town&country

Merrytooth.i appreci1te your concern but i am ready to take my chances with her.and believe all what her mom cares about is the 733$ my fiancee gets.thats what my fiancee sais in fact.and btw she is suffering a lot and hate life with her family they keep yelling and sometimes hitting her.

You are getting in over your head. You say all her mother cares about is the $733.00 a month in govt. assistance? You don't really know this to be true, you don't really understand anything about your cyber girlfriends family's situation, with her having this damage from an accident and also a little daughter. Wow. this is very complicated and you think you know best. Puleeze. Stop it. Back off. come visit her if you can get a visitor visa, which I bet you probably cannot.

Thank you for weighing in.

Yeah, Grenada is nice. Grenada is sweet. But are there jobs in Grenada? Not really. Grenada is in the same boat as like, Argentina. They owe a lot of money to hedge funds who bought their government bonds at cut rate prices abut now want to cash in their investments at full market rate value. I think it's not long before austerity measures kick in there in lovely Grenada.

I have a decent tiny business here in the U.S. that could employ my husband and probably grow with him as partner, and become more profitable. there in Grenada I am not sure I could make a living. He can't support me and himself, presently, maybe only in poverty. He only just said I should move there and everything would be peachy. Really? In the same text message he says he is afraid of the cold. Like that is the real problem. I never asked him to spend the winter here! I guess not enough love to overcome the problems.

thanks for letting me vent.

hi there! thanks for looking into this...I have read that if you stay in contact with the NVC every year then they will keep the case open but I have no idea how accurate this is or if its consistent across visa centers. I'm not sure what to do! He has work over there already and it is certainly more convenient if we could go there but I don't know how much this qualifies as out of our control..:/

there is only one NVC, it's the National Visa Center, and this info is kind straight from the horses mouth as they say. It's the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 203(g). Good luck with whatever you can figure out!!

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone knows how long your case will remain open once it is approved?

I have recently found out I can reunite with my spouse who is in the UK (EU citizen) and have a decision on my visa to travel there within 15 working days...so much faster than waiting for him to get here...feeling quite desperate as I am sure you all understand! So this was wonderful news I just received. However, we would still like to live here in the US in the long run and would return in a year or two..

thanks:) hopefully someone has some insight into this!

PD: Feb 5th, 2016 Potomac

Hi me again. researching this topic more since it is an issue to me as well and here is a paragraph from my email notification that contained our case number and invoice number. There is a paragraph called 'Termination of Registration' that says ". . . the Secretary of State shall terminate the registration (petition) of any alien who fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year of notice of visa availability. The petition may be reinstated if, within two years of notice of visa availability, the alien establishes that the failure to apply was for reasons beyond the alien's control. Therefore if you do not respond to notices from the National Visa Center within one year you risk termination of your petition under this section of law and would lose the benefits of that petition, such as your priority date."

Hmmm, I am carefully reading the email notification that contained the case number and invoice number. There is a paragraph called 'Termination of Registration' that says ". . . the Secretary of State shall terminate the registration (petition) of any alien who fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year of notice of visa availability. . . " I didn't read this carefully I admit, until now, but there it is. It goes on to say ". . . The petition may be reinstated if, within two years of notice of visa availability, the alien establishes that the failure to apply was for reasons beyond the alien's control. Therefore if you do not respond to notices from the National Visa Center within one year you risk termination of your petition under this section of law and would lose the benefits of that petition, such as your priority date."

If I had only read that paragraph I would have known the answer! thanks for answering it anyway NLR.

But yeah, maybe none of this really matters for me, in my situation. But also maybe a blessing in disguise that there can be a delay while the situation gets worked out. I am not a natural born quitter, I hate to give up on things. Especially a marriage for goodness sake. Ugh. Back to doing my taxes.

In another thread someone else has asked the same question and someone else replied that all you have is 2-3 months doing nothing before they close your case. But here you are saying that we could do nothing for a year and they wouldn't close our case until then. Well, we might just be getting ready to find out for real if my husband and I shelf the process for some time to come. I'll keep you posted about that.

I don't have much hope that we will eventually see it through. What's best for me, yeah, what about the marriage, yeah. He has gone ahead and made big moves based on what is best for him alone. Not a great foundation for a long lasting relationship. Oy oy oy.

One more thing: I confused the discussion by using 'green card' as the reference. It's really the 'approval' for the visa (that results in a green card once you enter the U.S.) that I am talking about. How much time after the beneficiary is approved for the visa does he have to actually use that visa to travel to the U.S. (and get the green card). Looks it is 6 months? Another reply here said there is no deadline to use the green card, I assume you meant to start working?

Thanks! Julia

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone knows how long your case will remain open once it is approved?

I have recently found out I can reunite with my spouse who is in the UK (EU citizen) and have a decision on my visa to travel there within 15 working days...so much faster than waiting for him to get here...feeling quite desperate as I am sure you all understand! So this was wonderful news I just received. However, we would still like to live here in the US in the long run and would return in a year or two..

thanks:) hopefully someone has some insight into this!

PD: Feb 5th, 2016 Potomac

I was asking this same question for a different reason the other day, and someone said that after NOA2 approval you could theoretically drag the process out for 2-3 years. Nobody said whether there comes a time when they tell you you have to get on with it or they close the case. So It seems possible to do this, I dont' know if for 3 years . . . but since each step you have to wait until you do a next step there are many chances for delay, it would seem. Good luck with it all!

I wouldnt say they are necessarily political, but they are in flux for sure. Either way, whatever you see going on out and about isn't necessarily the law. For me, on my commute to and from work, I smell weed multiple times. But I dont think it is fully legal here, maybe it is decriminalized. Police around me simply have bigger issues to focus on, so you probably won't be arrested for lighting up in Union Square.

Regardless - you will face very large issues if you test positive while applying for a visa. It doesnt matter if youre moving to a town/state where it is legal or not. As my lawyer stated, 'those applying for a visa face higher standards than citizens'.

Marijuana laws are in flux that is for sure. Maybe less political but more for economic reasons. Something new to tax heavily!

To be clear!! It is still highly illegal federally, and only completely legal in a few states. That is all that matters when it comes to immigrating to the U.S. Drug laws are changing state by state, but the federal govt. is holding back. fed govt considers it still to be a schedule 1 drug. Nothing but trouble for an intending immigrant because you are dealing with the federal government, not any state govt.

I didn't mean to be flippant to people worldwide who may be reading this thread. It is still completely illegal to the U.S. govt. and all of its departments. Very confusing situation. Legally and in our hearts and minds.

And, OP, still hoping the 3 months (4.5) is all it will take for you two.

Peace, love and tolerance, Julia

thanks Canadian in Colorado! Your reply means a lot to me.

Hi midatlanticmerge, isn't it true that drug policies are political? It's getting really confusing because cannabis is just about completely legal in the U.S. while other countries are still very conservative about it. Hopefully, just now, the world will stop criminalizing this thing and get on to dealing with more pressing problems. 'the leaves of tree are for the healing of the nations". IKR??

However, the laws are still the laws, federal in nature. 3 months ban seems like nothing. what a blessing! Best to you.

Thank-you for the info. That is really helpful to know some time frames for this process. It adds another dimension to my situation, I hope.

And the advice, well, I could use some advice right now, thanks! I won't try and convince him, or fight about it at all. I will tell him what I learned here today, and then let him decide what happens next. He says he wants to stay married, you know, 'for better or worse' . . . and have a long distance marriage. However, in our last conversation/argument a few days ago, he kept insisting to me that he never said that he didn't want to move to the U.S.! But he did, in person last month, twice, in simple declarative sentences! 3 days apart, two separate conversations.

Yeah, other options, moving to Grenada. Could I find a job or make a job for myself there? Not so sure about that.

Get divorced. sigh . . .

stay married and have a long distance marriage. Really don't want that. I could do it for a little while if he had a time frame in which he would want to finally come here.

best, Julia

I'll keep you posted, for better or worse.

Hi VJ,

I've had a crazy trip to see my husband where he finally admitted, 2 weeks after my arrival, that he did not want to live and work in the U.S. (#blindsided...) I knew he was nervous about it, who wouldn't be? but never thought he would bail. Why couldn't he have thought this through before allowing me to file the petition!! Let's just say it's been a horrible month since getting home, thinking what now? I received the NOA2 10 days after getting home. Should have been a time for celebration but instead I just put the notice away in the filing cabinet. A few days ago I received the case number and invoice number.

Today we spoke and it seemed like maybe his feet were warming up. I'm not sure, maybe . . . I had to ask him one last time, do you or don't you want to go through with this green card process, since it's time to get on with it.

I know he is very worried about the timing of it all, so if I could explain more detail about how it will work it might help. I can't find answers to these questions at the NVC site or anywhere.

--Once the case number has been issued, and it was about a week ago, how long do we get to complete the applications, fee payments, etc, and sending the package to the NVC? Is there a deadline?

--Once/if he gets a green card issued, how soon does he have to use it? Is there a deadline for that?

--If he never gets a green card, can he still get a visitor visa?

Thank-you for any insight, Julia

submitted petition October 19, 2015, was transferred to Potomac service center in November, and received approval on March 19, 2016.

Thanks for focusing in on what matters most.

Best, Julia

sorry sorry, I didn't mean to offend the VJ forum. I was a little taken aback at the first reply like they didn't read my post at all. My op was too long, I know, right? I have been reading this forum for a couple of years actually, knowing we would be getting married, and have seen lots of people being helped by many caring forum members. I am grateful for the forum. I will try not to be so sensitive in the future.

BTW, everything I think I know about the marriage visa is from this website and forum. I have read the Guide over and over again. Obviously that is not enough to get all the facts, and it is a little bit out of date I guess.

It sounds like the I-130 petition was the hardest part to prepare, so that is a relief to know.

Thanks SoerenHelmer for your summation and answers. I feel relieved to know that I can prepare most of the applications and payments online myself, it will make things so much smoother. That is mostly what I was stressing about.

And Darnell, I will make the NVC wiki 'my bible' for at least the next three weeks (more like next 3 months)--haha you always make me laugh, thanks.

best, Julia

Thanks for pointing me to the NVC wiki it certainly is very detailed. I am getting my info from 'VJ Guides'. Are they incorrect?

I am familiar with the basic process but I was hoping to get some more specific advice about the Consulate in Grenada as well as any experiences that other Grenadians may have had with the whole process. And whether an attorney could actually be worth hiring to help with my husbands forms, etc.

Yes, i am aware that USCIS will contact me not my hubby about my I-130 petition.

Yes i know the embassy wont be mailing me anything, thanks. I was asking about the stuff that gets mailed to them before the interview. It says in the VJ guide that each consulate handles this differently.

I could still use the advice I requested if anybody can give it!

It would be nice if people responding to questions here could either use a less impatient tone or just refrain from replying. It would make for a better community.

Hi VJ forum. I am here in Grenada visiting my husband. We are waiting for our I-130 petition to be approved. We are assuming it will be approved sometime in March or April. I am reading and re-reading the guides to try and understand what will happen next. I see that eventually he will be receiving a packet of papers. Since he lives in one of the smaller islands of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique, it will take a month for him to even receive the packet from the Grenada Postal service. Mail gets delivered once a week here, and then takes days and days to actually reach him!

At any rate, my husband, bless him! is not a paperwork kind of guy, frankly, and will indeed panic when he receives all of these papers and applications. We have already filled out a draft of the Of-230 Part 1 and 2 forms, in pencil, just to get started. That took some time! We made sure all of that info matched the info on the petition that I sent in.

But, there is another form that I couldn't preview online, the OF-169, that he will have to fill out too. He wont' be able to do this without help. Also, since he lives in the small island, not the big island, he will need his family there to help collect some of the stuff like vaccination record, and maybe a police record, if they are allowed to get this for him.

I won't be able to come and help in person since I will be very busy with work at that time. I will if I have to but it will be very expensive.

Can any Grenadians give any advice about this?

Q: especially about what the U.S. consulate in Grenada will want mailed, and what they will want brought to the interview?

Q: is this the moment to hire an immigration lawyer? I dont' really trust the lawyers to do it right, but maybe there is someone who can help just with the paperwork, and leave the actual filing to us? None of his family are computer savvy or even have more than cellphones or tablets, certainly no printing capability.

Q: Can I fill out the forms with my computer at home and then mail that stuff to him? Or mail directly to the consulate or what? Or have him collect all the stuff and mail it to me and I complete the packet and mail it in? This would be the preferred method I think.

I am getting a massive headache about this now, I can't get my head around how to deal with this properly and successfully.

any help? Thanks in advance, Julia

yes, you are overthinking this K-1 visa. You have met the requirements. Just file the petition and get on with it!! Good luck and God bless you!

There are many small companies and self employed sole proprietors who employ people without all the proper paperwork. It's a 1099 kind of world here in America right now. A world of subcontractors.

Sp maybe your process will take longer as these COs demand documents that you cannot produce! They just want you to incriminate yourself. You may be at their mercy at this point, and you might have to just keep at it until they can't think of a reason to deny you. Even if you did what people are saying officials suspect you of doing, if there is no proof, well . . .

Just do better at your second interview, like the previous poster said and best of luck to you.

having children in your home country is a reason you would not get a tourist visa for sure. They think you are coming to the U.S. not to visit but to live and work illegally and make money to send home to support the children. Not a binding tie at all. Go figure!! Nothing makes human sense in this process.

Anyway, It doesn't matter, you are trying to get around the system here and I don't blame you but you probably won't get through with this scheme. Applying for a tourist visa is a confusing thing to throw at your process. Two opposing intents. Either intending to immigrate or not. Which is it? You are trying to be with your wife we get it, but we are all waiting patiently or not so patiently to be reunited with our loved one. It is a stupid idea just have some patience and you will get through in less than 2 years, most likely, God willing.

I looked up details about this issue a few months ago because my image on my passport photo was larger than usual, but I can't find where I found the answers, sorry!

But, what is more important, I think, is the size of the image of the face, not the size of the actual paper photo. The face can't be too large or it won't fit on the visa. They say the face should be 'about' an inch from top of head to chin, but it can be up to 1 3/8 inch, something like that.

I'm don't think the actual size of the photo paper matters.

Just keep your power cord with the laptop and on the slight chance they want you to turn it on, tell them the situation and plug the thing in! More than likely you wont' have to do that.

Have a great trip--in just a few days!!

Even with your visa in hand the immigration officer at your POE can still deny you entry if they feel to. This whole process is pretty anxiety provoking, ugh.

The only thing clear to me is that not even POTUS understands immigration stuff. People here in the VJ forum know more about immigration matters than most Americans and that includes immigration attorneys! How can politicians or citizens even discuss immigration when it is clear that most everybody is ignorant? I heard one of the Republican candidates talk about the San B. mass killer like she was on a visitor visa. Saying she was 'visiting' the U.S.!

Laws and policies don't change that fast here in the U.S. I doubt anything will change for most K1 (or any type of visa) filers right now.

Whatever, you shouldn't leave any questions unanswered. You either answer 'none' or 'N/A' (not applicable) for every question that you don't have another answer for. You shouldn't just ignore questions . . . best practice says to answer every question. I figured this out by reading USCIS instructions for how to make an application packet, and also from looking over the example forms in the guides section of the forum. I think that is where they are.

good luck with your visa!