h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to obtain a foreign fiancee visa in the United States (K-1) - A1983503
Author: haikeeba - U519306

Hi there!
This is my first attempt to submit an entry to the Edited Guide. I hope it is helpful to anyone contemplating this process or interesting to anyone wondering what is involved. I'd really appreciate any comments. Being so close to the process I may have overlooked something important to someone who has no idea what to expect.

An excellent article, and undoubtedly helpful for anyone going through the process. I'm glad to hear they didn't ask your fiancee what colour your toothbrush is, as rumour would have it...

A few small changes needed:

Personal stuff - the edited guide doesn't have the first person in it, because the theory is it is all collective. You can get round this by turning some of it into third person, putting the 'personal note' into italics as a quote, and using the style 'this researcher filled in the form...' for smaller personal additions.

You have a largish quote from someone else's website - are they OK about this?

You could maybe shorten the disclaimer bit to just say briefly what you haven't covered.

Other than that, good stuff!

Sprout

Thank you! I'll make some changes today. You don't think the personal tone is helpful to this piece in that it says, "Hey, I'm here... I did it... so can you!"?
I'll change it to the third and see how that works. I'd greatly appreciate it if you would give some feedback after I do that. Thanks again!

Made some small changes based on the recommendations above.

I read this article before the changes, and must say it is much more edited-ready. I have no prior knowledge in this topic, or interest, for that matter (God forbid I ever need to use it!!) but can immediately see the value of it. The links are good at giving the cold hard facts, but the article puts a human spin on a complex procedure that could otherwise seem daunting, if not impossible.

I guess I should just have done the math, but it seems that if hiring a lawyer can get everything moving faster, it may be worth it. Is there any time difference?
...I guess what I'm getting at is I feel you should throw in just how long the total process took to complete and just how much it actually cost to complete, as opposed to having a lawyer do it. You gave the lawyer price, but can they grease the wheels in any way?




One nitpick (don't want the subs overworked) is in Part Two. End of first paragraph, have receive should be past tense have received.

Other than that, well written, well paced, and, I assume, very useful for anyone who didn't meet in Las Vegas. !

Even if you get married in Vegas you have to go through something similar if your fiancee/wife is from another country.
I'll make some more changes. Thanks!

Fixed.
And about the lawyer... The average one can't really grease-the-wheels and is subject to the same waiting time as everyone else. There is the psychological advantage that the immigration official may see the professional-looking lawyer-prepared petition and be less scrutinizing because of that but I didn't want to officially mention that as it's not, um, official. Thanks!

Hiya, haikeeba! Thanks for writing this entry, I'm in the midst of petitioning for an alien fiance visa for my British fiance, and the process is daunting and a bit overwhelming. I'd like to comment further on the entry itself, as I could use any advice and encouragement you can offer, if you don't mind! I'll post a reply over there a bit later on once I've got my thoughts together...

Thanks again for writing the entry, I think it was very well written and it's bwwn helpful to me already. It does a thorough and concise idea of what's involved for those unfamiliar with the process, and further discussion could be more helpful for myself and others who are personally involved in this situation.

Glad you liked it. If you find it lacking in anyway during your ordeal let me know and I will add to it. Also, if you uncover anything yourself feel free to contribute!
Thanks!

Edited a couple of small things for clarity.

Hello? Is this thing on?

Basically, this is ready to go, you are just at the stage of waiting around for a scout to pick it. This can take a couple of weeks or just a few days after the minimum seven day period.

It's entirely legitimate to bump it up to the top every few days - the smiley seems to work quite well. I'm sure you won't have to wait too long.



sprout

OK, thanks!

I love this entry!


Mikey

Come on scouts, do your thing...

sprout

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

See, sprout, it was already in the works when you posted.

Congrats to all!

Mikey

If the entry can be edited without the authors help, good, but otherwise, it might be a problem. Haikeeba! recently got married, as well as quit his job and moved out of San Francisco into the country. He hasn't been around for several weeks, due to being obviously busy, but hasn't left any indication that he will be back...
Hope he returns soon, but just letting you all know that it might just be a while before you hear from him.

Don't worry, the entry wouldn't have been picked and approved if it hadn't already reached the point of being ready to be polished off by the sub without needing help from the author.

All of the issues raised here in the thread have been addressed already, and it's not like it's one of those super-technical entries that might be too abstruse for the average sub-ed to comprehend.

Thanks for the info, though -- it's still useful the subeds to know.


Mikey

Congratulations Haikeeba - hope you get to see this soon. and well done Mikey on picking a gem!

sprout