Our Mongolia K-1/K-2 Story

[duraaraa 203]

Well, I can say that our initial K-1/K-2 journey has finally come to an end. I think I should write about it so others can know for their own journeys what to expect. Of course, some of this is Mongolia-specific, and I know there aren't a lot of members from Mongolia, but, with that said, I'll get on with it.

I went to Mongolia to start a volunteer organization to work with poor/homeless kids. I met my fiancee's son through volunteering, and I met my fiancee because she needed to sign a permission slip for her kids. We became very close, starting visiting each other more and more, and eventually fell in love. I had visa issues in Mongolia, and had to leave after about 7 months there. The very last day, we went to get pictures taken. When I got back to the U.S., I looked at the pictures and realized I needed to go back to Mongolia, so I found a job teaching, got a working visa, and went back so that we could all live together.

We lived that way for the next year. For various reasons, I had to go back to the U.S. last August. By that time, we were already engaged, informally, but I made it more or less official at the airport, that I was going to marry her and bring them to the U.S.

I waited until I had a job in the U.S., and until the probation period had ended, and filed the I-129f in December of last year. In my package, I had only an 'intent to marry' letter from myself, one picture, and the various requirements. Amazingly, it was approved without any RFE in April. Unfortunately, while I was waiting for this, one of my fiancee's kids came down with a bad case of meningitis, and was in the hospital. A close relative of hers had gotten in a car accident, and was paralyzed, as well. Things were not going so well in Mongolia. I somehow felt at fault for leaving.

Because of the meningitis, the kids didn't interview together with my fiancee, initially. The embassy was helpful, and we got an appointment very shortly after they received the case. In Mongolia, there is a document submission day, and an actual interview day. We submitted loads of evidence for the document submission day. Despite my fiancee being 11.5 years older than I am, coming from a poor background (she was orphaned at 3), and having four kids, our evidence was good, and she passed after an easy 2-minute interview focused mainly on how we communicate (I speak Mongolian, and had sent proof of it, in letters I wrote, an evaluation by a Mongolian school, etc.) She didn't have her medical certificate, though (she couldn't get her vaccine records easily), so they approved her pending the medical.

She got the medical done, turned it in, and got her visa a few weeks later. At that time, her son was out of the hospital, and the kids were ready to interview.

The embassy was booked through July. The problem was, summer tickets from Mongolia to the U.S. (I had to buy five) were prohibitively expensive. A ticket for late June was 800 bucks, while a ticket for August was 1700. There was no way I could afford 1700 * 5. When i explained this to the embassy by email, they said that in light of the circumstances, they would squeeze the kids in on the 26th for their interview, and the visa would be ready to pick up on the 28th. I thought, fine. However, a few days later, I got an email saying that the embassy would be closed on the 26th for the Mongolian election, and that they wouldn't be able to get the visas in hand until July 2 -- just when the plane tickets start to become $1700.

I explained this problem to them, and they were kind enough to schedule it a week earlier -- June 19. Although we had been told we only needed to fill out part 1 of the DS-230, they told her on the document submission day that they also needed part 2. Furthermore, they scolded her for not having an I-134 (I had already given her one for her own interview, and thought it would do.) After emailing the embassy, they said that, indeed, she didn't need a new I-134 for the kids, but that she did need Part 2 of the DS-230. On the day of the interview, she brought everything needed, and the kids passed easily, as well. Apparently, the questions were along the lines of knowing my name (easy, we lived together for nearly a year), "are you a bad kid?", and "did you live together with your mom?" They were told to get the visas on Friday.

However, today, the embassy called my fiancee and told her that they didn't sign the DS-230 (I thought they weren't supposed to until the interview, so maybe the officer forgot to have them sign it?) and that they needed to come in immediately to sign them. Unfortunately, one of the older kids who had to go to sign it was off playing with his friends, and couldn't be contacted. I emailed the embassy extremely worried, and I got an amazing reply -- "we'll wait until 4:00, and give you the visas today so that you don't have to make another trip."

My fiancee and the kids all now have visas in hand. At the embassy, they were told how often I email worried about them, and how much I must care about them. I think my emails definitely served as proof of a bona fide relationship for the interviews as well.

I wish lots of luck to everyone, and feel free to post questions about my process in this thread if you have any.

[Ning 619]

Well, I can say that our initial K-1/K-2 journey has finally come to an end. I think I should write about it so others can know for their own journeys what to expect. Of course, some of this is Mongolia-specific, and I know there aren't a lot of members from Mongolia, but, with that said, I'll get on with it.

I went to Mongolia to start a volunteer organization to work with poor/homeless kids. I met my fiancee's son through volunteering, and I met my fiancee because she needed to sign a permission slip for her kids. We became very close, starting visiting each other more and more, and eventually fell in love. I had visa issues in Mongolia, and had to leave after about 7 months there. The very last day, we went to get pictures taken. When I got back to the U.S., I looked at the pictures and realized I needed to go back to Mongolia, so I found a job teaching, got a working visa, and went back so that we could all live together.

We lived that way for the next year. For various reasons, I had to go back to the U.S. last August. By that time, we were already engaged, informally, but I made it more or less official at the airport, that I was going to marry her and bring them to the U.S.

I waited until I had a job in the U.S., and until the probation period had ended, and filed the I-129f in December of last year. In my package, I had only an 'intent to marry' letter from myself, one picture, and the various requirements. Amazingly, it was approved without any RFE in April. Unfortunately, while I was waiting for this, one of my fiancee's kids came down with a bad case of meningitis, and was in the hospital. A close relative of hers had gotten in a car accident, and was paralyzed, as well. Things were not going so well in Mongolia. I somehow felt at fault for leaving.

Because of the meningitis, the kids didn't interview together with my fiancee, initially. The embassy was helpful, and we got an appointment very shortly after they received the case. In Mongolia, there is a document submission day, and an actual interview day. We submitted loads of evidence for the document submission day. Despite my fiancee being 11.5 years older than I am, coming from a poor background (she was orphaned at 3), and having four kids, our evidence was good, and she passed after an easy 2-minute interview focused mainly on how we communicate (I speak Mongolian, and had sent proof of it, in letters I wrote, an evaluation by a Mongolian school, etc.) She didn't have her medical certificate, though (she couldn't get her vaccine records easily), so they approved her pending the medical.

She got the medical done, turned it in, and got her visa a few weeks later. At that time, her son was out of the hospital, and the kids were ready to interview.

The embassy was booked through July. The problem was, summer tickets from Mongolia to the U.S. (I had to buy five) were prohibitively expensive. A ticket for late June was 800 bucks, while a ticket for August was 1700. There was no way I could afford 1700 * 5. When i explained this to the embassy by email, they said that in light of the circumstances, they would squeeze the kids in on the 26th for their interview, and the visa would be ready to pick up on the 28th. I thought, fine. However, a few days later, I got an email saying that the embassy would be closed on the 26th for the Mongolian election, and that they wouldn't be able to get the visas in hand until July 2 -- just when the plane tickets start to become $1700.

I explained this problem to them, and they were kind enough to schedule it a week earlier -- June 19. Although we had been told we only needed to fill out part 1 of the DS-230, they told her on the document submission day that they also needed part 2. Furthermore, they scolded her for not having an I-134 (I had already given her one for her own interview, and thought it would do.) After emailing the embassy, they said that, indeed, she didn't need a new I-134 for the kids, but that she did need Part 2 of the DS-230. On the day of the interview, she brought everything needed, and the kids passed easily, as well. Apparently, the questions were along the lines of knowing my name (easy, we lived together for nearly a year), "are you a bad kid?", and "did you live together with your mom?" They were told to get the visas on Friday.

However, today, the embassy called my fiancee and told her that they didn't sign the DS-230 (I thought they weren't supposed to until the interview, so maybe the officer forgot to have them sign it?) and that they needed to come in immediately to sign them. Unfortunately, one of the older kids who had to go to sign it was off playing with his friends, and couldn't be contacted. I emailed the embassy extremely worried, and I got an amazing reply -- "we'll wait until 4:00, and give you the visas today so that you don't have to make another trip."

My fiancee and the kids all now have visas in hand. At the embassy, they were told how often I email worried about them, and how much I must care about them. I think my emails definitely served as proof of a bona fide relationship for the interviews as well.

I wish lots of luck to everyone, and feel free to post questions about my process in this thread if you have any.

No there aren't many Mongolian cases here on V J and there cant be another one like this anywhere. Its amazing what you were able to do and I for one am very happy for you and your family.

The embassy there also did an incredible job.

[duraaraa 203]

No there aren't many Mongolian cases here on V J and there cant be another one like this anywhere. Its amazing what you were able to do and I for one am very happy for you and your family.

The embassy there also did an incredible job.

I was absolutely shocked at how accommodating the IV unit was. I really think that the fact that I was in constant communication with them throughout the process (and I was as nice and polite as possible) helped a lot with the ease with which we got through the interview, and with the kindness they showed us in scheduling.