April 2009 K-1 Filers

[Lisa and Ian 7]

My fiance's interview is a month from now, but I am already freaking out .

I could imagine what Allie is going through.

But, I have a VERY good feeling that Nigel will get approved and both of you will be together really soon.

The time before the interview is pretty stressful. I haven't seen one thing with any of our cases which would cause a denial. No way.

[endoftheroad 1]

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
Chris and Tanya

UPDATED IN PROGRESS

Chaz: P3
eotr: P3

Emily: Interview 10/16/09 RFE WAITING
Allie: Interview 11/3/09 <--- FOUR DAYS!!!!!!!!
James: Interview 11/12/09
Rhiann: Interview 11/13/09
Mav: Interview 11/19/09
Ashen: Interview 11/20/09
Star: Interview 12/7/09

Neil: Success 8/31/09
Attaya: Success 9/8/09
Shewack: Success 9/15/09
Perry: Success 9/18/09
ChuckandRhean: Success 10/2/09
SS: Success 10/2/09
Ken: Success 10/7/09
dpds: Success 10/8/09
stlouis: Success 10/19/09
Lisa: Success 10/21/09
Chris and Tanya: Success 10/29/09

Please add and/or correct. P3 means either working on it or sent it in but no interview date yet.

[Chris and Tanya 0]

I posted a big Warsaw review in the embassy discussion thread. Got through with no problem at all

[endoftheroad 1]

I posted a big Warsaw review in the embassy discussion thread. Got through with no problem at all

So happy for you! Nice writeup too!!

Oki so I am now sitting here, my passport weighed down by a fresh visa print beside me, a little confused but happy nonetheless. Here is my review of the Warsaw embassy trip:

Trip experience - skip this part for the actual embassy review

I set out to Warsaw on Weds the 28th - straight after work, hoping to get dinner and a book or two bought before the night. I had everything, documents, photos, a freshly pressed shirt, change of clothes, nice tie, shaving kit - everything......

I was sure of it heading for the tram but no! It suddenly dawned on me - PASSPORT! So instead of calmly catching the 5pm train I ended up rushing home and catching a cab then the 6pm one.

Lenin and Stalin probably spin so hard in their mausoleums that they could power a small country if plugged into the grid - but this is slowed ever so slightly by places like the Logos hotel in Warsaw. The reception is ok but the room was not - it was somewhere along the lines of Stalinist revival.

The furniture is late 50's to 60's, carpets old and frayed and in room sink (bathrooms we will get too later) looks to be at least 40 years old with tiles to match. Whilst the room was kept clean, it couldn't help the rest - there was a significant (couple of inches) gap between the carpet and tiles exposing bare concrete, grime and things I better not think of.

The bathroom was even worse - the urinal and lav looked as if from the 50's if not earlier - and the shower was newer - maybe early 80's. All in grimy post soviet glory. In the end my attempts at getting myself clean were more work on not getting myself more dirty.

Most of Poland has moved forward - even parts of the hotel intended for foreign guests (bathrooms in room, keycard access, modern furniture etc) - but this part was firmly rooted in the past.

The embassy experience

My appointment was at 09:30 but to be sure I showed up just after 08:00. To my horror I found my aftershave had leaked in my bag and now created a stench cloud around me whenever I moved the bag - to the great annoyance of anyone sitting near me.

Stage 1 - security and "check in"

At security you need to hand in your cell phone and any other electronic equipment - if you don't have a watch you can say goodbye to any sense of timekeeping during the whole process.

Before you enter the main room your invitation is checked again. You are not given a number - you need to go to one of the active interview booths, wait for the person currently using it to finish and ask for a number card to be printed.

Stage II - document check

First off the document check, signing and so on - it went ok apart from a couple of hitches - I didn't get the 157 form - so I had to fill that out on the go. Filled in everything and was told to pay - this was odd as I should have been told to pay after fingerprinting.

Stage III - Payment

It should have been simple, easy and without a problem - but you can not pay for K1 visas by card, unlike all the classic immigrant visas. I short trip to the nearest cash machine ensued and I had to take my laptop bag with me - my head trying desperately to disappear below my collar due to the rolling cloud of aftershave smell that trailed me (damn stuff wont wash out).

Stage IV - Fingerprinting and problems

A problem popped up - the location of passport issue - now this is a pain for everyone with UK passports as far as I am aware - the vast majority of them are sent by post - so you can't say London or anywhere else - just UKPA at worst. A big discussion ensued and all I could do was kick my bag to gas some more people like some sort of sadistic Gillette salesman. Fingerprinting however went ok and then I was told to wait for the consul interview.

Stage V - The interview

All in all I had a long wait and people who had later numbers ended up having earlier interviews - and during the wait I felt like in a hospital waiting room, regular chimes, the screaming babies, people sitting in rows etc - the only thing lacking was people in tracksuits with head injuries. After a long wait my turn came to speak to the consular officer.

I came up and was asked to swear everything I entered and said was true or face the consequences etc.

After this the CO asked me where I met my girlfriend, how and then after about one line of explanation cut me off, asking for 1 photo from each year of us knowing each other.

I fished out about 3 from the stack of photos I had ready and handed them to him. Once these were taken I was told that I should come back the next day at 15:00 to pick up my passport.

After I managed to pick my jaw up from the floor I just asked - "so does that mean I have the visa" - "Yep, pretty much".

Evening and next day

I walked out shellshocked - that is it? 1 question and 3 photos? It's like a John Woo film, the bad guys are slowly hatching their plan while the hero works against them.

The buildup and pressure is tremendous, Hans Zimmer epic music moves from bass to high notes, the villains start revving up the engines of their car as police/army/the hero storm towards them. The makings of an epic chase, explosions, dramatic close shaves, air sea and land......

But then the bad guys turn of their engines, put their hands up and say "nah on second thoughts this is a bad idea" as the hero looks on in disbelief.

Well that is how I felt - a ton of paperwork, supporting documents, statements from friends in the US, contacts, photos, videos, a load of chatlog printouts, emails, wedding rings and so on - all not used. Of course this will be good for adjustment of status and so on - but it just felt like a sort of bizarre anticlimax after all I read and the requirements.

In the end I had to call up my boss to say I wouldn't be in the next day and killed time by going to the cinema, getting a book and random tram trips.

After 10 years in Poland I was a bit sad to have to spend some of the last days stuck in Warsaw instead of elsewhere but I can survive that.

The next day the pickup was easy, after 15:00 I picked up the visa, still unsure if this was some sort of trick or bizarre joke - but nope - its a visa and I leave next Wednesday.

__________________________

Well I hope someone reads this random drivel and makes something of it

[Allie and Nigel 2]

You know, I DID buy some chocolate "for Halloween" hehe...but ya, i'm a wreck right now, i'm really glad every day is over just to get to the next, like squares in a board game. I dont want to even think about if we get denied, I really dont know what we'll do. Sell the house, the car, move to England, whatever it takes, but I dont want to think like that right now, I'm just going round and round in my head with stuff right now, Lisa tells me just to BREATHE but its easy for her to say right now. So, i'm really trying to think positive and to keep the thoughts swayed to the approval not a denial...4 more sleeps....lol.

[endoftheroad 1]

I dont want to even think about if we get denied, I really dont know what we'll do. Sell the house, the car, move to England, whatever it takes....

We have actually made this the last resort plan. I will sell everything and move to her in six years (our kids will all be in college then and we'll both be mid-50s at that time). It's hard to think about it but if that's what it takes to be together then so be it. Six years is not that long of a time.

[Starlight95 1]

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

Chris and Tanya

UPDATED IN PROGRESS

Chaz: P3

eotr: P3

Emily: Interview 10/16/09 RFE WAITING

Allie: Interview 11/3/09 <--- FOUR DAYS!!!!!!!!

James: Interview 11/12/09

Rhiann: Interview 11/13/09

Mav: Interview 11/19/09

Ashen: Interview 11/20/09

Star: Interview 12/7/09

Neil: Success 8/31/09

Attaya: Success 9/8/09

Shewack: Success 9/15/09

Perry: Success 9/18/09

ChuckandRhean: Success 10/2/09

SS: Success 10/2/09

Ken: Success 10/7/09

dpds: Success 10/8/09

stlouis: Success 10/19/09

Lisa: Success 10/21/09

Chris and Tanya: Success 10/29/09

Please add and/or correct. P3 means either working on it or sent it in but no interview date yet.

I love this update and we all have been successful. Until Chaz and endoftheroad get their interview I will be the one that will be last, and now I have the responsibility to make sure that my SO's interview is a success as well. Well, I was the last one with the approval and the last one to get the results.

I will try not to let you down and I am sure my SO's interview will be a success.

Ian & Lisa- Thank you for all the positive reinforcement. Your posts always lift my spirits.

Allie - Don't even let a denial cross your mind, because that is not going to happen to you. I am positive he will get approved, because I think you have gone over everything and have everything you need. There is going to be nothing hindering you from getting approved.

endoftheroad - I admire your patience, but I highly doubt it that you will be away from you SO that long. Good news will come soon your way.

Chris - Congrats on the approval and thank you for writing such a great descriptive detail about your review.

Star

Edited October 31, 2009 by Starlight95

[Allie and Nigel 2]

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

Chris and Tanya

UPDATED IN PROGRESS

Chaz: P3

eotr: P3

Emily: Interview 10/16/09 RFE WAITING

Allie: Interview 11/3/09 <--- FOUR DAYS!!!!!!!!

James: Interview 11/12/09

Rhiann: Interview 11/13/09

Mav: Interview 11/19/09

Ashen: Interview 11/20/09

Star: Interview 12/7/09

Neil: Success 8/31/09

Attaya: Success 9/8/09

Shewack: Success 9/15/09

Perry: Success 9/18/09

ChuckandRhean: Success 10/2/09

SS: Success 10/2/09

Ken: Success 10/7/09

dpds: Success 10/8/09

stlouis: Success 10/19/09

Lisa: Success 10/21/09

Chris and Tanya: Success 10/29/09

Please add and/or correct. P3 means either working on it or sent it in but no interview date yet.

I love this update and we all have been successful. Until Chaz and endoftheroad get their interview I will be the one that will be last, and now I have the responsibility to make sure that my SO's interview is a success as well. Well, I was the last one with the approval and the last one to get the results.

I will try not to let you down and I am sure my SO's interview will be a success.

Ian & Lisa- Thank you for all the positive reinforcement. Your posts always lift my spirits.

Allie - Don't even let a denial cross your mind, because that is not going to happen to you. I am positive he will get approved, because I think you have gone over everything and have everything you need. There is going to be nothing hindering you from getting approved.

endoftheroad - I admire your patience, but I highly doubt it that you will be away from you SO that long. Good news will come soon your way.

Chris - Congrats on the approval and thank you for writing such a great descriptive detail about your review.

Star

Thanks Star, I know I need to stop this nonsense negative-ness, I just obviously dont want to not have success, we want to get on with our lives as we all can understand. Well I signed up for this however...sheesh. Nigel got our wedding bands today too, showed me on the cam. Nice simple ones, cant go wrong with that. 3 more sleeps! AAAAAAAARRGHHHHH

[endoftheroad 1]

Nigel got our wedding bands today too, showed me on the cam. Nice simple ones, cant go wrong with that.

post a pic!!!!!!!!

Here's one of the ring that is on my finger, platinum:

This is the one on her finger (she can't wear it in public of course):

[Rhiannercakes 14]

We're both getting plain wedding bands with no design or stones.

I love plainness.

[Allie and Nigel 2]

We're both getting plain wedding bands with no design or stones.

I love plainness.

Well I hate those really huge wedding rings, get snagged on stuff or knocked on something or the stone falls out! We just got normal 18k bands and I have a antique diamond engagement ring so I'm happy with that. Sooo bored tonight, not too many trick or treaters, I just put the bowl of candy outside, no ringing the doorbell..freaking the dog out...lol

[endoftheroad 1]

Well I hate those really huge wedding rings, get snagged on stuff or knocked on something or the stone falls out! We just got normal 18k bands and I have a antique diamond engagement ring so I'm happy with that.

Oh yeah, those are our engagement rings. I just had to give her a diamond ya know? She could care less but I wanted her to know I was serious. It is a small one at that. I told her that she would get a band to go with it when we get married and she will not allow it. So frugal. (I will anyway )

[endoftheroad 1]

Oh yeah, those are our engagement rings. I just had to give her a diamond ya know? She could care less but I wanted her to know I was serious. It is a small one at that.

The day we were engaged......... so long ago............

[endoftheroad 1]

Oh yeah, those are our engagement rings. I just had to give her a diamond ya know? She could care less but I wanted her to know I was serious. It is a small one at that.

The day we were engaged......... so long ago............

I know that most of you should not be bothered by me and my rantings, just move along and no harm done. Really, I wish you all the best of times and maybe we will meet some day for a happy moment.

I freaking do not know what to do in my case. My girls do not read this board, their computer which I bought for them was burglarized (stolen) and they do not go to the cafe often.

We are at the mercy of a very corrupt Chinese system. I asked my girl to please just let it all go but she refuses. It is all for her little girl (now 12), my beloved stepdaughter. I understand this. Even if my little girl loses, it will not be for want of trying.

So, we will be here after you all have gone. Kiss and hugs to you. We started together and I hope we end up in a love cloud together one day.

Edited November 1, 2009 by endoftheroad

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I've been engaged for a really long time too, eotr.

Since 2006

I have a diamond on my engagement ring too, it's pretty small, but it honestly looks so big from the top. Almost too big for my taste

I really hope that everything ends well for them over there in their court cases... I've seen some trials here take a painfully long time. Alot of people have to wait almost a year to even go to trial because our system is jam packed.

I hope we hear some good news from your side soon about your fiance

Edited November 1, 2009 by Rhiann