New with a burning question

[olafgypsy]

Hi everyone! I just joined yesterday. I just found out two days ago (at my fiance's visa interview) that we have to do the waiver for him. We're going through Panama City by way of Bogota. Does anyone know how long after the visa interview we have to submit the waiver? Or how we can find out? The embassy is IMPOSSIBLE to communicate with.

[Laura]

Welcome!

Technically, you have 30 days to submit the hardship letter, but your fiance should have already filled out the actual I-601 form and submitted it at the embassy/consulate.

You should go to the I-601 waiver - all other countries area of this forum and start reading approved hardship letters there and also in the Mexico section (because there are a lot more approved letters there).

Also, you might want to post more details about your case - like why your fiance needs a waiver - unlawful presence in the U.S., or some criminal record, or something else. Those things affect how strong your case for extreme hardship will need to be.

The good thing is that Panama has a reputation for being rather lenient on extreme hardship, so if you can put together a good waiver package you have an excellent chance of approval.

[angela256z]

Welcome!!!

[aprilstorm]

:welcome:

[olafgypsy]

Thanks for the welcomes!

More details of my case: my fiance overstayed his visa by about two years, then voluntarily departed from the US because he "just wanted to go home." We're actually not sure exactly how long he technically overstayed, because he applied for a visa extension and then never heard anything from immigration about it. No deportation or anything.

We are *not* ready to file the waiver. I am in Colombia with him right now. I need to go home (New York) to gather the supporting evidence that we need. In Laurel Scott's memorandum, she suggested that the waiver-filing could be delayed as long as a year, depending on the embassy. We don't need that long, but more than thirty days would be nice . . .

[Lachulagreeneyes]

Welcome to the family and good luck!

[inlimbo]

Welcome, Olafgypsy!

It might be valuable for you to have a telephone or email consultation with Laurel Scott. i remember reading something about "feeing in," where you submit a small amount of evidence and the fee, then send in the "real" waiver packet once you've gathered everything you need - I don't know if anyone here has done it. But I'm sure Laurel could definitely explain how to do it and whether or not it's a good idea to do for the consulate you're going through. Good luck!! :thumbup:

[olafgypsy]

Thanks for the suggestion! We are a little pressed for time -- the I-601 "interview" is next Tuesday. But I will try to get in touch with Laurel Scott. According to this website, she is a goddess ;)

[inlimbo]

Thanks for the suggestion! We are a little pressed for time -- the I-601 "interview" is next Tuesday. But I will try to get in touch with Laurel Scott. According to this website, she is a goddess ;)

:D We are all huge fans of Laurel, true! She has just been so helpful for so many people.

[olafgypsy]

Just an update -- I anted up and payed sixteen dollars for a pin so I could talk to a human being at the embassy. According to this person, I can call in a month to make a different appointment to file the waiver, so I think that's what we'll do. This gives me time to go home, gather documents, and write the hardship letter, not to mention consult a lawyer.

A question about Laurel: her website says she's at full caseload and isn't taking any more cases. Does that mean she also can't do consults? I think I'd like to try for an email consult with her . . . does anyone know if she's continuing to do that at this point?

[inlimbo]

I'm pretty sure she still does consultations. Maybe you can just send her a brief email asking about it before you pay the fee.

[Laura]

Yes, you can still do consults.