I-129F November 2016 Filers - Part 2

[geowrian 22,338]

4 minutes ago, fishe23a said:

My fiancée's parents are doing the same. We are pushing back and plan to have the wedding immediately after she arrives (same week) primarily for adjustment of status (Green Card Application) purposes. Immigrants on K-1 visas cannot legally work until they receive EAD (Employment Authorization Document), which generally takes 90-120 days after filing to receive. If you apply for green card (AOS) and EAD at the same time upon marrying, the >$400 fee for the EAD is waived and you can receive an employment authorization card for your spouse as quickly as possible. You cannot apply for those two things until you are married. As it is, my fiancée (then wife) won't be able to work for the 90-120 days after we apply for AOS and EAD, and I don't want that 3-4 month time frame to become a 6-7 month time frame, as she will go crazy if she is unable to work and we both have careers we are trying to build. That's our primary motivation. 

Well said. Just a technical note: you can file for an EAD on a K-1...it's just normally pointless as it expires at the end of the I-94...so you're unlikely to ever actually be able to use it unless you get expedited. A new EAD is needed after marriage as well.

Edited March 5, 2017 by geowrian

[fishe23a 240]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

Well said. Just a technical note: you can file for an EAD on a K-1...it's just normally pointless as it expires at the end of the I-94...so you're unlikely to ever actually be able to use it unless you get expedited. A new EAD is needed after marriage as well.

 

Yes - indeed. We initially considered applying for an EAD on her K-1, until we realized that the K-1 would likely expire by the time the EAD was received, and we would have to go through the process all over again. Better to just plan carefully for 3-4 months living together on one salary before she can begin work.

[MapleLeaf29 247]

1 hour ago, visamountain said:

Has anyone heard of any reasons I should be aware of when it comes to why a couple should get married at the start of the 90 days verses the end?  My family is really pushing for our wedding to not be soon after he arrives, but there may be reasons I am unaware of as far as paperwork and the next phase of this journey goes, that we should really try to have our wedding date be towards the start of the 90 days.  Does it matter?  Thoughts?

We will probably get married in a civil ceremony as soon as my fiancé enters the US so we can immediately file for AOS.  He is really dreading the 3-4 months off work, so we want to get the whole process started as soon as possible.  We will have our "larger" wedding ceremony later, although we plan to keep that pretty low-key as well, with just family members and a few close friends.  We're trying to lock down some kind of a date for that because family and friends want to book vacation time from work, especially since over half of our guests have to travel from Canada (my fiancé has an enormous family).  We initially set a date for October, but a lot of our guests said that date didn't work for them, so we have tentatively set it for the summer, with the caveat that we may have to push it back to October if the visa isn't ready in time.  Thankfully, my parents live on a lake and have a beautiful yard where we can get married, so we're not super worried about putting deposits down on anything.  Right now, we have three plans:

 

1) Things go quickly at the Montreal embassy (which seems to be happening at the moment).  My fiancé enters the US at the beginning of the summer and we get married at the courthouse.

2) Things go slowly at the Montreal embassy.  My fiancé enters the US toward the middle or the end of summer, and we get married at our scheduled ceremony.

3) Things go REALLY slowly in Montreal.  We push our tentative ceremony back to October.  My fiancé enters the US whenever he can.  Depending on how close that is to our October ceremony date, we will either get married at the courthouse or wait for the ceremony.

 

Of course, we're hoping for #1.

Edited March 5, 2017 by MapleLeaf29

[visamountain 73]

I'm praying for a May or June wedding, because the original plan was that the school year ends on May 26th and this teacher leaves for Africa to wait for the Visa to be approved there, but we don't necessarily want to live together before marriage, if we can have options.  We are hoping that this 5th trip to Africa I'm about to make this month is the LAST one I take without my husband.  About 100 of our guests are part of my huge family and they live out of state, so they too want to be able to plan as much as possible so they can be sure to be here in Georgia for our wedding, and a handful of his want to try for a Visa, so they can be here, even though we plan on a second celebration (reception) in South Africa.  With God all things are possible!  No backup plan there  @geowrian do you happen to know how many of these applicants are trying from Zimbabwe for their Visa?  I don't want that 4 month wait for an interview that some have mentioned.  

[geowrian 22,338]

1 hour ago, visamountain said:

I'm praying for a May or June wedding, because the original plan was that the school year ends on May 26th and this teacher leaves for Africa to wait for the Visa to be approved there, but we don't necessarily want to live together before marriage, if we can have options.  We are hoping that this 5th trip to Africa I'm about to make this month is the LAST one I take without my husband.  About 100 of our guests are part of my huge family and they live out of state, so they too want to be able to plan as much as possible so they can be sure to be here in Georgia for our wedding, and a handful of his want to try for a Visa, so they can be here, even though we plan on a second celebration (reception) in South Africa.  With God all things are possible!  No backup plan there  @geowrian do you happen to know how many of these applicants are trying from Zimbabwe for their Visa?  I don't want that 4 month wait for an interview that some have mentioned.  

Sorry, I can't break down my list by country. I looked to estimate it based on VJ's numbers versus mine since it does break down by country, but there's too few for it to be a meaningful estimate.

[amillimo 31]

Great news everyone our case was subbmitted December 7 2016 and was APPROVED MARCH 3 2017 THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR BEING A GREAT HELP NOW ONTO THE NEXT STEP. I wish everyone the best of luck thank you @geowrian for the updates it truly helped now i can enjoy my birthday week with her int the Bahamas!!!!! 

[MapleLeaf29 247]

3 minutes ago, amillimo said:

Great news everyone our case was subbmitted December 7 2016 and was APPROVED MARCH 3 2017 THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR BEING A GREAT HELP NOW ONTO THE NEXT STEP. I wish everyone the best of luck thank you @geowrian for the updates it truly helped now i can enjoy my birthday week with her int the Bahamas!!!!! 

Congratulations!  Isn't it the best feeling ever?  So happy for you guys!

[biggiehuggie 40]

On Thursday, March 02, 2017 at 8:57 AM, Valex said:

Hi @biggiehuggie,

 

As for the info I have got from couples who've gone through the same process here in Singapore. They don't just accept appointment not unless you already have an interview date with the US consulate Singapore.

 

If you really want to know yourself you may ring them and ask.

Fullerton Healthcare Screening Centre at Ngee Ann City

Address: The Penthouse 391B #26- Ngee Ann City Tower B, 238874, 2 Orchard Rd

Phone: 6836 3366

 

I haven't done it yet.. Just waiting for the letter from the embassy. Have to wait for it anyway for the COC (Police clearance singapore, Same thing - you cannot make any appointment without the letter from embassy - but then again you may call them) I don't see much difference with the timing so May as well save my energy and wait for the Letter lol. 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Val

 

thanks Val! We have been waiting for packet 3 to be sent. It has been in "Ready" status since 25-Feb. According to Mmagic, the interview date is supposed to be given by the USEM. I have completed by DS-160 but I have not submitted or paid for it. You think I should? Or should I wait for packet 3?

[MajaMukanowska 38]

Do you think the fact my fiance stapled the petition might have influenced the waiting time?

[valkyriex 194]

Just now, biggiehuggie said:

thanks Val! We have been waiting for packet 3 to be sent. It has been in "Ready" status since 25-Feb. According to Mmagic, the interview date is supposed to be given by the USEM. I have completed by DS-160 but I have not submitted or paid for it. You think I should? Or should I wait for packet 3?

Hello @biggiehuggie,

 

I went to Fullerton Medical last saturday (walk in enquiry) and they accept medical appointment even if its just case #. She asked me if i have interview date already I said no but i have a case number. She booked me an appointment for tomorrow. To be honest I also dont know if im doing it too early? I read some topics about it and they said its ok to have it done a month before the interview.. Im not really quite sure with the timeline but I want to get things done asap (I'm aware that the visa expiry starts from medical release date.)

 

I have done and submitted my ds-160 just awhile ago and will probably pay for the visa this week. The packet 3 is taking awhile. Ours was ready since 27th and also rang the US embassy to ask if they have already received our case but told me "We will call you, you don't need to call us" so yeah lol.

 

Good luck biggiehuggie  

Let me know your progress. 

 

Val

 

[biggiehuggie 40]

49 minutes ago, Valex said:

Hello @biggiehuggie,

 

I went to Fullerton Medical last saturday (walk in enquiry) and they accept medical appointment even if its just case #. She asked me if i have interview date already I said no but i have a case number. She booked me an appointment for tomorrow. To be honest I also dont know if im doing it too early? I read some topics about it and they said its ok to have it done a month before the interview.. Im not really quite sure with the timeline but I want to get things done asap (I'm aware that the visa expiry starts from medical release date.)

 

I have done and submitted my ds-160 just awhile ago and will probably pay for the visa this week. The packet 3 is taking awhile. Ours was ready since 27th and also rang the US embassy to ask if they have already received our case but told me "We will call you, you don't need to call us" so yeah lol.

 

Good luck biggiehuggie  

Let me know your progress. 

 

Val

 

That is just really weird. I am getting conflicting information from Fullerton. 

1.Last Monday, I scheduled an appointment for Wednesday and I told them right off the bat that I don't have my letter of interview yet. They said, that's ok, we will just send you the pre-registration form.

 

2. Received the pre-registration form via email on the same day and there, it stated that I needed to have the Letter of Interview that has the case number.

 

3. I emailed back and said that I did not have the letter yet. 

 

4. No response so I called (same day) to just cancel my medical because I didn't have the letter. The lady answered that the letter of interview is needed.

 

5. Wednesday, I received a call from the clinic looking for me. I told the lady that I have cancelled it. She said if I didn't have the interview letter, I couldn't do it. Also, she advised not to do it so early because the results only have 6 months validity.

 

6. Same day, I received an email response to my inquiry last Monday saying that I DIDN'T need the letter. I replied saying that I am getting conflicting information from their clinic.

 

7. I received a final reply apologizing for the different information I've been getting and closed the email by saying that I really should have the letter.

 

 

Since you managed to schedule an interview by walking in without the letter, I should probably do the same. Pls let me know if it goes well tomorrow. Thanks in advance!:)

Edited March 6, 2017 by biggiehuggie

[valkyriex 194]

1 minute ago, biggiehuggie said:

That is just really weird. I am getting conflicting information from Fullerton. 

1.Last Monday, I scheduled an appointment for Wednesday and I told them right off the bat that I don't have my letter of interview yet. They said, that's ok, we will just send you the pre-registration form.

 

2. Received the pre-registration form via email on the same day and there, it stated that I needed to have the Letter of Interview that has the case number.

 

3. I emailed back and said that I did not have the letter yet. 

 

4. No response so I called (same day) to just cancel my medical because I didn't have the letter. The lady answered that the letter of interview is needed.

 

5. Wednesday, I received a call from the clinic looking for me. I told the lady that I have cancelled it. She said if I didn't have the interview letter, I couldn't do it. Also, she advised not to do it so early because the results only have 6 months validity.

 

6. Same day, I received an email response to my inquiry last Monday saying that I DIDN'T need the letter. I replied saying that I am getting conflicting information from their clinic.

 

7. I received a final reply apologizing for the different information I've been getting and closed the email by saying that I really should have the letter.

 

 

Since you managed to schedule an interview by walking in without the letter, I should probably do the same. My offday is on Thursday so I'd probably meet you there, God-willing.

 

Someone told me calling and making online appointment will take forever. She went through the same process so i took her advise  - She is now happily reunited with her husband . I know it would take awhile to get the interview date but it's better we're ready right  

 

Go to 25th tower B of Ngee Ann - Went to 26th and they directed me to the next floor below. I asked someone from the reception desk and asked if i can make an appointment for my medical and asked If i have booked it online. I said no... Then she said you must book an appointment first before you come here. I said since im already here in front of you can you help me? Then she told me to go to door 8... It was a small office room lol and I just randomly asked people there. You may look for Lisa if this will help  i asked for her name.. Asked for the interview date but just say "I have my case number" She will ask you to fill-out some form and make sure you have your passport with you!

 

My medical is tomorrow im kinda scared to be honest hahaha but ok im ready for those vaccines 

 

Val

 

 

 

 

[biggiehuggie 40]

1 minute ago, Valex said:

 

Someone told me calling and making online appointment will take forever. She went through the same process so i took her advise  - She is now happily reunited with her husband . I know it would take awhile to get the interview date but it's better we're ready right  

 

Go to 25th tower B of Ngee Ann - Went to 26th and they directed me to the next floor below. I asked someone from the reception desk and asked if i can make an appointment for my medical and asked If i have booked it online. I said no... Then she said you must book an appointment first before you come here. I said since im already here in front of you can you help me? Then she told me to go to door 8... It was a small office room lol and I just randomly asked people there. You may look for Lisa if this will help  i asked for her name.. Asked for the interview date but just say "I have my case number" She will ask you to fill-out some form and make sure you have your passport with you!

 

My medical is tomorrow im kinda scared to be honest hahaha but ok im ready for those vaccines 

 

Val

 

 

 

 

I am scared of needles too! I am sure you'd be fine tomorrow!  Good luck! Will update you of my progress too! Thanks for the advice!

[Kheycee & John 2]

We filed nov 28 2016. Im still waiting for noa2 approval. Its been 3 months more than im waiting already. Its so worrying

 Whos nov filler still wating here ???

 

 Appreciate your reply thanks alot ☺☺

[GBPackers 47]

NOA1 nov 30... havent heard anything yet either?