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Daniel Singer

Riyadh vs Manila for U.S. Embassy 1-130 interview

By Daniel Singer in What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration

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Daniel Singer Rookie

Daniel Singer   0

Posted
Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
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Hello, I am a U.S. Registered Nurse living in Texas. I married my Philippina wife in May 2014. She was on her one month vacation from Riyadh Saudi Arabia where she works as a Registered Nurse. She has a contract that finishes in June 2015. I am about to file our I-130 and G-325A forms. My question is should I request an interview in Riyadh at the U.S. Embassy? I will file the papers in mid October in two weeks. Or should I ask for interview in U.S. Embassy for when she returns in June 2015. What is the difference? Riyadh is a very conservative place so we were concerned that she might have trouble getting to her interview on time in Riyadh, including the fact her boss keeps all the passports locked up in a safe. She has to ask ahead of time for her passport. It's all a pain in the _ss such simple details of life there, especially for a female guest worker. I am leaning towards a Manila interview. If I file for a Manila interview while she's living in Riyadh will there be any problems? Will the U.S. Embassy in Manila be communicating with her all the way to Riyadh? Is this a big problem? Will she be able to fulfill all the paperwork even though she's not in Manila? Or will she have to wait to return to Manila to to the paperwork? I am a little confused. I was thinking all paperwork could be completed while she is in Riyadh and the final interview will be held in Manila. Thanks for all your advice and support. Daniel

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msbau764 Community Regular

msbau764   245

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Mexico
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.? I can't believe those stories are true. Locking up someone's passport? Seems like a human rights violation.

K1 Visa Event Date Service Center : Texas Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Juarez, Mexico

I-129F: Sent 9/5/2014

I-129F: Arrived at Lewisville 9/8/2014

I-129F: NOA1 Text message/mail 9/11/2014

I-129F: Alien Registration Number Changed 9/16/2014

I-129F: Request to correct on document or notice assigned to an officer for response 10/25/2014

I-129F: Name Change request made 10/31/2014

I-129F: Crickets as of today

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msbau764 Community Regular

msbau764   245

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Mexico
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Posted

do you have any advice on my question?

Your interview is too important to risk the bureaucracy of the Saudi system. Send all the stuff to the Phillipines (regardless you should get a copy); apparently your wife may need to a police clearance from all the places she has lived longer than 6 months abroad. Get started on that.

K1 Visa Event Date Service Center : Texas Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Juarez, Mexico

I-129F: Sent 9/5/2014

I-129F: Arrived at Lewisville 9/8/2014

I-129F: NOA1 Text message/mail 9/11/2014

I-129F: Alien Registration Number Changed 9/16/2014

I-129F: Request to correct on document or notice assigned to an officer for response 10/25/2014

I-129F: Name Change request made 10/31/2014

I-129F: Crickets as of today

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VOL Experienced

VOL   425

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
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.? I can't believe those stories are true. Locking up someone's passport? Seems like a human rights violation.

Yes it is, Sadly most are too meek to do anything about it. They are just happy to have a job.

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Daniel Singer Rookie

Daniel Singer   0

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Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
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I would not put even partial onus on the workers who are "meek." Saudi is a country where beheadings are weekly norms, women are 3 class citizens, and guest workers hardly figure in the structure. I would put more of an onus on world govt's such as the U.S. which has so clearly supported the house of Saud for decades.

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Pitaya Grand Master

Pitaya   2,577

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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Welcome to the forum.

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,304

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
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Are you filing the I-130 petition, without the I-129F? If so, you'd be on the (preferred) CR-1 visa path, not K-3. Please clarify this.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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Daniel Singer Rookie

Daniel Singer   0

Posted
Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
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Posted (edited)

Now I am confused. Do I file a I-130 with G325A or a I-130 with I-129F??

again we married in Philippines in May of this year. I thought I had to file a I-130 with g325a. the 325a is filed by each of us.

She has no kids. thanks for explaining to me my new confusion.

Edited by Daniel Singer
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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,304

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
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Posted

See reply to PM; am moving this thread to the "What Visa Do I Need" forum.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,227

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
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Posted

Now I am confused. Do I file a I-130 with G325A or a I-130 with I-129F??

again we married in Philippines in May of this year. I thought I had to file a I-130 with g325a. the 325a is filed by each of us.

She has no kids. thanks for explaining to me my new confusion.

The method you are going for is a CR1/IR1. It's the method I recommend as your wife will have a green card upon arrival to the USA vs having to adjust her status. They take about the same amount of time.

If you wanted to try for the K3, after you get your NOA1 from the I-130 then you send the I-129F with a copy of the NOA1. But there is no guarantee that you will continue on the K3 path after the petition approval as the NVC has their own rules about which petition stays open for processing.

Anyhow, I suggest that she have her interview in Manila.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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