usually just a waste of energy. It's not scary at all.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-09-17 15:26:00

Marrying USC, resident of UK

I had exactly the same thoughts as you have in your first paragraph. This is why I'm thinking of doing CR-1. My other question still stands. Can I come here on VWP during the CR-1 process? Or will passport control be suspicious of me and not be willing to let me in without a fight?

I visited 5 or 6 times while waiting for CR1 on the VWP without issue. I never stayed for more than a week at a time though.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-12-12 16:40:00

Marrying USC, resident of UK

You say that you had no intention of getting married and it was sprung on you. Am I right in thinking that your fiance(e) planned this and he/she knew you were going to get married while on the VWP? If so I would still think the USCIS would consider this fraud if you were to stay and adjust status.

The CR1 is safer. It sucks being apart after you marry but if you do everything right you won't have any nasty surprises and you will be free to travel and work from the day you enter on a CR1. With AOS it could take a couple of years and you'd be stuck in the US.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-12-12 16:13:00

Husband US Citizen and Wife British Citizen

As the OP has clearly stated his wife is British and will go through the embassy in London. He is originally from Nigeria but is now a USC. Nigeria will not come into it at all. He has joined VJ as we all did to get help with the immigration process. For some reason it seems that some people are trying to scare him and make him think he is in for a tough ride. There appears to be no indication he is doing anything wrong in fact he seems to be trying hard to do everything right so I don't get why he is getting a hard time.

Lots of people who separate don't get divorced straight away because there is no immediate need to do so but then they meet someone and wish to remarry so suddenly divorce is important and done just in time to remarry. This is in no way unusual and is certainly not an indication of fraud.

To the OP welcome to VJ and I hope your immigration journey is a smooth one and you find that generally people on here are much more helpful than you've encountered so far. You should check the UK forum on here.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-12-12 21:15:00

Husband US Citizen and Wife British Citizen

Both myself and my wife got divorced from our previous spouses about 3 months before we married and it was never even mentioned by USCIS.
We had both been separated for years and wanting to remarry was the catalyst for our divorces. I'm sure that's common.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-12-11 19:01:00

Evidence of Marriage when you've never lived together?

My Fiance and I are planning to get married and then apply through the CR1 Spouse process. However, I see that one of the most important parts of the process is showing evidence of a bonafide marriage, which is supported by things such as co-mingled finances, joint property, children, etc. We wont be co-mingling our finances until after we are living in the same country (too impractical), and we've never lived together (because we're required to live in different countries). I don't really see how this is supposed to work.

Can anyone in a similar situation offer advice on how you show a bonafide marriage when you haven't been allowed to live as a normal married couple? I can certainly prove our relationship though years of photos, emails, plane tickets, etc. But is it enough to prove a relationship & a marriage certificate?

Also, we will most likely have a quick Justice of the Peace wedding so that we can get our process kicked off, followed by a "real" wedding a few months later (whatever is convenient for planning). Is that plan going to get us into trouble?

There are thousands of us who have been in the same boat and not had a problem. The USCIS realize couples who haven't lived together do not have joint finances and joint tenant agreements etc. You just have to provide as much evidence as you can along the lines of the stuff you mentioned above.

We also had a small wedding in a registry office in Scotland with only 4 members of my family present and none of my wife's. It was never questioned. We don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars and have hundreds of people present to prove we are in love.

Good luck on your visa journey.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-12-17 19:02:00

Couple of in process questions

Thank you for everyone who actively participates in this site. I went from a very daunting lawyer fee, and the unpleasantness that comes with dealing with them, to paying filing fees and understanding the process. We have completed and submitted our I-130 as my wife wishes to continue to work until she is eligible to work in the US.

Ok, so my questions. First with an I-130 in process will she be able to visit the US? She travels here for work, and to visit me. New are concerned,as we have heard she could be denied entry because of her in process paper work.

Second question. We married in Canada, so it is legally documented there. I am unsure how to file my tax return this year. I would think married filing separately, but there is no record of our marriage in the US. Should I file something locally to "register" our marriage in another country?

I can't wait for my new life to begin, I'm just over whelmed with the idea of another six or more months without her. The idea that she couldn't come here while that is going on is worrying.

Thank you to anyone who made it this far, wish us luck!

If a marriage (which adheres to the federal definition of marriage) is legal in the country it is performed then it is legally recognized in the US. It doesn't have to be registered here.

Edited by scotinmass, 19 January 2013 - 04:59 PM.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2013-01-19 16:58:00

IR1 Visa requirement. Time of Entry or Time of Interview?

Hi,

I am a Newbie here and am living in the UK. Me and my wife who is a US citizen married in the UK in July 2012. I went to visit her for 2013 new year's holidays and we decided to start filing for my migration to the USA. After reading few topics here on this site we have decided to file for IR1/CR1 spouse immigrant visa.

Saying that, I read about the differences of these two visas and trying to figure out which one of these visa's I finally will get if I we start the process using I-130 form. I am fully aware of the CR1 visa condition and the requirement to change it to PR within 90 days of the expiry to avoid any problem. Although there is not much a difference between these two visas in term of entry permission and the time takes to get any of these but since I am running my business in the UK and need to sort everything out which takes time, I would probably be married for 2 years at the time of the entry to the US if not at the time of my visa interview. But some topics say you get IR1 visa if married for 2 years at the TIME of VISA INTERVIEW and some say at the TIME of ENTRY.

So I appreciate if I get some answers on my questions below;

1- Do I need to be married for 2 years or more at the time of IR1/CR1 visa interview at the consular to result in 10 years Green Card after entry to the US, or do I need to be married for 2 years or more when I ENTER USA on my IR1/CR1 visa to get a 10 years Green Card?

2- To be qualified for an IR1 visa, do we need to show that we lived together all or part of our past 2 years of marriage? So far we have only had chance to spend family holiday time twice, once in the UK and once in the USA for a total of 3 month. (we have lots of true evidences about the Bona fides of our marriage)

Your answers are much appreciated.

Thanks a Lot!

1. It's when you enter the US as a resident.

From the date the visa is issued you have 6 months to enter the US. If you filed now it will take around 9 months to get the visa. You could wait till almost the end of the 6 months after you receive the visa before entering the US and you would have been married around 2 years so would get the IR1 and be done with the process.

But the whole reason you are going through this process is to be with your wife so I would think it would be best to get here as quickly as possible. If it has been less than 2 years you will get a 2 year CR1 visa and when that expires you will have to apply for the IR1 (10 year green card).

2. You don't have to have lived together. You just need lots of proof you are a legitimate relationship.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2013-01-19 16:51:00

All my wedding pictures have the wrong date!!! plz help

tks pushbrk, its a real headache and cropping off the date from some of the pics is leading to some ppl getting deleted from the pics

I wouldn't bother doing anything. It doesn't matter. It is one day out. That is not unusual. Plenty people set the time at home then go to another time zone and the date would be 1 day out. If you are worried about it put a note about it in your cover letter. You're not going to get refused because your camera isn't set right.

I think people sweat about the small stuff to much.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-12-21 10:35:00

Green card after entering US

I assume each case is different and they say it can take up to 6 months. Never the less, I had mine within 3 weeks so I would think you should have it fairly quick.

I got mine within 3 weeks too.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2013-03-24 11:47:00

One-Way ticket issues

When I came to the US on my CR-1 visa I bought a return ticket because it was almost half the cost of a one way. I arrived in Feb and booked the return for July when I might actually be returning for a visit. I ended up not using the return ticket but still saved a lot of money. If you are entering on a visa which is meant to allow you to stay in the US permanently then whether you have a return or one way ticket is irrelevant. Just pick the cheapest option.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2011-12-29 09:21:00

Medical: What constitutes a fail?

This is the post I read just before I took my medical.

http://www.visajourn...medical-denied/

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-08 12:22:00

Medical: What constitutes a fail?

I've read of someone failing with very high blood pressure. I have always had high blood pressure so this worried me when I went for my medical in London. Obviously the stress and worry made my blood pressure higher. When the doctor checked it she exclaimed "Wow!" Then she asked me if I was stressed. I took this to be a bad sign! It was extremely high. I had only just started taking meds for it and I convinced her I would go back to my doctor and get the dose increased and work at it till it was under control. This seemed to satisfy her. I needed to get a diphtheria and tetanus booster and the MMR. Then I passed subject to the results of the blood test. One other thing you can fail for is alcoholism. I assume that if you fail and it's for something that can be fixed they will give you the chance to fix it and get another medical. If it is something that can't be fixed you won't be able to get a visa.

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-08 12:11:00

Just because you can't find anything distinguishable on the back of the document does not mean it is not there. There may be artifacts you are unaware of.

Like what? A secret watermark? Invisible ink? Something that can only show up when a top secret government light is shone on it?

Even if this was the case. It would only show up on the original and not the ordinary piece of printer paper that you bought at Staples!

:wow:

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-14 16:51:00

I generally don't get my grocery list notarized so there's no raised seal that shows up when the back side is copied.

Just because the back side of your birth certificate is indistinguishable from the back side of any other sheet of paper doesn't mean that everyone else's is. The copy of the writing-free back side of my birth certificate clearly proves that it made from the same sheet of paper that the front-side copy came from.

One of the "required" documents for the AOS interview is the birth certificate of the USC. They never asked to see mine but they already had proof that the back of mine was blank from my I-129F submission. Yes, every paper filed throughout the process, to USCIS, to the embassy, to the officer at the POE, is returned to USCIS for use during AOS (and beyond.)
It probably won't slow anything down, it probably won't cause an RFE but they may just ask to see the original when the time comes for an AOS interview. It's a judgement call of the IO who will interview you to ask for whatever they want to overcome their questions about the validity of the relationship. Do what you want, but I just don't see what the big deal is in flipping over a piece of paper and pressing 'Copy' one more time.

I actually did photocopy the back of mine cos it had writing on it. :yes:

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-14 16:35:00

At least they only want the front and the back. Imagine if they started asking for the sides.

Now you've put that idea into people's heads they might start doing that too just in case! :lol:

scotinmass

Male

Scotland

2012-01-14 16:32:00