ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Nope! 10 business days and counting :(

I called DOS again yesterday and they confirmed it was issued on 8/30 but told me to call Montreal .. we all know how that goes :angry:

Edited by BellasCanadian, 13 September 2011 - 08:07 AM.

BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-09-13 08:06:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Still nothing :( .. I'm reading through this thread and am a little confused. If DOS told me that the visa was "issued", does that mean it has been printed? Another woman a few days later said we should not have been given that info and our case was still being processed but it "looks like a good case". What the heck does this mean???

Part 2 of my question: my fiance has a flight booked to NY on Sept. 20th for a wedding we need to attend in Florida that weekend (we booked this back in April). If he doesn't get his passport back by then, is there any way he can enter the US with just his Nexus card or something .. then go back to Toronto to continue to wait for his visa and eventually POE?
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-09-10 19:25:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal

I find it so weird that some people get it within a week, yet there's others stuck in this backlog where it's taking like 2+ weeks to get the passport. It seems like Montreal has no order of sending out passports just like USCIS has no order of approving petitions Posted Image


LOL I never thought about it like that ... but you are right!!! Thanks! :)
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-09-08 19:14:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
I know 2 others who had the interview same day as us ... they had their visa in hand 2 days later! It's making me crazzzzzzy lol
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-09-08 18:33:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
Our interview was on August 29th .. that makes today the 7th business day (didn't count the holiday on Monday).

I will be patient and wait until Monday .. but what if we still haven't gotten a waybill number by then? Do I still just have to wait or can DOS do anything?? What if it got "lost" somewhere? :(
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-09-08 13:45:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionNo biometricals?

Same thing happened to us.  My husband never received the Biometrics appt ....when we called in, we were told they were current and our fee would not be refunded.  

 

Not so happy about that but I guess it could be worse  -_-


BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2014-07-18 09:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsI am a February filer
Hi February filers!

Our NOA1 was Feb. 10 .. and now we are IMPATIENTLY waiting .. for something, anything!

I too am obsessed with checking the USCIS website, especially since I sent them something after we filed the I-129F .. but the date is still the same 2/10/11 :(

What is everyone doing while they wait? Anyone getting other paperwork together yet?

I would love to keep in touch and help each other through this ..

Bella
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-03-24 08:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsBooking Medical for Montreal Interviews

Congratulations to all the couples who got an appointment in Montreal. I would like to know how you're doing booking the medical appointment. Do you plan to have it done in Toronto or Montreal? Do you plan to have it the same time as you go for your interview in Montreal? Does the doctor's office tell you how long you'll need to wait for results, so you know how close to the interview you can book the medical?
Thanks all !


My fiance did his in Toronto about 2 weeks before the interview date. They gave his the results back 2 days later. Visit www.panelphysicians.com for all the info.

I would suggest booking your medical appointment close to your interview date, so you can use it for AOS because it is valid for a year.
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-09-15 08:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan Canadian marry in US before application process?

Don't forget the union that the two of you will feel knowing that you are one soul. Hell nor high water was going to stop my wife and I from marrying. The process can be a bit longer but in the end we believe it will have been worth it. Just an idea...when the "border crossing" happens have the preliminary CR-1 paperwork done. If questioned that does show the border guard your intentions. "Hey, I am going to pick up my certified wedding certificate so I can come back and mail this and get the ball rolling." Just a thought.


I completely agree .. the best things in life are worth fighting for! Great idea on the paperwork too, thanks!
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2010-10-13 08:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan Canadian marry in US before application process?
Thanks for all the info everyone!

I hate the idea of being apart for even longer (we have been long-distance for almost a year now) .. but it seems like the CR-1 saves some extra steps in the whole process and wouldn't require him to be here without a job for several months while waiting for work authorization if we go the K-1 route?
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2010-10-12 12:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan Canadian marry in US before application process?

My wife and I did pretty much the same thing that you have in mind (well, except that we didn't know anything about the immigration requirements). I'm a USC and my wife is a Canadian citizen but she was working in US w/ H1B visa. We got engaged and planned the wedding for over a year (got married in July, 2010, in Southern California). About a couple of months before the wedding, she quit her job and moved back to Canada to finish preparing for the wedding. When she was trying to come back to US for the wedding (just a few days before, no less), she told the CBP officer that (1) she was getting married in US to a USC, (2) she didn't have a job anymore, and (3) she intended to live in US. Three strikes.
But, in the end, the CBP officer took pity on her and let her in for the wedding BUT she had to buy a return ticket and promise/certify that she'll return to Canada after the wedding. She left US after the wedding and we're going through the I-130 and K-3 process right now.

Knowing what I know now, I think you should either (1) get the K-1 visa and get married in US, or (2) get married in Canada and do I-130. That said, I would've done K-1 because being separated after your wedding will be quite difficult (as I am finding out the hard way). Hope it helps.



Is there a specific reason you suggested getting married in Canada instead of US? I heard the wait time to get your marriage certificate is longer there, while in NY you can get it the same day if you get married in a civil court?
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2010-10-12 12:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan Canadian marry in US before application process?
Hi everyone .. I'm new to this site and so happy to have found it! :)

My boyfriend and I are not married yet but are planning to get engaged VERY soon ...

He's from Toronto and I'm a US citizen. Does anyone know if it would it be ok for us to get married while he is in NY visiting .. or will that affect his visa application in a negative way? I think I remember reading something a long time ago about it not being the "real" reason he told border officers he was entering the US for and would be a strike against him?

I'm just trying to figure out if I should go the K-1 or CR-1 route ...

Thanks!
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2010-10-12 11:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow soon after wedding did you file I-130?
Just wondering how fast after your wedding did you file the paperwork .. and if it was immediately, did it cause any issues?

I really want to get all the paperwork completed and ready to go beforehand .. and then mail it all in as soon as I have the marriage certificate in my hand. I'm just afraid it might raise some skepticism in their eyes.

BUT, I do have lots to prove our relationship was strong before the wedding .. and plan on adding him to bank accounts, life insurance, etc. before the wedding anyways .. so maybe that will help us regardless?

thoughts?
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2010-10-20 20:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresneed divorce help!
I figured I needed to wait :( I guess I was just wishing otherwise ... I'm so impatient! LOL

Thanks everyone! :)
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-01-07 16:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresneed divorce help!
So our K-1 packet is almost all set and ready to go. We received a "divorce judgement" from the lawyer today, which is a Court Order stating that "the court decides they should be divorced and it takes effect 31 days from the date of this order" (which was dated Dec 29th. It is signed by the judge/clerk of the court.

Is this enough to send in as proof of divorce??? OR do I have to wait for the actual Divorce Certificate, which won't be for another 3 weeks at least?
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-01-07 16:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresUGH!!! Didn't send original :(
OK, so I am a complete idiot!! Some how, some way .. I didn't send the original G-325A for my fiance with the packet yesterday .. I must have accidentally switched it for the copy I made.

I realized this today when I saw the original still in my file .. and now I am freaking out!

Is it a big deal? What do I do!?!? I haven't even received the email saying they have my packet and are forwarding it from the Dallas lockbox since I literally just sent it yesterday ..

UGHHHHHHH!!!! :(
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-02-03 21:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresmoving?
OOh that website is very helpful too .. thanks all!! :)
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-04-28 21:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresmoving?
Sorry, I guess I should have said he was the Canadian immigrant fiance in this process.
So you are saying he should call USCIS himself now, before the application goes any further?
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-04-28 21:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresmoving?
So we have our K-1 visa currently in process in Vermont and are about 2-3 months (hopefully less!) away from NOA2. Now my fiance just moved .. and we are afraid his mail will not be forwarded to his new home correctly. So how do I go about notifying USCIS so that any communication is sent to his new address?
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-04-28 21:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresX-rays at POE?
The "Welcome to the US" letter we received at the interview said they were not needed for POE and to just keep them for future follow-up.
BellasCanadianFemaleCanada2011-09-01 08:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsEarliest Date to Call About Notice of Action (NOA) 2 Status
Community,

I filed the K-1 petition (form I129-f) for my fiancée on 27 June 2012, which is over five months ago. My service center is Vermont (VSC). According to the Processing Times section of USCIS's My Case Status web site (https://egov.uscis.g...rd/ProcTimes.do), Vermont is taking 5.6 months to process K-1 petitions, while the national goal is 5.0 months. May I call customer service now, or do I need to wait until 5.6 months have passed? (This would put the wait time on the K-1 to just near Christmas.)

Thanks,
Roy
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2012-12-03 23:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNotice of Action 2 (NOA2) Received After 170 Days
Community,

This afternoon, USCIS---via the Vermont Service Center (VSC)---notified me in a text message that my and my partner's Notice of Action 2, or NOA2, was approved. I'd update my timeline, but months ago this web site introduced a glitch into my timeline that wouldn't allow me to update. Multiple requests to an administrator for help with my timeline have gone unanswered. So, in an effort to aid those who are keeping track of dates, I'm providing my own statistics below:

  • Service Center: Vermont
  • K-1 petition mailed via USPS certified mail: 25 June 2012
  • K-1 petition arrived in Lewisville, Texas: 27 June 2012
  • Notification via text message from USCIS that K-1 petition had been received: 29 June 2012
  • Fee of $340 debited from bank account: 2 July 2012
  • Notification that NOA2 had been approved: 13 December 2012
  • Receipt of NOA2: Pending
No Request for Evidence, or RFE, was issued by USCIS between NOA1 and NOA2, and I (the US citizen petitioner) traveled to Melbourne, Australia to visit my Australian fiancée twice in the 170 days between the NOA1 and NOA2. First visit lasted a month between mid-July and mid-August; second visit, ten days during Thanksgiving.
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2012-12-13 23:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsK-1 Visa Petition Approved
Hello all,

On 1 April 2013, the K-1 visa petition for my Australian fiancée was approved. The process took 278 days (9 months, 5 days) from the day USCIS received our petition application on 27 June 2012 until the US Embassy in Australia approved the K-1 visa. I don't have a timeline to update, because somehow my timeline was damaged, and multiple requests to administrators to fix it have gone unanswered.

The entire process—although lengthy—unfolded without incident: no RFEs, no unnecessary delays.

Our approved petition is very likely the result of

1. this forum, which was invaluable at every step in the K-1 petition protocol,
2. Ilona Bray's Fiancé & Marriage Visas (7th Edition), and
3. thorough research.

My fiancée and I believe that others may benefit from our experience. Thus, I will be writing an extensive article about how we prepared the petition for the K-1 dual intent visa. The information will be posted at

http://roy.vanegas.o...ion_experience/

Best wishes to you all, and thank you for all your help.
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2013-04-04 10:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHighlighting Specific Information on Flight Itineraries
Excellent point - we'll scan each page of each of our passports. (Alas, boarding passes have been discarded.)

Thank you.
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2012-05-27 10:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHighlighting Specific Information on Flight Itineraries
Hello,

I just printed out many pages of the multiple itineraries from my and my partner's flights to and from New York. In an effort to make the process easier for the USCIS officials handling my K-1 (form I-129F) visa application, and because there are so many pages, I'm considering highlighting my name, my partner's name, and the dates of travel. Has anyone done this? Should I leave the copies untouched? Is highlighting advisable?

Thanks,
Roy
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2012-05-27 10:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport-style Photo - writing vs label
Hello,

The passport-style photos of my fiancé and I that I am submitting with the application for the K-1 visa petition are supposed to have the name of the people pictured written in "pencil or felt pen" on the back of each photograph. However, I would like to use labels to make sure that nothing gets smudged off in handling. Has anyone done this? Will this generate an RFE (Request for Evidence)?

Thanks,
Roy
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2012-06-09 15:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDallas, Texas PO Box vs Lewisville, Texas Physical Address
Thanks for your responses. It turns out that my mistake wasn't as bad as I thought. USCIS sent me a message this afternoon stating that my application was received and was being forwarded to the Vermont Service Center.
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2012-06-29 17:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDallas, Texas PO Box vs Lewisville, Texas Physical Address
Hi,

Earlier this afternoon, I mailed my and my fiancé's K-1 visa petition application to the Lewisville, Texas address, not the post office (PO) box address in Dallas. I sent it via United States Postal Service, adding the options for Priority Mail, registration, insurance, and delivery confirmation. I chose the Lewisville address over the post office box because the application was being sent via Priority Mail and requiring a signature. Should I have mailed it to the post office box instead?

Thanks,
Roy
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2012-06-25 13:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresForm I-134 (Affidavit of Support), Question 10
Hello,

I'm confused about the "Date Submitted" column to question 10 of form I-134. Is this the date of the Notice of Action 1 (NOA1) or the NOA2?
Roy and JoanneMaleAustralia2013-01-12 10:43:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionColombia Club
Although I have been following this thread for quite a while, I have not yet begun my own process. I am the American Citizen (born in Cali, raised in NY) and my fiance is in Cali. I have been back to Cali many times since we first met in July 2003, thankfully I get a lot of vacation time b/c I'm a teacher, and we definitely have A LOT of evidence proving we are a bona fide couple.

I will be going back to Cali in July and Leo and I will be spending the summer together. We have finally decided to get married and here is my question to you experienced VJ'ers. I'm not sure which visa we should pursue. I have read the comparison info. that the site provides, but I don't know what to do. I know the Fiance visa would get him here sooner, but if we were to marry in Cali and go for the CR-1/then he would not need to go through AOS. For any of you that had to make this decision, is there any advice you can provide?

ALSO - MANY CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VISAS RECENTLY!!!
HONEY!FemaleColombia2007-04-10 23:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionColombia Club Part III

Hey there...

The only time you need Apostilles is when you are getting married in Colombia. Nothing in the visa process requires an Apostille.

Neither of us were asked for our DAS migratory letter. We both had them as they changed the requirements and asked for the petitioner to provide a DAS letter. This has since been changed back so for sure you do *not* need to provide one.


Thanks once again OnMyWay,
I already had my previous divorce and present marriage certificate apostilled thinking I needed to. Oh well, no harm done...
I was looking at your timeline, and it seems that everything really went smoothly and in a timely manner. So I'm definitely listening to anything you have to say!

Sandra Lucia.
HONEY!FemaleColombia2012-01-01 23:40:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionColombia Club Part III

I think you mean that you are the petitioner (the USC) and your husband is the beneficiary..

Welcome to VJ and congrats on your marriage :)

To answer your questions: On the G-325a it needs to be the actual signature. When I traveled down to Colombia for the wedding I had it already filled out and she signed it.. For the NVC step there is the DS-230 that also needs a signature (I took the paperwork on the next trip down) and she had signed it in the wrong spot.. I did something I am not overly proud of so that I did not have to wait another three weeks regarding the signature and they never caught it.. made for some sleepless nights though :) Long story short: it needs to be an original signature.

On the translation: I have not seen any templates but that is a good idea. I sent mine (scanned PDF) to be translated which took less than a day and they email a PDF back with the translation. The cost was $25 a page (two pages). I think the name was FOX translation (I have no connection with them).

On taking your daughter: I can't see why they would deny her but someone more knowledgeable should answer this one.


Thank you so much for the response.
It looks like I will have to use Avianca Express or some other similar service to get the signature because I don't plan to return to Cali until February. Thanks for the heads-up though on the DS-230, now I know to be prepared. (and I definitely don't want any sleepless nights!!!) Just to confirm, I don't need the apostille on the Colombian marriage certificate for the initial paperwork, correct? I just want to make sure because after reading many Topics/Posts, I have seen the process change ie-the DAS migratory letter for the petitioner.
Again, thanks for the info.
Anyone else out there have any idea if my daughter would be allowed at the interview in Bogota?
HONEY!FemaleColombia2011-12-30 20:39:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionColombia Club Part III
OOPS Correction: I am the sponsor and my husband is the petitioner.

I have been a long time "lurker" on the "Colombia" Clubs and now I am initiating my CR-1 process.
I have read and re-read A LOT of information and I sincerely hope I am not repeating questions.
I am the USC petitioner in NY and we married in Cali this past Sept. 3 after many years of doing the long
distance thing. But when the time is right, it's right.
My initial million questions are now only half a million. LOL - So as I gather the initial documentation, I see it's
pretty straight-forward, but of course I don't want to make any mistakes and make the process any longer than
absolutely necessary. So here goes...

The G325-A, biographic info. for my husband has to be signed. Does that have to be an original signature? Or can
my husband print out the form, sign it, scan it, and e-mail back to me?
I understand our marriage certificate has to
be translated, is there a template anywhere that could help me do the translation myself?
I thought I had seen something but I spent hours looking for it, but I just can't seem to find it.

My last question for now is one I definitely have not seen addressed here. At the end of the process, I do hope
to be able to go to the interview date in Bogota. My 13 year old daughter assumed she would be going, because
she ALWAYS travels with me to Colombia, but also because she sees Leo as her step father already even though he doesn't live with us yet. She is born in the US, so the question is: Would my daughter be allowed into the US embassy on the date of the interview with my husband and me???

I am grateful to anyone that can take the time to answer. Happy New Year to all VJ'ers!!!

Sandra Lucia


HONEY!FemaleColombia2011-12-30 11:52:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionColombia Club Part III
I have been a long time "lurker" on the "Colombia" Clubs and now I am initiating my CR-1 process.
I have read and re-read A LOT of information and I sincerely hope I am not repeating questions.
I am the USC petitioner in NY and we married in Cali this past Sept. 3 after many years of doing the long
distance thing. But when the time is right, it's right.
My initial million questions are now only half a million. LOL - So as I gather the initial documentation, I see it's
pretty straight-forward, but of course I don't want to make any mistakes and make the process any longer than
absolutely necessary. So here goes...

The G325-A, biographic info. for my husband has to be signed. Does that have to be an original signature? Or can
my husband print out the form, sign it, scan it, and e-mail back to me?
I understand our marriage certificate has to
be translated, is there a template anywhere that could help me do the translation myself?
I thought I had seen something but I spent hours looking for it, but I just can't seem to find it.

My last question for now is one I definitely have not seen addressed here. At the end of the process, I do hope
to be able to go to the interview date in Bogota. My 13 year old daughter assumed she would be going, because
she ALWAYS travels with me to Colombia, but also because she sees Leo as her step father already even though he doesn't live with us yet. She is born in the US, so the question is: Would my daughter be allowed into the US embassy on the date of the interview with my husband and me???

I am grateful to anyone that can take the time to answer. Happy New Year to all VJ'ers!!!

Sandra Lucia
HONEY!FemaleColombia2011-12-30 02:51:00