Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Moving...	QUOTE (Mononoke28 @ Sep 23 2008, 06:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You and your husband have to report a change of address within 30 days of moving. He will have to file an AR-11 and you will have to file an I-865. Diana Is that true for as long as we live in the country, even without any applications pending? For example, I understand that while we have applications pending, we have to notify USCIS of address changes, but what about when we don't, such as after we have the 10 year card?	M.	Female	England	2008-09-23 19:51:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Moving...	Hi all, long time no hear from! All is going well with the hubby and me, and we're getting ready to file to lift conditions (the soonest we can file is October 29, 2008, but we're getting prepared early!) and now, it seems, we may be getting ready to move to a new apartment! We're trying to move before we have to file to remove conditions, so we won't have to do a change of address in the middle of our processing, but I have a couple of concerns mostly centered around this one question: Do we have to notify USCIS of my husband's change in address *before* we file? I'm asking because 1. a couple months ago, there was an article in the NYTimes about people being denied citizenship and deported, and one person claimed his denial was because he'd failed to update his address with USCIS. I didn't think too much of that until I started looking at the I-751 and noticed a check box at question number 9: "9. Have you resided at any other address since you became a permanent resident? (If yes, attach a list of all addresses and dates.)" It's in that section of check boxes where one clearly doesn't want to check any "yes" boxes (such as "have you ever been arrested" and "are you married to a different spouse than the one you filed your PR application with") and I'm VERY concerned. I want to minimize any problems or potential hiccups, as every step of this process we've done totally above the board. No short cuts or anything! I really don't want to find out, either through a denied petition to remove conditions or a denied citizenship application next year, that my husband's in trouble because we didn't update our address with USCIS when we moved before filing the papers. Similarly, I don't want USCIS to have any more information than they need! Help?	M.	Female	England	2008-09-23 17:15:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Now or Later re: moving & CoA	My husband and I are moving into a new apt. on 11/28 (the lease begins 12/1, but the landlord is going to hand over the keys on Black Friday and said we could start moving furniture, etc. then). His GC expires January 29, 2009. I've heard some horror stories about mail going to the old address after filing out the CoA forms, which in some cases has lead to missed interviews, denials, etc. So, my (I guess kinda dumb) question is, should we send out the packet ASAP or should fill out and send in the CoA forms now and then wait until a few days before we move to send out the petition to remove conditions? OR should we send the petition now and do a CoA in 2 & 1/2 weeks when we've moved in. It's clearly not like we're going to be out of time if we wait, but I know the guides recommend doing it as soon as possible within the 90 day window. Thanks!	M.	Female	England	2008-11-11 17:50:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Do you think this is enough?	QUOTE (Kathryn41 @ Nov 9 2008, 10:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The additional material definitely adds to your evidence. Do you have joint membership cards for anything - Costco? Netflix? something similar? How about a copy of each of your different bank statements showing your individual names and the same mailing addresses so that they show you living together -perhaps 1 from every 6 months for each of you to show you have been at the same address? How about a copy of the change of address form that you may want to file with USPS (if you file one). Have you magazine subscriptions for him delivered to your address or USP packages (maybe from his parents, etc.) addressed to him at your address? Definitely write a cover letter explaining your living circumstances with your parents as well as your reason for not having joint accounts. Definitely include affidavits from friends who verify your marriage. I'm sorry that you are having a tough time with your parents and they won't help you in this matter. Gah, looks like we'll be making an appointment with the bank to combine our accounts. :| Netflix is just in my name. I'm going to put copies of paystubs for the last year to show we live at the same address. We already filed our USPS change of address, and I've got a ton of mail from his parents to me in the packet already -- they send something every Christmas, birthday, and anniversary. And for my Uni graduation last year. And they just sent a card congratulating us on the new apartment. That's all already in there. I'm really, really, really trying to avoid the affidavit route. We're not keep to ourself types by any stretch, but we're not the type that's close to one or two friends either. We have a large circle of acquaintances we go to parties and events with, but no one that I think either of us would feel comfortable asking for an affidavit from. I mean, we will if we have to, but we're not tight with people like that. We're more "life of the party" types if that makes sense. It's ashame that so many of the things we do together -- concerts, parties, etc. -- don't have our names on the tickets. I could do photo copies of all the tickets, in pairs, but I doubt that'd help. Also, I'm printing out our health insurance info re: paid claims, since all our bills show up on the one account. Edited by M., 09 November 2008 - 10:23 PM.	M.	Female	England	2008-11-09 22:21:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Do you think this is enough?	In response to a couple of replies, getting my parents to do a letter is a no go. We don't get on. At all. That's why we're moving in the middle of filing to remove conditions -- ideally, we'd stay here till it was approved so that nothing got lost, went to the wrong mailing address, etc. but that's just not possible. All of our insurance is through my work, so I don't have proof of payments. Here IS what I've been able to additionally dig up, however: More vacation itineraries, photos, etc. Rental applications we put in at a few different places. Receipt (with both our names on) for various activities through my Alumni Association (with photos) Beneficiary declaration page for my life insurance (paid through work) Beneficiary declaration page for DH's life insurance (paid through work) Pension beneficiary dec sheet (mine) Pension beneficiary dec sheet (DH's) Phone plan info showing whose # is whose (so now I can include all two years of bills, once I establish which line is whose) Lease for apt we're moving into 12/1/08 401k beneficiary dec sheet (mine) 401k beneficiary dec sheet (DH's) Open Enrollment 2009 health & dental insurance forms (shows we're renewing our joint policy) Plus all the things listed in the original post. What else can you think of???????? QUOTE (Andersen @ Nov 9 2008, 09:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ok, your husband doesn't have a Driver's License. Does he have a State ID? It has all the information the DL has except you can't use it to drive. He can apply for one at the DMV. Yes, he has a state ID. Good idea! QUOTE (*Marilyn* @ Nov 9 2008, 09:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I would include the insurance polices.... I don't think it matters if you send the same evidence you sent with AOS... also if you have any bills, memberships etc just in your name and some just in your husband's name I would include those too as they show the same address... How about pay stubs? Like I said above, we don't really do debt.	M.	Female	England	2008-11-09 22:04:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Do you think this is enough?	QUOTE (Kathryn41 @ Nov 9 2008, 07:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (M. @ Nov 9 2008, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've never had a problem with immigration/RFE's so far *knock on wood* but I'm very paranoid about having enough information. The packet has about 60 pages of evidence, including: • Copy of green card of my husband, David • Joint tax returns for 2006 & 2007, as well as our joint economic stimulus rebate information • Photographs from 2006 to present (5 pages, two photocopies of photos per page) • Joint cell phone account bill • Joint medical and dental insurance cards • Evidence of trips taken together from 2006-present (four trips, with plane tickets, hotel receipts, etc.) • Cards given to each other from 2007-present (7 total, incl. the card from a bouquet of flowers I received for no reason) • Cards & mail addressed jointly from friends and family (about twelve of these) • Proof of my name change from my maiden name to my married name (I hadn't changed my name when we filed the AOS) Is that enough? We still live with my parents, so we don't pay rent or utilities, though we will be moving on December 1st into our own place. To be honest, it is a little light. What about joint bank accounts? As well, include copies of any joint accounts bills (ie cell phone) that covers the whole length of your marriage from the earliest days to present rather than just one statement. Do you have any medical bills, ie from an annual check up showing that you have also used the joint medical coverage/dental coverage and showing the same address? Driver's licenses or state ID showing the same address? I would also include a letter from your parents stating that you both live with them at such and such address so do not have rent and utility bills in your own name. It adds another level of evidence while addressing the possible 'red flag' of why there are not those particular documents in your package. If you are moving in December to your own place do you have a lease signed by the both of you or an agreement to lease? Include that as well. Good luck. The cell bill is only in my husband's name. What I had, however, is the bill where we renewed our contract -- that had both names on it. We keep our money separate; keeps the fights down. Honestly, we have no joint *bills* that cover the entire length of the marriage. We're debt-free kind of people. We have the deck pages of our insurance policies, but those were included with the AOS package two years ago, and I was under the impression that we shouldn't include anything previously submitted. My husband doesn't have a DL. He never drove in England cause he never really needed too. Public transport is AWESOME there, when the bus shows up of course. Of course, since he doesn't drive, he's not on my insurance either. Oh, and my parents will not be a help -- after living here for 2+ years, the relationship is strained at best. Not that we've wanted to stay here, but the bad blood has kind of been the reason we hurried up with our moving to another home. Lets see, what else do I have...I could do the copy of the lease we've just signed, but the utilities and cable/internet we've just signed up for a) only put one name on the bill and haven't been sent because they haven't been installed/set up yet. Other thoughts???? I mean, I can submit more photos. We've got tons! I can submit pay stubs, bank stmts, etc. that show the same address. Edited by M., 09 November 2008 - 08:21 PM.	M.	Female	England	2008-11-09 20:20:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Do you think this is enough?	I've never had a problem with immigration/RFE's so far *knock on wood* but I'm very paranoid about having enough information. The packet has about 60 pages of evidence, including: • Copy of green card of my husband, David • Joint tax returns for 2006 & 2007, as well as our joint economic stimulus rebate information • Photographs from 2006 to present (5 pages, two photocopies of photos per page) • Joint cell phone account bill • Joint medical and dental insurance cards • Evidence of trips taken together from 2006-present (four trips, with plane tickets, hotel receipts, etc.) • Cards given to each other from 2007-present (7 total, incl. the card from a bouquet of flowers I received for no reason) • Cards & mail addressed jointly from friends and family (about twelve of these) • Proof of my name change from my maiden name to my married name (I hadn't changed my name when we filed the AOS) Is that enough? We still live with my parents, so we don't pay rent or utilities, though we will be moving on December 1st into our own place.	M.	Female	England	2008-11-09 18:01:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	the time to file the I-751 has come...	My husband and I keep our finances separate -- I have debt; he has a clean slate and we want to keep it that way. Also, I was divorced (see also the "I have debt" part) and learned during that process about keeping finances separate. We still sent 200+ pages of evidence to USCIS. 2 years of phone records showing our cell phones on one account + calls going between the phones; 2 years of statements from our separate accounts showing we resided at the same residence (we lived with my family for 18 months); our lease; everything with each other as beneficiary; every card, invitation, or letter ever jointly addressed; tax returns and economic stimulus payment; trip itineraries and photos; paystubs showing him (well, starting this year, me) as the "spouse" on my "employee & spouse" coverage; and LOTS of photos. We also printed out every email and IM conversation we were willing to show to the government, and had records of our text messages printed -- most about mundane stuff like "Oh ######, I forgot to get meat out of the fridge! Can you do that when you get home?" and "Nuala [our cat] did the cutest thing while you were out with your friends this afternoon." as well as emails planning parties, discussing who was going to cover what expenses, grocery shopping lists, debating whether to eat out, etc. I'm hoping *cross fingers* that'd be the best proof of a bonafide relationship short of having USCIS come live with us for 2 years. So far, the application was accepted and we haven't received an RFE yet *crosses fingers and toes* Just some ideas from someone else who doesn't co-mingle finances. Good luck!	M.	Female	England	2009-01-22 21:47:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	How to check case status?	Weird thing, actually -- I went to the site where I used to log in to check the AOS (duh!) and the EAC no. on the biometrics letter doesn't seem to work?	M.	Female	England	2009-01-22 22:25:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	How to check case status?	QUOTE (Haole @ Jan 22 2009, 02:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (donandjacky @ Jan 22 2009, 09:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi guys, I am sorry, if this has been asked before... I tried to look in the FAQ's but haven't found an answer... Can anyone tell me how to look up my case status online. I have the receipt # from my 1 year extention letter...seems to be the right #, it starts with EAC...... The USCIS website keeps returning my request saying my case couldn't be found.... I filed at VSC back in July 08. Thanks, ~Jacqueline The first number you get on the receipt doesn't work for online update. You'll get a different one that will work on the biometrics appointment letter. You should get that within 30 days. If you don't call USCIS and ask for a service request for biometrics appointment! Why they do such a trip is beyond my mental capibilities. My husband just got his biometrics letter. There's an EAC number. What site do we go to in order to track the case online? Sorry, I searched and couldn't find the answer.	M.	Female	England	2009-01-22 21:30:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	felony and immigration case! HELP!	Depending on the state, at 16 he could have gone to juvenile court or had his criminal charge waived down to juvenile court. If so, now that he's over the age of 18, that record should be sealed (ie: not applicable on criminal record searches). Once again, the laws vary by state; I only know what's true in my own state's superior court.	M.	Female	England	2009-01-22 21:35:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	CSC Approval - 39 pages evidence, No RFEs	OMG, that gives me so much hope! Thank you so much for posting that!	M.	Female	England	2009-01-22 21:55:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Mailing I-751 tomorrow	We just two-hole punched a file folder and tacked it down with an ACCO binding. Sent it overnight because we were less than 30 days away from the expiration date and wanted the NOA1 ASAP. (Overnight was $19 flat rate and included tracking, so I liked that a lot.) Received it rather quickly too. *crosses fingers that that is a good sign* Edited by M., 30 January 2009 - 09:36 PM.	M.	Female	England	2009-01-30 21:35:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Help!!!!!!	I'm very sorry to hear that, and like many others, I'd divorce her and not help her lift conditions. It does not sound like she was honest with you about the phone calls, and I am the type of person who would then call the entire validity of the marriage into question over a lie like that. But that's me, and I admittedly do have a short temper.	M.	Female	England	2009-01-30 21:39:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	needing to remove conditional, but seperating from the husband	QUOTE (Eric-Pris @ Feb 9 2009, 11:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You don't want to share your finances with him because he's in debt? Didn't you know this when you married? That's partially your debt now since you're married, or did you only marry him for the benefits? Like a shiny new greencard, and then divorce him right after you remove conditions. It's sickening to know that there are others like you who only plan to stay together until they remove conditions, and then "see you later" to the sucker who fell for these golddiggers. If you had an ounce of honor, you'd go back home. But you've come a long way, you're almost at the finish line, right??? Wow, I don't know which is better -- your stereotyping or your complete ignorance regarding personal finance and credit reporting. There are very solid reasons while couples who are in love also don't comingle assets. I outlined them above.	M.	Female	England	2009-02-10 00:12:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	needing to remove conditional, but seperating from the husband	QUOTE (Haole @ Feb 9 2009, 11:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I guess i come from a different school. To me you and your mate are a team trying to better yourselfs. If one entered the relationship with a debt both peeps work together to pay it off and move on to a better loving life. Sure makes things easier in regards to proving a bona fide marriage. To me it makes for a better relationship also. It may make you *feel* better to merge everything, but for some people, it is fiscally irresponsible to do so. For example, imagine a couple where (for whatever reason) the husband's credit is in the proverbial toilet -- a score of 380 because of bankruptcy and defaulted student loans (which are not dischargable in bankruptcy). He married a girl from another country and brought her to the USA. She has no credit, good or bad. IF they join their finances, she is not legally obligated to any of that prior debt of his (thank goodness!) but her credit score could "piggyback" off of his, ie. be 380 because his is 380. Now, if he was living with his mom, they'll BOTH have to live there for up to 7 years until the credit mess is cleaned off his credit report. On the OTHER hand, if she DOESN'T merge financially with him, she can establish her own credit score independent of his (even though she's married to him). Then, she can apply for apartments in her name only, get a mortgage in her name only, and they can move out his parents' home. Additionally, having assets in your own name is very important if the marriage should break up for any reason (except for spousal abuse, which can pretty much wipe out the entire assets of the abuser.) It is MUCH easier to dissolve a marriage when each party has assets in their own name--and much less expensive--because there is an unbroken chain of ownership. Comingled assets will have to be equitably distributed, a process which is incredibly difficult for a pro se litigant and will incur thousands of dollars in legal fees. In the example, if the couple comingled everything, not only would the wife's credit be totally screwed up until it was cleaned up (something she's not legally responsible to do until she takes on the debt voluntarily) but if they divorced after she comingled assets and liabilities, she'd be responsible for both the assets she acquired and the debts he racked up before she even met him. And once divorced, her credit score would stay ruined until she accrued a long enough credit history to undo his damage. Furthermore, let's say this wonderful but bad-with-cash husband's debt all is because of an ex-wife. If Mr. Wonderful doesn't pay his alimony or child support, the new wife won't see a penny of any jointly-filed tax return...even if he doesn't work a day during the entire year...because his name is on the return. Ditto for tax return interception filed by the student loan company. Her money, gone, because it made her feel warm and fuzzy to comingle assets unwisely. Now, if your new spouse has an excellent credit score, than co-mingling is absolutely smart for those people who need to prove to the government that they're a real couple. But for people with terrible credit, child support or alimony payments, massive amounts of debt, or those with incredible amounts of wealth (for whom the word pre-nup should be well known), co-mingling assets can be a very, very, VERY fiscally STUPID move.	M.	Female	England	2009-02-10 00:08:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	needing to remove conditional, but seperating from the husband	As far as I know, if you're concerned about living in the US in the future, you can contact USCIS and explain that you're no longer going to be a green card holder, then return to Canada, no harm no foul. Then, if you meet another guy -- one who's an emotional adult as well as a physical one -- you can apply again without issue. If you want to remain in the US without him, that is a much trickier situation and I'd recommend contacting an immigration attorney, as I do not believe that having a husband who is immature is grounds for a hardship exception to joint filing. But IANAL, so it's best to consult one.	M.	Female	England	2009-01-30 21:44:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	DOH! Need advice on a huge mistake.	I have no idea why people are telling you it's not a big deal and that you don't need a lawyer -- it is a big deal and you do need a lawyer. There was even an NYTimes article last year about PRs being deported for various infractions they did not know were against the law, and one of them was voting as a PR. As others have pointed out, it won't come up at RoC, but it will if she naturalizes. Please keep us up to date about what the lawyer says, and good luck!!!	M.	Female	England	2009-02-13 17:57:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	received I-797C, but can't check status online	Our number still isn't working. Anyone else having any luck?????	M.	Female	England	2009-02-13 18:04:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	received I-797C, but can't check status online	QUOTE (Lexis300 @ Feb 7 2009, 08:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So i did try to input the number on the bio letter and still no luck. It's saying no file yet. Hopefully it will show up soon. Something might be up with the USCIS website. My husband went for his biometrics appointment yesterday, and today we still cannot check his case online. It still says that the case number is not found.	M.	Female	England	2009-02-07 21:24:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	How to check status online on ROC!	You have to wait for the biometrics letter in order to check your status for RoC online. This thread here tells you where to go on the USCIS page to check your status -- if your number works at all. Most people on that thread have received their number, but it has not worked in the site.	M.	Female	England	2009-02-15 15:33:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Cheating - Any Effect on Citizenship?	QUOTE (Melrose Plant @ Feb 15 2009, 09:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Contrary to what some of the above posters intimated, "family court," which in most states is just regular old state district court, doesn't care about cheating either. Even the few remaining states that still have "grounds" really don't wan't to get involved. Why would they? It's a court of law, not Maury Povich. That goes double for USCIS, which doesn't deal in family law. Cheating certainly isn't guaranteed to affect the outcome one way or the other. Wait, what state's family court do you practice in? In mine, adultery is not only a cause of action that must be proved in court if one is to use it as a grounds for divorce, but can have ramifications in the divorce proceedings if it's an alimony case. The Jim McGreevey case is an example of this, but I've seen worse.	M.	Female	England	2009-02-15 15:29:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	At last!!	CONGRATS!!!!	M.	Female	England	2009-02-07 19:05:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Stick a fork in us, we're done!	David received his letter today stating the removal of conditions has been approved! W00t! Now, we're done...until January, when he applies for citizenship!	M.	Female	England	2009-06-05 16:32:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	VSC I-1751 Status List	Seems silly to transfer the old cases, since the transfer process could delay the cases even further. I mean, I imagine a lot of people who've been waiting a long time would not be happy if newer cases were transferred instead of theirs, but it just seems like it could turn a 1 year wait into a 2 year wait, where as sending someone from the back of one queue to the back of another would be a bit more even. But that's just me. And I could be wrong.	M.	Female	England	2009-01-30 21:31:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	VSC I-1751 Status List	Can you add me, please? Also, are they transferring to CSC now because VSC is taking so funkin' long?	M.	Female	England	2009-01-30 21:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Affidavit of Support	My understanding is that you need one I-864 for you and one I-864A from your father.	M.	Female	England	2006-09-02 14:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Atlanta Airport	I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this topic, but I know there's been some complaints in this forum recently of fiances with K1 visas being hasselled at Atlanta, detained for long periods of time, or even deported. I happened to see this and thought it was relevant: "Marshals: Innocent People Placed On 'Watch List' To Meet Quota" http://www.thedenver...707/detail.html "Innocent passengers are being entered into an international intelligence database as suspicious persons, acting in a suspicious manner on an aircraft ... and they did nothing wrong," said one federal air marshal.... What kind of impact would it have for a flying individual to be named in an SDR(Surveillance Detection Report)? "That could have serious impact ... They could be placed on a watch list. They could wind up on databases that identify them as potential terrorists or a threat to an aircraft. It could be very serious," said Don Strange, a former agent in charge of air marshals in Atlanta. He lost his job attempting to change policies inside the agency.	M.	Female	England	2006-07-25 11:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Is it possible to get approved in one week?	That beats seeing a client seriously looking at me in the law firm and say the reason she was filing for divorce is that she caught her husband with a goat, and when she told him either me or the goat the guy chose the goat. Those are the sort of divorce complaints I love to read. One we got recently had 24 counts of extreme cruelty, including but not limited to: 1.) His wife wore unattractive clothing and cut her hair in unflattering styles. 2.) When she woke him up in the middle of the night (by getting naked and climbing on top of him) to have sex with him, he refused, so she called him gay. 3.) After said night, she insisted on calling him by his mother's name. 4.) She saw some dandruff on his scalp one night and helped him pick it off with a screwdriver. 5.) She "brainwashed" their teenage children to eat all "his" food, even the things he clearly marks as "his", to borrow the car without asking, and to take all his money and make noise at all hours of the night, because she wants "revenge". 6.) She told the neighbors, his co-workers, and even their children, that he is "tiny" (if you know what I mean) -- and that even now, they all still call him names because of it. (Edited because I forgot one of the funnier ones.) Edited by redtapeknot, 13 August 2006 - 10:09 PM.	M.	Female	England	2006-08-13 22:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Is it possible to get approved in one week?	Probably a Troll, but just wanted to add: My job is processing divorces for the state Superior Court. At least once a week, if not more often, someone comes to the court house and says, "Yeh, I'm getting married next week, so can I get a divorce sometime this week? Today's Monday, and I have to talk to the caterer on Tuesday, but Wednesday would be perfect!" Then, when we tell them it's about a 90 day average wait for uncontested, no property divorces, they try to strangle us. And also from real life: "I just went to City Hall and they said I can't get married tomorrow because I'm still married to my ex-husband. But I FILED for DIVORCE TWO DAYS AGO!" that's outta control... who's the biggest dingbat? the one remarrying? or the one they are getting married to? can we say REBOUND??? Usually, it's something along the lines of: "We split up, omg! like! a million years ago! but I didn't get a divorce because it costs $250 to file and I don't think I should have to spend money to get away from my ABUSIVE HUSBAND!" "You were abused?" "Well, he wouldn't let me watch Desperate Housewives if there was a football game on!" or "I don't want to spend $250 for a piece of paper. It's not like it's important." or, here's an actual quote: "I didn't realize you have to, you know, go to *court* to get divorced." But of course, when they find out exactly how important that "piece of paper" is, then we have to drop everything and process it all THAT DAY because it's "an emergency" and they do write 3 page letters telling us what good people they are and how their fiance is the "best, most smartest woman in the world and deserves to get married at the end of the month. Please don't punish her for my future ex-wife's stupidity because she was too stupid to get a divorce like she said." And I usually want to write back and say, "Yes, your ex is stupid for not divorcing your sorry ###, and if your fiance really is the best, 'most smartest' woman in the world, she wouldn't be marrying your sorry ###." Another courthouse in the state processes passport applications as well, and their reception window has the following sign on it: "Poor planning on YOUR part does NOT constitute an emergency on OURS."	M.	Female	England	2006-08-13 21:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Is it possible to get approved in one week?	Probably a Troll, but just wanted to add: My job is processing divorces for the state Superior Court. At least once a week, if not more often, someone comes to the court house and says, "Yeh, I'm getting married next week, so can I get a divorce sometime this week? Today's Monday, and I have to talk to the caterer on Tuesday, but Wednesday would be perfect!" Then, when we tell them it's about a 90 day average wait for uncontested, no property divorces, they try to strangle us. And also from real life: "I just went to City Hall and they said I can't get married tomorrow because I'm still married to my ex-husband. But I FILED for DIVORCE TWO DAYS AGO!"	M.	Female	England	2006-08-13 20:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Immigration lawyer vs. Doing it yourself	We did it ourselves and beat the average time for petitions for UK to US K-1s, and it's a really straightforward process when you pay attention to the information that's available. I'd say, unless you have some complications (criminal record, overstayed visa, etc.) do it yourself and save the money for your wedding.	M.	Female	England	2006-07-22 21:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Formal call for immigration reform...	As a state-level gov. worker who deals with litigants on a daily basis, I can tell you -- without going into great detail -- that things are not as easy as a lot of very frustrated, tired, and lonely VJers believe. As already stated, the legislative branch makes up laws, the executive signs it and makes it law, and then we poor saps have to change what we're doing to follow up. And when you're dealing with the volume of people that the government does, it gets overwhelming. More over, what goes on behind the scenes is usually a lot more involved than anyone realizes, with a lot of processes and rules that have to be followed and adjudicated by mere mortals who are capable of making mistakes, who get tired, who are human. There are training issues -- sure, raise the prices, higher 100s of new workers to deal with IMBRA implimentation, but who's going to train them all? Trial By Fire is how mistakes get made in the first place -- and how I imagine a lot of what's happening now was caused initially. Example: my first week on the job, I processed a default petition that wasn't technically correct -- it involved service of a defendant that lived overseas, and because of international treates and accords that I knew nothing about, this person, who's incorrect filing was caught in June, still hasn't had his case brought before a judge, while someone who filed a default in June probably was heard in August because there's a) was less complecated and B) wasn't messed up and pulled right before it was scheduled for a hearing by the head of the division because of a mistake a wet-behind-the-ears grunt made two months prior. Sucks for them, of course, and we wrote a letter ASAP explaining the situation, proper filing requirements, to the best of our ability, with a short apology. Now, this person probably hates my guts. He doesn't know it was my first week, that I was thrown into a job I didn't understand because we were backlogged from a massive amount of the same kind of petitions and the people upstairs were yelling at us to get the job done! He just knows that other people are getting in and out of court faster than him, and trust me, he complains. Vocally and daily. He doesn't want to hear that I wasn't trained, that a simple mistake and letting a paper go without sending out the state-equivilant of an RFE means he can't go to court, that by being lenient I've cost him more time. He doesn't want to hear that my boss did the right thing by pulling the case off the docket because, had it gone to a judge, it'd have been thrown out of court and he'd have to pay another filing fee (a few hundred dollars) and start all over again at square one. He doesn't care because this is his life. Unfortunately, it is impossible for any government to be on a name-to-face, face-to-case basis with every person it interacts with. It's just impossible, and so we are assigned numbers and case workers/government drones who, I assure you, are not incompetent jerks who sit around with their coffee on your papers day dreaming about screwing you over while playing solitare (okay, maybe IT is...j/k). Somedays our computers go down. Somedays there are bomb threats and security alerts because of jerks who don't like a judge's decision and threaten the building/workers, so we're all sent home while they do thorough checks and body searches. Some days, the workers are sent home because jerks in the legislature don't understand that fiscal solvency and a 1% tax increase is much more important than lowering taxes for the rich during an election year, and we don't get to work for a week. And then what happens? We wait, and you wait. And you wait. We all wish we had a perfect system. We all wish we could go into work, do our jobs, and make litigants (or "customers" as they're beginning to be called) happy. Hell, in this state, the workers being hired are required to have customer service backgrounds and go to a week of training where we learn pro-customer lessons like "Give them the pickle" -- a long story, but if you've had this seminar, you know what I'm talking about -- and about accountability. Because, you see, at the end of the day, government workers *Are* accountable, believe it or not. If I fail, I'm reported to my boss. If she lets me fail, she's reported to her boss, etc. Where I work, we have divisions and the leaders of those divisions are held responsible to the head of the court, who's reponsible to a judge, who's reponsible to the AOC who's reponsible to the supreme court of the state, etc. There are ethics committees and customer service departments you can go to, people you can complain to. For example, if your case isn't moving, ask to speak to a supervisor. If you get no response there, go over their head. Keep going up the ladder. Senators and congressmen are your friends in these cases. The thing is, you are not helpless, you can complain -- but only if you have a legitimate complaint, and usually "I want it NOW!" Veruca Salt-style won't help very much, because guess what, EVERYONE wants it NOW! The internet, along with the microwave and other nice gadgets, have led people to believe that almost anything can be gained instantaneously, and IRL, this just isn't so. Sometimes, things don't make sense, especially long delays when you are frustrated and angry, but trust me, at least where I work there is an internal logic to procedures that makes little sense from the outside, but once you understand everything that goes into it, it starts to make sense. I know, I once filed a default petition in the very court I now work for. It took ages to go through, and I get RFEs, and I hated every minute of it. It MADE NO SENSE! But now I work there, I understand exactly why things happen -- trust me, there's reason, the inmates are not running the asylum (well, other than in Washington DC ), and we are actually putting effort in to genuinely try! And now I will be banned from the K1 community forever, for pissing people off, and that's fine. I just wanted to speak out for the workers who are trying hard to get things done, who don't want to screw up. I'm not saying that screw ups don't happen. I'm not saying it's not frustrating as hell. I'm just saying that it does happen, it's not because we don't like you or are stupid/lazy/mean. We're only as good as the money we're paid (f(_)ck all) the training we're given (even less), and the support we have from customers, which is even less than that. Sure, there are ridiculous delays, things get lost, there are things that don't make sense, but trust me, it's not just you. After all, as the judge I clerk for always quotes, "I'm from the government. I'm here to help."	M.	Female	England	2006-08-27 16:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	When submitting copies of plane/bus tickets	I'd already pased mine into a scrapbook, so I just sent photocopies of the scrapbook pages and **that** was accepted, so I think yours will be fine!	M.	Female	England	2006-10-16 17:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Plane tickets required at interview?	I concur with the other replies, but want to add that David *did* have his ticket in hand at the interview -- we were so desperate to be together again that we booked a flight for a week after his interview was scheduled. Of course, we broke all the rules and had also planned a wedding/elopement for a very specific date before he even had the interview date set, but in the end everything went like clockwork. (I should note that we only booked the chapel, dinner, hotel, and photographer we did because they offered refundable deposits; the only non-refundable things that could have been screwed up by USCIS were his ticket to the US and our tickets to Vegas. But it all worked out in the end.)	M.	Female	England	2009-02-16 22:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	New 2009 guidlines !!!!!!	Also, I'm confused. (it happens often, I assure you!) If the new federal poverty base for a family of two is $17,900, wouldn't the OP have to make 125% of that amount, which is over $20K? I'm 99% sure that when David came over on his K1, I had to make 125% of the guidelines. Whoa, did I just put too many numbers in one post?	M.	Female	England	2009-02-16 22:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	New 2009 guidlines !!!!!!	QUOTE (GJen @ Feb 15 2009, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Feb 15 2009, 01:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Depends on where you live. Well yeah. But I'm okay with just having the minimum as long as I have him. We can shop clearances and make the dollar store our second home. "And even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with ya honey, And everything will bring a chain of love. And in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes, And tell me everything is gonna be alright. " Where I live, the only two places you can even *live* at the poverty guidelines with a roof over your head that isn't made of cardboard are called Newark and Camden. Pick your poison.	M.	Female	England	2009-02-16 22:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K1 Visa Help Really Needed	QUOTE (tuesdaysgone @ Feb 16 2009, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> here is the information you asked for: I got my visa to the US in Oct 08. I began school 7th Jan, the F1 visa allowed me to come 1 month before school started so I was here on the 12th Dec (most recent date I entered the US) and lived with my fiance from the 12th. We decided to marry within the last few weeks. We wont actually marry until we know for sure it is allowed and my fiance's divorce from a previous marriage has been full processed. The divorce papers have been signed and it is currently being processed. With regards to my fiance's divorce, they separated 14 months ago and have not been living together. I do not need to leave the US anytime soon. "divorce papers have been signed and it is currently being processed" What papers? The complaint? The final judgment of divorce (FJD)? The acknowledgment of service? The property/marital settlement agreement (PSA)? What I'm trying to say (as someone with a bit of knowledge of family court, though IANAL) is that there are A LOT of papers that get signed in a divorce. If the FJD is signed by a JUDGE, you're good to go for a K1 visa and/or get married. If there is no FJD, she could be separated for 14 YEARS with a signed PSA that she's following to the letter, but she's not divorced, and you can't file for the K1 visa if you want to. Hell, I've seen complaints come in, and the plaintiff in the action never follows through and the complaint is summarily dismissed. The look on the defendant's face several years later when s/he comes in for a copy of the divorce decree in order to remarry is one of the most heartbreaking things to witness. No FJD, no divorce, no K1. In fact, I think I saw someone in here recently get denied a K1 because of a lack of FJD at the time the petition was filed--the process simply moved faster than s/he expected and the divorce wasn't finalized by the time the interview rolled around. So, I suppose what I'm saying is that if you want to go the K1 route (and with your timeline, IMHO, I'd go K1 because it's a bit too close to call) you're going to need to wait a bit. But you're in a course in Uni anyway, so it's not like it's an immediate need right this second to start the process.	M.	Female	England	2009-02-16 22:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Changing my name	(Disclaimer: IANAL) I have *no* idea how marriages work in Australia, but in the US you apply for a marriage license before the wedding; at the wedding it's signed by the officiant, the couple, and two witnesses, and then it's a legal marriage (once it's mailed in, natch.) IF it's a similar system in Australia, you won't apply for the marriage license/certificate AT ALL. For the name change, I could be wrong, but I believe that ID in your maiden name will suffice to get a SSN in your married name as long as you bring the marriage certificate (which you have to do as a K-1 holder anyway). Depending on what state you'll reside in, you may or may not need your passport to be in your married name as well for a license to be issued in your married name. Hope that helps!	M.	Female	England	2009-02-16 19:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	hi there everyone	Now Clyn, you need to scuttle your butt back to 4chan or whatever little troll den you crawled out of; we're SOOOO not in need of your services, THANKS!	M.	Female	England	2009-02-16 19:36:00