December Immigrant Visa Filers (IR-1/CR-1)

[Gosha.Bee 1]

Not that it's any revelation, but just to share - we recently called up USCIS. Mostly to find out what to do with my changed name (My maiden name is on our I130 packet but now I carry my hubby's and have a new passport). We weren't sure if we should notify them about that somehow.

Anyway, the person was very polite even if the whole conversation didn't bring any news or guidance whatsoever. As far as name change, we MAY notify them and attach a copy of the bio page from my passport, but only if we FEEL it is necessary (#######?)

And he very nicely informed us is it too early to say whether our case has been assigned to an officer, whether there were any background checks on it and what the result was. Processing time is still estimated at 5 months.

I want to fly over to visit my hubby for Memorial Day and darn it I want to see that NOA2 by then!

[redsnap 13]

Not that it's any revelation, but just to share - we recently called up USCIS. Mostly to find out what to do with my changed name (My maiden name is on our I130 packet but now I carry my hubby's and have a new passport). We weren't sure if we should notify them about that somehow.

Anyway, the person was very polite even if the whole conversation didn't bring any news or guidance whatsoever. As far as name change, we MAY notify them and attach a copy of the bio page from my passport, but only if we FEEL it is necessary (#######?)

And he very nicely informed us is it too early to say whether our case has been assigned to an officer, whether there were any background checks on it and what the result was. Processing time is still estimated at 5 months.

I want to fly over to visit my hubby for Memorial Day and darn it I want to see that NOA2 by then!

Haha "feel it's necessary"? That's great... Can we also just pay the fees when we "feel it's necessary" ?

I'm sure you'll have NOA 2 by end of May and you're ok with your trip's date. But I would only get a flight I can change or at least travel insurance, just in case. (I had this happening to me once, that I couldn't use my flight and I didn't have any insurance, so I had to buy a new flight... It was a pretty cheap flight, so it wasn't that bad but still...)

[Gosha.Bee 1]

Oh, I'm going no matter what, my dear ;-)

My getting the NOA2 before shooting out there is completely not related to whether I'm going to go or not and when. I decided to give it a try despite the different name in my passport and visa. Yeah, it'll be fun explaining that one to the officer at POE. I'm planning to take my marriage cert with, along with a whole bunch of other docs proving my ties to Poland.

Fortunately all my tickets are "movable" since I always fly on standby anyway. I can change my reservation almost mid-flight, hehe :-)

[redsnap 13]

Oh, I'm going no matter what, my dear ;-)

My getting the NOA2 before shooting out there is completely not related to whether I'm going to go or not and when. I decided to give it a try despite the different name in my passport and visa. Yeah, it'll be fun explaining that one to the officer at POE. I'm planning to take my marriage cert with, along with a whole bunch of other docs proving my ties to Poland.

Fortunately all my tickets are "movable" since I always fly on standby anyway. I can change my reservation almost mid-flight, hehe :-)

You go girl!

Yeah, you still have a tourist/student visa, right? I don't think Poland is in the VWP, since I heard different stories about flying to the US under the VWP while your petition is pending... That's why I flew before applying

And why don't you get your name in the passport changed anyways... You'll need to do that sooner or later and doing this in the state will be a hassle... I just hope you won't have troubles flying there, since they might suspect you just want to stay there and not bother about the Green-card anymore... You never know. I once had a female border control person and she hasseled me like 30 minutes in Chicago before I could go ahead... I almost missed my connection. I just said the truth and told her that I want to visit my boyfriend and that obviously raised red flags (this was about a year ago). She actually forced me to show her how much cash I have and I had to show her my credit card... That was pretty stressful. Nobody ever bothered me before or afterwards, just this one time... And when I came over on Christmas, I told the border control guy I want to spend Christmas with my husband and he just waved me through after I did the fingerprints and photo... No questions, no nothing... I think it really depends who you're talking to. I know that USCIS recommends not to travel to the US while the petition is pending... And the US consulate in Vienna said the same. But if you have your visa, the marriage cert. and maybe some proof of ties to Poland, you'll be ok! I just don't want you to be sent back after the long flight, that would be so awful...

All the best Gosia... You deserve it!!!

Edited March 23, 2011 by redsnap

[Gosha.Bee 1]

My name IS changed in my passport. That was the whole deal. My old passport was expiring so I wanted the new one in my new name.

Poland is not in VWP. Sometimes I think it's a good thing. Applying for a tourist visa serves as the first step of "filtration" so once someone gets it, it's relatively easy to be admitted to the US. Relatively.

Plus I get to stay for 6 months instead of 3 :-) Fortunately it won't be necessary this time. I'm hoping to be there just for a month or so for the summer, hoping that it'll coincide with the whole NVC stage of our process. Then I'm planning to come back to Poland for medical and interview and rush back there in August/Sept.

Ha ha. That is a very optimistic plan but I pray it'll work out

[redsnap 13]

My name IS changed in my passport. That was the whole deal. My old passport was expiring so I wanted the new one in my new name.

oh, and I thought you applied with your new name and still have the old one in your passport... I see... haha, I'm blind sometimes...

[Dana-Mića 51]

Hi and welcome. My birthday is on March 27 :-) Hope it does nice and quick for you, and all of us.

That's nice, I hope everything is nice and quick for you and all of us of course. I am hoping for my self sometime in September or October. I am basing mine on the fact that my uncle applied in the middle of February of last year for his wife and got the interview for begining of November of last year. So we will see

[RosyMad 2]

My hubby just left back to the UK on friday (our 6 month wedding anniversary :/ ) anyways he was asked what who and why he was visiting.. they kinda cared less..

He is planning another trip out here in late May for three weeks even though I was being naughty and telling him to stay for two or three months.. just because after this last visit I have been sooooooooo depressed.. just want this to be done you know..

I am hoping that by our 1 year anniversary he will be here for good.. hopefully a long time before that..

I have seen some early Nov filers getting their NOA2 so by my guesstimates it means we might be hearing by the end of April.. fingers crossed.. i just want my hubby

[Gosha.Bee 1]

My hubby just left back to the UK on friday (our 6 month wedding anniversary :/ ) anyways he was asked what who and why he was visiting.. they kinda cared less..

He is planning another trip out here in late May for three weeks even though I was being naughty and telling him to stay for two or three months.. just because after this last visit I have been sooooooooo depressed.. just want this to be done you know..

I am hoping that by our 1 year anniversary he will be here for good.. hopefully a long time before that..

I have seen some early Nov filers getting their NOA2 so by my guesstimates it means we might be hearing by the end of April.. fingers crossed.. i just want my hubby

Rosy, I know exactly how you feel. My hubby went home on March 13th just seven days after our wonderful church wedding here. The first week after he was gone I was sooo depressed. It's getting better now as I'm getting used to my daily routine it's getting better.

I'd be THRILLED to hear something from them by the end of April. Just hope it's not RFE, hehe.

[redsnap 13]

Rosy, I know exactly how you feel. My hubby went home on March 13th just seven days after our wonderful church wedding here. The first week after he was gone I was sooo depressed. It's getting better now as I'm getting used to my daily routine it's getting better.

I'd be THRILLED to hear something from them by the end of April. Just hope it's not RFE, hehe.

Yeah, I'm back from the US for 2 weeks and still wake up in the middle of the night to reach over and grab for... well, nobody there

It helps to distract oneself with other things, but only to a certain extend... April it is then, right?

Edited March 24, 2011 by redsnap

[KLS2010 30]

My hubby just left back to the UK on friday (our 6 month wedding anniversary :/ ) anyways he was asked what who and why he was visiting.. they kinda cared less..

He is planning another trip out here in late May for three weeks even though I was being naughty and telling him to stay for two or three months.. just because after this last visit I have been sooooooooo depressed.. just want this to be done you know..

I am hoping that by our 1 year anniversary he will be here for good.. hopefully a long time before that..

I have seen some early Nov filers getting their NOA2 so by my guesstimates it means we might be hearing by the end of April.. fingers crossed.. i just want my hubby

I hope this happens for you! I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I will not be in the US for our 1st anniversary on 8th July (which is also my husband's birthday), unless some miracle occurs and we get our NOA2 in the next couple of weeks. But gosh darn it - I WILL BE MAKING UP FOR IT EVERY YEAR AFTER!

[KLS2010 30]

Today is 2 years to the day that I flew to the US to meet the love of my life! Amazing how much has happened in that time....engaged....married....5 trips to the US....our first Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's together.....

Life is good..and will be even better when I get HOME for good!

Thinking maybe my grandfather had a had in my meeting my husband....only just found out a few weeks ago that the date I flew to the US and met my (now) husband for the first time... was also my grandfather's birthday. I didn't get to meet my grandfather - he died before I was born - but I like to think that this is more than a coincidence. Thanks grandad!

[Daria8885 1]

.....You guy are making me sad.....I have 4 more days here in Colombia with my hubby....and i´m dreading leaving....I know I wont be able to see him again until he can come to the US...I wont even have the money to go to his interview....I still don´t even know if I can find a sponsor....BLAH! i´m just hoping everything falls into place fast....and im so thankful that my taxes were big enough to send me here for these three weeks and I hope it´s enough to keep me going for 6-9 more months (MAX!!) but I do miss my daughter a lot!! If only she was older and could live here with me or we didnt have all this ####### to go through to get our hubbies with us....What a hard process I wish everyone the best of luck! and hope we are right about April I would be so happy to even see OTHERS getting their NOA2´s lol

[RosyMad 2]

Don't mean to make anyone sad.. just knowing that we can all provide a comfort to each other.. families and friends can be there but who better than people who are actually experiencing the drama..lol..

Although I cannot guarantee my guess.. If things flow the way they are now with the Nov NOA2s then end of April seems to be around our time.. if not first week of May..

side note here is a facebook page I admin.. not too much action but you all are more than welcomed to like and post what you may..

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Im-in-a-long-distance-relationship-and-come-######-with-me-Club/180427008645057

Philip and I are thinking about doing an extended visit.. trying to work around things and not miss an interview or anything.. but like I told him we cant hold our breath and wait around to hear something from them.. who knows how long we wouldnt breath..

Anyone know if you can use the VWP during an impending I-130?

[RosyMad 2]

The link doesnt work so the name of the page is

Im in a long distance relationship and come b i t c h with me club

Edited March 25, 2011 by Rosy & Philip