misa

Necrotica, you've been through a lot! Hopefully things will start looking up after Réjean gets packet 3.

No problem.

Since you're already signed up for online checking, just look at the date beside your petitions. If it changes (with no status update when you click on the petition), it means it was "touched". Everytime someone looks at your petition or moves it from one desk to another, they scan the barcode and it updates the date. Means that they're at least "touching" your case.

Your file will most likely be "touched" with no status change as they prepare it for transfer. Then again when it's received by VSC.

Good luck!

Good news about reopening the case!

Your case number will be on the back of the cashed cheque. You can sign up and view your status online using that number to see what the status is:

https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp

Yes, good luck! I'm sure everything will go great.

And congrats about the job offer.

No problem. This process makes us all a little paranoid. I know I was super paranoid about every little detail when I started reading all of this and submitting paperwork.

K1s are only interviewed at in Vancouver and Montreal. Since you're in Toronto, it will be Montreal. The NVC will forward to Montreal regardless of what you put.

You'll also want to see this thread about USCIS retaining approved I-130s if there is also an I-129F filed:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=45501

That's normal. They changed the policy so they are being shipped to VSC or CSC:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=42061

Despite the holidays (2 of them, Thanksgiving and Christmas), VSC was pretty fast in approving both my petitions. See my timeline below.

What seems to be happening now is that when they have time to review the I-129F, they pull the I-130 and approve them at the same time. That seems to be happening at both VSC and CSC.

Thank you! And I ended up getting a residential addy in case they need it. Someone that works in our Vancouver branch so I've got that covered. Just gotta stay patient until my case is received at NVC and then forwarded to Montreal.

Thanks again.

Once someone enters into the U.S. on a K1, K3 or CR, they are free to travel within the U.S. without a problem.

K3s are also multiple entry so he could travel outside the U.S. to Canada and come back.

You have two options. Get a K1 visa and marry after entering on a K1. Or get married first, go back to Canada and apply for a K3 or CR-1/IR-1 visa.

As for a marriage license, call the county clerk's office and ask them to clarify. Every state and county have their own requirements for obtaining a marriage license.

Thanks mercy, good to know about trying to change at the NVC level. I'll just wait until it gets to Montreal and then call them for a transfer. I wonder if they're happy doing transfers, without question, because they're so overloaded?

If you could post OF-167, that would be great! Thanks!

Sometimes they, for whatever reason, ask for originals or certified copies of photocopies submitted as well. Or maybe you missed a question on the form.

Hopefully you will get your paper copy soon so you know what they need.

You need to fill out a G-325A for yourself and your wife has to file one for herself too. I don't know about the stepson.

Did you submit passport style photos for both you and your husband?

It *always* depends on the POE officer. This past summer I was pretty much waved through by the (US) officer because he was flirting with me asking me about my tattoos ("Are you yakuza?" jokingly) and after a minute of personal chatting ended it with a sly, "Too bad I can't see your other ones". He scanned in my passport, didn't really look at the screen or ask me any questions other than my tattoos and piercings and let me go on my way... He didn't even ask me where I was going!

That's weird. Maybe they were thinking of the I-130 which is $190. The I-129F is $170.

I haven't received one. Could be anything they are asking for. You'll just need to wait for the paper copy to see what else they need (could be an original of one of the copies you submitted).

Out of curiousity, what did you submit?

I don't have experience with this (used the old for for K3) but it also wouldn't hurt to show proof of visits, letters, email, phone calls, gifts, etc.

Question 18 is not applicable for K3s. Just put down N/A.

Um, I'd be concerned that your lawyer doesn't know that. It says right in the instructions for the form...

K1 are faster than K3s since you only file the I-129 (whereas with K3s you need to file the I-130 and then file the I-129 when you get the NOA1 for the I-130) but it's a single entry visa so you can only enter the U.S. once until AOS. You can file for Advance Parole but you need to have a good reason if you need to go back to Canada.

You can have packet 3 sent to a business address? Do you tell the consulate after they receive their case from NVC? That would be handy rather than have it mailed to my house.

Who knows who messed up... Canada Post sucks!

Aside from the prostitution which is a huge problem with immigration (makes her ineligible) as others have pointed out, how would you both explain having a bona fide relationship if neither of you speak the same language?

Telling the consular officer that you use a electronic translator just isn't going to fly...

Yup, that's right. Quick pitstop at NVC and then onto the consulate.