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mleach06

Brand new here and about to start the visa process for my fiance in sub-Saharan Africa

By mleach06 in Introducing our Members

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mleach06 Newbie

mleach06   4

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Hello forum.

My name is Matthew. I am from North California. I have lived a few places in California but settled back up North where I grew up.

I am soon going to hire some professional help to aid with a visa.
I have been talking with my fiance Judith for over a year.
We applied for a tourist visa for her to meet me back in July but she was reject.
So I made a trip from California (SFO) to Zambia and we met November 20, 2023.
I stayed for 2 weeks; it was a great experience and we're certainly very happy to have been together and met or exceeded our expectations of each other.

 

matt and judith at Chelekumbi (SMALLEST).jpg

20231122_145717 (small).jpg

elephants (SMALL).jpg

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millefleur Veteran

millefleur   5,046

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

Welcome!

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview ⌛

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,262

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

Welcome to the forum!  Nice pictures.

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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carmel34 Experienced

carmel34   3,621

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Brazil
 Timeline
Posted
8 hours ago, mleach06 said:

I am soon going to hire some professional help to aid with a visa.

You can save a lot of money (and potential errors/delays) if you study the guides here on VJ, most of us did the whole visa process ourselves.  Research K-1 or CR-1 visas and decide which option is best for your situation.  I strongly recommend the CR-1 spousal visa as being far superior and less expensive.  Make another trip to Zambia and get married, then start the CR-1 process.  Good luck!

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TexasRafael Enthusiast

TexasRafael   134

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Indonesia
 Timeline
Posted

If I were you, I would go back and get married and not deal with the K-1 Visa, the CR1, spousal visa, while it takes about the same time as a K-1, once she enters the US immediately will receive her green card and Social Security to be able to work.  You avoid the adjustment of status process and the expense that goes along with it.    

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JeanneAdil Grand Master

JeanneAdil   6,489

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
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Posted

Agree  with "return and marry in her country

not only the superior visa but many k1 visas with only 1 visit for just 2 weeks in africa together are denied

 

Best to name her country and read posts from that country/embassy for best inquiries and answers from others 

hit the word portal  above and go to that country

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D-R-J Collaborator

D-R-J   192

Posted
Country: Ghana
 Timeline
Posted

I’d second the advice to look carefully at a cr-1 vs k-1 visa.

 

Both for personal and visa reasons I would recommend spending more time together in person. 


Also agree that lawyers are not the best for all people. Many of us have managed this process ourselves. You are likely looking at eventually having to file I-751 and N-400 petitions too, you will save a lot of money if you can read carefully and follow directions (and therefore don’t need a lawyer).

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X Factor Grand Master

X Factor   1,112

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Welcome to VJ

Sent I-129 Application to VSC 2/1/12
NOA1 2/8/12
RFE 8/2/12
RFE reply 8/3/12
NOA2 8/16/12
NVC received 8/27/12
NVC left 8/29/12
Manila Embassy received 9/5/12
Visa appointment & approval 9/7/12
Arrived in US 10/5/2012
Married 11/24/2012
AOS application sent 12/19/12

AOS approved 8/24/13

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