Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Approved CSC from March !!	Congratulations!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-07-30 10:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	FELONY????	My possibly naive opinion is that unless it's drug related or sex related, it won't matter. This is from the I129F instructions which only care about these type of offenses (this is the IMBRA reference the other poster stated): 7. What Documents Do You Need to Comply With the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act? A. If you have ever been convicted of any of the following crimes, submit certified copies of all court and police records showing the charges and dispositions for every such conviction. This is required even if your records were sealed or otherwise cleared or if anyone, including a judge, law enforcement officer, or attorney, told you that you no longer have a record. The term "domestic violence" includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction. 1. Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, dating violence, elder abuse, and stalking. 2. Homicide, murder, manslaughter, rape, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation, incest, torture, trafficking, peonage, holding hostage, involuntary servitude, slave trade, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful criminal restraint, false imprisonment, or an attempt to commit any of these crimes. 3. Crimes relating to a controlled substance or alcohol on three or more occasions, and	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-08-13 16:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Is USC Petitioner allowed at Interview? Chennai Consulate	Pretty sure that's consulate-specific. The consulate in Moscow does NOT allow the USC into the building at all.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-12-02 16:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	APPROVED!!!!	Many congratulations! Good luck!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-12-02 16:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Big day tomorrow	Just wishing you good luck, and continued success in your journey.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-12-22 16:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Thank you all	I may not have ever participated in any discussions with you here on VJ, but many truly heartfelt congratulations!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-15 07:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Interview and AOS for most recent tax year	Because the tax filing deadline is April 15, I'd hope such a thing wouldn't matter unless the interview is after that, but I really don't know. As we all know, often the government makes little logical sense.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-12-04 16:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	I-864 affidavit of support HELP!	I've always heard that 1 is required, but that having 3 available is advisable as they often wish to see them. As to whether you should file to show that your income is low and doesn't require filing - I have no idea.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-17 10:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Our dramatic experience at US embassy in El Salvador	When the rate of fraud is particularly 'high', I guess they try and scare the truth out of people. Of course, the real scammers wouldn't be shaken up by such antics, and they'd be prepared to deal with them. Unfortunately, the innocents get caught in the cross-fire. It's good that they did see the truth of your relationship! CONGRATS!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-07 14:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	A token of appreciation to YuAndDan	Yep, there are a few posters here on VJ whose input is invaluable - YuAndDan, pushbrk, slim, etc. Thanks guys!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-06-26 16:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Two questions...	I believe at least one of the forms (I129F) asks for the address where the two of you plan to reside, doesn't it? Still being in the middle of the process myself I don't know how sticky the government is on this point. Often, the government is all about dotting the t's and crossing the i's. Kevin	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-08-31 08:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	2 year requirement	QUOTE (lixtifur @ Sep 25 2007, 12:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have met my fiance in April 2006 and have filed the i-129f in July 2007(a little more than 1 year). My question is when they say 2 years, does it mean it has to be atleast 2 years since I met her or does it mean that we must have met anytime within the past two years? Has anyone been approved that have met less than 2 years? Thank you It just means you must have met in person within the past 2 years of filing the petition. At least, that's my understanding!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-09-25 12:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Do I need to Color Copy my etire K1 Petition?	I actually scanned everything in color and printed it on my color printer to keep for my own records (and for the eventual interview).	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-10-30 15:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Sudo K-1 Application	We're still waiting for NOA2, but I printed my entire proof of relationship document on my color inkjet printer, including scans of all the receipts and our the photos of us together. I believe this to be perfectly adequate. Since I didn't include separate photos, I placed a caption under each photo noting the date and place it was taken. I also placed captions under each receipt detailing what it was for.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-04 10:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	How to type Cyrillic in DS-156K pdf?	I use Adobe Acrobat professional, which has a typewriter mode for PDF documents that allows me to type anywhere. I type the Cyrillic into Word or my translation software (I use PROMT) and then copy it and paste it into the PDF using the aforementioned typewriter mode. It all works well for me, anyway.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-06 14:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Together, Alone	Laura has some really wise words, and I appreciate them as I'm sure you do, Austin. I was last with my angel on March 15th of this year, and that was 8 long months ago. We chat every day with webcams and voice chat, and nothing can make me smile quicker than seeing her look directly at the camera instead of at my image on her monitor, and hearing her tell me "I love you". And nothing can make me more sad than those days when we don't get to talk as much as we'd like, or a pre-arranged chat time comes and goes and for one reason or another she is unavoidably detained. Having to wait through this interminable visa process is horrific on the best of days, but Laura is right - always remember what it is you have found, stay focused on the future when you will be together FOREVER, and never let your hopes and dreams fade. Being in love and being apart means sacrifice, and it is a sacrifice I think we each make very willingly. It is the price we pay for the happiness of our future. Best of luck always, and remember you are NOT going through this alone! Kevin & Natasha	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-05 15:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Personal check	Not only is it easiest to find out when it's been deposited but the NOA-1 receipt number is stamped on the back of the check too. Of course, mine was so illegible that Natasha and I made a game of seeing who could guess the correct number before I received the NOA1 document in the mail. I was way off, but Natasha got it perfectly!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-06 14:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Are K1/K3 petitions processed by country?	Thanks guys, I appreciate the input!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-08 18:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Are K1/K3 petitions processed by country?	My fiancee is convinced that K1/K3 petitions are processed by the USCIS service centers according the country the beneficiary is from. So all the Russian petitions go into one pile and are processed by adjudicators dedicated to this country (or to a list of countries of which Russia is one), and so on. This method of processing seems a little screwy to me, and it is my opinion that they would be processed 'all together' from a single queue regardless of country. Does anyone know how it actually works, just to satisfy my curiosity?	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-08 17:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE	Thank you so much for the details about your interview. Every consolate is different as is everyone's experience at the interview, but it is so good to read all the little quirky details. Good luck on your new life together!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-08 15:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	visa interview experienced	Thanks for the story of your interview experience, and good luck on your new life together.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-08 15:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Another approval	Many happy congratulations!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-11 13:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Congratulations Kevin & Natalia!!!	QUOTE (NavarreMan @ Nov 20 2007, 09:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Congratulations guys, I just got the word from Tanya (she is my insider!!!) God speed to the 2 of you. Maybe we're next? Bill & Tanya Thanks guys (and everyone offering their congratulations here). I think with your recent touch your NOA2 will come very quickly too. It seems as if the CSC is trying to close out as many petitions as they can before the holiday, perhaps? So many approvals and touches this week!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-20 13:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	CSC processing dates--when?	QUOTE (VictoriaUSA @ Nov 29 2007, 09:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have a number of questions regarding our K1 Visa filed in California on July 27, 2007: Our filing date is July 27, 2007. It has been 4 months now and neither he nor I have received a letter. I get the same case status message online--our case is pending, they will contact us. I know I filed one form wrong--the one where they require four 325G forms--I only gave one but haven't heard anything negative so far. Other people on this site told me they made that mistake and were not required to give additional forms so I'm hoping they would have told me if I needed to correct the documentation by now, right??? 1. When I check the processing time lines, it says (as of 11/15) that the CSC is processing cases now from a filing date of April 29, 2007. My big question is: does this mean the process is now--if I'm counting right--about a seven month wait from start to finish, OR does it mean that we must wait 7 months BEFORE our package is sent to his country (and therefore we will be looking at atleast about a year)? 2. My fiance keeps asking people if it would have been faster if we'd married in Morocco and filed for the K3 marriage visa. This web site tells me no, or in fact that sometimes the marriage timeline is longer than fiance timeline. Or the USICS reports about 6 months for the K3 visa versus 7 for the K1 visa. And then some legal sites say it's much quicker to have your loved one here via the marriage visa, not the fiance visa. It's a source of stress because I'm not sure if we chose the wrong way to go. I was worried about not having time enough there to obtain the licensce because I was divorced and it required so much paperwork. 3. We are now waiting 4 months to hear anything. Other sources say not to bother with a lawyer but go directly to Congressman via web site form. Is it too early to request intervention from a congressman? 4. Finally, I know that this will involve a lot of luck for us as I have a lot of "red flags" (marriage to another foreigner years back who got his papers with me, a second annulled marriage, plus some mo' simple stuff--nothing criminal and nothing requiring legal intervention). On the other hand, we have a lot of evidence of the legitimacy of our relationship such as meeting on vacation, traveling together a total for a total of 4 trips in the last 9 months together, an engagement ceremony attended by 150 of his family members and a few friends of my own in his country last month, and I will be living there for 5 weeks in January. I have read about the difficulties with the Moroccan consulate and the high denial rate. I keep telling my fiance that whatever happens, the visa WILL come through, no matter how much time it takes. I have a job where I've already arranged my schedule around the possibility of having to move there and file residency if we are denied the first time around. My question is: with perseverance, is this a sure thing? Thanks in advance. I'm sure I'll have more questions soon! Does this mean you haven't receiving your NOA1 yet? Has the check been cashed? You won't get an RFE for any missing G325 forms until they get around to looking at your petition. They looked at mine for the first time slightly after 4 months (just a few days). But calling them is never a bad idea, even if you don't learn anything at least you've made the effort.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-11-29 11:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	USCIS Form G-325A	You both do need G325A forms (these are 4 part forms, with duplicate information on each page - use the PDF version that copies the information for you automatically). If you refer to the K1 guide here on VJ, it will list all the forms and information you need to submit with your I129F petition. Good luck! Poke around the site, there's tons of information here on the process and odds are you'll find answers to all your questions. And if not, just continue to ask questions. There are lots of friendly folks here ready and willing to share their advice and experiences.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-12-04 16:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	A Fiance's previous K1 experience	My fiancee also had a prior K-1 with a man that didn't work out and she also left within the 90 day window. She did not receive a SSN, but she was assigned an A-number which I specified on her new K1 visa. Hope that helps!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-12-11 11:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Moscow K1 processing info	Could you fill in your timeline for the benefit of all VJ members? Thanks!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2007-12-20 12:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	DS-156 "Do You Intend To Study" section	Thanks YuAndDan, I appreciate your advice!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-01-15 16:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	DS-156 "Do You Intend To Study" section	The DS-156 instructions say that a separate form must be completed for each accompanying child. On the DS-156 is a section "Do You Intend To Study In The US" and includes the name and address of the school. My question is, for accompanying minor children, does this section need to be completed? I would think this section is only for college and university bound immigrants. Do I need to indicate the elementary school that my soon-to-be-step-daughter will be attending, or may I simply state "N/A"? Thanks in advance!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-01-15 15:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	A few K1 Visa questions	QUOTE (JamesB2008 @ Jan 15 2008, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey! My fiance in the US filed the I29F in the middle of December - we are still waiting to hear anything. We're currently planning a wedding for December. However, I have just a couple of quesitons which I really cannot find answers to... The dates of the visa - does the 90 days start from when the visa is issued or do we at some point get an option to pick a star date? I'm sure I read somewhere that you can get permission to work before the wedding - does anyone have any info on this? Finally, does my fiance in the US have to be earning more than a certain amount of money? I have never heard this before but just read this on a different post. She is a student at the moment and therefore does have a salary. Any responses would be most appreciated! You have 6 months to use the visa. The 90 day clock starts on the date of entry into the USA. The petitioner (USC) must make 125% of the poverty guidelines for the number of people that will be in the household, including the beneficiary and any accompanying children. Hope this answers part of your question. Good luck!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-01-15 15:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	A BIG Concern.	I think the key word is 'relationship'. I think the intent may be to stop abuse by relatives (particularly if the age of consent is 16)	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-01-18 18:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	divorced from first k-1	QUOTE (Kezzie @ Jan 24 2008, 07:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Seattle2Cebu @ Jan 24 2008, 02:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> from what im reading, im obligated to support my first k-1, although I havent heard from her in a year.. how does this affect my current k-1 appliction? my fiance will be going to her interview soon.. am I expected to qualify for three in a household instead of two? or how does this work?? The answer will depend on several things.... is your ex-wife still in the US? Was she approved for a greencard? has she worked in the US? If you filed for AOS for your ex-wife then you are still bound by the Affidavit of Support unless on of the following happens... 1. She leaves the US permenently 2. She earns 40 Social Security Credits (10 Years of working) 3. She becomes a US Citizen 4. She dies. 5. You die.. Divorce does not cancel the Affidavit of Support.... So you may well have to count her in you calculations of Household totals when completing your new Affidavit of Support.... Kez Not to only be saying "me too", but, well, this interpretation is also the way I understand AOS.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-01-24 08:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Sending in I-129F on Monday..last sec advice	QUOTE (Grandoner @ Feb 1 2008, 08:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I joined visajourney thinking I would use it as a supplement to my own research and in conjuction with the use of a lawyer. Here I am now about to submit adn I totally learned everything worth knowing about the process from this site and everyones help here. Oh and no lawyer either! Some things I should mention before the advice comes in. I saw a post just yesterday that some people may have had issues with RFE about fiances birth-certificate if she is applying from a third country not where she was born... I was like "bingo" thats my situation so I am now including a copy of her birth-cert. Thanks for that one. I am not worried about evidence.. we met in one country.. with evidence.. and we have been in her country and the U.S. all with passport stamps, tickets and pictures. My biggest concern is that I am sending the petition from Israel and when everything starts to happen in 5-6 months (hopefully), I will be back in the U.S. I put my addresss as if I was in the U.S now though so that the NOA1 will be sent there. That cool? Now I am seeing just how big this packet gets too... 50 pages! and I have to make 2 more duplicates wow. Great thing that I am in a country that charges 25cents a copy. At this stage the only thing that needs to be translated is her birth-cert and I just want to be clear that she can translate it herself right? Just add the letter that says she is fluent in both languages and that it is an accurate translation. So Any last minute advice I would appreciate Who is at the US address you have listed? If there are any RFEs or other correspondence fromthe USCIS or NVC, they will go to this address. Just something of which to be aware. I thought all translations had to be done by someone 'officially' certified to perform document translations, though this is just my impression and is by no way the final word on the subject. Hopefully other VJ members will chime in on this issue. Welcome, and good luck on your journey!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-01 09:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Us Old Folks	QUOTE (Jeraly @ Jan 14 2008, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Jan 14 2008, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I actually think it's easier for the 'mature' folks to adjust to the 'small' hassles of immigrating. They seem to have a lot less trouble with things a lot of the youngsters get balled up over - like where to get good cheese, or missing TV shows from home. But that IS important!! How will I live without decent cheese?!?!?! QUOTE (MissYoko @ Jan 14 2008, 07:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ps: i try to imagine Jeraly reading my bad english with her UK accent Prolly better than me trying to read it in a French accent It is really interesting reading these stories Being "younger" I don't have the ties I do that "older" people may have - mortgages, children, lifelong careers etc etc, but I definitely think we find it more challenging as we have to deal with so many new life experiences to the extreme that we may never have coped with before: getting married, becoming independent, living away from home, trying to figure out mortgages, bills etc... I think when you get older you become more "steady" for want of a better word. You've had more life experience and understand better what you want out of life Yes, and plus "steady" means our centers of gravity tend to be lower, so we're MUCH harder to tip over.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-01-14 18:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Us Old Folks	Depends on the definition of 'old' or even 'middle-aged'. I'm 46, though my angel is 'only' 31.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-01-14 12:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	How In The World Did It Come To This?	I think that if everyone had to go through what we do, not only would the divorce rate be lower, so would the marriage rate. I think a lot of couples couldn't make it to the end of this process. It's a stressful, difficult thing full of separation and anxiety. It's a little like the story of the guy that was banging his ahead against the wall, over and over. When asked why he did this, he replied "Because it will feel so good when I stop". During the long visa process, we're all banging our head against the wall (ok, maybe the government is banging our heads against the wall), looking forward to the relief we'll feel after it's all finally over.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-05 09:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Question of Evidence	QUOTE (Robyn @ Feb 7 2008, 12:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am curious though. Do they want to see the entire copy of the passport to include blank pages??? I copied the whole thing, blank pages, cover, everything.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-07 14:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Form 1-134	I went with the VJ recommendations, though our interview hasn't happened yet.	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-08 16:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Confused about processing times for I-129F	Laura is spot-on, as usual. Processing times seem to be over their recent spike, and are backing down to their 'normal' processing times. Good luck!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-08 13:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	NOA 2 question	Perfectly understandable. Our interview is February 26, and the NOA2 expires about 2 weeks later! I too was initially worried, until I did some searches here on VJ. Good luck to you!	KGSodie	Male	Russia	2008-02-15 17:08:00