ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow to title the police report
It's generally suggested that the translator signing that statement not be one of the parties involved in the immigration process at hand, though. There's no hard, fast rule, but if you want to avoid extra scrutiny over your translations, get someone else to sign off. I often translate our documents and have someone unrelated to the process review them and then sign the certifying statement.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-24 21:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresscheduling medical appointment in juarez
Make sure to bring your appointment letter and passport.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-24 21:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother Affidavit of Support question
I'm not positive, but I think for the K1 visa, affidavit of support requirements don't really intensify until you're filing for adjustment of status after the marriage. Prior to that, they're kind of general, I thought. Either way, I believe that your assets should more than cover any deficiency that may be perceived in terms of the actual income.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-24 21:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan a Beneficiary cancel the K1 visa process?
Wow, good for you for standing up for yourself and recognizing that this is not a good relationship. Definitely get out now while you've only invested a minimum in this mess.

Don't bother contacting USEM, if your petition is still processing, the most you would want to do is deal with whichever processing center has it right now. If you manage to get it canceled, great. Otherwise, if it gets approved, just don't interview at Manila, which amounts to applying for the visa.

Good luck moving on from this unfortunate person! He clearly doesn't know how to appreciate having found a forward-thinking woman with a good head on her shoulders.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-24 21:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocuments Translated in English
I think there are a lot of differences between doing a process DIY and doing it with a lawyer. I say this having done it both ways. I successfully filed my first petition 4 yrs ago DIY (the petition was successful, the rest of the process..well...anyway). Filed my second this year with a lawyer because she's handling all aspects of our case, even though I know I could have easily done it myself. I knew exactly what to do, but I followed my lawyer's lead because her office does these petitions like clockwork. And yeah, there were some things that were different than what I would have done, but she knows what she's doing.

Sure, it's a bit impersonal, and it does take a little longer than doing it yourself because everything has to go through the lawyer, get checked over, then sent back, then submitted, etc. On the plus side, they usually have a lot more familiarity with what's going on, and they (should) do a lot of the sorting/assembly and such for you, including writing any cover letter and perhaps even giving you a template or drafted letter of intent to sign. If you wonder about those things, that would be a good thing to try to bring up in the consultation, it's always important to establish who is doing what. This time around, I found it comforting to work with a lawyer during the Affidavit of Support stage because our financial situation has complicated dramatically since I last filed and I had a dozen and a half uncertainties, all of which my lawyer was able to quickly slay, and all I had to do was give her numbers and figures. Next thing I know, a lovely I-864 affidavit of support came in the mail from her office, all filled out and ready to be signed. It was a beautiful thing. There are times when working with a pro who has done all this many times before can be really comforting.

Also, VisaJourney is an AWESOME resource, but you notice that people get RFEs and have glitches in their cases on this forum all the time. Just because a guide says you need something doesn't always mean that's the best thing for your particular case, and sometimes you need something else, or something in a different format, or it's just a crapshoot. Hello embassies like San Salvador, Manila, Bogota. Ideally a lawyer is able to match your situation with the specific requirements at the consulate where you'll end up processing, although I also suspect there aren't many lawyers with significant experience with Moldova. The best indicator is how many cases like yours they deal with on a regular basis. If they're handling dozens of I-129fs a year, I'd trust that this is a reliable attorney. If they mainly handle employment petitions, or deportation cases, or student/visitor visas, then I wouldn't so much trust their guidance.

If you feel unsettled about your attorney, you can always consult with another to verify that what you've been told is correct. If you decide working with an attorney is not a good choice for you, be sure to inform your lawyer right away and be sure any contract you signed is fulfilled, and that you get a full copy of your file from them. If they resist that last part, you can involve the State Bar to ensure your rights as a client are enforced.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-25 23:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocuments Translated in English
One more thing I wanted to note: Just because an attorney asks for more/different info than the VJ guides doesn't mean you need to immediately call their expertise into question. Because the attorney is taking your case, start to finish, they often want a lot more info and documentation upfront so they can check for and avoid any pitfalls along the way. Also, most attorneys I know get the birth certificate translated no matter what, because sooner or later, there's a chance you'll need it. Personally, I translate my documents myself and then have someone unrelated to the process and competent in both languages check, verify, and sign the certifying statement on them.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-25 21:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHeeelp RFE more evidence
Take a photo of you and him and the baby in his parents' house where you stay. Doesn't matter if it's pretty or regular or whatever. Just get the three of you in the picture, and you could make things really easy by holding up a newspaper that features the date on the front, so that it proves what date you were together. Even though US immigration doesn't usually stamp passports when you enter, you have the right to ask them to do it for documentation purposes, and that way you have a date stamp when you enter the US. Actually, you can ask Mexico to stamp the passport, too, but you might have to go find an immigration booth. I don't know what border you cross at, but when I've crossed at Laredo, it's not too far from the border.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-28 01:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresConfused!!!!!
Your fiance can come as a visitor to get married in the US and then leave, but just be prepared that there would be extra scrutiny at the airport when he enters, because entering to marry a US citizen often is part of a plan to enter, marry, and then file for adjustment of status in order to get a spouse-based US resident status without all the waiting in separate countries. Obviously this is not the case for you and your fiance, but the assumption is default and you have to overcome it. Make sure he has on-hand proof of the intention to return to the UK after the wedding, and proof that you'll be going there to join him and live. This battles any assumption that he'll use the entry permit to seek an adjustment of status later.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-29 23:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresStart visa process in third country
Yup, definitely possible to start the process from abroad, but no, not likely that interviewing in Kenya is possible from a tourist visa. You can always check directly with the immigrant visa unit at Nairobi, perhaps they would be willing (seriously, I've seen embassies and consulates bend rules on just about everything about filing/interview eligibility). http://nairobi.usemb...ar-section.html

I would do that before making any final assumptions, but it's important to be clear in the communication that you the petitioner are a US citizen, she the beneficiary is a citizen of South Korea, you would both be present on tourist visas and engaged in tourist activities there, and would like to know if she is eligible to conduct a K1 interview there during that time. If not, worst case scenario is that she has to interview in Seoul.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-10-09 01:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEvidence - living situation?
Yeah, actually I wasn't even referring to the getting married part, I forgot about that. That's a fiasco in itself, although it certainly can be done from a tourist visa, but there's a lot of paperwork and red tape and half a dozen trips to the registro civil in a lot of cases.

The DCF part is the challenge because the US consulates in Mexico do want to see an FM2 or FM3 visa to qualify for filing DCF, although they aren't strict on the 6-month residency part. In general, if you're living in Mexico on a tourist visa, it's best to file the petition stateside.

In this case, the K1 visa probably is the most straightforward path with the least amount of hair-pulling.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-10-10 02:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEvidence - living situation?
It's going to be hard to file DCF in Mexico without an FM2/FM3 visa. I wouldn't waste too much time trying to do that.

And I agree that you need to be honest about where you've been living. The US does not ask about or care about immigration status in Mexico.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-10-09 21:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVaccination Requirement Waiver
Vaccine waivers are possible. If you visit Immigrate2us.net, you will find that at least two posters there who applied for them were approved. Vaccines are waived via the I-601 waiver, the same waiver that is used by people who have inadmissiblities due to prior immigration violations, criminal complications, etc. Honestly, the waiver is a massive undertaking and you have to be extremely convicted in your reasons for refusing the vaccines and ready to do a whole ton of work to submit the waiver, not to mention wait out the adjudication time. Fortunately, now that I-601s go to a centralized Lockbox in the US, adjudication times have come down a lot, but I've also not seen a vaccine waiver go through the Lockbox, only London I think, so it's possible the Lockbox will regard vaccine waivers much differently than consulates/London did in the past. I believe both approved vaccine waivers I saw were done on philosophical and possibly religious grounds.

Legalities aside, here's my personal take, as a person who has medical and philosophical oppositions to vaccines but had to go ahead and watch my husband be vaccinated by immigration 4 yrs ago despite the fact that he wasn't even eligible for the visa itself on other grounds, and who will probably watch it all happen again in a month.

1) My husband is the one getting vaccinated, not me. He's fine with my stance on vaccination (which is why our son's vaccines have been limited and far apart). But he doesn't personally care much himself, as someone who grew up in the mainstream medical establishment as the son of a doctor and a nurse. There are so many other issues to hash out in our marriage, and as long as we've been able to come to a compromise on our children's vaccines, that's really the only important thing IMO.

2) Immigration is such a "jump through the hoops" thing. We have a lot more to fight than vaccines, so I know that makes a difference, but I honestly feel like we just have to prostitute ourselves to this process if we want that visa in the end. We do so many things that we find ridiculous, but it's all part of the requirement for our spouse/fiance to have a shot at something that most of the world's population doesn't have an opportunity to do. Someday, when your fiance is in the US with a green card or preferably citizenship, if the immigration vaccine requirement is still a big issue to you (and honestly, sometimes it still gets me riled up, 4 years after we initially went through it), you can work for legislative change that makes it easier to exempt onesself from the vaccines on whatever grounds. But for now, I really suggest just letting your fiance float through the process the best you can without fighting too hard. Good luck!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-16 10:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresalone or with lawyer
Ditto to the suggestion to visit immigrate2us.net

You may be at least able to prepare the petition yourself if you research VERY carefully and make sure to write the correct information on the petition. Immigrate2us can be helpful for this. That gives you time to save money for a good lawyer to do the waiver you'll most likely need, and not waste more time apart than you absolutely have to from this point. I suggest all of the lawyers listed in my signature. Not every immigration lawyer out there necessarily understands how to work with waivers and it's a field that constantly changes, so you need to pick a lawyer who specializes in waivers. Those three are all waiver specialists. If he was deported for unlawful presence in the US, he probably has a 10-year ban that needs to be waived, plus the deportation ban which is either 5 or 10 years depending on the terms of the deportation. The petition is the very first step and probably the simplest. After that it's going to be much more complex and you WILL want the assistance of someone skilled in knowing how to make good arguments. Good luck!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-11-20 01:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNo Immunization Scars
I know just about everything about the immigration process in Manila is outside the usual, but my husband has done US immigration medicals on two continents and in neither case did his childhood vaccines even come into play. They just gave him the adult boosters for Measels/Mumps/Rubella and TDaP (Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis). In Mexico he was given the varicella booster five years ago, but in Korea they just asked if he'd had chicken pox as a kid and since he said yes, they didn't vaccinate that one.

The vaccine that is most famous for leaving a scar is the TB vaccine (BCG?) which is only administered in certain countries. In countries where it is routinely administered in childhood (I think the Philippines is one), the immigration medical includes a chest X-ray to check for TB. In other countries where TB isn't very common, they do a skin-####### test first, but if you're from a country that gives the BCG vaccine, you'll always test falsely positive on the skin ####### test because the vaccine gave you antibodies that make the skin test positive, so that's why Korea, Philippines, and also Mexico do a chest X-ray to test for TB. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about what scars you do or don't have, and it seems that in most cases, people who present no vaccine record rarely get more vaccines than those who don't. All adults are expected to end up with the same boosters.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-11-22 23:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVaccinations needed for Colombian
They pretty much always just make people get MMR, TDaP and Varicella, whether the person presents a vaccine record or comes empty-handed, and in countries like Mexico and Colombia, they do NOT care if you just had the vaccines done in the weeks prior by your own doctor. It's a business and they make sure to get their money. I've very rarely heard of anyone getting more than those three vaccines, and in Mexico and Colombia, I've very rarely heard of people getting to opt out of vaccines by presenting record of recent vaccination.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-11-23 00:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPolice report
Which country? I've filed through two countries that didn't require an apostille on the birth certificate, but apparently you're filing through one which does, so please specify...
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-30 22:41:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)TRACK ALL DS-230 TO INTERVIEW
Jedinite, this thread tracks from the day the DS-230 shows up in the system at NVC, to case complete, to interview date. The DS-230 is generally the last thing sent in to the NVC before they complete the case, and usually we're able to send it within a few weeks of when the case arrives to the NVC (using the shortcuts). So as soon as all your fees are paid, the AOS is sent, the DS-230 is sent, and you are informed that your DS-230 is in the system (calling the automated message or calling an NVC operator), make sure to post in this thread so your info can be added! Good luck on a speedy process at NVC!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-18 01:34:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)TRACK ALL DS-230 TO INTERVIEW
Update me, too!!! Case completed 8-15-08! (How is that even possible, it's a Saturday? But that's the date the message says)

I'm guessing it'll be about a month till I get my interview date, though because they JUST yesterday gave all the interviews for completed cases through Mexico. Boooo.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-16 11:18:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)TRACK ALL DS-230 TO INTERVIEW
QUOTE (SusieK @ Aug 12 2008, 04:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
max 10 days here but nvc was sweet with us as far as time frame - but seems everyone having the same issues - lost this not original that yet we know what we sent - best to have backup and also they will ask do u want a supervisor to look at .....no...takes 7-10 days to determine what they have where it went etc, just send back what they want and i just asked on the phone what was missing -

cheers


Can you explain this? That it takes 7-10 days? Did this happen to someone? I'm just curious because today I agreed to have a supervisor look at our file after we got a SECOND RFE message for the I-864 despite the fact that they now have pretty much everything except my firstborn child. Several operators couldn't tell me what is missing and that's why I finally went with the supervisor option. Is this going to slow us down even more?
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-12 12:53:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)TRACK ALL DS-230 TO INTERVIEW
HI! You can add us!

DS-230 in system 6th August 2008

Filing through Mexico

Hoping to hear case closed and an interview date soon!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-11 03:03:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)The Lazy NVC
Back in 08 when we were filing, I requested supervisor review because they lost our I-864 and I was not going to send the package again. They said it would take 2 weeks but they finished in about 4 days or so... Hang in there!! smile.gif
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2009-08-17 18:01:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)IIN/Paying Online Quesiton
OK, please forgive me if this is a commonly known topic. I was filing back in the days before they emailed stuff and I know a lot has probably changed since then, but a friend who is at the NVC right now wanted to know...

Once you're in the system at the NVC, how long does it take to get the IIN so you can pay the fees online? Or is it even called IIN anymore? Also, how is it delivered? Can the operator on the phone tell you the number? Or do you have to wait for it via email/snail mail?

Thanks for your patience!

Oh, while I'm at it, is there a more updated guide to the process (the most recent I had before was Loto's Guide)?
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2009-08-17 18:09:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)AP at NVC
NVC is supposed to gather paperwork and make sure everything is complete so the Consulate doesn't have to worry about that end of things. If they do AP there, it just means they are going to take their merry time tracking down whatever the heck they feel they need to further investigate. But ultimately, they'll pass whatever they assemble on to the Consulate and that is who has the final word on visa approval or denial.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2009-08-17 17:59:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)Cases completed at NVC
Thanks for remembering us! We left the dog with the in-laws last night and off we go to Ciudad Juarez...Medical on Wednesday, probably a document check on Thursday, and the appointment bright and early on Friday. Mexico is a crazy country to file in due to the sheer number of applicants being processed every day. But I think we're ready and prepared to be flexible.

Good luck to everyone else interviewing this week!!

QUOTE (happyinlove012408 @ Sep 28 2008, 11:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The following members are having their interviews this week:
1.Guatetaliana 10/3/08 Mexico
2.Mj3lasvegas 10/3/08 Philippines
3.Mrs.hooks32 10/3/08 Philippines
4.Yoke 10/1/2008 Mumbai, India

Good luck to all the members and we all will be praying for you all. good.gif We will be waiting for the good news.

Edited by guatetaliana, 29 September 2008 - 03:41 PM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-09-29 15:40:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)Cases completed at NVC
Congratulations to everyone who got their interview! Good luck to those still waiting to hear...
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-09-14 00:49:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)Cases completed at NVC
Called today! Interview October 3 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico! Wow, gotta get ready!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-09-10 22:38:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)NVC is making me lose my mind - 2nd RFE on I-864?
THANK YOU for sharing your experience. I feel better. smile.gif I actually got the hard copy of the RFE several days after sending in my employment letter and that was all they wanted, so I'm definitely sure I submitted the evidence they needed. Hopefully the supervisor will be able to review and complete our case quickly.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-13 23:34:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)NVC is making me lose my mind - 2nd RFE on I-864?
OK, basically we flew through all the first steps at the NVC. Then this happened:

July 26: The I-864 packet was received by NVC.
August 2: I express mailed DS-230

When I came home from mailing that, the NVC automated system message said that we had an RFE on the I-864.

August 4 (The following Monday): I called and an operator said it was because they wanted an employment letter from me. I have a joint sponsor and had submitted everything possible EXCEPT the employment letter, but whatever.

August 6: I sent the RFE response (generated a proper barcoded cover sheet and everything)

Sometime after this, the automated system recognized first that the DS-230 was in the system and then that the RFE response had been received. I called operators to confirm several times. They said they had everything. All looked good.

August 11: Automated system AGAIN starts saying my documents have been reviewed and they found information missing on my financial evidence. "A checklist letter has been mailed on August 11"
August 12: Same message, but now they say "A checklist letter has been mailed on August 12" WHAT?!?

I called several times both today and yesterday, and each operator asks "Have you sent in the proof of employment letter?". Yes! I have! What scares me is that before they were saying they had this info in the system, and now they're asking me if I've sent it! I finally agreed to have a supervisor review our packet, but I'm scared that's going to slow it down even more! The NVC claims they just need time to review the paperwork, which I'd be fine with if they could at least confirm that they HAVE the paperwork, but they can't.

Have they lost part of my file? Should I just re-send the entire I-864 packet? Fortunately I have a total duplicate...

Or should I just figure this new RFE message is an error and sooner or later, if I leave everything alone, we'll have our case completed?

Edited by guatetaliana, 13 August 2008 - 01:56 PM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-13 13:52:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)NOA2 & DS-230 Question

I finally recieved a text message and email last night at 11:45 that my I-130 petition was approved!!! I've been in VJ almost daily reading everything I could and studying all my next steps. When I would read other VJers post about recieving thier NOA2 and how they'd cry and call thier loved ones to let them know, FINALLY I am one of those. I was talking to my wife on Skype when suddenly I recieved a text message that my status was updated, so I immediately looked at the website and there it was. My petition was finally approved. Needless to say we were both speechless, crying, and so thankful to Jehovah God for his help.

I have questions as I was going over all my notes about the NVC. I like to prepare myself beforehand and trying to get everything together to atleast speed up the process on my end.

Congratulations!


QUESTION 1:

On the DS-230 FORM, we have to submit the benificiaries birth certificate. Does the birth certificate need an apostille?

No, thank goodness, CDJ never needs an apostille on anything submitted.

QUESTION 2:

On the DS-230 FORM, we have to submit a divorce certificate. Is this a requirement for the beneficiary only? I ask because I ( the petitioner ) was previously divorced and I provided that with the I-130 but I'm not sure if my wife would have to submit mine again with the DS-230. She hasn't been previously married.

The petitioner is not required to submit documents for the civil documents package with the visa application, so she shouldn't need anything for this. However, be sure to have a copy of your divorce certificate on hand for the visa interview!


GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-19 20:24:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)RE: Hysterically Crying at work please HELP
Also, the NVC is just trying to confirm that you will have the acceptable documents for your interview. But you can sometimes convince them to close your case and schedule an interview on the premise that you will obtain the correct document before you attend an interview. The visa can't be approved until acceptable documents are presented to the embassy/consulate so really it's ultimately the embassy's call on what they will accept, and the NVC doesn't really have to be sitting on your case waiting for you to send them the right document. I know two people who did this filing through Central American embassies, they actually got an interview scheduled without police certificates because that stage was taking too long. They obtained the necessary documents during the wait between case closing at the NVC and the IV interview, presented the correct documents at the interview, and all went along fine from there. You may have to mail the NVC a letter stating your husband's intention to have the correctly-signed original divorce degree at his interview in order to comply with visa requirements, but that right now you want them to close your case based on the fact that all other necessary documents have been submitted and are ready for the interview. This tiny glitch should not be cause to have your case continually held up at the NVC. You obviously have a copy of the divorce decree and just need to get one signed by the proper authority.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-10-03 19:56:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)MEP Case number - Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Embassy
Yeah, you didn't opt in for electronic processing because for Mexico it's mandatory. The countries with the highest volume of applicants were generally chosen to be electronic processing countries a few years back to minimize the amount of actual paper flowing through the NVC and embassies/consulates. Just so you know, it's not just you, it's everybody filing in Mexico.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-10-26 02:11:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)Will NVC throw out your case for one misspelled word???
Is the lawyer you hired contracted to do the full process, I-130, NVC, interview, and I-601? I say this because it could cause more discontinuity and confusion than you need to deal with, to break the relationship for the NVC only to resume it for the I-601. Personally, I think most well-read people who have already consulted with a lawyer and confirmed that they're eligible for the process at hand and waiver should be able to do the I-130 and NVC parts by themselves, but the waiver and anything involving inadmissibility is a really rough thing to do on your own. Also, have you checked that you'd be saving money by doing what you're planning? My lawyer, for example, charges the same for doing the process start to finish as she does for just the I-601 because she points out that when a client has done any part alone, her office has to be brought up to speed on what has been filed, what was stated on each form, and what was submitted so that they can keep things consistent when they do their end of the work, and they still have to collect all the same history and biographical information on the applicant, and all of this updating consumes a lot of their time, which is why they don't necessarily give a discount for doing stuff on your own. If you're doing this in the interest of money, make sure you really will save money by doing so.

I do think that when the intending immigrant has complications that require an I-601 waiver, you have to be MUCH MORE CAREFUL because placing one incorrect date or entry on the DS-230, for example, can create an extra inadmissibility that can be really hard to undo if you go into the interview with that mistake still standing on the paperwork. As long as you've checked and double-checked your paperwork, you should be fine. But it would also be very useful to visit a forum like immigrate2us.net (which is focuses on people needing I-601 waivers) and read around to make sure you're using the correct terminology and information based on the fact that you have a spouse who will be inadmissible and need an I-601 waiver. VisaJourney can be a very enlightening site, but if your spouse is inadmissible, your process and the prospect of DIY is a lot different and much more risky.

As far as ONE MISSPELLED WORD, no, they can't just throw out the case (the NVC, by the way, they are just document-collectors, they are not the ones making the decision on your case as that's done at the visa interview with USCIS). However, a lot comes down to what that mistake is, as I referenced above. Mess up your father's birthdate on a biographical information form? Probably not a big deal. But mess up a date or mode of entry to the US when there were multiple ones, legal or illegal, and you could cause an additional inadmissibility problem that can't be immediately waived. In other words, they aren't going to deny a case because you messed up something insignificant on the forms, they would deny a case because something you stated triggers an inadmissibility under the law, even if that was a mistake that you put on the form. Visa denials, at least at Ciudad Juarez, are NOT arbitrary. There's always a reason there, and if denied, the applicant is given a form stating which section of the law they violated to be found inadmissible. Waiver approval is often much more arbitrary, although even that has come under a lot more standardization now that waivers are filed centrally to the lockbox in the US instead of at individual consulates.

Finally, like the others have said, lawyers can and do make just as big mistakes as individuals sometimes. This is why it's important to make sure the lawyer you're using is trustworthy, is able to dedicate the necessary time to your case that you need, and is charging appropriately for the time required to spend on your case. Since immigration lawyers generally charge by flat rates rather than hourly, their rate needs to be sufficient to cover all the work hours that will be put into your case. When a waiver is involved, this means a LOT more hours than for a straightforward non-waiver case. Good luck and I hope your case concludes smoothly!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-11-09 07:36:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresi-130 colour
I've never heard this before, but can you tell me which office you will be sending the I-130 to? Is it going to the US or is it going to be processed at a foreign consulate?
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-06-01 15:14:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to track application at USCIS?
Good info everybody, but jamster was trying to sign up on USCIS and was wondering how people know their case number before getting the NOA1. Any other ideas besides looking at the cleared check?
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-13 23:52:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to track application at USCIS?
If you sent your payment by check, you can get a copy of the cleared check from the bank. Many banks have this possibility available online. On the back of the check, they print your USCIS case number. This number only works once your case has been entered into the system on USCIS, which sometimes takes awhile...
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-13 09:37:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresApplying For An Illegal Immigrant
There's a chance they'll get away with this. Happens a lot. Of course that infuriates those of us that are facing up to the 10-yr ban (for spouses dragged to the US unwillingly as KIDS!), filing waivers, and going through the utter torture of doing this on the up-and-up.

How are they going to explain how they met? And if they lie, how are they going to prove their story? Meanwhile, there's a small chance that the CO will request evidence proving his life in Mexico, which will have a suspicious 4-year gap in it.

If they get found out, the penalties for fraud/misrep are not fun. Much more of a headache than the simple 10-year waiveable ban. Did nobody tell them about the Pilot Program in Mexico? Same-day waiver approval runs at about 50%, much higher for those who actually know what they're getting into and have a well-prepared waiver.

I think they've taken the very wrong path, and I guess I hope for their sake it works out. Just wish the rest of us didn't have to suffer for telling the truth...
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-18 01:09:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGetiing ready to start the process, Is it worth it to use a lawyer???
QUOTE (hollykay @ Aug 18 2008, 04:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Everyone,

Im new to VJ. My husband and I got married in June, in Egypt. Now, we are starting the paperwork for his K-3 visa and I don't know where to begin. Please can someone help me?

dazed and confessed in paperwork,
HollyKay blink.gif


HollyKay, start with the "Guides" section of this site! Very helpful!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-18 11:47:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGetiing ready to start the process, Is it worth it to use a lawyer???
It IS a personal decision. I personally think that if you are willing to invest the time required to research the process yourself (and VJ has all the resources you need!), you should have no reason to pay someone else to do this for you. It is primarily filling out forms and assembling documents and evidence. The VJ guides, the immigration wiki, Loto's Guide, James' shorcut, and the forums...these will get you through the whole thing!

Like others have said, there are good lawyers, mediocre lawyers, and bad ones. In my opinion, the mediocre and bad lawyers greatly outnumber the good ones when it comes to immigration. You are best to go off the recommendations of people on this forum who have had great experiences with their lawyers IF you decide to go that route.

Good luck!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-18 02:21:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresForget picture on DS-230.
Did you include it but put it somewhere else in the packet, or did you not include it at all?
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-25 12:13:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAny tips for maintaing sanity while in the visa journey process?
Great advice so far.

Here have been our fortifying factors:
1) SKYPE! I know not everyone has computers/internet/webcams, but there are internet cafes round the world where these things are available. We would be in AWFUL shape right now if we didn't have the chance to see each other at least by video every day. We're expecting a baby in a few months, and the chance to instantly share news with my husband is something I would pay anything in the world for (And I am! Some of my monthly income is sent to my husband to pay for the internet service alone!).

2) Like others said, staying busy. Working, making plans with friends, reading books, learning new languages or skills (my husband is learning German, I'm trying to learn French!), playing sports.

3) Staying connected to those who are supportive and know what it's like to go through this. I'm lucky because my parents (who I'm currently living with) went through the Fiance visa process in the early 80s to get my dad to the US from Guatemala. They went 6 months without even being able to talk on the phone (apparently they had no money). So I know they have my back and they are with me 100%. But if they weren't, I would make sure to seek out those who DO understand. For example: VJ! Live on here if you have to, you will find that anything you're going through, dozens of others have been there, and it helps so much just knowing you're not alone! Try to find friends who are supportive and willing to hear you vent about slow processing times, false RFEs, messed up automated systems, etc. Again, if not in your daily life, then on here. Between this forum and immigrate2us.net, I have found the support I need to help me stay afloat.

This process is brutal, but you can do it! We're here for ya! smile.gif
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-18 01:21:00