Perspective

[EmilyandJason 0]

I am slowly, but surely driving myself insane (ok, the road really isn’t that long, but humour me)

We initially chose to get married and file for a CR1 visa because we had some time ( I wanted to finish tax season here) and because we thought that by filing in September we’d surely have our visa in hand by July. BIG.MISTAKE.OBVIOUSLY.

Next, we decided to file the I-129F, thinking that .. ok, fine, we can’t have the K1, but maybe we can at least speed this up with a K3. Then there was/is all this drama and debate over whether the K3 was “dead” and not only dead but slowing down your I-130. There is just so much conflicting information flying around it is so hard to have any clue what might be going on.

Now I am thinking that the CR-1 could take at least 4 months at NVC (if not longer, due to backlog from the backlog from the ..) and then at least 4 months, if not more to the interview in Montreal. This puts us at least November or December 2008 (15 – 16 months after initial filing).

I am praying that our K3 is approved because I think we could have the K3 in hand within 4 months (meaning I could move either June 30th or July 31) … this would be lovely. Our family/friends wedding ceremony is July 19th so I would really love not to have to come “home” after our ceremony.

I obsessively check the immigration timeline data, Delicia’s spreadsheet and the forum threads for approvals … I check USICS case status every 30 minutes …

I obsess that our forms are on some hag’s desk who hates people who are in love and want to be together. Ok, but seriously, there have been people who were told that their K3 was cancelled and people who were told that both their petitions were put into the I-129F processing unit and were taking much longer. Argghhh .. I just don’t know what to think any more. I keep seeing more and more approvals for people who filed after us and it just makes me think ours is stuck ….

So .. tell me the truth .. when you were waiting for your approvals were you as obsessive as I admit to be?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I am slowly, but surely driving myself insane (ok, the road really isn't that long, but humour me)

We initially chose to get married and file for a CR1 visa because we had some time ( I wanted to finish tax season here) and because we thought that by filing in September we'd surely have our visa in hand by July. BIG.MISTAKE.OBVIOUSLY.

Next, we decided to file the I-129F, thinking that .. ok, fine, we can't have the K1, but maybe we can at least speed this up with a K3. Then there was/is all this drama and debate over whether the K3 was "dead" and not only dead but slowing down your I-130. There is just so much conflicting information flying around it is so hard to have any clue what might be going on.

Now I am thinking that the CR-1 could take at least 4 months at NVC (if not longer, due to backlog from the backlog from the ..) and then at least 4 months, if not more to the interview in Montreal. This puts us at least November or December 2008 (15 – 16 months after initial filing).

I am praying that our K3 is approved because I think we could have the K3 in hand within 4 months (meaning I could move either June 30th or July 31) … this would be lovely. Our family/friends wedding ceremony is July 19th so I would really love not to have to come "home" after our ceremony.

I obsessively check the immigration timeline data, Delicia's spreadsheet and the forum threads for approvals … I check USICS case status every 30 minutes …

I obsess that our forms are on some hag's desk who hates people who are in love and want to be together. Ok, but seriously, there have been people who were told that their K3 was cancelled and people who were told that both their petitions were put into the I-129F processing unit and were taking much longer. Argghhh .. I just don't know what to think any more. I keep seeing more and more approvals for people who filed after us and it just makes me think ours is stuck ….

So .. tell me the truth .. when you were waiting for your approvals were you as obsessive as I admit to be?

My parents are IR5 and both have now been approved but I made a few mistakes and you are not alone in being OC when comes to these matters. I just mailed out my father's passport on Friday and was checking to see if it reached MTL every two hours since Saturday. I am still "concerned" that he doesn't have his passport in hand so I'm checking for some sign that it is on its way. You are not alone! The fact that you are posting here is testament to your (over) attention to detail.

[Nick/Nadia Bluma 0]

I am slowly, but surely driving myself insane (ok, the road really isn’t that long, but humour me)

We initially chose to get married and file for a CR1 visa because we had some time ( I wanted to finish tax season here) and because we thought that by filing in September we’d surely have our visa in hand by July. BIG.MISTAKE.OBVIOUSLY.

Next, we decided to file the I-129F, thinking that .. ok, fine, we can’t have the K1, but maybe we can at least speed this up with a K3. Then there was/is all this drama and debate over whether the K3 was “dead” and not only dead but slowing down your I-130. There is just so much conflicting information flying around it is so hard to have any clue what might be going on.

Now I am thinking that the CR-1 could take at least 4 months at NVC (if not longer, due to backlog from the backlog from the ..) and then at least 4 months, if not more to the interview in Montreal. This puts us at least November or December 2008 (15 – 16 months after initial filing).

I am praying that our K3 is approved because I think we could have the K3 in hand within 4 months (meaning I could move either June 30th or July 31) … this would be lovely. Our family/friends wedding ceremony is July 19th so I would really love not to have to come “home” after our ceremony.

I obsessively check the immigration timeline data, Delicia’s spreadsheet and the forum threads for approvals … I check USICS case status every 30 minutes …

I obsess that our forms are on some hag’s desk who hates people who are in love and want to be together. Ok, but seriously, there have been people who were told that their K3 was cancelled and people who were told that both their petitions were put into the I-129F processing unit and were taking much longer. Argghhh .. I just don’t know what to think any more. I keep seeing more and more approvals for people who filed after us and it just makes me think ours is stuck ….

So .. tell me the truth .. when you were waiting for your approvals were you as obsessive as I admit to be?

Yes, we are!!! CSC seems to catching up with the backlog they had. We waited 7 months for NOA2's for both cases: I130 filed 20 August (NOA1 01 October), I129F filed 5 October (NOA1 9 October); cases joined; both approved 11 March 2008. I have seen many of the July/August cases at CSC have been approved within the last 2 weeks, with several K3's also being approved..... September is on its way!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I wasn't,lol but only because i probably didnt know better! had not found VJ so just went with the flow!!! No checing websites, phoning NVCC. Sometimes its good to be clueless!! lol Hope things speed up for ya

[Krikit 1,164]

I wasn't obsessed either. I mean, I did wonder from time to time, but I never bothered checking or phoning or emailing or stuff. But I really wasn't in a hurry to get here so I guess that makes a difference. I also tend to plan for the worst so that I'm never disappointed.

[bowflex 0]

My wife and I checked that website pretty much every few hours, and towards the end with we got screwed by the Montreal Consulate, I made phone calls every single day to them and to my state senator. I don't blame you one bit, but trust me when I say the CR-1 is the best way to go. My wife began applying for a job within a week of coming to the States and we didn't have to go through any AOS paperwork. Good luck and I wish you much luck with your processing times!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I was more than ready to leave--- because I could not imagine another winter in Alberta, and we had nothing keeping us there. Now looking back.... hmmmmm

[Delicia 1]

I feel your pain. I am of the thinking with how slowly things are going, our IR-1 will be approved ~18 months. I actually sat down and used that sheet I have been keeping and projected out a time line. It's actually a pretty sad state of affairs. I have actually counted the days until my application has been sitting at the CSC and came up with a date of April 2X (I have it on my calendar somewhere), and it is rapidly approaching.

It is just a plain all out frustrating experience. All I know is there is really nothing you can do but sit and wait and try to do your best not to go insane. There is nothing that will move your application any faster and you have zero control over the situation. One bit of advice: try not to make specific plans around when you 'think' the application will be finalized. You could be way off and it just sets you up for disappointment if your spouse is still in process.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Perspective?

I wanted to blow up every governmental building in existence.

[EmilyandJason 0]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Bowflex - yes we think the CR1 is the best option also, but we don't want to risk waiting at least another 10 months. The cost and hassel of AOS is worth it to us. I also live in Victoria so Montreal is a substantial trip ... Vancouver is but a wonderful BC Ferry ride away.

Delicia - that is good advice. I do tend to plan and get an idea in my head of when I think things are going to happen .. and yeah, that is just setting myself up for disappointment. I feel your pain too and can't believe all that you and your hubby are going through. Is K3 an option for you?

Spiritalight - that made me laugh. Yesterday Jason was harrasing Canadian government officials .. from Economic Development .. he KNOWS they can't do anything but couldn't resist the urge to poke at ANY government official ..

[SonoranSongbird 3]

I was more than ready to leave--- because I could not imagine another winter in Alberta, and we had nothing keeping us there.

That is one of the reasons my fiance is the one coming here. I don't even like OUR winters. One winter in Alberta would have killed me.

Emily, yes, I was obsessive. I usually managed to only check the USCIS site once a day, but then when October filers started getting approvals, I would check it again every time I saw someone get approved. I almost fell out of my chair from the shock the first time I saw we got a touch. Now that our petition is at the consulate, I check my email 6 times a day hoping there is one from my fiance telling me that packet 3 has arrived.

[Delicia 1]

At this point, I do not see the point of filing a K-3. Even before the 'is K-3 still valid controversy' the K-3 didn't seem like a better path. It, at best, was only running a couple months faster than the IR-1 and even that esitmate is debatable. Since we can do an IR-1 which results in an unconditional 10 year green card, might as well do that and save ourselves the headache of dealing with more government bureaucrap during AOS.

After this process, we have to kill some time before hubby is eligible for citizenship and then I want to wash my hands of anything immigration related.

[EmilyandJason 0]

Ah yes, I see the merit of waiting for the unconditional green card.

I'm glad I'm know alone with the OCD ... lol

As for the winters, I wish I was moving a little farther south. I could do with some sunshine and a little less rain. Being from the coast I can't really complain about the winters though!

[Delicia 1]

And as far as checking the USCIS status stuff and being OCD, check this: I set up a 'special' hotmail account just for getting email alerts from USCIS. I have that account set up to send alerts to my cell phone when new messages are received. Now, I don't have to log into USCIS on an hourly basis, but I now obsessively check my cell phone to make sure its working. Not sure if it is a lesser of two evils or just an even trade off.