January 2011 Filers!!!

[Diana and Chris 25]

Brad & Mayra,

Just got woken up lastnight via text message with my e-notification! My I-797 should be in the mail soon and I expect your notification sent to you as well!!! Best of luck and hang in there!!

eff

Wooojoooo!! Congratulations Eff!!

[JustJanis 2]

welcome to all our new January filers and good luck with your journey!!

Our little story can be read on my profile - it differs from all your awesome and incredibly romantic stories mostly in that we have known each other since we were 16 years old (we are both 31 now, as much as 3 hrs apart in age in fact which I think is pretty cool ). Life works in mysterious ways

Have any of you considered going over to be with your significant other on a tourist visa before getting your K1? We are contemplating this option since it looks like it will take as long as 5-6 months, if not more, to get the approval. The consulate here (along with everything else in Finland) will be closed for the whole month of July if not more, which would postpone my process here by another month again. My concern with this is that I've heard that they can actually deny entry at the POE if they in any way think that you might try to stay in the country illegally on your tourist visa. And that it is completely up to the person questioning you whether they believe you in that you are committed to doing things the legal and the right way. If they are suspicious they can just send your hiny back on the next flight over, at your own cost. Obviously I would quit my job here and give up my apartment etc before flying over and I'd just stay at friends and my parents when coming back to get the Visa, so the only proof of actually coming back to Finland would be my return ticket - which Im not sure I should even book in advance in case we by some miracle happen to get our NOA2 earlier than estimated. so many things here to consider....

anyway, me too I want to say that I truly enjoy the positive and supportive atmosphere in our group and it's so wnderful to be making new friends! Best of luck to you all!!!

Eve

Yes, we are planning on being together for the wait - it's just too long to be apart. I will give up my apartment and move me and my stuff to mom's until the final big move and either quit my job or get the leave of absence I asked for (fingers crossed because I'll miss my co-workers and it would be nice to have something to do back in here in Vancouver while I'm waiting on my consulate meeting).

The difference is that he is working overseas so I would be flying from Vancouver to Japan and won't be going through the US and won't need a tourist visa, but I'll still be bringing copies of everything just to be safe and of course will have a return ticket.

First trip to Japan is in 22 days and counting!!! and will only be for 10 days but then the next trip is when I pack up everything here and go for a couple of months (mid April - mid June or July) until it gets closer to NOA2, then I'll come back and finish the K1 process and finally go to be with my love Mark forever and always.

At least that's the plan - should work out ok with the timing of the VSC right now - but it's going to be an awfully busy next 2 months

[TwoCats 55]

Have any of you considered going over to be with your significant other on a tourist visa before getting your K1? We are contemplating this option since it looks like it will take as long as 5-6 months, if not more, to get the approval. The consulate here (along with everything else in Finland) will be closed for the whole month of July if not more, which would postpone my process here by another month again. My concern with this is that I've heard that they can actually deny entry at the POE if they in any way think that you might try to stay in the country illegally on your tourist visa. And that it is completely up to the person questioning you whether they believe you in that you are committed to doing things the legal and the right way. If they are suspicious they can just send your hiny back on the next flight over, at your own cost. Obviously I would quit my job here and give up my apartment etc before flying over and I'd just stay at friends and my parents when coming back to get the Visa, so the only proof of actually coming back to Finland would be my return ticket - which Im not sure I should even book in advance in case we by some miracle happen to get our NOA2 earlier than estimated. so many things here to consider....

I don't know much about countries where a visa is required to travel to/from the United States, however I do know of many people who were in VWP countries who have managed to come visit without too much of a problem. Finland, from what this site shows, is a VWP country, so unless you have some other thing excluding you from using the VWP program, that's probably better than actually trying for a visa. My first time through the process (back some four years ago for my ex-husband), he managed to come over to visit just fine on VWP over Christmas through Chicago without any troubles.

The best thing to do is to have a return ticket, have all your evidence of ties to your country, and be honest. Never misrepresent yourself. Have documents showing you have a job and when you're expected to return, lease/property information, and anything else to show that you're likely to return. At the POE, don't get nervous or flustered. If they ask questions, just answer honestly and have information to prove this is just a visit. Getting denied at POE would suck, but it isn't the end of the world.

Alternately, could the U.S. side of your relationship come to visit Finland instead? That's what Kata and I plan on doing if I'm able to get time off of work. I'm hoping to come visit him in London for a week or so, just to break up the long waiting period.

Edited January 27, 2011 by TwoCats

[new1 2]

Brad & Mayra,

Just got woken up lastnight via text message with my e-notification! My I-797 should be in the mail soon and I expect your notification sent to you as well!!! Best of luck and hang in there!!

eff

Congrats eff!!

[E&R4ever 6]

Wooojoooo!! Congratulations Eff!!

Thanks Diana!!!

Hope you get well soon!!!!

Thanks New1 !!

Most appreciate your support!!!

Jan2011 Filers are the coolest!!!

[DiZZyLoX 114]

Hey January! VSC is moving a bit. Stoked??? <3

[Misha&Lena 1]

I checked timelines for 2010 for Russian Embassy and VT processing center: NOA1 to NOA2 times are from 34 days to 180 and all between. It is really looks like they are playing Roulette with our file numbers.

[new1 2]

Hey January! VSC is moving a bit. Stoked??? <3

i hope they start moving really faster and approve allllll of us at once!

[James And Oksana 19]

I checked timelines for 2010 for Russian Embassy and VT processing center: NOA1 to NOA2 times are from 34 days to 180 and all between. It is really looks like they are playing Roulette with our file numbers.

Well, toward the beginning of the year both processing centers were faster. They have both slowed down. I would plan on a 5 month wait at this point, from either. Not to be negative, just trying to set realistic expectations based on the data and statistics I have ran. Nice thing is, I do believe it is improving somewhat, but I will not be able to confirm that gut feeling until the publish the numbers for December and January. Keep the faith, it will happen!!!

Edited January 27, 2011 by James And Oksana

[James And Oksana 19]

i hope they start moving really faster and approve allllll of us at once!

Doesn't hurt to dream, just do not mistake it for reality. May hurt like the hammer on the head smiley.......owch!!! LOL! I too hope my gut instinct that tells me they are speeding up is correct.

[new1 2]

Doesn't hurt to dream, just do not mistake it for reality. May hurt like the hammer on the head smiley.......owch!!! LOL! I too hope my gut instinct that tells me they are speeding up is correct.

wellll, we kinda already knew we might hafto wait bout 5 months or so.. but yep, doesn't hurt to dream just keep the faith!

[Diana and Chris 25]

It'll happen when it happens. All I know is that we are all getting married

[JustJanis 2]

It'll happen when it happens. All I know is that we are all getting married

Yes, CHEERS to all of our happy marriages!!! I promised to be patient and just let things happen as they do. So far so good.

[TwoCats 55]

Has anyone else ever read through some post on the forum only to find someone mentioning a mistake, or an issue they had, and it starts you (and worse your fiance') into a downward spiral of worrying? In that irrational way of: 'I can't do anything about this, and I don't even know if it will be an issue'. That's kind of where we're at today.

Nothing I want to discuss details on really, but it's stressful.

Hopefully it dies down and in a few days I'll go back to the whole 'we'll deal with problems if they come up and not worry about them until then' mentality.

Edited January 27, 2011 by TwoCats

[Diana and Chris 25]

Has anyone else ever read through some post on the forum only to find someone mentioning a mistake, or an issue they had, and it starts you (and worse your fiance') into a downward spiral of worrying? In that irrational way of: 'I can't do anything about this, and I don't even know if it will be an issue'. That's kind of where we're at today.

Nothing I want to discuss details on really, but it's stressful.

Hopefully it dies down and in a few days I'll go back to the whole 'we'll deal with problems if they come up and not worry about them until then' mentality.

Every case is different, every adjudicator is different, every doctor... so on and so on. What has been a problem for some can just stay as a worry for somebody else or an unnotticed thing that could of happend but never did. I've read lots of little or big things that might get me worried for a while, but I let God handle all that that I can't handle. I know it's easy to say and hard to do, but it may be helpful to read it: Do not worry for that that is beyond your doing. For me, peace of mind is very important for patience.

We are all here for you, and as it's been said here: If you ever do have an RFE... if that was the case, it's not an impossibe thing to pass.

*hugs* we will be here before and after you get to your "We'll deal with problems if they come up and not worry about them until then" mentality.

Cheer up, you're awesome!! And heck, you've got somebody that LOVES you!!

Diana.