USCIS has turned my marriage into a joke...

[A and T 82]

Mehh, try spending years apart and then having to reverse immigrate after a 5 year USCIS wait... It could be worse i assure you

[angeldaemon13 42]

These are the stories that need to be published in the New York Times! I wonder if anyone could figure out a way to copy this forum and get it to the author of the article? Kaylara, you were interviewed. Is there anyway to contact <I forgot her name> and get her to read these?

Sukie

Sukie, I feel the same way. We aren't just stats, we shouldn't have to compete but we are. Each of us has a story and if we can show who and how this affects us and our families, maybe stronger than all petitions put together.

The question is how?

I used to think no one cares about our plight but I researched and a lot of news articles out there have been getting word out in 2013 about illegals being more of an issue than US immediate families.

What about a fly sheet with people's stories rather than stats to representatives and Congress?

[BOS_LHR 829]

Keeping both of our spirits up has been so challenging through this. I know there's an end in sight, and I've endured much longer periods of hardship than this on my own in the past, but it's so different when there's another person to support. I'm oddly comforted to see I'm not the only one who's considered throwing in the towel and simply moving elsewhere. We made very careful, thoughtful decisions about who should move and what our method should be, and then USCIS completely pulled the rug up from under us. So many of the things we based our choices on have changed. And knowing that the stress and suffering doesn't necessarily stop for my spouse at POE is really hard as well. It's a long, hard road, but I remind myself every day that there's nothing in the world more worth it.

[Paz_Tranquilidade 61]

Sorry but I have to be honest here, 90% per cent of you here made a decision to get in a foreign web site and find someone abroad,or had arranged marriage with people living abroad or by "accident" met the guy/girl online, whatever? others met their partners when travelling abroad or studying here,then why all this complain come from?. We are our choices, you made a choice to have a long distance relationship or started a relationship when living here and not being a GC holder yet, and USCIS has anything to do with that, they have to scrutinize everyone entering in this Country t's their job. Let's stop with the bs about talking of illegal people, they are here over 20 years without status and any amnesty, then they are not taking your place with USCIS.

aaaahhh!! I knew it! It was only a matter of time before *that* one person has to come and rain on everyone's parade! You HAD to come on here just to ruin the mood.

Of course, what do you care? You're already getting your naturalization so you don't have to go through what the rest of us are going through. And if you did, you've long forgotten.

"What does the complain come from?" Well, we're all just telling our stories, that's all. This is a safe place for us to come and bond with each other... don't like it and don't want to read others' stories? Then go elsewhere and keep your negativity to yourself.

(Let me guess, since you're from "NJ" I will guess that you're a Brazilian living in the Newark area surrounded by the thousands of others who come here illegally from Valadares, if you're not one yourself and so you feel the need to jump on the "illegal" comment... I know all about you people. I worked in Newark for 7 years helping the Portuguese and Brazilian immigrants who spoke no English. I have heard every immigration, welfare, frivolous lawsuit, construction, you-name-it-it-happened scam in the book that you could think of. And YES, we K1 and CR-1/IR-1 are paying partly because of the immigration bit. But you brought that up, not us.)

[Paz_Tranquilidade 61]

This thread was a good "suck it up and count your blessings" wake up call for me. I'm frustrated because we thought we were being SO proactive, filing in October when we planned to move in June. Obviously, that's not going to happen, and it feels like our lives are on hold.

But because my husband is a dual citizen, he has been able to be with me in Canada this whole time, and will stay here with me until we both move to the US, no matter when that is.

Hubby has been in the US this weekend to see his mom, and being without him even for a few days was no fun. I can't imagine how rotten it would be for months or years!

Anyway, I wish you strength and speedy approvals, and a wonderful reunion with your spouses. And thanks for reminding me of how lucky I am.

Oh, in no way are people telling each other to "suck it up". That was definitely not what I was trying to convey. In fact, I hate when people say that to me. (Sorry if anything I said came off that way! That wasn't what I intended.) No one had any clue that the immigration process would take this long. Before finding all of this out, I thought that if I filed in July, my husband would be here in January and I thought even that was long. I'm glad that your husband is able to be with you in Canada. Definitely makes things easier.

[Paz_Tranquilidade 61]

I know it is always a risk, of course!

In my case, my husband (the USC) is a Spanish teacher and left his work in San Francisco and came to live in Madrid to my house (now, our house). He looked for jobs here before his arrival. Fortunately, he got several jobs as English teacher here and started to work soon. Now, he is looking up new openings at schools in Cafornia as Spanish teacher again, and scheduling phone/skype job interviews. Hopefully, he will be able to get any position soon; it seems this year in Spain is very highly rated and valued for schools there. If so, by July/August he will be com¡ing back to the US. If my visa stuff is still pending, that it is likely, I will go to the US with him to spend my summer holidays taking advantage of my VWP status, and come back to Madrid to wait for my visa to be issued. I am planning to look for jobs once I get my visa stamped in my passport, accompanying it in my cover letter when applying to job positions. Luckily, I will be entering to the US by the end of this year and, therefore, I will be leaving my job here then.....

In the meantime, we are saving as much money as we can to start our new life there and during my summer holidays we will be searching house in San Francisco as well as arranging all utilities stuff...

What a great story! I do encourage people who can live with their spouses to do that. In your case, your husband will be gaining valuable skills that will help his career as a Spanish teacher. I have a few friends who are Spanish teachers and many of them have lived abroad for a few months in Spain or other Spanish speaking countries. It was definitely helpful! In fact, have you ever thought of teaching? Being a native speaker of Spanish from Spain would be a great asset. Best of luck to you both!

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Sorry but I have to be honest here, 90% per cent of you here made a decision to get in a foreign web site and find someone abroad,or had arranged marriage with people living abroad or by "accident" met the guy/girl online, whatever? others met their partners when travelling abroad or studying here,then why all this complain come from?. We are our choices, you made a choice to have a long distance relationship or started a relationship when living here and not being a GC holder yet, and USCIS has anything to do with that, they have to scrutinize everyone entering in this Country t's their job. Let's stop with the bs about talking of illegal people, they are here over 20 years without status and any amnesty, then they are not taking your place with USCIS.

Um I don't like moaning about illegals or getting political but you should know your facts because the precise reason we have all waited so long is that illegals "took our place" at USCIS. For some reason known only to USCIS and Obama they sat on our files and ignored them while prioritising DACA filers. Yes we did all make a choice to have a relationship with someone from another country and we are all paying a decent sum of money to have our petitions worked on. Other countries work on this a lot faster and with the amount of money we pay for the service we have every right to be frustrated at waiting over a year to be with our families.

If you don't have anything positive or constructive to contribute then please leave the thread to those of us that do.

[altito 63]

What a great story! I do encourage people who can live with their spouses to do that. In your case, your husband will be gaining valuable skills that will help his career as a Spanish teacher. I have a few friends who are Spanish teachers and many of them have lived abroad for a few months in Spain or other Spanish speaking countries. It was definitely helpful! In fact, have you ever thought of teaching? Being a native speaker of Spanish from Spain would be a great asset. Best of luck to you both!

Oh thank you!

I would love teaching Spanish, but speaking your native language isnt enough, I think.....First, I have to learn really good English!! :-)

[THETIMEISNOW 37]

Me and my kids haven't seen my husband in almost exactly one year. I'm so over this bullcrap.

My life in a nutshell... Arranged marriage in May 2013, Filed first week on June, didn't hear a squeak till mid December that my case is getting transferred to NSC. Was asked too wait 60 days because inquiring... today is the 70th day. Now the sites been down. I have been with my wife exactly 22 days in a year of us knowing each other. I will never forget the pain you have caused me USCIS.

I haven't seen my husband in almost 3 years. We have a daughter together and he has never held her. I wish I could tell you that it gets better, but it doesn't. What helps keep my marriage together is my faith in God and also knowing that I fell in love with my husband before I knew about the hell that I would have to endure with this visa process. Do not allow this process to tear your marriage apart.

[Kaylara 814]

Me and my husband have been living overseas for the past 7 years with our 3 children. We have never been separated during those years except for a 3 month period where he had to file a similar petition for residency in a third country. We only started this I-130 process for me in November, so I know we have a long way to go. My husband will have to move back to the US soon due to his residency here expiring upon graduation and so will mine, which means I will have to go back home and wait out this immigrant visa thing. Although it has not happened yet I have severe bouts of anxiety and at times depression at the thought of being away from my husband for an unknown period of time, and raising our three young kids on my own. I do not have much of a support structure in my home country and am dreading the thought of going. I don't know how I will cope when it actually happens! I pray things speed up soon for all of you.

We were in the same position. I wound up coming back to the US ahead of him with the kids because we thought we'd have a hard time re-establishing domicile. *hugs*

[Paz_Tranquilidade 61]

Um I don't like moaning about illegals or getting political but you should know your facts because the precise reason we have all waited so long is that illegals "took our place" at USCIS. For some reason known only to USCIS and Obama they sat on our files and ignored them while prioritising DACA filers. Yes we did all make a choice to have a relationship with someone from another country and we are all paying a decent sum of money to have our petitions worked on. Other countries work on this a lot faster and with the amount of money we pay for the service we have every right to be frustrated at waiting over a year to be with our families.

If you don't have anything positive or constructive to contribute then please leave the thread to those of us that do.

Oh yes, I agree. The reason why they pushed DACA is because of the potential millions of votes that this would bring in to the politicians. It makes no other sense to put them in the front of the line, otherwise.

I don't think anyone here knew that the immigration process would take soooo long. Most of us here who are in the US who knew of people marrying foreign spouses probably thought it would be quick because of people who only need to adjust their statuses rather than bring a relative from abroad. If I knew ahead of time that it would take over a year, I probably would have planned differently. I think most of us think this way! It is crazy that a lot of countries work a lot faster. I wonder if this is done on purpose, too, or if it's just the sheer volume of people applying to immigrate to the US versus other places.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Paz_Tranquilidade

[No name 88 48]

Just out of curiosity how many people here applied for a tourist visa for their spouse? I applied for the wife and she was approved. We had a baby so maybe that helped. At least she can hang out in the US until were past the NVC.

[doug/sherry 26]

I feel bad that this happens to you guys, but you knew before that Immigration

is a process that you can't control. Be patient, I know its hard but it will be over

before you know it. Good luck..

[Kaylara 814]

These are the stories that need to be published in the New York Times! I wonder if anyone could figure out a way to copy this forum and get it to the author of the article? Kaylara, you were interviewed. Is there anyway to contact <I forgot her name> and get her to read these?

Sukie

I can point her here. I'd rather not post her contact info here because I'm afraid that she'd be inundated.

[kssette 30]

I would love to go live with my in his country. We even talked about it. But for me, it was just too much to give up. Jobs are not easy to find there. I own a house here. I have a son who is a quadriplegic and medical issues come up all the time for him. Then there is my brother who has stage 4 cancer and is just buying time right now. No miracle cure for him. If was there I would be worried about how I would get home quickly in an emergency. In the end it was better for my husband to come here to be with me. That is how we decided to go through this process.

Am I whining? You bet! Am I pi$$ed off that illegals got to go to the front of the line? Absolutely!!!