biggish data

Our Interview 3/18/08

Sam, please do not get discouraged! I know it's not easy, but just think things will be as you want them in the end. You know what they ask for, and certainly in a few days Elias will get the visa

Think of this as an extension in the process, small one compared to how fast things have been. What's important is to keep being strong and positive, love is real strength, in the end, it will be worth the wait. There are things that are temporary, and they happen to leave us little lessons or make us stronger, more beautiful beings as we gain inner force from experiences as we manage to get through them. I like to think real love is actually forever, wherever you are, as your main support. If you have that, there's actually nothing to fear or be sad about!
Hugs, cheer up! & also thanks for keeping us informed and giving us advice! Hope you see your morenito soon

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-03-19 23:40:00

Tax return & medical examination costs!

QUOTE (MandR @ Mar 23 2008, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

YES, you do need tax returns for your interview in Lima..... You should bring at least 3 years if you can.

Try going to Dr Nora Lari...... my wife used her and liked her very much.

Best of luck

Thanks for your advice!
Just one single thing I don't get =( On http://www.uscis.gov.../form/I-134.pdf for the affidavit of support, it says:

I-134, Affidavit of Support
Instructions
An alien applying for SSI must make available to the Social Security Administration documentation concerning his / her
income and resources and those of the sponsor, including
information that was provided in support of the corresponding
application.(...)
Evidence should consist of copies of any or all of the
following documentation listed below that are applicable to
your situation.

The sponsor must submit in duplicate evidence of income
and resources, as appropriate:
A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial
institutions where you have deposits, identifying the
following details regarding your account:
1.Date account opened;
2. Total amount deposited for the past year;
3. Present balance.
B. Statement of your employer on business stationery,
revealing:
1. Date and nature of employment;
2. Salary paid;
3. Whether the position is temporary or permanent.
C. If self-employed:
1. Copy of last income tax return filed; or
2. Report of commercial rating concern.
D. List containing serial numbers and denominations of
bonds and name of record owner(s).

So, they claim you ought to present the tax return filed just if the petitioner is self-employed!
It confuses me.

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-03-23 12:48:00

Tax return & medical examination costs!

Hi you all

I was wondering what the exact cost of the whole medical examination is. Read it was $95 plus 250 soles for vaccinations, but then I read 2 other members said to be ready to pay more than 700 soles extra!
(I'm making a budget) has this been like that for most people who already went through the medical examination prior to the interview? I'd appreciate it if someone threw some light over this topic.
ALSO, another question; I read the tax return one has to present at the interview should be presented if the sponsor is self-employed. My fiancé is not self-employed, so we assume we don't need to deal with that. Has anyone heard of people at the embassy still asking for it during the interview date? We do expect this won't happen, but one never knows, so I'm just making sure by asking.
Hugs to you all, thanks for being a support!

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-03-22 21:58:00

faxing to Peru for K1 interview

QUOTE (Jonathan and Rosa @ Mar 24 2008, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My fiancee just recommended adding "1" after "00". Then I asked her why there was still 1 less digit compared to her cell phone number. Then she realized that cell numbers in Peru have 1 extra digit. WOW--Talk about confusing!! At least we figured it out.

hehe. Good luck during the interview! Hope everything goes smooth

Also, just checked one old post of yours about buying one way tickets from Peru, I wasn't quite sure if I could purchase a one-way ticket, so thanks for the info! Bets regards

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-03-25 00:11:00

Bank accounts and showing proof of financial stength

QUOTE (FaSa2008 @ Apr 2 2008, 03:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi jared! You have nothing to worry about what they care is your income!!
If u make more than the poverty lines YOU ARE GOOD TO GO !!
i had less than 5000 in my savings but im way above the poverty line so thats all that matters you rpoving u have enough income to support johanna when she moves here! so be preapred to fill out ur I 131 and notarize it!! =)
if u have any questions message me!

QUOTE (Johana&Jared @ Apr 2 2008, 04:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey, everyone.

This is Jared, not Johana.

I'm getting extremely worried, because the interview date is approaching, and there are all the normal stresses of getting the paperwork done in time and so on.

The main thing worrying me right now is that I don't know how much money the people at the embassy are going to want to see in my bank account. To be totally explicit, I think I can have between $4,000 and $5,000 showing in my accounts total by the time I fly to Peru.

Is that enough?

Anyone who had a successful interview and was granted a visa, PLEASE respond to this...let me know how much money you displayed to them. I need to know if I'm even in the ballpark. My best friend owes me a lot of money and he is apparently going back on his word about paying me back on time as he promised, so my fears are currently being compounded.

Thanks for any responses in advance,

-Jared

Ok... well, again, to be explicit... This is what my 1040s, W-2s, and other supporting documents are going to show:

2003-2005: I was a graduate student, and made $19k/year and then $21k/year
2006: Unemployed
2007: Worked as a Risk Analyst making $50k/year with a $10k sign-on bonus and $5k year-end bonus which was delivered early in 2008
2008: Began work as a Commodities Risk Analyst at a different company with a much higher salary -- $75k/year base, with $5k sign-on bonus.

So you think I have nothing to worry about? I make a lot of money, but I've also had a lot of expenses...especially student loan interest payments.

-Jared

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-02 15:49:00

Bank accounts and showing proof of financial stength

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-02 15:31:00

Sam, please let me know how much Elias paid. I'm guessing it must have been more or less 400 soles, since he doesn't have to have that vaccine that is meant just for young women.
Btw, Jared did some research about this vaccine on the government's web site and the embassy's site and also over the internet, and it says that its price after taxes is $120, so I'm really mad Dr. Oscar Situ even had the guts to assure it was over $240, or 650 soles. I paid almost half of all I have to pay for the vaccines, and after getting the hepatitis ones this Monday I'll have to pay the rest. What I am thinking of doing, seriously, is to threaten them, by telling them I found out this and I was initially given a different price by another secretary, also tell them I might report them. Muy indignada! Hugs.

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-05 09:27:00

Hey! I don't know if I expressed my congratulations over Rosa's visa approval! About this... I think she must be over 26, isn't she? because just girls between 16 and 26 are supposed to have it.

[quote name='Jonathan and Rosa' date='Apr 3 2008, 04:29 PM' post='1723019']
Rosa had her vaccines around March 18. I dont think she had the human papillomavirus(hpv) vaccine. If I recall correctly she had chicken pox(Varicella), mumps, rubella, measles, diptheria and one more that I cant remember.
There were 3 shots total. I will ask her later exactly how much she was charged, but I dont think it was all that high. I may have Rosa get the hpv vaccine here in the USA. I need to find out how safe it is though.

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-05 09:18:00

There's this vaccine, the one Dr. Oscar Situ claims is 650 soles (over $240) (human papillomavirus...) and just women between 16 and 26 are supposed to have it. I'm 21 years old, so I had to have it. I read the case of Rosa's fiance above, saying she didn't have that one, I suppose it is because she is over 26. Obviously, men also are not required to have it.

QUOTE (flomagy @ Apr 4 2008, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (katiushka @ Apr 4 2008, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

NNNOooooo!!!!! I have an appointment with Dr. Situ this 16th!!! i will try to change it to another day.

question, with the other doctors you also have to go twice?

thanks.

Katiushka

It also seems some people get certain vaccines and others dont....is this so...am I readint the responses right? Can somebody clarify this?

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-05 09:16:00

Hey... I wish I had known about this before

I #$@!! hate the whole experience at this clinic. The fact I had to argue about that, and that I was scammed anyway. You are totally right. I just talked on the phone with a girl I met at this clinic (Centro Medico Corpac) and told me she had just been told by others that Dr. Oscar Situ is a scammer and along with Dr. Nora Lari, the most expensive doctor. Pftt, I'm totally disgusted with the experience and would report them if possible, but from now on, I guess I'll also advise others to avoid this doctor if possible.

Hasta la vista, good thing that at least Santiago got lucky by seeing the other doctor!

QUOTE (FaSa2008 @ Apr 3 2008, 03:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thats terrible YOu should have asked me which Dr to go to I would have def not reccoemnded OSCAR SITU!!
You should report these to the embassy!
Santiago only had to have 3 vaccines he paid 90 soles!!!
he went to Dr sandro in anglo americana clinic!!
I ve heard about Dr situ being a Scammer! We should report this in the embassy !!!!!!!!!!
Im mad for that !!! they are taking advantage!!! ugh

QUOTE (Johana&Jared @ Apr 3 2008, 03:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi there! I had my medical exam in Peru, yesterday, and would like to share that experience with you, it might be helpful for people that haven't gone through it yet.
I went there in the morning, had an appointment with Dr. Oscar Situ. In the morning, I got x-rays taken and also blood samples. It was pretty fast. I was told to return in the afternoon, with certain amount of money for the vaccines, my vaccinations record card, apart from the money or fee to see the doctor.
I got there, again, and after waiting for a while, I had my appointment with doctor Oscar. It must have lasted... 5 minutes. He just asked one or two questions about my medical history, examined me briefly, and that was it. He was nice and polite (and had lots of fake pieces of prehispanic pottery in his office) and told me what vaccines I should get, and to arrange that with the secretary, at the second level of the clinic.
Here is when the weird part comes... I must tell, before I was called to see the doctor, I had been talking with some other people, fiancees as well, and they showed me the paper they were given, saying they had to pay outrageous sums of money for a few vaccines, even though we had all been told in the morning it would be a lot less.
So anyway, I was prepared to pay about 850 soles for the vaccines, just as the other people did, lacking exactly the same vaccines, but when I went to see this secretary, she told me I had to pay over 1310 soles.

The whole thing didn't make sense to me, she was analyzing me and my financial situation, when talking about the price. So I got mad but tried hard not to show it, and told her to explain in detail the price for every vaccine, and list it. She refused to do that, to list the prices, but told me about it orally. So I found out they were adding me charges for vaccines they knew I had had as a child, and fairly complained, telling her that. So then she said 'Ok, I guess I can cancel these 3 vaccines you had had'. But then she told me: 'let me see you, show me scares that prove you have had Varicella, why don't you have any scares in your face? ' This really annoyed me, she wasn't nice at all and the impression I got is that they try to take as much money of you as possible.

One of the vaccines you have to have (human papillomavirus), if you are a woman, is 650 soles there. Well, in the end, I got the bill for the vaccines largely reduced, to 915 soles.
I talked to another woman as I was waiting to get the shots, and she also had a different price, almost 900 soles again, except she was going to be given less vaccines than I was.
They also do not advertise their prices for vaccines or have a list or anything like that to show, I truly disliked this, because I think it is just not fair and they get more money out of some. It's not about health or anything like that.
So, just one piece of advice... if you want to save some money, and are just starting the K1 visa process, get some vaccines on time, since in the end, they'll require your vaccination history or card to look for it, and they are way cheaper in some other places or even free.
It's just not true that if you got the shots somewhere else before, it would be rejected and you'd have to get all redone, what they care about is that you meet all the requirements, having all the vaccines you are asked for, not necessarily care if you had them all at the doctor's clinic.
Greetings!

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-03 15:43:00

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-03 14:53:00

Number of packets - 3, 3.5 and 4?

Hi there

I was confused by this, too (even though I'm a native Spanish speaker) so I called the embassy. Nothing to worry about, you don't need to send them anything back, even though that seems to be indicating that, I was told it is for people that haven't yet received their interview date. Strange, silly and confusing, but that's it.

QUOTE (Nosotros @ Mar 27 2008, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, this is still confusing guys, and I hope someone can clarify it.

On the link above that Shannon sent, it says this: "Form-179 (datos biograficos)although I was told at the embassy that its not necessary to send anything back, to just bring that form on the day of the interview.

***Nothing needs to be sent back to the Consulate prior to the interview for K-3 Visa applicants*** "

The last statement states that no need to send __anything__ back for K-3. But, what about for a K-1?

Do you, or do you not need to send anything back BEFORE the interview for a K-1 visa?

Thanks

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-03-28 17:20:00

Medical exam in Peru - PART II

Hi people! This is an exciting month, several interviews! yay, good luck to you all! I have really grown fond of all the patient fiances and fiancess I came across here.

Well, just a few things to tell. This Monday, I had to return to Dr Oscar Situ's office, to pick up my results, pay the rest of the money I had to, and get the Hepatitis A + B shot.
I went to see the secretary, who is in charged of the vaccines and their prices. I told her my fiance and I checked the government's and embassy's web site, and they listed an approximate price for the HPV vaccine, which is just given to young women, and it was $120. I also told her I had called the other 2 doctors, and they charged 490 soles for that vaccine. And actually, even less for the others. Finally, I kind of threaten her, telling her I didn't want to but I was going to report this to the embassy. She started to be super nice to me, and the negotiation started. She said that she'd reduce the price!!! Yeah, believe it or not, but I have the receipt to prove it, and the initial price written down on the medical appointment letter.

First she said, Ok, I guess the vaccine should be less, you'll pay $10 less. After I said it was not possible, since the other docs charged a lot less, she said $20, then $30 and then a bit more. As you all know, the initial total price was over 1000 soles, which was outrageous to me, then I got it down to 930, after arguing, and this time, after I told the secretary all this, I got it reduced to 840 soles (+$150). LOL. I have basically saved about 400 soles. What do you think about this?

Particularly, I feel indignation.

But this is how it was. I didn't haggle with a street vendor or at a store. It just tells me 2 things: They have overpriced the vaccines, trying to get as much as they can, otherwise they wouldn't have been nice and then tell me I'd pay less after what I said. And also, that everything seems to be negotiable... there's always a chance to try, no matter whom you deal with or where. I don't like it when people are dishonest or unfair. Sad but true.
Cheers!

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-08 18:19:00

Flying from Peru to the US - Several questions, Help!!!

Hi there

I picked up my passport with the visa there. Along with that, I got a sealed package from the embassy, yup, that one that should be given to an officer at the port of entry in the US. I'll be departing this Friday, and need to know what else I am supposed to take with me. Should I take anything else apart from my suitcases, passport, flight ticket and this package? I'm extremely concerned about this and would like to know what the ones that have been through this or whose fiancé(ée)s have been through the same know about this. I mainly have concerns about whether or not I'm supposed to be taking cash with me, I know that students and people with tourist visas are supposed to have what we call in Spanish "bolsa de viajes" which is more or less the amount of $500. Also, I wonder if I need to be taking my vaccine report or that's in the package, and if there's any form I should be downloading, filling in and taking with me that day.

Any help would be highly appreciated! The day of my departure is pretty close!!! Thanks in advance.

Johana

P.D. I'm flying from Lima to Houston. Also, I'm taking my kitten with me

if anyone has taken any pet, let me know how it went, heh.

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-22 14:08:00

Philippines

suggestion to ladies flying to US soon...

Hi there! I'm sooo glad you posted this topic to help out future girls coming to the US. I experienced the same! I regretted so much not to have brought plenty of clothes... The first thing I purchased with my money was a motorcycle jacket that was over $200, it was hard to find the right one for instance, and in Peru, my country, that money would have given me a lot of clothing. Congratulations on your wedding, hope you have a happy life =)

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-05-15 10:22:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

NOA2 Approval today!!!

Hola! I sent you a message but I'm not so sure you got it! I just wanted to again let you know I'm quite happy with the news! Congratulations! We got a touch and are waiting for more news, it's encouraging to hear from people like you, helps to keep our spirits up.
*Hug*

Greetings from Peru.

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-02-23 16:00:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

NOA2 arrived - Approved!!!

Hello everybody

I just wanted to let you know my fiancé and I got NOA2!! Approved!! It happened on February 27th, but my fiancé just checked his e-mail yesterday, as we were talking on the phone, coincidently! We couldn't believe how fast it happened!!! faster than expected. It was great news.

I hope everybody is doing ok as well! & that can keep their spirits up, even though sometimes it is a bit difficult. In an amusing note, I must say my future father-in-law is religious, and claims the power of his prayer is incredible. Because of this, I asked him, obviously skeptical, to pray for a quick approval, and it just happened, 2 days later! Hahah.

Greetings to you all, those with fiancés or fiancées in Peru, please let me know how you're doing!

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-02-29 15:02:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

K-1 Visa Approved

YAY! Congratulations!!!

I'm extremely happy for you!!! More than words can tell. Look forward to looking at some wedding pics! Hehe, besos!

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-03-27 16:08:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Visa approved!

Hi everybody!

I just want to let you guys know that I had a successful interview at the Peruvian embassy this Friday and my visa was approved after a few questions!

Thank you for all the support and help during the previous days, as I was getting ready to attend that interview, it was wonderful to have them! and sorry for not being in contact, but my fiancé was over to attend the interview with me and then after and before that we were extremely busy! I am going to give details about the whole thing in the embassy's review section on VJ. I'll be picking up my passport this Tuesday and my flight ticket to Houston, TX has already been purchased, I'll be there by Saturday morning if everything goes OK!
Hugs and good luck for those applying and whoever comes next to go through this part of the process. Also, I'll say the same the consular officer told my fiancé and me, to those who are about to get married, have a happy life!

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-21 00:15:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Visa approved in Lima today!

CONGRATULATIONS dear Shannon!!!

I'm super excited and happy for you, I swear! Was really hoping to hear good news from you and David.

Please tell us everything about that interview later on! Lots of hugs and enjoy!

QUOTE (Shannon and David @ Apr 10 2008, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi all!

Thanks so much for your help! David and I went to our interview and the visa was approved today! We were only there for an hour and a half and the interview was fine... No problems.

I´ll definitely post more on this later, but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for having me super prepared for the interview! It´s due to all of your help, I swear.

David thanks everyone too for their help!

Besos, Shannon

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-04-10 20:15:00

NOA1's arrival

I love Peru as well =) the only part I'm still missing is the deep jungle. However, apart from that, I've been almost everywhere. I hope things move fast for you as well, I really hate how long these things take

Well, let's be patient

of course, the person you love is always worth the wait.

QUOTE (Gringita/Morenito @ Jan 27 2008, 02:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love Peru. I have been a couple of times and everytime I find something new to love.

I am glad to hear you did get the NOA1. Now you are in for the long wait,

... Me too, we only filed about a week apart. We also filed at the Vermont Service Center so our cases should be pretty close.

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-01-27 04:16:00

NOA1's arrival

Hi there

I see you have been to Peru, my country... did you enjoy it?

Well, there are two things I have to say. The first one is that I talked to my fiancé about this, and he told me something he thought he had told me but he hadn't, that he actually got the NOA1 after 4/5 days of mailing the package. He had told me the check had been cashed, but had forgotten to tell me this. So yeah, I told him about what people here told me, that you can check the status of your case on line, with the number you see printed on the back of your check, which he had done and might start doing more and more, heh.
*Phew* so now it's all about waiting for the NOA2, I guess.
The second thing, as an answer to your question, is that we filled at Vermont service center. Thanks and buena suerte!

Johana

QUOTE (Gringita/Morenito @ Jan 24 2008, 08:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Johana&Jared @ Jan 23 2008, 08:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hello everybody

I'm new in this forum, and the reason I signed in was the fact that I'm pretty doubtful about how long my fiancé and I should wait to receive the NOA1... From what I've read, it seems to be there may be something wrong. We sent our petition or whole package the first week of December and after a few days (like 4 or 5) our check was caught. However, it's been more than 6 weeks and we haven't received the NOA1. So my question would be if from most people's experience this is still normal or there's something wrong and what we could do about this or to find out how things are going, since from what I've read, one is supposed to recieved the NOA1 in 2 or 3 weeks.
Yeah, I'm a little bit discouraged now...

Greetings.

Saludos! And welcome to VJ. I would think you should have recieved it by now, maybe it "got lost in the mail". As lancer1655 said check the back of your check (I viewed mine electronically from the bank) and see if you can read a number that begins with three letters such as (EAC, WAC, LIN, or SRC). If so, great! (Actually, any way you can get the receipt number is great)...You can check the status online at https://egov.uscis.g.../jsps/index.jsp (please be warned, it can be somewhat addictive once you start checking it, as you will always be looking for updates, jeje)

Let us know how things proceed for you.

Sam

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-01-26 14:11:00

NOA1's arrival

Hello everybody

Johana&Jared

Female

Peru

2008-01-23 22:56:00