How to kill wait time...any advice?

[Jaz&Bry 9]

Hi everyone,

I know that a lot of us are waiting... and waiting for our visa. I am having a hard time deciding what to do with the wait time.

Here´s my situation:

I quit my job in October to be with my boyfriend (now fiance) in the US for 3 months to figure out if we want to take the relationship to the next level. He proposed, I returned to Germany, we filed the K1. I thought it would only be a process of 4-6 months and I would be back with him. I thought that was a great time period to get rid of my apartment, my stuff and say good-bye to loved ones. Now I found out that CSC is taking forever to process K1 visas and all in all it will more likely take 9-10 months or God knows how long. Almost 3 months are already over since NOA1. I am in a position now where I have to either find a job and only work for a few months, which doesn´t make a lot of sense if you´re having an actual career in a high-profile field. Also I would have to lie to the potential employer about wanting to stay permanently and then quit spontaneously upon CSC´s notice, which gives me a guilty conscience.

Or I could move in with my family who live near the Frankfurt consulate and just wait for the visa for several months. Sitting around doing nothing I feel lazy, unproductive and useless. I also worry about the huge gap that will appear in my resume and may damage my career. I do have a job interview in a couple of weeks and if they offer me the job, I may accept, but I am not sure yet since I want to be ready to leave my town in Northern Germany to be available for the consulate as soon as I hear from CSC and NVC. If I stay and work, it may delay my departure for the US eventually because I will still have my apartment and all my things that I will have to loose and take care of. That will stress me out immensely.

What would you guys do? Anyone in the same situation?

[storminnorman 9]

Hi everyone,

I know that a lot of us are waiting... and waiting for our visa. I am having a hard time deciding what to do with the wait time.

Here´s my situation:

I quit my job in October to be with my boyfriend (now fiance) in the US for 3 months to figure out if we want to take the relationship to the next level. He proposed, I returned to Germany, we filed the K1. I thought it would only be a process of 4-6 months and I would be back with him. I thought that was a great time period to get rid of my apartment, my stuff and say good-bye to loved ones. Now I found out that CSC is taking forever to process K1 visas and all in all it will more likely take 9-10 months or God knows how long. Almost 3 months are already over since NOA1. I am in a position now where I have to either find a job and only work for a few months, which doesn´t make a lot of sense if you´re having an actual career in a high-profile field. Also I would have to lie to the potential employer about wanting to stay permanently and then quit spontaneously upon CSC´s notice, which gives me a guilty conscience.

Or I could move in with my family who live near the Frankfurt consulate and just wait for the visa for several months. Sitting around doing nothing I feel lazy, unproductive and useless. I also worry about the huge gap that will appear in my resume and may damage my career. I do have a job interview in a couple of weeks and if they offer me the job, I may accept, but I am not sure yet since I want to be ready to leave my town in Northern Germany to be available for the consulate as soon as I hear from CSC and NVC. If I stay and work, it may delay my departure for the US eventually because I will still have my apartment and all my things that I will have to loose and take care of. That will stress me out immensely.

What would you guys do? Anyone in the same situation?

Same us ours...We are now in 6 months and a half but hear nothing from CSC..crying all the time, missing the love of my life. I told my Fiance to call again the congressman about this process because its killin me.. And I've read someone posted on this forum that for K1 visa it will take 1 year before you get the NOA2...ridiculous...frustrating...

[monalisapod 0]

Same us ours...We are now in 6 months and a half but hear nothing from CSC..crying all the time, missing the love of my life. I told my Fiance to call again the congressman about this process because its killin me.. And I've read someone posted on this forum that for K1 visa it will take 1 year before you get the NOA2...ridiculous...frustrating...

Yes, I've read that too that's already gone to 1 year from the date you receive the NOA1. Purely unacceptable and unfair treatment for us who filed the legal way while the illegals are being attended first :(

For the OP:given the one year waiting span, just take the job. Anyway, you can have an estimate already as to when your application will be adjudicated. God bless you in your journey!

Edited March 29, 2013 by monalisapod

[Greg n Veronica 17]

I believe that working or maybe volunteering somewhere would help you. However, in light of the current delay in processing K1s, I would lean more towards working. But that is just my thoughts.

[SteveKarlaMayer 21]

How about getting a part-time job? We're on the same boat. On April 2 marks the 7 month from the date of our NOA1. Quite depressing but I think we just have to be really patient about this. Just keep the faith and the positive outlook and attitude. That's what I'm doing everyday.

God bless!

Edited March 29, 2013 by Lai & Steven

[Darnell 8,479]

i say stay in a big job till 2 months after the interview.

[Highyella72 11]

Yes, I've read that too that's already gone to 1 year from the date you receive the NOA1. Purely unacceptable and unfair treatment for us who filed the legal way while the illegals are being attended first :(

For the OP:given the one year waiting span, just take the job. Anyway, you can have an estimate already as to when your application will be adjudicated. God bless you in your journey!

I would take a job and wait it out. Given there is a long waiting period for petitions to be approved and then an interview scheduled and then the possibility of denial.... it is advised when starting the process not to let go of personal belongings or quitting jobs until your visa is actually approved. I do wish you the best of luck in your journey, but keeping a job will not only make you feel useful, smiles, but be security in the worst case scenario.....

[TBoneTX 46,172]

*** Thread moved from Embassy/Consulate forum to the K-1 Case Progress subforum -- not a consular issue yet. ***

[rjm_cmyk 75]

I'm not going to make any substantive changes until I at least see a bunch of previous month filers get their NOA2. Business as usual. I'm assuming 60-90 days on the UK side on the final stage anyway. It's especially brave to make big decisions ahead of them picking up your file never mind the risk of RFE's ,further delays , blocked toilets in the consulates blah blah blah blah.

That's not to say I'm not doing anything to get ready. I'm just not doing anything that irreversible. Not that I know what I will do if we are not successful.......

[asia/chris 0]

I am in the same situation and to be honest i have no idea what to do...graduating from the Univ soon and I am a PhD, so yes if i take a job here i dont know how long i will be working...maybe a few months or maybe even a year...who knows. staying home and just waiting for the NOA2 is not an option for me, would drive me crazy and it wont be good for my career. but i am also concerned if anybody will hire me just for few months...with the jobs i would apply for, people expect you to stay longer otherwise it is pointless to hire anybody...i am so depressed...this is OUR life and we have to make the best out of it.... sure the way CSC processes cases now is not helping at all...

just praying for some mirracle to happen...and missing my love so much...

[rjm_cmyk 75]

Whilst it can be seen that taking on a position with full knowledge that you will resign later is something one might not want to do ... It's important to remember that should your employer's situation change they would can you if it was (for them) the right thing to do. One might not want to do such a thing to a small business or friend - you eventually have to look after no.1 as rarely will anyone else in the employment field do so.

And I speak as someone with their own business who is therefore an employer of people. I am also cognisant of the fact that me leaving may result in collateral damage in my present business.

This is not something any of us is doing lightly (I hope) and as such there are some hard decisions to be made.

Edited March 30, 2013 by rjm_cmyk

[Jaz&Bry 9]

I'm not going to make any substantive changes until I at least see a bunch of previous month filers get their NOA2. Business as usual. I'm assuming 60-90 days on the UK side on the final stage anyway. It's especially brave to make big decisions ahead of them picking up your file never mind the risk of RFE's ,further delays , blocked toilets in the consulates blah blah blah blah.

That's not to say I'm not doing anything to get ready. I'm just not doing anything that irreversible. Not that I know what I will do if we are not successful.......

that´s good advice, thanks. you´re right, one shouldn´t give up everything when things are still so uncertain. And CSC has not made a lot of progress recently. The petitiions are probably piling up more and more and they won´t get back to their usual processing time any time soon. I am following your timelne btw, we filed at about the same time. Hang in there!

[Jaz&Bry 9]

Whilst it can be seen that taking on a position with full knowledge that you will resign later is something one might not want to do ... It's important to remember that should your employer's situation change they would can you if it was (for them) the right thing to do. One might not want to do such a thing to a small business or friend - you eventually have to look after no.1 as rarely will anyone else in the employment field do so.

And I speak as someone with their own business who is therefore an employer of people. I am also cognisant of the fact that me leaving may result in collateral damage in my present business.

This is not something any of us is doing lightly (I hope) and as such there are some hard decisions to be made.

It is a large corporation that I applied with. I don´t think it would cause major damage for them if I resigned upon short notice. I guess I have to be selfish here, when it comes down to it, they won´t care about me either. Will you give up your business in the UK? Those are really tough decisions we are forced to make! It´s all for love though. Some people may think we´re crazy, but secretly they admire our courage, I believe

[Jaz&Bry 9]

I am in the same situation and to be honest i have no idea what to do...graduating from the Univ soon and I am a PhD, so yes if i take a job here i dont know how long i will be working...maybe a few months or maybe even a year...who knows. staying home and just waiting for the NOA2 is not an option for me, would drive me crazy and it wont be good for my career. but i am also concerned if anybody will hire me just for few months...with the jobs i would apply for, people expect you to stay longer otherwise it is pointless to hire anybody...i am so depressed...this is OUR life and we have to make the best out of it.... sure the way CSC processes cases now is not helping at all...

just praying for some mirracle to happen...and missing my love so much...

I know, it´s really hard But we have to think of ourselves, our sanity and what´s best for our lives and careers. You are a PhD and I am a lawyer, we just can´t afford to mess around with our careers. The professional world is cold and not understanding of a situation like ours. I wouldn´t be upfront in an interview, they will simply not hire you.

It is the uncertainty that makes the wait so terrible. If we knew, ah, CSC is taking 8 months now and it will remain the same, we could plan accordingly. But we simply don´t know whether they will pick up speed again (in that case you as a November filer would be up for a NOA2 pretty soon!) or if it´s only getting worse and we will have to wait up to a year.

[Michel and Kim 4]

I left to see my fiancee America for 3 months. Although some have negative experiences with that.

They can't refuse entrance based on a K1 process. As the matter of fact I used that fact to get in (why would I pay so much for a K1 just to waste all the money and move in now?) they can however refuse entrance based on their feeling that your visit is not genuine.

Still, I'd say it's worth it. Being 3 months together is a great way to kill time. It took us about 6 months to get our NOA2.

Another thing I did, was spend a lot of time with my friends as I had to say goodbye to them. Volunteering anywhere I could and live as a nomad. It was actually pretty fun but still it didn't numb the anxiety completely.

Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I know that a lot of us are waiting... and waiting for our visa. I am having a hard time deciding what to do with the wait time.

Here´s my situation:

I quit my job in October to be with my boyfriend (now fiance) in the US for 3 months to figure out if we want to take the relationship to the next level. He proposed, I returned to Germany, we filed the K1. I thought it would only be a process of 4-6 months and I would be back with him. I thought that was a great time period to get rid of my apartment, my stuff and say good-bye to loved ones. Now I found out that CSC is taking forever to process K1 visas and all in all it will more likely take 9-10 months or God knows how long. Almost 3 months are already over since NOA1. I am in a position now where I have to either find a job and only work for a few months, which doesn´t make a lot of sense if you´re having an actual career in a high-profile field. Also I would have to lie to the potential employer about wanting to stay permanently and then quit spontaneously upon CSC´s notice, which gives me a guilty conscience.

Or I could move in with my family who live near the Frankfurt consulate and just wait for the visa for several months. Sitting around doing nothing I feel lazy, unproductive and useless. I also worry about the huge gap that will appear in my resume and may damage my career. I do have a job interview in a couple of weeks and if they offer me the job, I may accept, but I am not sure yet since I want to be ready to leave my town in Northern Germany to be available for the consulate as soon as I hear from CSC and NVC. If I stay and work, it may delay my departure for the US eventually because I will still have my apartment and all my things that I will have to loose and take care of. That will stress me out immensely.

What would you guys do? Anyone in the same situation?