keelec

It is true that everyone's timeline is different. Perhaps that is why everything is so difficult for those of us who get the slow line at EVERY SPOT IN THE PROCESS :P I started almost exactly 1 year before Jeff & Sarah. I am extremely thankful to finally get an interview scheduled this summer. Wow, what a LONG wait, just over 18 months...... I would trade my 18 month delay for a mere 8 months anyday!!! I believe that the P4 packets being stuck is a real issue (thus, everyone in the same boat can contact their reps), but I am still hopeful that it will be resolved in a matter of months. Of course, there is no need to send excessive numbers of e-mails and making lots of phone calls to GZ. The lowly receptionists may not even know what is happening. Note, the 4500 is "K’s and immigrant visa applicants" (probably including several other visa classifications. ----- Clifford -----

Ok, I changed numbers 3 and 15 as suggested. I am willing to consolidate, or append other ideas if you have suggestions. I am sure I remember reading something about US Economic Sanctions and Immigration.... Then I ran into this website: http://www.usaengage.org/archives/studies/nam3.html It appears as if the USA has economic sanctions against nearly EVERY country Somewhere there has to be a list that captures the nations that the US Considers the highest risk, thus requiring more intense evaluation and longer wait periods. ----- Clifford -----

I believe that both of you fill it out. He has to meet the income requirements including everyone who is a "dependent" as well as anyone who is being "sponsored" (including others that he was a co-sponsor for). ----- Clifford -----

Ok... I did have a question about the Police Report too.... (nope, I don't have all the answers). Irina is from a small village of perhaps 20 houses. The village is big enough to have a grade school, but I don't think it has a Police Department. Can she get thje police report from the capital city for the province (where she is now in college)? ----- Clifford ------

Ah.... That explains it all..... IF they don't schedule any interviews for the next 6 months... THEN they will be so burried in applications that it will take them several months to dig themselves out of the hole they dug. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, the K1/K3 is good for 6 months. Once your fiancee arrives in the USA, you have 3 months to get married and file AOS. Hmmm, also look on your NOA2 notice. Mine expired about 8 months ago!!! :P :P Was there something about the photos we sent in being current? By the time we have the interview, Irina's photo will be nearly 2 years old :ph34r: :ph34r: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At this point, there is no sense bothering the peons at the bottom of the pile.... Those operators answering the phone may not even know that there apparently are no P4 packets being scheduled for K1/K3 applicants. There are likely other interviews still being conducted so there always appears to be a line of people waiting for visas... Just not the K1/K3 interviews. The group needs to formulate a strategy about who to talk to that actually has some possible clout with the system. Linda Donahue? I think other contacts in GZ were mentioned recently. Maybe a couple of contacts at DOS. Any chance to get with Maura Hardy? The US Ambassador to China? Who else? Don may be right that this is nothing but a little bump in the road. But, I find it very concerning that it doesn't appear as if things have slowed down, but rather from what I've heard, everything is STOPPED DEAD IN THE WATER WITHOUT EXPLANATION. And, from what I've seen, GZ is going out several months with their estimates of completion dates. What happens if you all wait until October and the situation hasn't been fixed? For those that are worried, come up with a plan, and those of us who have been around the block a few times will try to get the appropriate contact information that we can find distributed to those who need it. ----- Clifford ------

Darrell, There are certain countries like Cuba that are blacklisted.... (Why????) well, that is a discussion for elsewhere, but they need to be captured as possible exceptions without interfering with the countries where our loves are awaiting their visas.

Mike, I can't say I noticed the statement you are refering to (I have never seen a "real" copy of any of the P3/P4 forms. Perhaps you could type the whole sentence. All copies that I have found seem somewhat dated because they talk about the OF-230 which has been "obsolete" for several years. Follow Don's (Donahso, the Big Mouse Avitar) notes earlier as the DCF may be different than the K1/K3 visas that most of us have experience with. If you can get a response from GZ, they should be able to send additional forms within a week or so. If you are in "a hurry", make up your own forms and send them in. If not, wait for the GZ forms. --------------------- Oh, by the way, check your DS-230 for the expiration date. I don't know if a new version is available electronically or not. Good Luck, Clifford

Ok, I was doing a bit of brainstorming tonight. Here are some ideas that we could present to our Senators and Congressmen that would help the process. I can incorporate suggestions and try to clean this up to use when we approach instrumental Senators and Congressmen. Requests for Action, Fiancée and Spouse Family Sponsored Visas ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Maximum time for processing K1/K3 applications (and K2/K4 applications with children accompanying parents) – 6 months (start to finish), except for extraordinary cases, or delays secondary to the applicant’s supplying information. The 6 month rule should apply to at least 95% of the cases at every post except those noted in (3). The visa process should be streamlined such that every post except those noted in (3) would be able to meet this restriction. Potentially Time intensive processes such as a “namecheck” should be started immediately upon receipt of the application. Repeat namechecks should be kept to a bare minimum. 2) Maximum time for CR1 and IR1 applications with applicants married and continuously living together (>90% of the time) while awaiting the visa – 6 months (start to finish), as noted above. 3) Exception to the 6 month rule for countries ranked with an extreme risk for propagating terrorist activities, and those engaged in direct military conflicts against the USA. 4) P3 instruction packet mailed immediately upon receipt of application (no confirmation required), thus eliminating subsequent delays before scheduling interview. 5) Complete application submitted from the beginning, thus eliminating the need for multiple parts filled out later, as well as reducing redundancy. Eliminate redundant forms, and hopefully implement online applications, and online status information kept current throughout all steps of the application processing. 6) For extraordinary cases, any namecheck or other step that takes longer than 4 months to complete must have a written explanation for the delay provided to both the applicant and beneficiary, an estimated completion date, and an explanation about what is being done to remedy the situation, as well as a description of additional information which may be required from the applicant. 7) High processing priorities at all service centers (VSC, NSC, TSC, CSC, MSC) as well as at all of the “Posts”. 8) Approximate equal processing time at all “Posts” including Canada, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, and China. 9) Visa applications for K1-K4 family members should take no longer than those for Temporary Workers, Businessmen, and Students entering from the same country. 10) Eased requirements for sponsoring multiple entry tourist visas for nonimmigrant family members (parents, siblings, children, and their respective spouses and children). 11) Maximum time for AP or Work Authorization following a K1-K2 application – 30 days if the K1 and K2 applicants have already had exhaustive background checks in the last 6 months. 12) Maximum time for AOS following K1-K4 Applications, 11 months if the K1-K4 applicants have already had exhaustive background checks in the last 6 months. 13) “Truth in Advertising”…. Let everyone know upfront the total cost and time for the application process. 14) It is hard to imagine direct costs associated with immigration of nearly $1000 per person (current fees), but adjust the charges and fees so that adequate staffing is made available to process the applications. 15) If countries have multiple US Consulates, allow application processing at EVERY American Consulate in order to make the traveling more convenient to the applicants as well alleviate case backlogs in processing applications. 16) In the 21st century, no shipment of application materials to a US Embassy or US Consulate should take over 2 weeks. If a delivery service can not be found to meet these restrictions, then the information about the cases should be communicated electronically, and processing should be done with the electronic forms.

Wow, Kim, That is a lot of footwork that you have done. As far as immigration issues.... They are still being discussed with the new Kennedy Proposal (see note in the RR), so they will remain in the spotlight through the end of this year, at least. If we can push it infront of those in Congress, perhaps an Election year is not bad. As far as where to go. Perhaps we should come up with a list of reccomendations that could be presented to the Oregon and Kansas Senators. Ummm, didn't we have a couple of members from Overland Park? ----- Clifford ------

Kim, Didn't you know that Doctors are all about MONEY!!!! They want to make sure that you have LOTS of money to pay their buddies when you get to the USA.

Shame on you!!!! Anyone who is anybody knows that Wolf Pack refers to one and only one fine Southern institution - NC State. No, I think he must be from the booming city of Wolf Creek, Oregon Yep, My AMC Hornet broke down there on one trip..... I was heading back up I-5 when I got shaken by a wild THUMP RATTLE BANG BUMP.... I checked all the tires... Ok so I got back in.... THUMP RATTLE BANG BUMP.... Well, I had blown a U-Joint so I pulled out the drive line and threw it in the back of my car and coasted down the hill to Wolf Creek where I called my grandparents. They came to my rescue and we managed to press a new one in the next day, and I was back on the road ....

I don't know about a faxed copy. Keep a copy for your own records and fax it if you must. You do need to have the form notarized (proof of your signature, I think). However, they are no longer embossing the forms, but rather stamping them. A fax would be obviously a second generation. However, since it was notarized, the INS should be able to call up the Notary and request their logs for confirmation. ----- Clifford ------

Forms... Many of them are easy to find by just searching the internet for their numbers. I-134 is what you need for K1. I believe it is also needed for K3. However, you need I-864 for CR1, IR1, or AOS. Here is some of the stuff I put in the FAQ a while ago. Thanks PJ, it makes a handy reference for me to find my own posts http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=1&t=4117 I believe that a set of forms is also available on the site: www.k1k3.com ----- Clifford ------

I would call up GZ (or walk there) and tell them that you received the P4, but that you can't find the interview date. Or, perhaps you could assume that they intended you to fill in the interview date with whatever you wanted, like a blank check..... Do they take walk-in's? In the meantime, download a copy of the OF169 and send in your copy of the DS230 pt 1 and your OF169.... What else? I don't remeber if the K3 applicants also need DS230 pt 2. ----- Clifford ------

yes nothing like rewarding criminals and yes they are criminals when they break the laws to get in the country, this bill from what little I read won't help our plight as we are not limited by and quota system for K1-K3, only the broke system and it is only broke cause they are trying to fix it. So honestly I think if they try to do anything with our system it will only make it worse for us as they break it more. It looks like I will have to track down the original to this when I have a bit more time. It mentioned bringing families together.... But not spouses or fiancees in particular. I, for one, have no interest in bringing Irina's whole family here, her extended family, all her aunts, uncles, cousins, and etc. I might work to help them in Russia.... Think of the benefits of putting in a bathroom so they don't have to go outside in -30 degree weather Otherwise, I don't see any reason they can't stay there and be happy.

Hmmm, I found a copy of the DS230 in Spanish a while ago. Mari, Do you want to try Spanish????? For the "techie" types of people there might be a few options. The forms are distributed in PDF. Unfortunatly, I think the DS230 forms that I have found are all locked which causes many difficulties.. If you can find a copy of Acrobat Writer, you can fill out the forms and save your changes. If you have a copy of Adobe Acrobat 4, I believe that you can fill out the form and print the filled out form to PDF995 or Win2PDF (www.pdf995.com). Another option... Run Net Meeting. To run net meeting. File - Run - Conf Go through the setup.... Don't list in directory..... Yes or no on sound setup. If it asks four a speed, choose something slow like 14.4 or 28.8. Bring up netmeeting (2" x 4" box). Go to Help - About Netmeeting. Get the IP address of one machine. Then place a call with the other one using the IP address. The one hosting the call must have an "outside visible" IP address, and can not be part of a LAN. Then go to Tools - Sharing - Desktop , followed by "Allow Control" and "Automatically Accept Requests for Control". Suddenly, you are both looking at the same computer and can work on the form together. Have Fun, ----- Clifford ------

David, It may be helpful to find a good interpreter/translator that is familar with the INS forms. However, many of us have done the forms here in the USA, and then either e-mailed or otherwise sent the forms to China for the signatures. If you only have Acrobat Reader, download a program called PDF995 (www.pdf995.com). Install it on your computer, then fill in the forms and print them to the printer, PDF995. You can then e-mail the documents (of course realizing that paper sizes may have to be resized). I think Win2PDF will also do the same function. I believe that the "free" version appends a page to your document, but perhaps that is not important. Ummm, if you have troubles printing from Adobe to either PDF995 or Win2PDF, then you must track down a version of Acrobat 4 to do it. I have also 95% finished converting the I-129F and G-325A into MS Word format. If someone begged and pleaded, I could either publish the "beta draft", or work on finishing up the project. I seem to have gotten sidetracked a bit since I started looking at it. Best of Luck, and I hope someone comes up with some good suggestions of places that you can work with. Make sure you proof read the forms she sends to you even if you pay someone to fill them out. DO NOT WRITE "N/A" FOR EITHER PREVIOUS SPOUSES OR PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE. ----- Clifford ------

Hello Still Waiting. I hope for a speedy resolution to everything. A couple of notes. I haven't bothered to watch shipments to GZ, but NVC often ships multiple boxes at a time. Some packages clear customs quickly. Generally those boxes with visa applications take a while longer (up to about a month). "Se Lang" seems to be the best cotact for getting shipping information. GZ will tell you that they haven't received your application until just before the time when the P3 will be mailed. I believe that people on this board have been still reporting receiving P3 packets so hopefully it will come out within a month or so. Unfortunately, nobody has received a P4 packet in almost 2 months. GZ has been promising to start sending them out this fall, but of course there are no actual guarantees until they are actually put into the mail. In your case, since you are still waiting for the P3, anticipate that the interview will be scheduled sometime in October (more or less). ----- Clifford ------

Welcome Tazsa, I hope you can find some friendship which will help you maintain hope and sanity throughout the rest of the process. I joined the Candle about 8 months into the process, feeling quite certain that I was nearing the end. Well, unfortunately the wait was longer than I had expected. I don't think I would have made it through it all without the online friends that I met here. And, I truly believe that without their help and support that Irina and I would have gone our seperate ways. As far as women, you have met Kim. You will probably also meet Mari who has been active on the board for quite some time. I think there have been a few others that have been active here as well as a few Chinese women who have chosen to participate. Best Wishes for a quick visa, Clifford

I agree that student visas should be a priority. They need to have all the visas in hand in plenty of time to make travel and living plans before Mid-June for summer session, and September for Fall Session. However, I have always been convinced that the reason that GZ does ALL of the K1-K4 visas is that there are truly so few of them that it doesn't make sense to conduct them all over China. I assume that they barely do 10 or perhaps at the most 20 - K interviews a day FOR ALL OF CHINA. A single person should be able to handle all of the K interviews and have time left over to catch up on the paperwork too. And, at $1000 to $2000 revenue per day in fees (probably close to $4 million / year in K visa fees), they should be able to afford the necessary staff to send out the packets and to conduct the interviews. ----- CK -----

Danny... sorry to say this... but are you a plant for GZ? or are you just now reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms? Pardon me if I seem rude. not ment to be. Mark and Bea A while ago I posted a poll about how long one should wait for a visa. a few weeks? A few months? A few years? I was somewhat surprised by the conclusion. Most people didn't want the visa overnight, but thought that a 6 month wait was reasonable. It gives a person an ability to go back home, evaluate what is happening, build one's relationship more, and etc. Two issues come up with the current process. First, some people get their visas in a mere 6 months, others in 18 months with no discernable reason for the difference..... Different home town, this, or that, but no real reason for the difference. Second, there is too much randomness. If I started the visa process on January 1 and was told to come in to pick up the visa on July 1 (6 months later), then I would be perfectly happy to wait those 6 months, and probably would not make hardly a single progress update call. Yet to be told that sometime in the next two years, we might be offered a visa.... And not really have any true reason for the delay..... And everything is enshouded in secrecy.... It is not a good system, and it is very hard on those individuals in the system.

It might work.... Although, one of the first things that every representative or senator asks is whether you are one of their constituents..... I am not sure how responsive a Vermont senator will be to my letter if they find out that I have never been to the state, and in fact, I might have difficulties differentiating between Vermont and New Hampshire For example, take mine and Carl's experience with Congressman Wu's aide, Holly Null. I am living 2000 miles away, but since I own a house in his district, she followed my case and corresponded with Moscow on my behalf.... She just pawned him off because his house happened to be on the other side of the river. One thing I suggested a while ago was a coordinated protest at the main service centers, Vermont, Nebraska, Texas, California, Missery, and NVC-New Hampshire. Maybe even on the steps in front of Congress. Vermont may not be a big issue now, and some of the service centers may be improving, but the 6.5 months my application spent gathering dust in Nebraska was inappropriate. The RFE for listing previous wives as N/A was inappropriate. And, the 10 months my application was stuck in Moscow waiting for an interview to be scheduled was inappropriate. If it means driving a day to get to Lincoln Nebraska to let my voice be heard, I will head there ASAP. To be effective, we would have to have at least 10-20 individuals or couples at each "target". ----- Clifford -----

Hello Wolf, Oh, and then there are those of us who just pretend to be "knowledgeable" We all find ourselves a different places on the path through life…. Each with unique experiences to share. A year and a half ago when I was beginning this process, I was somewhat naive about the whole thing. Somehow I actually believed that we would get the visa in a couple of months. Over time, and since joining the Candle, I have observed a lot. Each of us are different. We all have different opinions about many things. Yet, we also all share a common bond…. One thing is more important to all of us than anything else in the world. Welcome, and I wish you a speedy reunion. ----- Clifford -----

I just figure.... Since it is going to take us 1 year from the beginning of NVC processing to the interview.... Hopefully they will have exhaustively finished the namecheck and never have to do that again

I talked to Congressman Wu's aide a while ago. Yep, I'm in Missery, but still registered to vote in Oregon. She seemed to be very nice. I think someone else mentioned that they liked the idea that he was from oriental descent. I would love to take part in your rally, but I doubt I will be in Oregon until the end of July, and I assume you would want to get started earlier. I would, however, book a flight or do the short drive (through a half a dozen states) to Washington DC if you think we could actually get some time on the Congressional floor. :D I don't know what would make a bigger impact, making a life-sized cardboard cutout of Irina, or actually having a very sweet woman with me in about a month and a half... that doesn't really look like a terrorist. ----- Clifford -----