HELP, URGENT !!

[Alexander De Ridder 0]

Clara's dad has been shot, at 2'30am houston time, in front of his business. They were trying to steal his car and they shot him. Clara called me in a panick ... her dad is in a really bad situation. Hes lost sense of his chest to his toe, and lost a lot of blood. He got shot 5 times, and at least one of it in the neck. Now its 3 or 4 hours later and they still didnt help him because they wait for a specialist!

I want to be there for her, and take the first plane i can. My dad says its not smart because I can risk losing my job over it. But it seems immoral not to go there, she is my first priority.

I want your input.

My second concern is will i be allowed in the country because of my K-1 ? Please help me what can I do or improvise so that i will pass customs? I can't ask proof from my employer because he won't like it that i go.

Can i just tell them my future father in law got shot and will they let me in?

Please I need help. I got a friend who wants to give me the plane ticket and he suggest I leave tommorow morning already, so things will go fast.

Edited September 1, 2006 by Alexander De Ridder

[crilvsk 0]

Clara's dad has been shot, at 2'30am houston time, in front of his business. They were trying to steal his car and they shot him. Clara called me in a panick ... her dad is in a really bad situation. Hes lost sense of his chest to his toe, and lost a lot of blood. He got shot 5 times, and at least one of it in the neck. Now its 3 or 4 hours later and they still didnt help him because they wait for a specialist!

I want to be there for her, and take the first plane i can. My dad says its not smart because I can risk losing my job over it. But it seems immoral not to go there, she is my first priority.

I want your input.

My second concern is will i be allowed in the country because of my K-1 ? Please help me what can I do or improvise so that i will pass customs? I can't ask proof from my employer because he won't like it that i go.

Can i just tell them my future father in law got shot and will they let me in?

Please I need help. I got a friend who wants to give me the plane ticket and he suggest I leave tommorow morning already, so things will go fast.

I would go for it if I were you! Your fiancee and her dad are in my prayers as well as yourself.

[babybunny 2]

Clara's dad has been shot, at 2'30am houston time, in front of his business. They were trying to steal his car and they shot him. Clara called me in a panick ... her dad is in a really bad situation. Hes lost sense of his chest to his toe, and lost a lot of blood. He got shot 5 times, and at least one of it in the neck. Now its 3 or 4 hours later and they still didnt help him because they wait for a specialist!

I want to be there for her, and take the first plane i can. My dad says its not smart because I can risk losing my job over it. But it seems immoral not to go there, she is my first priority.

I want your input.

My second concern is will i be allowed in the country because of my K-1 ? Please help me what can I do or improvise so that i will pass customs? I can't ask proof from my employer because he won't like it that i go.

Can i just tell them my future father in law got shot and will they let me in?

Please I need help. I got a friend who wants to give me the plane ticket and he suggest I leave tommorow morning already, so things will go fast.

based on the Emergency I would go for it. I pray he is alright - prayers to her dad and to your fiancee.

[tachy 0]

sorry to hear that. first of all don't panic, you should be the calm one because your fiance is probably panicing enough for both of you.

I don't know about your job situation but it seems to me that you could take the risk of loosing your job because you will be gone soon anyway after you receive your K1-visa. I mean a few months sooner or later, does it make such a big difference? And then you might not even loose your job. But this is your decision because of course it depends on what job you have and how important it is for your resume and your career and so on. (and of course it depends on how bad you need the income)

as far as your K1-visa: this is an issue that would worry me if i were you. can you may be get a letter from the hospital of your father in law to be that proves his condition? this would be no proof that you will return to your home country but it is a significant reason to visit the US. may be they can fax you a short letter or so. do you have any other proof that you will return to your home country? (school, current projects, any commitments?) ask your employer for a letter anyway.

if it seems all too risky to you then there is still the phone, you can give your fiance a lot of comfort over the phone as well.

i hope you make the right decision

good luck

[mendeleev 68]

I am very sorry to read about this. It will be a difficult, awful time for all of you.

Effectively supporting your fiance is most important. You've got good advice above and it seems contradictory, but it isn't. necessarily. You need to be stable and calm, avoid panick. It is likely you will find a way to travel. If your Fiance can get the hospital to FAX a statement, that will be helpful for you. You could be excluded at the border. If you make it to Houston, you may want to talk with Laurel Scott, an excellent immigration attorney, who earned a good reputation at VJ, who has offices in Houston. She takes only difficult cases and yours, probably, will not yet be difficult. She will provide phone or email consultation at very moderate price and perhaps an office consultation at a similar modest price.

Try to show intent to return. Your employer will find out about why you are travelling and, even if he is unhappy about it, he may be willing to provide you with a letter. Your position with him may be a little stronger if he knows you are intending to marry and emmigrate, since he then knows he's going to have to replace you anyway later on -- and perhaps you can bargain the sooner or later aspect with him. No one likes losing a good employee and most employers will hold on to good ones when they can, even when they know they will leave in foreseeable future.

Try to be calm. It will be difficult.

[aj1 1]

I am very sorry to read about this. It will be a difficult, awful time for all of you.

Effectively supporting your fiance is most important. You've got good advice above and it seems contradictory, but it isn't. necessarily. You need to be stable and calm, avoid panick. It is likely you will find a way to travel. If your Fiance can get the hospital to FAX a statement, that will be helpful for you. You could be excluded at the border. If you make it to Houston, you may want to talk with Laurel Scott, an excellent immigration attorney, who earned a good reputation at VJ, who has offices in Houston. She takes only difficult cases and yours, probably, will not yet be difficult. She will provide phone or email consultation at very moderate price and perhaps an office consultation at a similar modest price.

Try to show intent to return. Your employer will find out about why you are travelling and, even if he is unhappy about it, he may be willing to provide you with a letter. Your position with him may be a little stronger if he knows you are intending to marry and emmigrate, since he then knows he's going to have to replace you anyway later on -- and perhaps you can bargain the sooner or later aspect with him. No one likes losing a good employee and most employers will hold on to good ones when they can, even when they know they will leave in foreseeable future.

Try to be calm. It will be difficult.

I am so sorry to hear that i will be praying for you all and for your fiancee dad. I would go they need you more than you know i am sure. Be strong for them now.

AJ1

[frndly1 1]

Please don't make a nasty decisions. Remember this sudden act could have long tem effects on you trying to get back in the states and the possibility of your lively hood back in your home cuntry.

I pray that you, your fiancee and her family have strenght to deal with the situation at hand. I pray that the future father inlaw will get better.

[Kirsten L 0]

Please don't make a nasty decisions. Remember this sudden act could have long tem effects on you trying to get back in the states and the possibility of your lively hood back in your home cuntry.

I pray that you, your fiancee and her family have strenght to deal with the situation at hand. I pray that the future father inlaw will get better.

How horrible and frightening for everyone. I'm so, so sorry to hear the news.

Get a letter from the hospital and from your employer as quickly as you can. I would also see if you could get a report from the police officers who came to the scene of the shooting, verifying that this incident did indeed happen. USCIS may well appreciate proof that comes straight from law enforcement. STAY CALM. You need to have all your faculties about you. Your fiancée's family will be panicked enough for everyone. They're going to need people around them who can be rocks for them to lean on.

My prayers are with your fiancée, her family, and you. May God get you across the border.

Edited September 1, 2006 by Kirsten L

[maya62 7]

One suggestion, especially if you have trouble getting a letter from the hospital... you could try checking the local Houston paper(s) online for an article about the attack. The suggestion of a police report is good, too, if you can get it.

Whatever you decide, I wish you and your fiancee the best, and her father a speedy and complete recovery from this horrible event.

Maya

[SirLancelot 1]

Get a letter from the hospital and from your employer as quickly as you can. I would also see if you could get a report from the police officers who came to the scene of the shooting, verifying that this incident did indeed happen. USCIS may well appreciate proof that comes straight from law enforcement. STAY CALM. You need to have all your faculties about you. Your fiancée's family will be panicked enough for everyone. They're going to need people around them who can be rocks for them to lean on.

This is pretty shocking to read on here.

Kirsten's suggestion is a great idea: get a copy of the police report. You will need to show the border agent the report. The hospital fax would be helpful too.

I would go if I was in your shoes. My future father in law and my future wife is more important than the current job. However, I don't know what you do. Perhaps you're an agent of the secret police of Belgium and can't leave your under cover work. Who knows. You may have your reasons for not letting your employer know. But I would risk going to the USA. This is a very legitimate reason for visiting so long as you have documented proof of this event/incident really taking place.

Best wishes to you and your inlaws.

[novemb_er 0]

Sorry to hear your bad news.I will pray for your finacee dad.

[mybackpages 0]

Clara's dad has been shot, at 2'30am houston time, in front of his business. They were trying to steal his car and they shot him. Clara called me in a panick ... her dad is in a really bad situation. Hes lost sense of his chest to his toe, and lost a lot of blood. He got shot 5 times, and at least one of it in the neck. Now its 3 or 4 hours later and they still didnt help him because they wait for a specialist!

I want to be there for her, and take the first plane i can. My dad says its not smart because I can risk losing my job over it. But it seems immoral not to go there, she is my first priority.

I'm here in Houston. If there is anything I can do you for on this end, let me know.

[rooster 1]

You can also show a contract for your housing. IE.. lease or rental agreement to show your ties to country. You might have this already. Car title could also show you still have property there. Small things but they might help. A copy of your K-1 app with your fiancee's name along with the news article could also help prove your claim to Immigration officers.

GOOD LUCK

[Mark UK 3]

Hi, there,

May God bless you and your family. I hope your fiancée and your future father-in-law are OK.

I asked about visiting whilst my K-1 visa processing was in place. Mine is towards the end of the process, so that affect what they told me. I wanted to travel to visit my fiancée for her birthday. We thought we'd originally make it but our application got delayed by a couple of things, so I considered visiting instead.

I was advised by the US Embassy (via Email) against travelling to the US whilst under the K-1. It is entirely up to the discretion of the immigration officer to let you in at the POE. You have to categorically prove that you do not intend to stay in the US and that you have to return. This includes mortgage deeds, proof of employment and anything and everything you can get to prove that you still have ties to your country and intend to return after the visit.

Bear in mind that you already signalled your intent to go to the US permanently to the immigration authorities.

This is what they said to me:

"As you have already attended an interview for a K-1 visa and you are in the final stages of the process it would not be advisable to attempt to travel to the United States.

If you do wish to make a temporary non-working visit to the U.S. while your application for a fiancé(e) visa is being processed you may travel on a B-2 (holiday) visa, or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program if otherwise qualified. You should carry with you evidence that you intend to depart the U.S. at the end of your stay and return to your residence in the U.K. This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the United States sufficient to cause the applicant to return there at the conclusion of his/her stay. If U.S. immigration are not convinced that you are a bona fide visitor for pleasure you can be denied entry.

If you travel to the United States and are denied entry then on your return to the United States the consular officer will require a copy of the report from the immigration official at the port of entry. This will delay the processing of your application."

HOWEVER, you have exceptional circumstances. If I were you, I'm not sure I could stop myself from going over there. I would be less concerned about your job unless your bosses are jerks or jobsworths - people have family emergencies all the time, after all. If you have a decent boss, he/she may be sympathetic. Do seek advice from the Embassy first, though.

(This is all obviously my personal opinion only)

Good luck and God bless,

Mark

[JenT 0]

David had no trouble traveling from Germany to the US last May. We filed for our K1 in April. Bring proof of ties back home, have your return ticket ready to present, and if you can bring the other 'proof' of your reason for visiting, then it can't hurt.

I wouldn't worry about it... if you get turned away, at least you tried. You will be better off that way, than if you remain where you are. Peace of mind in knowing that you did what you could in this situation will go a long way.

Best wishes... and TRY to sleep on the plane. Take drugs if you have to. You're going to need your rest.

Jen

Edited September 1, 2006 by JenT