RFE Rant

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Okay, so I come into work today expecting my lovely and much desired NOA2 as kins received hers on Saturday and we both filed on the same date. (BTW, congrats again kins!!!) And indeed, the self-adressed stamped envelope is on my desk -- WOOOOO!

But no. Oh no, no, no, no, no. It's a freakin' RFE and I am sooooo psyched. I always knew this was a possibility, as I was totally confused when I filed the I-130 because the Embassy checklist said DO NOT include anything NOT on the checklist. Was there anything about proof of bona fide marriage? No! Okay, yes, I am a tool because it did say on the I-130 itself to attach such things but I followed the Embassy instructions to the letter and where did it get me? Huh? RFE!!!

So Bruce calls to see if it came and I told him what the score was and he TOTALLY overreacts and says "you told me that everybody gets approved, I can't believe this, I don't want to go through with this, if they're getting nosey now imagine what they'll be like later" etc etc. I said this is NOT a denial, they just need a couple of bits and bobs from us, no biggie, just a few days' delay, they send the NOA2 really fast after you send in the affidavits and other stuff. But we descend into a slanging match which was totally inappropriate for the office. I think our problem is that I am seeing the glass as half full and him as half empty. This is a snag, not a denial. I have already gotten two affidavits from my colleagues and I am going to get a third this afternoon. Got tons of bills and bank statements and photos at home to photocopy tomorrow. It is a right royal pain in the backside and disappointing but NOT the end of the world.

So, to quote Sir Bob, "I don't like Mondays."

[Otto 83]

[*julez* 124]

Sorry about your RFE. Hopefully the NOA2 will come soon after you send in your evidence. Hang in there!!!

[homesick_american 1]

Okay, so I come into work today expecting my lovely and much desired NOA2 as kins received hers on Saturday and we both filed on the same date. (BTW, congrats again kins!!!) And indeed, the self-adressed stamped envelope is on my desk -- WOOOOO!

But no. Oh no, no, no, no, no. It's a freakin' RFE and I am sooooo psyched. I always knew this was a possibility, as I was totally confused when I filed the I-130 because the Embassy checklist said DO NOT include anything NOT on the checklist. Was there anything about proof of bona fide marriage? No! Okay, yes, I am a tool because it did say on the I-130 itself to attach such things but I followed the Embassy instructions to the letter and where did it get me? Huh? RFE!!!

So Bruce calls to see if it came and I told him what the score was and he TOTALLY overreacts and says "you told me that everybody gets approved, I can't believe this, I don't want to go through with this, if they're getting nosey now imagine what they'll be like later" etc etc. I said this is NOT a denial, they just need a couple of bits and bobs from us, no biggie, just a few days' delay, they send the NOA2 really fast after you send in the affidavits and other stuff. But we descend into a slanging match which was totally inappropriate for the office. I think our problem is that I am seeing the glass as half full and him as half empty. This is a snag, not a denial. I have already gotten two affidavits from my colleagues and I am going to get a third this afternoon. Got tons of bills and bank statements and photos at home to photocopy tomorrow. It is a right royal pain in the backside and disappointing but NOT the end of the world.

So, to quote Sir Bob, "I don't like Mondays."

When we filed the I-130 we sent our marriage certificate and my birth certificate to prove that I was eligible to petition for him and he was eligible to be the beneficiary (as my husband). I don't recall sending any affadavits or bank statements or anything like that with the I-130 (we filed in August 2005).

Did you include your birth certificate or marriage certificate?

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Just a little glitch! We had two rfe's along our journey not fun but over and done with in a matter of a week or two.

[Mags 112]

Keep your chin up, you'll get there in the end and until you do, feel free to rant away!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

When we filed the I-130 we sent our marriage certificate and my birth certificate to prove that I was eligible to petition for him and he was eligible to be the beneficiary (as my husband). I don't recall sending any affadavits or bank statements or anything like that with the I-130 (we filed in August 2005).

Did you include your birth certificate or marriage certificate?

Yup, put in the birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, passport showing ILR, etc. They changed the rules at the beginning of 2007, but unfortunately I couldn't tell this from the forms on the Embassy website which were out-of-date. You now need to provide proof of a bona fide marriage for an I-130. This is on the I-130 and not the Embassy checklist, which said not to enclose anything not on the list. So I got caught in an administrative lag, and of course I'm the one to pay!

[homesick_american 1]

When we filed the I-130 we sent our marriage certificate and my birth certificate to prove that I was eligible to petition for him and he was eligible to be the beneficiary (as my husband). I don't recall sending any affadavits or bank statements or anything like that with the I-130 (we filed in August 2005).

Did you include your birth certificate or marriage certificate?

Yup, put in the birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, passport showing ILR, etc. They changed the rules at the beginning of 2007, but unfortunately I couldn't tell this from the forms on the Embassy website which were out-of-date. You now need to provide proof of a bona fide marriage for an I-130. This is on the I-130 and not the Embassy checklist, which said not to enclose anything not on the list. So I got caught in an administrative lag, and of course I'm the one to pay!

LOL, that sounds like a pain in the a$$. Glad we already did ours!

I'm sure everything will be OK; the US government can be rather demanding.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Awww, you all are so wonderful!

Thanks for the kind indulgence to blow off some steam here. I've got the three affidavits all done, just need to get the other stuff. Oh, and deal with my insane husband who threatened to jack the whole visa process in today! Had a loooooong talk to my mother, told her all about the heated exchange over the RFE and she said we should just tape ourselves having that kind of row -- only married people say things like this: "Well, we're not denied!" -- "But we're not approved either!" "But we're not denied..." "No, you're in DENIAL" "But that's not a denial" etc etc ad nauseam.

I just keep repeating: "you are not alone", "you're not the only one". I think my boss thinks I've lost it big time, but he was still kind enough to do an affidavit!

[flutter95 4]

Gah I'm sorry you've had this pain in the butt to deal with!

Hopefully you can resolve it soon

[MargotDarko 0]

That stinks! It seems really unfair since you even found and used the correct instructions. It says really explicitly to not send in anything they don't ask for. At least it's an easy fix though! Good luck

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Well, I sent off my completed RFE pack about 2 hours ago, Special Delivery 9am. I figured I'd blind 'em with science, so there are 44 enclosures in my packet, weighing in at nearly 1lb. 17 photos of us, as a couple and with our families (and with both our families together!). Xeroxes of engagement and wedding cards. Bills, insurance documents, NHS cards, bank statements, you name it. My statement on how we met, fell in love, got married and live happily ever after in North London, and how my last marriage fell apart and ended. Affidavits from friends and colleagues that Bruce and I are the real deal as a couple.

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Uncle Sam!

[kins 0]

Okay, so I come into work today expecting my lovely and much desired NOA2 as kins received hers on Saturday and we both filed on the same date. (BTW, congrats again kins!!!) And indeed, the self-adressed stamped envelope is on my desk -- WOOOOO!

But no. Oh no, no, no, no, no. It's a freakin' RFE and I am sooooo psyched. I always knew this was a possibility, as I was totally confused when I filed the I-130 because the Embassy checklist said DO NOT include anything NOT on the checklist. Was there anything about proof of bona fide marriage? No! Okay, yes, I am a tool because it did say on the I-130 itself to attach such things but I followed the Embassy instructions to the letter and where did it get me? Huh? RFE!!!

So Bruce calls to see if it came and I told him what the score was and he TOTALLY overreacts and says "you told me that everybody gets approved, I can't believe this, I don't want to go through with this, if they're getting nosey now imagine what they'll be like later" etc etc. I said this is NOT a denial, they just need a couple of bits and bobs from us, no biggie, just a few days' delay, they send the NOA2 really fast after you send in the affidavits and other stuff. But we descend into a slanging match which was totally inappropriate for the office. I think our problem is that I am seeing the glass as half full and him as half empty. This is a snag, not a denial. I have already gotten two affidavits from my colleagues and I am going to get a third this afternoon. Got tons of bills and bank statements and photos at home to photocopy tomorrow. It is a right royal pain in the backside and disappointing but NOT the end of the world.

So, to quote Sir Bob, "I don't like Mondays."

Aarrrgh that seems so unfair! I know when I submitted my I-130 I ummed and ahhed over whether to include evidence of relationship. I even called the Embassy and they said don't send it. We stuck it in anyway, including: birth certs for our children, documentation showing joint ownership of house (house purchase doc from estate agent, land registry entry in both our names, mortgage statement in both our names), plus bank statements in joint names one from each of the past 7 years.

I think what probably swung it though is that we have three children together... hard to argue with that one lol...

Good luck with yours - I'm sure this is just a hitch!

I have been through the fiance visa process then the adjustement of status process years ago and I was in tears so many times, but you do get there eventually. Keep us posted.