Starting the journey, first time post and some questions

[RandyandMacy 0]

Hello all. Long time stalker of VJ but I finally decided to post to explain our story and hopefully get some guidance along the way.

My fiance and I first met online, and like many of us, I played it relaxed at first knowing the odds of striking relationship gold with someone over the Internet to be an arduous task. However with her, things just clicked. We continued to talk and get to know each other. Emails, video chats, messages spaning times I really should've been working (whoops). Before we knew it, we had become emotionally invested in each other a great deal. It was time for us to meet.

We setup a time and place to meet. Knowing she was traveling all the way from Manila to the US was no small trip. Since we were meeting in another state from where I'm from, I eagerly booked my flight and off I went. Well all I can say was that our first meeting was beyond magical. It was a confirmation that what we had felt all this time. Usually not quick to act, I decided I could not let this moment pass us by, and so I proposed on the last day of our trip. Very excitedly, she accepted.

Since then we have been planning and organizing our lives to prepare for the day we are permanently side by side. I just recently obtained services of a lawyer to help with our case and hope to have him send in our petition very shortly.

I wanted to start this thread alongside my fiance so that we can document our progress as well as ask questions along the way. Speaking of, I had a few to ask you kind folks....

1. After stalking VJ as well as other sources of information, I've found that the process from submission of the petition to her k1 visa in her hands ranges, however it seems to mostly in the ballpark of 6-9months. I know our mileage will vary, but would you folks agree about the time frame?.... Especially with this time of year?

2. I live in California, and only an assumption, but our petition would go from the California service center then to the NVC? Or does geophysical location have little to do with which service center your petition is sent to?

3. I am a former Soldier with the US Army with an honorable discharge, ribbons, etc all located on my DD214. Probably wishful thinking, but would that help our case in anyway? Be it expediency or approval potential?

4. Here on VJ, I found the link that shows what petitions with a NOA1 are currently being processed by each service center. If I'm understanding that correctly, that means that those that are being processed are petitions that are being processed for final approval by USCIS?

5. Have any of you encountered any issues with the fiance's family not approving or agreeing with the idea of marriage? I can't go into massive detail, but the reason her family doesn't approve is because I'm not Caucasian enough (I'm half white), I'm not a doctor or a lawyer and I don't make 6 figures a year. If you have experienced something similar, what actions did you take?

She and I thank you all for reading this and the subsequent posts we will both be putting up as time permits.

[Thozelle 16]

RandyandMacy

2. Location seems to have no bearing on which service center your case is sent to.

3. No. Though I did submit a copy of my wife's dependent ID card with her papers to NVC. Her appointment to get it at Manila Embassy was after we submitted the I-130. Submitted it as additional proof of relationship.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello all. Long time stalker of VJ but I finally decided to post to explain our story and hopefully get some guidance along the way.

My fiance and I first met online, and like many of us, I played it relaxed at first knowing the odds of striking relationship gold with someone over the Internet to be an arduous task. However with her, things just clicked. We continued to talk and get to know each other. Emails, video chats, messages spaning times I really should've been working (whoops). Before we knew it, we had become emotionally invested in each other a great deal. It was time for us to meet.

We setup a time and place to meet. Knowing she was traveling all the way from Manila to the US was no small trip. Since we were meeting in another state from where I'm from, I eagerly booked my flight and off I went. Well all I can say was that our first meeting was beyond magical. It was a confirmation that what we had felt all this time. Usually not quick to act, I decided I could not let this moment pass us by, and so I proposed on the last day of our trip. Very excitedly, she accepted.

Since then we have been planning and organizing our lives to prepare for the day we are permanently side by side. I just recently obtained services of a lawyer to help with our case and hope to have him send in our petition very shortly.

I wanted to start this thread alongside my fiance so that we can document our progress as well as ask questions along the way. Speaking of, I had a few to ask you kind folks....

1. After stalking VJ as well as other sources of information, I've found that the process from submission of the petition to her k1 visa in her hands ranges, however it seems to mostly in the ballpark of 6-9months. I know our mileage will vary, but would you folks agree about the time frame?.... Especially with this time of year?

2. I live in California, and only an assumption, but our petition would go from the California service center then to the NVC? Or does geophysical location have little to do with which service center your petition is sent to?

3. I am a former Soldier with the US Army with an honorable discharge, ribbons, etc all located on my DD214. Probably wishful thinking, but would that help our case in anyway? Be it expediency or approval potential?

4. Here on VJ, I found the link that shows what petitions with a NOA1 are currently being processed by each service center. If I'm understanding that correctly, that means that those that are being processed are petitions that are being processed for final approval by USCIS?

5. Have any of you encountered any issues with the fiance's family not approving or agreeing with the idea of marriage? I can't go into massive detail, but the reason her family doesn't approve is because I'm not Caucasian enough (I'm half white), I'm not a doctor or a lawyer and I don't make 6 figures a year. If you have experienced something similar, what actions did you take?

She and I thank you all for reading this and the subsequent posts we will both be putting up as time permits.

Yes it is an odds on favorite you petition will go to CSC, just the same you still make it to Texas.

Your honorable discharge will do nothing regarding the process. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

White enough .... sorry for that one. It is too common in the Phils with some. You need to make sure your fiancee has no issues with how her family feels, family is extremely important, it could cause future emotional issues. This is something you and your fiancee need to talk on and have a very clear understanding. Unless her family changes their minds, it would be difficult at best to visit them.

[calain0425 2]

1. Our time frame from start to interview is about 5 months, although we get a 221g for a Japan police clearance, so it's important to check list of requierements and get everything early

[Tahoma 2,292]

Don't worry. Once your fiancee's family starts receiving their monthly remittances on a regular basis, they'll stop sending you skin-whitening cream.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Don't worry. Once your fiancee's family starts receiving their monthly remittances on a regular basis, they'll stop sending you skin-whitening cream.

How true!