Request for Help from the Community: Quick scrub of the VJ Guides for New USCIS Policies

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Hello everyone! I'm looking for a little help scrubbing the Guides and FAQs to find anything that needs updated to capture new or updated USCIS/DOS policies. There has been quite a few new changes recently (mailing locations, form updates, waiver policy changes, etc.) and I want to make sure VJ has captured them all.

I know this will be helpful to everyone and certainly thank you in advance for your help!!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

In the table for marriage based visa comparision table it isn't clear what choices are opent to LPR's and the amount of extra time it takes.

marriage base visa comparision

[Nearly Done 8]

Hi Ewok

I will have a good long read over the weekend and if I see anything that I think needs adding or deleting I will give my opinion BUT I am sure you have it all covered correctly, great work, THANK YOU!!!!

Hello everyone! I'm looking for a little help scrubbing the Guides and FAQs to find anything that needs updated to capture new or updated USCIS/DOS policies. There has been quite a few new changes recently (mailing locations, form updates, waiver policy changes, etc.) and I want to make sure VJ has captured them all.

I know this will be helpful to everyone and certainly thank you in advance for your help!!

[Karee 4,190]

One thing that's bugged me for years is the errors under processing times for IR-1/CR-1 visas. I've posted in the bugs, but nothing ever came of it.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ir1cr1historical

1. Above the step 3 graph it says, "I-129F Processing Time at the NVC" There is no I-129F filed for IR-1/CR-1.

2. Above the step 4 graph it says "Embassy K-3 Visa Processing Time (receives petition until issues visa)" This page is for IR-1/CR-1 visas, not K-3.

[Done--Really 331]

I'll do a thorough review this weekend, but in the meantime I think it would be helpful to clean up all the guides by removing the strike outs. They don't add anything at this point, and we still get questions about them off and on. MOre later.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello everyone! I'm looking for a little help scrubbing the Guides and FAQs to find anything that needs updated to capture new or updated USCIS/DOS policies. There has been quite a few new changes recently (mailing locations, form updates, waiver policy changes, etc.) and I want to make sure VJ has captured them all.

I know this will be helpful to everyone and certainly thank you in advance for your help!!

I did a read on the K-1 petition process, I-129F, all looks fine. I also read through the embassy specific information (Philippines) and things look good there as well.

[Operator 1,927]

A few comments on the K-1 flowchart:

Steps 6 and 7. The timing here should be reconsidered, it certainly isn't the case for petitions going to GUZ and could unnecessarily cause a concern for both petitioner and beneficiary if they go much beyond that.

Step 21. The information here should be reconsidered as fiancé(e) status expires after 90 days if you don't marry. I see many questions relating to the time frame for applying for AOS. This is what the VJ FAQ section says about it and it just doesn't seem quite accurate to me.

6.1)...Howsoon after we get married should we apply for Adjustment of Status? A..Right away, or at least right after your honeymoon. You should make every effort to get the Adjustment application filed within 90 days of the fiance(e) entering the United States, which is when the K-1 status expires, as indicatedon the I-94.

Filing for Adjustment of Status within the 90 days protects your legal status. Your legal status as a K1 expires after 90 days, married or not. The only way to protect your legal status is to apply for Adjustment of Status, and the only way to maintain continuous legal status is to file for AOS before the K1 visa expires. On the practical side, it is often difficult to arrange for the marriage, and get all the paperwork ready in time to file for AOS within 90 days. Many newsgroup couples have filed for AOS a few days or weeks after the 90 day limit with no problems. Thus far, newsgroup experience has shown this is not a major issue with local USCIS (INS) offices.

Step 23. Lots of K-1 beneficiaries are getting approved (AOS) without interview or I-551 stamps so maybe this should be revised as well.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Operator

[pushbrk 12,883]

A few comments on the K-1 flowchart:

Steps 6 and 7. The timing here should be reconsidered, it certainly isn't the case for petitions going to GUZ and could unnecessarily cause a concern for both petitioner and beneficiary if they go much beyond that.

Step 21. The information here should be reconsidered as fiancé(e) status expires after 90 days if you don't marry. I see many questions relating to the time frame for applying for AOS. This is what the VJ FAQ section says about it and it just doesn't seem quite accurate to me.

6.1)...Howsoon after we get married should we apply for Adjustment of Status? A..Right away, or at least right after your honeymoon. You should make every effort to get the Adjustment application filed within 90 days of the fiance(e) entering the United States, which is when the K-1 status expires, as indicatedon the I-94.

Filing for Adjustment of Status within the 90 days protects your legal status. Your legal status as a K1 expires after 90 days, married or not. The only way to protect your legal status is to apply for Adjustment of Status, and the only way to maintain continuous legal status is to file for AOS before the K1 visa expires. On the practical side, it is often difficult to arrange for the marriage, and get all the paperwork ready in time to file for AOS within 90 days. Many newsgroup couples have filed for AOS a few days or weeks after the 90 day limit with no problems. Thus far, newsgroup experience has shown this is not a major issue with local USCIS (INS) offices.

Step 23. Lots of K-1 beneficiaries are getting approved (AOS) without interview or I-551 stamps so maybe this should be revised as well.

See made big above. This also is incorrect. You really want advise to file before the I-94 expires. An expired visa cannot be used to enter the USA. The K1 visa is dead on arrival, rendering its expiration date meaningless, once used to enter the USA. What I made big above should simply read, "file for AOS within 90 days of arrival." Since VJ is either no longer or never was a "newsgroup", I would change that too. Was VJ on Usenet at some point as a newsgroup?

[Moomin 292]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

Assembling the I-485 Package: Checklist

The first link is to a post from 2007 with outdated fees

The link to USCIS(in the first post) doesn't work.

Thanks for taking the time to do updates! : )

[Pitaya 2,577]

Suggest putting in information about electronic processing of visas (such as it is) in the GUIDES. I realize that it is a work in progress, but if some general guidelines could be formulated it may benefit members.

Consider updating the Guide information about K-3 administrative closing.

Thank you for eliciting comments, and for initiating a thread to keep the forum information current and vital.

Happy Trails….

[Ryan H 3,812]

The very first thing in the K3 guide should explain how petitions are tied together and current NVC policy regarding administrative closure.

Quoted below is a pasage at the bottom IR-1/CR-1 guide that need to be reworded (suggested rewording follows the quote).

Also, if your relative is your wife or husband and you have been married for less then 2 years at the time of his/her arrival at a port of entry, then he/she will receive a temporary I-551 Stamp and then later a Green Card by mail good for only 2 years. Ninety days before the green card expires you will have to file an I-751 form to remove it's conditional status.

A better way to word it would be:

At the bottom of either a CR-1 visa or IR-1 visa is the following sen "Upon Endorsement Serves As Temporary I-551 Valid For One Year." The endorsement is a standard CBP admission stamp with applicable information written in by the officer. This allows the visa itself to act as a temporary green card before the actual green card arrives in the mail. Additionally, if your relative is a CR-1 visa holder, the green card will only be valid for two years. Within ninety days before the green card expires, you will have to file an I-751 form to remove conditions.

[unlockingsky 94]

There should be a directory for all topics when you click on "Wiki" instead of getting a general page. It provides members a understanding of available resources.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Was VJ on Usenet at some point as a newsgroup?

Yes, that's how it started out as far as I know.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There have been a lot of question lately about the process for parents. Maybe a total guide for parents. The current one kind of dies after assembling and submitting the petition. If you didn't use VJ for your arrival to the US people don't know what is next.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

One thing that's bugged me for years is the errors under processing times for IR-1/CR-1 visas. I've posted in the bugs, but nothing ever came of it.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ir1cr1historical

1. Above the step 3 graph it says, "I-129F Processing Time at the NVC" There is no I-129F filed for IR-1/CR-1.

2. Above the step 4 graph it says "Embassy K-3 Visa Processing Time (receives petition until issues visa)" This page is for IR-1/CR-1 visas, not K-3.

Corrected!