Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	lol i already paid him so theres no point in getting rid of him now... i didn't want to pay but I thought I was doing the right thing, I figured it would be in my best interest to pay so that things went smoothly.. I was wrong but oh well. I think getting an attorney was a smart move on our part. We can afford it, and she will make sure all the forms are filled out correctly, mail everything, if something (god forbid) were to go wrong she'd handle it. There is *so* much involved with this process, and I am a government contractor so I know that if something can go wrong, it most likely will (a little tongue-in-cheek humor there). Byron & I just feel better knowing there is a professional taking care of everything we don't have to ourselves. I use this site (and particularly, this forum) for support and information, but ultimately, if I had to do ALL the research myself, I'd go nuts wondering "what if I did this wrong? what if I missed something?". Having an attorney just gives me peace of mind I guess..	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-20 21:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	grrr speaking of incompetent lawyers.. mine hasn't had the best track record with me. I hired him because I wanted to make sure we did everything right, since we really cant afford to go through this process again any time soon and I live in Mexico with Em, I thought that that little fact might complicate things. But really the only thing thats complicating this whole process is my lawyer! First he was wrong about which consulate we would be using and now he's wrong about which affidavit of support we need (he thinks we need the I-864, when really we need the I-134) AHH woohoo we're almost all in pink.. just a few more left to go! Oh Boy - now I am really worried!! Let me tell a quick story - when B & I went the attorney's office end of Nov together, an associate told us we'd get a notification they received our NOA1 in a week or so.....and should be approved in a couple months. NOT kidding. Over 5 months later...finally got NOA2. Not exactly confidence-inducing huh??	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-19 15:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Jennifer ... sheesh.... this attorney sounds like one of the legals I know personally who does Immigration law. I told her about VJ and how she should encourage her clients to review this site so it would 'make her job much easier". You know what she said? "I do not want my clients on there, that's why they have me!" So basically in my humble opinion, the less the client knows, the better off they Esquire is because when that client receives a bloody RFE for them not having a specific document(s)... guess what? That attorney has the client 'fix it & submit the documents back to them", which in turn costs the client $$$$$ for them submitting the RFE evidence and a signed letterhead from them! *** now on the other hand? I have a very good friend of mine also in Immi Law and she is so honest, good and very forthright --- really her work is unremarkable. So Kudos to her!!! That being said, I have never believed in "not teaching" so they can learn for themselves. Now in regards to what your expert legal has advised you? Please check yourself with your embassy as it is stated on the Dept of State Official Website that Byron will require a medical FIRST before his interview. WHY IS YOUR ATTORNEY UNCERTAIN? Ask her why the hell she/he did not check the DOS Official Website herself and tell you and Byron the actual, instead of this BS of tell you NOT TO READ and RESEARCH because it stresses you out! Afterall, THAT IS WHY YOU HIRED HER/ HIM! And what kind of "professional letter" was that!? "I'M NOT CERTAIN".... BTW, if the beneficiary has had the medical before his interview at Embassy, those records can be brought to the AOS medical; there is a place in the actual medical instructions on the DOS site (and it is referenced on our Thread Map under Medical info/ vaccines too from Official Website). I do not think the Official Dept of State website is confusing or inaccurate! If it was, then where has everyone who has gone through this process without an attorney gotten their information from??? Lastly, I got both the hardcopy receipt (says they have received our file) and the eNotification from both the NVC and Embassy within a DAY of them actually having the file! NOT ONE MONTH OR SO LATER. From Ankara Embassy, it says that you can download the documents (DS's forms,etc) from their website and no further packet 3 will be mailed out. I even wrote to find out if that was only for USC Petitioner or for both me and Kadir. They told me both of us. *** REMEMBER EACH EMBASSY IS DIFFERENT, so you can call the Main Dept of State who deals directly with each Embassy to ask. The number is listed on our Thread Map references. I'm sorry but I disagree with your attorney when it comes to you reading and researching for yourself and Byron. Who's furture and life is it anyhow! If an attorney states they are uncertain, I can tell you right now they would get a scathing letter from me as their client as to WHY they haven't researched FOR ME and put in writing the answer to both ME and my Fiance! Especially, since I am paying them! Right?? You and Byron are going to come through all of this like a champs in the end because you two will be happily married and together! Best to you, Mari Are you kidding me???? You & ME! Mari, you are right. I HAD written a scathing email response, and sent to Byron for review, and he - being the polite diplomat - told me not to send it and sent his own very nice and polite email about time limits, etc. Sooo....I am still upset but don't want to rock the boat any further Honestly, up until today this attorney has seemed brilliant to me. The 'uncertain' comment rocked me though....why am I paying so much money for 'uncertainty'??? Aghhh ohhh I will have to think about this some more!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-19 14:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Ok, so I sent our immigration attorney this Hi *****, I have read this: http://www.visajourn...gdom&cty=London which shows Byron needs his medical exam before he gets his interview but after he sends his forms? We are confused. We know NVC has our case right now (LND*******), but unsure how to prepare/proceed from here. Byron just booked a medical on June 8. Please let us know what to do from here? Sorry, I mean this part: New info as of mid-October 2010: The visa interview will not be scheduled until the Embassy has received the results of the medical examination, so get the medical acheduled early, but after you have returned the forms and checklist so your files will match up. Thanks, Jennifer and her response was this: Jennifer, Please see the e-mail below which I had sent earlier when we received the approval. Each Embassy/Consulate is different in their procedures with Fiance visas. However, no matter which Embassy, their procedure is outlined in a mailing that Byron will receive at the address provided on the application. They will have you provide some forms to the Consulate along with some documentation which will be listed on a checklist. I know you are trying to do everything in advance so that you don't have to wait after getting the mailing but you should probably just wait until you get it so you don't waste time collecting items that are unnecessary. It is unlikely that a medical will be required since Byron will have to do one here in the US after entry and before applying for Adjustment of Status (green card). However, they may be requiring this in London now for fiance visas, I can't be certain. Either way, I would wait until Byron gets that letter in the mail and stop reading websites! That is why you hired us! Websites are confusing and not always accurate. Sometimes they are but sometimes they stress you out more than necessary. Byron should receive something from the Consulate within a month or month and a half of the approval notice. So we'll be on the look out. Thoughts Decemberites??? Edited by ferincor, 19 May 2011 - 09:12 AM.	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-19 09:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	[quote name='Mari & Kadir' timestamp='1305784994' post='4673886'] OK OK... it's easy now. http://www.dhl.com/e..._reference.html Thanks Mari! Now I have something else to stalk!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-19 05:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	This may have been posted before... but I called NVC and got a tracking number LNDxxxxxxxxxx Does this mean it's been sent? I thought I saw a post about how to track it but can't find it now? I've spent the last 2 weeks crazy about this...Mari and and every one else, if this has been answered already, please remember some of us were in different places when posts and information was made, and may have not paid that much attention to it at the time (I've always paid attention, but gotten so caught up in certain aspects, that I once spent an hour going post to post to find an answer I knew had already been there, so may have missed something vitally important.) My question now is, even though I *know* it's been answered before, is, how do I use the tracking number? I saw a post about tracking to the embassy but I can no longer find it..	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-18 19:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	By the way guys, I know that this might have been a fluke, but a pretty good one! Yesterday morning, I had my fiancée CALL uscis, just to check if we were approved and they said that they haven't processed us yet. Which I accepted since we were not at our 5 month mark yet.. But then last night we got approved... fluke or did that call help? for you people still waiting on your NoA 2's maybe it's worth a shot just to call in a friendly matter, specially if you are not at your 5 month mark yet Worth a shot?? It very well may be!! I called on Tuesday (one day past the 5 month mark), was told no one was assigned to my case yet....2 days later had our approval! I completely believe my call had something to do with that...	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-06 14:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	We Got It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The last processing action taken on your case Receipt Number: EACxxx Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E) Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity On May 5, 2011, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283. For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations. If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283. *Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Check Processing Times. *** Please do not respond to this e-mail message. Sincerely, The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) I am actually bawling right now....so much time....so much wait....I'm so happy and relieved! Tried to call my sleeping fiance but he didn't answer...	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-05 18:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Please can tell me what number to call if the VCS 1800 375-5283 or another number .... thanks! 1-800-375-5283 is the correct number After you choose the language (1 for English), choose 2 for case status, then 6 for customer rep. Since our petition is taking longer than the 5 months processing time, they sent a service request for me (they also told me my case had yet to be assigned to anyone grrrr). So hopefully this will get our case moving along.... Good Luck!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-04 07:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Hey Decemberites, I have a question. I'm pretty sure it's been answered before, but I cannot find it (sorry)... When I call VSC, I can't figure out how to get a real live person. I can check the status of my application, but it's the same info as when I log into my account online. I want to talk to a real person haha! Thanks for any help, and congrats on all the NOA2s!! Figured it out myself lol! When you call the VSC number, press 2 for checking case status, then 6 to speak with a customer rep.	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-03 10:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Hey Decemberites, I have a question. I'm pretty sure it's been answered before, but I cannot find it (sorry)... When I call VSC, I can't figure out how to get a real live person. I can check the status of my application, but it's the same info as when I log into my account online. I want to talk to a real person haha! Thanks for any help, and congrats on all the NOA2s!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-05-03 10:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	OK that was very cleaver!!! The Abbey is beautiful and yes, so were you! ** Even IF you rented that dresss! lol love ya, Mari Thanks Mari!! Was an awesome day - that's actually the day he asked me to marry him for real. We bought fake rings for this shoot, and he actually got his in the Westminster Abbey gift shop. While he was busy buying his ring, I was outside standing alone - in a wedding dress. Had at least 5 tourists ask if they could take their picture with me LOL! After shooting at the Abbey, we ran around all of London taking other pics, then ending up at a pub getting drunk!! I must have been the drunkest "bride" in all of London by the end of the night! Came home to the US, my coworkers had totally bought it, my cube was all decorated in wedding stuff!! I felt a little bad...but not really because it was SUCH an awesome prank!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-29 18:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Last July, when I went to London to meet Byron for the first time, my friends all joked that I'd come back married. I told Byron this, and he came up with the idea to take a wedding photo shoot and post it on facebook to trick everyone. Brilliant!! So I rented a dress from a costume shop, Byron's professional photographer buddy met us at Westminster Abbey....hijinks ensued! I think we give the royal couple a run for their money, huh?  IMG_6543.jpg   444.06KB   14 downloads  IMG_6547-Edit.jpg   433.37KB   12 downloads Edited by ferincor, 29 April 2011 - 08:35 AM.	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-29 08:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Ferin its like you read my mind, just yesterday Blake was asking me to learn how to make Brunswick Stew! This is perfect! Happy to help! I've had many different types of Brunswick Stew, and I honestly think mine is the best ever (tooting my horn here haha!) Byron tried some samples of other ones at the VA state fair last year, and he agrees! And like I said, I took a recipe off the internet and completely changed it(added a lot of things that weren't in the original recipe, etc), so if there are any ingredients (like veggies) you aren't fond of, you can always switch them out! Enjoy!!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-28 12:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Here is a true Southern recipe from the US. I took this recipe from the internet and completely skewed and twisted it to my own tastes, so it's truly mine! I made this for Byron the first time he visited me, and now it's a requirement that I make it every single time he visits (he can't get enough, and honestly neither can I)! Super Yummy! Ferin's Brunswick Stew 1 large onion, chopped 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves 1 can cream-style corn 1 can whole kernel corn 1 can lima beans 1 can green beans Approx 6 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped (I like large pieces) 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes 1 12 oz bottle chili sauce 1 14 ½ oz can chicken broth ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce ¼ cup butter or margarine, cut up 2 T cider vinegar 2 t dry mustard ½ t salt ½ t pepper ½ t pepper sauce Approx 1/3 cup chili powder (*note, use less or none if you don’t like a lot of kick like I do!) Place onion in a 4 quart slow cooker (crockpot); place chicken over onion. Add all remaining ingredients and stir (but try not to stir the chicken/onions too much) Cook, covered, at HIGH 4 hours or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken, shred and return to stew. (*note, I used to use two forks to shred it, now I use a food processor, much easier!) I like to add sour cream when I fix a bowl, goes with the “kick” quite well.	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-28 12:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	You can also find the Mrs. H Balls chutney at most "World Markets" if you have one in your area!! Shane has me HOOKED on it now as well as "Peppadews" you can find a lot of that stuff at Wegmans as well! Thanks Jamie!! I do have a World Market here in Richmond woohoo!! Byron will be happy about that... I tried a peppadew, stuffed with hot cheese, when I was in SA....I'm not crazy about them but I know B is. Unfortunately closest Wegman's is F'burg, but maybe I can find them somewhere else for him. Thanks again!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-21 08:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	yay for noa2ers! hey, sorry if i'm putting this in the wrong place but this thread i've found is a very informative source of peeps to have. reilly's coming over to england for a week in may - and when he flies he flies with just carry on luggage (i don't know how he does it!) and i was wondering if customs would allow him to take a suitcase on the way back with some of my stuff, just so it's less to take/ship when the time comes. i don't know if it'll be a nightmare because he didn't fly out with it, and is bringing foreign things back into the country. i mean - if it just means itemising the contents i can do that anyway - saves him getting to customs and having to be red faced at the suitcase full of lady clothes at dulles I've brought back several suitcases from England for Byron. Obviously much cheaper than shipping. I have never once been asked about the contents (not saying he won't). And like the previous person said, just make sure he knows what's in the suitcase in case he gets asked! Good luck!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-19 10:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	They are awesome aren't they? Where at in SA did you stay? We spent a couple nights in Johannesburg with Byron's brother, several nights in Klerksdorp with his parents and sister, and one night in Rustenburg to go to the Pilandersburg Nat'l Park. I got to play with elephants and baby lions and cheetahs - such an experience!! https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2069076&id=1001199845#!/photo.php?fbid=1718427112776&set=a.1487637023168.2069076.1001199845&theater https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094135&id=1001199845#!/photo.php?fbid=1714301609641&set=a.1714277649042.2094135.1001199845&theater	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-11 14:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	I just returned from South Africa, and this was my favorite. It's a very VERY sweet dessert. I haven't gotten to try this recipe myself, but I figured I'd share it with you guys. Meinard translated it for me from one of his cookbooks, so hopefully everything's worded correctly! LOL! Koeksisters. ------------------------------------------------ Ingredients: ------------------------------------------------ Syrup 1L (4 cups) sugar 375 mL (1 1/2 cup) water 2.5 mL (1/2 tsp) cream of tarter 2.5 mL (1/2 tsp) powdered ginger 2 whole pieces of cinnamon 5-10 mL (1-2 tsp) glycerin ------------------------------------------------ Dough 1L (4 cups) four 2.5 mL (1/2 tsp) salt 13 mL (2 tbl) baking powder 60 mL (4 tbl) butter/margirine 1 egg 250-375 mL (1-1 1/2 cups) milk/water ------------------------------------------------ Fat/Oil to bake it in ------------------------------------------------ Directions: ------------------------------------------------ Make the syrup 1) Let sugar dissolve in water over low heat. 2) Add cream of tartar, ginger, cinnamon. Boil for 5 minutes. 3) Add glycerin just before you take the mixture off the stove. ------------------------------------------------ Make the dough 1) Mix powdered ingredients together. Mix butter in with handmixer. 2) In a separate bowl, beat the egg. Add milk/water 3) Now, mix the two bowls together 4) Knead the dough until it's smooth, then lest rest for at least 2 hours. (PREHEAT OVEN TO 375 F) ------------------------------------------------ 1) Roll out dough 1 cm thick, and cut it into thin strips. 2) Fold the strips in half and twist them. 3) Cover 5-6 Koeksisters in lard/oil on top. 4) Bake 1-2 minutes until they are light brown. Turn over and repeat this step. 5) Remove and place on paper towel for a minute. 6) Use a fry-basket to dip koeksister into syrup for a few seconds. Let the excess syrup drip off. 7) Place on a plate and let dry a little bit. Refrigerate. ------------------------------------------------ Hints 1) If you want dryer koeksisters replace butter with 30 mL (2 tbl) cooking oil. Add with egg and milk instead of powders. 2) In order to prevent syrup from heating up too fast while dipping the koeksisters, use a large bowl and put ice in the bottom. Line this bowl with plastic wrap, and then put syrup in. If any of you have trouble finding glycerin, I found some at Michael's in their cake decorating section. I just returned from South Africa as well (end of February), and coincidentally, my future sister-in-law gave me Koeksisters just before I left! Was eating them at the Jo'burg airport while waiting for my flight! They are delicious!!!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-08 09:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	When Being Added To The Timeline DONT FORGET To tell us the date you sent your I-129F, the date of NOA1 Hardcopy and any "fondles" ("last updated" on www.uscis.gov) you may have had!! Without all 3 data items our averages get all messed up. And find out where you were routed! VSC or CSC? p.s. I would really hate to split us up, but because the timeline is growing so large the only way for it to fit into an image format would be to separate CSC and VSC, as much as I don't want to do it. So either I get rid of the folks who aren't active or we split it up. Bummer. Oh, and yes, Mari. I want to kill you. I just went to my UCIS profile, and my "last updated" date is 12/13/2010. Guess that means I was fondled??? (My NOA1 was Dec 3)	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-08 08:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Ferincor, Does Byron's famiy make a homemade chutney or is there a specific chutney recipe that we should use with this? I know 3 kinds of chutney (tomato, mango, tamarind). Which should I use for your recipe? Thanks!! Mari Hi Mari, this is what Byron and his family use (I think they go through several bottles of this stuff a month - they put it on everything lol!): http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/B0001590KU I'm unsure where to find it here (out side of amazon.com). I did find the recipe online: Mrs H S Ball's Chutney (this is the original recipe) from Mrs Balls family who still lives in SA, so if you're in a place where you cant find this.... why not make your own its really easy. Makes about 18 bottles (mild) 612 g dried peaches 238 g dried apricots 3 litres dark grape vinegar or more if needed 2 1/2 kg white sugar 500 g onions 120 g salt 75 g cayenne pepper To make chutney "hot", add 75 g minced hot peppers. To make peach chutney, leave out the dried apricots and use 850 g dried peaches. Soak the dried fruits overnight in the vinegar. Then boil in the same vinegar until soft, and drain. Mince in a food mill or chop up with a knife. Add the fruit, sugar (dissolved in a little of the same vinegar) and onions (minced) and boil in the vinegar in a large pot. The amount of vinegar will depend on the consistency. It should not be too runny or too thick, but like the product in the bottle. Do not boil to long, watch the consistency. Add the cayenne pepper and/or hot minced pepper, and boil 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Stir now and then with a wooden spoon to ensure it doesn't burn. Although I really doubt you would need 18 bottles!! I'm sure any bottled chutney with similar ingredients would be fine! Good luck!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-04 15:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Hello fellow Decemberites! I asked Byron to send me a favorite South African recipe, and he sent me the recipe for Bobotie, which apparently "No self respecting South African housewife does not own (and treasure!) a favourite bobotie recipe." So here it is!! Bobotie 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 onions, peeled and sliced 2 1/4 pounds good quality lean ground beef 1 thickish slice of white bread 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon medium curry powder (or hot for the hale and brave) 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons salt freshly grated pepper (about a half teaspoon) 3/4 teaspoon turmeric 1 1/2 tablespoons malt vinegar 2 tablespoons strong chutney 2 bay leaves (or fresh lemon leaves if available) 2 medium eggs Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in medium sauté pan. Stir in onions. Cook over medium heat until transparent. Add ground beef. Cook until lightly browned and crumbly. Soak bread in half the milk, squeeze out excess milk and mash with a fork - DON'T TOSS SQUEEZED OUT MILK! Pour it straight back into remaining milk. Set milk aside, and ad pulled-apart bread to the meat mixture. Add curry, sugar, salt, pepper, turmeric, vinegar, chutney to the beef mixture. Spoon the mixture into a greased baking dish, and place bay leaves on top. Bake for 50-60 minutes in preheated 350°F oven. Beat egg with remaining milk and pour over mixture approximately 25 - 30 minutes before end of baking time. Serve with steamed rice (traditionally yellow!) and extra chutney. Edited by ferincor, 04 April 2011 - 01:12 PM.	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-04-04 13:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	I keep trying to add a link, but it won't take (either the link or my entire post)...does anyone know why? Well it took that post, so must be the link. Was trying to post a link to livingsocial, which will donate $5 if you donate $5, to Japan. Thought it was a worthwhile link (I never post links like that, to facebook or anywhere...but was impressed with how much money livingsocial had already donated).	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-03-17 19:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	I keep trying to add a link, but it won't take (either the link or my entire post)...does anyone know why?	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-03-17 18:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Do any of you have any plans to visit your fiance before NOA2? I have a few days to spend with mine in March. Anyone else? I get to see My Love in less than 2 weeks!! We are meeting up in South Africa for a family function - first time I get to meet my future in-laws! Just wondering though....how do I pay attention to the family stuff when all I want is to be "alone" with My Baby?	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-02-03 19:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	woo #442 in VSC... it seems so far down the list haha That's funny, I just checked and Byron & I are #442 on the list now!	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-02-03 18:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Hello All! Thanks for inviting us to this forum! We received our first NOA Dec. 3. I just updated our profile with our story, if you are interested I look forward to keeping up with this forum, for support and new friends! Take care, good luck to all.. ~Ferin (my real name is Jennifer, but go by Ferin)	ferincor	Female	South Africa	2011-02-02 17:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Johannesburg Interview	THANK YOU ALL for your input! This is MOST helpful...we WILL be contacting you DJ+Dale in regards to the police clearance! As for Shane being here, he's been back and forth on his tourist visa (B2). He's been here completely legally. We even stated that in our 'evidence' in the I-129f packet that he would spend time here on his tourist visa and return to SA to complete the remainder of the visa once the NOA2 was received. We had no issues whatsoever with him coming back and forth to USA. In fact, we've even had his 2 kids here several times to visit as well. It's been a painful process all around, but we're ALMOST there. Oh, and his POE is Washington, DC (Dulles). Never one single issue there. ? They asked him what he was doing here, how long he’d be, etc. he answered truthfully each and every time. We've completed almost ALL the remaining documents (affidavit of support, my tax transcripts, evidence of our ongoing relationship- our new baby LOL and birth certificate with Shane’s name on it, TONS of Facebook screen captures, photos of ALL our kids together with us, etc, etc, etc) for the Interview with the exception of his police clearance which we're working on now (had we realized sooner, we would have started it LONG ago GRR). We've even gathered all the documents he'll need for his AOS/EAD/AP once we're married. So we're ready to launch ALL of it ASAP!! He has job offers waiting on him, so that's good news...we just need to get that EAD ASAP!! And thanks for the 411 on the airline tickets! Ugh, so much to plan!! But all in good fun and hope!!! ? ? More to follow folks, I’ll keep you updated on our progress….And you too please keep the info coming. Especially in regards to once he arrives back here with AOS/EAD process…GRRR! Chat soon! Shane and Jamie	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-04-20 10:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Johannesburg Interview	Does anyone know (actually have experience) with the consulate in Johannesburg in regards to interview date? Approx how long was it for you to receive your interview date, packets, etc? My hubby to be is here in USA with me, we JUST received our NOA2 (15 Apr) and trying to figure out how quickly we should book his flight back to SA. He's here on valid tourist visa waiting and helping with our 5 1/2 month old son. We'd like him to stay here as long as possible then be in SA as short as possible (so much to ask for, I know ) If anyone has any input, guidance or direction they can provide it would be MOST apprecaited! Thank you all in advance!! Jamie and Shane	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-04-19 15:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Six Month Club	I spoke too soon this morning! We received our email/text this afternoon!!! I was in the middle of a meeting and had to excuse myself to celebrate in the hallway!! Best of luck to the remaining folks still waiting!	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-04-15 15:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Six Month Club	Grr, we're still here too Although my Senator's office called me yesterday stating he heard back from VSC and they are going to 'expedite' our case and we should get word within 7-10 days...here's to hoping!	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-04-15 08:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Six Month Club	So. We're at 184 days and counting and received this email last evenig from Vermont. The date I requested it was 30 March - it tool them 2 weeks to email me this response!: The status of this service request is: Your Petition for Alien Fiance (e) (Form I-129F) was received here at the Vermont Service Center and a receipt notice was mailed to you on October 15, 2010. Your receipt number is EAC-11-xxx-xxxx. Unfortunately, we are unable to produce duplicate receipt notices. You may wish to retain this letter for future reference. Moreover, your case is currently under review. You should receive a decision or notice of other action within 60 days of the date of this letter. If you have any further questions, please call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. UGH this process is so frustrating and heartbreaking!!	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-04-14 08:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Six Month Club	We are officially members today 180days and counting....	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-04-12 16:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NOA2-NVC-Consulate - Timeline??	We received our NOA 2 on 15 April 2011. NVC received our case as of 27 April 2011. I just called today and they said his case was sent to the Johannesburg Consulate visa DHL on 28 April 2011. That means it should arrive within the next few days!!!	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-05-02 12:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	October 2010 CSC filers!	Ahhh, ok. thank you! We're patiently standing by for good news!! We just had a baby in Oct and so ready to get on with the rest of our "Journey." I also have my Senators office actively engaged in this process, just awaing news from them as well...here's to HOPING!!! K-1 Journey USCIS: VSC 10/10/2010- I-129F sent to VSC 10/15/2010 - (NOA1) XX/XX/XXXX - NOA2 NVC: XX/XX/XXXX - NVC rcv. XX/XX/XXXX - NVC left Consulate: Johannesburg, South Africa XX/XX/XXXX - Consulate rcv. XX/XX/XXXX - Packet 3 rcv. XX/XX/XXXX - Packet 3 sent back to Consulate XX/XX/XXXX - Medical appt. XX/XX/XXXX - ...	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-03-16 12:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	October 2010 CSC filers!	How do you know that 32/97 Oct filers are approved? where do I find that information? I feel like I'm dying on the vine here waiting... grrr	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-03-16 10:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	December Filers	Hi Mari, this is what Byron and his family use (I think they go through several bottles of this stuff a month - they put it on everything lol!): http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/B0001590KU I'm unsure where to find it here (out side of amazon.com). I did find the recipe online: Mrs H S Ball's Chutney (this is the original recipe) from Mrs Balls family who still lives in SA, so if you're in a place where you cant find this.... why not make your own its really easy. Makes about 18 bottles (mild) 612 g dried peaches 238 g dried apricots 3 litres dark grape vinegar or more if needed 2 1/2 kg white sugar 500 g onions 120 g salt 75 g cayenne pepper To make chutney "hot", add 75 g minced hot peppers. To make peach chutney, leave out the dried apricots and use 850 g dried peaches. Soak the dried fruits overnight in the vinegar. Then boil in the same vinegar until soft, and drain. Mince in a food mill or chop up with a knife. Add the fruit, sugar (dissolved in a little of the same vinegar) and onions (minced) and boil in the vinegar in a large pot. The amount of vinegar will depend on the consistency. It should not be too runny or too thick, but like the product in the bottle. Do not boil to long, watch the consistency. Add the cayenne pepper and/or hot minced pepper, and boil 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Stir now and then with a wooden spoon to ensure it doesn't burn. Although I really doubt you would need 18 bottles!! I'm sure any bottled chutney with similar ingredients would be fine! Good luck! You can also find the Mrs. H Balls chutney at most "World Markets" if you have one in your area!! Shane has me HOOKED on it now as well as "Peppadews" you can find a lot of that stuff at Wegmans as well! Edited by jamienshanie, 19 April 2011 - 03:19 PM.	jamienshanie	Female	South Africa	2011-04-19 15:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	ATTENTION : MAY FILERS ... lets keep in touch!	I am a May filer. Our NOA1 was on May 7th. No touches at all. Edited by Teacher, 27 July 2007 - 07:17 AM.	Teacher	Female	England	2007-07-27 07:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	March 2009 k-1 people	QUOTE (AmyStan @ Jul 22 2009, 08:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I hope you get a better response than I did, Michele. The canned response I received is below. Dear Sir/Madam: Thank you for contacting the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the authority of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the CIS Ombudsman assists individuals and employers who experience specific problems during the USCIS benefits seeking process, largely to identify problems and to formulate recommendations to improve the USCIS service. We believe that first hand information from individuals like you is the best source for identifying systemic problems in the immigration benefits process. Our office will consider the information you provided as we develop recommendations to improve USCIS’ practices and procedures. Thank you for contacting our office. Sincerely, CIS Ombudsman I am actually expecting the canned response. Basically, after I read the "I'm Outraged" thread, I decided that I needed to do everything I could do and let the chips fall where they may. I did not want to look back and say to myself, when I was sitting without Kira over the holidays, "maybe I should have..." I also don't believe that things will ever change unless people speak up. Maybe it is futile .. but there is also a chance that one more voice would result in a shift in priorities ... call me an optimist Good Luck to all you March filers - the sooner you get approved, the sooner we are next in line :-)	Michele R	Female	Russia	2009-07-22 20:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	March 2009 k-1 people	QUOTE (Richard-Joanna @ Jul 22 2009, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (strega @ Jul 22 2009, 07:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (mayandtim @ Jul 22 2009, 03:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (strega @ Jul 21 2009, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> uuuuuuuuuuuffffffffffffffaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! come on vermont,,,,,,,,,take a double shot of espresso and get at least one March filer approved.........dont make me come there hi! strega? how are you and how's everyone??? everyone do you think its ok to call the uscis and ask if there's any update about our NOA2? im out of my mind!!!! im always with my SO in august for 3 weeks, and im waiting for a piece of paper called a NOA2 instead that seems will not arrive soon enough.......UUUFFAAAAA double!!! you can call all you want. they will just tell you what they tell everyone...working on 2008......they are shameless!!! CVC is on overdrive with thiers.........makes me sick!!!!i also want mine transfered, at this rate even if i start over with CVC , i might still get it quicker,,,,,,,,,why dont they send some of thier overload to CVC?? seems like it is only fair to help them catch up.....so where do you get the congressman name to complain to?? i have a child involved and its also complicated,,,,i want him to be able to start school here in september.........mamma mia. I just want to give up sometimes............good luck to you strong ones that can wait forever!! Strega you can start here http://www.house.gov/ I also was hoping to have the kids start school with the other children and we start here in Atlanta in August... so that ain't happening. and you can't give up... it is NOT allowed I am starting my efforts by working within the system - I posted my letter to the USCIS Ombudsman on another thread, but I watch your thread closely to see if anyone in March is being processed. Copy and paste anything if you like. The Letter I Sumitted to the USCIS Ombudsman today: To Whom It May Concern: In April of this year I applied for a K1 visa for my finance. Because I am a resident of Virginia I was required to submit my application to the USCIS center in Vermont. Since I have applied for this visa, the processing times at the VSC have slowed dramatically (to over 180 days). When I contacted the USCIS today, they said that the VSC was processing applications from December 30, 2008 and that my application would not be reviewed until October 22 of this year in the best-case scenario (more than 180 days after I submitted my application). Meanwhile, residents of states that feed into the USCIS servicing center in California are being processed within 66 to 100 days. I find this inequity unacceptable, given that all applicants pay the same application fee. After having researched this issue, I do not think that it is caused by a difference in the efficiency of VSC employees versus CSC employees, but more likely by a misallocation of workloads vis a vis resources by either the USCIS or its subcontractor Northrop Grumman. Furthermore, I do not understand why processing times are increasing while the volume of applications is decreasing (as your office itself noted in its June 2009 report to Congress). Unless steps are taken to remedy this inequity immediately, which is unlikely given my conversation with USCIS today, I will be forced to cancel my wedding in November of this year. My parents will incur significant financial losses, as well as my family and friends who have already purchased tickets to attend the ceremony and reception. As I am sure you are aware, these misfortunes pale in comparison to some other people standing in line at the VSC under far worse circumstances, while May and June filers begin to be approved at the CSC. I realize that my application is currently within the USCIS' “normal” processing time. Nonetheless, today when I called for the first time I was told that my application will be adjudicated around October 22, more than 180 days after my submission. Further, it is not "normal" for residents of one state, like Virginia, to arbitrarily receive such significantly inferior service from the USCIS than residents of California or Oregon. Why isn't the I-129F workload distributed more evenly among these centers and why can't files be sent from one center to another when one center falls significantly behind another? It is infuriating to see large numbers of people who filed their petitions in May and June being approved by the CSC before all of us who filed our applications in January, February, March, and April at the VSC. While I know that the membership of the primary tracking site for I129F petitions (VisaJourney) does not comprise the entire pool of I129F applicants, its membership pool does represent a statistically valid number of applicants and it is therefore possible to ascertain broad trends in visa processing extracted from its data. On top of this, USCIS' own bulletins display the existing inequity, albeit on a more publicly digestible magnitude. Ironically, my fiancé is more peaceful about this issue, noting that the USCIS seems to me no more equitable or effective than its counterpart agency in his largely corrupt country of the former Soviet Union. In fact he advised me to not to send this letter, for fear of the type of retribution one would encounter in his country for voicing concerns about a what seems to be a systemic problem that no one has an interest in or incentive to correct. As a patriot and former federal government employee, however, I assured my fiancé that things were different in America. I sincerely hope that your office will propose and implement a long term solution to this problem, rather than simply add my letter as a tally mark on a count of "Top Ten Complaints in the Ombudsman E-Mail Box" for inclusion in an annual propaganda piece, like they would in the former Soviet Union. It is hard enough to wait six months plus for adjudication. Adding the knowledge that people in different states are waiting half the time you are for no apparent good reason is like adding salt to an open wound. I hope that future customers do not have to suffer from inequality that does not seem too complex to solve.	Michele R	Female	Russia	2009-07-22 19:00:00