biggish data

DS-230 part 1 - Montreal, Filing for a K-3 visa

Interesting --- we received our packet three and our instructions on the checklist for the Vancouver Canada Consulate state "Specifically" to Fax the biographical form and then to fax the checklist when complete ---- no where does it state to send the originals anywhere -- I have the originals and will have my hubby bring them to the interview. I find this so amazingly messed up that all consulates even in the same country require different items and different methods of receiving them -- I don't even have to fill out an 1-134 --- My income way over the 125% threshold so there wouldn't be a problem ---

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-02-06 21:45:00

Help, moving from Canada to the US

This site is for legal immigration to the US.

You can review the Guides (tab at the top of the page) and the Comparison Chart to see which is the fastest legal method.

treating this poster as if she is some kind of common criminal is really not the best type of advice to post here --- My husband and I were pretty unsavey to this immigration process as well --- If you read the information on the USCIS website --- it is really easy to get confused --- read the forms too and all of us know this is not cut and dry anywhere --- we are all in the same boat and everyone of us has a different situation based upon where we are from and the circumstances around our journey --- but one thing we all do have in common is that we met and fell madly in love with someone from a different country --- lets help each other here and not assume someone knows what you do now --- she will soon find that this process has to be done legally and if a lawyer told her to just move and set up camp and start from there ---- he was not right in doing... Somehow she got here and as tough as it is to know you have to be away from your loved one for anytime she will likely discover it is not worth trying to find away around this lengthy and costly process --- I would recommend to her to not get married and file the 1-129F because it will be sooner -- to be with her husband --- even though she will have to wait for 30 to 90 days to get a work authorization.

just my put

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-02-09 00:28:00

K3 Interview Date

I just wanted to let everyone know that we got our interview date --- submitted the checklist and bio form on the 6th of February by fax and had our interview date (the one we asked for on the checklist form) 4 days later - This process began with the I-130 application being sent off early in November and here it is mid Feb and we have our interview 5 weeks from yesterday --- we are quite certain that we will need a waiver so we are having to get our buns in gear here to get a "rock solid" waiver ready for submission --- I know everyones situation and conditions are different --- but I have absolutely 0 complaints about the efficiency of business at the Vancouver Consulate ---

YEAH

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-02-16 12:33:00

Packet Three - Vancouver Canada

I wonder when they stopped wanting it? If you visit "embassy info" up top and click Vancouver, it is listed in the forms needed. Hmmmm. That seems really weird to me being that the Support topic seems to weigh so heavy in situations, is it just because it is K3 and they know you'll have to show support when you adjust anyway?

It does seem wierd --- I will call them or have my hubby do so this week to be certian but the reasoning you mentioned about AOS seems pretty reasonable, does that mean they are the only reasonable consulate out there --- if so, Im glad we are going with them --- we were married in Canada in September and he is a UK citizen ---

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-02-05 15:08:00

Packet Three - Vancouver Canada

Horray, we just got our Packet Three from the Vancouver Consulate --- I have a concern though, can someone tell me if the I-134 is normally listed in the items needed from the K3 checklist --- or does that come as a request in packet 4 --- this is just a bit perplexing since you have to give proof of abiltiy to support the immigrating spouse --- is it different at other consulates? --- I don't mind if I don't need it --- because there are certainly enough other items on the checklist we have to complete and compile ---By the way it came to our attorney and then she sent it to me --- so hubby was a bit sad he did not get that packet at his doorstep --- since the ball so to speak has been in my court, he was anticipating it coming his way ---

Thanks ahead for any information you may be able to give to us --

C

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-02-04 23:38:00

Im confused!

if the reciept notice says I-797 --- then yes that is the NOA 1. Basically, it means they have entered it into the system to be processed. I bet they cashed your check.

Edited by ktmmansgal, 18 June 2006 - 10:26 AM.

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-06-18 10:25:00

Interview

. Do we also need the marriage certificates from our previous marriages ( hope not, huge hassle)?

Yes, you will need certified copies of your marriage certificates --- it is pretty easy, you just go to vital statistics in the US --- if you want I will send you an exact copy of our Package three checklist in a personal mail --- it is for a K3 but it will give you a jump start --- and by the way they will let you fax everything --- in Vancouver

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-02-08 01:41:00

Vancouver Interview

I have several months to go before I am at this stage but do they interview Monday through Friday or only certain days. I have lots of planning once we get to that stage because after my fiance's interview and we get the visa we are flying to Winnipeg to move him down.

Ours will be on Thursday the 23rd of March... if you want the list of what is in packet 3- I will send you a copy in a private message --- so you can get a jump start on the process ---

Edited by ktmmansgal, 02 March 2006 - 10:58 PM.

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-03-02 22:57:00

Vancouver Consulate

Hi,

Are you not given the opportunity to request an interview date? Or do they just assign one to you? We have all of our paperwork in order already so as soon as I get the Packet 3, all I have to do is get the medical then I'll be ready for the interview. We were hoping in a week or so after I fax back the checklist....

Thanks!

Lisa

Vancouver lets you do the medical up to a day before the interview, so that really makes things convienent if you are from out of town --- I got the interview date I selected and probably could have gotten it for a week earlier if I wanted it to --- I have no issues at all with Vancouver --- the fact that you dont have to fill our an I-134 and you can fax everything is just great---

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-03-02 23:02:00

Vancouver Consulate

Thanks for the tips on Parking, I'll keep it in mind. And I just got back from Walmart - they do do the 2x2 passport pics, you just need to specify this before they cut them. I have used the normal Canadian size for everything up to now though.

there is parking right across the street in a couple of parking garages which do not charge as much as the lot under the consulate --- as for the two by two photos, there is a copy shop about a block and a half west of the consulate that has a passport photo booth, my husband used it because his british size photos would not work --- we were married in canada so we had to go through the Vancouver consulate --- neither of us is from Canada ---

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-09-22 19:06:00

Need potential temp lodging

Here is the situation --- My husband got his Waiver approval on October 18th, I was sent the official letter instead of him and it arrived about a week later --- My husband was given a letter to gain access back into ton Vancouver Embassy upon Waiver Approval, They told us just bring the letter along with the waiver approval letter on any open day of the embassy -- we already had the fingerprints taken back in March when the initial interview took place so we felt we were set ---

So, since we had has so many lumps and bumps in the road to getting this far I though I would superceed any future bumps by calling the Vancouver Embassy which I was guided to "if" and ony "if" we had further questions. So, I did, they then told me that the Vancouver Embassy had not been notified of my husbands waiver approval and that we were to wait till they got the physical package in the mail from Vermont.

The problem with all this is that my husband is a UK Citizen and because we were married in Canada that is where this process has to take place. So, upon getting the letter and along with the coordination that my husband had to do to close up all his home items in England and quit his job he purchased an airplane ticket to fly to Vancouver from Manchester England on the 26th of November with hopes of arriving at the Embassy on the morning of the 27th to get his Visa Stamp --- with only a week left for possible transfer of the package and the holidays in the middle of all this It will have been 6 weeks by then --- we may be looking at finding some cheep lodging for him while he waits out the time for the package to be delivered to Vancouver from Vermont --- isnt it funny how we have to use overnight mail and sucure ways of getting information to them and they cannot do us the same service to make sure our precious paperwork gets back to the Embassy in a trackable fashion --- I have gotten our Senators office involved and tried to contact Vermont, we have gotten nothing and the Senators office is not gettin too much either --- So, we are looking at likely more money being spent while my husband waits in Vancouver for the package to arrive from Vermont to Vancouver --

So, first does anyone know just how slow the Mail is in Canada --- and then does anyone know of some inexpensive lodging or a room someone might like to rent out while my husband waits out the process up there.

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-11-16 14:02:00

Good news from Vermont

I called the number this evening--- knowing that if I was to be speaking to Vermont the office would be closed. I did all the steps exactly as mentioned in Igors post --- I typed in our I-601 Waiver Receipt number EAD and the recorded response I was given was, "Your I-601 Waiver application was received at our office on April 7th, and that cases such as this are taking between 30 to 90 days to process."

I believe that the recording is proof enough that I was actually reaching Vermont, case in point --- We are going through the Vancouver Consulate and Vancouver sends all I-601s to Vermont to be processed. So, it appears that the phone system is pretty intelligent afterall. I am going to try again tomorrow to see if I can get a live person to verbally verify the Vermont aspect of this --- if this is true, at least it gives those of us with Waivers through Vermont some hope of getting some status --- I say, with all the downer news out there and the fact that so many on here are so totally frustrated and stressed over not getting any news or hope of news that imformation like this that can give hope and a number to contact really cheer a good lot of us up...

Thanks soo much Igor,

---Most days end sad knowing one more day has passed that I am not in the company of my loving husband --- loving from a distance is just #######!!!

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-06-05 20:41:00

Visa Appointment Cancelled at the last minute :-(

Hi Kitkat1,

I don't think there is anything special about my timeline....petition submitted begining of Jan 2006. All relevant NOAs and packages received.....I've done the medicals, all paperwork gathered and appointment letter received from Embassy.

Excuse my ignorance but what's IMBRA?

it a new law that was passed(I believe it is mosty about marriage brokers-basically it requires a more extensive background check on the US citizens). I could be way off-someone here will clarify. There seems to be some confusion about dates-I have read here that it only applies to people that applied for the k-1 AFTER 3/6/06......................the guy from NVC told me it applies to all petitions that weren't approved before Jan 06.

I think Dublin is making a HUGE mistake & we need to se them straight. when did you receive your noa2?

Here is a little background --- I read of one of the cases that drove IMBRA being from Washington State where a fella who had a previous abuse record, brought a Russian Bride here and she quickly learned of his abusive behavior and moved out to protect herself -- he then arranged to have her murdered when she would not come back to him.

WHAT IS THIS NEW LAW? WHAT DROVE IT?...

Based on a very few unfortunate cases around the country of a foreign lady spouse who became a victim of domestic abuse, Congress passed a law to, understandably, offer some protection for these immigrant women. The law was passed as part of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2005.

The new law is called the "International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005". It requires all U.S. gentlemen who petition for a fiancee or spousal visa to provide more personal background information to Immigration Service and the State Department than ever before. It creates more restrictions in the process such as the number of fiancee or spousal petitions one can file, and how quickly a gentleman can file some visa petitions.

The law also requires a U.S. gentleman who wishes to meet his future fiancee or spouse through an "International Marriage Broker" to first submit extensive personal background information to the broker agency. The broker must then share that information with a future lady fiancee or spouse who must consent before the couple can start a communication and relationship.

WHY IS THIS LAW IMPORTANT? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?

For the foreign ladies, the law is important because it tries to protect immigrant women by allowing them to review a potential gentleman suitor's background before starting a relationship. For the gentlemen, it means that they must be prepared to forego some privacy and offer some extensive background data. Perhaps, the best way to view this law is simply to acknowledge the obvious: in the long run, full disclosure is the best "relationship" policy.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE SOME OF THE PROVISIONS?

Some highlights of the new law:

1. NEW PETITION FORMS: New I-129F Fiancee and K-3 Spousal Visa petitions will require that the petitioner provide information on his criminal convictions for specified crimes, including violent offenses, domestic abuse and sexual assualt.(Interestingly, it would appear that the Petition I-130 Petition for the CR-1 legal resident visa for spouse seems to be unaffected.)

2. LIMIT ON NUMBER OF PETITIONS: Some petitioners will need to wait before they can successfully file for a fiancee visa. For example, if you filed two (2) or more fiancee visa petitions in the past, and at least one of them was approved, you must wait two (2) years from the filing date of the last approved petition before you can be successfully approved for another fiancee visa petition. (Exception: Under some circumstances, a petitioner may be able to obtain a "waiver".)

3. MULTIPLE VISA PETITION DATABASE: Any person approved for a second visa petition or filing a third visa petition will be notified by Immigration that their case has been put into a special visa petition database which will track multiple petition filers and help identify those who might be abusing the system.

4. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PAMPHLET BROCHURE: Homeland Security will develop and make available on USCIS, State Department and Embassy websites a domestic violence pamphlet brochure in 14 languages and revised every 2 years which discusses the visa process, adjustment of status, conditional residency, marriage and visa fraud, domestic violence abuse rights, where and how to get help and other warnings and notifications.

5. CONSULAR INTERVIEW: The Consular Officer at interview will provide the visa applicant with a copy of the fiancee or spousal petition, and information and documents in her native language on any past marital and divorce history, past criminal history and past domestic violence history of the petitioner. The Consular Officer will also answer any questions about the domestic violence pamphlet brochure. The Consular Officer will also ask the visa applicant if the relationship was facilitated by an International Marriage Broker and , if so, confirm that the broker provided the applicant with information or documents about the petitioner's background.

6. REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKERS (IMBs): IMBs are required to check the National Sex Offender public registry and state public registry for each specific U.S. client, and to gather mandatory background information and documents on that particular U.S. client's past criminal history, including prostitution offenses, past domestic violence history, past marital and divorce history, past visa petition history, ages of any children under age 18, and all states and countries where the U.S. client lived since age 18. IMBs must then provide that information to the foreign client lady in her native language and secure a signed, written consent from her before releasing her personal contact information to that specific U.S. client. The law imposes stiff civil and criminal penalties of up to $25,000 and up to 5 years in federal prison for each broker violation.

WHEN DOES THE LAW GO INTO EFFECT? WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Most of the new law's provisions go into effect in sixty (60) days after date of enactment, which is March 06, 2006. The bottom line for gentlemen and foreign ladies with an international romance and courtship is, if possible, to finalize their engagement and file their visa petitions as soon as possible.

WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THIS LAW? HOW DO I COMPLAIN ABOUT IT?

Many gentlemen value their rights of privacy. Many gentlemen feel that this new law might unduly impinge on their rights of free speech and free association as U.S. citizens. Perhaps, the law may also intrude on equal protection rights of U.S. citizens who are required to provide extensive background data for foreign romances but not for domestic dating. If you wish to register and voice your concerns and complaints about this law, please contact your federal Senator's or local Congressman's office.

Edited by ktmmansgal, 13 June 2006 - 11:40 AM.

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-06-13 11:38:00

How Low can you go...........

how do we know that they don't have the ability to put some kind of alert or negative comment in the phone response log --- I know they have a log as well, because during one of my previous calls, the customer support rep. said I see it shows you called on the following dates, all matching the dates I had called -- so take that for what you want as well ---

Right, they log each call and perhaps make notations regarding the nature of the call. This is fairly normal procedure, in my experience, when dealing with call centers.

How do we know that they don't have the ability to put some kind of alert or negative comment in the phone response log? Well perhaps they are allowed to make a note that says the caller was rude or agitated. But it's rather crazy to suggest that a call center employee from a contracted company has any ability to affect your case!

Stirring things up --- by calling folks here crazy or whatever does not help anyone --- Funny how we are here for suggestions and encouragement and what we all to often get is comments back from folks like you who only seem to find the negative in things and call people like myself "Crazy"

Lets just all be a bit nicer to eachother and this part of the process of waiting (talking with and helping folks along the way) might be less upsetting..

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-07-17 15:21:00

How Low can you go...........

If I were you and I lost my cool, I would call back and ask for Mary and appologize, that is recorded as well. She will likely be more willing to not let her opinion affect your case if you do that --- I am sure she gets tons of people at thier witts end and unless she is completely heartless, she should understand and not take it personally and place some black mark on your case.

Oh my - just my 2 cents - Kelle has NO reason whatsoever to call and apologize. Mary does NOT have the ability to place a black mark on her case. And Kelle does not need to apologize when a government contracted employee is rude to her and trys to tell her to "well just be happy that your not filing for the 1-130 or something like that cuz we are packing loads of them up and sending". This information has no bearing on Kelle's situation and does not come into play. And it's not Mary's job to tell Kelle to "be happy". It's her job to answer questions clearly and correctly from US Citizens regarding their pending applications. Come on.

All I said is that if it were me, what I would do would be to call back and appologize --- But, I know it is not --- you know the saying you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar --- what ever that is just my way --- no one has to take the advice -- its just what I would do --- so don't attack me --- and how do we know that they don't have the ability to put some kind of alert or negative comment in the phone response log --- I know they have a log as well, because during one of my previous calls, the customer support rep. said I see it shows you called on the following dates, all matching the dates I had called -- so take that for what you want as well ---

Edited by ktmmansgal, 17 July 2006 - 03:04 PM.

ktmmansgal

Female

2006-07-17 15:01:00