biggish data

K1 Visa received, opened wrong envelope

Any idea what the direct number would be? The only number I found was to the automated system...

minme

Male

Brazil

2010-06-05 10:23:00

K1 Visa received, opened wrong envelope

Does it have to be the same consulate? She lives in Belo Horizonte. Any chance they would seal it?

minme

Male

Brazil

2010-06-05 10:21:00

K1 Visa received, opened wrong envelope

My fiance received her K-1 Visa and the envelope for the port authority. Her friend had sent it to her, since we delivered it to his address (he lives in Rio). But he didn't warn her that she shouldn't open the port authority envelope until after she already had, and she was too anxious so she didn't read what was on it. It says there's a $300 fee if opened. Does anyone know more about this? Should she have $300 in hand at her POE? Will this delay her entry, or is there a possibility of being denied?

She's upset that she didn't read it first but I'm trying to calm her down. Any help or insight is appreciated.

minme

Male

Brazil

2010-06-05 10:07:00

JFK entry, looking for EAD

What about study? Can she go to school?

minme

Male

Brazil

2010-06-20 12:19:00

JFK entry, looking for EAD

My fiance flew in on Thursday, and I was looking through her passport to see if she got the EAD, but I'm not sure what to look for. I'm pretty sure she didn't get it, but I'd like to make sure I didn't just miss it. Can anyone tell me what it should say, or what it should look like?
Thanks!

minme

Male

Brazil

2010-06-19 18:17:00

Name change questions

Found out we did everything correctly. I picked up the marriage certificate today, and asked the lady assisting me. She said that we just need to change the SSN name and Driver's License name.

minme

Male

Brazil

2010-07-06 18:53:00

Name change questions

I could use some help, since I think we made a mistake on the marriage license. My (former) fiancée, now wife, and I got married last week, but then it occurred to me that we never changed her name. I started looking at the marriage license, and it seems like where it says "Full name of the Female" is where we should have had her new name.

- How do we change her name? Was her new name supposed to be shown on the marriage license? Does it show up on the marriage certificate?
- Can she change her first and last name or only her last name? (she has a compound first name and she just wants to drop one of the names)

If we were supposed to change it on the marriage license, but did that incorrectly, I'm under the impression that it takes a few months to get it changed. Should we do everything (AOS, EAD, AP, SS#, Driver's License) in her maiden name for now, and then change everything once the new marriage certificate comes through?

If we made the mistake already, please don't scold us. Try to be helpful. It sucks enough if we did make a mistake...

minme

Male

Brazil

2010-07-05 17:09:00

NVC process questions

I really hope this system works - so far I'm 0 for 2 in asking people at NVC for an IIN ... They say the system isn't secure and/or ready yet so they imply there's no IIN - but there must be .. Then again, my I-130 just got there 2 days ago LOL

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-09 18:06:00

NVC process questions

Hey guys - not to rain on anyone's parade but the USCIS has thought me to be paranoid. So, I have to ask whether the online payment system for NVC is really working. I've called the NVC and twice have been told that the online system is not yet "ready" or "secure". Soooo, I don't have an IIN - yet!

I talked to the NVC people again and got some more clarifications for certain questions -

I learned that the medical exam will happen after everything is done here (it will happen in India).

From what I can tell - a copy of the I-130 approval, our NVC case #, and printout of instructions from state department website regarding the CR-1 process will suffice to get the police station to get moving and do a background check (when I was pursuing the K3, they said that they wanted the interview letter in my wife's hands in order to start the process - but obviously now we don't have an interview letter until AFTER the process is done here in the USA - so I'm HOPING the above is 'proof enough' that we have a NVC case going on ...) .. Do you guys think this will suffice???

Other than that - I'm still seeing if the I-129F comes through in the immediate future.

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-09 08:42:00

Passport Police Report ? --

QUOTE (ROZA @ May 20 2008, 05:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In case of new issuance of passport, you dont need PCC from local police that means you need PCC from passport office only.

In case of any correction(change of address,name change,adding spouse name) on passport, You need PCC from both authorities because Passport office doesnt change date of issuance on passport that means you passport is older than SIX months.

I just heard that from the NVC rep this morning and verified it online - in that case, it's GREAT news ... the PCC from the Passport Office takes just one day - whereas a local office can take a while!

I think the NVC knows that things can be bought in India pretty easily, so they're not trusting the police office lol ...

Here's the text I found on the reciprocity page which seems to apply to my wife as she picked up her NEW passport with her new last name (awesome!) on 5/19 ...

All Indian IV applicants aged 16 and above, residing in India, should obtain police certificates from the local Passport Office. These are usually more dependable than those obtained at a local level and indicate that the subject had no serious criminal convictions on record at the time of passport issuance. Applicants whose Indian passport was issued within the past six months may present just the Passport Office Police Certificate, and need not obtain additional police clearances.

Here's the link to the page on Reciprocity as it pertains to India ...

http://travel.state....ocity_3582.html

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-20 09:36:00

Passport Police Report ? --

QUOTE (hyd617 @ May 19 2008, 09:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (rajee @ May 19 2008, 08:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just a quick question ... My wife just got a BRAND NEW passport made in India ... Now on the state.gov website it's not asking for both background checks -- Frankly it's not mentioning them at all ...

If I remember correctly, a passport older than 6 months means passport background check is also necessary ...

However, now with the wrinkle that she literally picked up her new passport TODAY, is there any need for the passport office background check?

Thanks as always - waiting to update you guys on more progress ... I sent my AOS packet last week and it was received on Friday but the automated system still just talks about the bill payment on 5/11 ... I'm having trouble getting a hold of a live operator.

rajee my husband got a new passport too for our i130 process.. anywyas he got it b/c he needed to get his name split. in india they go by last name first and first name last. so now his new passport has his first name on one line and last name on another line..which was required by chennai embassy

so he got a new PCC for the new passport... i dont know if this answers ur question but he did not need any type of check...

good luck!! i jus paid my 1v fee so jus waiting to send ds 230 as soon as the payment clears.. we r luky with the new online system our process is moving fast!

So you didn't get both background checks??? (Local police station and Passport office check) ...

I think I'm confusing myself lol ... But I'll call NVC also to make sure ...

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-19 21:13:00

Passport Police Report ? --

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-19 20:17:00

IIN vs Beneficiary ID ...

QUOTE (ROZA @ May 17 2008, 04:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is a new thing for me. i dont have the beneficiary id and i never be asked for it.

I don't get it either - maybe they'll ask for it on the IV Bill? I know I can still log into the online payment site with just the case # and IIN ... But my IV Bill isn't invoiced yet (probably won't be till tomorrow or Thursday since my wife's DS-3032 agent email was "accepted" yesterday)

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-20 20:14:00

IIN vs Beneficiary ID ...

Hey guys - just a quick question ... I got my IIN number a while ago and have since paid my AOS bill online without a glitch...

At the time I got the IIN, the guy at NVC also told me about a Beneficiary ID ... I didn't have anywhere on the site to list that ID, so I pretty much ignored it ...

Today, I finally got a reply from NVC for an earlier email I had written requesting my IIN (before I had gotten it on the phone) ... The email reply I got today gave me the BENEFICIARY ID and said "Please be advised that the IIN is ... " (and the Beneficiary ID # was given) ...

SOOOOO - do I have a problem? I paid the AOS with the IIN that I was given on the phone and it worked ...

HELP lol

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-16 23:10:00

DS-230 - Photo required on form?

QUOTE (nadzeela @ May 21 2008, 01:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

you need 2 photos but don't need to attach any em, you can use the paper clip to attch em with other documents if you want to...

I think you guys are right about not needing photo attached on DS-230 - it's just that weird box that was throwing my wife off lol

By the way ... nadzeela ... I see in your timeline that you, like me, started with a K3 process and the I-129F got "stuck" ... same thing appears to be happening with me ... so I'm doing the CR-1 thing too ... I was wondering, since your I-129F is now approved, what are you doing to make sure it doesn't mess things up??? Do you have to contact CIS and cancel it?

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-21 18:47:00

DS-230 - Photo required on form?

The title is pretty self-explanatory ... I think the answer is NO but I want to check ...

My wife was wondering whether she needed to attach a photo on Page 1 of DS-230 (Part I) ... She sees the rectangular box on the top left and was not sure .... I don't see it demarcated as a photo box but just asking

Thanks!

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-21 09:35:00

How long do the NVC steps take in people's actual experience?

Hey guys - how long did you wait between getting your choice of agent approved and getting the IV bill invoiced online???

I'm still waiting (agent approved 5/19) ... I'm checking all the time so that I can pay the bill since it takes a couple days for it to clear from my bank and all - my wife is going to send me all her paperwork for the IV packet in the next day or two ...

Also, my AOS was entered in the system 5/19 (same day) even though it got to NH on 5/16 ... Wondering how long my AOS will take to process (the line they give me is "2-4 weeks") ...

Then the main question is how fast will they complete my case once I send the IV packet in! lol

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-22 20:15:00

Date on DS-230

Does it matter what date we put on the DS-230 ... My wife's packet is ready and she is sending her stuff to me tomorrow ... I haven't even had the IV Bill invoiced yet ... Is it necessary that we put a date on the DS-230 form which is AFTER the invoice date or after the bill is PAID or does it not matter??? I figure to be safest she should date it approximately 5-6 days from now lol

Thanks guys!

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-23 08:21:00

waiting for IV Bill

I vote for paying online also

Have a look at my timeline below and you'll get an idea of how the process goes pretty smoothly with the online system

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-24 22:53:00

Hey guys - I've just sent off my DS-230 packet today -- going full speed ahead with the CR-1 for now!!!

My IV Bill status went to "PAID" today and I printed out the barcode cover letter and, luckily, got my wife's papers today also ... So off the packet went - Express Mail via USPS - expected in NH tomorrow by noon!

Last time my I-129F was touched was 5/26 ... so God only knows if that's about to get approved soon ... NVC representative wasn't helpful with what I "should" do ... but she gave me a number for a Visa Office in Washington, D.C. that I have to try to call soon ...

Good luck to everyone!

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-28 18:30:00

Also I noticed that the auto-response system at the NVC was giving me the "missing documents" message that people have mentioned are normal while the NVC waits for the DS-230 packet ... Does this mean that my AOS is in the clear??? Would there be a different message if my AOS had insufficient evidence?

Thanks!

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-26 01:22:00

Roza, I agree - I don't want to go K3 route at all anymore - I'm more than halfway through NVC after having paid my IV invoice last night!! I was just concerned about the impact that the I-129F may have on my CR-1 process if it's approved before my wife's interview date ...

Mhal and Filiricans - I'm going to call NVC this coming workweek and ask if there's any concern about having a I-129F still pending while having the CR-1 process going full speed ahead ... Pushbrk seemed to say there's no problem with that (in another thread when I was asking the same thing lol)... so let's see - hopefully it's all smooth ... Best bet is that I-129F just doesn't get approved for my wife yet so that CR-1 goes through without any question lol ... But I don't want to cancel anything either so I'm not gonna cancel the I-129F unless I'm absolutely TOLD to ...

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-25 13:10:00

So... this morning I didn't see my IV BIll online - but tonight (at 11:30pm since I was out lol) I saw it invoiced and I PAID IT!!! ... So I hope that by Tuesday it's PAID rather than "IN PROCESS" ...

Anyway, lo and behold, I randomly checked the CIS site (since I have a I-129F "pending") and my I-129F was also touched yesterday after like 2 1/2 months ... Now I'm actually concerned it may be approved before the final interview date is decided on for the CR-1 ...

Anyone else have an I-129F approved after they decided to go the CR-1 route and were in the process? I'm like 3-4 days away from sending my wife's paperwork to the NVC (her stuff is on its way to my house already lol) ...

Suggestions? I am going to wait and watch but what to do if it's actually APPROVED in the meantime? LOL

Thanks guys!

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-24 22:49:00

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-28 20:32:00

Affidavit of Support: Tax Returns

I don't think you would need to worry too much. If you get an employment letter from your current employer and have adequate proof of income for the time you did actually work, I think a short written statement/note with an explanation that you did not work in the year 2005 should be sufficient. There are more knowledgeable folks on VJ, but that's my two cents

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-28 20:39:00

DS-230

QUOTE (2x2y2z @ Jun 1 2008, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't forget to look at the requirements for your embassy: http://travel.state..../info_3830.html

I'm in the process of doing mine. For me, I need:

1) The DS-230 (with my wife's signature on P1)
1) Notarized copy of police records for my wife
1) Notarized copy of birth certificate
1) Notarized copy of passport
1) Copy of marriage certificate and translation
2) 2x2 passport photos

And it would be best to include a cover letter. Oh, yes, you need the bar code paper.

It's the last hoop for us! Amen to that!

Hey just a quick question - I've already sent my stuff in for the DS-230 ... I sent all originals of my wife's documents (except for passport photocopy) - I thought they expressly requested "originals" and not copies for birth certificate (actually maybe for this there's an exception), marriage certificate, and police records ....

Also make sure you put the beneficiary's name, DOB, and case number on back of the passport photos!

QUOTE (2x2y2z @ Jun 1 2008, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-01 21:30:00

Question about interview

I was under the impression that we're not allowed to go into the interview with the beneficiary, but we can accompany them to the consulate and wait outside the room ... That's what I've heard ... No plans to fly to India for the interview at this point -- saving whatever vacation I can for when she comes HERE

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-02 21:31:00

Police clearance from India

It's just the passport office clearance certificate if the passport is "new" enough (less than 6 months) ... But it's BOTH (passport office and local district p. s.) if your passport is older than 6 months ... That's what I've learned in talking to NVC and poring over the reciprocity page ...

Edited by rajee, 02 June 2008 - 09:45 PM.

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-02 21:43:00

Bank Accounts

I ended up opening an account with my wife in India because I figured I couldn't do it here without a SSN for her ...

Didn't even try here but now I'm thinking the Bank of America idea isn't bad - maybe I can use some other forms of ID for her in this case ... I'll look into it (but I think my purposes are solved since the I-130 had the Indian account as proof and it must have been good enough lol)

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-02 21:30:00

NVC "DS-230 entered" to "Case Complete" to "Interview Date" Timelines!

I've heard the magic words -- CASE COMPLETE!

I called this morning and talked to a lady who kinda confused me .. She was sweet but I didn't get what she was trying to say totally ... I was going to actually ask VJ'ers if they had ever had a conversation like this ...

I'll paraphrase:

Me: Hi, I just wanted to know if my case was completed.
Her: Yes it looks like it's complete
M: Really? That's great - that was fast!
H: Looks like there was an expedite.
M: An expedite? There's a notice of an expedite on it?
H: Oh, actually, I don't see an expedite request on here.
M: Oh, so is it complete?
H: I'm looking at it and it's actually not quite complete. It seems the documents have all been reviewed, but they will be reviewing them one more time.
M: Oh, ok so it's not done ...
H: Looks like it's almost done - please call us back in a couple of days and we should have good news for you.
M: Thanks!

THEN OF COURSE - I called back at about 6:30pm today ...

Explained to the guy I talked to that I was confused by the above conversation and wasn't sure if it was completed or what's going on.

He said "Don't worry about it - it's all done."

My reaction, "WHAT? It's complete."

Him, "Yes, they completed it for you today, June 3rd".

Then he told me to just wait for an interview date and asked that I call back in 1-2 weeks as they will schedule further interviews during the second week of June, and possibly I should have an interview for July!

AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

THANKS TO VJ'ers for ALL THEIR SUPPORT!

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-03 18:21:00

NVC "DS-230 entered" to "Case Complete" to "Interview Date" Timelines!

Actually looks like there's already another thread for this ....

http://www.visajourn...h...6148&st=120 (that will take you to the last page as of 10:30am EST on 5/30/08) ...

We can go with that thread or this one - I'm fine with either

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-30 09:34:00

NVC "DS-230 entered" to "Case Complete" to "Interview Date" Timelines!

Hey guys - here's that thread I talked about ...

Let me have your DS-230 "entered into system" date and "Case Complete" date as well as country so we can keep track of it ...

You can provide the info yourself or point me to your timeline or give me the dates in a post ...

Here's the easiest format ...

Name/DS-230 entered/Case Complete/Interview Date/Country of Spouse

I'll start:

rajee/.../.../.../India

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-30 09:30:00

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-03 18:22:00

QUOTE (Amastar @ Jun 2 2008, 03:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wait a second.. I thought my wife needed something from the NVC before she could go get her police and medical records.

What exactly does she need to send me from the Police station?
I see in Loto's document it says;
7) Original 2 Police Certificates of the Beneficiary – One from the Passport office (PP Office PCC seems to be optional now) and the other from the Local District Police Station

Everything else I think I'm pretty clear about.

I think it may be necessary for the medical, since that gets "processed" in the country abroad ...

But for the police report, since CR-1 requires it to be submitted to NVC, you may be able to get someone to accept the I-130 approval notice as enough proof (along with some proof from NVC of having a case number, if they ask for it) ... However, I ended up not needing the Local District station -- we only needed the Passport Office report, which happened pretty easily because she had a brand new passport made as well, so there wasn't much of a hassle ...

We're waiting for the medical until we have the interview date and some official paperwork (since they'll give a few weeks' notice, and the medical takes only a day or two, that isn't too much of a concern) ...

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-02 20:44:00

QUOTE (KAHM @ Jun 2 2008, 01:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (rajee @ Jun 2 2008, 07:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some good news - I wish I had gotten through on Friday to put my concerns to rest earlier but I called this morning and it's official - NVC entered our DS-230 in the system on 5/30/08!!! Hopefully it'll be completed within the next week or so and we'll have a real shot at a July interview date!

rajee,

I would like to congratulate you with having your case completed at NVC within one month! Hope your wife is scheduled for an interview in July. You are an inspiration for CR1 filers. My visa journey started in May...I have a long way to go....

It's not quite complete yet, but I thank you for your kind words! It's all thanks to loto's work and my staying a little OCD/on top of it lol

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-02 20:40:00

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-02 09:38:00

QUOTE (srinivasanjan @ May 28 2008, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hi Rajee,

Did you send birth cert and marriage cert and police verification with ds-230 to NVC?

Thanks
Anjan

QUOTE (rajee @ May 28 2008, 08:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey guys - I've just sent off my DS-230 packet today -- going full speed ahead with the CR-1 for now!!!

My IV Bill status went to "PAID" today and I printed out the barcode cover letter and, luckily, got my wife's papers today also ... So off the packet went - Express Mail via USPS - expected in NH tomorrow by noon!

Last time my I-129F was touched was 5/26 ... so God only knows if that's about to get approved soon ... NVC representative wasn't helpful with what I "should" do regarding the concern that the I-129F could get to NVC soon and then be off to India before my CR-1!!! ... I don't know if my paranoia is justified, but it's there! lol

Anyway, she gave me a number for a Visa Office in Washington, D.C. that I have to try to call soon ...

Good luck to everyone!

Yup - my wife (beneficiary) got the following things together and I sent them all in with all 4 pages of DS-230 (last page not signed on purpose):

2 passport size photos of beneficiary
Marriage cert (I sent temple and "official" one)
Birth cert of beneficiary (with attested translation)
Passport Office Police Check
Photocopy of biographical info page(s) of beneficiary's passport

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-31 22:49:00

Hey guys - I've just sent off my DS-230 packet today -- going full speed ahead with the CR-1 for now!!!

My IV Bill status went to "PAID" today and I printed out the barcode cover letter and, luckily, got my wife's papers today also ... So off the packet went - Express Mail via USPS - expected in NH tomorrow by noon!

Last time my I-129F was touched was 5/26 ... so God only knows if that's about to get approved soon ... NVC representative wasn't helpful with what I "should" do regarding the concern that the I-129F could get to NVC soon and then be off to India before my CR-1!!! ... I don't know if my paranoia is justified, but it's there! lol

Anyway, she gave me a number for a Visa Office in Washington, D.C. that I have to try to call soon ...

Good luck to everyone!

rajee

Male

India

2008-05-28 20:33:00

OUR CASE IS COMPLETE AT THE NVC!!!!

QUOTE (DaniAndEnrique @ Jun 3 2008, 11:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Congrats!

Thanks!

rajee

Male

India

2008-06-03 22:07:00