Scandinavians Part 2

[Beachkatt 0]

On 1/12/2017 at 0:08 PM, RandB said:

Had my interview this morning. I got approved! The interview went well and I had all the paperwork in order. The visa will arrive in about two weeks, they said. They asked me the following questions (might have forgotten some):

 

Who's *fiancées name*?
Who's this? (pointing to people in pictures)
How do you communicate?
How did you meet?
Which app? (we met through a smartphone app)
How long were you in the US when you were a student?
What does you fiancée do for work?
What do you plan on doing when you get to the US?
Are you together now?
When were you together last?
How many times has your fiancée been to Norway?

 

The whole thing took about an hour. Very smooth. I looked through my papers many times beforehand to make sure everything was in order. I will post a full review later!

Greetings, we are debating which process to use for my fiancee from Denmark...fiancee i-129 or just get married and do spouse i-130. 1) Stockholm quoted a wait time of 5-6 mos for fiance visa but 12-15 mos for spouse??? Seems quicker to do fiancee in that case. 2) I see you used California processing center. Online says use Dallas for ALL fiancee visas. Advice?

[Scandi 4,166]

7 minutes ago, Beachkatt said:

Greetings, we are debating which process to use for my fiancee from Denmark...fiancee i-129 or just get married and do spouse i-130. 1) Stockholm quoted a wait time of 5-6 mos for fiance visa but 12-15 mos for spouse??? Seems quicker to do fiancee in that case. 2) I see you used California processing center. Online says use Dallas for ALL fiancee visas. Advice?

The reason for why spouse takes longer is that you get a greencard out of it. For fiance you only get to enter the US and get married within 90 days, after that you have to start the whole greencard application and wait, and wait.. But at least you get to wait together.

 

I did the fiancé visa (K-1) and it took way longer than we expected, so if I had to do it all over today I would definitely have chosen the spouse visa (CR-1). Then I'd be all done with the greencard and could start working as soon as I entered the US.

[Beachkatt 0]

1 minute ago, Scandi said:

The reason for why spouse takes longer is that you get a greencard out of it. For fiance you only get to enter the US and get married within 90 days, after that you have to start the whole greencard application and wait, and wait.. But at least you get to wait together.

 

I did the fiancé visa (K-1) and it took way longer than we expected, so if I had to do it all over today I would definitely have chosen the spouse visa (CR-1). Then I'd be all done with the greencard and could start working as soon as I entered the US.

Thanks for the quick response. That's what I was afraid of. We were told that upon entering the US he would get a temporary work visa. Then after we get married and file the i-130, an extension to that work visa. Know anything about all that? 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

15 minutes ago, Beachkatt said:

Greetings, we are debating which process to use for my fiancee from Denmark...fiancee i-129 or just get married and do spouse i-130. 1) Stockholm quoted a wait time of 5-6 mos for fiance visa but 12-15 mos for spouse??? Seems quicker to do fiancee in that case. 2) I see you used California processing center. Online says use Dallas for ALL fiancee visas. Advice?

All i-129f (th f is important  ) are sent to the Dallas Lockbox facility... then routed..

I Also did K1 like Scandi... it was the best option for us... right now I'm waiting for my work authorization... If we had had the opportunity to get married first and file for spousal I think we also would have done this as now this wait in limbo is awful... plus the K1 route is more expensive... Also when we applied the K1 process was backlogged so it took 8-9 months instead of 5... 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

2 minutes ago, Beachkatt said:

Thanks for the quick response. That's what I was afraid of. We were told that upon entering the US he would get a temporary work visa. Then after we get married and file the i-130, an extension to that work visa. Know anything about all that? 

That's not correct... you don't file i-130 if you are entering on K1...  or did I misunderstand you?

 

If you file and enter on spousal you can work from day 1

If you file and enter on K1 you have to marry within 90 days and then file for Adjustment of Status (AOS) and employment authorization.. (EAD)

EAD takes approx. 90 days after filing (Can be renewed)... AOS to green card can take from 4-12 months.. depends  many factors..

[Scandi 4,166]

Yeah if you go for the K-1 you won't get a work permit upon arrival, you first need to get married, then file for AOS, work permit and advance parole. The two last ones are usually approved within 90 days from the time they recieve your applications. You aren't allowed to do anything until then.

 

With a CR-1 visa you can start working and traveling as soon as you wish.

[RandB 156]

Finally got my visa in the mail! I got the big envelope with documents for port of entry, my passport, and some documents that went with the Affidavit of Support that they apparently didn't need. But I also got a copy of the medical examination documents - are these the documents I'm supposed to bring at port of entry? Or is it for later use - like the green card application? I've already received a medical document (vaccination worksheet) through email from the doctor's office which they told me to print and bring to port of entry. So I'm a little confused.

Edited January 24, 2017 by RandB

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

On January 23, 2017 at 2:02 PM, Scandi said:

Yeah if you go for the K-1 you won't get a work permit upon arrival, you first need to get married, then file for AOS, work permit and advance parole. The two last ones are usually approved within 90 days from the time they recieve your applications. You aren't allowed to do anything until then.

 

With a CR-1 visa you can start working and traveling as soon as you wish.

 

I think you actually can get a work permit before you are married but it becomes negligible as soon as you marry or file for AOS.  Problem is that it takes some time to arrive and by the time you get it, it is pretty much no longer valid anyway.  This is why people don't do it.  Don't quote me on it, though.

 

CR1 is usually preferable.

Edited January 29, 2017 by N-o-l-a

[Scandi 4,166]

5 minutes ago, N-o-l-a said:

 

I think you actually can get a work permit before you are married but it becomes negligible as soon as you marry or file for AOS.  Problem is that it takes some time to arrive and by the time you get it, it is pretty much no longer valid anyway.  This is why people don't do it.  Don't quote me on it, though.

 

CR1 is usually preferable.

Yes, as a K-1 you can file for EAD as soon as you enter the US but it will only be valid for as long as the i-94 is valid. And like you said,  since it takes around 90 days for them to approve the EAD, well there's just no point applying for it. You spend money on something that expires around the same day you get it. I don't even know why they have that as an option.. maybe for those few that can get it expedited, not sure.

Edited January 29, 2017 by Scandi

[RandB 156]

On 24.1.2017 at 7:02 PM, RandB said:

Finally got my visa in the mail! I got the big envelope with documents for port of entry, my passport, and some documents that went with the Affidavit of Support that they apparently didn't need. But I also got a copy of the medical examination documents - are these the documents I'm supposed to bring at port of entry? Or is it for later use - like the green card application? I've already received a medical document (vaccination worksheet) through email from the doctor's office which they told me to print and bring to port of entry. So I'm a little confused.

I'll just bring copies of both and then see what they want at port of entry. Bought plane tickets the other day. My POE will be at March 14 in San Francisco. ?

[Scandi 4,166]

You only hand the CBP officer the sealed envelope and your passport. Any other documents you have (like the CD, copy of medical or whatever it may be) you can put in your carry-on bag so they won't get lost. You never know if the airport manage to lose your check-in bags.

Edited January 29, 2017 by Scandi

[Hans Martin 2]

Hi guys! It's good to see there is a Scandinavian forum here on Visajourney! I am from Norway ?? and live together with my American wife in Norway now. After almost 3 years here we have decided to move to California and I'm trying to gather sufficient documentation for the I-130.

 

What evidence that the marriage is real did you guys that have applied for the I-130 send with the application? I am sending 4 affidavits, pictures and copies of tickets and travel receipts (proof of doing things together). It's been difficult to attain proof from the bank of joint accounts as Norway don't do them any longer. How did you prove having finances together, living together and so forth?

 

thanks! Looking forward to here from you here on the Scandinavian forum!!! 

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

5 hours ago, Hans Martin said:

Hi guys! It's good to see there is a Scandinavian forum here on Visajourney! I am from Norway ?? and live together with my American wife in Norway now. After almost 3 years here we have decided to move to California and I'm trying to gather sufficient documentation for the I-130.

 

What evidence that the marriage is real did you guys that have applied for the I-130 send with the application? I am sending 4 affidavits, pictures and copies of tickets and travel receipts (proof of doing things together). It's been difficult to attain proof from the bank of joint accounts as Norway don't do them any longer. How did you prove having finances together, living together and so forth?

 

thanks! Looking forward to here from you here on the Scandinavian forum!!! 

 

For the I-130 you don't usually need evidence of financial co-mingling.  USCIS is aware that it is difficult to obtain.

 

Living together might be official documents with each or both of your names on them at the same address, cards addressed to you both at the same address, or proof of your wife living in Norway.

 

The affidavits were probably not necessary, but now that you have them, you can send them.  

 

I think you will be just fine with that.

[swelove 8]

Hej everyone,

   Just got notified that my case was sent to the department of state from USCIS (YAYY approval after 218 days!) I have a question for those of you who've gone the I-130 route, because I want to avoid getting a RFE at the NVC. Anyone on here get a RFE at NVC for particular Swedish documents or affidavit of support? Do cases go through NVC quickly to the Swedish embassy? Thanks everyone for your input!

[FindingAnswers 16]

Hi, my fiance just completed his interview in Stockholm on the 16th. He didn't have the right birth certificate so they basically told him it was approved but to send in the right one. He sent it on the 17th. I'm just curious if anyone knows/has an idea of what the wait time will be until he receive the visa in the mail? 

 

Thanks!