Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	My partner went for her Medical today in Brisbane, Australia.  We were lucky - they scheduled the exam for her even though we don't have our Case Complete email yet, nor our interview date.  Turns out all they wanted was her case number, so we could have gotten her exam done two months ago!   Anyway, I was surprised that they told her it would take seven days for the results, AND, she has to go back to their office to pick it up.  It takes us an hour-and-a-half train ride to get into Brisbane.   The receptionist said we could have it mailed to us for an extra $20, but firmly discouraged this method.   I, myself, think that $475 for an exam is an outrage, and having to go back to pick it up is too.  However, it is the last "tick" of the box prior to our interview, and for that, we are both thankful.   I see LifeOnHold got her CC email on June 9.  That means ours will probably come on June 11.  Sure wish we'd get that interview email, though!   I've not seen any interviews given in the last three working days at NVC...   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-09 23:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Soloenta, on 10 Jun 2014 - 12:23 PM, said: Does anyone know how to save the forms so if we get a checklist we don't have to fill it out again.  The BullZip suggested is full of malware.   Very surprised to hear that BullZip is full of malware.  I've been using it for about 4 years now - and have installed it on 5 different computers and have never had any problems with it at all.  It's one of the workhorses in my "toolbox".    Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-09 23:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Please remain on the line.. our representative will assist you momentarily.... ..music to my ears.. haha! There are times that i slept while on hold.. i wonder what the rep was saying while im sleeping..   I've written down each of the phrases they use on the phone. The one that always makes me laugh is the one where the male voice gets so excited and says, "...let us know how we can serve YOU"....   Still waiting for an interview email....not to mention a "Case Complete" email.  I don't see why these take so long.  It would really behoove NVC to get our cases OUT of their hands!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-09 08:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Hmm I got CC after you so if someone is let behind it may be me! Uscis backlogged, NVC backlogged, and now the Paris embassy? This is just great!   Congrats, MsGoyave!  You were very disciplined to wait a whole 24 hours before calling. Happy Birthday (one day late)!!!  Since you and I were both May 9th "scanees", I was hoping we'd reach the finish line together.  And we did!   I don't think Sydney is as backed up as Paris, though Australia only interviews IR-1/CR-1 folks on Tuesdays at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.   No official CC letter or interview as yet.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-06 02:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	So I have a theory about the interview scheduling...   I wonder if this is what happens...   After you get a case complete, your reviewer scans your file, and it is passed to another clerk(s) who are the "schedulers".  They pick up one file at a time, pull up your country's interview schedule, then slot you in.  When the "slotting" occurs, the interview email is automatically generated.  The scheduling clerk then scans your file once again, and it moves to the shipping department.  The shipping department collects all the files for a particular country that have come in on that day, bundles them all together, created the FedEx label, then ships them out.   Of course, this is all conjecture.  It's in NVC's best interest to get the files out of their hands as quickly as possible - both from a throughput perspective, and also to shut all of us up.   But I'm guessing there are 40 agents, 20 reviewers (2 supervisors???) and one scheduling clerk - and the more files they complete, the more Mr./Ms. Scheduling Clerk gets backed up.  I cannot see them deliberately slowing down the interview scheduling - as it does not help their throughput numbers at all.  I envision the reviewers gleefully dumping files on Scheduling Clerk's desk, and mine continuing to be on the very bottom.  Or, that files return to the file room and Scheduling Clerk ambles in, grabs 5 files at a time and shuffles back to the cubicle....   For those of you who are successful at finding a chatty agent when you call - would you check out my theory????   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-06 01:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Congrats!!!!     Thanks, Steve!  Now let's see who gets our interview notice first!  I did an average of the Australians in dwheels76's list - average 6.3 days from Case Complete to Interview Schedule, and 34.7 days from Case Complete to Interview.   Hope those numbers stick (or get smaller!)...   Snikit - be sure to report when you get your info - I'm thinking both of us should be on the second Tuesday in July.....   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-05 02:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Thanks for the good wishes, everyone.   I was trolling other VJ forums this morning, and I found out that Australians have been having the same problem I had (more than one PCC required for Australia - which is NOT true) for over two years.  It appears they have never corrected their reviewer instructions.  This is very depressing!   Medical appointment booked for next week - even though we don't have our interview yet....   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-04 20:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	OK, folks.  It's official!!!   CASE COMPLETE AS OF JUNE 4!!!     AND, I must have good luck - I never had to speak to either Joy or AH-thur!!!!   Jim was the bearer of good news.  He didn't even ask me "What can I help you with this evening?".  He cut right to the chase and told me the case was complete!   Then, when I gently pushed, he read me the standard line about interview scheduling and it depended on how busy the consulate was, blah, blah, blah.  But he told me he loved being able to tell people good news!!!!   Now....waiting on interview scheduling....   For those of you waiting - it does appear that an "N/A" under "Affidavit of Support Fees" is a positive indicator of case complete.  My package explaining that the checklist item they wanted was 1) not required and 2) not available was scanned in on May 9th. Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-04 18:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Hey Sukie, All the best and hope you get a CC today. BTW - can you please tell us if the N/A appears in the column where it says 'Paid' or in the next column. We see N/A in the last 3rd Column but the middle column still shows 'paid'. We sent checklist reply on April 30th. This morning when we called, our bad luck we got Arthur and he told that our files are under review and our email of April 30 the was uploaded on May 31st. Regards   Hi Jag & Ripu,   The "N/A" shows up under the "Affidavit of Support Fee" column.  It is also "greyed out" instead of having a hot-link (in blue).   I've been on hold for 30 minutes at this point.  Still hanging in there to find something out!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-04 17:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	OK, folks.  It's early morning June 5th here in Australia.  Just for everybody's entertainment, my AOS fees changed to "N/A" last night (Australia time).  So...after I eat breakfast (gotta have some energy to hold on for an hour), I am calling.   I am a May 9th checklist response submission - and I'm hoping like H@!! to have "Case Complete".   Watch this space.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-04 16:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Hey Lakehouse - I was just saying that I'm going to make another trip to Vietnam.  I just can't decide whether I could attend the interview with my wife or wait until she has gotten her visa and fly to Vietnam at that time so that she and I can fly back to the US together.  hahahaha!     I can take 3 weeks off from work, and from what I've been seeing on people's timeline, it takes about 10 days to get visa.  If I time this correctly, I can make the interview plus we can fly back together!  What does everyone recommend?     Bruins, have you made sure the Consulate/Embassy will allow you to attend the interview?  Some countries allow the USC to attend and some don't.  That might make a difference in your timing.   Our attorney told us that the Embassy/Consulate usually does like the USC to attend, if possible.  It shows that the marriage is "more real" for some Case Officers.  I guess if the USC cares enough to pay for an airline ticket, it looks better.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-03 23:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	SUKIE...     Any UPDATE at all!?!?!   Nope.  My AOS fee has not changed to N/A so I did not call last night.  I'm a May 9th date - so perhaps it will change at end of day on Tuesday for North America.  It's mid-morning Wednesday in Australia.   I will keep watching for the "N/A" in my AOS fees.  If nothing happens in 48 hours, I'll call them.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-03 18:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	the AoS fee   OK - so I'm not there yet.  Phooey.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-03 02:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Hey - which field are people using to estimate a Case Complete status with an "N/A"??? -   the "Affidavit of Support Fee" or the "Affidavit of Support Documents and Financial Evidence"???   My Affidavit of Support Fee still said "PAID", but the Affidavit of Support Documents says "N/A"...   Have I gotten excited over the wrong thing?  Both fees (AOS and IV) still say "PAID"....   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-03 02:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	So happy for all my L-girls out there - LoveMyTico, LucyBelle, and LifeOnHold!!!  Congratulations!!!  And all the others, too!!!!   I'm in Australia - so I cannot call until much later tonight (if I can stay awake that long!) - but I checked my CEAC page and both my AOS and Civil Documents say "N/A" at this point.   Now...my AOS has been complete for over a month now - it was the IV packet that was holding us up.  So I don't know what to make of the N/As on our screen - but I will call as soon as they open (which will be 7 a.m. on Tuesday EDT US - and 9 p.m. Australian Eastern Time Tuesday night), and find out if we have good news too.   Praying that LindyStephan gets good news soon, too.  Steve and I have been neck and neck since we got our Case Numbers....   Sukie     Edited by Sukie, 03 June 2014 - 12:09 AM.	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-03 00:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Same here in CR, eggs not refrigerated. I was weirded out at first, but look it up! No reason to keep eggs in fridge! (We buy eggs at farmers market and then do put them in fridge, because of my gringa habits!!)     jsumner86, on 03 Jun 2014 - 07:37 AM, said:   You get 50/50 of who love the food, and who are scared of it . My wife thinks it's strange how the eggs are never in the refrigerated part of the store.. They just stock it on the shelves.. I never noticed the fruit being so shiny in the shops there.. .    If eggs are not put in the refrigerator, they are fine for quite a while.  Once you refrigerate them they must STAY refrigerated.   That's why our grandmothers (in the US) kept the eggs in a basket on the counter.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-02 23:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Fabian&Rossy, on 02 Jun 2014 - 4:11 PM, said:       Even if you got married on the last day of the 2013, for tax purposes you're considered married for the entire year. Contact your tax preparer again and get her to file a 1040X asap. Don't let her tell you that you cannot file MFS. Afterwards, you can submit your AOS packet including your complete 2013 tax return with W-2's, 1099's (if applicable) AND your form 1040X showing you amended your filing status.   Good luck!   Thank you! I am so frustrated. I really hope her mistake doesnt cost me a month or longer in this process   **********************   Any tax preparer that uses a standard tax preparation software program is probably going to try this switcheroo.  The standard programs will NOT let you file "Married" - either jointly or separately - without an ITIN or SSN in the line for the foreign national.  And the tax preparer does not want to have to fill out the return manually.   I've seen this happen many times since I've been on VJ - and I wish there was something we could add about this to all folks who are going through the IR-1/CR-1 process.   It really is that the tax preparer is clueless or lazy.   If you are married, and you know your spouse does NOT have an ITIN or a SSN, do NOT let your tax preparer file your return electronically.   I do not know every tax return software program out there, but I know MY tax guy, who works for one of the Global Big 4 Accounting firms, taught me about this.  Even his company's software program does not allow for a "married" return to be filed electronically without an ITIN or SSN for both spouses.   It is also a wake-up call for all people.  We are all ultimately responsible for all the details and numbers on our tax returns.  Even if you don't understand taxes at all (and who could understand US taxes!!!!!?????) look over your return every year before you give the OK to submit.  Make sure your personal details are correct!   If you can file an amended return before your send in your AOS packet, you should not have a delay.  Just don't let your tax preparer charge you for preparing the amendment!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-02 01:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	Don't worry you are going to hear good news this week. You are in my prayers.   EOC, you are very kind.  Thank you for your thoughts.    Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-01 04:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	I understand how stressful all this process is and how we get caught in everyone else stories.  I was thinking I should also take a break and wait patiently for my turn, I can't change anything and I can't make it go faster!  I find myself depressed and sometimes jealous for others having their CC and interviews ( I am happy for everyone, don't get me wrong).  I wish you the best of luck and hopefully will have our cases completed soon.  Take care!        I've not taken a complete break from VJ - I read it religiously.  But after a Friday night meltdown three weeks ago, I've started calling NVC once a week only (on Friday nights).  I still love reading about people here, and I try to pass on any hints - but I had to come to the same conclusions - no matter how angry or upset I was at the fact that NVC made a mistake, I was still going to have to wait until May 9th mail was processed.    We will never be able to get back the 4-week delay - we can only hope it won't turn into something longer.   I think next week will be a big one for a lot of people on this list (me included!).   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-05-31 23:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	April 2013 I-130 Filers	waiting for a call back from tier 2...28 minute callback wait time... not too bad   I don't have high hopes for a decent answer. they log in everytime you call.. I'm sure they are sick of hearing from me.         I've got my fingers crossed for you!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-03-13 13:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - July 2014	Hi Sukie, Great review. Did they let you and Julie bring water bottles up? And you said it only took 2 days to receive Julie's passport back? -- Did that also include her IV papers for POE? Thanks!   We did not attempt to bring water bottles up, but I saw others with bottles (including a LOT of mothers with little ones!).  We were upstairs only ONE HOUR - we didn't even start to panic about having no restroom!   By the way...when you get to the 10th floor in the MLC, PCOZ, you'll have to walk all the way around the floor (it's kind of in a big circle).  Close to the Consulate's doors are a couple of chairs.  By these chairs are a flight of stairs that go down one floor.  There are restrooms at the bottom of the stairs.  It really wasn't bad.  We arrived at 8:30 for our 9:00 appointment, but they would not let us go through security until 8:45.  I think having the earlier interview slots is better from a crown perspective.  There were a lot of American Citizens coming through needing new passports or notary services.   Yes, it only took two days to get the passport and the "DO NOT OPEN" envelope back.  Earlier, we had thought we would be interviewing in early June (before NVC screwed up our file).  We had flights out on July 7th originally.  Then we got our interview for July 1st.  I was too nervous about trying to fly out on July 7th, because it would have meant her passport would have had to arrive by July 4th.  (No mail delivery on weekends in Australia).   So we changed our flights to the 15th of July.  And...we could have used our original tickets!  Luckily, there was no change penalty....   Sukie in Oz	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-03 23:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - July 2014	Thank you Sukie and  I really hope you are correct.   I guess I am just concerned about how sometimes they put cases under AP review. I have read stories here on VJ where everything goes fine even the interview is approved but the people dont get their passports for 3-6 months. In those cases they get 221g letter (i guess thats what its called) where they tell them that they need to do futher processing. In my parents cases they didnt give them anything so ...... it seems like a good sign and the fact that CO himself said that both the passports and visa will be issued within 20 days.   Did you by any chance check the visa status after the interview? Was there any change in status?   Thanks   My visa status changed to "Issued"!!!  But I wasn't able to check until I got home from Sydney.  I also got a letter from the Consulate saying that the visa had been printed.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-03 03:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - July 2014	Hello Everyone. Just trying to get an idea if the following happened to anyone.    My parents went for their interview. CO asked only 3 simple questions and then looked at some pictures. Afterwards he kept their passports and told them that everything is ok and they should expect their passports with the visas within 20 days. Now it does sound like a very good news and I am very much happy but I thought approved or not the CO should have given them some sort of letter stating that the interview has been approved or something. Right? He didn't give them any letter or any colored slip ..... nothing.   I tried checking their visa application status right now .... about 3 hours after the interview and the status still says "READY". I am assuming will change within a day to reflect the correct status.   Anyone else experienced this ?   Livstrong,   When we finished our interview, the gentlemen told us that my spouse was approved.  We got no slip of paper.  However, the people who interviewed with the woman in the next "booth" DID get a slip of paper.  I think it must be optional.  I know we are OK, because we got my spouse's passport back in the mail today (2 days later!).   Hopefully your parents' passports will be back in their hands soon!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-03 02:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - July 2014	The document review period is 30 days is from scanned date of documents.   Flights booked? Yay!  So, I assume that means the interview went well. Would love to hear all the details, as we will also be interviewed in Sydney in the next couple of months.   Amanda,   I posted a review under the "Reviews: Embassy" area.  Take a look!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-03 01:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - July 2014	Hi!   Hope everyone is doing great and things are moving along for all of you. I have a quick question. I did not front load our I-130 petition as we have a pretty straight forward case and my husband is from Canada which is not considered a high fraud country. We will be sending our IV package within the next week or so and my question is, should we send additional supporting evidence with the IV package or should we just bring it to the interview.   Thanks for your help!!!   We worked with an attorney - and all that was sent (and all that was needed for us - Australia) was our marriage certificate.  If your case is straightforward - then that (marriage certificate) should be all that is mandatory.  Anything extra is up to you.   Sukie in Oz (we have our flights booked - July 15th - POE JFK)	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-02 16:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Ours was issued as well!   Something must have happened everywhere because you and I have the same interview date   If my husband gets it in the mail Friday, he will still make his Saturday flight. I wonder if they send them in the mail the day that they are listed as Issued?   We bought a Express Post bag that guarantees next day delivery and we sent it to a business address in the city to ensure that it was a metro area where they guarantee next-day delivery.    Hopefully it gets here! Congrats!   Caitlin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So Happy Happy Happy for your hubby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Hooray!   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-31 19:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	mmaarreekk, they look forward to speaking with YOOOOUUUUU!   SNORT!   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-29 18:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Dear MoBar65 & Sukie, Thank you both so very much for such speedie and very informative replies. It helps relieve some of the stress level. My husband received a 12-hour permission, no problem, from the Israelis, to travel to East Jerusalem. So, now, all our faith is in God, that he will make it safely in and out of East Jersusalem, on the day of the interview. (My apologies for making a new reply, Everytime I try to reply via MultiQuote, my phone screen keeps going black and resetting to the main screen. )   Blessings on you and especially on your husband as he makes his way to East Jerusalem and back.  As others have said, your circumstances make all of our complaints pale in comparison.  Please let us know when he is safely back home.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-27 19:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	According to a USCIS pdf:   USCIS ELIS allows applicants to: ? Conveniently and securely set up and manage their accounts; ? Electronically submit applications and supporting documents; ? Receive and respond to notices and decision electronically; ? Make payments online; and ? Access real-time information about the status of their cases.   I'm curious if anyone tried tracking their GC production through ELIS.   Great thought, MoBar!  I just tried it.  No go, I fear.  It told me about the status of my PAYMENT, but nothing about anything else, and no way to find out.  The only option I had in the drop-down menu was the I-551 payment.   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-27 16:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Question:  Is there any way to track the progress of the physical green card (the initial issue)?  I know when you apply for a replacement, or you renew your Green Card you can track it on USCIS's site.    Just curious if there is any way to see if the card is "in process" or "ready".   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-27 15:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Question to you all, as I am now confused about the further processes. My husband's medical was on July 23. He was told to pick up the results Aug 3, bc even though they are ready earlier, bc the visa will be for six months only, it is better to have a later medical to help with getting a longer visa. This makes no sense to me. Shouldn't the visa be issed according to the interview date?? The doctor was saying that it is based on the date of the medical and not the date of visa issuance or date of entry. But does it not matter bc we should have the green card by then? I am also confused bc i thought it would be for two years. Or am I confusing that one with the green card and its expiration before we can apply for change of status (485, i think). And one more, How can we apply for the EAD, (765)? I am reading everyone is just getting their ssn's but i have not seen anything about the EAD. While still at the USCIS, i enquired and remember the rep saying something about we apply once he gets here and it should take like three - six weeks? Is that right?   Marhaba,   You have six months from the date of the medical to enter the United States, no matter what day your interview is on.  Your husband needs to have entered the US before that six months is up.    Your Green Card will be good for 2 years (I'm assuming you have been married for less than two years).  Your husband's CR-1 visa includes the right to work.  He does not need to apply for EAD.  What he DOES need to have is a Social Security Number.     The physical green card normally arrives within six weeks of POE - but not always.  If you apply for a SSN at your local office, they usually say it will be to you within a week - two weeks at the most.  If you wait for the Department of Homeland Security to send the data to the Social Security Administration, you may wait a lot longer.   Does this help?   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-27 15:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Hi Sukie,   I don't know if you're aware of it but until this business is concluded, Julie can use her foreign driver's license, as long as it is in English or accompanied by an international permit. At least this is the case in all the States I visited and rented vehicles from, unless this rule is not applicable to fresh immigrant arrivals. Just make sure she's insured.   PS. It was me who suggested nudging the CBP officer... sorry it didn't work and am glad you didn't overdo it.   MoBar - I THOUGHT it was you!!!  Yes, we know that her Australian license is good - BUT - New York requires her to make the first move on her driver's license within 30 days after she immigrates.  Many police officers wouldn't know this, but that's what the law says.  Since she cannot even apply for her learner's permit until she has the SSN card, that's why we need that card ASAP.   Since Oz drives on the "other" side of the road, I do (most) of the driving when we are in the States, and she does most of the driving when we're in Oz.  But we each need to be licensed in the "other" country!   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-25 07:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Interview on July 22nd in Sydney APPROVED.   Super easy and everyone was very friendly!   Woo-hoo, Caitlin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So happy for you!!!  Be sure to write a review on the Sydney Consulate!   When/where is your POE?????   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-24 22:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Hey folks!  Waving from the Hudson Valley in New York with some friendly advice about Social Security Numbers!   We very clearly ticked the box saying we wanted Julie to get her Social Security Number (it's in the DS-260).  Someone on the list (thank you, whoever you were) said it was good to remind the CBP officer at the POE to make sure the box was checked on their screen too, because that is really the place that the SSN request is generated.   We very carefully mentioned it to both the first CBP officer at JFK, and he heard us, but didn't comment.  We also mentioned it to the second CBP officer in the secondary room after he said that everything would be sent to the address specified in the DS-260.  I said something like - that means the Social Security Number too, right?  And he said, Oh, you can go to your local office to apply for that.   Neither of us was willing to push a CBP officer further and tell him to check the box on the screen, so we just got out of there.   But we did wonder if the SSN request was in the system, or whether we needed to go into our local office.  I really didn't want to go to our local office.  We live in a very small town that is not, as a whole, well-educated or very wealthy, and I've been in the SSN office before, and it wasn't too pleasant.   But since Julie needs a Social Security Card in hand before she can apply for a Driver's License, we wanted to make sure the SSN generation was in process.   So we went to the office and Julie went up and checked to see if they could tell if a request had been generated.  As it turns out, the clerk helping her (who had to be in her early 40s) had NEVER processed a CR-1 or IR-1 visa applicant before!  She had to look everything up!  We had to wait about 35 minutes in line - there were about 10 British young people ahead of us who were summer camp counselors getting their SSNs - so I found a paper copy of the application that Julie had filled out before her number was called.   And...it turned out that the CBP officers had NOT generated the SSN request.  Julie immigrated 8 days ago, so that has put us at least a week behind on getting the SSN.   However - the clerk said she'd get it in the mail within a week, most likely, which is still a week ahead of what we'd been told it would take when it was generated via the DS-260.   My advice?  I think it probably depends on your POE - and JFK has three terminals that handle international flights - so perhaps it's only Terminal 7 that doesn't tick the box on the system.  But double-check - either at POE, or...go into your local office if you can.  Try to make sure you understand whether they've done it at the POE - otherwise, you will HAVE to go to your local office.   By the way - New York is a tough state in which to get a license if you are anything but Canadian.  They do not allow reciprocal privileges for any other country.  Julie, at nearly 60 years old, will be required to get a learner's permit first, take at least 5 hours of driving lessons, and take both a written and a driving test.  I've got to teach her how to parallel park.....   Sukie in NY Edited by Sukie, 24 July 2014 - 10:10 PM.	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-24 22:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Thanks for the info, Sukie.  We haven't booked tix yet as we're waiting until the passports/visas to arrive, but most likely she'll arrive around 6 pm at Terminal 1.   Bill     Bill - I think 5-6 p.m. is the busiest time at JFK.  I remember finding a website (and I'm sorry - I didn't bookmark it) that had immigration stats that said this was "prime time".  The only difference this would make is in stress levels, both for you, as you wait, and your spouse, as she has to stand in line.   On the other hand, if they really do expedite first timers, then you have no worries!   Best to you both!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-20 22:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Sounds great, thanks!     I'm not sure that every terminal (those who have immigration desks) at JFK works in exactly the same way.  We got in at about 1:15 p.m. in Terminal 7.  Since I (the USC) was with my spouse, I took her with me through the USC line.  The officer stamped my passport and put the "official" stamp by her CR-1 visa, then he took BOTH of us to the processing office.  He opened her packet and just checked to see that her medical report was in the stack of papers.  The officer in the processing office looked through the whole packet and told us everything would be mailed to us at our US address.   WJones - I think your spouse will have to ask as etrangais suggested.  At which terminal, and at what time will your spouse arrive?   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-20 19:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	The unspoken truth is: You need a lawyer for the USCIS stage and a psychiatrist for the NVC stage, to come through both unscathed.   Too right, MoBar65!!!  Honestly, we should start of list of the very best quips throughout the process.  This one HAS to be near the top!   Sukie in the USA	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-18 12:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	The fat lady finally sang for you. What a journey! I'm curious about one thing (did read your review). Did they consider your partnership valid from registration date or DOMA striking date? In other words, did/will you get a conditional GC or a 10-year one?       We married in the US in March 2013 and DOMA fell in June 2013 - so neither date would have given us the two years we needed. DOMA's demise allowed me to petition for Julie - but the "start" date would be March 2013.  Two-year conditional is it.   Sukie in the USA!	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-16 01:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Our story at JFK today...   http://www.visajourn...php?entry=15692   Sukie in the USA	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-15 16:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	August 2014 Interviews	Julie and I passed through immigration at JFK about 3 hours ago.  It was extremely easy.  I'll write more later in the reviews - but we are so exhausted after our 26 hour flights from Australia that we are napping now!   Sukie in the USA!	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-07-15 14:42:00