Got my Visa!

Interview was May 27. I made sure I was ultra ready with all my documents. Unfortunately for me, my criminal record check did not mention my maiden name, so I had to call the police department and luckily they fixed it the same day. I had to go back to the consulate after my meeting in order to complete the process, but I was approved!
Anyone going to their interview...save time at the consulate...take every possible non essential item and put it in your trunk or leave it with someone, because it makes the wait time to get in so much longer! They don't allow USB  memory sticks, cell phones, scissors, knives, or large packs of any kind.
The wait in the office feels like forever, because, unlike almost everyone else there, you are waiting for a K1 or K1 and K2 approval. They will call you by name, not by number like everyone else. We waited almost an hour for our name to be called. The questions were brief but easy to answer.
I can't believe it's done! They took our passports and told me I'd be getting a email from loomis to pick up our package in a few days.
Sure enough the email came, but wasn't clear that when checking the status, you only need to wait for the words "In facility" instead of 'ready for pickup', so I waited needlessly for four extra days.

My best to all you waiting!
So from Dec. 21 when we mailed it, it took just a few days under 6 months to get approval. Not bad.

Next step!

The USCIS sent us our uncashed cheque back after finding it...but by then we had reapplied. Dec. 21 we resubmitted the package.
Jan.31 they sent us a letter of approval.
Now it is March 8, and my fiance got a letter saying that our paperwork has been forwarded to the Vancouver Consulate, and gave me a link to fill out form ds-160.
Exciting to finally be this far!

Applied again...but!

Dec. 1 we reapplied, in FULL this time. Wow, the envelope was heavy! Photos, records of emails, texts, phone calls, flights...you name it.
2 weeks later, we get it returned, minus our passport photos, personal photos and money order.
They said we did not enclose payment. WHAT????

Wow we were mad.
My fiance called them and told them that the money was IN the envelope and someone lost it, along with our photos.
We were not impressed, but who do you strangle?

So we canceled the money order and sent a new application in on Dec. 21.

Yesterday we got back the photos, uncashed money order and no explanation or apology. Wow.

So now we wait again.

Starting again!

So, it turns out that the evidence we sent them was too recent! Sheesh. Beware, all you who receive a RFE. Make sure the evidence you send is from the period BEFORE you filed! Darn. So we got a letter saying that we have the right to appeal their decision, which would cost $690. After reading other blogs, I decided that it was a waste of time to do that, since it would only work if THEY were in the wrong, and they weren't. They don't explain that, nor do they explain that the easier route is to re apply. So, we reapplied. This time we submitted TONS of evidence: phone records, airline tickets and receipts, copies of mail, at least 20 photos, copies of texts and emails...there should be no reason to deny us this time! Hopeful for a quick approval! Mailed yesterday.

Denied :(

Well, October 19, we found out that our application was denied. We have no details yet, but it is extremely disappointing and we feel a little lost. All this waiting and now we hit a wall. What a feeling of desperation, after already planning for a summer 2014 wedding. We are awaiting a letter that will tell us why they made that decision and what we can do about it now. Wish us luck!

October 2013

My fiance received a Request for Evidence, or RFE on October 8, and we mailed it October 24.
Apparently these are not always issued, as the last time we went through this process, it was not needed.
We had to send evidence of us having met in person in the past two years. Since I happened to be in Denver at the time, it was easy to take photos, and also submit my original airline ticket receipt and stamped ticket.
Four days later, it was marked received.
I've found some very invaluable websites to help track the process. One is VisaJourney.com, and the other is Canucks abroad. Also, if you have started this process and have a file number from your mail from the U.S. government, you can go on to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website and type in your case number to find out your status. A very helpful tool!

U.S. Fiance K1 Visa-our experience

August 13, 2013- sent in I-129F Petition for fiance visa
Roughly 2 weeks later, received confirmation that it had been received and that it would begin processing.
Last time we tried this it took about 2 months to get the next step-the package explaining what next needed to be done as far as paperwork, documentation and police checks.