Delays are so discouraging

[baron555 934]

Lots of good info, some country-specific which you ought to study very closely and take heed of.

As far as your clock, you can jump on a plane right now and satisfy that itch.

[Susita 175]

If it seems like his interview letter is taking too long to arrive, he should be following up with the embassy, as Serpost has been failing to deliver those packets in a timely manner this year for whatever reason.

I strongly second this. My husband's packet never arrived, he had to travel to the embassy and pick one up. This was back in 2008. The mail is unreliable at times, don't risk it!

[yachachiq12 43]

I had one more thought. If you use the K-1 and then he returns to Peru for his courses and is going to basically need three flight legs, think about using your air miles. If you have enough, you could get his one-way to the US with those when the interview is scheduled (I know, I know "don't make travel plans," but with American at least, those can be re-scheduled for just $50). Then, you'd only need to pay for one roundtrip flight for his return for his course. Don't forget to keep in mind Jim's warning about him possibly needing to be present for an AOS interview, etc.

I know this is really frustrating for you and more expensive than you may have planned for in an ideal situation, but it is an investment in your future together. There are far worse ways to spend your money.

And don't forget the positive financial impact of choosing the CR-1: employability will come much sooner than with the K-1.

[Dante & Geor 36]

People in Perú don't elope. There is an official process that takes, I believe, 3 weeks or more. It has to be announced in the paper in advance,the entire paper has to be taken to get a document like a marriage license from an official, there's a group civil ceremony, etc. You have to be very deliberate to marry there. I could easily be wrong, but it seems that less than half the couples that claim to be spouses are legally married.

Once we decided to marry, we looked into it. We also looked at Chile and Bolivia and it doesn't look so easy in those places, too. After the 2 trips that I have already taken this year, I can't get enough time off to go there and jump through the hoops, even if I had the money for another flight.

When you read about someone getting married in Perú, it seems to always be about some mountain tribal shaman wedding ceremony that is as legal as a 3 dollar bill.

(We looked at those, too, out of curiosity.)

He wants a formal wedding in his country, too, but it will have to wait, most likely, until after we live there. I still have some more saving for retirement to do! I've only got 47k and for us to retire there in 16 years, we'll need 250k. Why-oh-why didn't I start saving when I was young? (Young folks--DO IT!!!!)

Thank you, everybody for your input. Here lately, I feel like we are playing a poker game where our opponent is openly cheating. I know he is worth it, but dang it, why do citizens of foreign loved-ones go through this...?

I dunno if I'm the only one but I felt a bit offended with some assumptions you made on this post... be careful when you talk of something you don't understand, some chaman and tribal rituals of marriage can be legal if the practitioner has the proper permissions... I'm not saying I believe that stuff, but I'm respectful of my country traditions, and saying is like a 3 dollar bill is kinda offensive to my culture...

Anyway, good luck with your journey

[Rufus2012 175]

OP - I'm certainly quite guilty of directing a lot of invective at USCIS (which I truly regret, I wish this site gave one the opportunity to delete old threads they started ), so far be it from me to tell you to try to relax about the process.

It does seem to me, from what you've written, however, that your concerns about his education and your fertility are solvable regardless of what USCIS does. He can make some choices about school, and there's no law that says your child has to be conceived after he gets here.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Once he comes here and you get married, you will need to file AOS and wait for his green card for him to go back and study for another 4 months. AP is used for emergency trips, or short visits out of the country while awaiting the green card. After you file for AOS, he will need to go to a biometrics appointment, and has a 50/50 shot of being called for an interview as well. He could not be gone during this process. You may need to be separated a bit longer if he is to study from Aug. - Dec. He may need to get an extension to delay his interview and come after his studies are finished.

I just wanted to point out something I noticed in your signature.

8.) Submit applications to stay-1070$, to work-380$, to travel-360$ + 85$ (medical again?)

AOS will cost a total of $1070 ($985 + $85 bio fee) The fees for filing EAD and AP are waived when filing with the I-485 to adjust status. Also, he will not need a new medical when filing for AOS within 1 year of receiving his medical overseas.

[Susita 175]

why do citizens of foreign loved-ones go through this...?

I just wanted to add that we have it relatively easy compared to relatives of citizens. My in-laws are getting up there (in their 70's) and we were looking into petitioning for my brother-in-law and USCIS said there's a 10 year wait. Same goes if we wanted either of his parents to come.

So try to see the cup half full I guess.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Delays in filing are often caused by ignorance. The address of the beneficiary is of little consequence as nothing of value is sent to them, even the "packet 3" can be downloaded. Not USCIS's problem. USCIS NEVER Sends anything to the beneficiary in a foreign country. EVER. Delaying a filing because of an address issue is not USCIS's fault.

Not including everything needed results in RFEs. This is not USCIS's fault.

People have vacations. People do not put thier vacation plans on hold for petitions, and responding to RFEs. If they did, when would they EVEr go on vacation?

Having to process RFEs delaysother people. Kind of like being behind the lady in the grocery store whose credit and debit cards get declined one after another and she is screaming about the "bank's error". Yeah, whatever.