biggish data

Thank you Saylin.... I am so crossing my fingers the interview will be the easiest of this whole journey. We are hoping for a POE on Thanksgiving weekend (Canada) at the Highgate Springs bordercrossing so we can activate the visa. As it will take about a month for both this Greencard and SSN to be received, he is going to continue working in Ottawa until Thanksgiving (American) and that will be his move date. If the stars can just line up.....

The interview really is easy. Sure, I was extremely nervous about mine the morning of, but after it was done, I was like, really? That was it? I was only asked two questions!

And ohhh, Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. My birthday is around then as well

Hopefully the passport gets returned quickly, so you can move that weekend. I remember a few months ago, it used to take on average 6 days to get the passport back. But since mid-May, there's been a slight backlog. Although I just read today that someone got their passport back in 2 days! So you might be one of the lucky ones who get it back super fast. Myself it only took 3 days to get back. Good luck!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-19 13:32:00

Thank you for the detailed list. One question... Should I reprint pictures for proof of relationship as the originals are in a scrapbooking album and everything is all all pretty'd up lol?

I'd say save the time on reprinting and just bring the scrapbook. More likely than not, you won't even be asked for proof of relationship at the interview. It's very rare to see someone asked at Montreal for any kind of proof. The interview usually consists of a few questions, and then that's it.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-19 09:49:00

Once again thank you Saylin!!

No problem! I want to make sure you have everything you need!

And remember, get to the consulate early (around 6:30am) if you want to get out fast. And make sure you triple check you have everything with you. And don't bring electronics! And no backpacks or laptop bags!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-18 13:29:00

Well, I put together an accordian folder with all the following:

Medical on Aug 22
- interview letter
- medical history
- 2 US spec passport photos
- immunization records

Interview on Aug 25
- interview letter
- passport
- photocopy of passport bio page
- DS230
- DS260 (review printed from online application)
- Petitioner 2010 Tax transcripts (original)
- Petitioner i864 forms (original)
- 2 US spec passport photos
- birth cert (original and copy)
- marriage cert (original and copy)
- divorce cert (original and copy)
- RCMP criminal check (original)

- receipts for fees paid (AOS and IV)

- evidence of relationship includes flight itineraries, wedding photo album, Bank of America joint bank account info, Bank of America Spousal Credit Card

Well, I think I'm pretty much covered, but if you find something I should add, let me know!

Thanks again to this forum.

PS Here is a pic of my folder for those of you who aren't sure what to do...I was in the same boat a few months ago and a member here (Saylin) pointed me out in the right direction...

I like your folder

For the medical, it's supposed to be 3 passport pictures. You also need to bring your passport for identification. And don't forget to bring payment! And make sure you verify what methods of payment are accepted. Some places don't accept credit or debit cards.

For the interview, don't forget to bring your medical results with you as that's mandatory. Everything else looks good though. Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-18 13:11:00

USCIS APPOROVED i130 , still NVC NO GIVE CASE NUMBER

hi everyone
in july 20 2011 , uscis approved our I130 case
today is 19 august like 1 monh and NVC STILL NO GIVE US case codebar number
we call 2 ime still said wait wait

when i look timetable for all members here
i look between uscis approved and NVC give number no to more ro 10 day

any view plz

There's been a backlog with NVC for the past few months where instead of taking a week to get a case number, it's now been taking more than a month.

All I can suggest is to call an operator every day until you get your case number.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-19 10:20:00

where i can send i864

hi , i want to know the address where i can send my i864 .thank you

Look on the barcoded cover sheet from the payment portal. It lists the address there.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-20 11:19:00

I-864EZ: W-2 and transcripts?

haha, thanks saylin. I figured transcripts would have been fine but then W-2 kept popping up and my head wanted to explode.

No problem Posted Image

Just send transcripts and you're golden

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-20 21:53:00

I-864EZ: W-2 and transcripts?

The instructions are confusing me with what they want. My petitioner will be using information from the last 3 years, but do we need ONLY the W-2s or do they need transcripts to support them?

You need either transcripts OR 1040s and W2s. The only time you need to submit W2s with transcripts is if you filed jointly and need to point out your individual income.

And it's either for the most recent year OR for the last 3 years.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-20 21:40:00

DS3032

Who should we select as the agent of choice. Should it be the Petitioner in USA or me in India? How much and what difference can it make?

It doesn't really matter.

Remember, if you give your email addresses over to an operator, then you'll BOTH get packages emailed to you both.

So no matter who you choose as agent (and you give your email addresses over), then you'll both get the packages by email.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-20 11:08:00

DS3032

Wow...I must have had a crazy brain fart at that time I posted that.

Thanks for clearing that up Saylin.

Haha, just didn't want anyone to get confused. And don't worry, we all have brain farts at one point. I had one earlier with my husband Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-19 22:29:00

DS3032

Instead of doing all of this why not just e-mail the DS-3032?

Here is the template you can use.

http://www.visajourn...il_DS-3032_form

Have you paid your fees at NVC yet? IV and AOS Fee's?

Until you pay your fee's and receive the status as "Paid" will they accept the DS-3032.

Er, what? The IV fee is only invoiced AFTER the DS-3032 has been accepted.

And paying the AOS fee has nothing to do with the acceptance of the DS-3032.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-19 21:22:00

Tax Release for I-864

I was wondering if you still need to send in the tax release with your I-864 to the NVC.
Thank you in advance.

I'm not sure what you mean by tax "release". But you do have to send in tax information. Either tax transcripts from IRS or 1040s and W2s. And it's either for the recent year or for the last 3 years.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-21 21:34:00

DS-230

I am jumping the guns here, I am not in package 4 yet but I want to get familiar since I am doing all the paperwork. I was checking and reading in. I am confused

1) DS-230 is for me or my husband
2) if it is for my husband. Do he has to sign both documents or just one.

thanks

The DS-230 is filled out by the beneficiary. The beneficiary completes both parts, but only signs part 1. Part 2 is signed at the time of the interview.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-22 12:01:00

Affidavit of support

Affidavit of support needed while filling I-130 for CR-1?

Nope. The I-864 (AOS) is submitted after the I-130 has been approved and has reached NVC.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-22 13:15:00

Interview

Hello Friends,

I have interview in Montreal by the end of this months which is coming Monday, 29 of August. I am very nervous, does anyone have any experience of the interview? What they're going to ask? My wife is going to be hear with me, don't know if they let her in with me to the interview. Appreciate your inputs!

Look at the link canadian_wife posted. I read all the reviews for Montreal before I had my interview in May. They usually only ask under 5 questions, and nothing hard, especially if your case is straight-forward (no kids, first marriage, no arrests). I was only asked two questions myself, where my husband lived and how'd we meet.

And your wife is allowed to the interview. Make sure she brings her US passport and she'll be fine.

Good luck on your interview next week! Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-23 10:03:00

Do we need to fill out a DS-230...?

My husband just finished submitting the DS-260. We e-mailed all Civil documents required and all fees are marked as paid.
Upon submitting the DS-260, he received an e-mail mentioning him to register with this link here:
http://montreal.consulate.gov. I also see something about filling out a DS-230 but not to submit it? I'm lost. Any help?

The bit about the DS-230 is for the interview. As far as I know, Montreal still isn't used to the new online forms (DS-261 and DS-260), so they ask everyone at the time of the interview to fill one out. Now, if you're smart, you'll fill one out BEFORE the interview and bring it with you. This will save a lot of time at the interview.

Hope this cleared it up

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-26 15:19:00

Help...I am new in this site..need info for DS230

Thank you for the reply. I guess I will have to wait for all my 3 polices clearances before sending back the DS230 IV package.
In the DS230 form they asked for all the previous visits to the US, if you have been to the states like 20 years ago, does that count as previous?
Thanks again:-) Saylin..

Yup, ANY previous visit to the US they want, whether it was yesterday or 20 years ago.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-26 22:24:00

Help...I am new in this site..need info for DS230

Hi Everyone...would someone please enlighten me ? I need to know when to submit the police certificate? is this during the time of the interview or when sending back the DS230 packet to NVC? ..I lived in 3 different countries from the time I turned 16, getting police certificates will be a long wait..thanks so much for your input:-)

The police certificates are submitted in the IV package, with the DS-230.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-26 08:08:00

I-864

Big oops

I must have been half asleep when I made that post and I was thinking from a full-time mindset.

I'll rephrase:
If you are paid hourly, use this formula: hourly rate x number of hours worked each week x 52 = amount for that line.

Much better.

Just didn't want someone who was also half asleep and took your formula who worked over or under 40 hours and completely messed up their I-864.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-26 22:25:00

I-864

Are you paid monthly or hourly?
If you are paid monthly, use this formula: monthly salary x 12 = amount for that line.
If you are paid hourly, use this formula: hourly rate x 40 x 52 = amount for that line.

Just a quick note for the formula if you're paid hourly. That x40 depends on how many hours you're working a week. It's not always 40 hours. Some people only work part-time.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-26 22:05:00

I-864 Question

Guys,

How do I know which I-864 forms to submit? Is there any link\info on the NVC website relating to this that anyone can refer me to?

Appreciate the help!

Thanks.

Here's a table with the different I-864s: http://travel.state..../info_3197.html

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-28 22:15:00

when should I call nvc for interview date

Thanks for answering...I called NVC on aug 22 for some inquiry, and they told me that case is closed on same day...I thought it will be confirmed only after I get some mail from them....thanks for telling me that I will not be getting any email or I would be waiting for nothing....

The only confirmation you get, besides from an operator, is from the AVR. It should say something about your case being complete on so-and-so date.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-29 07:22:00

when should I call nvc for interview date

SIF on aug 22...I m assuming that my case is closed cz of SIF..however I haven't got any email from NVC stating that.....What do you guys think when I should call NVC and ask them If our case has been scheduled for interview? I want to plan further so I want to know how long roughly takes to be scheduled for interview....thanks...

Please remember, just because you got a SIF does not guarantee a CC. I have seen a few cases where people have gotten RFEs after SIF. Your best bet would be to call a NVC operator and ask if your case has been completed.

And you will NOT be receiving any kind of email from NVC saying your case is completed. Only those doing EP get these emails. Your next and last email will be from NVC and will contain your interview date.

If I were you, I'd be calling NVC and DOS every day to find out if the interview date has been scheduled (if you even have a CC).

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-28 22:14:00

aos and IV

thanks for the 411 , i thought maybe i had to wait till they asked for the forms or something like that

piglett

You'd be waiting quite awhile Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-29 11:12:00

aos and IV

after the payment of aos and IV is it possible to print the barcoded sheet in multiple copies? just curious thanks

Yes, when you print it, you can choose how many copies you want to print out.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-24 09:50:00

California to Texas & Texas to California - Part 3

hello
glad to hear that you guys are a step closer, fingers crossed for you. Sydney consulate has moved the interview up to July 12Th, two weeks earlier. if everything goes right she will be home in 4 weeks.

Grats on getting an earlier date! Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-06-26 22:50:00

WHAT AFTER NVC CASE NUMBER

step by step,
Get your case number and Invoice identification number (IIN).
Send DS3032 form by e-mail(use beneficiary e-mail address) to NVC, after you get the case number and IIN. You should get an e-mail confirmation(not the automated response e-mail) from NVC that they received the DS3032 in about 4-7 days. If you don't receive any confirmation, then you may have to send the DS3032 e-mail again.
Log into the payment portal,(LINK: https://ceac.state.g...ice/signon.aspx)
First, you will be paying the AOS fee of $88.00(for each person.)After few days it will show paid then you print the barcode sheet and send all the require documents for AOS packet along with the barcode sheet (Also use a cover sheet for documents you are submitting). Also, Send one Photocopy set of the all the documents including the forms for the AOS packet.
Once your DS3032 is accepted, NVC will send an invoice for IV fees, pay that by going to the same portal, once it shows paid on the portal, then print the bar code sheet and send the DS230 form with the barcode sheet, coversheet, and original or certified copy (not a photocopy) of required documents. Also, Send one Photocopy set of the all the documents including the forms for the DS230 packet (Becauase if you don't send the Photocopy set,NVC may not return the original documents So,don't forget this.)
If everything is ok with the AOS and DS230 packet, then in about 5-7 days your case will be completed and you will be assigned interview date.

**Note The number of days to process may be different based on the workload at NVC.

Just a note, you don't have to send any set of photocopies with the AOS package. And for the IV package, again, you don't need to send a set of photocopies of the entire package, just the birth and marriage certificate, so you can get the originals/certified copies back at the interview.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-08-30 09:22:00

Dear TSC (or CSC or USCIS office),

I am very bored tonight. Please approve everyone in this thread so I can be kept busy all night updating the spreadsheet.

Thank you,
Saylin

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 22:02:00

Just got my NVC case number from the robot at NVC

Grats! It's about time. 80 days is way too long from an approval to case number.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 16:14:00

just a question after reading the part 1 400 pages and now part 2 thread about the I130 delays? does that mean none of you filed for I129F?

I-129F by itself is for K1 and no one that was transferred to TSC was a K1 filer. There were a few people (13 on my spreadsheet) that filed the I-129F in conjunction with the I-130 for a K3 visa. Most though are IR-1/CR-1 visa filers.

Edited by Saylin, 12 February 2011 - 02:41 PM.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 14:40:00

Hey Saylin, I got Google Voice working from the UK. There's an even easier workaround from here. Just set the language the GoogleMail account uses to ENGLISH US, and activate by sending a text to a USA telephone.

Works a treat - free calls from my PC to any phone in the USA or Canada!

Thanks for putting me onto this!! It will save Val & I a lot of money calling NVC!!

Never heard of that workaround. Glad it worked for you!

I'm definitely saving myself a lot of money as well calling NVC with Google Voice.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 14:37:00

Another person in the other thread got an NVC case number! And in 14 days too! The average has gone to 31 now.

Why does NVC require photographs again? I already submitted photographs with the I-130 package. I have copies of those. Will the Consulate also require new photographs?

USCIS requires one each of the petitioner and beneficiary. At NVC, two more are needed from the beneficiary. I'm not sure if this is the same for all countries for the medical, but in Canada, you need another 3 pictures of the beneficiary for the medical. And then another two for the interview. WHY they need so many pictures of me (8 in total Posted Image

), I have no idea.

I just got my RFE hardcopy from Texas. All they want are passport photos. I provide photos to the attorney when we submitted the I-130, but he either didn't include them or USCIS lost them.

The RFE says I must return the "gold sheet" with the photos. There is no gold sheet, but there is a white cover sheet. Does anyone know if only the attoreny gets the gold one? Or can I send the white one that was sent to me?

Also, does anyone know if the photos of my wife need to be current? I have some from last August.

I would get newer ones just in case. August might be too old/not recent enough for USCIS.

Good idea ezzie, then Saylin can update us with the NVC journey

Don't worry about me, I'm keeping an eye on the other thread as well

Approved..

Hang in there folks.. you will be all approved very soon:

---
On February 11, 2011, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

Grats on the approval! Posted Image

Edited by Saylin, 12 February 2011 - 02:24 PM.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 14:23:00

That's encouraging

I've got a good feeling that those recently approved will get to NVC as fast as those that get approved from CSC. I think TSC has finally realised their big mess-up and are now shipping the approved cases to NVC in a timely manner, instead of taking like 2ish months before.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 12:50:00

Just saw Timosha and Jellybelly getting their NVC case numbers on the other thread. So now we have 6 people who have gotten NVC case numbers and the average days (starting with an average of 45) has now gone down to 35. And with all the recent approvals and shipments to NVC, I'm pretty sure this average is going to get even lower next week.

Edited by Saylin, 12 February 2011 - 12:48 PM.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 12:44:00

Guys, I've been away for 2 days already and am surprised we have part 2 of this thread already. Still i have no time to read all the messages but tom I'll try my best to read everything from Part 1 page 265.
Nwys we received an email a while ago, we are APPROVED Feb 11, 2011. woot woot woot
Hope that I'll get to NVC very soon.
Thank you guys

Congrats!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 12:30:00

I just got a test message at 11:59 PM and checked my case update. APPROVED on 2-11-2011.

Congrats!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-12 00:27:00

Thanks, Saylin, and thanks so much for being the keeper of the spreadsheet! You're awesome. And it's so great to see my line change colors!

No problem! Oh, I have a huge smile on my face each time I change someone's line to light pink! And the most desired colour: purple for getting an NVC case number. I want this whole spreadsheet to be purple by the end of February!!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-11 22:31:00

Congrats jennie ann on the approval!

More approvals TSC (or CSC or a USCIS office)!

Edited by Saylin, 11 February 2011 - 10:27 PM.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-11 22:26:00

saylin, can you add me to your Thread plz.
IR1 visa.
NO1: 08/10/2010
transfer to TCS: 11/02/2010
transfer to USCIS office: 01/14/2011

Thank you so much

Added you. Seriously thought you were on there already since you've posted in the CSC-TSC thread before. Sorry!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-02-11 21:12:00