biggish data

A question for the experts

QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Jul 12 2008, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Highway Star -

There are no checks occuring right now about the legitimacy of your relationship.

There are checks being performed on your American fiance insofar as the questions on the I129F regarding past prior applications with the Service or prior criminal convictions. There will be a rudimentary check on you when the petition gets to NVC.

There is anecdotal evidence in the forums that frequent air travel by the beneficiary and/or government clearances can cause hangups. But these instances are rare.

Your case is not outside of processing times and there is likely nothing wrong. The others in the thread have mostly responded well.

Thank you very much for your response. As I suspected, my colleague let his imagination run away with him, in spite of being a man of knowledge and experience. Though I work for the Italian Foreign Office, however, I have been working at the Ministry's Rome headquarters for the past seven years, and all my travelling has been for short vacations. Basically, in spite of any lofty title I may have, I am just a paper pusher

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-07-12 09:56:00

A question for the experts

My fiancé and I sent our K1 petition in late March, and have not yet received an approval - while other people who have filed in the same period already have. Nothing odd in that, as we all know... However, this morning, while having a conversation with a colleague of mine at work, he dropped a hint that turned my whole world upside down. I (the beneficiary) work for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and according to my colleague, this could be a reason for possible delays.

Though I always thought at this stage the checks would mainly involve the USC, as well as the legitimacy of our relationship, at this point I don't know what to think.. Might USCIS have any doubts as to why I want to emigrate? In Italy, gov't jobs are highly prized (even though extremely badly paid), and most people would cut off a limb rather than leave one. I have no idea if my job might be a red flag for USCIS, and get them to think I have other, more sinister reasons for moving to the US than just getting married to the man I love. Needless to say, this threw me into a panic. Maybe it is totally unjustified, but I'd be very grateful all the same to any of the experts here if they could provide some insight.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-07-08 03:25:00

Visa waiving for 88 days,..bad for the k1 ?

Overstays are NEVER a good idea, because you don't know what consequences they might have. However, I urge you to be careful about repeated 90-day stays. There are lot of people on these forums who have been denied entry because, according to the border authorities, they were spending too little time in their own country and too much in the US. If you're turned back at the POE (Port of Entry), you'll have to pay for your return flight home, and this is not something anyone wants to happen - besides the heartache of being denied time with your loved one.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-08-17 04:01:00

Need Advice Prior to K-1 Filing

Get your divorce and file for a K-1. My SO and I did the same... We had to wait a long time before he could file for divorce (one year mandatory separation in his state), and then five months for the divorce to be final. We filed a couple of weeks later, though our first application ran into some problems (see my sig for that). Waiting sucks indeed, and the days before our petition was approved were sheer hell. However, now our file is in Naples, and we'll be together very soon - legally, and without any kind of hassle. Incidentally, I am even older than you, and every day wasted felt so heavy. Just remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel! Feel free to drop me a PM if you need any help!

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-08-22 13:31:00

birth certificate

In Italy you have two types of birth certificate: the normal one, and the long form, which is the one we need for the visa, and which contains details such as parents' names and marital status. This is why Bubina is worried... Her marital status appears on her 'long form' cert, and it seems her divorce hasn't yet been recorded in Italy. I won't have any such problems, since I've never been married.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-08-30 14:05:00

Travel to US with K1 visa pending

Actually, I found the Naples Consulate to be pretty efficient - I got NOA2 on Aug 6, and had my interview on Oct 8 (just have a look at my timeline for details). I spent much longer waiting for USCIS's approval than for the interview at Naples. I could have had my interview even earlier, but I had to wait for my birth certificate (it takes longer in Rome than elsewhere). Anyway, if you want to know more about the Consulate, look at the review here on the site - I edited some parts of it to add my own experience - and, of course, you're free to PM me any time you want!

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2009-01-12 17:48:00

K-1: help! EAD, booking flights, income, contact senator's office

I think the others have already answered your questions more than satisfactorily, but I'd like to put my own 2 cents in, since I went through Naples in October 2008. If your relationship is solid and real, you don't have anything to fear from them - my now husband was there with me for the interview, but there was another girl before us who was alone, and she had no problems whatsoever. However, we saw a couple of people being denied (though I am sure there were more than valid reasons for that), so to be on the safe side it would be better not to buy any tickets until after the interview. The visa is indeed issued the same day, but you never know.... In any case, on the Internet you can find good airfares even if you buy a ticket only a few days before departure - unless it's summer, when fares shoot up big time.

As regards the temporary EAD, I didn't get the stamp at the POE, nor did I care about getting one, since it's not going to be of much use if you have to quit after three months. Better file for AOS as soon as possible, and wait for the 'real' EAD.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2009-02-16 08:04:00

Help the italian!

E' vero! Dai retta a Rose, e segui i nostri consigli! L'attesa è stata lunga, ma adesso sono negli USA con mio marito, e sono veramente felice di aver fatto tutto in regola. In bocca al lupo per tutto!

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2009-02-17 19:12:00

Help the italian!

Ciao, I am Italian like you, and moved to the US in November 2008 in order to marry my fiancé. As you can see from my timeline, we waited six months altogether to get the visa. Other people have waited longer, other a shorter time, but six months seems to be a good average. During the wait, I never visited the US - my now husband came to Italy three times, the last one of which was for the interview. Waiting is hard, but - especially if you are young and have a lot of time ahead of you, which I haven't - it can be done.

Anyway, all this conversation is moot if you haven't met yet. You MUST meet at least once in the past 2 years, but for your own sake I'd recommend spending a lot longer together. Meeting online is just not enough to get married. I met my husband online too (on a music forum, and totally by chance), but I would have never dreamed of marrying him before spending some time together. Neither of us could afford making a mistake - he had just got out of a disastrous, abusive marriage, and I will be 50 in less than two years' time. Spending hours online is NOT the same thing as spending time together in real life.... Don't rush into things, or you might well end up regretting it.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2009-02-17 15:57:00

Risk of denial into U.S. after repeated trips on non-immigrant tourist visa

QUOTE (anais1983 @ Feb 23 2009, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

YuandDan wrote:

"K-Visas for the most part get AOS approved without an interview because the visa has immigrant intent, and the visa has the added immigrant interview to get the K-Visa."

Is that true? Will we receive our green card without the interview? This would be great because it scares me!

No need to be scared! If you have a real relationship, you will have no problems at the interview. I know I didn't, on the contrary.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2009-02-23 17:11:00

POE can check if you have roundtrip ticket?

Don't buy a one-way ticket - even if it was possible, it's not safe. Personally, I chose not to travel to the US during the wait for the K-1 visa, both to avoid possible problems at the POE and for other reasons. If you choose to travel there, though, as other posters have told you, be ready to show substantial ties to Italy. People from VWP countries can and do get turned away at the POE - I've read quite a few stories here, and in one case the person involved (a young woman with health problems) was harassed and mistreated.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2009-02-17 18:41:00

G-325a - what if no middle name

I put 'none' as well, since we don't use middle names here. On the other hand, I have two official first names, though people generally only use one (the second) when dealing with me.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-02-05 13:52:00

Yes, you can visit!

QUOTE (nichaw @ Mar 5 2009, 08:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I apologise in advance for this question but I am new to all this and dont know a thing. ..The woman I plan on marrying is coming for a visit(from Philippines),,we were thinking of getting married while she us here, but after reading some of these posts it looks like that is a big NO NO. She was told once here she could change her visa from a tourist to a marriage viss,,any of this sound right ?

If you are planning on getting married in the US and have her stay and adjust status, that's visa fraud. Your above post is proof enough of your intent to marry and stay. However, if you want just to get married, then she goes back home and you file for a spousal visa, then you will have no problems, because you will be doing things according to the letter of the law.

I never visited once while waiting for my K-1 visa (and it did took some time - eight months altogether, including a returned petition), because I didn't want to risk anything, and also because I needed to save my vacation days for when I would be getting ready to leave. My now husband came to see me for three short visits instead.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2009-03-05 08:27:00

Joint Sponsor Dilemma

It has been awhile since I went through the forms; however, if I remember the i184 asks for your projected income, so if you move to her country do all the visa stuff and then move back it is what you plan to make in the year. The consulate should recognize that your earning power will change depending what country you live in. Also double check on the bottom amount - if you're working full time you should qualify. Hope that helps

RPS

Female

Italy

2011-03-23 01:07:00

Moving Countries

Hi all and thanks in advance for your advice on this topic.
Hubby and I are living happily together in Italy after a LONG (and unfinished visa journey) Check out my history if you're interested. Long story short, due to a confusion in his nationality the process was delayed and we were actually in love, so I temporarily moved to Italy to finish up the process. On the date of his interview (or probably the night before) his passport was stolen. All of Italy goes on vacation during the summer so getting a replacement took a couple of months. By the end of all this our lives were such a mess not being able to plan for anything, career, etc. so I just moved there to be together. Now we're both moving to New Zealand for my doctorate studies, so here are the questions:

1. Can we put the visa app on hold and if so for how long?
2. Can we transfer the application from the Naples Consulate to Wellington Consulate?
3. Does anyone else have any ideas on how to keep it active so we don't loose our investment and the chance of actually being able to live in the US again?

As we have both worked for agencies the US gov't is a part of, I thought about that too, but our contracts were less than 3 months. Too bad the US doesn't have a "you've been happily married, living abroad for xx years so you can apply for citizenship' policy like every other sane country!!!

RPS

Female

Italy

2011-02-15 09:48:00

The Stupid RFE Thread

My (husband's) stupid RFEs:
1. Question DS230 Question 30, Most recent address he wrote "present" MUST INCLUDE START DATE-PRESENT
2. Birth Certificate original is considered a civil copy since we obtained it from Italy. (Husband born to Italian parents in Libya).
3. Police certificate missing from Maldives (though he listed other countries for over 6 mo.) We only included Italy b/c this is the only country since 16 of which he has been resident.

What I learned:
1. Don't let your husband fill out paperwork.
2. Get the copy from the country of birth only (... and international backgrounds while attractive can make this process take too long).
3. The US is more concerned about certain countries.

Edited by RPS, 15 April 2010 - 07:58 AM.

RPS

Female

Italy

2010-04-15 07:54:00

QUOTE (sachinky @ Nov 17 2009, 04:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think there is a 6 months - 1 year residency catch somewhere in there for a DCF. Read the guides.

You can't have a back-up plan unfortunately, either you're married or you're a fiancee. If the $455 is of no concern, then it's not a problem. Otherwise it's just wasted money on a petition.

Thanks - you're right on that 6 month residency. For others in same boat, I did read that there are no laws that govern this choice on behalf of the embassy. Also if I (USC) hold permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay) will qualify me for this option.

This is part of the logistical plan that has to work for the CR1 to be the correct option.

RPS

Female

Italy

2009-11-17 09:49:00

QUOTE (sachinky @ Nov 17 2009, 04:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Go with the CR1. It's a much better visa as compared to the K3. The K3 and CR1 are pretty much on the same time-line, the former might beat the latter by 3-4 weeks at the very most.

DON'T file for K1 if your plan is get married anyway. Why donate your money to USCIS?

Thank you all for the great info. The reason for dual filing was in case I am unable to make it to Rome this winter - the K1 would be the fall back/slower plan. This is probably a question for another forum, but has anyone (US citizen going to Italy) obtained a permesso di soggiorno? Any advice on that is welcome as that will qualify us for DCF.

RPS

Female

Italy

2009-11-17 09:36:00

QUOTE (hindocha @ Nov 17 2009, 03:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't go with CR-1 one!

Any reasons? If not choosing K1 it seems a better option than K3 according to posts? Do you have experience otherwise?
Thanks!

RPS

Female

Italy

2009-11-17 09:23:00

We are planning on filing a K1 in the next few weeks, but would like to get married in Italy this winter, and apply for DCF but may not be able to pull this off logistically. I have read in other forums that a marriage voids the K1. My question is will this hold up or confuse the process?

Mahalo!

RPS

Female

Italy

2009-11-17 06:03:00

Tax Filing as Single or Married

Hi All,

Im getting ready to submit 2009 tax documents but am not sure as to which box I should check: Single or Married filing separately. I married my wife in 2009 but she lives in India and has no SSN and is not working. Our I-130 petition is currently at the NVC stage and am wondering if the consulate will question why I filed as single in 2009.

Please advise.

Thank you,

soza

My husband and I were married in nov 2009 and he likewise is without SS#. After talking to HR block and other tax entities - they encouraged my to file as single (you have 3 years to do amendment). My AOS was recently approved even with 2009 tax doc included.

RPS

Female

Italy

2010-03-31 07:22:00

anyone still waiting for NOA2 who filled I-130 on december??

Hello

I m still waiting for my NOA2 anyone still waiting for NOA2 who filled I-130 on december ???
if anyone still waiting lets keep in touch here.
It has been 5 monts that i still waiting for my NOA2 what can i do more ??

keep in faith

Write to your senator. I don't know if it works, but my senator contacted me and two days letter I was done with USCIS.

RPS

Female

Italy

2010-04-25 09:48:00

Reschedule interview date..new here

hey everyone,
I am Canadian Citizen and my husband is US citizen. I received my interview date last year in December for January 28, 2010 but I had to reschedule it because my due date was January 29, 2010. We sent them an email regarding the situation and got the reply in February from the Visa department that they will reschedule the date and it will take 2-5 months. It has been almost 6 months and we haven't heard anything from them. I called the Visa department in US and they told me that your file is in the US embassy in Montreal and they haven't reschedule your interview date yet and they are very busy so just wait. Please let me know what should i do? its very difficult situation for us because we are living separately from last 6 months. how long does it take to reschedule the interview date? we didn't have any choice except reschedule the date
thanks

Have hubby immigrate to Canada!!! Or have your husband contact his senator and ask for help - it helped our case along, until my husband got mugged (passport stolen) on his way to interview.

RPS

Female

Italy

2010-08-03 14:55:00

Pictures

Print out or copy photos - not in excess just enough to show you've been together. We put about 25 photos on 7 pages with a description of each. Also include chat/skype records and you can also add letters from friends "approving" or congratulating you on the relationship. No DVDs - all paper at this point. Not sure on the K-1, but for CR-1 "mingling of finances" is suggested. I added my husband to my Geico and credit card accounts - it worked fine.

RPS

Female

Italy

2010-05-19 08:41:00

Fake Marriage in Nicaragua

Thank you jeromebinh and Bernie for your input and knowledge. Awesome that you did this as well Bernie, and that is basicaly what I am looking at doing (not registering the wedding). However should I report the "unregistered ceremony" at all?

Looks good on the 2 visas, I am going to go with the K-1 first then CR-1 if all else fails, however I'm sure I"ll be approved, we've been dating for about 8 months and engaged as well, been there 6 times already Thanks guys again!

One thing to consider between K-1 and CR-1 is the working permits/green card. If working is not an issue K-1 is good, but if future spouse wants to work immediately CR-1 has more benefits. We were married legally outside of the US and are finishing up CR-1. Either way it's an arduous process, and I had to go to there to be with my husband since he cannot yet enter the states. We'll probably have a re-wedding sometime soon since one of our witnesses was a stranger

RPS

Female

Italy

2010-05-19 08:32:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

NVC and Interview

Hey everyone

So I am in the last stages at the NVC and had some questions. SO, when I send the DS-230 do I need to included photocopies as well as the original documents?? Or do I just send the originals? Also, I read on the NVC website that at the interview I need to bring original copies of everything that I sent in with the DS-230, so do I need to request 2 original copies of everything? Also, they want a copy of the Affadavit of Support, should I print out another original with the petitioner's signature or just a copy??
Thank you so much
Cecile Ferrario

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-09-11 11:00:00

Missing Info for G-325A HELP!!!

So I am beginning the paperwork to bring my husband to the US with me. I am filling out the G-325A form for myself and my husband but have hit a wall. My husband was raised by his father and step mother, he has no ties to his mother at all. His father passed away so we don't have a way to contact the mother for information. On his birth certificate we have her name but as for the birthdate, I have no way to find out when she was born. What do I put on the G325A form????? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-02-10 17:26:00

Interview Notification

We are in the last step of the process in which we are waiting for the NVC to close the case, its been almost 3 weeks and a rep at NVC said within 4 weeks the case should be closed, so any day now. I was just wondering how far in advance will we be notified about the interview date!?? If anyone has any info, please let me know!

THANKS!

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-11-21 09:52:00

Medical Exam scheduling

My husband has just received the date of the interview!!!!! But the letter didn't say anything about the medical exam.....I e-mailed the Embassy but just curious to know how to go about scheduling a medical exam for him. What do I do????

THANKS

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-12-03 15:12:00

Interview Information

So we have the interview on the 19th of January and the medical exam on the 18th. From all the reviews of the Consulate, I see that the visa is given to you on the day of the interview. But I did see on the US Dept of State website, that we should allow 3 days for the entire interview process. I am trying to book a hotel but not sure for how many nights to book for....should I stay the night of the 19th or plan on leaving that night by train? Any suggestions?

Thanks

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-12-05 16:38:00

Interview Information

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-12-05 16:38:00

Buying Plane Tickets

So my husband has his interview on the 19th of January. Just wanted to know if its safe to buy the plane tickets now or to wait until after he has the interview? I was just hoping to save some money by getting them now and not waiting till last minute. What do you think?

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-12-13 14:32:00

Interview!

Hello again everyone!!! So we are about a month away from the interview but I want to get all the documents ready now to make sure that we are not missing anything. What exactly do I have to bring to the interview? I email the embassy and they just sent me a document and said to look at that, but it didn't have anything really! I am preparing everything that we have already sent in but not sure what to bring.

What do I need to bring???

Thanks!

C&FF

Female

Italy

2010-12-14 16:08:00

WEIRD PACKET 3 FORM NAPLES!!!!

Thanks everybody for your replies!!! I already wrote an email to US Cosnulate of Naples and I will call them on monday. In any case, I have downloaded the forms and am going to fill them!
I will let you know what happens next...

Elena :star:

elena.soro

Not Telling

Italy

2006-03-25 08:35:00

WEIRD PACKET 3 FORM NAPLES!!!!

Hi everybody!!! I hope somebody will be able to help me.
I am italian and yesterday I received the packet 3 from the US Consulate of Naples, Italy. It has instructions, form I-864 Affidavit of Support, etc, but they only sent one form: the DS-230.
I thought they should have sent also the DS-156, the DS-156k, the DS-157 and the DS-158.
What should I do now???? There is somebody who had the same problem??? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!! :crying:

Elena

elena.soro

Not Telling

Italy

2006-03-24 17:07:00

Mexico, Latin & South America

VERY Large AGE difference

I am also older than my USC fiancé by some 8 and a half years. However, he was married for 10 years and has three kids, and has been supporting himself since he was 21 (something quite unheard of in my home country of Italy) - while I have never been married, or even lived with anyone but my parents. Besides, my worst relationship experience was with a man over 13 years my senior... Talk about immaturity!

That said, in Italy couples where the man is even significantly older than the woman are more readily accepted than those where the woman is even a few years older. There is still a common misconception about a man wanting a younger woman for reasons of physical attractiveness, and obviously many think an older woman is going to become almost repulsive as she ages. Well, to each their own, I suppose...

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-01-31 03:30:00

INTERVIEWS IN NAPLES?

Ciao Cristina!

I know our file got to Naples on August 13, but I haven't heard from them yet. I'll drop them an email later tonight to ask them to forward Packet 3 to me by email. Unfortunately, I am not in a hurry, since my birth certificate will take some time to be ready... Well, we've waited so long already that a couple of weeks longer won't hurt us at all! Anyway, I'll let you know what happens next.

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-08-27 11:44:00

Naples Consulate revisited

A question for more experienced fellow Italians... Following other people's advice, when I got our new case number from NVC I emailed them to ask them to send me Packet 3 as an attachment. I immediately got an AutoReply message saying that, due to overwhelming demand, they expected to be able to answer my message in about two weeks. Today has been exactly two weeks since I sent that email. Now, what do you think I should do? Should I email them again, or wait patiently for them to answer me as they promised? I've heard stories about them being slow and having to be prodded, but on the other hand people who had their interview recently told me they were rather forthcoming. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-09-10 11:48:00

atto di nascita

Sono ancora in Italia, e non so quando potrò partire... Problemi con l'eredità di una zia morta un paio di mesi fa. Spero di riuscire a partire entro l'inizio di novembre, e sposarmi appena arrivata negli USA. In bocca al lupo anche a te per la Green Card!

HighwayStar

Not Telling

2008-10-19 13:59:00