biggish data

AFP Police Check

B&G. That's why I'm confused as well I've read some posts that say fingerprint check is absolutely required and other that say only name check was all they needed.

By reading what I posted above, it sounds to me like the name check is more important then the fingerprint check, if the name check is not correct then they could not accept the fingerprint check.

Reason why I am stressing is cuz its almost impossible to get fingerprints done here in Greece. Stuff it, I will just do the name check, and send that in. If I get an RFE for it, so be it!

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-12-18 02:54:00

AFP Police Check

Can anyone tell me if the fingerprints are required for the AFP police check or just name? We have received the name report but want to make sure.

I have the exact same question because I cannot find anywhere where it says that a fingerprint check is required!

Almost every post I have read on here says that they require a fingerprint check, but for the life of me I can't find that actually being stated on any official US website.

The reciprocity table for Australia http://travel.state....5.html?cid=8957 states:

"Police certificates are required for each visa applicant aged 16 years and older. Applicants are required to apply for a Police certificate ensuring that the certificate addresses all known names and/or aliases.

For information on how and where to apply, please refer to the table below according to your current place of residence.

If you are applying through the New South Wales or Queensland police, your police record will be sent directly to the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. The Criminal Records Section of their offices will notify you that this has been done. If you do not receive this notification within 4 weeks of your application, we strongly recommend that you ascertain the status of your records by checking at the police station where you initially made your request

."

The US embassy site for Australia http://canberra.usem...aqs.html#police states:

" What type of Australian police check is required?

Depending on which Australian state or territory in which you reside will depend on how to apply for the Australian police certificate.

You only need to apply for 1 Australian police certificate and it can be based on a name or fingerprint check.

A police check based on name check only must contain all aliases previously and presently used. Failure to provide a name check certificate with all aliases may result in the consular officer refusing your application for a police certificate based on a fingerprint check."

So what gives??

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-12-13 04:39:00

Australian police certificates.

Hi B&G,

Thank you! I have printed off that page and also the page on the US Embassy website in Sydney (where it specifically says 'Applicants are required to apply for a police certificate based on a name check').

I am pretty sure the name check should be ok- and seemingly it certainly would be in Sydney. I guess I am just worried that London won't be up to date on the reqs for an Australian Police Certificate... And I have no idea whether I am way over thinking this, or whether it will be no problem at all on the day. I haven't had to send my documents to the NVC as we were able to file everything in London directly. So, we have to bring everything (ie. all original documents and copies of each of them) to the interview and just hope it all goes well.

For anyone else lurking this page- I will let you know what happens after my interview in a couple of weeks' time!

Would be great to hear any other recent interview experiences re: Australian Police Certificates...

Thanks again B & G!

Very welcome!

Hopefully London wont give you any grief and you'll breeze through!

Also...

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-03-14 05:58:00

Australian police certificates.

Hi s-c,

I am in the same boat as an Australian living in London. I got a name check as i followed the instructions on the AFP website and nowhere there or on the NVC guidelines does it note that fingerprints are required... So, i had thought all was in hand for weeks, only to stumble across something somewhere suggesting that for Aus it must be a fingerprint check.

I rushed to get fingerprints done here, couriered them to the AFP, and have been calling emailing them to explain i urgently need my fingerprint form... So far, there has been nothing from them to say it will be done quickly

So, i am wondering: have you had your interview in London already? Did they really specifically say that you must produce an Aus Police Cert with fingerprints?

Any news on recent experiences in London would be unbelievably helpful.

Hey Sleepless..

I had the same worries as you! Only applied for a name check with AFP. I am an Australian citizen but I havent lived in Aus for 14 years! Anyway.. through VJ, I found another CR1 filer like me that lived in Australia for a short amount of time and was now overseas. He applied for a name check certificate (no fingerprints) and it was accepted by NVC without any problem.

Here is what I found on the NVC website that states that only name check is required, mentions nothing about fingerprints.

http://travel.state....nts/submit.html

Scroll down till you find the heading: Review additional embassy or consulate instructions, from the list chose SYD and download pdf. Print it out and take it with you to the London Embassy should they ask for fingerprints. You can only give them what they ask for, and the instructions for AUS police check certificates from the SYD consulate state only name check!

Good luck!

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-03-14 04:22:00

So does the police check require fingerprints or not? - QLD

I got a name check only which was accepted at my K1 interview.

BUT! I have noticed that CR1 applicants need to send their police certificate to the NVC (is this correct?) and that NVC only accept police certificates based on fingerprints.

K1 seems to be different cos we take ours to the Sydney consulate itself.

Yes, CR1 applicants do send their police certificates to NVC. But a fingerrint check is still not required. I am a CR1 and got my Australian police certificate based only on name check. No issues.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-08-04 23:37:00

So does the police check require fingerprints or not? - QLD

That is what I applied for Bree N Mike

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-08-04 04:40:00

So does the police check require fingerprints or not? - QLD

I got a police certificate without fingerprints and it was accepted by NVC and embassy without any problems. I have not read anywhere that police certificate MUST be with a fingerprint check.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-08-04 03:27:00

http://www.visajourn...-november-2013/

k3 visa processing

Now you wait for your NOA2. In the meantime you can look to get all your paperwork ready for the NVC stage.

Look at the NVC threat, read the first 2 posts and all the links that are on them and anything relating to NVC (National Visa Center)

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-11-20 06:00:00

k3 visa processing

hello i need some help regard the k3 processing and document require for the interview at the usa consular office my wife fill the petition i-130 and we received the NOA notice that it has being received and we have fill the i-130 so my question is that how long does it take it be APPROVED and for it to be send to the us embassy in Lagos Nigeria and what are the document i will have to take to the usa embassy for the interview.

Firstly, I think you have filed for a CR1/IR1 visa, K3 is separate thing. You will get better answers if you know the exact visa you have filed for.

As to how long it will take for your I-130 to be approved, well it depends on when you filed it. The estimates right now is 8-10 months at least.

For your documentation for the embassy, it is best to ask that question in the Nigeria Regional forum..

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-11-20 04:49:00

K3 approved. How long does it taketo be received?

i gotthe K3 visa!

It says K3 on your actual visa page? Top right hand corner? If it does, then congrats! You are proof that K3 isnt obselete!

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-02-14 08:13:00

K3 approved. How long does it taketo be received?

I-130 - Feb. 11,2013
I-129F - March 20,2013
My hubby filed it in NSC and it was not expedited.

Do tell us when you receive your visa if it says K3 or CR1/IR1. Be very interesting if it is a K3 class visa!

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-02-08 09:27:00

What is going on with NOA2's?

This is a deja vu of the summer/fall 2012 fiasco. Apparently history does repeat itself.

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-08-30 11:46:00

i 130 processing time change

Unfortunately, it applies for everyone. Barely any approvals are trickling in for I-130 petitions. Take a look at Feb-Mar 2013 filers and you'll get a sense of how every likely it is that it could be 9 months and more. And by 9 months, calculate that from your NOA1 date.

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-09-03 00:19:00

I-130 Workload Transfer Linked to DACA - FOIA Finding

Wow.. a very interesting read.

However these are dated in Sep 2012. That is when USCIS started sending petitions to local field offices. It is the reason why in Sep thru to Nov 2012 approvals for K1 and CR1/IR1 were flying out the windows. Some people got approvals in as short as 2 weeks during those months.

By Jan 2013 almost all local filed offices had incurred backlogs. It is why in May this year USCIS stopped sending them to local field offices and started holding them at Lee's Summit to gather dust while they waited for OP to open. And as we all know.. OP has yet to open. (Other posters feel free to correct me on my timings if I am wrong)

Im not saying the DACA didnt start the problem.. but USCIS has known about the backlogs at least since Jan 13. It is now Nov 13 and they JUST started doing something about it. I don't blame DACA applicants or the executive decision that gave them the right to file. I do blame USCIS for their apparent extreme lack of organisation and lack of priotising files. Their attitude so far has been ' well.. lets do this and hope no one notices!'

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-11-11 07:14:00

Where can we see the priority date on NOA1??

Your PD is the date shown on your NOA1 hardcopy.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-02-07 09:47:00

Faster Processing Times

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (?DACA?) is a memorandum authored by the Obama Administration on June 15, 2012.

Basically the executive decision Obama made to allow certain illegal residents that arrived in the US as children to have a chance at a path of legal residency in the US.

USCIS decided to give preference to DACA applicants over US citizens when it came to approving petitions. Spousal visas where put on the side and left to pile up. There are members on here that are still waiting for their I-130 to be approved.. 10 months and counting...

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-02-15 03:41:00

Faster Processing Times

It wasnt so fast, it was within normal processing timelines. From I-130 to visa issued about 10-12 months. And then in 2012 DACA happened....and it went downhill from there, first affected were K1 filers and then CR1/IR1.

At least thats how i remember it..

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-02-15 03:28:00

How or why does a file transfer? Is it good or bad?

Everyone files to Texas lockbox and then the files are diverted to the Service Centers based on which state you live in

Doesn't really work like that. All K1 filers send their petitions to the Texas lockbox. However the service centre that your petition gets sent to isn't necessarily your home state. There are 4 service centres but not all of them process K1 petitions. Centres that process K1 petitions are California, Texas and Vermont

As other members have mentioned, files get sent not to your home state or the closest state to you, but to where the workload is less for K1 petitions. Politically correct term, 'balancing workload'.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-02-19 04:00:00

Processing time

So basically the processing timelines are incorrect? Or maybe I'm slow and don't read them correctly?

Which processing timelines are you looking at?

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-03-10 05:40:00

Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)

Processing time

I'm brand new to this so instead of getting my hopes up I'll just ask..

The processing times seems to have gained some speed. I see that NSC is down to 75 days.
Are these numbers correct? I'm still trying to figure out how this works.

If NSC is gaining any speed it will benefit mostly April, May, Jun, Jul, Sep and Oct 2013 filers.

Since you have filed in Feb 2014, give yourself a good 5 months and then start paying attention to how fast your service centre is moving.

Unfortunately the likeliness of something happening before 5 months is close to zero.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-03-10 04:00:00

221g. Is that a denial?

Administrative Processing since i got out the embassy.

Just like everybody has been saying, the fact that they kept your passport is a good sign. I don't know why they considered it so relevant that you and your fiance have family in the same state, but it is their job to look at everything, and your job to provide them with the information they require.

You have done that, sent the email through on Thursday. You have to give them a bit of time to look into whatever they need to look into.

I am sure you will be getting an response in the coming week.

Iremise.. keep calm and think positive.. don't dwell on the what ifs.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-07-19 11:38:00

Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)

221g. Is that a denial?

Have you checked what CEAC says about your visa?

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-07-19 11:16:00

United Kingdom

time between interview and visa returned in passport

Hi all,

I was just wondering in peoples' experience how many days it actually takes to have your passport returned to you with the visa after your interview?

Many thanks

Depends which embassy you are going through.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-07-31 09:05:00

United Kingdom

Process for a US citizen to marry a UK citizen in the UK

Actually that is a great solution to the problem and also allows you to send in your US spousal visa forms asap and your wait after your July marriage party will be much shorter to enter the US.

I thought about that but had this weird sentimental thing about the actual 'marriage moment' taking place in the UK.

But much more logical to do a quick wedding in the US before the wedding party in your home country.

That is exactly what we have done. My husband is sending the I-130 package out today, whole 50 pages of it!

I know what you mean about the 'marriage moment' sentiment. For me it wasn't so much where the wedding will take place, but who will be there. My husband knew it cost me alot not to have my family and friends there, so he didn't invite anyone from his side to attend. It was just me and him and his nephew who acted as our witness and photographer.

He said since I can't have anyone there, neither will he and that once I move there we will have a big party for his family and friends. He sacrifised having his family around him and I love him even more for that!

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-06-06 09:55:00

United Kingdom

Process for a US citizen to marry a UK citizen in the UK

For some reason unknown to me, European countries try to make it as difficult as possible for a foreigner to get married there! From reading the above responses about the procesure of obtaining a marriage licence in the UK, though I might tell you what I did.

To obtain a marriage license here in Greece is just as complicated as it is in the UK. My parents wanted the marriage to happen in Greece for the same reason as yours. But for us to get the Greek licence we would have had to jump through so many hoops it was unbelievable!

So we compromised. Obtaining a marriage license in the US is a hell of alot easier. I flew to the US in April, got married at our county's courthouse to get the legal side of things out of the way and then flew back to Greece, to plan a big proper wedding which is happening end of July.

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-06-06 09:11:00

Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Travel on nearly-expired Russian passport?

About a week if she sticks to her desired schedule.

I assume you mean Helsinki airport? Her connection would be 1 1/2 hours during the late morning so it qualifies visa-wise.

Yes, Helsinki! Can't believe I typed in Oslo.

Just as long as she arrives and departs from the same airport (Helsinki) and her flight connection is within 24 hours, which it is, then she wont have a problem.

Russia does require her to have a valid passport upon entry into Russia, so you are ok with having the passport expire after a week and a half of her arrival into Russia.

Information I am giving you is from the Timatic. All check in agents for all airlines use it to check visa and passport requirements.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-04-22 07:21:00

Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Travel on nearly-expired Russian passport?

How long will her passport have to expire when she actually travels?

And she shouldn't have a problem. I work for an airline, just checked the passport and visa requirements for a person departing from US, transfering in Oslo and arriving in Russia. Only thing mentioned in the Finland tranfer section is that she allowed to transfer without a visa only through Oslo airport and her next travel must be within the same date from hours 6am till 11pm.

Other thing that factors in is that she is a russian passport holder returning to her country.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-04-20 09:59:00

Mexico, Latin & South America

Tourist Visa Denied In Bogota

If you are not planning on living in the US full time, then CR1 could be a waste of time. For your wife to be to keep her green card she must live in the US for at least 6 months of every given year. A CR1 visa is a lengthy process, plus you will have to prove domicile in the US and and the meet the financial criteria in the Affidavit of Support.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-02-08 09:39:00

Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)

Balkans United - Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovinia, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia

Here is food for thought... what about american men with balkan brides??? would love to hear their input! :lol:

B & G

Female

Greece

2012-04-29 04:59:00

Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)

Traveling in Europe

Make sure she has her Dutch residence permit with her along with her passport. US citizens can travel around Europe without a visa for up to 3 months. Her Dutch residency gives her the right to travel freely for any amount of time she wants. As Stressed Out mentioned, most European countries have an open border agreement, called Schengen. Means you don't go through immigration checks, but spot checks are made by Immigration at airports and sea ports. If you are planning to fly, airlines will also check.

B & G

Female

Greece

2013-06-06 06:17:00

Police clearance K1_Australia please help!

Do exactly as AFP website says. Complete the form, provide evidence of your identity and send it in. AFP had my PCC issued in just a few days.. i think about 5.

As I have my sister living in australia, I had the PCC sent to her and then she express mailed it to me. All in all.. it took me about 3 weeks from the moment I applied to receiving the PCC today.

If you are going to get it sent to Vietnam.. I would allow at least 1.5 before receiving it.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-04-09 09:04:00

Traveling to the US while waiting for interview

Hi B&G
I have seen you on May thread. Good to have found you here. You are right in what you say. Good idea about insurance as well. I wouldn't go until I also have a case complete and interview date because if I get an interview in August then we would wait those couple of weeks and all go together. Just don't want children to miss weeks of school. They are going into year 8 and 10. Why are you going? Holiday? Would love to know how you go getting in in June. I will be cool at POE as I know that I will be doing everything legal.

I completely understand why you want the kids enrolled and all that settled before your final move.

Reason why am I going is to see my husband! Even though we will get a July interview, I wont be making the final move to the US till end of Sep.

Promised my manager I will give him notice at least a month and a half before I resign.

Plus my sister lives in Australia and she will be visiting Athens, leaving end of Sep, so I want to spend some time with her.

So my husband and I decided to have me fly over for a couple of weeks before the interview, so that we wont have months go by without seeing each other. He will be flying to Athens to pick me up in Sep!

I will definetely let you know how things go at POE! I have travelled twice to the US since we started this process and haven't had any issues yet, and I am not expcecting any this time. Especially with the interview letter in my hands!!

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-05-24 08:08:00

Traveling to the US while waiting for interview

Hi there
My husband is USC and now in US working. I am here in Australia with two children, both US Citizens. I am planning on taking children to US to get them into school by September and then fly back for interview and to pack up house etc. will also send dogs ahead of children and I. I spoke to our lawyer and they think it is fine but am waiting for final go ahead from lawyer. What did you decide to do. I will have a return ticket but kids will have one way. Love to hear your thoughts.

Hi Msc13.. I am planning on doing just that. Flying to the US on June 5th. I could very well have my interview date assigned by then.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter what your lawyer says, it will all depend on the POE officer and how you present yourself to him or her.

What I would do is take as much evidence of your ties to Australia. Bills, employer letters, bank account statements anything that shows Australia as your permenant residence. And of course all the NVC emails you have received up until now, proof that you are doing this legally and not planning on adjusting once you enter the US.

It is also a good idea to have travel insurance for the duration of your stay in the US. shows that in case of an emergency you have health coverage.

At the end of the day you take the risk and hope that you are allowed in!

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-05-24 06:37:00

K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

Advise on Lawyer

One word.. No. The lawyer is lieing.

You will no cause any delays to your case if you call NVC to check the status of your case or what stage you are at. Its actually a great way to make sure your lawyer does what he is supposed and in a timely manner.

I have never heard of a false invoice, though someone can chime in and correct me if I am wrong.

My advice, if you want this process to be done as quickly as possible and if your case is straight forward, ditch the lawyer and finish the process yourself.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-06-27 23:54:00

Searched but can't find: When are we notified which vaccinations to get?

Looking at the April, May, June and July month threads for I-130, there have been Phillippines beneficiaries that have been transfered and approved relatively quickly even though they are not in an area that was not affected by the typhoon.

Because of the huge backlog USCIS has created on the I-130 petitions, once expidite requests start coming in for petitions affected by the typhoon, USCIS made the decision to transfer and adjusticate almost all Phillippines filers instead spending man hours sorting through which files are from the affected areas and which are not.

Take a look through the I-130 filer threads for those months and you'll see what I am refering too.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-01-20 05:07:00

K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

Searched but can't find: When are we notified which vaccinations to get?

Here's the link to medical examination (including vaccinations) requirements (scroll down to the "Preparing for the Medical Examination" section, select country of origin from the drop-down box and download PDF file):

http://travel.state....xamination.html

As you can see from my timeline I pasted below, my I-130 petitions were approved in 96 days and my I-129 petition was approved in 77 days. My Philippine beneficiaries are my wife and step-daughter. Our case was not an expedited criteria. Although I don't know how my case has progressed so quickly, I am very happy that it did.

As you can see from my timeline below, I submitted my I-130 petitions just last SEP 27, 2013 and submitted my I-129 petition last OCT 16, 2013.

CSC in Laguna Nigel, CA approved both my I-130 and I-129 petitions just this JAN 6, 2014 and forwarded them to NVC Portsmouth, NH. NVC Portsmouth received the petitions JAN 15, 2014. Yesterday (JAN 17, 2014), I received 2 e-mails from NVC Portsmouth stating they have started processing our I-130 (the e-mails requested completion of DS-261 and paying the Affidavit of Support processing fee, which we did). As mentioned by one of the posts on this thread, the K3 will be "cancelled" if NVC receives and processes the I-130 first. I was previously aware of same - that NVC will administratively close the I-129 if I-130 is being processed - but called NVC anyway just to confirm and yes, they confirmed that they will be administratively closing my approved I-129 petition since my approved I-130 petition is already being processed.

So is it worth submitting a K-3? In my opinion, K-3 was and is still worth submitting. It is afterall, provided as a free option for I-130 filers. In the best case scenario like mine, my I-130s (received by NBC Kansas) and I-129 (received by NBC Missouri) somehow all managed to make their way to CSC in Laguna Nigel, California were they were all approved on the same date and forwarded to NVC. Yes, NVC decided to process my I-130 hence my I-129 will be administratively closed (probably the reason why some filers think K-3 is obsolete or not worth submitting) but considering the worst-case scenario where an I-130 application approval is delayed, then filing an I-129 is at least a fall back, albeit eventually a more expensive option (due to the Adjustment of Status fee for K3 / K4s which is around $1K per beneficiary).
Event Date Service Center : National Benefits Center Consulate : Manila, Philippines Marriage : 2013-01-18 I-130 Sent : 2013-09-27 I-130 NOA1 : 2013-10-02 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-129F Sent : 2013-10-16 I-129F NOA1 : 2013-10-21 I-129F RFE(s) : RFE Reply(s) : I-129F NOA2 : 2014-01-06 NVC Received : 2014-01-15 NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : Interview Result : Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result: Visa Received : US Entry : I-130 Approval : 2014-01-06 Comments : Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your I-129f was approved in 77 days from your NOA1 date.

Your I-130 was approved in 96 days from your NOA1 date.

Reason why your case was processed so fast is because your beneficiary is from the Phillipines. All Phillipines cases were expedited due to the typhoon disaster.
Filing the 129f for k3 was not the reason why you were approved. There are many i130 filers that then filed for a k3 that are still waiting for approvals.. 8-9 months down the line.

B & G

Female

Greece

2014-01-19 09:03:00