biggish data

Attending visa interview before embassy receives medical exam results?

Oh dont let that panic you. Medical case is a very complicated one. I have a rare condition and other health conditions. The Visa Dr had never come across before is all that happened, my Son also has his own fair share of health related issues.
Our medicals were done in July, we were approved our Visas pending medical results arriving at the Embassy.

Due to our complicated Med history, it was fair, i believe for the Visa Dr to issue us with several letters to be passed to our Gp.
She wanted some further information and further tests doing.

Due to this, until the Visa Dr was satisfied our medical results were not sent to the Embassy in the normal time frame of a few days.
It was actually several months.
Down side was that the day after our Medicals we had our Embassy interview. As per Embassy routine our passports were taken and held by them until the visas were printed. They could not print our visas until they obtained our medical results.
So yea, they had a hold of our passports at the Embassy for a good few months.

Not to worry though, when we did finally get our passports back they did have 6 months to expire. Expire in April this year.
Im actually emigrating next week and my Son is now going to follow me on. Change of plans in regard to him.

The courier called again today to collect his brown envelope and passport back. He is now going to be reissued with a new visa, with new expiry date.

The delay actually did us a big favor. By sheer flook a few abnormalities were found that needed treatment and further tests. For one i was offered an operation in January, but due to the delay it would cause (another 3 months) i have declined and just went for medication.
Im feeling oh so much better now and even got a 5 day, day patient infusion boost (leaving present) off my specialist.

I cant speak highly enough of how our case has been handled. The Medical Dr was fantastic. The London Embassy extremely helpful and understanding.
My NHS specialist has been lovely (tbh i think he wants a free hotel offer when he visits us in America)
Now Its finally time to go grab the guy, that has waited oh so patiently for me by the legs <3
Please dont let my time line dishearten you. Alot of good came out of it.

Wow that sounds like you have had quite the journey behind you! I'm glad everything worked out for you and your son, I hope your medical condition will get better and wish you a fantastic life in the States!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-17 18:35:00

Attending visa interview before embassy receives medical exam results?

Due to the travel. We did our Medical one day and Visa interview the next.
You will be given a receipt by the Medical people to prove you have been there.
The Embassy didnt ask to see our receipt although i did offer it when they mentioned no med results yet at our interview.
I just explained, that it was easier to do this in one trip and the Consular officer just smiled and said no problem. That was at the back end of July. So i dont know if anything has changed since then. My advice would be when you book your Medical just ask them. They seemed pretty savvy on how things currently are with the Embassy.

Sorry I know that this is an old post, but Twinkles, I just read in your Signature that it took almost 3 months after your interview for them to send you your passport back??

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-15 16:28:00

Medical in London

awesome, thanks! One less thing to worry about then.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-03-19 17:27:00

Medical in London

So I'm reading that I need my Vaccination Records for my medical. Is that what we in Germany call an "Impfpass", here's what that looks like Posted Image

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-03-18 11:21:00

the next queue is 'final review'.

Suggest you call NVC, get a Human™, inquire for casefile status, ask them about 'final review'.

Good Luck !

Thanks a bunch! Can't believe they FINALLY finished the paperwork.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-03-27 05:57:00

NVC finally completed my case on the 24th. However the hotline message literally just states that (plus "please wait 8 weeks for further instructions"). Now what? Are they contacting the Embassy here in the UK? Do I need to call anybody or can I prepare somehow? Would it help to call the NVC Monday and talk directly to an Operator?

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-03-26 15:19:00

Geez so I sent of my package over two weeks ago and it finally arrived a few days back. Now I'm calling the NVC hotline about 20 times a day but there is still no update. How long does it take them to scan my stuff???

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-25 12:42:00

Excellent ! Since you sent off the I-864 and DS-230, I'll predict a final review for you sometime the end of the 2nd week in March. (which would mean scheduling in April, interview in May)

Oh god I hope it's early May, my plane ticket to Germany is booked for the 17th of May and US ticket on the 30th.....yes yes, don't book before you have your visa, I know I know....

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-17 18:38:00

hey Asuka - what news? hope all is well !

Well I immediately ran to the city to get passport pictures taken and sent my package off. Now I'm tracking my package waiting for it to arrive...hopefully soon!!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-14 16:59:00

There's a nice one in Leeds.

The one in Liverpool, not so nice

I'm sure they've got quite a few out here

One last question, I'm sending out my package tomorrow morning (Post office was closed by the time I got back from college

), once it arrives at the NVC, about how long is it gonna take before the next step, i.e. the scheduling of the interview.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-09 15:47:00

re: documents to Embassy

scattered throughout the instructions here and the guides -
is the concept of bringing a COPY or yet another ORIGINAL
of everything that was submitted to USCIS and NVC.

NVC needs, at this stage:
I-864 with income data addendums (tax returns, w-2s, letter of employment, bank statements ETC)
DS-230 with CIVIL DOCUMENTS, beneficiary's prior divorce paperwork as well.

so, anything to 'bring to embassy' is really only as a backup, in case things got lost between USCIS and NVC and the US Embassy IV unit.
whew !

the relationship evidence, on Interview Day, is optional - it's up to you to bring it, or not, it's NOT REQUIRED. Many ppl do bring it, though.
----
I'm stumped when I read yer words, it's as if yer following the DCF guide and not the regular I-130 guide.
---

Ok, thank you, thank you thank you1 I seriously can't thank you enough. I am so completely overwhelmed by all of this and every time I'm confident that we are on track, I stumble over something else that I forgot or overlooked or didn't account for. I'm just slowly going nuts, so if I don't get this stupid Greencard soon, they'll have to send me to the nearest asylum...

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-08 15:53:00

Ok, going to the post office asap. Just making sure I have everything here:

DS.230
I-864 (plus W2s and birth certificate)
I-864A (plus W2s and birth certificate)
both coversheets

Am I missing anything? I mean all that other stuff (police certificates, photographs etc) that I assumed I need to bring to the Embassy, do I need to send that in now?

Edited by Asuka, 08 February 2011 - 11:40 AM.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-08 11:39:00

Also I just called the NVC hotline with my NVC case number and the automated message told me that they send out a package to my agent (aka my husband) on January 14th. However we haven't received anything yet. Might that be the issue? It said to wait 6 weeks before contacting the NVC about it. Do I really have to wait that long and hope that this alleged package will still arrive, even though almost 4 weeks have passed?

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-08 10:57:00

I'm guessing no coversheets were printed - the coversheets contain barcode with additional mailing instructions.

Good Luck ! Sometimes training a USC Husband is much more difficult than training an immigration attorney !

(Big PS - now that the IV fee bill is paid, strongly suggest to send off the I-864 and DS-230 set in the same package, to the DS-230 address in the coversheet - will shave 2 to 3 weeks off of yer current processing time)

Ok I missed the section with the coversheet completely, dammit! That set me back a month

But now I'm confused, I thought I don't have to send the I-864 anywhere, I thought I need to bring that with me to my interview at US Embassy once I get an interview scheduled. I also haven't received a DS-230 package yet. So what do I do now??? The coversheet states to check the website for instructions and there it says

"If you have not been requested by the NVC to complete an Affidavit of Support it may be because:

* You have not paid the Affidavit of Support processing fee, or
* Your petition is not ready to begin processing at the NVC"

I have paid the fee, so what is the issue??? I am going insane here.

PS: A big HAHA for training the USC husband. So far I've been filing everything myself, he says because I have "experience" with visas (I had a J1 once lol) I would be better at it...

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-08 10:31:00

We received word from the NVC in early January that they registered my husband as my agent and they also send us the invoice for the $404 IV Immigrant Visa processing fee, which we paid immediately (status online confirms that it is Paid). That has been almost a month ago and we haven't received any information on how to proceed from here. I just send an email to the NVC about it. Can somebody tell me what's next or why they leave you without further instructions?
If I'm not completely mistaken the next step is them sending me a list of documents I'll need for my interview (I've been preparing those already). Is that correct or am I missing something here?

Edited by Asuka, 06 February 2011 - 11:33 AM.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-06 11:32:00

Interview at London Embassy

This may have been asked here before but everywhere I look, I find confusing information. What exactly do I need to bring to my CR1 Visa interview? I will obviously bring the appointment letter and copies of all the papers I've previously sent to the NVC, but do I need anything else? I keep reading about passport pictures but when I check the official US Embassy website, I find no mentioning of it. Thanks!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-06-06 15:53:00

IR1 Visa Valid FROM

That's fantastic thanks a bunch!!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-06-22 07:27:00

IR1 Visa Valid FROM

Hey I've recently had my interview at the US Embassy in London, and now I'm waiting to get my passport back here in Germany. It's now kind of a time issue, it should be here within the next week or so and I want to book my plane ticket to the US immediately (prices are astronomical already!). My question is will the visa they put in my passport be valid immediately? I had my interview on the 16th, will they use that as the starting date or is it possible that they might have put, for example, July 1st on there?

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-06-22 06:37:00

That brings me to my next worry, we will have to file for change of address when he moves correct? (Yes)
Where do we send it to? (To USCIS, contact them after submitting I-130)

To the USCIS....where? Which office?

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-20 10:15:00

Yes it is, plus add a coefficient factor of few weeks to a month.

Loto

Wow, that would be great....may I ask what you are basing this knowledge on though? My husband always questions everything so I want to be able to tell him

Thank you so much for your help!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-20 10:12:00

Yes, filing abroad (DCF) is faster if your husband meets the residence abroad (at least 6 months).

Loto

I get the concept that filing abroad is faster, but THAT MUCH faster?

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-20 10:01:00

IMO, either way ya go, ya gotta wait 8 to 11 months.

Some projected timeline for you, I-130 filed to lockbox in Chicago -

File I-130
Approval - 5 to 6 months later
Approved I-130 sent to NVC - 2 weeks
NVC Processing (DS-230, I-864 intake) - 1 to 3 months
Appointment date set - 1 month
interview - 2 weeks to 1 month

min time - 8 months. max time - 11.5 months

Some projected timeline for you, I-130 filed to US Embassy/London -
Wait 6 months before becoming eligible
File I-130, get approval - 1 month
File DS-230, get appointment date - 1 month
interview appointment - 2 weeks to 1 month

min time - 8.5 months, max time - 9 months

Let us know what you decide, later ?

Good Luck, and welcome to VJ !

Darnell, what are you basing these times on? the 6 months waiting for becoming eligible aside, that would mean the whole filing abroad process takes only 3 months???

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-20 06:57:00

As per your statement, you are married and not qualified for DCF, then only option is IR1/CR1. This has to be filed with the USCIS here. I don't think this can be transferred to UK. To follow up your I-130 petition, NVC process, somebody (preferably your husband) has to be in the U.S. Also, as part of NVC process, there is an Affidavit of Support (I-864) where there must be min. income requirement to overcome the poverty guidelines to sponsor you.

Loto

Well I guess than we HAVE TO file in the US since my husband doesn't qualify for DCF. Where should we file though? To the Center that's responsible for SD (that's where he currently lives) or for NC (where his permanent address is)?.
And why does he HAVE TO be in the US in order for us to file it? That's the part I don't understand. If he's allowed to legally reside in the UK (for a limited time), shouldn't he be able to file from there as well? I mean he is coming to the UK so that we don't have to be apart for long again, shouldn't that be the desirable way?

I understand the employment problem with the I-864, but we have assets and already have a joint sponsor, as my husband is probably not going to be able to meet the requirements (he probably won't be employed by the time we file and if he does, it will be in the UK).

That brings me to my next worry, we will have to file for change of address when he moves correct? Where do we send it to? I've read the instructions on the I-865 "Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address" but it only offers you the 4 USCIS Service Centers in the US, depending on what US state you move to....

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-20 06:54:00

Guide here: http://www.visajourn.../content/guides

Loto

Thank you but I am still confused. Because the thing is that the DCF form states that we can only file the I-130 in the UK if my husband (the US citizen) has lived there for at least 6 months. But for the purpose of saving time we want to file as soon as possible (while he is still in the US). But he will move to the UK soon after that and we do not want to sit around there for 6 months before we start filing. My husband will be in the UK on an EEA Family member visa and will join me in the UK for the whole 9 months that I will be there. Is there such a thing as "intent" that they would accept? We've reached a point where we are just completely overwhelmed and can't even find a point to start.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-19 20:30:00

Hi I'm a German citizen married to an American and we're getting ready to file my I-130 for my Green card. However we are confused on a few points. When we do the initial filing, he will be in the US and I will be in the UK. Now he will join me a few weeks later, by the time he will join me they'll probably not even have processed it. Anyway we are wondering if we have to file in the US or in the Embassy in London? Can we send it to the US Visa center and than (once he comes to the UK) change his address and have all the paperwork send to us in the UK? Might that delay things? Thank you in advance!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-19 18:16:00

I-130 filing fee

Thank you! Man this stuff is stressing me out!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-24 08:52:00

I-130 filing fee

Ok, probably a stupid question but when do I need to pay the I-130 filing fee of $ 355? Do I send in the check with the I-130 or do I wait for them to send me a notification to pay? Thank you!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-21 13:05:00

Marriage certificate or Extract from marriage registration?

that is what I subbmited International marriage licence wich is writen in multiple lagnguages:)

Just that or the other one as well?

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-24 17:51:00

Marriage certificate or Extract from marriage registration?

Along with the International Marriage Certificate, I sent an explaination that it is an Official Original document signed and stamped by the Standesamt. I did this because another VJer got his International Certificate rejected, initially, for not including this statement.

Hey thanks Matt, sounds good!

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-24 11:43:00

Marriage certificate or Extract from marriage registration?

And you said it was stamped? sounds legit to me.

Yup, it has an official seal (the same that's on my marriage certificate) and a signature on it

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-24 11:39:00

Marriage certificate or Extract from marriage registration?

If it has the same information on it as the other document, and meets the requirements for an "official" document - it should be sufficient.

It does, it has the names of both partners (incl. my maiden name), date and place of marriage, date and place of birth...

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-24 10:22:00

Marriage certificate or Extract from marriage registration?

I do not know legal documents in Germany, but you need a document to prove that you are married with the petitioner of your immigrant visa. According to you, Germany has a document called marriage certificate, so you need to send it with English translation if it is not originally written in English. If I were you, I also attach extract which is originally written in English too.

Before you find someone to translate or translate by yourself, ask your local office in Germany if they have English version of marriage certificate. I heard that someone from a small town in Japan fond out that her local office had English version. If they have, you might save your energy.

By the way, is your name from Eva? Asuka from Germany . . .

Yes Asuka stems indeed from NGE

Anyway, the extract from the marriage registration is also an original government issued document, I remember when we got married, they asked us if we wanted an "international marriage certificate" and that is what they gave us. Im just wondering if it would be sufficient.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-24 09:37:00

Marriage certificate or Extract from marriage registration?

Which one should I send in with my I-130? I don't know if that's a question that just applies to me as a German citizen or if that's a general issue. My marriage certificate is (of course) in German and looks nice and offical. The extract from the marriage registration is in table form and is in several languages. Would the extract be sufficient? I mean it's stll an official document with the seal and everything and since it is in multiple languages I wouldn't have to get it translated.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2010-08-24 08:59:00

Interview - Question about birth certificate

originals.

Yeah but I already send in the original with the I-130 in the beginning, so shouldn't they technically have it??

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-01-13 18:02:00

Interview - Question about birth certificate

So hopefully I will receive my interview appointment soon (yeah yeah I know, there is another step in between), and I am already compiling my paperwork. I will be interviewing at the Embassy in London and according to their website, I need:

"Birth Certificate: Obtain the original, or certified copy, of the birth record of each family member (yourself, your spouse..." Ergo two birth certificates. Now mine is not the problem, however my husbands, the USC, is the issue. We send in his ORIGINAL birth certificate with the initial I-130 package and all we have left now is an uncertified b/w copy of it. Do we need to get ANOTHER original or will the copy do?

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-01-13 16:11:00

Document Cover Sheet vs. Barcode Cover Sheet

I just sent back my 864 and supporting info with the Document Cover Sheet. I looked at my AOS receipt and it didn't have a barcode on it. Did yours? My request of agent form did though and they requested it be filled out and they said scanning and emailing it back would be ok. Hope this helps some.....

Bob

Both the AOS cover sheet and the IV cover sheet had bar codes on it. And I figured it out after closer inspection and a lot of zoom work that they were in fact the same bar codes.

Asuka

Female

Germany

2011-02-14 18:37:00