ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General Discussion400N test passed but not approved
QUOTE (Cuchita @ Jul 29 2009, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So your GC is expired?. How did you get and interview apptmt?. I don't get it.

yes i do have an expired GC now because i never got the 10 years one until now, i have been told that i can file the N400 even though my I751 not approved yet, for some reason since i filed the I751 until now haven't hear anything about I751 yet but the funny things i got a quick answer on my N400 and i even got interviewed and passed the test but never approved because they didn't have my A file where all my history with them is. so i'm lost in this delema now. anything that i need to clearify more?

kpogge89Not TellingMorocco2009-07-29 10:34:00
US Citizenship General Discussion400N test passed but not approved
i had my citizen test yesterday and i passed the test but they didn't approve me because they didn't have my A file. and i never got my I751 aproved or told me anything about it since i filed it, i file for my 751 like almost 2 years now and still didn't hear anything back about that.
did anyone have any idea on what's going with my case, i just can't get an answer from anywhere. please help
kpogge89Not TellingMorocco2009-07-29 10:02:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Which is best, K-1 or K3?
As long as he hasn't left the US since he came, and doesn't have a criminal record, there shouldn't be a problem. He will need to leave the US and go to his country of origin for the interview. However, as long as you are his spouse or fiancee, he should be able to file an I-601 waiver to cure the 10-year ban that he will receive for illegal entry. It is based on the hardship to you if he isn't allowed to enter the US for 10 years. If he's from Mexico, this could actually be approved immediately through the Pilot Program there, keeping him out of the country for a very short time. Other countries could range from 6 months to over a year.

There are only 2 ways to avoid having him leave the US. 1) If he entered legally on a visa and overstayed. 2) If someone had already petitioned him before 2001. In this very rare case, 245(i) applies and he could be able to adjust in the US. This isn't very common, though.

There doesn't necessarily seem to be any advantage in this process whether filing as fiances or spouses. It seems the fiance process moves a lot faster through the consulate in Mexico, but it's also a little bit more costly.

I suggest you check out immigrate2us.net. Plenty of info on the I-601 waiver process and lots of people who have successfully survived it.

Edited by guatetaliana, 12 May 2008 - 01:45 PM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-05-12 13:43:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)How long to get an Approval on I-601
Definitely read up on Mexico's Pilot Program! Very lucky you're going through Mexico! You have a good chance of having the waiver approved then, like you mentioned. I believe some have estimated that chances are as high as 50% that waivers get approved at the appointment. The rest go into regular processing and are taking anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Good luck! Check out immigrate2us.net if you haven't already. Lots of info and advice on preparing waivers.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-06-08 00:51:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Visa overstay, Indian man engaged to USC
They really shouldn't have much trouble at all as long as he doesn't leave. Their best option is to get married and gather proof that he didn't intend to immigrate when he came. After that, it's a regular AOS process hopefully. I do agree, though. They should try to find a GOOD immigration lawyer, ideally one who has done cases like this before with success, at least to guide them through the intent to immigrate part of everything...
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-23 16:00:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)WHERE DO I BEGIN
I just wanted to echo emt and spookyturtle. Mexico is the best country there is for cases like this. 80% of waivers are approved, and almost half of those are approved immediately through the pilot program. Definitely get on immigrate2us.net, you will find tons of people who have succeeded or are going through this right now.

It's possible to do this without a lawyer, but it's also much much easier if you have a good lawyer (not just any lawyer). And Heather and Laurel are the most experienced, successful lawyers there are and I strongly recommend going with one of them if you choose to use a lawyer.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-08-23 16:04:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Need help! visa denied under section 212(a)(2)(a)(1)
I ditto a previous poster. Visit immigrate2us.net to read up on waivers. There is a TON of information on preparing your own hardship waiver, but there is also a list of lawyers who are SUCCESSFUL at filing waivers, not just claim to do them. Ours, Laurel Scott, is pricey but she has one of the highest approval rates on waivers of anyone.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2009-05-24 19:03:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Stupid Q. Who files the waiver?
BTW, I forgot to mention, I can see where the confusion comes from.

The USC prepares the waiver, but the alien physically submits it at the consulate. Make sense?
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2009-05-24 23:27:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Stupid Q. Who files the waiver?
Don't give up. Immigrate2us is the best place for information on this. Did you post there?

The USC must file the waiver and submit evidence of why the USC would suffer extreme hardship if the visa were permanently denied. You can get a lawyer (make sure they have lots of success with approved waivers) or you can do it yourself. Your choice. Definitely use the resources on i2us. London is not one of the hardest consulates, but it's no picnic either.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2009-05-24 23:21:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Marrying Brazilian whom I believe has 10 yr ban
At his visa interview, your fiance will be given at least two bans - the 10 year ban under INA(212)(a)(9)(cool.gif(ii) for unlawful presence in the US over a year, and the lifetime ban under INA(212)(a)(6)©(i) for misrepresentation when applying for the visa (hiding unlawful presence and prior visa applications is a tough thing to overcome).

Both of these bans can be waived with the I-601 waiver. I-212 is only filed if there was a deportation, which it appears there wasn't. However, the waiver is discretionary and in general, when the immigration offense is big, the standard for proving extreme and unusual hardship to the US citizen is extremely high. Misrep to a consular officer is HUGE, so there will need to be a LOT of hardship to prove in the waiver packet.

For more info on foreign-filed waivers of inadmissibility, you can also see
http://immigrate2us.net
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2009-08-25 22:33:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)212a(5a)
INA 212(a)(5)(a)? That's really odd. Here's the actual legal reference:

212(a)(5)

(A) Labor certification.-


(i) In general.-Any alien who seeks to enter the United States for the purpose of performing skilled or unskilled labor is inadmissible, unless the Secretary of Labor has determined and certified to the Secretary of State and the Attorney General that-


(I) there are not sufficient workers who are able, willing, qualified (or equally qualified in the case of an alien described in clause (ii)) and available at the time of application for a visa and admission to the United States and at the place where the alien is to perform such skilled or unskilled labor, and


(II) the employment of such alien will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of workers in the United States similarly employed.


(ii) Certain aliens subject to special rule.-For purposes of clause (i)(I), an alien described in this clause is an alien who-


(I) is a member of the teaching profession, or


(II) has exceptional ability in the sciences or the arts.


Seems to have absolutely nothing to do with an immigrant spouse visa anyway. Are you sure that's the exact code they gave?

I really suggest talking to an immigration lawyer now if you haven't already. You have to move quickly to correct this without too much extra hassle. Don't try to do this alone at this point, because it sounds like you need someone experienced with inadmissibility and specifically experienced with Pakistan.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-06-27 02:39:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Please Help
Gather all the information you've received from the consulate and talk to a lawyer right away. These tattoo cases are not really a "just hope for the best" situation. It's very likely going to require some legal action, and if the consulate tries to allege gang ties, they don't need any proof except the tattoo. Preventing that charge in the first place is absolutely your top priority, but you're going to need good, experienced legal help to do it. It's beyond what most of us on immigration forums are capable of. Laurel Scott, Laura Fernandez, Lizz Cannon. These are great lawyers who know all about the tattoo issues.

The article linked above also mentions a law suit being filed on behalf of a lot of people in this situation. One of the lawyers I've mentioned might be able to advise you if that's the direction to take if this is a denial.

I'm really sorry if it is a denial. Having been denied for life at the Ciudad Juarez consulate, I can say my family still is dealing with the scars of that decision four years later. :(
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-30 23:32:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Please Help
Yeah, I agree with the previous poster. Get to immigrate2us.net and have a look around, and if you don't have a lawyer, definitely consider consulting with Laurel Scott or either of the other two lawyers linked in my signature.

Here's a sticky from the I-601 El Salvador section of i2us regarding tattoos, but a lot of this is relevant to Mexico as well. This is a really big situation, I have a few friends whose spouses are banned for life from US visas due to tattoos they got in their youth. Here's also a news article about the situation:

http://online.wsj.co...cleTabs=article
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-28 22:19:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Question on 601 Waiver
Yeah, actually when you say "send everything to the lockbox", do you mean you're ready to submit the waiver to the lockbox? If that's the case, are you aware that the lockbox is processing waivers in under 6 weeks or so? Check out the Lockbox threads and the timeline spreadsheet on immigrate2us. It actually may not be much longer.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-03 20:42:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Question on 601 Waiver
I agree. Get to immigrate2us.net, and you will get much more information about how to argue hardship in any situation.

While it is true that the waiver must prove that you cannot live in the spouse's country for the duration of the ban, there are two important things to remember.

1) The waiver also has to prove that you can not live in the US without your spouse. So obviously since you have to prove both things, you're going to wind up choosing one of those during the waiver process.

2) Once you drop everything and up and move to Mexico, you are likely to encounter lots of unforseen hardships and challenges in Mexico, especially given the circumstances you mention for your wife's living environment. Legal residence status in Mexico seems to be a big one unless you have a job lined up there. All of this proof of actual hardships can be used to bolster your waiver.

Again, see the I-601 Mexico resources on immigrate2us and you will see that plenty of petitioners move to Mexico during processing or are living there when they file and still get I-601s approved.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-02 01:27:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Applying for US Visa with criminal record in Jamaica
Fiances actually are qualifying relatives for an I-601, but the argument can be made that the ability to prove extreme hardship is a LOT more of a challenge when the beneficiary and petitioner are not yet married, don't have kids, the beneficiary is not in some kind of financial support or medical support role to the US citizen, and then on top of that, when there's a recent criminal issue to overcome. I know quite a few fiances who had I-601s approved, but in their cases, the waivers were for "simple" unlawful presence in the US and no criminal issues.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-30 22:45:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Applying for US Visa with criminal record in Jamaica
You should try to gather any records regarding the conviction and talk to a US immigration lawyer who deals with waivers of criminal inadmissibility. All 3 linked in my signature are excellent lawyers who handle these kinds of cases. Unfortunately, it's an uphill battle. He'll need to file an I-601 waiver because I'm fairly confident that robbery served for 6 years is a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude. So he'll need to prove rehabilitation, plus you'll need to prove extreme and unusual hardship if he is not allowed to enter the US. An attorney can give you an idea of what your chances are and how difficult it will be. Laura and Lizz (both linked in my signature) offer free consultations, and I suggest talking to both before you proceed.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-30 03:56:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)WV entrance Denied
Yup, what happened to you was common and doesn't bar you from an immigrant visas, although it could complicate any non-immigrant visa you attempt to seek, so stick with the spouse or fiance visa, whichever is best for your circumstances. This link has a lot of guides to help you figure out which (spouse or fiance) is best for you to pursue. Just keep in mind that although that link mentions K3 visas, they're pretty much obsolete, so don't bother researching that path, just CR1 and K1.
http://www.visajourn.../content/guides
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-29 23:37:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)had the waiver appointment...
Wow, you are one of the last people to use the waiver system in Mexico - these days just about everybody is filing to the waiver lockbox in Phoenix. As of December 4, Mexico will no longer accept the waivers in its system, they'll finish processing the ones (like yours) that have already been submitted, and that will be the end of the system in Mexico, everything will be centralized in the US from that point forward. What this means is that very little is known about how things are going with waivers in Mexico, since very few people have been using that route. It could take 30 days. It could take less. Mexico's system was unique in that they used a two-tier process: First they would decide if it was "immediately approvable" and if so, it would be approved "on the spot". At one time in history, this was done literally the same day, within like an hour of submitting the waiver. In more recent years, it became a multi-week thing where it took them awhile to get to your waiver, and this is where they're at now. However, because of the decreasing volume of waivers at Juarez, I would expect it to take fewer than 30 days to do this. If at the time they review your waiver, they decide it sufficiently demonstrates extreme and unusual hardship with substantial evidence and proof of anything claimed in the letter, then they will approve it, they will request his passport (if they aren't currently holding onto it) and they will put in his visa, return it by DHL, and he'll be all set. If, however, they feel that hardship wasn't sufficiently proven, they will at that point send a letter saying you have something like 84 days to submit additional evidence (but at this point I'd move much faster than that because they may be getting through the waivers more quickly with fewer to deal with).

I suggest visiting Immigrate2us.net for tons more info about waivers and the process through Mexico. Again, most people are now using the lockbox, but if there's anyone familiar with what's going on in Mexico right now, it's going to be the people at immigrate2us.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-12-02 20:31:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)I-601 does not apply, but asked to file....
I can't seem to properly multi-quote but I just wanted to say two things:

1) If a person EWI and interviewed at Albania, there's a good chance Tirana got confused, especially based on the fact that the INA section referenced is not related to the person's history. Consular officers are well-trained, they are very familiar with lots of sections of the law, but immigration law is terribly complex. It is just so difficult for all of them to know every single minutia of the law, and some of us who deal with those specific sections every day in our own family's cases understand them better than someone who is dealing with every part of the spectrum of immigration law. I still think consular officers are under an immense amount of pressure and deal with it amazingly, but mistakes are made, all the time, and we often see them on online forums when people have odd problems. True, unless we're reviewing a person's entire case history, it's difficult to really know what's going on, but it's not outside the realm of possibility that a consulate mis-applies the law.

2) Some posters here may not be familiar with the procedure when a person from a non-Mexican country EWIs. They are not simply "kicked out" if caught entering without inspection because the US can't just toss somebody into Mexico if that person isn't clearly a Mexican national. Many non-Mexicans claim (and pretend) to be Mexican citizens at this point because getting simply kicked out at the border is preferable to what comes next if you're not Mexican, which that you get detained and placed in detention until DHS can properly deport you to your actual country of origin, or long ago when they dealt with tons of entrants of this type, people were simply given a court date and told to show up for removal proceedings, which in most cases they didn't, which is why they now have detention centers and long detentions. It's actually impressive that this particular person not only got released from detention after only a month, even with an asylum plea, but also that he was able to secure voluntary departure. Generous judge I guess.

Anyway, the only inadmissibility mentioned was the INA 212 a 9A reference, which is specifically for deportation rather than VD. So either he WAS formally deported at government expense and somehow mistakenly thinks he got VD, or the consular determination of inadmissibility was wrong. They wouldn't say it was INA 212 a 9A if they're actually holding this as a frivolous asylum claim, which I think falls under INA 208 or something like that.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-12-07 07:32:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)I-601 does not apply, but asked to file....
Ohhh, yeah, Albania probably has limited experience with people who have entered without inspection. They definitely made a mistake here. A person who entered the US illegally still doesn't have to file an I-601 waiver unless they've accrued over 180 days unlawful presence (this would be INA 212 a 9 B i), so it sounds like there still was an error if the consulate is saying it's INA 212 a 9 A. Here's the text of 212 a 9 A, for those interested:

(9) 12/ ALIENS PREVIOUSLY REMOVED.-

(A) Certain aliens previously removed.-

(i) Arriving aliens.-Any alien who has been ordered removed under section 235(b)(1) or at the end of proceedings under section 240 initiated upon the alien's arrival in the United States and who again seeks admission within 5 years of the date of such removal (or within 20 years in the case of a second or subsequent removal or at any time in the case of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony) is inadmissible.

(ii) Other aliens.-Any alien not described in clause (i) who-

(I) has been ordered removed under section 240 or any other provision of law, or

(II) departed the United States while an order of removal was outstanding, and who seeks admission within 10 years of the date of such alien's departure or removal (or within 20 years of such date in the case of a second or subsequent removal or at any time in the case of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony) is inadmissible.

(iii) Exception.-Clauses (i) and (ii) shall not apply to an alien seeking admission within a period if, prior to the date of the alien's reembarkation at a place outside the United States or attempt to be admitted from foreign contiguous territory, the Attorney General has consented to the alien's reapplying for admission.



This section only refers to those "ordered removed" meaning formally deported. Voluntary Departure allows a person to escape these clauses. 9A is not relevant here, and neither is 9B for unlawful presence exceeding 180 days. Also, someone mentioned checking whether he EWI more than once. This would only be an issue if 1) He had stayed more than a year before EWI the second time or 2) if he had been formally deported and then EWI after that. In that case, he would be banned under INA 212 a 9 C. I think Tirana is just confused. My husband just had a visa interview at Seoul and we have a complication under a section of the law Seoul never sees, and they completely misinterpreted it, in our favor actually, hahaha, although their interpretation was so misguided it could never hold any water outside that embassy. So no, these officers are not necessary all-knowing, all-understanding when it comes to unfamiliar sections of the law and if they made an erroneous call, they need to be corrected.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-12-04 03:58:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)I-601 does not apply, but asked to file....
Which embassy was this? I've recently discovered that sometimes the consular officials determining inadmissibility are more clueless than others about the INA and what it means.

INA 212a9a does not require an I-601 waiver, it requires an I-212 waiver, but I don't believe it should apply to your case anyway because it's for those who were formally deported and if you took Voluntary Departure, you avoid that whole issue in the first place. My suspicion is just that the embassy is terribly confused. If your lawyer is unable to get them to review the decision, then as previously mentioned, an Advisory Opinion with the department of State in Washington is in order, but unfortunately only an attorney can file this, you can't do it on your own. At this point I would be urging the attorney to go in that direction since it seems the embassy is currently unresponsive.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-12-03 00:51:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Misrepresentation anyone similar? advice plz

It's material. She would not qualify for any visas based on her 180+ days of unlawful presence which triggered a 3 year ban. The misrepresentation is material because she lied about a relevant fact that disqualifies her for a visa.

Visitor visas falls under US immigration laws. That makes it an immigration benefit even though the person is not immigrating.

-------------

Imagine your scenario where lying for a non-immigrant visa is not considered a material misrepresentation for immigration. Lots of people would lie and flood the visitor visa system because there would be no immigration consequences. That's not something to be encouraged. Essentially, if you make a material misrepresentation when applying for a visa - any visa - it will cause problems like a life-time ban requiring a waiver.

She has already tried for the visitor visa twice by lying about her unlawful presence. If there are no consequences, then how many times should we let her try? How many others would try if there are no consequences? Lie on a thousand non-immigrant visa applications, it doesn't matter when you try for an immigrant visa. Fortunately, it doesn't work that way. Lie to US immigration about any disqualifying fact (material misrepresentation) and there will be bad consequences. I like that rule.



It's really not that simple, unfortunately. Here's an example of how insanely complicated material misrep can be in immigration situations:
http://imminfo.com/L...esentation.html

It's not about whether you lie for a non-immigrant vs. immigrant benefit, that's for sure. You're right. Either way, it's a lie for immigration purposes. But there's a requirement that the misrep be influential on the outcome/decision. This is why I say the denial/approval of the visa is relevant. I agree that leaving misrep unpunished in visitor visa situations is not just, but if the immigration inadmissibility situation were just, well...I have a lot of opinions but it is extremely unbalanced. Anyway, a not all lies to immigration are material. That's the simple summary. Whether this one is or not, I've never really been able to figure out, and I think can certainly be subject to consular discretion when it comes time to interview for the immigrant visa.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-12-12 23:51:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Misrepresentation anyone similar? advice plz
Material vs. not-material is rough stuff for online forums. The thing is that it has to be a lie that influenced the outcome of the visa, as far as I understand (but no, I am not a lawyer and I may not understand completely). You can google "material misrepresentation" and "immigration" and find some resources on it, but unless you feel like putting yourself through intro to law, you really might want to rely on a lawyer for the answer on that.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-12-12 19:31:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Misrepresentation anyone similar? advice plz
Definitely echo the others.

1) Get yourself really familiar with Immigrate2us.net. Tons of resources on proving hardship, filing waivers, etc.

2) Talk to a new lawyer who can interpret INA 212 a 9 B (one of the simpler inadmissibility statutes) a bit better. On April 24, 2008, your wife hit the 6-month mark of countable unlawful presence and the 3-yr ban activated. On October 27, 2008, she hit one year of unlawful presence and the 10-yr ban activated. So for 9B, she does have the 10-yr bar. Meanwhile, there is also a question of whether the misrepresentation is "material" or not. Only a really good lawyer would be able to say if this is the case. Was the tourist visa approved? That would make a difference. Anyway, Laurel Scott is the prime expert on waivers, but there are others who can also advise on your chances here. Two of the others whose knowledge on inadmissibility is top-notch are linked in my signature. Good luck!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-12-12 10:04:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Has anyone else sent their I-601 waiver to the Phoenix lockbox?
Shorty, I suggest you check out Immigrate2us.net. Tons of I-601 resources, and you can read a lot of approved waivers to get ideas for what arguments can be made.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-06-29 23:02:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Has anyone else sent their I-601 waiver to the Phoenix lockbox?
Here is the i2us Lockbox spreadsheet:
https://docs.google....llV3NEdlE#gid=0

and the thread for Lockbox timeline updates is here:
http://immigrate2us....ckbox-Timelines

and this is the thread for general discussion of the Lockbox.
http://immigrate2us....-and-discussion

It sounds like things are kind of hit-or-miss right now as they start implementing the program. For example, Starcrossed11's husband AND brother-in-law both submitted waivers at the same time, both got receipt notices the same days, but her husband's has already been approved while BIL is still processing. Although the wait is terrible, I wouldn't start to worry about the receipt notice until at least 30 days or so have gone by.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-06-29 01:10:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPassport Questions
Wow, thank you, that's so kind! We're hoping to see an end to this soon, but in the meantime it looks like there are going to be some consular reports of birth abroad at various embassies for our son and the baby on the way! :) Good luck with yours!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-04 00:36:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPassport Questions
I'm not at all related to Russia but I believe for both your concerns (passport renewal for your wife and conferring of citizenship by birth for your daughter), the embassy/consulate websites are usually pretty thorough, but only if you go in to through Russian portal, the English information will be pretty limited. Usually you can download forms and the filing instructions, both for passport renewal and for reporting/registering a baby's birth abroad and obtaining citizenship. Russian citizenship is conferred jus sanguinis, through parentage, so it shouldn't be a problem to get Mom's citizenship. I'm just guessing from experience in other countries, but you'll probably need to get a translation of your daughter's birth certificate into Russian and probably apostilled (I've heard this is necessary for Russia!). I think this page may be where you can get the info for your daughter's citizenship (thank you Google Translate)
http://www.russianem...nstvo_deti.html

Edited by Carlos and Amy, 03 July 2012 - 02:18 AM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-03 02:16:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaDoes Anyone know where the "Border Zone" ends?
Nicole, have you asked on I2us? The reason I ask is because I think there are a lot more of us with experience living in Mexico, especially borders, there than there are on here. What I know is this: you should try to get a 180 day tourist visa at some point no matter what, just so that you can have documentation in hand, even though it's not necessary for travel within the border zone (which I believe is 30 miles, but you should check with some of the border dwellers for that). It only costs like $20 and is worth it so you can legally travel anywhere in Mexico. They issue them in a little booth on the border, usually you have to seek them out. You COULD attempt getting a spouse visa to have permanent status since you wouldn't be working in Mexico anyways (one of the spouse visa requirements), but then you have to prove your husband can sponsor you, etc. plus dealing with anything immigration-related in Mexico is almost worse than in the US.

I think that since you would only be doing this on a temporary basis, you should keep it simple, stick with a tourist visa. As long as you're not seeking to do any lucrative activity in Mexico, they should be fine with that. However, if I recall your case correctly, you could be done with this in a few months, so it hopefully won't matter for much longer!! smile.gif
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2008-07-31 16:27:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaSupport for fianceé in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Univision.com has a ton of immigration-related forums, including this one for people seeking visas abroad:
http://foro.univisio...isas/bd-p/visas
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-06-27 22:41:00
Mexico, Latin & South Americachoice of address for Delivery (DHL)
It's possible, but I have heard enough horror stories about confusion with CDJ/DHL delivery in Mexico to say that if it's at all possible, it might be best to stay consistent and use the same DHL delivery location for both. Or be prepared that even if you change the location when paying DHL fees at the consulate, there's always the chance that it will still be shipped to the old address on file. I believe that has happened sometimes.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-06-28 22:11:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaMedical exam question:Ciudad Juarez
Have you seen these official links from the consulate?
http://ciudadjuarez....dical-exam.html
http://photos.state....widemedical.pdf
http://photos.state....TIONSEP2011.pdf

The medical exam itself is $190 plus tax according to that recent information above. The vaccinations are charged separately and I have almost never heard of anyone being administered more than these 3 vaccines: TDaP, MMR, and Varicella. You can pay with credit card, cash, etc. and I believe in dollars or pesos (more payment info from the consulate available here). The list of what to bring and other instructions is in the second document linked above.

Edited by GlobeHopperMama, 18 July 2012 - 02:30 AM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-18 02:29:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaVaccines in Colombia: K1-visa
This forum has seen some Bogota filers get the vaccines ahead of time and still get forced to have them done again by the panel physician for immigration. Dr. Roa was involved in those cases, so definitely try to use someone else.

This happens all the time at the US consulates in Latin America. But I've seen some of the most brazen medical-clinic related aggravations happen at Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Bogota. I personally would NOT do vaccines ahead of time unless you're willing to risk wasting the extra money and get shot up with the stuff twice!
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-19 20:09:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaMedical exam scam

I don't think he is one of the panel physicians because they think he is a nice guy. he said the shots my wife bought from him a little over a year ago were no longer valid, and that the embassy requires them. how do you know when Dr. Roa is lying? when his lips are moving


Yeah, I don't know how these people get lined up as the official embassy/consulate-approved physicians, but it doesn't seem that they're actually exceptional in the practice of medicine or anything, so I'm guessing it's just a matter of knowing the right people or something?

Re-doing the shots after waiting out a waiver. Ugh, yeah I've heard of that. It's bad enough having to re-do the medical after a year, that's required by law or whatever, but having to re-do the shots? Yeah, some physicians are just abusing the freedom they get in having patients who are required to get their signature again. :( So sad. I feel like until our spouses are in the US, our rights and theirs really just don't exist.

Edited by Carlos and Amy, 01 July 2012 - 01:40 AM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-01 01:38:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaMedical exam scam
This is, sadly, pretty standard. They definitely are out to make money, IMO. In Mexico, the same thing happens all the time. Some applicants go in having JUST had the shots the week prior, but they are still forced to get them again, pay again, and have their immune systems hit again. There are things with immigration I've felt are willing to fight, but this one I feel is not worth the fight. The medical examiners have a massive amount of latitude and I knew of one case in El Salvador where the panel physician actually held up my friend's husband's visas for MONTHS because he kept falsely reporting illnesses that didn't exist and refused to sign the paperwork for no reason. I would say, as unethical as this is, the US consulates have not responded to applicants' complaints about treatment in the required medical facilities, and since the consulates are given a lot of freedom, there's not much more we can do. Just pay the money and get that visa. It's just another one of the ridiculous hoops to jump through. If you wish to fight this, you can do so with an I-601 waiver but I really don't recommend attempting the vaccine waiver unless you want to see many more months of delay. :(

And whichever medical facilities the embassy gives you in the instructions are the only ones you can choose from. You can try to call and ask for a different one, but I can pretty much 99% guarantee you they will not let you choose a different one.

Please just tread carefully. Bogota really tops my list of consulates that disgust me (El Salvador being another) and the stories I've heard coming from there, both in the medical and the visa interview, are really obnoxious. If you can try to just keep your heads low, do whatever they ask of you, and try not to create too much resistance, you may find it the easiest way through there. :(

Edited by Carlos and Amy, 30 June 2012 - 02:59 AM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-06-30 02:56:00
Mexico, Latin & South Americatraveling question
Most people I know fly to El Paso and cross the border with a taxi service, etc. Another option to explore is whether it's cheaper to fly ORD to Mexico City and then use a regional budget airline to get to Juarez. It's a bit convoluted, but sometimes it comes out way cheaper. If their schedule coincides with your travel plans, VivaAerobus often runs very affordable flights into Juarez. Sometimes InterJet does as well.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-07-29 01:19:00
Mexico, Latin & South Americamexican consulate?
After years of dealing with Mexican entities in the US and while living in Mexico, I'd say to just be prepared that it may be a bit of a struggle.

First, most Mexican consulates never answer the phone, so give it a shot, be prepared to sit and listen to dialing or busy tones a lot, and if you live near one, going in early in the morning and hoping for the best is often the only way to get stuff done.

Second, there are some who have found that their Mexican consulate refuses to change the name on the passport because Mexico doesn't legally recognize name changes due to marriage, only through legal/court proceedings and such. There are others who are able to get a passport issued in their maiden name and a small notation is made somewhere containing the married name. Finally, I've heard rumors of the possibility at some consulates of getting the entire name changed on the passport, either with a certified copy and photocopy of the marriage certificate, those two plus an apostille on the certified copy, or those two plus an apostille and a translation for the certified copy. Or any combination of those. With Mexican authorities you really never know until you try. I believe the Mexican consulate in Chicago does issue a changed name, but only if you treat the passport application as a first-time application rather than a renewal. So maybe it will be the same at yours. Good luck!

Edited by GlobeHopperMama, 19 September 2012 - 06:29 AM.

GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-19 06:28:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaThird-country filing IR1 in Argentina
Does anyone here have experience filing in Argentina as third-country filers (neither beneficiary nor petitioner are Argentines)? I'm asking on behalf of a friend. US citizen petitioner and Salvadoran beneficiary have recently relocated there and would like to file for an IR1 in Argentina. They would send the petition to the Chicago lockbox and then ideally get their case sent to Buenos Aires. Does anyone know what kinds of requirements BA has for interviewing there? For example, how much time on a resident visa, etc.?
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-09-24 21:52:00
Mexico, Latin & South AmericaAyudame: K2 Visa & Child Custody
No experience with family lawyers in Mexico, I suspect fees vary widely by type of practice and experience just like in the US, but there is no doubt your novia needs to secure the services of one to get this done. She might go to the local DIF office to get some advice and perhaps find low-cost legal resources for gaining full legal custody.
GlobeHopperMamaFemaleMexico2012-10-07 19:47:00