Visa Approved! Thanks, heres my what I did and why / how I did it.

[heo luoi 206]

Sorry couldn't wait, too relieved to finally get here; hope my notes were cleaned up enough. Exhausting few days freaking about pending interview that took 10mins. They didn't seem to look at a ton of supplemental evidence but I absolutely do not regret at all preparing thusly. Going to bed if possible. Hopefully post can help some.

TL;DR -- Son of a biscuit, sweet baby cheezits, hallelujah…VISA APPROVED!

Dated several months, got engaged, met, filed K1 and now shes pending here. Thank you to VJ community for the help, answers, links, friendship, patience, hints and solidarity. Gravitas. Its so refreshing from having to explain everything to everyone else IRL, and on VJ everyone just 'gets it' and everything seems so much more natural.

Haven't been so relieved/liberated except maybe when I managed to get 100% debt free and escaped my last company(really the last boss, 6 changes in 3 yrs)

So yes it's just the 1st the first leg of the journey.

While had to wait….tried to LEARN, sift through the noise, search and contribute to community.

Special thanks to @{tboneTX ,anh map, jimvaphuong, shauneg, zeta054, frontgear, VN subforum…many others}

Now onto AOS/EAD/AP which I haven't delved into too much (didn’t want to jinx / get hopes up / get too far ahead of self)

For those not interested, thanks for visiting. For those interested heres my brain dump of what my approach/experience was(verbose but tried to have more context and be comprehensive ):

--probably overkill but I was determined to be sure wasn’t cause I didn’t so something …etc.

My What I did, and How and Why I got here.

Basics:

Paper age difference (13 yrs, inaccurate/missing birth records in the past are notorious in our country)

Began correspondence 2012, circumstances stopped it, due to her (I won't let her forget it ).

We reconnected in summer 2014. Arranged travel / engagement party March 2015 spent 24 days abroad, filed May 2015, so just 'met' ONE time….for 24 days.

Neither of us ever married, nor have kids.

Introduced by relative of hers.

I am privileged enough to get paid well enough for what I do that I should be able to support us both and meet fiscal K1 requirements.

No Criminal record. No previous K1 submissions. Aside from this I would consider relative standard/vanilla case….@ a high risk Consulate.

My approach is VJ Is a 'DIY' site but this is seriously personal so I'm invested in learning / understanding as much as I can.

Not sure why some people instead of DIY want it to be 'do it for me' or get away w/ submitting the bare minimum. Some people seem to invest more time in trying to provide the least when just easier to do the whole thing. I didn’t have time/energy for that.

I rather have the knowledge and documentation readily at hand vs deal w/ RFE…et al for something as important as this.

Brief background

I was having a difficult time at my company and particularly my new boss/reorg. I wanted out desperately. I wanted to use my vacation, to leverage PTO to travel took Mom Home for New Year before I left and got new employment.

Came back several weeks later found a new job luckily and happily put in my 2 wk notice to escape.

Unfortunately after this, reconnected w/ fiance and then had to return to meet 2yr physical requirement….luckily new employer was very accommodating and let me burn all my PTO.

Left last company to destress and starting this journey didn’t help so I tried to approach it this way and luckily kept the stress in check largely thanks to VJ. Being prepared as best as possible and not freaking about every minute variable. Staying in the 'present'. Controlling what I could and prepared as could be for what I couldn’t and not freaking out until something happen. Pivot, adjust as needed and carry on.

Need to work out K1 vs K3/CR1/IR1?

TL;DR -- We decided to go K1 instead of K3/CR1/IR1.

Got some consults w/ local immigration attorneys. Concurrently discovered VJ. Researched USCIS / Embassy/Consulate/D of State to corroborate all the sources

Spoke to my fiancé and asked what she thought re K1 vs K3/CR1/IR1 timing.

Not quite as young as I used to be and we would like to try to start family sooner than later and also prefer healthcare here.

Corroborating K1/K3 and what prep may be required for travel/trip either way….opted for K1

Quickly decided that K1 was better for us to be together sooner than prolong the distance for us. That’s the decision for everyone couple to make on their own but I have no doubt it was the best for us. Figured the extended paperwork once here together was something I would handle better anyhow.

Do I need/want legal/professional services help?

TL;DR -- I canvassed local options for support help /estimates

DL'd all the forms to review them to know what to expect. Went a few runs with them and reviewed examples. Aside from stupid questions felt rather comfortable w/ them in general.

Got attorney fees estimates for K1 assistance ranging from $2500-5000, not including filing fees, shipping…etc.

After reviewing forms and process particularly on VJ …I asked myself WTH would I be getting for my money?

I understand every professional has the right to charge what they want for those services…but I tried to break down how much work and was like how much $/hr would you charging me for what?

Even if I got the services most of the 'work' is unable to be done by others. I understand the time value of money, but were they saving me any of MY time? My case was legit, standard and by the book.

I had the info, papers and docs to assemble, $2500-5000 was too incredulous for me.

I know our Consulate was a higher standard so there was concerns there, also possible length of courtship and limited number of physical visits/meets…but other than that a very vanilla case. Any lingering questions I had were like should I use staples / paper clips and mundane stuff like that. Other questions were specific to my country, like addresses and naming and things that don't necessarily conform to US/Western standards. I did not get a confidence level that any local offices would be too familiar with my country as mostly only had experience with Mexico maybe Can.

Traveled Abroad

TL:DR -- I burnt all my PTO and flew my butt over there. Upon hindsight had I been aware was possible, I would have gone for less time and returned for Interview.

Went abroad 3.5 weeks, took pics, visited and spent a lot of time with her fam to get to know them and them me. Should have done a better job w/ pictures. Somewhat overwhelming. Very large fam. But they were all very warm and welcoming. Was great.

Had engagement ceremony.

Visited my cousins and took them on a trip together for fun. Fiance got on with cousins splendidly.

Set up Wifi Router, which was a huge blessing for improved /continued communication for us and her family when she comes abroad.

Professional Services

TL;DR - I opted for some 3rd party visa services support due to difficult Consulate and peace of mind and local Consulate support.

I discovered a 3rd party service, First Consulting Group. http://ditrumy.com/ Localized in very large VN communities in CA

They charge $500 to get to the Consulate stage and $500 after to close out the K1/interview portion. I believe you get a discount if you want further AOS type services. $1000 was fractional to what the other local services were. I took a gamble and went with them out of fear and wanting some peace of mind/reassurance. Mostly wanted some hand holding for my fiance over there of which I would be of little help. After some communication and expectation problem, I am satisfied w/ their service.

I'm sure the fees can add up; luckily I'm in a position at this point I can afford them, I don’t think the filing fees are outrageous and FCGs rates I think are affordable for those that need them. One thing that attracted me to them was they had local offices here for me and there for her. I thought we could both get help, something much harder w/ a local attorney.

Also I wanted country specific help that I thought a local person may not be as familiar with. I was aware my consulate could have more scrutiny, local bureaucracy and subject to higher double standards.

Upon hindsight I think I would not utilize the first half of service as that’s pretty easy and mostly all stateside.

But having support there to get translations and certified copy, interview prep and shipping…etc was worth that I think for those that want maybe some more peace of mind and something else to lean on. After all this time and trouble and fees a little help and $500 I figure is ok for me in the entire scope of things overall.

Also spent lot of time trolling VJ for info, which others may not want to (or shouldn’t) and just pay someone else to do it.

Updates aren't always as prompt as I would like and have to ask for them, and mostly dealing w/ staff in VN, while I wanted help, I didn't need as much but it had some timing/communication problems until I addressed it. Overall I think it was helpful in my region.

After a few wks of just winding down, I had almost all my forms prefilled and docs ready to go, engaged FCG and filed FCG after meandering w/ them a few wks.

Again this was difficult to justify services as I was already preprepped and doing all the document provisioning.

Post NVC was much less clear and actually appreciated FCGs support here. My fiance got value from them which was my main goal so worth it for us I think.

Filing:

Took a ~ 1wk for NOA1, 50 days to NOA2, 80 Days to get ahold of NVC and get numbers and another couple weeks to get Pkt3 and get Interview scheduled. Several weeks after got a hold of embassy, got physical P3 mail only in US.

To date my fiance has never physically received anything from USCIS/NVC/Embassy.

Only 2 dates open in < 14 days or about month out, so we took the latter interview date.

Fori129 I provided

g1145, g28, I129f, g325a him/hers, PP pages, my travel visa, boarding passes, copy/trans/orig Birth cert for her, intent to marry statements

For 134, I sent, maybe overkill but overall 2000+ pages

Went to UPS and printed out and had spiral bound books made w/ i129f pkg, NOA1, NOA2, irs transcripts (preordered most recent before site went dark, called to order older ones, 3 yr old is the max), w2s, emp verification letter, pay stubs

bank statements,

Every email, IM chat logs, FB chat logs(this is fairly difficult to keep up w/), Facetime logs(this is super

annoying to chronicle)

Engagement / wedding band receipts, wedding jewelry receipt

Money wire transfer receipts

Travel docs, receipts tickets of in country travel, hotel receipts, restaurant receipts, park admittance fees, ferry tickets, bus tickets, movie tickets, Dept of State TravelSTEP registration of travels, travel agency invoice of trip procurement

Photos printed from shutterfly , certificate of single status from Dept of Vital Stats

List of her family here

Fiancé during NOA2 wait did a lot of the stuff already for Interview regarding paperwork/certification/copy/translation. All the documents for her, like her family book, police/criminal records, birth certificate…etc. She had to do a lot of running around to do….

Due to low man on totem pole and burning all PTO to travel for engagement. I Did NOT attend interview nor rendezvous w/ fiance en route here. Had it been remotely pragmatic to do so, I would have but it personally wasn't for me.

Prior to interview,

sent chat/phone/wire transfer logs/receipts from 134 pkg until now

Sent list of my immediate family

Relationship timeline

Medical Appt @ IOM. Called 2 days later to pick up sealed results. Fiance told by IOM, FCG , even though the P3/4 say vaccinations required, that K1 visa processing no longer encouraging vaccinations and doing them here.(newer development)

So I guess NOW I Have to find about Civil Surgeons here :/

Fiance did a LOT of studying for interview prep, knowing stuff quite frankly she had no right / need to knowing yet.

INTERVIEW

This was pretty nerve wracking the days leading up. According to my fiance it seems not too bad but I would just say we were really lucky or something as I would still be prepared as heck but seems like it was not as applicable for our case. According to her, LOTS of others were getting blue slips.

Review: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/view-dos-cis-reviews.php?entry=18278

In particular since I preprepped so much I should have front loaded my submission. Was worried about overwhelming them but consensus is high risk Consulate, this is highly encouraged.

-------------------------

While I was waiting:

Updated timeline, will do reviews for Consulate/POE/SS/Local office

Clicked about every link on VJ to try every feature on site.

Went from 0 to GOLD on VJ in ~ 6mos

Searched for ESL classes, free at a local library 1/wk; costs at local CC for more defined curriculum;

3rd party tutors

Investigate Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Duolingo,

media and subtitles

Searched for local church services for fiancé

Research air travel

Prices, finding flights w/ ample connection time for intake process by CBP

POE experiences.

Going to get terminal / gate maps.

Going to write directions/contact info

Found someone else travelling there and arranged to get a cheap 'burner' phone so fiance could call once in the states

Found a cheap mint Apple ipad Air2 (latest rev just wk shy from a year from model general release) for $250 on CL for her to Facetime her fam back home. (heck of a deal) (AND this way she doesn’t have to mess w/ MY stuff;))

Research automotive dashcam and got one to experiment, in event she gets her DL.

Planning on applying for Secured CC to build credit in addition to adding her to accounts/beneficiary

Planning on simple ceremony to instantiate AOS promptly; SS, marriage, SS name change, AOS/EAD/AP

Will Investigate living will / power of attorney

Post AOS, renewing her passport via Embassy here.

Reviewed countless guides/flowcharts, progress timelines, process timelines, embassy reviews, poe reviews, AOS reviews, posts…etc.

Reached out to other somewhat local VJ members with similar timeline, perhaps for local meetup and insights…etc.

Edited November 4, 2015 by heo luoi

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to K1 Progress Forum~

[vanityfair 4]

This is a remarkably extensive outline on your journey. Thanks for sharing! Also congrats on how things turned out!

[heo luoi 206]

This is a remarkably extensive outline on your journey. Thanks for sharing! Also congrats on how things turned out!

Thanks much, appreciate it. Just trying to do my part. I thought context could help some. Sometimes all the threads are all just meat, potatoes and noise and just tried to explain how I brought it all together for me and our choices. it was kinda grueling but at least I've got the habit down for the prolonged non stop process to continue.

Hope at least someone gets value from it and then its worth it. Mostly did it for my own sanity and if could share it while it was fresh... than cool.

The pithy interview is still hard to understand, i guess my fiances are stable. My debts are zero. I provided single status, employment letter and such ... maybe that was it? Cause fiance stressed they didn't look at the other 15-20#s of it.

GLTA for the rest of the way regardless where along it we're at.

[KASH2011 382]

Congrats!

[heo luoi 206]

Thanks so much. Its hard to explain what it feels like. So many different things at once. Like Riley from Inside Out.

I'm already awake and still back on here answering effort lacking questions :/.

Congrats!

Edited November 4, 2015 by heo luoi

[demelat 5]

congrats ...am happy for u n tnx for z info ..wish u all the best !!

[trublubu2 62]

congrats! it's a great feeling once it's all done, isn't it?

...then you remember, 'oh yeah, gotta start ALLLLL over again (AOS)'

LOL

[heo luoi 206]

Haha thanks trublubu2! Honestly you wanna know the worst part? I already got there and realize yeah I've not dug into AoS deeply at all yet ugh. Not even been 24hrs

The pithy interview is still kinda throwing me for a loop.

I can only hope the balance of the process can continue to go smoothly.

congrats! it's a great feeling once it's all done, isn't it?

...then you remember, 'oh yeah, gotta start ALLLLL over again (AOS)'

LOL

[TBoneTX 45,309]

A hijack post and a reply to it have been split from this thread, moved to the Africa/Sub-Saharan regional forum, and given this thread title: "Completed DS-160; Now Confused (Lagos) [split topic]."

---

OP, congratulations on overcoming a hellhole embassy!

[heo luoi 206]

Thanks for all the patience / support Tbone! Well deserved of your special shoutout Best to all the Tbones. Helped mind from straying too far off the rails during all the waiting

A hijack post and a reply to it have been split from this thread, moved to the Africa/Sub-Saharan regional forum, and given this thread title: "Completed DS-160; Now Confused (Lagos) [split topic]."

---

OP, congratulations on overcoming a hellhole embassy!

Edited November 4, 2015 by heo luoi

[cdneh 3,112]

Congratulations! Great summation too

[heo luoi 206]

Congratulations! Great summation too

Thanks!!! I hope I can get to your stage soon (as possible) RoC seems so far way. #tired.

I thought things would get easier being all Stateside but seems a bit confusing re the unified fees...et all. Looks like going back to square 1 for me. :/

Edited November 4, 2015 by heo luoi

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Awesome post ! A big Congratulation to you both and wishing you a super happy reunion.

This is great advice to keep yourself from insanity during this process : "Controlling what I could and prepared as could be for what I couldn’t and not freaking out until something happen. Pivot, adjust as needed and carry on."

I pivoted so much, the soles of my shoes are shiny, that's all one can do...prepare, pivot and adjust. Do the twist whatever, jump through

flaming hoops and never give up.

You had an excellent quality package and prepared and learned the process inside and out and you will be just fine for AOS and the rest

of the 'stuff'.

You were a vanilla case and I haven't figured out our flavor yet.....something like coconut-banana-mango-dark chocolate with sprinkles on top which

turned into a 5 year journey. Six months knee deep in pending AOS currently and eager to take a break before ROC.

Again, a huge Congrats

[heo luoi 206]

What a comprehensive summary of what you did! You must be both relieved and exhausted after all this! Congratulations!!

Both? Ill wait til she comes over to remind her how much more I did Hehe just kidding. Last few days were definitely grueling for the both of us....as I'm sure it has been for others. Hopefully others that kinda firedrill everything can take a step back before started and get a good plant under them before starting this marathon. Pace yourselves. Even when I was getting butt kicked at university I dont think it felt like this past several months. I feel like I should get a degree in something when this is all over.

Edited November 4, 2015 by heo luoi