ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Aug 19 2009, 09:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (missmissy @ Aug 19 2009, 09:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yay!!! You two are such a great looking couple!! I love seeing what we all look like, thanks!

Yes you two do make a lovely couple!!!


blush.gif Awww, thank you guys!

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 20:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
All this picture talk inspired me to finally upload an avatar smile.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 20:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
All these April NOA2s are discouraging to see, but I'm well past the point of getting angry about it. I passed that point when the two May filers—neither of which were expedites—got their NOA2s in June. I've just resigned myself to the fact that this process sucks. rolleyes.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 19:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (lifeisgood13 @ Aug 19 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It does make it easier to know that I"m not alone. It is depressing to know that people after me are getting approved. USCIS website states that they work based on FIFO, I highly doubt it.

I do have a question. I currently hold a "SECRET" clearance cuz I work for government contractor. Do you guys think this can factor into how long they do the background check ?

I also forgot to check the box "NO" to the question "Have you ever been convicted by a court of law (civil or criminal) or court martialed by a military tribunal for any of the following crimes?" Do you think i'll simply get a RFE or they'll just deny me completely?

Thanks All!


I've read elsewhere that the process can be slower for people who hold active clearances. But I wouldn't start speculating about that yet—lots of us March filers without touches, let alone NOA2s.

As for the box you forgot to check, you might get RFE'd for it, but perhaps they'll let it slide if your background check comes up clean. Here's hoping!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 19:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Kiss me (yeah!) touch me (thank you!)
? ?? ?? ?? (woo I love you!)


Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 13:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 10:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
I need to write some sort of script to automatically refresh every 5 minutes or something ??
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 09:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Haha, I'm not really crying. I should have used that ranting/cursing emoticon instead!

C'mon, VSC, this has gone on long enough. Let's crank out some 3/27s today!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 08:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Still haven't been touched since 4/1 crying.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-19 08:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
NVC: (603) 334-0700
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-18 21:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Well, I was just looking at the "All Petitions" view for VSC... it looks like (perhaps) whoever took the 3/26 stack is just about finished with it. Nothing against the 3/25ers, but I'm hoping 3/27 is next in his or her stack! good.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-08-18 21:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (sensetarget @ Sep 24 2009, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
grats Richard and Joanna. Just saw you guys finely received your NOA 2. And grats to everyone else.

I just came in to say, today was the interview, and she walked away happy with the visa in her hand smile.gif

Congratulations! You guys must be excited.

Visa in hand? They gave it to her right then and there? Awesome! Which consulate was this?
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-24 12:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (missmissy @ Sep 24 2009, 06:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
GUESS WHAT???!!!!!


Missy! Congratulations! I am SO happy for you! They're finally coming back for the rest of our March family!! kicking.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-24 08:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 23 2009, 07:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
OMG an August approval

Are you effing kidding? Ricoculous.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-23 19:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Huge congratulations to Carl and Jessica!

C'mon, VSC... missy and kata... it's time!

Richard, I'm planning on going over there on October 1st, and Elisha and I are scheduled to leave Korea on October 7th, spend a couple days in Japan, then come home (!) on the 10th. At this point it's very tight, but we're holding out hope that she'll be able to get an interview next week or Monday the 5th—Monday would be cutting it very close travel-wise, but it'd be good in the sense that I could go to the interview with her. If the dates slip, they slip... I'll bite the bullet and pay to change the tickets. But I'm still going, dammit! wink.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-23 08:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
I guess I'll never know for sure whether it made a difference or if it's just a coincidence, but...
  • I faxed my letter to the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs on Friday afternoon;
  • Was told Monday afternoon that the AP reviews of our case were complete; and
  • Was told today that NVC had sent out the file to Seoul.
Things that make you go hmm....

Edited by Stephen + Elisha, 22 September 2009 - 07:10 PM.

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-22 19:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
More good news! I just called NVC, and they sent our file to Korea today! kicking.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-22 15:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 22 2009, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am in the car but just now got APPROVED!!!

AWESOME!!! Richard, that's fantastic! I am so happy for you guys!! kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-22 15:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
VSCvictim, just out of curiosity, have you received notice yet that VSC received your RFE response and resumed processing your case?
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-22 14:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 22 2009, 02:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So... I emailed my congressional immigration specialist... her response was... basically... there is nothing she can do... I am free to visit my fiancee whenever I want!

Time to get a new congressman smile.gif

Definitely! Mine's pretty useless too. I won't be voting for him in 2010 either way, but if he supports amnesty for illegals down the road I'm seriously going to blow a gasket.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-22 13:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 22 2009, 09:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (missmissy @ Sep 22 2009, 09:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
<------Not really feelin it today but will try.


Called uscis again. This time:

write a letter to the district director, write an impassioned plea to him.

Attention Paul Novak
Distictr Director, USCIS
St. Albans, Vermont

So....later on today I'll start writing my impassioned plea. I'm open to any of you talented letter writters (stephen and richard), and then I'll fedex it on up to him.

Do you think he will really read it?

have a great day ya'll.

I think that is who responded to my letter Missy... it was embarrassing the letter that they sent me... but it cant hurt!

That reminds me, Richard—we still haven't seen this embarrassing letter! Where is it?
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-22 09:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Fellow March VSCer getting ready for interview: http://www.visajourn...howtopic=219294

Tomorrow could be the day for all of us! Our petition heads to Seoul and Richard, Missy, and Kata get the hell out of VSC!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 22:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (missmissy @ Sep 21 2009, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 21 2009, 08:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well, I must say, I am actually mildly impressed with the new USCIS site.

Instead of just showing the timeframes now, you can actually display the number of pending applications, number of approvals, and number of receipts on a month-by-month basis. For example, in July, VSC received 1,859 I-129Fs, adjudicated 2,952, had 891 outstanding RFEs waiting on responses, and had a backlog of 14,205 (!) pending petitions.

Of more immediate interest to us... VSC received 2,458 I-129Fs in March. There are 155 March VSC timelines on VJ, which represents just over 6% of the total.

A move toward transparency by USCIS... I'm shocked.

Help me find all of that please. I have been clicking all over and can't locate it. thanks

http://dashboard.uscis.gov

You enter the form number, office, and choose the type of chart you want. It's running VERY slowly, but it is working.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 20:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Well, I must say, I am actually mildly impressed with the new USCIS site.

Instead of just showing the timeframes now, you can actually display the number of pending applications, number of approvals, and number of receipts on a month-by-month basis. For example, in July, VSC received 1,859 I-129Fs, adjudicated 2,952, had 891 outstanding RFEs waiting on responses, and had a backlog of 14,205 (!) pending petitions.

Of more immediate interest to us... VSC received 2,458 I-129Fs in March. There are 155 March VSC timelines on VJ, which represents just over 6% of the total.

A move toward transparency by USCIS... I'm shocked.

Edited by Stephen + Elisha, 21 September 2009 - 08:20 PM.

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 20:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 21 2009, 04:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Let's face it guys these people are morons!!!

Probably so, but the most galling part is that they are messing with people's lives and they couldn't care less.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 15:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (missmissy @ Sep 21 2009, 03:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Response from my congressional liason today:


Hey Missy,

I emailed VSC and told them the last response that I received was that your response to the RFE was received on 8/21/09 and that it was with an officer and under review and could take 30-60 days for a decision or other notice of action on this case. I asked specifically if they could tell me if there was more information that was needed in order to process this application and asked for a time line on how much more time would be needed to process or deny the case.

THEIR RESPONSE TO ME VERBATIM: A REVIEW OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SHOWS THAT THE CASE IS PENDING AT THIS TIME, WITH AN ADJUDICATING OFFICER FOR PROCESSING. YOU ARE WELCOME TO CHECK PERIODICALLY FOR STATUS.

Will give it another week to ten days and see where they are at that time. Sorry, I wish there was more that we could do for you.

Hey, at least you have a congressional liaison who emails you, and sends stuff other than copy-and-pasted boilerplate. Sucks that they don't have good news for you, though. sad.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 14:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (missmissy @ Sep 21 2009, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 21 2009, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well, I'm not doing the Snoopy dance just yet, but...

I just got off the phone with the supervisor at NVC (Leila) who told me last Thursday that she would put in a request to find out the status of our case. She said that they had completed their reviews and were preparing to send it out to Seoul, and that it'll definitely be going out this week.

I'm not getting excited yet... when I find out for sure that it's been shipped, I'll breathe a little easier... and I'll wait 'til we hear from the consulate to start dancing... but I'm cautiously optimistic. This may be progress.

EXCELLENT NEWS!!

Only thing is this - once you get all of that taken care of are you going to do a disappearing act like everyone else? Please say no!

Don't worry, I'll still be around. Someone has to keep Gary in line! laughing.gif
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 14:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Well, I'm not doing the Snoopy dance just yet, but...

I just got off the phone with the supervisor at NVC (Leila) who told me last Thursday that she would put in a request to find out the status of our case. She said that they had completed their reviews and were preparing to send it out to Seoul, and that it'll definitely be going out this week.

I'm not getting excited yet... when I find out for sure that it's been shipped, I'll breathe a little easier... and I'll wait 'til we hear from the consulate to start dancing... but I'm cautiously optimistic. This may be progress.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 13:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (TexPol @ Sep 21 2009, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 21 2009, 11:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
...As I understand the medical... for K1s you DONT need the shots... they recommend them but they can not make you get them....


Ok I checked..

"As non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants, K visa applicants technically are not subject to the vaccination requirement. However, the Department of State strongly encourages K visa applicants to meet the vaccination requirements before admission to the United States. The vaccination assessment is included in the general fee paid to the panel physician. K visa applicants should be aware that they will need to have a full vaccination report completed before their adjustment to legal status in the U.S."

good.gif Exactamundo.

Why's it so quiet in here?
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 13:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 21 2009, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
BULLPLOP! <-- i think this should be the March MOTTO! smile.gif

Fo' shizzle!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 12:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
melanne's post reminded me—Elisha did her medical in Seoul on Sunday. Even though the consulate doesn't have our file yet (grrr), the SEO number was enough to get it done.

Like melanne's SO, Elisha got her vaccinations done. Richard, your understanding is correct: K-1s don't need to have their vaccinations done prior to arrival, but they do need to be done for AOS. Elisha figured they'd be cheaper over there, so she decided to just go ahead and do it. Similar to melanne's SO again, Elisha had the MMR cycle as a child, but Korean vaccination records (at least from that time) didn't record the dates of the shots, only that they'd been administered, so they couldn't just transfer the record—the shots had to be repeated. So she now has two sore lumps on one shoulder and one on the other to add to her list of grievances against the U.S. government!

All told, the entire thing took about an hour and a half, and she was able to pick up the results the same afternoon. Including the shots, the damage was about $250. She passed, albeit with a Class B condition (hypertension, controlled by medication) noted on her record. High achiever that she is, Elisha wasn't happy about getting a 'B.' I assured her that this was one test she didn't want to score an 'A' on! biggrin.gif


Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 11:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Good morning all! The weather people were predicting that it would rain all this week, but something seems to have shifted and we're getting one more gorgeous day. I hope this weather is mirrored in VSC's (and NVC's) progress for our March family today!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-21 09:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
If you're Catholic (or even if you're not!) you may find the following interesting.

Tomorrow, September 21st, is the feast day of Saint Matthew. His biggest claim to fame is for writing the first of the four Gospels... but he is also traditionally identified as the tax collector who left his job and became one of the twelve Apostles when Jesus saw him by the road and said "Follow me."

Tax collectors, then as now, were despised government functionaries. Sound like USCIS or NVC to you? So I think St. Matthew is the perfect saint to spring us all loose from the ruts we seem to be stuck in and get us all moving forward.

SAINT MATTHEW, PRAY FOR US!!!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-20 22:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (missmissy @ Sep 20 2009, 05:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 20 2009, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh, just have to vent briefly: Gary is a complete A$$H0L3!

Link please and if it's what I was reading earlier, I almost sent YOU the link! He is so pretentious!

2 or 3 threads on the K-1 Process and Procedures over the course of the past day or two.

The guy is wrong about as often as he's right—he assumes that his experience is normative and universally valid for everyone everywhere—and he's just an arrogant jerk.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-20 16:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
Oh, just have to vent briefly: Gary is a complete A$$H0L3!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-20 14:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 20 2009, 03:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 20 2009, 09:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 18 2009, 10:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am firmly in the camp that we will see July filers approved before the end of September... and at least for me (NO RFE) I will have to wait until after October 1st. Yours, with the RFE stands a reasonable chance of getting processed before the end of September, IMHO.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.... http://www.visajourn...howtopic=219032

Unbelievable! I am very happy for the couple.... but really really pissed at the system! There are more coming.... the USCIS wants to look really good for the end of the year.... I have been saying this for a long time... and continue to believe it.... I also believe that Vermont has offloaded cased to CSC as well, further, management are in denial!


Very frustrating when nobody will listen inside the government


Indeed. From everything I've read, the Chicago Lockbox has been sending ALL I-130s for IR-1/CR-1 status to CSC since the first of the year or so. While it's nice to see them recognizing the processing time disparities and doing something to balance the load, I think it's really crummy of them to be cherry-picking cases to pad their stats—which is quite clearly taking place based on approvals like this.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-20 14:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (missmissy @ Sep 20 2009, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
JULY FILERS APPROVED IN 74 F**KING DAYS??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? #######??


edited to apologize - happy for the couples approved just really confused about why the rest of March can't catch a break. Sorry all.

HALF the time it took for ours. To say nothing of you and Lars, Richard and Joanna, Carl and Jessica, Kata and Freddy, and so many others who are still waiting.

Fantastic for the couple concerned. But 100% Grade-A BULLPLOP in the grand scheme of things!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-20 13:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 18 2009, 10:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am firmly in the camp that we will see July filers approved before the end of September... and at least for me (NO RFE) I will have to wait until after October 1st. Yours, with the RFE stands a reasonable chance of getting processed before the end of September, IMHO.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.... http://www.visajourn...howtopic=219032
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-20 08:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 20 2009, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good grief, what were you doing up so early on a Sunday morning?!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-20 07:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2009 k-1 people
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 19 2009, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 19 2009, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Sep 19 2009, 07:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 18 2009, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well this is interesting... National Geographic Channel is running a special on international marriage brokers. Think I'll crack another beer and watch.

I missed it...

'Twas interesting... a little sad in parts... on the whole, surprisingly non-judgmental.

It's Saturday, March family, and that can only mean one thing: COLLEGE FOOTBALL! laughing.gif


I am a little surprised that it was non-judgmental.. but am glad

It's airing again on Friday the 25th at 6 pm if you're interested in seeing for yourself.

QUOTE
I think I will watch Michigan State vs Notre Dame

33-30 ND—D'OH!
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-09-19 22:14:00