PETITION FOR K-1 VISA FILED: The process begins.

Gary's Experience:

Before my trip to the Philippines I had already investigated the different options open to people marrying non-U.S. citizens. I had gotten a lot of information that had helped in our plans. I had also gotten a packet that contained the forms we needed and a book that explained how to go about this endeavor. The book was pretty accurate and a great help. As soon as I got back to Mississippi I began compiling all the information I needed to file the petition. Please don't do like I did. In my rush to get the petition filed, I did not make copies. This would come back to haunt me later. MAKE SEVERAL COPIES OF EVERYTHING. I mailed the packet off to the INS Regional Center in Mesquite, Texas and began the long wait. Just about everything said to expect it to take 3 months from petition filing to visa issuance, maybe a little less. We started thinking about a Christmas wedding.

Our petition was approved on November 6, 1998. Everything seemed to be moving along on schedule. By the end of November, we had not heard anything so we both began making phone calls. Connie called the Embassy and I started calling my Congressman's office. Finally, about mid-December, the Embassy said they had received Connie's file and she would be receiving a packet from them. Almost two more weeks went by and finally Connie made a trip to the Embassy to pick up a copy of the packet. The next day she got the original packet in the mail. In the packet was the official application for a visa which had to be filled out and returned to the Embassy. We didn't wait on the mail this time, Connie hand delivered it the day after she got it.

Connie's Experience:

In the process