biggish data

Um, where are they gonna mail my NOA1 & 2

I know I've asked this before but it's still a mystery. Where will USCIS mail my stuff. We got approved pretty quick (in 8 days if you saw my other post) anyway, haven't recieved noa1 yet which is still reasonable really that we haven't recieved it becase the lockbox email said that would take 7-10 days which it has not yet been 10 days. Now we are also looking for noa2.

I called USCIS to ask and they said they will not send anything overseas (and we filed overseas as we live in Bali). The guy could only read me scripts but he said it would get sent to my US mailing address. Not sure what that is. There were 3 places for address on the forms.

1) where it said "what is your address" on I-130 which is where I listed where we live in Bali

2) where do you intend to live in the US on I-130, which is where I listed my parents address in Maryland

3) on G-325A the 5 year address history where I listed both my address in California And My address in Bali as my present address (on a Seperate attachment).

None of these things specifically said "what is your mailing address" or "this is where we will send you stuff" or "check this box to use this one as your mailing address". I assumed it would be the obvious one where I listed my address in the first part of I130 in Bali but apparently that is not correct. Other VJ members previously indicated before I sent it in that they thought it would be the Bali address. So anyone have any idea?

Good news is I'm guessing there is nothing I need to see on noa1 or 2 really. What is important is what Nvc will be sending and the guy did tell me that Nvc will be sending stuff overseas to my wife. He also said Nvc will be sending stuff to me in the US, wherever that will be.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-01-20 19:44:00

Email bouncing to nvcresearch@state.gov

OK well i just got an autoresponse to my latest attempt. Things I changed were I reduced the file size of the PDF attachment to less than 1mb, I kept the subject line with my receipt number, and I reduced the content of my message from 1 paragraph explaining why I'm sending and including my return email address to just have 1 sentence saying see attachment (and of course the attachment is my noa2 approval front and back)

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-02-14 02:12:00

Email bouncing to nvcresearch@state.gov

When I try to email nvcresearch@state.gov, which I was told to do since apparently they don't seem to know where my Petition is, after about 3 days the email comes back bounced to me and says "undeliverable due to current administrative policy".

Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas why? I'm sure the government won't tell me why. I just sent another email, and I'm sure if I call and ask if they got it they can't tell me that either.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-02-14 01:44:00

Choice of agent

So today they emailed us the choice of agent forms and our IINs. For those who like to follow timing of things this is 5 days after we had our case number assigned.

So we want to make me (the petitioner) the agent for my wife. Just makes the most sense to us. She is fluent in english and all but when she read the email it made her head spin. Every other word in every sentence was DS-NNNN and if you aren't used to the american way it can make your head spin.

We live together so the mail for both of us comes to same place either way.

Is there any drawbacks to having me be the agent vs having my wife be her own agent? Figured I'd throw the question out there before we send it in.

Thanks fellow VJers

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-02-29 21:20:00

Is there a way to verify my info at NVC was entered correctly?

That's lame. I'll just leave it be and Review things as they come up

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-03-01 06:36:00

Is there a way to verify my info at NVC was entered correctly?

Anyone know if there is some sort of way to verify all of my info at NVC was entered correctly by going somewhere online?

I ask because when I called them last night to give them my email address they read me what they said was "my phone number" but the number they read was my wife's phone number. Who knows how they ended up getting that crossed. When I asked the lady on the phone (who seemed to hate her job) if we should bother changing it because we live together anyway just responded by asking me what was my phone number. I have no idea if they kept my wife's number associated with my wife or not.

I could call back and ask them to read me everything they have to verify it but that seems like a lame approach.

At this point I just have a case number but nothing else generated yet so according to the Wiki NVC Shortcut article this means that my case "is not entered into the computer yet although I have a case number?"

So I'd like to avoid any other errors on their part before they go and enter more stuff, if I can. Any errors they make will just further propagate down the system to the next place our case gets passed to. I think better to keep this game of government telephone in check if possible.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-02-28 00:13:00

I'm not a mod and I'm not an attorney but it if I answer a question, you can bet your britches on the answer.

Many of the senior members here know a lot more about family immigration than the vast majority of immigration attorneys do. The money in immigration is for work visas and fighting deportation, not in managing administrative procedures associated with bringing family members of US citizens.

Well I certainly trust anyone that uses the word britches in a sentence.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-25 07:41:00

This is wrong. When you send all three returns you check only the bottom box. The top box's question contains the word "only". To check it would be inaccurate.

Please allow me to gently remind you that questions about the I-864 are quite technical. If you are not fully confident you understand both the question and the answer and are even more confident you are technically correct in your answer, it's best you wait and read the answers from people who are confident of both. It avoids confusion and misinformation like the examples in your most recent two posts in this thread.

Hi Pushbrk,

Thanks for all of your help.

Since I see you are a gold star member and I think a forum mod, are you also an immigration attorney or just really experienced and been down this immigration road many times? Just curious really because you seem wise.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-25 07:25:00

I have a new item that needs clearing up on the I-864. I am pretty sure I know the right answer but if you actually read the form it becomes unclear.

Regarding Line 25 again, but this time the checkboxes. I am including the optional tax returns and supporting docs for my second and third most recent tax years, so obviously I am checking this box (the second checkbox for Line 25)

However, do I also check the first checkbox? My intuition says yes of course, but when you actually read it then it is a bit contradictory of the second checkbox which I clearly should be checking.

It reads (I've highlighted the confusing part):

"I have filed a Federal tax return for each of the three most recent tax years. I have attached the required photocopy or transcript of my Federal tax return for only the most recent tax year."

So by checking this box I am stating that I have attached the tax return for only the most recent year (2011). This statement which I am submitting becomes clearly untrue when I attach the two additional prior year tax returns.

The second box if checked alone only indicates that I am stating that I have attached the 2nd & 3rd most recent tax returns and makes no mention of the most recent tax return, so it appears that this checkbox alone doesn't cover it, but then again the first checkbox conflicts with the second.

So do I check both boxes? or only the 2nd box?

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-25 04:19:00

You can go with what the misinformation line tells you, or you can go with what you have been told here. What pushbrk has been telling you is how it ACTUALLY is, and what has worked for countless filings of the affidavit of support so far. It really is line 22 of the 1040. It is total income before taxes, which is gross income. Adjusted gross is not gross, it has been adjusted and deductions taken from it.

Also, you should separate out the individual earnings from joint taxes. Put what is on their last 3 W-2s(gross income) for #25. Send in the 2011 joint transcript and a copy of their 2011 W-2 to show their individual income.

The misinformation line has been named that for a reason. Everything pushbrk has told you throughout this thread has been correct.

Unfortunatly it's not always as simple as just W-2s. There are all sorts of 1099-INT,R,G,MISCs, K-1s, Schedule Cs, Schedule Ds and so on. Too much adding and subtracting to put on 1 simple line, better for my case I think to attache an explanation with breakdown for who's tax docs are what and what are the totals. Tax transcripts themselves don't break anything down by person so useless in this situation.

Regarding to use Line 22 or Line 37 frankly I'm starting to think it doesn't really matter anyway if both numbers are above the amount they are looking for. The person I just spoke to at the NVC just told me that they don't adjudicate this stuff there anyway. They just glance it over and put in in the computer and if the computer thinks you may need a joint sponsor they send you some sort of checklist to go over before your interview at the embassy to help you decide in advance if you should get a joint sponsor. At the embassy they will either accept your AOS or tell you to come back with a joint sponsor. If you don't get a checklist then NVC thinks you will PROBABLY not need the joint sponsor but no guarantee. I'm guessing that when the adjudicator at the embassy looks at it he is a real person with eyes and a brain and will probably look straight at your tax return and not even your I864 form and then he/she can use whatever line and information they want.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 23:52:00

I just called again and got a nice person. We read the instructions again together and this person also was certain it should be line 37. @Pushbrk, curious what would happen if you called them and talked to them if it would be the same outcome.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 22:37:00

If you look at a 1040 form, there is only one line labeled "total income". It is line 22. Line 37 is labeled "adjusted gross income". The instructions are different for 1040 than 1040EZ for a reason.

Yea my concern is there is no line labeled "gross income" or "gross (total) income" which is what the instructions say, however I interpret "gross (total) income" to be "total income" same as you yet this remains an interpretation.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 22:26:00

NO, everybody does not agree that you should list the income from line 37. If it's a 1040 use line 22.

These instructions to use "total income" from a 1040 and adjusted gross income from a 1040EZ are in the step by step instructions for the I-864 and work every time they are followed.

So the problem is the instructions don't read exactly like you just wrote them. They way they read (copied and pasted) are:

"For purposes of this affidavit, the line for gross (total) income on IRS Forms 1040 and 1040A will be considered when determining income. For persons filing IRS Form 1040 EZ, the line for adjusted gross income will be considered."

So you see they've gone and made it as not clear as possible by using both the words "gross" and "(total)". And why is "total" in paranthesis?

Is there a way to start a poll somewhere asking which 1040 line people used? Pushbrk I agree that when I read the instructions I interpret them the same as you, however 2 sepeate people at NVC (1 friendly and 1 not) have told me to do line 37 and both were pretty adamant about it.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 11:04:00

Yea it'll be the returns w/ supporting docs. I'll list the total on the form as she requested and attach a proper explanation sheet doing the math for then breaking down the w2s and 1099ints, and various other things into 2 columns for them.

Now also you had said to use 1040 line 22 and the NVC person said line 37. What are your thoughts on that? I still think NVC could be incorrect. Too bad their instructions are unclear. I might try #3 tomorow morning because their night shift seems a bit friendlier.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 10:17:00

Well I just called again, this time not such a friendly woman on the phone.

Anyway, she said the same (I like to double check because sometimes you get a different answer), and she was certain that it was supposed to be "adjusted gross income" that would be used which is line 37.

I also went on and asked her about the old 2009 & 2010 joint returns from ex-wife and what to list and she said to NOT Seperate out my income, but to include the old returns etc... and they will figure it out.

I think I'm going to go with what she said and include an attached explanation so they won't have to work to hard figuring things out.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 08:30:00

I just spoke with NVC on the phone and this seems like important information and wondering if anyone has heard anything like this before:

Regarding listing amounts from tax returns the woman (who was very nice) told me that I should list line 37 from the 1040 which is "adjusted gross income". She said that "technically" line 22 is also a valid answer however she has seen and that sometimes line 22 result in a "checklist" being mailed out to the sponsor, which I assume is an RFE.

Also interesting that she pointed out (which was on the form anyway duh) that even though I should and will list the previous 2 tax years as well, it is only optional whether I include photocopies or transcripts of them. She basically said not to bother unless they ask for the optional items later.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 08:12:00

So to be clear, line 23 is "current projected" and line 25 is tax return based for most recent completed tax year (2011) and optionally two more tax years before that?

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 07:29:00

Ok, I could appreciate some help clearing up some unclear I-864 (AOS) items as I am a stickler for details, especially when it comes to stuff like this. Please answer any of these questions which you have an answer too but if you don't mind include the question number so to keep it organized both for me and future people that find this thread. Later when I call NVC and ask them some of this stuff I will also post any clear answers I find to help future people.

1) Is it ok to leave lines blank on this form? (especially that whole big optional section on Assets, and the charts of other income 24b which I'm not using) Or should I put "N/A" for absolutely every single blank box like I did on the I-130. On the I-130 the instructions specified to do this and "not leave any line blank and to put n/a". On the I864 the instructions make no mention and seem to be ok with blank lines.

2) Line 2 - Principal Imigran's name. My wife doesn't have a last name. On I-130 we just put "(NONE)" as her last name. This was fine there. However on NOA1 & NOA2 they seem to have decided that her last name is specifically "NO NAME GIVEN". So do I do "(NONE)" again or "NO NAME GIVEN". In my opinion "NO NAME GIVEN" sounds bad as if I am keeping her last name from them or something.

3) Line 23 - My Current Annual Income. I find this simple question very unclear. Specifically which line from my 1040 do I use? Later on at Line 25 they are a little more clear in the instructions saying "For purposes of this affidavit, the line for gross (total) income on IRS Forms 1040 and 1040A will be considered when determining income. For persons filing IRS Form 1040 EZ, the line for adjusted gross income will be considered.". I filed form 1040 (not the EZ one). There is no line that reads "gross (total) income". There is a "total income" on line 22 which comes up to more than 4x the minum poverty line amount they are looking for. Then there is line 37 "adjusted gross income" which if I were filing the EZ form would apparently be the one to use. In my case line 37 comes up to about 3x the minimum poverty line so of course I'd prefer to use the "total income" which I think is what they mean by "gross (total) income".

4) Line 25 - Federal income tax information. This is more an opinion based question and I hope some people will chime in. Should I include my 2010 & 2009 tax return amounts as well? Currently I have just included my 2011 which is either going to be 3 or 4 times the minimum they are looking for (depending on the answer to my #3 above). This return is a joint return filed with me & my imigrant wife. My 2010 return is only 2x the mimium but is convulded as it is a joint return with my ex-wife. My ex-wife didn't have any income on it but the tax transcripts don't breakdown the amounts by person. And finally my 2009 tax return is a home run at 10x 125% of the minimum poverty line however the same problem exists that it is convulded being a joint return with my ex-wife, even though her income portion of it was only $19k.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-05-22 04:25:00

I-864 Domicile Attached Explanation

The last piece of my AOS that I have to do is according to the instructions since my country of Domicile is US but my address is currently in Indonesia, I must attach a letter explaining why I'm domiciled in the US. Of the reasons they give to choose from, that I am living in Indonesia temporarily is the correct answer.

Since I tend to be overly verbose and long winded (if youve seen my ither posts including this one) I'm hoping some kind and helpful person would put up here a nice template to go by for me for this explanation. In reality it should probably be a paragraph or less, knowing me, if left to my own devicesI'll write a novel (like this post).

Items I have as evidence of US domicile if needed:

California Title to my Car
Current Registration to the car (in California)
My Corporation is a California corporation, and it's a 1 man corporation and I'm that man, and it's up to date on all of its filing and state and fed taxes.
I filed our personal taxes with my California Address.
My VISA in Indonesia is a tourist VISA, I just keep getting it extended and renewed.

To note: I do not rent at my California address. It's my best friends house. I get free room and board whenever I'm there, have my own room even. Being I live in Indonesia, I'm rarely there. I also get all my mail there and my friend scans and forwards it to me. This is not The address we will be imigrating to as it is insufficient for our family of 3. We will be moving to Maryland to my parent's house (temporarily and also free) so my wife can join me on our house hunt together in Californa, as it should be. On I-130 I put my parents address as our target address in the US, as this is the correct answer however it is not my current Domicile, California is. Frankly I'll be keeping up the California address even while we live with my parents, up until we get our own place in California.

If I need some sort of proof of domicile to my parents place in Maryland, which seems unnecessary to me, I have a certified copy of the deed to their house, which is owned jointly by my me and My Sister. I don't really have anything else for Maryland though.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-03 19:48:00

And pushbrk makes a good point, the date on the cert from Catatan sipil may be the date they make the cert, this not the same as buku nikah.

I've also discovered that depending on which office of Catatan sipil you go to (depends on province) they may not make the cert because they are considered equal with the KUA and don't want to be rude and do something that may appear as usurping the kua's power. I think most are not a problem though.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-07 12:18:00

I've spoken with a few people now and seems like everyone says not to bother with Catatan sipil. Regardless I definitely would not send the buku. So if you do that and it gets lost, even if unlikely to happen, what are you gonna do when NVC still wants to see something you will never be able to get again? And then if you end up staying in Indo as a result how are you going to get a kitas. Got bad idea written all over it.

I'm going to go with what bule & cantik did and send that, and prolly also go to Catatan sipil just to have that as well in case something ever happens to the buku in the future.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-07 12:15:00

Yes the civil registry is equally accepted by the US govmnt as the current documentation. It's and either/or thing. You can submit both if you want, I don't see the harm since both are listed on the USCIS (or wherever I last checked on it) website as acceptable. Just most people never bother to do the civil registry thing as it's not necessary. It is there for the Hindus, Christian's, Buddhists and other non-moslems. Interestingly for some other country's immigration it is the only accepted document (like Holland).

I spoke with someone at NVC and they recommended that I get a certified copy from the religious office, which should be fine on it's own, and attache a written explanation stating that I will bring the original with me to the embassy in Jakarta for live inspection.

Just seems like the civil registry thing is a better solution. I hate to send something from Indonesia to NVC, then wait a month for them to respond and say do it again or not acceptable.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-06 10:10:00

I've seen this topic posted here many times, never seen an answer that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

In Indonesia when you do a Muslim marriage you get what is called a marriage book (buku nikah). It's irreplaceable and your only proof of your marriage. Sounds crazy but I'm not the one making up the rules. NVC wants me to mail them ours. Not a chance. If it gets lost the US probably won't even bother to apologize. They will then just ask me to send them new proof of our marriage, which will not be possible to get, thus end of the road. Seems a bit risky to me.

Apparently I can go back to the religious marriage office and get a certified copy from them and get that translated. Sounds ok to me, but some folks in other threads have indicated that sometimes this can lead to an RFE and later NVC asking for the original anyway.

I have a third option, there is a civil registry here (catatan sipil) as well as the religious registry. At this place, from what I understand I can register our marriage with this government office and we will get a pretty normal looking marriage license/certificate. Sounds like a solid plan to me, if it's feasible to do so. I can't find any good English info on how to do this online and my wife read through it and found it daunting herself and couldn't really explain it (government processes aren't really her thing).

So has anyone here gotten this thing? If so, could you outline the process for me? What do we need to bring with us? What should it cost? Can we even still go to the civil registry after already being married a year?

In Indonesia it is important to fully understand any process like this before you start it to avoid getting taken advantage of, and unnecessary fees.

Also, will we have to give the catatan sipil our bukuh nikah for more then them just taking a look at them? If so might as well send them to the US, same difference.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-06 07:13:00

Counting Household Size for I-864

I agree the form is messed up. I just asked the same question yesterday. Here is a link to that thread and the answers I recieved:

http://www.visajourn..._1#entry5424112

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-07 04:59:00

I-864 Counting Household size

Thank you very much

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-06 09:57:00

I-864 Counting Household size

Ok I see what you guys are saying.

So last question on the matter?

Leave 21c blank or put 0 in it. I of course prefer to leave it blank unless that is incorrect. I have put a 0 in all the other boxes that did not apply to me.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-06 08:25:00

I-864 Counting Household size

Seriously this form is so poorly written.

It has you put numbers in boxes that have very clear answers then it has you add them up to get your household size. It specifically says "don't count anyone twice" however if I were to follow that instruction then I'd be lying on the one where it asks me to enter 1 if in married.

My situation is as follows:

I'm sponsoring my wife. We have a baby. Baby is a US citizen. Seems pretty simple to me, family size = 3.

Not sure why a big complicated form that doesnt even work right, with all these boxes is neccessary to come to that.

Moving on, the form has me put a 1 in for number of immigrants I'm sponsoring and a 1 if you are married. So if I'm not supposed to duplicate anyone then which one am I supposed to omit? I'm certainly not going to omit the 1 for being married given I am filing for a greencard for my spouse without very CLEAR instructions in writing from the goverment to do so. And it seems stupid given this is the AOS form to write 0 for number of immigrants in sponsoring. If I'm not sponsoring anyone then why on earth would I be filling out this form in the first place.

So seems to me best move is to put 1s in all the right boxes and when I add up the boxes I should omit one of the 1s in the sum, and then attach a written explanation stating that's how I did it.

Anyone got a better idea? What worked for you?

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-06-05 12:18:00

DS-230 What's my occupation

On DS-230 my wife is supposed to list my occupation.

My job/occupation is really confusing and unless you are in the same field you probably wouldn't understand it nor be able to explain it.

There isn't even a category for me on the Tax forms yet so I always have to choose the business category id 999999 and I can't e-file on account of this.

The technical term for what I do is I'm a Domainer, and I'm self employed.

My wife honestly doesn't understand what I do, nor do my friends or family. I try and explain it and sometimes they sorta get it but it's usually them getting it in a way that makes sense to them but doesn't really make sense in reality.

I've got an attorney that has also been advising me on these forms and starting me out on each form filled out the way he would do it as a starting point.

My attorney friend suggests my wife just put "Businessperson" for my occupation, because frankly he doesn't get what I do either.

So I suppose "Businessperson" covers it but it sounds so generic and broad. Does this seem acceptable or should she go with "Domainer".

Reason I ask is from what I understand in the interview they basically ask questions straight off the form. If they ask my wife what I do and they ask what a "Domainer" is she will tell them the same thing she tells me and everybody else "I don't understand your/his job".

So "Businessperson" or "Domainer"?

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 00:08:00

Green Card Question

The green card is mailed AFTER you do POE. The IR1/CR1 stamp in the passport is what gets you into the country. Once you go through POE, the packet you give them is supposed to trigger the green card getting produced and mailed to the address on file. Probably within 2-6 weeks or so. So unless you know you're going to be outside the US at that point, you should have it sent to the address where you will be staying in the months after arrival, or a trustworthy permanent US address. You will need it for subsequent entries to the US, but not the first.

Thanks for the answer. This makes sense.

Next question though, so for a short period my wife will be with me in the US with only her passport (which we won't be carrying with us everywhere we go). So I know if you have a Green Card you are supposed to carry it with you everywhere in case somebody asks for ID or it for various reasons and in the US there are so many possibilities.

Do they give you some sort of temporary Green Card at the port of entry? Really not going to be bringing the Indonesian Passport everywhere with us. Not an easy thing to get a new one if it gets lost. Often times requires lots of "Unofficial payments" (as the US Immigration website calls them) in Indonesia. I don't know, maybe easier to get a new Indo passport at the Indo Emabassy in the US but rather not find that out until her current one expires a long time from now.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 00:14:00

Green Card Question

Probably a dumb question.

Doing DS-230 now, it asks for an address in the US to send the Greencard to. Thats no prob, have an address for this there but is there an option to send it abroad instead?

Is there any reason to have it abroad anyway? Should my mom in the US (where it will be sent) mail it to us in Indonesia? Will we need this at the port of entry or is just the Visa for the first entry good enough and we'll get the thing when we get to my Mom's place?

Thanks!

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-11 23:59:00

DS-230 Divorce Docs needed?

DS-230 Instructions say to include divorce docs if you were previously married. My wife (who is the subject of the DS-230) has no previous marriages, however I have had 1.

Am I understanding this correctly that the DS-230 is only asking for Divorce docs from my wife and only if my Wife has previous marriages. So I do not need to include my divorce docs from my ex with my wife's DS-230 right? I already included my divorce docs with the USCIS I-130.

Just making sure.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 00:53:00

DS-230 Line 39 (Part 2)

Correct.

Thank you. You must have just woken up because you are hitting all of my questions no

Good morning.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 07:45:00

DS-230 Line 39 (Part 2)

Line 39 asks Name and address of the petitioner
Then to the right it asks "Phone Number" and "Email Address".

Am I correct the the Phone number and Email Address that they are looking for here are that of the Petitioner and not of the Applicant (subject) of the DS-230?

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 01:29:00

DS-230 Parent's currebt addresses

since she was raised by her grandparents, i think it is better to use their address (in this case, Grandparents = parents are same, IMO) again, to be safe than sorry..cuz as u said "it doesn't look great" to write "unknown"

I agree with you and wish it worked that way too, but her AKTE Kelahiran lists her parents as her parents so it's got to be them.

In your situation, I'd say to just write "unknown". It doesn't matter what it may look like. The reviewing officers understand that not everyone gets along with their parents. Stuff happens, people drift apart. It will NOT hurt your application whatsoever.

After a night's sleep I think you are probably right. Simplest solution is often the best solution.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-13 00:06:00

DS-230 Parent's currebt addresses

Hello, for me I used a continuation Sheet, when u don't have enough room/space in the box provided...and yes, give them the COMPLETE ADDRESS.

did her parents ever received a post card? (or anything from post office/delivery service)use the emailed address that used.
i used to have Street Number on my home address, but i dont have it no more since there were "Changes" done by the local government(i still live in the same place though)but we ended up to have my address WITHOUT the street number (NVC did it) so i really quite don't know abt your case, but may be it's safe enough to write "unknown" if NVC told u this.

good luck

Yea we only know she has been staying in Jakarta because her Aunt told us that was where she last called from. She only turns up sometimes. We could write my wife's Grandmom's address in the Village because mom usually ends up there on and off again when she runs out of money for a while. Mom has always been like this so this is why my wife was raised by her Grandparents. The good news is that her grandparents are great!

If we can't just write mom's most recent city then really the next most correct answer is "unknown" but I feel like it doesn't look great that she doesn't know where either of her parents are, albeit a very simple and reasonable explanation if asked.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 09:48:00

DS-230 Parent's currebt addresses

What did you put for parent's current addresses? Not much room in that box. Couldn't even fit a full US address in there let alone some crazy long international address.

I called and asked NVC and they seemed to want a full street address and advised to attach a seperate sheet if it doesn't fit.

For her dad's address is easy, we get to put "unknown" because we have no idea.

For her mom we know she lives in Jakarta somewhere, but that's about it. So we don't even know that street address Just City/Province. She doesn't really get along well with her mother, and he was raised by her grandparents. They don't talk much if ever, and dad is way out of the picture. Mom just sort of surfaces from time to time.

NVC also advised it may be easier to just write "Unknown" for mom's address too since we don't know street address. Seems like it would be accurate though to at least put Jakarta with no street number.

Anyone have any ideas on this one?

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 08:22:00

Translation not neccessary?

Despite what it says on NVC's website, I still have seen people get checklists at NVC to provide translations, even though the documents were in the official language of the country where they were going to be interviewed.

Unless you want to risk it and possibly waste time at NVC, I suggest you fork up the money and get all documents translated to English.

I've decided to get her Birth Cert translated by a translator and I'm going to translate the notary stamp myself and sign and write the magical statement that makes it an acceptable translation.

There are a total of maybe 5 words on the notary stamp. I think I can handle it, I do speak fluent Indonesian now anyway.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-13 00:10:00

Translation not neccessary?

On the travel.state.gov website "http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html" it says "All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC."

Also a few times when I've spoken on the phone with the NVC regarding Indonesian documents they have told me there is no need to translate because they speak Indonesian in the US Embassy in Jakarta.

But then again on this site I read threads about people getting anything and everything translated that is simply not in english, regardless if it is the official language of the country in which the application is being made or not.

So to translate birth certificate or not? One item is the Birth Certificate. The other is the certified copy of our Marriage Certificiate, which is 20 pages in all (because here the marriage cert is a book). The cert itself is in both languages so it would need no translation, however what the issuing authority here did in order to make a certified copy was they essentially notarized it. They xeroxed it (spilled some coffee on the copy) and then stamped each of the 20 pages with a special "Legalizing" stamp as it is called here bearing the seal of the issuing authority.

The "Legalizing" stamp is in the Indonesian Language. All 20 pages are the same stamp. It will cost me $300 around here to get 20 copies of the exact same simple stamp translated by a certified translator. Seems like a waste of money for just a stamp when NVC says don't do it.

Any opinions? (and no I don't want to shop around translater prices, maybe I could save $50, still seems like a waste).

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-12 00:27:00

DS-230 Part 2

Do we mail DS-230 Part 2 to the NVC (the one we don't sign until at the interview) and then the NVC sends it to the Embassy for the interview, or do we mail only Part 1 to the NVC and we bring Part 2 with us to the Embassy ourselves?

I find it lame that there is no PDF instruction sheet for DS-230.

furble

Male

Indonesia

2012-07-13 00:14:00