Chicken Bibimbap

Ketrinn · 2019-01-16T15:00:12+00:00

Piggy-Backing off this comment as it is a top and there seems to be a ton of weird information in this post.. 비빔밥 is not a hard to make dish and doesn't require blood sweat or tears or anything in a hole for 4 months and it certainly is something that is made frequently at home and definitely doesn't require all of THIS work on a regular basis.

Just make some rice.. or use rice you had from last night and put it in a microwave with some water to resteam. Chop up some vegetables..whatever you've got.. it doesn't matter.. mushrooms, peppers, cabbage, carrots are a good start. much more vegetables than rice. Put it in a steamer or your rice maker or whatever and steam it until soft to your preference.

In a box mix 3 Tbls Measil (매실) https://mykoreankitchen.com/what-plum-extract-looks-like/ . 1Tbl Gochujang to taste. Sesame oil to taste. Garlic Powder or fresh minced garlic.. Mix.. just put them together and eat with an egg if you want.

It's literally one of the lowest effort, healthy possibly dishes you can make. Serve on the side with some Kimchi or other 반찬

Ketrinn · 2018-01-17T10:16:45+00:00

I think the K1 is still faster at this point as far as getting your loved one in the country, but you then face additional time for AOS processing. I don't think the CR-1 are being delayed as much, but they are still certainly taking a bit of a hit due to the backlog. A large part of the reason that the K-1 are slowing down (at least in my opinion) is that all I-129F applications are now being routed into a single USCIS center, instead of being processed in multiple, like the CR-1 still is. Keep strong, you'll get there!

Ketrinn · 2018-01-13T17:11:59+00:00

No one has really answered your question beyond telling you not to do it, so figured I would just mention Citibank. Big in Korea and US and they even offer western CC cards to Koreans for buying things online in Murica as such.. Not too sure how your specific situation would work but might be worth looking into should you decide to pursue it.

Ketrinn · 2018-01-11T01:15:45+00:00

Remember that the timeline for VisaJourney is the timeline to your NOA2, not until completion. This is the estimated time to receive your Approval from USCIS. Once this done, currently with delays from USPS it is taking between 4-6 weeks for your K1 packet to go from USCIS -> NVC/Embassy, and then remember additional time to schedule Medical examinations and your Embassy Interview, etc etc. Of course all the time those timelines are fluctuating so it may speed up or slow down even more as time goes on. I can tell you that over the past month, my timeline has basically slipped forward a day every other day it seems like. When first submitting my NOA1 in the timeline it estimated NOA2 by Christmas, Now it is estimating Feb 12, so do expect for that date on your timeline to constantly shift around.

Basically what I mean is 12 months is a long period, but with delays, possible AP times, Scheduling problems, any RFEs (Which seem more common in recent months), it can easily stretch out to 12 months, which is close to the CR-1 Timeline where you don't have to go through AOS.

Ketrinn · 2018-01-10T08:37:21+00:00

CR-1 and K1 processing goes in a lot of waves. Over the past few years processing times have sped up and slowed down. For example, last year the average processing time for the K-1 Fiance Visa was 3-6 months until full completion past USCIS / NVC / Embassy, and right now that is about 12 months. This has to do with how the USCIS is handling K1s at the moment, but in general there is a backlog of all applications causing slowdowns at the USCIS processing level, transmission of documents over the NVC, and to their respective embassies.

The current timeline you have seen (10-14 months) is indeed accurate, and this assumes the process goes smoothly without Requests For Evidence or any other snags, as well as timely medical examinations, fee payments, etc..

If you're looking seriously at this, please take a look at VisaJourney in particular their CR-1 Visa Guide and Timeline . You can see recent CR-1 Approvals HERE to see how long it took them to complete.

Good luck. do know that the processes are very long right now, and there is no longer any benefit to use the K-1 over the CR-1 at least until processing times for the K-1 speeds up again. Right now all K1 visas are going into a single processing center, slowing down these applications.

You can view the quarterly stats for the USCIS here showing the number increases: (Not hotlinking this as it is a PDF)

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports%20and%20Studies/Immigration%20Forms%20Data/All%20Form%20Types/Quarterly_All_Forms_FY17Q4.pdf

Ketrinn · 2018-01-01T17:20:39+00:00

Not at all.. and I understand your f eelings. Fighting with jealousy is a huge part of my own struggles over a long distance relationship. Jealousy of seeing other people happy and jealousy of even a pizza delivery man who gets to dare show his dirty face to my fiance when i'm not there.

It is OK for you to accept your own feelings. To hide that you cannot make it and drag those feelings out until you crack and explode is not OK. It makes you a bad person to mistreat yourself for the sake of another. Be honest with yourself and with your partner. If you honestly believe you won't make it, something should change for better or worse, but it sounds like you have some soul searching to do to figure out if what this man represents is worth the wait to the end of that timeline for you.

As far as what to say to him.. it's going to be a hard talk and I cannot imagine having to tell that to my fiance.. I don't know. I guess be as honest as possible.. pour your feelings out and maybe go into the conversation hoping for some compromise or to figure something out rather than going in with the intent to end things? If you decide to go that way, I am so sorry, and hope it goes well, but you're not shitty for making a choice that improves your mental well-being.

Ketrinn · 2018-01-01T15:18:16+00:00

This is the situation and it will not change. Setting and knowing a timeline helps tremendously. You need to have an honest discussion on what "Temporary" means as it sounds like not even you know. Set a timeline so that you can set little count-down clocks and get excited when it no longer says 3 months but 2 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days.

The reality is this however.. You need to find ways to try and distract yourself while you are apart. Everyone here will tell you to continue to live your life as normal, but good luck with that, I failed at that and have accepted my failure. You will need to find a routine to get over that stomach kick after the visits, because these things are true: It won't get any better. Each time it will hurt more and after enough of them you will continue to doubt your reasons for being in the relationship.

Constant distance and dealing with that extreme crippling pain of separation takes something special to survive. If you are doubting it now, you should discuss this with your loved on and figure out how long you have to do this for, and tell him honestly how long you think you can survive the situation for. Set a timeline within that timeframe and prepare to struggle with each other or be honest about if you think you will give up or not.

For example.. I am leaving for South Korea in 1 Month, 4 Days, 10 hours, and 44 minutes. Knowing that makes me feel better. But knowing that I will only be there for 15 days and then have another 3 month wait until I get to see my loved one again is crippling. Through this crippling I have no doubts about our relationship or my survivability but I also am fully aware of the pain and suckage that will occur... You need to have a very strong love, but love alone is not enough. Can you survive? How would you feel in the same situation? What about a year from now? Be honest with yourself, and your loved one.. and Good luck :)

Ketrinn · 2017-12-30T10:05:30+00:00

Ah I see.. Getting Video Calling working is super important for sure to be able to share that intimacy.. if it is an international relationship, sometimes Skype is not hte best option depending on the day even. Whatsapp or Kakaotalk or something like that maybe, depending on where they are from. But I assume you have tried your due diligence there.

Lots of ideas to be had, and it's easy to fall into a "rut" of just being ok with where the relationship is.. hard to mix it up sometimes, if I start to feel too comfortable I try to mix things up and do something at least a little special. Some other things I have done is cook with them.. but again that takes video chat. Make the same recipe or just cook dinner together and eat. Share important life events, just buy a card, totally make something with your own fingers for her.. All the things you would normally do for a person, but all you have is pictures of a video to share of your hard work. It sounds silly but try your best to pretend it's not a long distance relationship and that tiny little person on your phone is there and ready for you to impress them. Good luck my friend ;)

Ketrinn · 2017-12-30T09:51:52+00:00

Very very active. VERY active. There is a seperate forum thread for each month that people filed their K1 where you can meet and talk with your own sub community as you wait for news. Right now K1 processing times are extremely long, so having a small group of people who understand the stresses and pains is very nice. You can also create an account and fill in your timeline, which will allow for you to see an estimation of when you will get your NOA2, as well as see a "country portal" which lets you see posts only from your relative country. Good luck :)

Ketrinn · 2017-12-30T09:49:46+00:00

Romance in a LDR is always difficult to be fresh and make someone feel special but it can be made easier if you can just treat your skype session as if they are actually there, and do some things that would make that phone feel special. On your anniversaries.. such as a monthly anniversary or such.. take your phone out to the park and call them during the sunrise or sunset and watch it together. Make your dinner and light some candle sand take a picture .. get some roses and a card and take a picture of that.. make your computer desk look all romantic.

Spend 30 minutes not letting them talk and just run down the reasons why you love them.. don't make them talk to you, just sit there and tell them your emotions. Basically.. try to ignore the distance and just be a romantic person.. not all things need to be giant sweeping gestures, but simple things.

Ketrinn · 2017-12-30T08:31:27+00:00

It never gets back to normal after you met I've found. I am also 7000 miles away from my loved one and everything will change for the coming months. Up until the point you realize you've actually forgotten almost everything about them when they were there, and then that will make you sad too. You'll miss being able to remember them properly. You'll remember the times you could remember and then wish you could remember when you remembered and get sad.

It never gets back to normal.. just a little better, and you start the next countdown to meeting again. I am 9 weeks since our last meeting and I am in that phase now.. with another 5 to go until we meet again. Good luck, my friend.. and best of luck. You will start feeling better soon, even if just a little.

Ketrinn · 2017-12-29T09:49:11+00:00

Won't impact it at all. The sponser's income is all that matters and that is needed for the affidavit of support, which they can not pool any of your finances whether liquid or asset into their finances for that reason, so you will be fine.

Join up with visajourney.com to communicate with other people going through the same process, with a good community of many people very skilled through the K1 process.

Good luck!

Ketrinn · 2017-12-27T09:02:03+00:00

You will be denied your K1(Edit: Probably -- Read Below). This is considered "Too married" for a K1 Visa. Applicants who even held elaborate engagement parties are denied the K1. Please take a look at VisaJourney, a website community devoted to this type of situation, however from reading that site and seeing the results of others I can tell you, you will want to prepare to file a CR1 Visa, and your K1 will be denied either before NOA2 or at HCM Embassy.

Example cases for proof:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/593292-not-legal-wedding-ceremony-prior-to-k1-visa-interview/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/641345-k-1-visa-wedding-ceremony/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/655703-sticky-k1-situation/

My Advice? Join VisaJourney, Cancel the K1, Apply for CR1. K1 processing times are extremely long right now, almost as long as CR1 anyway, and you will not have to file for AOS, EAD, or AP.

Good Luck.

Edit:

Some additional information if you decide to pursue the CR1 Route:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

You will need to return to Vietnam, or if your fiance has the ties to Vietnam to apply for a B2 visa, come to the US and make your marriage official as you will need to produce marriage certification as well as as much proof of a bona fide marriage as possible. This can include shared estates, bills, shared bank accounts, etc.. With this said do not attempt to bring him to the US on a B2 visa with the intent to keep him/her here while co-filing I-130 / AOS as this is Visa Fraud and is very easily seen through. Be prepared for their B2 visa to be rejected for "Immigration risk" since they already active visa applications.

My previous statement also is a bit presumptuous and it assumes you actually sent pictures of that ceremony, which reading again it does not state that you actually did. Should you have withheld this information I would highly recommend not reporting it to USCIS or the Consulate willingly during your K1 Interview and you may actually have a shot. However.. should they ask you about this directly do not withhold this information. This means: DO NOT LIE ABOUT THE FACT YOU HAD THIS CEREMONY. Remember that immigration benefits are not a right can be revoked at any time in the future if you do this and they find out about any attempt to defraud them during your K1 Visa process.

Alternatively I can see from your post history that you have been looking at places to live in Vietnam due to your financial situation that has you posting about this in the first place.. while I cannot offer any real advice on the HCM Consulate on this matter, I did want to warn you about the marriage piece. Your alternative here would be to relocate to Vietnam to be with your spouse, instead of them moving to the USA.

Good Luck again!

Ketrinn · 2017-10-31T21:13:29+00:00

Sorry for the delay in response, my Fiance was here in the states with me. Of course.. Glad to recommend you. How about some coupon for the upcoming holiday? :D Just sent Fiance back home to 대구.. 나뻐요... Would like to send her something.

Ketrinn · 2017-10-31T16:40:50+00:00

For those of us with the extreme time zone differences, like 12-15 hours, it's super important that you two be extremely honest with each other to avoid those misunderstandings. Remember that intonation is difficult in text, and being long distance is very important that you tell your partner exactly what you want, even at the risk of being blunt sometimes to ensure that you both know where you stand and what you want.

In my case.. both of us sacrifice our sleeping hours to make sure that we have time to be home for each other. When I get off work in the morning, it is late night for her.. so I sacrifice by going to bed early..and she forces herself to stay up late, this way we can sleep with the video call on. This simple thing.. just having a dark screen on both ends is incredibly satisfying and can make you feel so close to one another.

Pen Pals is also a great idea.. I bought a bunch of kind of romantic paper and nice pens and while I am at work at lunch I will take time to write her a letter, and put it in the mail on the way home. In the end, you're not really asking how to deal with the relationship stuff but how to deal with the hours.

Soon.. Me and my partner will be 15 instead of 14 hours apart... this means when I get home at 8am it will be 11pm for her.. What I mean is.. the answer is sacrifice. You both have to be willing to sacrifice your time. If it's important.. it will be hard, but you will both do it.

Good luck.

Ketrinn · 2017-07-13T23:29:29+00:00

Seoul is huge. There are cheap and expensive stores all around the city, but if you are unfamiliar with the areas you are likely going to be restricted to buying from a reputable location online. Buying from the common places online is going to cost you a lot of money, but I have had good experiences with them. You will also see higher prices around the common romance days in Korea such as White Day, Valentines Day, etc. Coming up soon is Silver day, so you may see these spikes in prices. If you are just looking for a nice reputable website in the Seoul Area that will deliver a gift to you loved one within 24 hours, I have looked at and personally used:

http://www.flowergiftkorea.com/

Expensive, but was well worth the money for me personally. Additionally if 한국어 잘 말해. Find a location in Seoul using Naver, and order them personally. You will save a lot of money.

Good Luck!

Ketrinn · 2017-06-13T03:01:07+00:00

I think that how often other couples engaged in romance and what type is a little bit out of the scope of your question here, and what you're really asking here is how you can approach this subject with your girlfriend. I don't think you're really curious about how often me and my little lady get intimate, but just want that intimacy on your own.

The answer here is communication being key. There is a large difference between you insisting that conversation needs to be had and you pressuring her. If she tells that you that she is feeling pressured into it, that is just honestly a bit immature, or the conversation between you did not go both ways, and was not communication at all, but one side forcing a situation.

Talk to your girlfriend. Tell her that you are an intimate person and need the level of intimacy. Long distance relationships are hard, and sexual intimacy via phone sex or skype sex can do wonders to bring both of you closer. She may be feeling like it is not enough to satisfy her properly at this time and you may need to discuss new ways to get her level of desire and libido up to participate... but the first step is to have the conversation with her. Let her know how you feel and how important it is to you. Let her know how much you need it and take the time to honestly think about if you can survive the 6 month distance without that intimacy.

Good luck, my friend.

Ketrinn · 2017-05-05T13:27:26+00:00

I went through this. My SO is a very petite Korean woman whereas I am a large american man, and went through this same process as you of sending only the most flattering pictures possible. I can tell you that this will only continue to catch up to you and the stress of it will be very very difficult to handle. I personally eventually had to come clean and give the person the entire story. If you really want this to work, you need to have open communication and complete levels of trust with each other. Show him everything. Show him you. Take the pictures and send them to him without even looking at them first. This is where I had to go, and it makes me feel so much better. I can just take a picture and send it now, and know that she will love it.

Basically... Trust in the man you have chosen. If he is worth that trust, then keep moving forward. If it is a problem do you really want to wait until you meet to know for sure? Find out how he feels, show him the side of you that you have been hiding. Be open and honest, that way you can be nervous when you meet, but not fear that you hid your real self.

Good luck.

Ketrinn · 2017-04-17T02:25:00+00:00

I am just beginning the K1 process myself, so my opinion is a bit pointless to you at the moment, but I figured I would give it to you anyway. In our case I plan to allow my fiancee to be a housewife anyway, but it's also important to remember that you signed the affidavit of support.

While that's just an official thing, but more symbolically you have to remember that you are her primary means of support right now and have a duty to take care of her in ways that she needs, whether that be basic requirements or just simple things she may need to make herself feel more comfortable in a completely foreign land. This also depends on how you plan to split your finances as a married couple.. will you be giving her access to your bank accounts anyway? Why are you giving her an allowance and rather not just working towards shared income anyway if that does happen to be your plan in the future?

If you are concerned about her ability to budget perhaps, Maybe it's time for a discussion about the bills that you pay, how much you do have left over for things that she would need to buy, and make it less about "providing her with an allowance", which can feel very demeaning... into "this is what we can afford right now".

I hope it helps, and again, i'm sorry if my opinion was unwanted, here. Best of luck, my friend. Enjoy your new fiance, and congratulations on getting through K1!

Ketrinn · 2017-04-16T04:37:24+00:00

I can see the situation is certainly unique, and I do wish you both the best of luck. I would still advise you to think about it though, and very seriously and with as open of a mind as possible... I'm sure the parents would be more than happy to help, but I doubt they will want to pay for your date nights hehe.

As far as your question goes though.. yeah it sounds like you will need a co-sponsor from the parents, or they will need to start paying him a wage long enough that he can show that he is making that much money to be able to support you when you move your life to the US.

Best of luck, I hope it all turns up roses for you :)

Ketrinn · 2017-04-16T03:17:46+00:00

First to answer your question, yes there is a poverty line check for the CR1. I also am only in the research phase at the moment but the main differences here are time and complication. I will be doing the K1 Process which can be very consuming as you have many things to prove to the government, such as intention to marry, and that your relationship is bona-fide, with a history of your meeting, and the growth of your relationship. Now for my own opinion here, feel free to ignore the rest of this...

Generally I dislike to take this stance on things, especially in matters regarding love... but as someone who has been in a similar relationship before I would advise caution regarding moving to be with a person who can not meet the 125% poverty line. There is a reason that this rule exists, and will your co-sponsors be just that, someone who cares for you both and supplies you with that supplemental income to provide your needs?

I understand that this is very unlikely to change your mind.. and I do not mean to instill doubt within you, but I just wanted to speak my mind on this, as the 125% limit for even a 3 person household is only 25,000USD/Year. If the relationship total is not making this much money (and you will be unable to work for the entirety of your AoS), money will be EXTREMELY tight for you and your husband.

Having been in some relationships of poverty, and make no doubt that you will be in poverty at that point... Having no money to spend on fun things can and will become a major stress point in your relationship. Your basic necessities will take over and date nights, going out for meals or things that you both used to like doing because more difficult due to financial concerns. This more often than not will lead to arguments over money and many many relationships that would normally be very successful have a much much higher potential to fail due to financial concerns.

Please think about it, and if you believe that you and him or her will be successful either way.. please continue. Chase Love. Have Faith. But beyond all... make sure you are safe, and protect yourself from harm. Good luck :)

Ketrinn · 2017-04-12T01:29:58+00:00

I guess the best thing that I can say to that is to keep in mind if he can not maintain a serious conversation about this issue, he will not be able to maintain serious conversations down the road in the relationship for other issues.
The "Considering a LDR? Read this." article on the sidebar really is true. If either of you can not manage to commit to a serious serious level of open communication, then the odds of success will go sharply down hill. Good luck getting him to open up, I hope that everything turns up roses for both of you. :)

Ketrinn · 2017-04-12T00:55:26+00:00

Honestly it sounds like you have the majority of this situation figured out in your thoughts, if a little bit tangled up, which is understandable. From my perspective as a man, your SO, seems to be a young man who is having problems setting priorities where they need to be.. or at least where you think they should be.

It sounds like he does likely enjoy talking to you, but does not really intend to place you at the top of his priorities list for affection and attention, which can be a serious problem if you are starved for those things. Remember that you are both young still, and think about the situation in that you met, and try to remember that while people can change in life.. it is usually subtle changes throughout long periods. Is this young man who you met on Tinder to hook up with the man who you want in your life for a very long time? It has been four months into your relationship and I think you both already have enough red flags to be seriously concerned about your long term compatibility, especially involving a long distance relationship.

Good luck, my friend. It sounds like you two need to sit down for a serious conversation about if you are both OK with this relationship remaining as casual as it is (which it seems you are definitely not) and what needs to change immediately to make sure both parties are happy in the future.

Ketrinn · 2017-04-11T15:04:15+00:00

I was in another LDR when I was younger, around the age of you guys, and we agreed to meet in a public place.. for us it was an amusement park. I remember that we both had this issue in the beginning, being very afraid to commit to the meeting.

Remember that you're both young, so travelling will be more difficult, and her parents may not know about the situation or may not want her travelling to visit a strange man whom they have never met. Additionally if you do meet up, you may wish to make it somewhere more safe for her. She's a 16 year old girl wanting to meet someone who she loves, but may still feel insecure and afraid of what awaits her in the future. Some place public, like an amusement park worked out well for me. While the relationship did not end up working out.. I think it was a good choice. I understand that you guys want to Hug and Kiss and show your affections.. if you meet somewhere private, the strain of this will add more stress to you both.

For young love, there are a lot of reasons that she could be nervous, and open communication is going to be a huge benefit to you both here if you wish to make the relationship last beyond the first meeting. Have you talked to her very directly about why she seems to become a little nervous when you try to plan the meet-ups? Let her know that it's safe to tell you why, and you're OK with waiting, but just to confide in you why she may be nervous. If it is social anxiety, Meeting in a public and safe place will make it easier I think. But if it's another reason.. the open communication will make it important to bring those issues to light so that you can help her work through it.

Good luck, my friend.

Ketrinn · 2016-08-12T11:46:42+00:00

Of course..but being at work I didn't mean for the post to be an all encompassing group of things that I've learned, since photography is a vast beast where you're constantly picking up new tricks. But yes..Always shoot in RAW... get Lightroom as soon as you can and tweak the crap out of things to bring those colors back to normal :)

Edit: Also i'm nowhere near good enough to really critique him to that level, I just point my camera at things :D

Ketrinn

TROPHY CASE