January Filers at the CSC - How are you doing?

[WaitForever 0]

Blake: Of course. What I'm saying is that all they need is 3 full time K1 adjudicators in each center in order to effectively process the number of applications that come through. They obviously place a higher priority on some of the ones you mentioned, but by the same token, considering that there is a US citizen petitioner involved in our specific visa type, then I would hope that we don't get last priority behind non-citizens, assuming that they are not fleeing for their lives or anything like that.

Question is: why don't they have 3 people working on K1 visas for 8 hours each workday? There can't be that many super-expedites as above. What I'm saying is that politically, we don't rate as high as I think we should.

Additionally, as you said, employment visas are processed faster - meaning its fine to expedite a potential foreign employee, but not a potential foreign spouse? I often joke that the US government is OK with US businesses hiring Canadians, but not so OK with its citizens marrying one.

Also, just my opinion...

[WaitForever 0]

On another topic - does anyone know what the chances are that there will be issues at the border for my fiance? Shes got 4 copies of everything with her, including the original NOA1. I know that there is an info page on this somewhere, which we are following, but I was just wondering percentage wise (there goes my math side again), what the chances are that there will be an issue ?

[BlakeandOlha 0]

On another topic - does anyone know what the chances are that there will be issues at the border for my fiance? Shes got 4 copies of everything with her, including the original NOA1. I know that there is an info page on this somewhere, which we are following, but I was just wondering percentage wise (there goes my math side again), what the chances are that there will be an issue ?

Actually I don't think you'll have a problem, being neighbors, Canadians tend to be treated a little less harshly as those from across either pond or down south. I would say that is it is obvious that she must return (letter from employer, apartment lease, bank account, etc.) your chances are probably close to 100%

To get back to your point, I have often thought that they should have a specific group of people trained in specific types of visas. There is usually some efficiencies to be gained by specialization. So I agree with you on that. But as I thought more about it, I figured there are numerous other checkpoints and bottlenecks that have to be gone through before the visa actually can be processed - FBI or other database checks - so even if there were specialized K-1 adjudicators that does not necesarily mean delays might not occur elsewhere in the system. If I remember correctly, and forgive me if I'm off a little, the total number of visa applications of all types came out to something like 2.6 million. That's a lot of paper to sort, organize, store, and adjudicate. The only way they could get a specialized team together is to sort all the applications by type on the receiving end. I guess to agree with you in part, 35,000 vs. 2.6 million is not "significant" enough in their eyes to re-engineer their entire process. It sucks to be a miniscule minority, but we have to deal with what we are given.

[aravis227 1]

On another topic - does anyone know what the chances are that there will be issues at the border for my fiance? Shes got 4 copies of everything with her, including the original NOA1. I know that there is an info page on this somewhere, which we are following, but I was just wondering percentage wise (there goes my math side again), what the chances are that there will be an issue ?

Dennis came to visit in the beginning of April and will be coming again at the end of this month. When he crossed in April they barely asked him for anything...just asked what he was doing, where he was going, who he was visiting, then waved him on his way. However, I have heard of Canadians being denied at the border, so she needs to be prepared just in case! Do they pre-clear at the airport she'll be flying out of? That makes life a bit easier because she doesn't get stuck somewhere halfway. There were some things I never would have thought were useful but folks on the Canadian forum said they had been asked for them. Dennis brought with him:

A copy of his mortgage agreement

Recent paycheck stubs

credit card bills (proves financial ties to Canada)

his most recent utility bills

A copy of the entire petition

A letter from his boss stating that he was employed and was expected back

Like I said...he wasn't asked for any of it, but I've heard of people needing to show those things...better safe, than sorry. The border seems to have been cracking down a bit on Canadians over the last year. Just have her be completely honest and answer all of their questions truthfully, but no extra information. I've heard varying answers on how you should answer when they ask who you're going to see. Someone said that they said "friends" and the officer continued to narrow it down, then seemed suspicious when she said "fiance" because it seemed like she had been trying to lie. Dennis just said "friends" and they didn't ask anymore details. I think it's probably best to say "friends" and then if they ask any additional questions immediately explain that it's a fiance and that the petition is pending.

Don't stress...just have her be prepared and everything should be fine.

On a side note...it seems really dumb to me that pending visa petitions are considered suspicious activity...shouldn't it just prove that we're doing our best to do it lawfully and just want a visit while we're waiting? Seriously...#######?

Edited June 3, 2008 by aravis227

[BlakeandOlha 0]

On a side note...it seems really dumb to me that pending visa petitions are considered suspicious activity...shouldn't it just prove that we're doing our best to do it lawfully and just want a visit while we're waiting? Seriously...#######?

Agreed!

Started the new job today and everyone looked on me to walk on water....hate to disappoint but......

I'm very tired and a bit cranky so I appologize if I came off that way at all. Rachel, I hope you feel better, Pam, I hope the embassy gets thier heads out of thier butts, and to everyone else, a good night's sleep and a successful tomorrow. G'night.

[CourtAndGrey 0]

G'night Blake!

And P.S. You're allowed to be cranky every now and then. I think you have been one of the most consistently positive folks on this thread, so in my book, you deserve a poopy day every now and then. Take full advantage! Hope tomorrow is better.

Good luck at the new job, I'm sure you'll do nothing but exceed all their expectations! That's what Moses does, afterall...

On a side note...it seems really dumb to me that pending visa petitions are considered suspicious activity...shouldn't it just prove that we're doing our best to do it lawfully and just want a visit while we're waiting? Seriously...#######?

Agreed!

Started the new job today and everyone looked on me to walk on water....hate to disappoint but......

I'm very tired and a bit cranky so I appologize if I came off that way at all. Rachel, I hope you feel better, Pam, I hope the embassy gets thier heads out of thier butts, and to everyone else, a good night's sleep and a successful tomorrow. G'night.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Yes, you might be right Cécile!

I was just looking into the FAQ that embassies give different names for packet 3 ("Instruction packet") and to packet 4("Appointment packet").That might be one of the reasons he said that, but still that guy had a ton to me that I didn't like!!

I guess, I just need to be more patient! Rachel was saying she didn't received anything either.

I know I was doing "pretty" good since last january! I am stressing because it is still a big thing for me to realise I am leaving France for good this time.

I cannot wait to be with my sweet love, but it is also hard to be leaving my country. It is just the "transition" period who is stressing me out!!

Over that, we have our wedding date fixed to the 7th of September, and I want to be able to organize things in America, instead of having to do things through my fiancé and mother in law ( even if they are a big help for me now!!).

I am an anxious person but I will do my best to feel better, and to relaaaax

I agree, now that we got NOA2, things look more "real". We are really going to leave our country, start a new life with our fiance (soon to be husband/wife). This can be quite stressing. So many things to take care before leaving, so many things to organize! but I'm sure we will all be fine

On another note, I just realized that Bryan's new intent of letter is probably still addressed to the USCIS (or whoever it was supposed to be addressed the first time) and not to the embassy... do you think I should ask him to send me another one?

[dbears 1]

I agree, now that we got NOA2, things look more "real". We are really going to leave our country, start a new life with our fiance (soon to be husband/wife). This can be quite stressing. So many things to take care before leaving, so many things to organize! but I'm sure we will all be fine

On another note, I just realized that Bryan's new intent of letter is probably still addressed to the USCIS (or whoever it was supposed to be addressed the first time) and not to the embassy... do you think I should ask him to send me another one?

You are soo right about the stress of leaving your home country and your family and friends... I still have 3 months here and I am starting to have mix feelings.. I am happy that I will be with the man I love and be with him for the rest of my life and yet I am sad to be leaving my family and friends here.. I also have the fear that once I leave, I won't be able to see my father alive ever again which add to my torn feelings. Well, at least he is showing health progress since his last hospitalization compared to a few months back. I just have to think that my father is a fighter, always been a fighter so I guess he still have years and decades to live.

Re new letter of intent, I do not know if it is a requirement in the US embassy in your country but in the Philippines it is not, though I did bring a new letter of intent from Ricky addressed to the US embassy in Manila during my interview but they never asked for it.. i have not encountered anybody who was asked for a letter of intent here.. but of course it might be different in your home country.

If the new letter of intent will make you feel more comfortable and confident for the interview then I would say, go ask for a new one specifically addressed to the USembssy in france.

Loads of luck and God's blessings always.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Thanks dbears. I've posted the question about the letter of intent in the French/America couples thread, I'll see what people who already went through the interview say.

Regarding leaving my country, I haven't started stressing on the emotional issues. Of course I will miss my family and my life here, but I know I will see them again (unless something bad happens). I really hope your father's health is going to improve and that he will be there when you go back to the Philippines next time And don't forget that even if he may think, like you, that he won't see you again, he is probably very happy that you fulfill your dream and marry the man you love.

[sunnybear 0]

HOOORAY woke to two approvals from yesterday!!! Go CSC!!!! Gareth and I finally hit 39!

[aravis227 1]

HOOORAY woke to two approvals from yesterday!!! Go CSC!!!! Gareth and I finally hit 39!

Woo-hoo! It's nice to see something out of there!! 39 is a good number...today would be a good day to get approved.

[Levi_Heather 0]

Good morning all Congrats to the latest approvals!

[Alex & Rachel 78]

You are soo right about the stress of leaving your home country and your family and friends... I still have 3 months here and I am starting to have mix feelings.. I am happy that I will be with the man I love and be with him for the rest of my life and yet I am sad to be leaving my family and friends here.. I also have the fear that once I leave, I won't be able to see my father alive ever again which add to my torn feelings. Well, at least he is showing health progress since his last hospitalization compared to a few months back. I just have to think that my father is a fighter, always been a fighter so I guess he still have years and decades to live.

Re new letter of intent, I do not know if it is a requirement in the US embassy in your country but in the Philippines it is not, though I did bring a new letter of intent from Ricky addressed to the US embassy in Manila during my interview but they never asked for it.. i have not encountered anybody who was asked for a letter of intent here.. but of course it might be different in your home country.

If the new letter of intent will make you feel more comfortable and confident for the interview then I would say, go ask for a new one specifically addressed to the USembssy in france.

Loads of luck and God's blessings always.

I am sure that your father will live to see you again! I think quite a few of us have either elderly or ill parents or grandparents that we are having to leave behind, but hopefully we will all receive our AP in due time and will be able to visit our homes soon.

I've heard mixed views on the letter of intent for the London embassy. Usually a renewed one is only required if your NoA2 has expired (an interview more than four months after receiving the NoA2) but recently someone was required to submit a letter of intent that was less than a month old even though their NoA2 had not expired! So I'm requesting that Alex post-date one to send to me, and now I'm wondering what address I should use, too.

Good morning! Let's hope this week brings more approvals than last week; although CSC did not perform too badly last week I like to think they can always do better.

[WaitForever 0]

Good morning! Let's hope this week brings more approvals than last week; although CSC did not perform too badly last week I like to think they can always do better.

They'd better - no more short weeks or H1-Bs to deal with. Our schools get out in two weeks so I bet after that we'll see another slowdown when summer vacations start happening. Geez, sometimes I wonder if gov folks spend more time off work than on it.

[WaitForever 0]

On another topic - does anyone know what the chances are that there will be issues at the border for my fiance? Shes got 4 copies of everything with her, including the original NOA1. I know that there is an info page on this somewhere, which we are following, but I was just wondering percentage wise (there goes my math side again), what the chances are that there will be an issue ?

A copy of his mortgage agreement

Recent paycheck stubs

credit card bills (proves financial ties to Canada)

his most recent utility bills

A copy of the entire petition

A letter from his boss stating that he was employed and was expected back

On a side note...it seems really dumb to me that pending visa petitions are considered suspicious activity...shouldn't it just prove that we're doing our best to do it lawfully and just want a visit while we're waiting? Seriously...#######?

Thanks - exactly what I needed - ya agreed on that side note - but you know what these guys are like. Make no waves and they let you pass. For some reason you'd think that a filed K1 means we are doing everything above board. I bet if you said nothing they'd let you in just fine, of course that would ding you later when you tried to get in - "Why didn't you say anything etc etc"