BINATIONAL SAME SEX COUPLES !! Show up!

[Ayumi_Hamasaki 4]

Thanks Sukie for the information.

Not sure what state you are in - so cannot answer with total certainty....

You need to make sure your marriage is REGISTERED in your state. Your souvenir copies might be nice and pretty, but until your state actually "registers" your marriage in their books, you should probably wait to file.

There was another person in a forum who received an RFE because the adjudicator didn't understand the "registration" information at the top of her wedding certificate.

Not sure if it would stop you from applying at all - but you might get an RFE later for a "registered" copy.

Check and see what that "within FIVE (5) DAYS of the ceremony" is all about.

I know (in New York State) we had to wait until our officiant gave the signed licence to the Town Clerk, and she "registered" it on the New York State database. He knew we were in a hurry - so we got "real" copies of our license in 3 days.

Sukie

[hklad 9]

Dear fellow VJers,

My apology for the delay in posting, but I am approved in Hong Kong. There wasn't any odd question for me, but since we are going to live in a non-marriage equality state, I was asked if the lack of state recognition would be ok. That was the only time there was any indication that this was a same sex filing. Otherwise, the Consul conducted the interview just as he would heterosexuals. I will write a full review in the corresponding thread later on.

As evidence, I brought all the emails, chat message log with me but did not submit them. I already had a lot of other evidence such as used boarding passes indicating travels together and tons of pictures. My advice is a picture speaks a thousand words. It shows that we have met in person. Be sure to get the date and place correct though.

In Mandarin Chinese, 2014 sounds a lot like "loving you for your whole life" so may this be the year of Love for you all. Happy Chinese New Year!

Hklad

[leslymark 0]

Finally got the NOA2 email today, after waiting 159 days. I guess our patience finally paid off. I'm happy there were no RFEs. Now I'm just trying to decide if I (I'm the petitioner) should attend the interview just to make sure there are no problems at the embassy.

[susysteele 9]

Congratulations! That is really an odd question they asked you... I wonder what other questions they had for you. Will you be able to submit a review about how the interview went?

Here is my fiancee's review of the Embassy in Lima, from yesterday. I hope it's helpful! And thanks for the congrats!

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?trim=no&cty=&cnty=Peru&page=1&dfilter=5&topic=

[susysteele 9]

Dear fellow VJers,

My apology for the delay in posting, but I am approved in Hong Kong. There wasn't any odd question for me, but since we are going to live in a non-marriage equality state, I was asked if the lack of state recognition would be ok. That was the only time there was any indication that this was a same sex filing. Otherwise, the Consul conducted the interview just as he would heterosexuals. I will write a full review in the corresponding thread later on.

As evidence, I brought all the emails, chat message log with me but did not submit them. I already had a lot of other evidence such as used boarding passes indicating travels together and tons of pictures. My advice is a picture speaks a thousand words. It shows that we have met in person. Be sure to get the date and place correct though.

In Mandarin Chinese, 2014 sounds a lot like "loving you for your whole life" so may this be the year of Love for you all. Happy Chinese New Year!

Hklad

Congratulations! My fiancee said something very similar, in that we had sent in so much proof up front, that our file at the Embassy was several inches thick. She also had several hundred more pages with her as additional evidence, and they didn't ask for any of it. Quick 10 minute interview and she was approved. Best of luck to you in the future!

[Sukie 1,460]

Dear fellow VJers,

My apology for the delay in posting, but I am approved in Hong Kong. There wasn't any odd question for me, but since we are going to live in a non-marriage equality state, I was asked if the lack of state recognition would be ok. That was the only time there was any indication that this was a same sex filing. Otherwise, the Consul conducted the interview just as he would heterosexuals. I will write a full review in the corresponding thread later on.

As evidence, I brought all the emails, chat message log with me but did not submit them. I already had a lot of other evidence such as used boarding passes indicating travels together and tons of pictures. My advice is a picture speaks a thousand words. It shows that we have met in person. Be sure to get the date and place correct though.

In Mandarin Chinese, 2014 sounds a lot like "loving you for your whole life" so may this be the year of Love for you all. Happy Chinese New Year!

Hklad

Former Hong Kong ex-pat here - currently sitting in Tin Hau! Kung Hei Fat Choi!

[hklad 9]

Hi Sukie, Kung Hei Fat Choi! May you have a prosperous Year of the Horse. Ahh Tin Hau is nice, right by Causeway Bay and close to everything.

[jerni 24]

Congrats to everyone on their approvals. I am soooooooo happy to say that today we had our AOS interview and we were approved, I posted about it in another thread but copying it here too. I don't think it's sunk it yet....

So happy that this part of the journey is over. The interview was extremely easy, we way over prepared and way over worried.

Appointment was at 1:45pm we arrived at 1:30pm and went through security. We went up to the second floor and handed in our appointment notice. Our lawyer arrived about 5 minutes after that. About 10 minutes later our name was called by a male immigration officer, I'd guess in his mid 40's. He escorted us to his office made us take the Oath and we sat down.

He asked for my passport, took my I94 and checked my picture. He then read my name, date of birth and address asking me to confirm each one was correct. He then confirmed my last date of entry and asked 3 of the standard yes/no questions. He then asked my husband where he worked. After that he said our wedding date and said that was a big day, we smiled and said yes. He asked if we'd separated or had problems since we married and we said no. After that he said we were approved and I'd get my Greencard in about 2 weeks. We had no other questions so we said thank you and left. Afterward our lawyer explained about removal of conditions and getting a passport stamp if we needed to immediately travel.

No email updates yet, but I'm just so happy the interview is done, I was worried to death lol.

Edited January 16, 2014 by jerni

[Davesings 30]

So many approvals and great news! Congratulations to all! We are so excited that our interview is less than a week away!

[hklad 9]

Hello all, here is my review on the K1 interview.

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/view-dos-cis-reviews.php?entry=13657

I will give a bit of info on my medical exam too. There are only two doctors who are allowed to conduct the medical exams and I went to the one in Central. The whole process took about 1.5 hours. As soon as I got Packet 4 with the appointment date, I called the doctor's office to make an appointment. In HK, your medical exam must happen within 4 weeks of the appointment. I scheduled it on 2 January 2014. The report was ready by 13 January 2014, though the nurse told me the staff moved me up one day because my interview date was 14 January 2014, so leave plenty of time (at least 2 to 3 weeks) before your interview so that you can get the report.

I did a chest x-ray first, then a nurse measured my weight and height and drew my blood. Another nurse went over my vaccination records and asked some questions about my medical history. She said for K1, I could elect to get vaccinated in the US unlike other classes that required all vaccinations be done before leaving for the US. She asked me to choose and based on the fact that some of the vaccinations will take 3 shots and must be timed, I would only be getting the first shot in HK anyway. I elected to deal with it all once I land in the US. She said ok.

Next I was interviewed by a doctor and asked about my medical history again. He also went over my Chest x-ray. He conducted a physical examination. After that, when all appeared to be in order, I was sent to the cashier to pay and they said to call them 2 days before the report was to be given to me to be sure it will be ready. I called the Friday before 13 January 2014 and was told to come pick it up on the 13th, which I did. It was a small envelope (half the size of a normal piece of paper), sealed and I was told not to open it before the interview. I was also given a large brown square envelope containing my chest x-ray that was sealed to be taken to the US with me.

At the consulate, the staff gave me an envelope knife to open the medical exam report in front of her, then took it from me when she was collecting all the necessary documents.

[neska2 3]

thanks so after i receive green card i can travel outside the US but you also said If its for not more than a year, what do you mean?

Maintaining your residence in the United States.

• If you plan to be out of the United States for

more than 12 months, you must first apply for

a re-entry permit before leaving. You can obtain

Form I-131 from www.uscis.gov. Also, you should

not move permanently to another country

From

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/M-617.pdf

[Davesings 30]

Fiance's interview is tomorrow morning- Poor guy can't sleep! Wish I could be there to hug him. He's having visions of affidavits of support run in his mind...

[susysteele 9]

Okay guys....we got our visa today. Whole thing from I-129F to Visa in hand was at five months (plus a day). It's nice to see the same sex couples finally getting equal treatment for once. Best of luck to everyone who is still on their journey and thanks to everyone who helped with advice!

[hklad 9]

My CEAC status has changed from Ready to Issued yesterday and I am still waiting for my passport and visa. It should not be long now. Remember, Monday was a holiday (MLK Day).

[Davesings 30]

HOORAY! Visa approved @ London Embassy!