Our Story
YAAA HOOOOOO, March 2nd our I-129F was approved !!!
I know we have a bit to go still, but if you read on
you will see why I'm so excited !!!
Ramon and I have been through ALOT of obstacles in the last 4 months
regarding the INS at both the border and through mailing our petition.
It all started in November '97 at the U.S/Canadian Border when I was "refused entry"
as they thought I was an illegal immigrant and I was never given the
opportunity to prove that I had "roots" in Canada.
To, the present time where I get harrased every time I do cross
the border due to that awful question the INS always asks me
"HAVE YOU EVER BEEN REFUSED ENTRY INTO THE STATES BEFORE"
and due to our documents that seemed to be in "limbo" for a while.
We submitted our I-129F petition December 9th, 1997 and Ramon
received the certified slip back December 15th, but with no date
of receival on it. So, off I went to the postal office, requesting
a duplicate be sent out to get us a date. Well, this duplicate ALSO
came back without a date on it. Well, that's me on the phone with the US
postal service
demanding a date! This time, we were more lucky, and we
were advised that the
INS in Vermont received our package on December
12th, 1997. Whew!!
The same day, I found out that our money order cleared the bank
December 24th, 1997. With help from my sister, we managed to get a phone
number for the INS in Vermont, took me about 4 days to get through though!!
But once I did, I spoke to a INS officer that told me I'd better get my Fiancee
to call her. Uh ohh...Well, he did and she said that on December 24th,
there was a package sent out to him advising that
they need "additional info". (I wish they would list ALL the things they want
on the I-129F forms)
Well, he never got this package, so they said they will send another one out.
I know what they want, so I collected all the stuff and it's going
via certified mail February 17th, 1997.
Hopefully, it won't be long now :)
(THIS APPARENTLY WAS NOT SUCH A SMART THING TO DO...
If INS sends a request for additional info, they send it via a blue form called
I-797, they want this original form back with the extra info they asked for.)
So you see, I cannot really give proper time frames as my case is screwy :P
I can however give some advice to those of you who may want to visit your
fiancee's in the US while your I-129F is pending.
So, my suggestions to you all submitting a I-129F is, when you send your
original package (I-129F, Biographic forms, etc...) send in your pictures,
letters, phone bills, etc..., at the same time. You will have to show these
in your interview anyways, avoid a delay and don't forget a cover letter
describing how you met, how often you see each other, if you have any
plans made at all for the wedding yet..etc....
Also, if you intend on visiting your fiance(e) in the states, as I have
said, I believe you are able to as everytime I visit, I am pulled into the
INS office and asked why I am going (they know I have an I-129F pending, so if
you were not allowed to enter, they would be the first ones to tell you NO, you
can't visit while your petition is pending). Be completely honest, you are
visiting your intended, and you have every intention of returning to your
country of residence. Make sure you bring some identification with you, and
also extra info such as, housing leases, mortage papers, at least 2 current
paystubs, anything to prove you have "roots" in your country of residence.
For people in Canada going to visit the states, I personally recommend the
Queenston Lewiston Bridge.
Also, on my last visit to the states, I went into the US Customs Office and found out that if you are bringing your personal belongings with you, there will no duty assesed on them (you must show them proof of your K-1 visa). However, you must have had these items for over 1 year, so you can't go out and buy all new stuff first. If you do have new stuff, just take it out of the original containers or maybe just scruff the boxes at the edges or something.
If you are driving/towing your car over, it apparently comes under the K-1 visa as well. Now, there has been controversy over this in the newsgroups, some say you need a letter from the manufacturer stating that it will pass emission standards, and some say no. Well, I was told that you need to provide this letter or have a test done when you go to register your vehicle in the U.S.A.
You may want to check at your point of entry prior to arriving with your K-1.
I DID NOT NEED THIS LETTER NOR WAS ANY QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT MY UHAUL :)
Now info on the INS offices
Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden St. St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
Telephone: (802) 527-3160 (public inquiry)
If a person is filing a particular petition, for example, Form I-140, the document should be addressed to 05479-9140. Similarly, if Forms I-485, I-765 and I-131 are being filed together, the package should contain the reference number of the main form. In such a case, for example, the package should be addressed to the zip code, 05479-9485.
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Service Center
24400 Avila Road Laguna Niguel, CA 92656
Telephone:(714) 643-4880 (public inquiry)
Jurisdiction: Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Mailing address: PO Box 30040 Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0040
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nebraska Service Center
850 S Street Linclon, NE 68508
Mailing address: P.O. Box 87xxx (insert form number in place of xxx) Lincoln, Nebraska 68501-7xxx (insert form number in place of xxx)
Telephone:(402) 437-5218 (public inquiry)
Jurisdiction: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Texas Service Center
7701 North Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75247-7701
Telephone:(214) 767-7769 (public inquiry) (214) 767-7405 (fax inquiry)
Jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
Mailing address (petitions, applications, responses to requests for additional documentation): Dept. A, PO Box 15212 Irving, TX 75015-2122
Mailing address (general correspondence and inquiries): PO Box 3666 Dallas, TX 75235-6667
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INS Regional Service Centers Immigration Card Facility Automated voice mail records search: (214) 655-1500 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. C.S.T.
Card processing status: SELECT 1 Visa file held by TCF: SELECT 2 Other services: SELECT 3 (Must have "A" number to conduct search)
come to the next page!
Or come back
And send me E-mail
