I've just read a story of a Japanese-American couple . The Campbell family has been separated due to glitch in immigration law(terrible!) and i was sad to read their story as I'm also dealing with this terrible US visa policies almost a year.
But at the same time, I was happy to see their family photos and it is very encouraging that the husband and wife never be defeated by such an unjustice that US government committed. Usually we have belief that our country is there supposed to help and protect us but this is not true as you see from thousands of foreign-American couples including my case and Akiko's. Even in the case that Akiko can go back home some time in the future, there's no one who takes responsibility for the family's lost time. But i could tell the strong family has been victorious throughout the years of separation and they will win the final victory.
So will I :D
If you are interested, please visit Campbell family and read more on following website www.BringAkikoHome.com
2007/06/10
Stories of J-1 visa waiver confusion (Part 2)
II. Visited Boston USCIS office
After thorough search on USCIS website, I found infopass page where you can make appointment with immigrant officer in local USCIS office.
So my fiance set the appointment a couple of days later coz i couldn't be there physically. (I really wished i could show up to the office myself becoz my fiance didn't still get the whole idea about the visa processes- it's that complicated even to a smart man I have ever seen before)
On the interview day, he visited local USCIS office at 9 am. Although the cellphone reception was poor in the building, he was on the phone to let me know the real-time situation and participate the interview.
There was 2nd confusion- The local immigrant officer told him that there was no problem with the mailing address in my case as he asked her about the accident we had w/ Vermont Service Ctr.
According to what she said, a reasoning by syllogism is possible.
1) My J-1 visa waiver case was registered in USCIS database at that time
2) My mailing address was correct
3) Therefore, so I should be able to check my case status.
III. Called USCIS Vermont Service Ctr again
Still confused, we called USCIS Vermont office again. This time a immigrant officer with manly and kind voice answered.
After we described all historical facts regarding my case all over again, he answered that unless i filed a J-1 waiver case directly to USCIS based on (some kinda application named) 212, 612 or 601 we wouldn't be able to check the case and not applying for those docs means that my J-1 waiver case doesn't exist in USCIS. So we asked "what about visa waiver recommendation from DOS? what's it used for?" He answered , if i had the waiver recommendation from DOS, it should be enough to use as J-1 visa waiver proof in US embassy Korea but we have to check w/ the embassy again on the document exactly that they want.
So now what? We ought to call the US embassy again.
Back to the starting point.
To be continued...
After thorough search on USCIS website, I found infopass page where you can make appointment with immigrant officer in local USCIS office.
So my fiance set the appointment a couple of days later coz i couldn't be there physically. (I really wished i could show up to the office myself becoz my fiance didn't still get the whole idea about the visa processes- it's that complicated even to a smart man I have ever seen before)
On the interview day, he visited local USCIS office at 9 am. Although the cellphone reception was poor in the building, he was on the phone to let me know the real-time situation and participate the interview.
There was 2nd confusion- The local immigrant officer told him that there was no problem with the mailing address in my case as he asked her about the accident we had w/ Vermont Service Ctr.
According to what she said, a reasoning by syllogism is possible.
1) My J-1 visa waiver case was registered in USCIS database at that time
2) My mailing address was correct
3) Therefore, so I should be able to check my case status.
III. Called USCIS Vermont Service Ctr again
Still confused, we called USCIS Vermont office again. This time a immigrant officer with manly and kind voice answered.
After we described all historical facts regarding my case all over again, he answered that unless i filed a J-1 waiver case directly to USCIS based on (some kinda application named) 212, 612 or 601 we wouldn't be able to check the case and not applying for those docs means that my J-1 waiver case doesn't exist in USCIS. So we asked "what about visa waiver recommendation from DOS? what's it used for?" He answered , if i had the waiver recommendation from DOS, it should be enough to use as J-1 visa waiver proof in US embassy Korea but we have to check w/ the embassy again on the document exactly that they want.
So now what? We ought to call the US embassy again.
Back to the starting point.
To be continued...
2007/06/06
Stories of J-1 visa waiver confusion (Part 1)
I. Called Vermont Service Center to find out mailing address error
On May 23rd, my fiance and I called Vermont Service Ctr., USCIS at 800-375-5283 to check the status of my J-1 visa waiver case.
On our first trial, we failed to talk to immigration officer but just got opereator's answer that she can't help us as I didn't have USCIS case number (of course i don't have coz i didn't file USCIS case myself but DOS filed USCIS case for me!).
The next day we called them again and fortunately the operator passed us into immigration officer. The officer kindly answered to our questions and was patient in her attitude. She asked my name, date of birth and address as personal verification process. I told her my name, birthday and my fiance's address coz that was mailing address i used to get all the responses in my application for J1 visa waiver. But she said because the address is not correct she couldn't help us anymore to check case status.
Being puzzled i tried every possible address that i've ever used in documents (my home address, my address in US-although unlikely the one what they want- etc.), but none worked. She gave us hint that all other information (name and birthday) is correct and she said even in verifying address there's is minor differnce. What a nonsense!
As I was sure that i wrote correct address of my fiance, that couldn't be possible unless someone in the DOS or USCIS made mistake in transcripting the address during communication between the two parties.
We started to get worried really :-(
To be continued...
On May 23rd, my fiance and I called Vermont Service Ctr., USCIS at 800-375-5283 to check the status of my J-1 visa waiver case.
On our first trial, we failed to talk to immigration officer but just got opereator's answer that she can't help us as I didn't have USCIS case number (of course i don't have coz i didn't file USCIS case myself but DOS filed USCIS case for me!).
The next day we called them again and fortunately the operator passed us into immigration officer. The officer kindly answered to our questions and was patient in her attitude. She asked my name, date of birth and address as personal verification process. I told her my name, birthday and my fiance's address coz that was mailing address i used to get all the responses in my application for J1 visa waiver. But she said because the address is not correct she couldn't help us anymore to check case status.
Being puzzled i tried every possible address that i've ever used in documents (my home address, my address in US-although unlikely the one what they want- etc.), but none worked. She gave us hint that all other information (name and birthday) is correct and she said even in verifying address there's is minor differnce. What a nonsense!
As I was sure that i wrote correct address of my fiance, that couldn't be possible unless someone in the DOS or USCIS made mistake in transcripting the address during communication between the two parties.
We started to get worried really :-(
To be continued...
2007/06/05
Time frame: Fiancee visa(K-1) and J-1 visa waiver
Jan~ May, 2006 | I was attending exchange program at a |
| September 19, 2006 | Started document works for I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance(e) |
| Oct 17, 2006 | Received 3-page "notice of action" from USCIS about incomplete documentation- i.e. USCIS required my fiance to prove our relationship by sending them any proof that we had been going out within past 2 years |
| Oct 29, 2006 | Send required documents(i.e. our photos in US and in |
| November 30, 2006 | Received Notice of Action(I-797) indicating that we have to start K-1 visa process in |
| January 25, 2007 | Visa interview day K-1 visa was rejected by |
| February 1, 2007 | Sent required document to J-1 visa waiver application to Korea Embassy in Washington D.C and Department of States |
| February 23, 2007 | J-1 visa waiver application was received by DOS |
| March 5, 2007 | No Objection Statement (issued by Korean government, i.e. Korean embassy in D.C.) was received by DOS |
| April 5, 2007 | Waiver recommendation letter was sent to Vermont Service Ctr., USCIS and we are waiting for final approval of waiver by the office |
2007/06/02
Daily Encouragement 6/2
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for June 2
No matter where we go, we cannot escape from the sufferings that are part and parcel of life. If we cannot avoid these sufferings, then our only choice is to overcome them. And since we have no choice but to overcome them, then we might as well live joyfully and vigorously while doing so.
Useful? US visa sites
Following websites are the main sources you get Visa info although the quality of information is not guaranteed. 5 to 6 times out of 10(a few seconds back i changed the scale from 7~8 coz i don't want to exaggerate), you'd be better off by asking anonimous at unofficial websites dealing visa issues.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US embassy in Korea
(in case you're Korean citizen like me or living in Korea)
(Korean) http://korean.seoul.usembassy.gov/importance_notices.html
(English) http://korea.usembassy.gov/
Korea Embassy in US
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org
Department of States
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US embassy in Korea
(in case you're Korean citizen like me or living in Korea)
(Korean) http://korean.seoul.usembassy.gov/importance_notices.html
(English) http://korea.usembassy.gov/
Korea Embassy in US
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org
Department of States
- National Visa Center
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1309.html - J-1 visa waiver recommendation
https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov/
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
Preview: US Visa talk
My journey to get US fiancee visa has started in Sept 2006 and has not finished yet.
You might say "what a long journey..!" So is my story on US visa. My American faince and I have been challenged by so many difficulties and finally got sick of inefficiency of US immigration policy.
After painful 9 months, I decided to share my experiences: mostly unpleasant but some important lessons were learnt throughout those days.
If you are in similar position as i'm now, you can share your stories by writing short replies or by sending trackbacks to my postings. This is important becoz as more people around the world express their idea on US immigration policy and build network among them, there will be more chances that those brave pple can help others in desperation and more importantly make US policy makers take a serious look at the causes their irrational policies made to the whole world (except the Great United States).
As the focus of my writings here is on fiancee(K-1) visa and J-1 visa waiver, it might have limited information to help all the people in all kinds of situation, but that's why it's important to have more people to tell their stories and links to each other's.
I believe as long as we don't lose hope for the bright future, finally my boyfriend and i will be together and all kinds of negative experiences that we got from US embassy in Korea, USCIS, US Department of States and the-like agencies will be turn out to be valuable lessons in our life.
You might say "what a long journey..!" So is my story on US visa. My American faince and I have been challenged by so many difficulties and finally got sick of inefficiency of US immigration policy.
After painful 9 months, I decided to share my experiences: mostly unpleasant but some important lessons were learnt throughout those days.
If you are in similar position as i'm now, you can share your stories by writing short replies or by sending trackbacks to my postings. This is important becoz as more people around the world express their idea on US immigration policy and build network among them, there will be more chances that those brave pple can help others in desperation and more importantly make US policy makers take a serious look at the causes their irrational policies made to the whole world (except the Great United States).
As the focus of my writings here is on fiancee(K-1) visa and J-1 visa waiver, it might have limited information to help all the people in all kinds of situation, but that's why it's important to have more people to tell their stories and links to each other's.
I believe as long as we don't lose hope for the bright future, finally my boyfriend and i will be together and all kinds of negative experiences that we got from US embassy in Korea, USCIS, US Department of States and the-like agencies will be turn out to be valuable lessons in our life.
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