Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Middle East and North Africa	OH MY GOD!!! 8wks, still counting, no case #!	I would advice you to keep calling them atleast every 2days to check on ur case. It's ur right to know where ur case is becuase most of the NO2's within August already have their case numbers, my NO2 was August 22nd and its already at the embassy. so keep calling and am sure you would get some good news soon!	Aybee&Sylvia	Male	Ghana	2013-10-24 09:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	i-130	Hi, I'm filing I-130 for my wife whom I married in 8/27/2011 in Tornoto, ON, Canada. She's currently in US as a visitor. I have three questions: 1. Do I file Adjustment of Status since she's in US as a visitor or does it only apply to the Residents? 2. About the sections 22 on the I-130 form. If I need to do the adjustment of status, then it looks like I have to put Norfolk,VA as I live in central virginia. Or If we need to do the consulate then do I put the Montrel, Canada there since that is the closest US consulate from Toronto? 3. She's here as a visitor but crossed the peace bridge and didn't get anything stamped on her passpord (I-94?). How do I fill out the section 14 of the relative info. Thanks Edited by William S, 24 October 2011 - 02:15 PM.	William S	Male	Canada	2011-10-24 14:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Birth Certificate question: Canadian but born in South Korea	Question on birth certificate:   My wife is currently a Canadian citizen but she was born in South Korea and immigrated to Canada with her family. Due to this, she does not have birth certificate as normal Canadians would have. Does she need to have her family relationship record from South Korea and translated into English? (Its my understanding that South Korea do not issue birth certificate) She left South Korea almost 3 decades ago when she was 5 so I'm not even sure where we can obtain her records from South Korea at this point. Is there other documents (hopefully from Canada) that can be used instead of birth certificate in her case?	William S	Male	Canada	2013-12-30 17:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Studying in the US while waiting for a CR-1?	Okay, good to know.  US universities are off the table until the marriage paperwork is in place.   Presumably we can also just get married in the US right away and file the CR-1 the day after?  The wedding ceremony could, in that case, be postponed until a later date, but the marriage would be legitimate and legal as soon as the paperwork is filed?   Can I still enter and leave the US as a visitor if I have a CR-1 application underway? If you intend to get married in US, you must go thru K1 process. If you come without the K1 visa and get married in US, then you have to go thru the AoS process and not CR-1 process. This will put you back in the grey area....	William S	Male	Canada	2014-01-07 10:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Studying in the US while waiting for a CR-1?	Yes and yes   It seems that border agents are extra careful when it comes to visitor who are already in CR-1 or in any other immigration processing. Technically you can enter US as a visitor for up to 6 months in a given year but I hear that they stop some who doesn't show strong ties to their home country (Canada in your case).   Some sort of paper that shows that you intent to return to Canada after a visit (mortgage/rent paper, job/employee verification, return ticket if traveling by public transportation, etc) usually help when you go thru the border.	William S	Male	Canada	2014-01-07 09:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Studying in the US while waiting for a CR-1?	Since you are just engaged and not married, you would go thru K1 Visa process in order to marry in US. You can of course get married in Canada and go thru the CR-1 process as well. K1 process can start now but CR-1 will have to wait till you are actually married.   Student Visa is a no intent to immigrate Visa which basically means you are declaring that you have no intention to move/immigrate to US. Obviously, that is not the case for you since you intend to marry your fiance and immigrate to US. This route is illegal but used by many. They claim they came to US, and met someone special and just had to get married. (AoS process) Obviously that would be a lie in your case and if USCIS ever finds out you lied on their petition, it would cause serious problem with your petition(s). Illegal way is faster but It would be up to you to take the risk. Edited by William S, 30 December 2013 - 04:52 PM.	William S	Male	Canada	2013-12-30 16:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Questions about filing I-30	Oh wow. Okay, so basically the long and short of it is we file the I-130 and wait for the "packet of forms" to be received from the NVC and take it from there?    Thanks again for answering all my questions. There is just so much information to sift through	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-10 18:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Questions about filing I-30	Wonderful!   After this it seems the next step would be to file an I-129F. Is this correct? And at what point can we file that? I also see something about the fee being waived for a K-3, which I believe would be me. Is this correct?   So many thanks again. You guys are the best!   Roxane	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-10 16:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Questions about filing I-30	Thanks for the info!    We have a few photos and only one plane ticket. I assume photocopies of photographs are fine? As for emails and texts, should we provide transcriptions of those and if so... do we edit out the more x rated stuff? hah   Thanks again.	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-10 10:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Questions about filing I-30	Thank you so much!   As for the Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, what is the best information to provide? How much should be given? We mostly talk by text and phone calls and do not have a lot of photos together and none of our wedding as we did it quietly at the court house with just the two of us.    Thanks again,    Roxane	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-08 16:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Questions about filing I-30	Hi everyone!   I'm new here and completely overwhelmed by trying to figure out this process...   I am Canadian and am married to a US Citizen and he is going to file the I-30 but have some questions that I am hoping someone can help out with:)   - When providing "copies" of previous divorce and our marriage certificate, do we submit hard copies or photocopies?  - The guy that took my photo for the I-30 told me I need to submit both photos, but in reading what we need to include it only says we need to include 1 of each of us. Is it 1 or is it 2? - For the documentation he needs to provide to show he is a US Citizen does he need to provide all of the mentioned documents or just one of the ones mentioned? I am pretty sure 2 and 3 may not apply? And Also, again, hard copies or photocopies?   1. Birth certificate 2. Certificate of Citizenship issued by the USCIS 3. Form FS-240 4. A copy of his Passport 5. An original statement from a US Consular Office verifying he is a US Citizen with a valid Passport   Sorry if these questions are already answered or silly. I tried searching but couldn't find exact answers in these forums.    Thank you so much!   Roxane	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-08 14:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Questions about G-325A / I-130 forms	Hi There,    I am filling out my G-325A and have some questions to go along with our I-130...   For the "This Form in Submitted in Connection with an application for" do I choose "other" and but in I-130 Petition?   For all other  names used on both my I-130 and G-325A I have only used my maiden name ever and all my id's are in maiden name, but on our marriage certificate it says my new surname is my husbands. Should I put this name in the "All other names used"?   Thanks again for everyones help	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-15 12:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	I-130 Line 13 and Line 21 Questions	Nevermind. Figured it out for the Line 13. duh.	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-21 19:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	I-130 Line 13 and Line 21 Questions	Hi Again,    Almost done this...    For Line 13 there is the box saying: Parents. Have you obtained a certificate of citizenship... Does this apply to us? It's a bit confusing. My husband is my petitioner and he was born in the USA. Do we just leave that part blank or am I misreading something?   Line 21 is asking for the last address we lived together. We have not lived together anywhere, but on our marriage certificate the residing at is my address in Canada. Do we just put N/A in line 21?    Also, at the bottom of the first page it has that stuff "Initial Receipt" "resubmitted" etc... That is for them to fill in, not us, right?   Sorry for the dumb questions, just really do not want to screw this up. haha   Also, we have filled out all the forms with my Maiden name as I haven't changed my passport etc, but on our marriage certificate it says new name: his last name. I have put on my G-325A and the I-130 that other names used his last name as it is on our marriage certificate. Is that an okay thing to do?   Thanks again!   Roxaen	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-06-21 19:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	traveling to the US after filing form I-130	I just went to visit my husband a couple weeks ago and did get pulled into secondary. I was questioned for almost an hour but in the end they let me go through. I had a copy of my NOA 1, my lease, a return ticket, and a letter from my employer. It was rough, but they basically asked me the same questions over and over again in different ways trying to find any holes in my story. I was just completely honest and forthcoming. At one point they said that they shouldn't let me in because with  my pending I-130 it shows I have intent to immigrate. I was just very straight forwarding and said I brought a copy of my NOA1 because I am doing it the legal route and I wouldn't do anything to mess up my chances of being with my husband and they stamped my passport. Good luck!	roxanelouise	Female	Canada	2013-08-02 17:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	IV Packet (NVC Processing)	Just to let you know, you can pay that bill online right now! All you need is a valid checking account, the case number, and the invoice number. Are you doing this by e-mail processing? You may have received an e-mail telling you the invoice number already. If you have the invoice number, go to the following site and follow the instructions to pay that bill. It will be $230. https://ceac.state.g...ice/signon.aspx	ShannonSayed	Female	Egypt	2012-10-25 21:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Cairo NOT participating in e-mail process! WHYYY!!!	We just found out calling the NVC that Cairo is NOT participating in e-mailed processing of IV forms or Affidavit of Support packets. JERKS!! This just cost us probably ANOTHER month! I'm so angry I could scream! UGHHH!!! Now I will have to put the whole AOS package together AGAIN and send it by mail, wait until they get to it and THEN my husband will have to express mail me all the civil documents along with the DS-230 etc.. and I will have to send it to them after submitting the only copy we have our our stamped marriage certificate. I don't understand this. Why does Egypt have to make everything harder! Ugh.. we are both fed up. My son is already 6 weeks old today, and he still hasn't met his own father. We were hoping he'd be here by thanks giving, but THAT'S not going to happen unless there is a miracle and I'm at the point where I just doubt it. Before New Years is the new goal... Really mad. Just letting other Egyptian immigrants know the score cause you'll have to deal with this bullshizzle too. Sorry to have to be the bearer and receptor of bad news. :-/	ShannonSayed	Female	Egypt	2012-10-25 21:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	From Egypt to US in 78 days	You filed June 26 as in, you mailed the I-130 and you're waiting for the NOA 1 or just received it? If that's the case, impossible. It's not happening, period. Pregnancy isn't reason for expedite. And even if they expedite it may take long for NVC to give you an interview date within the next 2 months. Not to mention, AP is almost a given for every MENA man. My fiance took 2 weeks, if that's a relief. There again, there have been extreme cases were AP has taken months up to a year. May I ask, why did you wait until June to file for your husband? My recommendation is to look for a plan B. I had to wait until then because I needed all the financial aid proofs as proof of financial hardship and the pregnancy proof from doctors to at least HELP in making them consider this. A father has every right to be there with his wife and new born child. I really hate that this country makes it so insanely difficult for something so simple to take place. I am living entirely on state aid. I can't even feed myself without SNAP benefits and could never ever afford the doctors if not for the state medical aid provided for pregnant women. But all of these things had to be in the filing in order to prove my need for expedite. I also included my husband's check stub in English with his Egyptian salary. If they have any brains, they'll know that the currency exchange rate is 6 times less in EGP compared to USD. He is a mechanical engineer and STILL couldn't afford to give me anything without being completely without an income for himself.	ShannonSayed	Female	Egypt	2012-08-13 05:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	From Egypt to US in 78 days	Filed on June 26. Son is due Sept 12. Can I get my husband here on time to see his son born? We are praying to God it's possible. We have offered plenty of valid expedite criteria both in the medical department as well as in the financial. We are hoping the people over in Chicago have a heart and push this through quickly.	ShannonSayed	Female	Egypt	2012-07-12 22:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Administrative Processing? Go to your local Congress!	To all of those who have been sifted off to administrative processing. If you are the petitioner, and living in the US, and your spouse's case has reach the point of administrative processing, this is what you should do. Wherever you are living within the US, contact your local district congress. Send them an e-mail and title it "Immigration". Write your e-mail very descriptively and don't be afraid to talk about all the stress and suffering of this long long wait. God willing, you will be contacted back by the immigration department representative. Tell them your story. Tell them if the interviewer was unfair, seemed hostile, anything at all. All the details will help. Then they will ask for a permission to access case info. Fill out the form from your congress website and print it out. Sign it and rescan it and send it via e-mail to the rep's e-mail. They then have permission to look into the case and find answers. They will put a stamp of "congressional interest" on your case. Doing this is a huge huge help. The immigration department in the Embassy will see this and they won't want to deal with further badgering from congress or government entities. Then, just be patient. This is what I did. This is how I got the AP approved in less than 1 month. You have nothing to lose! Best of luck to everyone fighting this long battle.	ShannonSayed	Female	Egypt	2013-03-01 03:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	>>>> Does anyone know what date they are processing now? I remember someone said they were processing Dec applications still     >>>>>have any January people been approved and sent an NOA2? I submitted Jan 31 and want to know how long I am looking at waiting.  since i dont trust the times they have posted as an accurate representation of the wait time   >>>>>I also cant decide if its a good idea to get a senator involved or if that will pull my case out of the line and make it slower to get done, any thoughts?   I think writing to local media and national media is a good idea, being separated from the person you love is universally relatable and there are so many people who have to go through it, whether because of slow visa processing times or otherwise. I am going to submit to the NYTimes, has anyone gotten any responses from TV networks or newspapers ?              ! lots of thoughts, questions !	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-12 09:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	these threads are so awesome how we can piece the info together for ourselves since the actual centers barely give us any hope!! thanks to everyone who posts here!	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-08 14:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	No, he hasnt moved since.  He has been in Virginia the entire time, although he did move 6 months prior to that (from Georgia).  I'm trying not to get my hopes up, although it is teetering on that and being worried as ours is the only case that I have seen transferred.   He hasn't spoken or contacted anyone about it, although at the start of the process he did hire a lawyer, which as far as I can tell has been a waste of money.  The lawyer didnt even respond to him the last time he tried to contact him (about a month ago) which also seems a bit wrong (for lack of a better way to put it).  We both don't like to make waves, but I think the waiting is driving me more nuts than him.   I wonder if you get transfered to the California center if you get bumped up in the line there or if you get put after their current ones ?!  So many questions - and they give us so little information !! -- I also moved from Georgia to Virginia a few days before filing my petition so I dont think thats an issue - my lawyer did not mention anything about this being a problem.    best of luck to you !	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-08 12:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	it looks like you are from virgina (or your fiance is from virgina). if you google "virgina senators" it will show you your options. they should have instructions on their websites for submitting an inquiry for help with a federal agency (look under something like "services" or "constituent services"). If they have a privacy form you can download on their website - download it and send it, along with a copy of your NOA1 document, to the fax number or address provided. then wait a day or two and confirm they received it. and stay on top of them about following up.      thank you thank you~ !! very helpful - do you think its appropriate to contact them if im just now past the 5 month mark?  Is it a sooner the better scenario ? - thank you again.	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-07 23:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	So senator involvement is key ? how do you find out which senator to call / mail ?  Thank you so much if you can help - those of you who have done this.    and congrats to those who've been approved !!!!!	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-07 21:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	Someone in the December filer's thread called USCIS and they were told TSC is working on December 8th petitions.   There are many of us waiting, but if i understand this timeline (above - quoted from "jfgk1987") they've been approved and filed in January - so it would seem that they are working on January petitions now - which can give the rest of us hope! am i right? --- i hope so! grasping for anything to hold on to - this process is so straining ----- but makes us grateful for the time we will be soon granted together with our partner.	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-07 20:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	Oh wow - so basically the 5 months posted on the TSC was false hope! seems like they need to update it.    Its so much easier when you know what time or length of time you are looking at for this waiting period.    Its worst when you just dont know when you will hear at all ! but always hopeful and it will come eventually.    hope january ones get processed soon!!	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-07 00:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	hey there and welcome to the January Hell LOL. 6 months and 2 days here !!!! in the last month my fiancee keep called at TSC and all what they told her it was "we work at december 3th"... for a whole month we heard just this ! She contacted also the senator, until now nothing.... Thank you for your reply ! And yes,  it is hell - waiting waiting!!   and all the power out of our hands for the most important thing in our lives.    Its nice knowing other people going through the same thing.    Are you saying that it took them a month to process people who applied on 3rd Dec ?!    or that is where they are in the queue - that they are up to Dec 3 so the 5 months wait time has been pushed back   to really 8 months?!?!   I am going to call the customer service tomorrow - the # they have listed on their website, but from reading other peoples posts - it doesnt seem like they tell you much. Is it important to get a senator involved - does this help the process at the 5 month mark?    thank you	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-06 20:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	Hi - I am new to this thread - I mailed my petition Jan 31 - 2014  So at the very end of the January Filers - to TSC  Was wondering if anyone else has heard anything  Got my NOA1 on Feb 6 but its past the 5 month mark.    Any info or shared experience would be great!	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-06 19:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	We got APPROVED! its the best feeling in the world - everyone, your moment is coming.   I filed Jan 31 - and got NOA1 on Feb 4  NOA2 came Aug 3   No Email, No Text - just a letter in the mail, but the best letter ever.	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-08-03 21:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	Does anyone know if there is anything you can do if you are over 6 months waiting time - to get any information or update about your case?!	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-08-03 11:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	oh my god! so many NOA2s for Jan filers!! this is so awesome congrats everyone - !!! here's to hoping the rest of us hear really soon and that the backlog isnt an issue anymore	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-25 23:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	anybody else seen in the news that passports and visas are backlogged because of a system glitch !!?? i have a detailed article from the newspaper i will try to upload and share	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-25 14:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	I called my senator and he was willing to speak on my behalf but he told me that its really just tracking information that they get  they find out where in the line our petition is and report that back to us - they said they cant make it move any faster - did anyone else get this response ? i feel like some people are suggesting that senator speed up the process? Maybe I need to request something different ?    Congrats to everyone who got approved!!!! I hope that means more and more january approvals are on the way	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-17 20:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	Hey guys. Just got my NOA2!    I got no email, no text message. It just came in the mail (snail mail) today. Approved on July 8th, 2014.    I did nothing special. No calls to senators or congressman. I did put in a service request though, but when I got a reply, it said nothing relevant. I wish you all the best in your wait. I know it can be tough. to get a measure of time - when did you get your NOA1 before that?	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-12 23:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	does anyone know how long after the NOA2 before they get the interview and can come over?	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-12 14:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	so horrible, how is this possible so so horrible to have to wait and be pushed further and further	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-12 14:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	so we all have 30 more days at least - and thats from their mouths to our ears	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-12 14:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	where do you put in a service request? is that by phone ?	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-12 13:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	January 2014 TSC Filers	Still at december ! so if we filed at the end of january, we still have at least 30 days of waiting?!	Tippins	Not Telling	0	2014-07-12 13:32:00