France/America couples

[RosaMystica7 0]

Well, my fiance didn't go home last night, he stayed at his mom's house instead. He went home tonight and found... a notice that a package from the embassy is waiting for him at the post office! He got his visa already! He's gonna go pick it up Monday!

[bostonparis 0]

That is so exciting!!

[shayrene 0]

Congratulations Bostonparis!

Great idea about the references Angilla. I wish I had used that for my husband. What we have done is give references for people that I know here. It isn't the same as having a former supervisor write one. But at least the job can call someone and speak to them.

[RosaMystica7 0]

Hey more good news! My fiance picked up his visa from the post office today. In the envelope was the brown "do not send" envelope... the passport with his visa... and... the original photos that I sent with the I-129F! Is it normal for those to be returned?

In other news, my fiance talked to his boss today and got permission to leave as soon as I have an apartment. So as soon as an apartment is secured we'll buy the plane tickets!

Edited March 5, 2007 by Angilla

[RosaMystica7 0]

In the envelope was the brown "do not send" envelope...

You know what I meant! Do not OPEN envelope.

[bostonparis 0]

Any leads on the new digs? Fingers crossed for you!

[Brian & Elise 0]

Hello folks,

I wanted to introduce myself (and Elise!). Elise (French) and I met nearly 9 years ago and frequently flirted with romance. We couldn't resist any longer and over the past year our love and connection has formented. In that time we've been lucky to enjoy time together in Paris, Cornu, Formentera and the US - all told close to 4 months together! She accepted my proposal on January 26th and had to return to Paris in mid-February.

A little over a week ago we discovered we're expecting a lovely multi-national baby. We couldn't be more excited or more anxious. I was patient and calm before we learned Elise was pregnant. We had waited 9 years to pursue our affection; what could it be to endure another 3-5 months. However since we learned she was pregnat we are, of course, anxious to be together and relatively settled. I want to be with her each morning, day and night to share in her every emotion.

With frustration I've noticed great variance in K-1 filing times and can't seem to find any paterns or causes. Ah - I wish there were answers.

I'll be flying to Elise on Wednesday evening and she's asked that we visit the Consulate while I'm there. We want to ask simple questions about the process, etc. She wants to be comforted but I'm affraid the visit may cause added stress. Has anyone paid a friendly visit to the Consulate for counsel?

OK - that's a long way of saying hi! My next post will be more generous!

-Brian

[bostonparis 0]

Congratulations!

Did you look into DCF?

[Brian & Elise 0]

We considered DCF when we started the process but that coincided with DCF freeze. I had not reconsidered it since filing the K1. I think I'll ask at the consulate about that. Thanks for the idea!

3-21 is coming up - here's to a good interview.

[RosaMystica7 0]

Welcome Brian! I see you'll be filing through VSC so things should work out well for you. Take a look at my timeline to see how things go through VSC and Paris without a RFE (request for further evidence). 3 months and we were done. I know 3 months can seem a lot to a pregnant lady, and nervous daddy, but considering it can take 6+ months through CSC you're lucky.

That whole DCF mess really is a shame.

I'm not sure how much of a help the consulate would be, but it couldn't hurt to try. What questions do you have? How can we help?

In other subjects... do you two plan to raise the baby bi-lingual? My fiance and I are thinking about what we'll do with that. I don't speak a word of French (no, that's a lie... I can say... oui... je t'aime... je ne parle pas francais... ummm... heh) ok so I barely speak a word of French, how about that. He's intent that I'll learn, but the sounds are just so hard. He knows my language so I'd consider it respectful for me to learn his, but French and German were the two languages I decided I'd never learn because I hate the way they sound. And now I'm engaged to a Frenchie! So I guess I'll give up and learn French, and I'd imagine we'll probably raise the kids bi-lingual. But at some point, at a young age, I want to start teaching them Italian as well - I don't want to lose my heritage any more than he wants to lose his. Tri-lingual kids... well, why not, their brains are like sponges, it'll be good for them!

[bostonparis 0]

We considered DCF when we started the process but that coincided with DCF freeze. I had not reconsidered it since filing the K1. I think I'll ask at the consulate about that. Thanks for the idea!

3-21 is coming up - here's to a good interview.

How I wish we had done DCF - not just for the process to get him here, but to save so much heartache (and money) once he gets here, too.

Thank you - we're getting very excited!!

[RosaMystica7 0]

If you had done DCF you might've gotten caught in the freeze... having your interview cancelled last minute for your files to be sent to Rome for security checks, not knowing when your interview would be re-scheduled. Who knows, maybe filing the K1 was a blessing in disguise for ya.

[marcycat 0]

If you had done DCF you might've gotten caught in the freeze... having your interview cancelled last minute for your files to be sent to Rome for security checks, not knowing when your interview would be re-scheduled. Who knows, maybe filing the K1 was a blessing in disguise for ya.

I can pipe up about the DCF thing. Right now, you can't do a DCF if you (the American) reside in the US.

I have had mixed experiences at the Paris consulate. I went there to pick up some documents I needed for our wedding and the people were pretty nice and efficient. But it was a nightmare when we went to file our I-130. I'm not sure if they ever have anyone available to just take questions. In any case, check the consulate website for when they're open to the public. Usually, just to get in there's one line for Americans and one for non-Americans (longer....) I believe you would have to be in the non-citizen line if you go with your fiancee.

On their website, they recommend to communicate with them by fax. I have indeed always gotten prompt answers to my faxes, although the information given wasn't always very satisfying.

Personally, I wouldn't go to the consulate just to ask general questions -- it could very likely be a huge waste of time. You should be able to get answers through this forum, the USCIS website and the consulate website.

Bonne chance!

[bostonparis 0]

If you had done DCF you might've gotten caught in the freeze... having your interview cancelled last minute for your files to be sent to Rome for security checks, not knowing when your interview would be re-scheduled. Who knows, maybe filing the K1 was a blessing in disguise for ya.

I'm sure you're right... I actually only found DCF as an option a week or so before Adam Walsh Act was put into practice at the Embassies & Consulates, and was grateful that I hadn't done it after those two weeks of absolute frustration at my attorney for not even giving it to me as an option. But yes, it probably is a blessing in disguise that we didn't DCF. If all goes well, he'll be here on May 5!

[Brian & Elise 0]

Thank you all for your answers and consideration. While I haven't been active in these forums till today Visajourney and everyone who posts here have been invaluable over the past few months. I would have been utterly lost without this resource.

Mercycat - I share the concerns you noted. Elise is understandably hopeful they'll be able to provide some assistance. I worry we'll leave more concerned than we entered. However she has more experience with the Embassy (she was an Au Pair before she and I met, lived in the US and had, since forfeited, residency status). I'm balancing my informed intuition that the visit will be for naught against her hopes that it will provide a modicum of comfort and perhaps some guidance. They're open on Friday morning and we'll discuss what we hope to learn / achieve on Thursday. I'll report back as soon as I can - most likely upon return to the states on Sunday.

Thanks again for all of your help! Now if only VCS would send me an NOA2!