ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAPPROVED!!!!
Brings a tear to my eye! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!
NovellaFemaleCanada2010-10-28 10:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresExpedited petitions
Awww! Congrats!!
NovellaFemaleCanada2010-10-28 10:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJust Beginning
QUOTE (jaguar @ Jun 3 2008, 09:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am a US citizen, my fiancee is a Canadian citizen. We intend to marry in the states as soon as possible. Should we file for a K1 visa or have her come to the states, marry quickly, and then apply for a K3. She wants to start working in the US as soon as possible. We both have college degrees.


You are going to have to decide which is most important -- being together quickly, or working in the US as soon as possible after the visa is issued.

If you want to be together quickly, file for K-1. It is tending to be processed in about 6 months or so (I could be wrong with my figures, you might want to do some timeline research on here for current times). However, like ZeeNusah said, it takes time to get work authorization, and if getting married in Canada is important to your fiance, you won't be able to do that with a K-1 and you will have to take into consideration as well.

If working ASAP a factor, get married and then file for the CR-1 spousal visa. This takes longer to process than the fiance visa but once it is done and your wife is in the US, she will get her 2 year green card and can work right away, thereby bypassing a lot of steps others have to take. The separation will be longer, but you can still visit each other while waiting.

K-3 spousal visas used to be processed quicker than CR-1s, but it no longer seems to be the case, and you aren't work authorized when you come to the US, so you'd have to wait for that.


Definitely check out the links to the guides that ZeeNusah provided in her post, read everything carefully here on VJ and on USCIS's website, ask questions if you have questions, and decide for yourselves what path will be the best for the two of you. smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-03 10:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsREF Trick
The RFE trick doesn't work, never really worked, so pretend you never heard of it.

If you have an RFE, by all means, call the RFE line. Otherwise, please leave it alone.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-06 17:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJFK vs home airport
QUOTE (Ana&D @ Jun 8 2008, 04:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I really wouldn't do it. First of all the uncertanty of getting the stamp, secondly, many employers will be unlikely to hire somebody with a temporary permit and no SSN, thirdly, give you man a little time to settle in smile.gif. If you plan on getting married shortly after his arrival, just do that an file for EAD right away. That way he'll have time to adjust to new country and map out some job prospects. Good luck!


Very wise advice. smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-08 18:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsVermont slow down.
QUOTE (mariapoe @ May 30 2008, 02:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
May be it is slow but I was very much surprised to see that May approvals are all for the petition filed in March. Two months only comparing to those long five months that we had to wait back in Fall. And I knew that our wait wasn't the longest. I assumed that overall both VSC and CSC have been working faster!


They have been, that's why tons of stuff gets transferred to those two centres.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-05-30 14:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsVermont slow down.
QUOTE (william_wallace @ May 30 2008, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Maybe Vermont is on a slowdown but realistcly i'm looking at the whole process of a 6-8 months timeframe. Anything before that is a bonus as far as i'm concerned.


Vermont is on a overall slowdown, K-1s, K-3s, CR-1/IR-1s, ROCs, you name it. On our ROC list, we've had one approval since April 26th. James reported earlier this week that it may have something to do with H1B visas, if I remember correctly.

Edited by Cassie, 30 May 2008 - 02:03 PM.

CassieFemaleCanada2008-05-30 14:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhat is Vermont doing
VSC recently went through a massive slow down. It is showing signs of life however -- so don't give up hope!
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-16 00:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMARCH 2008 K1 FILERS AT VERMONT.
Please keep in mind that VSC as a whole has gone through a huge slowdown -- K-1s, K-3s, CR-1/IR-1s, removal of conditions -- you name it -- it's ALL been slow. However, I have seen indications that things are starting to move again, there are some approvals trickling out, so keep on holding onto hope! star_smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-12 13:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportshow long were you together?
met online end of January 2004
met in person April 2004
met again in person in May 2004, during which time we got engaged
filed K-1 June 2004
approved end of October 2004
married November 2004
CassieFemaleCanada2008-07-05 21:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUSCIS calls us liars
You DO know that the 1-800 number is not known as the "Mis-information line" for nothing, right??
CassieFemaleCanada2008-09-25 21:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsHow long usually for the NOA 2 to be release after the NOA 1?
It depends on when you filed and what service centre you filed at. The best anyone can give you is an estimate.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-09-27 22:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsEmbarking on My K-1 Visa Journey
My biggest pieces of advice are:

read the guides, read the USCIS website, read the forms, and get informed about the process
expect this process to go slow, and be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't
keep yourself busy doing other things instead of constantly obsessing about the visa process, or you will drive yourself crazy

Best wishes to you!
CassieFemaleCanada2008-10-11 21:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsVermont Service Center
QUOTE (AlGosia @ Nov 6 2008, 10:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hi everyone! we're new here and trying to complete I-129F. Can u pls write me correct adress where we're supposed to send it.I mean adress for VSC.
Thanks a lot! Gosia n Alan


it should be on the I-129f form.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-06 09:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC -v- VSC
QUOTE (dagnytaggart @ Jan 17 2009, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (winifredbee @ Jan 17 2009, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (dagnytaggart @ Jan 17 2009, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Cham @ Jan 17 2009, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
when i first started our k1 visa in july Vermont was wayyyyyyyy faster.
It goes that way many times..sometimes VCS is faster one month then CSC is faster...all luck of the draw mate.


I know I know but I miss my fiancée. I just got back from seeing him and it has made the waiting worse. Two weeks was not enough time with him. Ohh well I hope the times improve soon there are so many August filers to go through yet.

Just waiting........... sigh blink.gif



I just checked the Timeline Stats http://www.visajourn...l...=2&sortby=2

If you compare VSC to CSC...you will see that VSC has almost 3 times as many applications to work on than CSC. In October VSC has 87 and CSC has 37. This is according to what is recorded here on VJ.
This may be the reason for delay.

Blah!! dead.gif I am just hoping for the best.


Ohh I know that VSC has more applications so I know the wait time will be longer than CSC that's not what is frustrating me. What really gets me is that CSC has processed more applications (50 or so) in the past week than VSC (20). Maybe VSC is just taking the whole month of January off and things will speed up in a couple of weeks. Trying to stay positive about this because from what I understand once we get the NOA2 things move much faster.


OR.........

VSC has actually processed 50 applications too but only 20 of them are recorded on VJ........

Just a word of advice from an old-timer -- a watched VJ timeline never moves..... and comparing one service centre to the other is only gonna drive you crazy!
CassieFemaleCanada2009-01-19 00:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaVisa and Package in Hand
Fantastic!! Congratulations! :)
CassieFemaleCanada2006-03-15 18:10:00
Middle East and North AfricaCase denied
Congratulations to you both, and safe travels back to the US! (F)


Awesome news Kelly. But please remember, some of us are old enough to have conditions that could let us have heart attacks when we see news like you put on the title. It was the first thing I saw when I logged on and it freaked me out.


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
CassieFemaleCanada2006-03-22 02:22:00
Middle East and North AfricaTips and Techniques for Handling "The Wait"
I worked, a LOT.

Spent lots of time with my family.

Took lots of walks at my favourite place (the beach).

Planned my wedding

Talked on the phone with J every day.

Packed up all the stuff I planned on taking with me to the US, and sold or gave away the rest.


You'd be surprised how quick the times flies when you divert yourself away from the visa process. :)
CassieFemaleCanada2006-04-13 11:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaInterviews
I am sorry about your wait, and hope this situation is cleared up soon.
CassieFemaleCanada2006-03-14 19:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaDid you change your name when you got married?

I didn't change my last name.

There is a hadith that states that on the day of Judgment, we will be called by our father's names. Thus, in Egypt, kids are named (first name) (father's name) (grandfather's name) (great father's name) (family name). A wife doesn't change her name upon marriage, because she has her father's names.


very interesting! thanks for posting that. :)




I'm just wondering how many of you changed your last name (obviously, that is, if you are a woman, which most of us are!) From what Wadi told me, it is not common practice in Morocco - is that true? I didn't change my name.



Hi there, it's not common at any muslim country. The wife normally keeps her family name. But here in america I assume this is where you will reside its' common here to take our husbands name. Actually, I married in Morocco but for better indications show you are truly serious of your relationship via the paperwork I would change it to your husbands name. My husband agreed as well.

Just my input.


Hmm. I hadn't thought of that. I think the tradition is becoming less common even here in America. Hopefully my not taking my husband's name wouldn't be frowned upon.


Nah, there are lots of women who don't assume their husband's last name for various reasons. It's becoming more and more typical. :)
CassieFemaleCanada2006-04-27 13:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaCongrats Shon
How did I miss the original thread?

In honour of Shon, I say a big fat DAYUM!!!! ;)


many many congratulations!!! :thumbs: :dance:
CassieFemaleCanada2006-05-03 20:26:00
Middle East and North AfricaFirst attempt at a Poll
We know each other's passwords -- not because we HAVE to know (trust issues, etc) but because we just do. That, and if by chance something would happen to either one of us, we'd have access to important stuff.
CassieFemaleCanada2006-10-13 20:59:00
Middle East and North AfricaHAPPY SATURDAY!!!
--buying paint to change the colour of the trim on the outside of the house
--getting laundry done and hubby packed for his business trip next Monday
--posting on VJ :whistle:
CassieFemaleCanada2006-04-22 13:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow old were you
32.00
CassieFemaleCanada2006-11-01 21:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat Planet Are You From?
Another member from Saturn :)
CassieFemaleCanada2006-11-11 22:17:00
Middle East and North AfricaTattoos and piercings
This has been fascinating to read about, I never knew about the tradition of facial tattoos in the Middle East --thank for talking about this! :yes:
CassieFemaleCanada2006-11-19 16:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaInternational travel on a Green Card
In my experience travelling, my tickets have been in my maiden name to match my passport, and I carried a certified copy of my marriage lisence/certificate in case there were any questions. Since airport security checks your passport against your tickets before letting you proceed through security, it made things easier. When I go through US Customs upon re-entry to the US, the officers only checked my green card, they didn't need to see my passport or marriage certificate, even though I offered to show them.

You can take my experience for what it's worth, seeing as I have not travelled to the Middle East this way.
CassieFemaleCanada2006-11-23 10:49:00
Middle East and North Africathursday thread
all I know, is that it's 1:28 central time and I am sitting home toasty warm, getting ready to wrap some Christmas presents to send home in Canada instead of work.

thanks freak major winter storm in Tulsa! :thumbs:
CassieFemaleCanada2006-11-30 14:30:00
Middle East and North AfricaSaturday!
slowly recuperating from the gall bladder surgery on wednesday, the pain is lessening, thank goodness!
CassieFemaleCanada2007-03-03 12:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Sunday!

4) cleaned oven (ok it's self cleaning but I think I deserve credit for pushin' the buttons



:lol: :lol: :lol: dang straight it counts!!!!!! :thumbs:
CassieFemaleCanada2007-03-04 17:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaI wanted to share something nice my husband said last night
I got spoiled right and proper yesterday for my birthday, he did a good job blush.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2007-10-24 20:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhy you got Married/engaged to your spouse/fiance?!!!
QUOTE (Nessa @ Oct 30 2007, 12:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
1 - I fell in love with someone who can put up with my weirdness wacko.gif and love me for who I am
2 - no regrets.



me too! good.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2007-10-30 11:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaThe importance of indexing and exhibits in Mena petitions
QUOTE (honeyblonde @ May 16 2008, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Actually USCIS has a guide on preparing packages and it says to use the ACCO fasteners. It also says to use bottom-tabs on your package and to do a cover letter. I did that the first time with our I129F and we got approved really fast (about 5 months from mailing date until his arrival). I did it this time too so we'll see if it helps any. It also says to put labels everywhere saying who it's for and what you're filing and stuff like that. I found it very helpful.<a href="http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ff053d146a7ee010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD" target="_blank">
</a>
http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD



we paper-clipped everything together in the I-129f and got approved in two months. Whether or not you use acco fasteners had no bearing on how quickly you get adjudicated.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-05-16 17:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaThe importance of indexing and exhibits in Mena petitions
QUOTE (wahrania @ May 15 2008, 07:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (?JP? @ May 15 2008, 08:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ive never heard of a petition being denied because of the way it was assembled.

I havent either. But I think a well assembled petition will help a co understand and see the proofs as he or she is flipping through the petition that they receive


I have used binder clips the whole process and haven't had troubles yet.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-05-16 00:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaMy fiance got here! Do we need to marry b4 EAD?
Yes, you have to be married before applying for the EAD.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-02 23:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaDr Phil
I don't mind Dr. Phil, but the way things were portrayed during those two shows did not set well with me. Let's tell it like it is: it's a young girl saying "screw you" to her family and falling in love (which was debatable in my eyes whether or not she was, but I digress) with someone her family didn't like who happened to be Middle Eastern and who she happened to find on the internet. It didn't help that the boy wonder acted like a jerk, but don't all guys that age pull that kind of #######?
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-16 17:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaDr Phil
QUOTE (sarahaziz @ Jun 16 2008, 04:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Has anybody else seen that episode on Dr. Phil about the girl who met an Arab online through Myspace and left her family to be with him?


yes
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-16 16:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaThe moan and groan thread
I am doing Weight Watchers, and there's an Italian Cream Cake sitting in our kitchen at work.... I swear I can smell it from my desk. :ph34r:

Edited by Cassie, 19 January 2007 - 01:55 PM.

CassieFemaleCanada2007-01-19 13:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaI lost my husband today
Sorry to hear this news. Our prayers are with you and your family. rose.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-07-27 22:59:00
Middle East and North AfricaToday we lost a MENA jewel
This is very very sad news sad.gif My thoughts are with her family. And hugs to you, Jackie, it is obvious how much she means to you.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-06-18 00:12:00