US Immigration from Kenya

Hello all,

Thank you so much for responding so quickly to my questions on the subject. I appreciate this forum already.

I have a question.

What is the AR-11?

Is it a form? Where can I find it?

Also, I believe there was another form called IR for my address? Not sure!

Thanks,

Diane

Hi guys. I need your help with insights to my case. Long story coming up

I did a F1 student visa interview in March 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya. During the interview, the interviewer asked me maybe 2-3 questions then told me the visa was approved. However, since the program was to start in August 2022, they could not issue the visa more than 120 days before the start of the program. I was asked to leave my passport and check back with them towards the end of April. 1 day later, I got an email with a supplemental questionnaire that in summary asked, in the last 15 years:

Where I have travelled to and why?

My email addresses, phone numbers & social media handles

My Spouse s & child s bio data

My residential and work history

I filled in the questionnaire and replied 2 days later. It s been over 180 days now and I m still in AP. They returned my passport after having it for about 2 months. Internet searches pretty much say I have to wait for the AP to be concluded.

A brief background I did my bachelor s in the states and left after graduation. I ve been home for about 10 years and I m now trying to go do a master s in Computer Science. I have a tourist visa that expires in 2023. I have been to the states twice as a tourist in 2021 and 2019. Both times I was selected for additional screening by CBP but eventually granted entry. I stayed for about 3 months during each visit but never beyond my I-94 duration.

A couple of questions:

Any ideas on what could have gotten me here? I ve travelled a lot cause of work within Africa, Middle East & Asia. Could something in my travel be causing the flagging?
Any other Kenyans who have gone through AP, how long did it take?
Should I have hope for this AP ever being concluded or should I move on with my life and forget about my master s in the US?

Thank you for reading through this and for the responses.

Hello all,

I am new to the forum.

I am a U.S. citizen who got married last August, 2021 to my husband in Kenya. I came back and found an immigration lawyer in St. Louis, Mo who filed our I130 petition in September, 2021. The case started in the Potomac Service center but according to the lawyer was transferred to the Texas Service Center. When I look our case up on the USCIS website, it says as of March this year it is under review. But it does not tell me the service center it is in. I sent a inquiry to USCIS last night to obtain this information. They will get back to me near the end of September.

Is there another way I track this and see the information? How long will it take for us to get our approval letter?

Next, the lawyer filed the I-485 application to register permanent residence or Adjust Status in December, 2021 after the I130 petition. My husband was denied obviously because he has never been to the United States.

Can we apply again for this application once he comes to the United States? Will this hurt our chances of him getting a Green card? Finally, because the lawyer started this process how long should I stick with this lawyer?

Thanks,

Diane

Hello everyone, how long did it take between your approval and receiving your NVC welcome letter? Our CR1 case was approved on 1st may and we have not received the welcome letter yet. PD is April 2021

On March 23rd, 2022, my girlfriend, Emily, and 2 children (from a previous marriage) landed at SEATAC airport, and they were denied entry into the USA. They spent about a day (overnight at a local hotel) and were sent back to Kenya. The reason given by the immigration officer is that there was intent to stay and live in the USA rather than to visit - suspicions of malicious intent or suspected of overstaying their visa. The officer confiscated her phone and read messages that Emily and I had shared about our plans to get married in the USA and to start a family. We had even setup an appointment with a lawyer during the first week of her arrival. All this was used as the basis to deny her entry into the USA. During the hours they were locked at the airport, I tried all I could to get them into the USA without success. I reached out to my local representative here in Olympia, WA but she said she could not help unless they were in the USA in one way or the other - she even hinted if they could get arrested into the USA, she might be able to help but as long as they were "outside" the USA, her hands were tied.

I have attached copied of the documents that were given to Emily (including form I-275) and what was marked into her passport. The kids' passports were also marked the same - with the revocation note & the other markings you see.

Anyway, that is the background of what I'm actually wanting to ask.

I have been thinking of the quickest way to get Emily and the kids here. FYI, the kids are 15 years & 12 years. We are not yet married.

I have been thinking of doing the follow:
1. Find a country where they don't have visa requirements for Kenyans to enter - I found Barbados.
2. Go there (in this case Barbados) and get married officially.
3. Make an application at the local USA Embassy in that country for a Fianc e Visa to the USA. FYI, I am a Permanent Resident of the USA (I have Green Card category IR6 expiring in Feb 2024). I plan to apply for citizenship next year in May/June.
4. Get Visa in that country for all of them - Emily & the 2 kids.

Please let me know if this plan can work. Or if there is a better way, something I can do to get my family here. I'm looking for the fastest way and most cost-effective way to get them from Kenya into the USA.

FYI, Emily is divorced in Kenya - she has all the divorce documents. I'm also divorced here in USA. Let me know if you have any questions.

I just want to bring my new family to USA and for us to start living together.

Thank you all for your time and advice.

Mwamba

On March 23rd docs.pdf