biggish data

August I-130 approvals, lets do NVC together.

Hello,
My I-130 was approved August 25, and our case was completed at NVC on October 27.

Just a few more steps to go, whew

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-10-28 10:08:00

Birth Certificate

Thank you for your replies

Hmmm what a pickle. You never know if the USCIS is going to follow guidelines or not. I guess I had better order a long, one just in case. I'm anxious to get there (of course) and don't want to be held up for something silly like that.

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-09-13 16:49:00

Birth Certificate

I was just going through the "step by step guide on how to file a I-130" and see that in the list of pre-interview forms/items that I will need an "original or certified long birth certificate". I just want to get this cleared up before that time comes, so if I have to order a long birth certificate I can do that in advance. Anyways, I was born in Quebec and have my original birth certificate (business card type size) that was given originally to us laminated. It has both my parents names on the back of it. However, when I applied for my passport, they said I needed a new birth certicate (they had to reissue for anyone born in Quebec before or after a certain year? I cant' remember how that went exactly). Since they never said I had to destroy my old one, I now have 2 birth certificates. This second one is not laminated and does not have my parents names on it. Does anyone know if I need to order a long birth certificate, or will one of my other ones be just fine.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-09-12 22:26:00

case completed in 3 days at NVC

QUOTE (Ling Ling @ Oct 14 2008, 11:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

PLEASE be more accurate in your subject title.
Your DS-230 was reviewed in 3 days.
That is entirely different from the your entire NVC process being completed in 3 days.

Agreed! That confused me too...

I haven't done the NVC long, but my experience is they are very fast at doing processing. I sent in my I-864 and forgot to include the W2 and knew I would get a RFE for it and planned to send it with the DS-230 to cut shipping costs... To make a long story short (as I have that tendency to be long winded)... They got the packet on a Friday and on Tuesday night when I talked to the operator on the phone they had already reviewed it and issued the RFE.

So they are moving really fast!

Edited by Frazell Thomas, 15 October 2008 - 01:22 AM.

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-10-15 01:20:00

HELP! PORT of Entry - Los Angeles or Detroit?

I'd say bring as much information as you absolutely can...

She should bring everything she can think of to prove she's just visiting... The POE may be nicer, but the decision rests soley with that officer you get that day so YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Since she doesn't have a job I'd have return tickets, cell phone contracts (to show obligations in host country), bank statements, upcoming commitments, hell I'd throw in statements from her parents.

Better to have more than you need instead of less!

You can always disclose what you have in stages... If they seem unhappy add "we also have..." until they are happy that way you don't need to seem overly prepared either.

Good luck.

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-10-15 01:40:00

marriage with an international student

QUOTE (GueraYTavo @ Oct 14 2008, 11:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (ale25 @ Oct 14 2008, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hello everybody. I married my boyfriend the last month. He is an international student from Peru and has been studying here for about 2 years and a half. We have been together almost 3 years . I got here on may and I got the citizenship status through my father. We hired an attorney to help us with the applications and everythin, and we sent the papers last week. Today we went to the academic counselor in his college and she told us that our marriage doesnt affect his status. His visa and his I20 will expire in december. She told us that until he doesnt get the green card the only legal way to stay here is as an international student. We dont have money to pay school based on an out-of-state rate and we want to know if this explanation was true. She also told us that we have to wait a year after he gets his green card to get the in-state rate. So pretty much she told us that he will have to leave if he doesnt renew his I20 and keep studying as an international student next semester. I knew that as long as you prove that you have been resident in FL for at least 12 months or marry a FL resident you can get the in-state rate. What worry us the most is that if we dont pay this next semester he will be out of legal status according to the counselor said. So I was wondering if this is true and also what would be a solution if we cant pay school next semester. Thank you.

Complete and sovereign Bullsh!t! He can stay in the US since his status has changed from intl. student to foreign spouse adjusting status. Don't worry ale, that advisor is out of his/her mind. I would advise to go back and let her/him know that what he/she said is completely wrong. Your husband has the right to stay "legally" in this country (he cannot leave the US unless he receives his Advance Parole or Green Card though) but he can stay as long as he is married to you and his case is being reviewed by USCIS.

That's correct, he has to wait one year to be able to pay in-state, don't know about the part regarding marriage to a FL resident though.

Relax

The counselor probably doesn't know immigration law that in depth and only knows he has to still be a student to have a valid student visa

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-10-15 01:54:00

Canadians waiting for Montreal Interview CR-1

Thanks for the link. Awesome to have all that information right there

Thanks again!

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-11-03 10:35:00

Canadians waiting for Montreal Interview CR-1

I'm waiting to hear for an interview date at Montreal....anyday now....

Will be SOOOO glad when this is all over. It's been too long!

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-11-02 20:09:00

Waiting for my interview (Dec 18th, Montreal)

I'll make sure to bring along the payment receipts

I plan on taking everything I've ever sent them and everything I've ever received from them, and some extras too

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-12-08 20:16:00

Waiting for my interview (Dec 18th, Montreal)

Thanks! I just had this feeling like I was supposed to fill out some forms or something (there's always more forms it seems!) But I'm glad to know I've got everything done, just have to get that Xpresspost mailer. Woot! Come on December 18!! I'm ready!

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-12-08 17:22:00

Waiting for my interview (Dec 18th, Montreal)

Hello.
I've got my interview set for December 18th in Montreal. Besides the Medical and getting passport photos, and evidence of a bona-fide marriage, is there anything else I'm supposed be doing in the meantime? I just want to make sure I'm not supposed to be filling out a form I don't know about..

Thanks guys

Frazell Thomas

Male

Canada

2008-12-07 21:40:00

Middle East and North Africa

Can i travel to europe with Green card or i need visa for that

Hello everybody, I want to clear up everything. The only country thatt you can enter with green card is SWITZERLAND, the other you need a visa or a Passport with power like US, Canada or any country with economical power that is included in the agreement of Free visa. Of course, the possibility of giving the visa of enter to European countries is very high if you live in the U.S., of course, the europen countries know that you are not going to try to attempt to stay to work in the their countries because you already live in the U.S. The other countries are all central america, Mexico, Canada, all the Caribbean Islands. Absolute the rest of the countries you need a visa to enter or a powerful passport like I mentioned above. I can assure that I'm telling this is totally the thruth. I really don't know how powerful is the Morocoon Passport and you the Moroccon Nationals or Citizens have a kind of special privilege as other passport like maybe Lebanon and Italy passports, I really don't know. So you have to check out the priviledges that may your passport has or not. I can assure what I'm talking. There was another person who tried to write something different, I'm sorry for that person, but I think he is wrong. Thanks for your attention and cooperation, bye,

jcrom

Male

Colombia

2009-09-04 20:45:00

Middle East and North Africa

Can i travel to europe with Green card or i need visa for that

Hello, how are you ? I hope my insight can help you on something. The countries that you can show green card to enter in Europe, you just need your passport from your country and the green card is just SWITZERLAND. For the other countries in Europe, you need the schengen visa or the visa of the country you are traveling to. The thing is that I don't know what requirements are asked to Moroccon people to travel to Europe. I am pretty sure that you only can enter with the help of the green card without visa is just to SWITZERLAND, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the whole Caribbean Islands, the rest you need a Visa for enter to them; or unless you can become U.S. citizen and you don't need any visa for periods of less than 6 months as a tourist, for more time than that you need a visa even though if you have U.S. passport,. Thanks and bye,

jcrom

Male

Colombia

2009-09-03 02:21:00

Need to do anything to officially switch?

QUOTE (hope1 @ Sep 16 2008, 01:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Rachel Marie @ Sep 16 2008, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Because of issues with... well, whatever, my husband's I-129F was denied but his I-130 was approved.

Is there anything I need to do to OFFICIALLY switch to a CR-1 now that we're at NVC? Should I contact them?

Thanks!

Your I-12f was deined becuase ou sent your I-129f beofre the I-130

I know, I just didn't care to get into the whole spiel again.

Rachel Marie

Female

Canada

2008-09-16 22:21:00

Need to do anything to officially switch?

Rachel Marie

Female

Canada

2008-09-16 12:42:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Been waiting too long?

I received my approval for my I-130 WEEKS ago... beginning of September. Shouldn't my husband have gotten the packet of stuff he needs by now and I have gotten my NVC ? I notice other people who were approved in Sept have received AOS and whatnot.

What's going on?

Rachel Marie

Female

Canada

2008-10-19 18:14:00

Good news!!!!

After what feels like an eternity of waiting, we have finally received our NOA 2!!!!!!!!! I was soo excited I could hardly read the message and still keep going back to read it to make sure it is true!!! It feels so good to know all of this hard work is finally paying off.

I can't thank you ALL enough for being so incredibly supportive and helpful throughout this entire process. I feel so proud to have done all of this without a lawyer, and it's thanks to you guys! This website is seriously awesome and has been such a life saver for the past year. We could not have done it without all of the wonderful people and support network on here on VJ.

Thanks again, and I wish all of you the best of luck on this long journey together!

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-09-13 21:32:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

That's good to know. Have a sip of wine or two

Good idea ! :thumbs:

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-17 21:54:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

See? You didn't need to freak out , just yet.

Jeje yessss I know, but it's so easy to freak out during this process when we don't know what's going on! :blush:

I've been sooo patient this whole time but now we are so close to the end and I'm starting to get anxious :wacko:

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-17 19:28:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Hi guys and girls, thank you for all of your friendly responses!!! I just wanted to update that our package has been located and it finally made it to Madrid for processing. Gracias a dios!! :dance:

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-16 16:38:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

I called back and she said there is no Tier 2 Manager to connect me to... what???! She said someone may be able to call me back but it's not guaranteed when that will be. Great :bonk:

All I want is the tracking number to see where this package is. I'm starting to get really nervous. Is there any way I can track something DHL without a tracking number??

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-09 21:06:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Well they ought to know when they say they sent it. Did you speak to a Tier 2 person? The phone drones that answer read from a script and don't know anything useful. We asked for tier 2, and asked directly were we in AP. Even though they had sent us 3 letters to say it had been sent on, it hadn't been.

This is a good idea... I will try calling them again now. Thank you!!!

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-09 20:11:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Email the forwarding consulate to see if they've received it on their end

Good luck!

They haven't... I'm so worried!

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-09 20:07:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

You need to call NVC. Sometimes petitions are taken aside, and put into AP. We were held up there, back a few years ago for nearly 8 weeks. Call them and ask.

I just got through to NVC and they said they shipped the packet and don't know anything else :wacko:

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-09 17:56:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Hi everyone,
Has anyone ever experienced the shipment from NVC to the Embassy taking longer than 2 weeks? That's the case with our K-1 packet. I checked with the Madrid Embassy several times and they have not received it, but when I talked to the NVC before they said they had sent it out Sept. 26th.

On many occasions I have had mail never arrive in Spain, and I'm sooo afraid that this is a bad sign. I called DHL and asked if they could track the shipment (but I don't have the shipment number, only the two zipcodes and the day it was supposedly sent). The lady on the phone couldn't find anything in the system and she just said that shipments from NVC to Madrid usually take only two days and then added "well something's majorly wrong here, they probably lost it". Just like that with a "well, it's not my problem" type of attitude. I have been desperately trying to call NVC and of course the line is always busy

My heart is breaking right now just thinking that one person's possible mistake could affect all of our lives so much and keep us from being together. This is horrible just being in this waiting game and never knowing what is going on. I just miss my fiance so much, we were so excited when we got the NOA2 and it feels like we are so close after all this time, but little things like this just make me feel so much despair and frustration.

I just want to say thank you again for this amazing community of people on this site. The amount of support we have gotten from each other is incredible and it feels better knowing that we are all in the same situation and understand each other. I haven't been able to talk to my family or friends or anybody about this whole process because no one else understands what it's like!!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can find out where this package is, just to have some peace of mind? Has anyone else had it take over 2 weeks to get sent from NVC to the Embassy, maybe this is normal regardless of what that lady on the phone said? Any way I can find out the tracking number and call DHL back to ask a different person? THANK YOU! :blush:

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-09 17:05:00

Good news! :) :)

Hi VJ family!!!
We finally got our interview date, November 27th at Madrid Embassy! I feel like this is even more exciting than NOA2, just to know that the "end" is almost near :dance:

In this process it helps just to know any bit of information...

My fiance did not receive Packet 4 yet (mail in Spain can take a while), but I called Department of State a week after sending out Packet 3, and they happily gave me the date. The secret to calling DOS and getting right through to an operator is pressing 1, then 0. I realized this after many times of sitting through the whole long menu of information, pressing 1, 6, 2, 3, 2 (yes I have it memorized haha!)

Best of luck to everyone!! :thumbs:

Edited by amber_eddy, 27 October 2012 - 09:55 AM.

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-10-27 09:53:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

THE VISA CAME!!!

Can't describe how relieved we are, this means we can book flights for Monday and I can be there for Christmas! Thank you so much for your help and support, if I hadn't known we could call MRW I wouldn't have been able to know anything. I called at 4pm and they said it was out for delivery, and after worrying some more it finally came at 6.

The whole time I was pessimistic thinking "there's no chance it can come Friday, everything's taken longer than I thought", etc etc, but this goes to show, never give up! It's never as bad as you think.

My thoughts are with you and Eddy, I'm certain your visa will come soon too and you'll be with eachother before you know it. You're only a week behind me, so maybe a week from now you'll be saying the exact same thing

YAAAAYYYY I am so happy for you guys!!!! and I have some good news, we just got ours today too!!!! AHHHHH so relieved! We bought him a flight for Thursday

Are you in the USA already? Where is your new home, and where are you from by the way? My fiance is from Sevilla (lives in Castellon) and I'm from Philadelphia.

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-12-11 17:48:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Unless the number on the paper's different from the one on their website (902 300 400), no...So do you just call and ask if they've gotten your package yet? What information do you need to give them? And do you have to call them to schedule the delivery or is that done by the embassy? I wish I was told this by the consular officer

Starting tomorrow I'm going to start calling every business day. Hopefully this is all because of the puente and we both receive our visas next week.

It's 917 823 440 (the 902 # is for international). You have to call and say that the La Embajada Americana de Madrid is sending you a passport, they will ask you for the postal code of where you live and your name. They are used to people calling (according to my fiance) and so they will know what to do. The embassy gives the passport to them and they just mail it to you automatically. You can call them and ask if the embassy gave it to them, and if so you can ask about express shipping to have it arrive in 48 hours from when the embassy gives it to them.

My fiance called yesterday and they told him they just sent out a bunch (not his

) but hopefully yours was in there!! You've been waiting long enough! Keep me updated if you get it soon! Best wishes!

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-12-06 20:22:00

K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

It's relieving to know that someone else is in the same situation - what confuses me is that they didn't give me any papers at all. They took my passport, and the woman asked me where I'd like it sent to. I asked if it was possible to send it to a different address, and she gave me a post-it note to write the new address on and give back to her. I asked how it'd be mailed, and she said it'd be mailed with MRW couriers, but didn't say anything about a paper, even when I asked about tracking - she said to call or email. Even though they took my passport and said I was approved I wasn't given any paper at all from them, which kind of worries me even though the DoS say the visa's been issued :S

We were planning the exact same as you, we thought from all the reviews that the visa being mailed would be easy and assumed we'd be able to book flights on the 1st or 7th at the latest. Really glad we didn't book them ahead, in a way. I can definitely relate to how you feel about the last part being the worst. The not knowing and sparse contact from the embassy just has us both totally demoralised and dejected at the possibility of not being able to spend christmas together because of this.

Thanks for the fast reply! We will wait this out together :thumbs:

Don't worry about the paper, it wasn't a paper saying we were approved, I think it was just a paper that had the phone # to MRW. Do you have that?
I am also glad we did not book the flight right after the interview. It's just soooooooo frustrating because you think... ok the interview, this is it, we will be together soon!! And then each day we have to wait when we thought we were almost there.. feels like it's taking FOREVER!!! I really hope (and do believe) that we will be able to spend Christmas with our fiances. Hay que tener fe y esperanza! The flights are just going to be a lot more expensive

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-12-05 18:31:00

On November 21st I had my successful interview at the Embassy in Madrid, where I was approved with no trouble at all and the consular officer said it should arrive in one to two weeks. I returned home elated, but by the next week was beginning to get anxious again after hearing about people receiving their visas in about 3 days.

My fiancee called the DoS last Friday, where she was told the status was "Visa issued". The operator said this meant that it "should" be in the mail and that the embassy's "done" with it.

It's now Tuesday and we're beginning to panic, especially as we just received an email from the Embassy. I had been sending emails frantically trying to get updated on progress or any problems (calling was completely useless, they just say they're general visa information) and all were ignored until today, where they responded to the first one (sent last Wednesday) with the following:

To us that suggests that they still aren't "done" with it and it's not in the mail yet, which completely floods us with fear - flights are getting expensive and if it takes much longer we're going to have to wait until January before I can come. I really wanted to have Christmas and New Years with my fiancee, and don't know why we're taking so long. I planned to be able to be there by the 7th at the latest, and of course that's completely blown out of the window because of this. We've already leased a place at the start of this month in anticipation for me coming some time this month, which is a months worth of rent we really could have used.

This whole process has been an emotional rollercoaster and I just hate that there's absolutely no way of tracking this final step. I was hoping we'd be able to celebrate and that the visa coming would be issue at all, but it's boggling to think that they can't/won't give you any tracking or information about it given that they've got your passport.

I'm really just confused as to what could be going on, and why it's taking so long. If the embassy still has my passport, I feel like the chances of receiving the visa by the end of the week are close to nil, and by extension having to wait until next year to be with my fiancee. I guess it's not such a bad place to be compared to some people here, but it's still somewhat depressing.

I'm unfamiliar with embassy processes and don't know if Madrid's any different - the DoS says "visa issued", so surely that means the Embassy is done looking at it, so why would the Embassy still be saying that? Should we be panicking?

Ahhhh we are still waiting for my fiance's passport too!!!!! And also feeling really nervous. I came on here today to see if anyone else was in the same situation. I feel like this is almost the worst part because we are soo close to the "end" but have no idea when it will come! I am trying to stay optimistic, they always say the darkest part of the tunnel is right before you see the light. I'm just nervous because I have seen all these horror stories on here about consulates losing visas, putting it into AP after being approved, taking a month to mail it back, etc.

My fiance had his interview on the 27th and they gave him a paper with the information for MRW to call for express shipping. Supposedly once the consulate gives the passport to MRW, they can then ship it express (to be paid by fiance at pickup). He has been calling MRW every day and they said the consulate has not given them the passport yet and it's been over a week (but the consulate told him at the interview that it would take 5-10 days to mail out). Do you have the # for MRW? If not I can get it for you. I want to email the consulate about ours but I don't want to be annoying, I am sure they have a lot going on with the holiday season right around the corner. Plus it's a "puente" this week, right?! That means no mail

We just feel disappointed I guess bc a lot of people on here said that it only took a week to have the passport in their hands and we were planning to buy a flight for the following day when he gets his passport. Estamos desesperados ya!! This is a good lesson to never expect anything or you will be disappointed :crying:

After all of these months waiting, we can wait another few weeks... right?? :wacko:

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-12-05 18:09:00

Medical at unidad angloamerica Madrid

ANy body having information regarding this clinic?? as i have my cr-1 interview next month in madrid.

there is one issue,i am a pakistan citizen,living in spain and i do not have my vaccination records as these vaccination stuff were during childhood days in pakistan and no records with me. how to solve this issue for upcoming medical??

kindly give me some proper suggestions that i can go for here in spain.

regards,

Hi! My fiance is also having his interview in a few weeks. He does not have his vaccination records either, because in Spain they used to do them all on paper and somehow they were lost over the years. So he called Angloameriana and they told him he does not need the records for the interview, but he will need them when he gets to USA to adjust status. So what he is going to do is try to get whatever vaccinations he can within the next few weeks, and get whichever other ones he is missing once he gets to USA. You could try to do the same...it will be cheaper to do it in Spain than in USA! :thumbs:

Best of luck on your upcoming interview!!!

amber_eddy

Female

Spain

2012-11-08 21:02:00

would like to marry fiance send cr1

YES

Note, I-864 comes into play after USCIS approves and sends I-130 Petition to the National Visa Center, it is not filed with the I-130 petition.

thanks so much

LoveNigerianStyle

Female

Nigeria

2011-03-03 16:44:00