K1 falsehoods in newly-released book?

[alex and astrid 38]

Hey everyone, this is something that has roused my curiosity. I just finished reading a book called "Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author who also wrote "Eat, Pray, Love." Anyways, the basis of this book is her own K1 journey during 2006/2007. In her story though, there seem to be several inconsistencies with what we all know about getting a K1, and I don't know if it's just her taking some creative licence or if it's just down to the fact that it was back in 2006 and things were different. I do know that the K1 process was changed due to IMBRA being introduced.

So, two things that she said was that once her fiance was in the US, that they had 30 days to marry - which we all know to be incorrect, at least currently. She also wrote as if she had an inside knowledge of how her case was proceeding at USCIS, for example, knowing when her own FBI name check was completed. She wrote that it was her lawyer that told her this, but since when are even lawyers privy to each stage of case proceedings? As far as I know, and in my own case, the only time we knew that something was achieved in the case was when we got our NOA's. Then, she also mentioned about having to show joint bank accounts at the petition stage, which again isn't even needed until AOS.

So, just a few things that kind of bugged me. If you went through the K1 process during 2006/2007, do you know if what Gilbert has stated is correct or she has taken some licence with her writing? Because if she has, it's a tad irresponsible.

[Scott & Lai 12]

There's definitely some misinformation there... We got our K-1 back in 2004. The deadline for marrying after arrival in the U.S. was 90 days then and, as far as I know, always has been. We certainly couldn't get inside info on the status of our case. And requiring joint bank accounts at the petition stage?? What couple who are petitioning for a K-1 visa, and hence, are not yet married and are not even living in the same country, has a joint bank account??

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hey everyone, this is something that has roused my curiosity. I just finished reading a book called "Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author who also wrote "Eat, Pray, Love." Anyways, the basis of this book is her own K1 journey during 2006/2007. In her story though, there seem to be several inconsistencies with what we all know about getting a K1, and I don't know if it's just her taking some creative licence or if it's just down to the fact that it was back in 2006 and things were different. I do know that the K1 process was changed due to IMBRA being introduced.

So, two things that she said was that once her fiance was in the US, that they had 30 days to marry - which we all know to be incorrect, at least currently. She also wrote as if she had an inside knowledge of how her case was proceeding at USCIS, for example, knowing when her own FBI name check was completed. She wrote that it was her lawyer that told her this, but since when are even lawyers privy to each stage of case proceedings? As far as I know, and in my own case, the only time we knew that something was achieved in the case was when we got our NOA's. Then, she also mentioned about having to show joint bank accounts at the petition stage, which again isn't even needed until AOS.

So, just a few things that kind of bugged me. If you went through the K1 process during 2006/2007, do you know if what Gilbert has stated is correct or she has taken some licence with her writing? Because if she has, it's a tad irresponsible.

so, she is either a phony, or she is making things up for whatever purpose. Joint bank accounts are not required at any point in this process...ever. They are helpful, but not required, for AOS and lifting conditions. Joint bank accounts at the petition stage for K-1s would be very unusual. Especially since the Patriot Act requires that the person(s) opening the account or being added to the account be present in person. The deadline has been 90 days for many years and I am not aware it was ever any different.

No one knows exactly when the backgorund check is done, but I wouldn't rule out an attorney implying they do. They imply a lot of things. They have to. How else do they get someone to pay them thousands of dollars to fill out a couple of forms? Background checks are done at several stages of the process.

[alex and astrid 38]

Another thing I just remembered - Gilbert's fiance, though he was Brazilian-born, held an Australian passport and had his consular interview in Sydney. I went through Sydney, I know what an easy consulate it is. Her stating that a joint bank account and all these other ties is needed is silly, because they barely even look at your evidence, let alone your I-134. I don't know, just reading about it was odd. When you are talking about a federal government process in a book that is going to be distributed worldwide, you would think that you would write about the process correctly in the first place, and then make sure you have a gun copy editor.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Back then, couldn't you marry and DCF through Sydney in what was possibly the easiest and fastest route to a visa for anyone anywhere? don't know if this is the case, just remember when I was doing K-1 someone did that and it made me very jealous how fast and easy it appeared to be.

Anyways, we did ours in 2005 and the rules were the same. I'm sure she's lying/using creative license. Wasn't her fiance/husband barred entry to the US at one point?

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I was wondering about that too. I read Eat, Pray, Love a couple of years ago and thought it was the biggest pile of self-indulgent horseshite I've ever read. I couldn't figure out why so many people loved that book. Elizabeth Gilbert is certainly a talented writer. I've read some of her fiction (I really enjoyed Stern Men), but her memoir-type material is so cheeseball. Apparently Eat, Pray, Love is being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts? What the fvcking **? What's movie-worthy about someone's extended vacation funded by a book advance?

I heard a radio interview w/ Gilbert a couple of months ago and read a little bit about Committed. So, the premise is that she resists marrying a guy she loves because she just doesn't want to get married anymore? Of course, all I could think of were all the people (many on this site) who have been separated for months or years while they wait for their applications to be approved. And there she is, whining about not wanting to get married a second time because...er...the first one didn't work out? (As Marc would say, "Cry me a fvckin river!") So she and her man gallivant around Asia together while a lawyer handles their paperwork. I know there's some interesting stuff about the history of marriage throughout the world, blah blah blah, but I'm thinking it's nothing Stephanie Koontz hasn't already covered.

All that said, I probably will read Committed at some point just so I can send myself into a blind state of rage. It doesn't surprise me that she very likely took some liberties w/ the boring facts of the actual visa/green card process.

Edited February 12, 2010 by Empress of Groovy

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Name spelling correction: Stephanie Coontz

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

All that said, I probably will read Committed at some point just so I can send myself into a blind state of rage. It doesn't surprise me that she very likely took some liberties w/ the boring facts of the actual visa/green card process.

This actually explains why I watch reality television. Oh, and why I still read threads in the OT forum

[Empress of Groovy 373]

This actually explains why I watch reality television. Oh, and why I still read threads in the OT forum

Yes. I see it as a form of therapy, like jumping into icy water. It reminds you that you're alive!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I was wondering about that too. I read Eat, Pray, Love a couple of years ago and thought it was the biggest pile of self-indulgent horseshite I've ever read. I couldn't figure out why so many people loved that book. Elizabeth Gilbert is certainly a talented writer. I've read some of her fiction (I really enjoyed Stern Men), but her memoir-type material is so cheeseball. Apparently Eat, Pray, Love is being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts? What the fvcking **? What's movie-worthy about someone's extended vacation funded by a book advance?

I heard a radio interview w/ Gilbert a couple of months ago and read a little bit about Committed. So, the premise is that she resists marrying a guy she loves because she just doesn't want to get married anymore? Of course, all I could think of were all the people (many on this site) who have been separated for months or years while they wait for their applications to be approved. And there she is, whining about not wanting to get married a second time because...er...the first one didn't work out? (As Marc would say, "Cry me a fvckin river!") So she and her man gallivant around Asia together while a lawyer handles their paperwork. I know there's some interesting stuff about the history of marriage throughout the world, blah blah blah, but I'm thinking it's nothing Stephanie Koontz hasn't already covered.

All that said, I probably will read Committed at some point just so I can send myself into a blind state of rage. It doesn't surprise me that she very likely took some liberties w/ the boring facts of the actual visa/green card process.

Interesting.