biggish data

the interview was short and fairly easy, they had my wife go to the window where they proceded to ask her for documents, we filled for a CR1/IR1 visa, so all documents were already submitted except the medical which she handed to the lady at the window. once she passed the medical documents to her she then asked for missing papers and was asking her questions about me while she was doing this, it appeared to be a tactic to try and see if you really knew each other, once my wife called me over with all copies of the documents and she saw i was there, she excused herself and suddenly found all the papers, after that point it was very fast, waited approx 20 more minutes and a very nice lady called her to the next window, asked her where i lived, what i did for work, was i with her today and she pointed saying yes he is right over there to which she great. she then took finger prints had her sign her forms and said congratulations your approved. so really it isnt as scary as everyone makes it sound, provided you follow the rules and have nothing to hide just be yourself. good luck to you both in your process.

Thank you so much!! I truly do appreciate it! If you don't mind me asking one more question. Did you guys take any evidence to the interview?

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-21 02:41:00

I went with my wife and stepson to their interview, and im my case it did make things easier for them. they actually seemed surprised that i was with them at the interview. some have posted that you dont need to go, and this is true, there are plenty of people who havent gone with their spouse and never had a issue but in my personal opinion if you have the ability and the time to do so i would advise you try and be there in case something comes up that you dont expect. always be prepared

best of luck

Omg thank you!! I think I will most likely go! By the way if you don't mind me asking, what was the interview like? And what did they ask you?? Did they ask you many questions?? Sorry if I asked too many questions!! lol!!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-15 00:30:00

~~~~Duplicate topic merged -- Do not make multiple threads for the same/similar topics~~~~

oh sorry but I thought I could put up any topic i'd like didn't know i needed your approval, if you don't like my topics skip it and go on to the next ones if you don't mind, thank you!

Jeillie,

You've already made a thread on this and were told to inquire in your regional forum.
http://www.visajourn...78#entry5972978

oh sorry but I thought I could put up any topic i'd like didn't know i needed your approval, if you don't like my topics skip it and go on to the next ones if you don't mind, thank you!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-15 00:24:00

I didn't go with my wife to her interview and there was no issue or complication whatso ever.

Since your wife went to the embassy that my husband is going to, If you don't mind me asking, what did they ask her at the interview? I just want a little insight of how it would be for my husband and just to be prepared.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-15 00:20:00

Hello everyone!! Just wondering if I should go to the interview with my husband? I heard that its better to go because I am like a back up to the marriage but I also heard that I should not go because it would complicate things and the interview!! Please I would love your feedback on this subject!!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-12 02:36:00

HELLO EVERYONE!! I AM PETITIONING FOR MY HUSBAND AND I WAS WONDERING IF I (US CITIZEN) SHOULD GO WITH MY HUSBAND TO THE INTERVIEW?? AND WHAT IS THE INTERVIEW LIKE?? WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS THEY ASK?? PLEASE HELP!!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-11 05:59:00

Taking Evidence To Interview!!

Let me ease your worries a bit. You don't need to send all 400 emails, you don't need to send ALL pictures and you also don't need to have every record of your cell phone. Send a variety of each, but don't worry that you are not sending enough, just send a sample that will prove your relationship.

I sent copies of emails, cell phone bills, messenger transcripts, and photos. We had a good 200-300 pages of evidence. They never asked for any of it. My fiancee was approved no problem.

Thank you so much that really helped!! By the way you guys got engaged on my birthday!! Lol!! I feel special now, lol, jk! Congrats by the way!! And hope your wedding ceremony is special and unforgettable!! I hope my NOA2 gets here in 2 months like yours!!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-23 13:25:00

Taking Evidence To Interview!!

For the interview, I know we must take evidence but does that mean all 400 emails that we have sent each other? And ALL of the pictures that we both have? And on my cell phone plan has the international long distance calling feature on it and I have been calling him on that for the past 2-3 years and I called the cellphone company and they told me they can only track 3 months behind but not 2-3 years and I believe that is one of the best evidence we have! So I'm not sure what to do??? Oh and as far as the pictures, can I take a memory card? Because if I get printouts it would be like over 500 pictures and i doubt they will look at each one. So I'm just not sure what to do on behalf of the evidence part of the interview.

Thank You!

Edited by Jeillie, 21 February 2013 - 02:52 AM.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-21 02:51:00

AFTER AOS?! NVC, IV BILL?

Hello everyone! Ok so I got a question or maybe a few, once the I-130 is at NVC, what happens after sending out your AOS documents and information? Like what exactly is this whole IV bill thing? Can someone please explain what it is? Oh and what is the DS-230(I think that's what it is)? The reason why I ask is because I heard that a lot of people are waiting to finish their process but can't because NVC changed the whole IV bill thing, like they're not doing the whole IV bill thing any more, like they're coming up with something else instead of the IV bill. Is this true? If it is does anybody know what it changes to?

Thanks!

Ellie

I meant the DS-3032 not DS-230 guys!

Read this: http://www.visajourn...il_DS-3032_form

Oh ok I now know what it is thanks!!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-25 23:48:00

AFTER AOS?! NVC, IV BILL?

The "IV bill thing" is the Immigrant Visa Bill. There have been no changes, in order for a case to proceed, this bill must be paid.

The DS-230 is the immigrant visa application form that is filled out by the foreign spouse.

What about the DS-3032?

Like what is the difference between the DS-3032 and the I-864?

Edited by Jeisson&Ellie, 25 February 2013 - 11:45 PM.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-25 23:39:00

AFTER AOS?! NVC, IV BILL?

Hello everyone! Ok so I got a question or maybe a few, once the I-130 is at NVC, what happens after sending out your AOS documents and information? Like what exactly is this whole IV bill thing? Can someone please explain what it is? Oh and what is the DS-230(I think that's what it is)? The reason why I ask is because I heard that a lot of people are waiting to finish their process but can't because NVC changed the whole IV bill thing, like they're not doing the whole IV bill thing any more, like they're coming up with something else instead of the IV bill. Is this true? If it is does anybody know what it changes to?

Thanks!

Ellie

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-25 22:48:00

APPROVED FASTER BECAUSE OF LIVING ABROAD?!

Ok so first of all, thank you to all of you who responded positively. And to those who I offended I didn't mean to offend you as I said in my original post NO OFFENSE TO THE ABROAD FILERS, I was just simply wondering why. And I wish everybody's process to be done and over with as soon as possible not just mine. I did not post this topic to start wars or drama because that is just not me, I think we are ALL ADULTS and we can HANDLE talking about these topics without any NEGATIVITY. And to who ever said that I didn't know what I got myself into once I got married because he/she thinks I can't wait or have patience, WELL FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I have been with my spouse for over 4 years and due to some circumstances we didn't get married till 3 months ago, so I DO KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO WAIT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH TO COLOMBIA FOR 4 YEARS AND I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE WAITING MONTHS AND MONTHS TO SEE THE PERSON YOU LOVE. That is the reason why I am a little desperate about this process to be done and over with because I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE. And I know some of you know exactly how I feel what I have been through. So thank you very much!

Once again I wish everybody's process goes well and that your journey is filled with many emotions and that the wait is WORTH IT!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-28 13:41:00

APPROVED FASTER BECAUSE OF LIVING ABROAD?!

Hello everyone! I'm just wondering why do the people who file abroad get approved faster?! (no offense to the abroad filers) Like I just don't understand and it just blows my mind because there are people who wait almost a year to get their NOA2! I feel as though it is unfair because the people who file abroad most of them are already with their loved ones and we who file from the USA have to wait 6 months to almost a year!! To me it makes sense that since we live in the US and file from the US we should get approved faster because we are HERE and the abroad filers are totally in a different country and it makes sense to me since they live abroad their process should be longer. Like do I not make sense or what? And to be honest I am writing this post because even though I am a month into waiting for my NOA2 I am desperate I don't want to wait a year like other people on VJ, who I feel really bad for.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-27 17:21:00

What happens once my husband gets his visa?

When he arrives in the US, his visa will be "endorsed" which will allow it to act as a temporary green card (the endorsement is a standard CBP entry stamp placed on the page next to the visa with relevant information written in by the CBP officer). The actual green card will come in the mail a few weeks after arrival, the social security card should also come in the mail a few weeks after arrival as well. If the social security card fails to come, he can go to a local social security office and apply.

Employment is instantly authorized.

How can I make sure that his social security card is processing? And his green card? Because if he gets to the States and we wait like a month or more for his SSC and it isn't processing then we would have to go to the social security office and apply for one but we would have to wait like another 4 weeks and I much rather find out once he gets to the States if its processing at all so that we'd go apply for it instead of waiting to see "IF" its coming.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-04-13 11:57:00

What happens once my husband gets his visa?

Hello everyone! I was just wondering what happens once my husband gets his visa? Like once he gets to the U.S. does he already have a green card and a social security card? So that as soon as he gets to the U.S. he can start looking for a job and get a license??

Thanks!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-04-13 10:40:00

Help please!!

Hello everyone!! Ok so I was looking on the USCIS web page and I came across this " Stand-Alone Immediate Relative (IR) I-130, Petition for Alien Relative: A stand-alone I-130 is filed on its own and is not filed concurrently with any other application (such as with an I-485). An immediate relative I-130 petition is one that is filed by U.S. citizens for a spouse, a child under age 21, or a parent (if the petitioner is 21 years old or older)."

Can someone please explain to me what that means exactly? Also I am worried about the whole age thing because my friend just filed and she is 20 years old, are they saying she can't file if she's not 21 or older for her spouse?

Thank you!!

Edited by Jeisson&Ellie, 23 April 2013 - 01:44 AM.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-04-23 01:43:00

APPROVED!! QUESTIONS ABOUT NVC STAGE!!

Hello everyone!! I am proud to announce that we got APPROVED!! Sorry I announced it late was having some issues getting into my visa journey account but its working now soo yay!! Lol!! Now let's be serious now, GUYS I NEED HELP PLEASE!! Don't know what to expect or what I should do for the NVC stage. Just please let me know all the details I should know about the NVC stage like about the packets and what I should know about them. Also I heard that once I'm in the NVC stage that its all about calling, calling and calling them, is this true? Do they really take such a long time for them to give me what I believe is a case number or an identification number, something like that? Please guys let me know, I just want to get through this stage because supposedly its the fastest part of the process and also because of course to be with my hubby asap. Oh and as far as the AOS I already took care of that so no need to tell me details about that because I already know, that is DEFINITELY done and over with and ready! Thanks guys for all your support, much appreciated!!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-13 01:46:00

Just found out that USCIS still hasn't sent NVC my case!! :(

So you're telling me that your timeline on your signature doesn't say that you received your NOA2 hard copy on the 18th of January of 2013 and that NVC received your case and gave you a case number on the 30th of January of 2013? How is that 3 weeks? I'm only saying what I am seeing.

Omg silly me!! I'm sorry I saw it wrong! Your right it is 3 weeks!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-17 00:35:00

Just found out that USCIS still hasn't sent NVC my case!! :(

What? It took 3 weeks for NVC to receive our case and issue us a case number. Nice try.

So you're telling me that your timeline on your signature doesn't say that you received your NOA2 hard copy on the 18th of January of 2013 and that NVC received your case and gave you a case number on the 30th of January of 2013? How is that 3 weeks? I'm only saying what I am seeing.

Edited by Jeisson&Ellie, 17 May 2013 - 12:23 AM.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-17 00:22:00

Just found out that USCIS still hasn't sent NVC my case!! :(

According to my timeline, it took six weeks.

Stop it.

Stop what? I am just wondering!! Geesh didn't mean anything by it.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-16 19:30:00

Just found out that USCIS still hasn't sent NVC my case!! :(

According to your timeline it has only been 1 week since your NOA2. If you have looked through other member's timelines and threads, you will see that it can up to 30 days for NVC to receive cases and then another 3-4 weeks from there to issue case numbers. Have patience. Also, I suggest you join the NVC filers thread, read posts #1 and #2. It'll help you in all your next steps. http://www.visajourn...ilers-may-2013/

Good Luck.

But according to your timeline, it took 8 business days for NVC to receive your case and have your case number & IIN.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-16 19:01:00

Just found out that USCIS still hasn't sent NVC my case!! :(

Is there a way I can contact USCIS and have them send my case to NVC? Or do I have to keep calling NVC to see if they got my case? What do I do?!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-16 18:18:00

National Benefits Center (MSC)

I'm sure it was a combination of things such as being extremely well-prepared with a perfectly prepared case file, having three and a half years of history together, being from an almost-no-fraud country, and the right amount of luck to land on the right desk. There are no red flags, no questions, nothing for anyone to have to stop and look at for anything longer than a moment.

We obviously were very fortunate to land wherever we did. The timing was key it seems as we didn't get lost in the shuffle of all the cases moving around but we slipped in before all of the new waivers started having to be dealt with as well. We stayed at NBC and were never sent to a local office so it didn't get caught up anywhere.

Our NOA2 came after only 40 days. I will never know just how it happened so I can only guess.

I've still got to get through my interview next week so who knows. Maybe that's where we'll run into a snag.

There was definitely a lot of luck. But if there is anything I can do to help anyone here, I'm open to do it. I just wish everyone could have a nice smooth journey, too.

ETA: I've been accused of FAKING my information here in order to make other people feel bad because we were approved so quickly. I have been made to feel guilty for having been approved so quickly. I was prepared for a long wait just like everyone else. Instead, we've made record time. So if you're going to complain, as others have, about my very fast progress, please don't bother as I've already been bombarded with that.

Don't worry I'm not here to bombard you. I believe what you say is true. But about being prepared, I got everything together all the documents I needed for the I-130 as well and I've been a month in to it already and still no NOA2

ugh!! I just really wish this year was over!! I want it to get approved just so I feel like we're going somewhere but this process definitely requires patience.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-03-01 13:08:00

National Benefits Center (MSC)

I'm the beneficiary along with my 2 children. We did NOT file from abroad. My husband is in the US and filed from there.

So you're saying you got lucky and got approved that fast?!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-28 15:00:00

National Benefits Center (MSC)

I would just like to clarify that SOME cases that are sent to MSC (National Benefits Center or NBC) then get sent out to be processed by the field office which is local to the petitioner. KDH, for example, has her file waiting to be processed in Chicago as that is her local field office. Some cases, such as mine, stay at the National Benefits Center and are processed there. It seems to be rather random and many folks on VJ have been trying to find rhyme or reason to it but nobody has been able to since files started being handled this way a few months ago.

Hello! I just saw your timeline. I was wondering, my i-130 is at NBC, and it only took 40 days for you to get your NOA2 is it because you live abroad? Are you the petitioner or the beneficiary?? because I am the petitioner and I heard that if both the petitioner and the beneficiary live abroad they get processed faster especially at NBC, is this true?

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-02-21 01:52:00

COLOMBIAN POLICE CERTIFICATE

Does anybody know how long they last? Like till when do they expire?

Thanks!

Ellie

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-23 19:10:00

On #32 where you have to list your employer, can I put the company name? or does it have to be the person who hired you?

Thanks!

Ellie

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-24 19:24:00

Can I put for example "SAME AS ITEM #10" as much as I need to on the DS-230 form? Because on #10 it says "Permanent address in the United States where you intend to live, if known (street address including zip code). Include the name of a person who lives there." and for #11 I would put "SAME AS ITEM #10" but on the second part of the DS-230 #39 it says "Name and address of petitioner" and it will be the same person and address that I put on #10, so can I put "SAME AS ITEM #10" for #39??? Not only for those questions but as for the addresses of my hubby's parents are the same so can I put for #27 "SAME AS ITEM #22"?

Thanks!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-24 18:58:00

Yes you can fill in with pen. Put none where there is none unless it's a name. Then use a line or dashes. Put n/a where the question does not apply. Ie: name all children. You have none so the rest of the questions are n/a.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-24 18:36:00

Is it ok to fill it out through PDF? If so can we leave some questions blank because PDF didn't let me type the rest of whatever I needed to type and then print it out and fill the blank spaces with pen?

Also what are the questions that we can leave blank?

What are the questions that we can put "NONE"?

What are the questions that we can put "N/A"?

Thanks everybody!!

Ellie

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-24 17:16:00

Thats fine...

I used just the country code on my DS-230 and it didnt have any problems. Just found out I had a case complete this morning :-)

Thank you so much!! And congrats your journey will soon be over!!!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-23 18:49:00

For the phone number, the 011 part is just when calling from the States - it's not officially the country code. The country could would just be 574. So, I would list the number as (574) 999-9999.

As for the province question, shouldn't your husband know that? I can't say if that's the name of the province or not, but I'd imagine so. My hubby is from Bahia de Caraquez, Manabi, Ecuador. Manabi is the province. I'd assume Colombia has the same system.

Are you sure that I should put (574) 999-9999 on the DS-230 form? Is that how you guys did it? Because I saw an example of the DS-230 form and it looked like this >> +999-9999 so I guess thats why i'm confused.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-23 18:29:00

Yeah, Antioquia is the province. For example, I'm from Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia so my city is Barranquilla, Povince is Atlantico and Country is Colombia.

For the phone number, the 011 part is just when calling from the States - it's not officially the country code. The country could would just be 574. So, I would list the number as (574) 999-9999.

As for the province question, shouldn't your husband know that? I can't say if that's the name of the province or not, but I'd imagine so. My hubby is from Bahia de Caraquez, Manabi, Ecuador. Manabi is the province. I'd assume Colombia has the same system.

Thanks guys! I know silly questions we just don't want to fill out the DS-230 form wrong and send it like that.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-23 18:18:00

These questions are probably silly but I'm going to ask them anyway.

Where they ask you, where you born and it says city, province, country. My husband is from Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia. Is Antioquia the province?

Oh and the part where it asks you for the phone number, does my husband have to include the country code? For example: (011574) 999-9999 the 011574 is the country code and the rest would be the home phone number.

Thanks

Ellie

Edited by Jeisson&Ellie, 23 May 2013 - 05:19 PM.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-23 17:17:00

I would put "yes" for the SSN question. If he gets to the States and doesn't hear anything after a few weeks, he can just go in person to ask what's going on, or apply again. It can't hurt, anyway.

Yea but that's the point, because what's the point of waiting a few weeks to see if he gets anything in the mail and instead as soon as he gets to the States he should go and apply for one.

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-22 12:06:00

Hello everyone, my husband is filling out the DS-230 and he was wondering what to put on question number "31a. Person(s) named in 14 and 29 who will accompany you to the United States." Number 14 is "Spouse's maiden name or family name" (which I am the spouse/petitioner) and number 29 is "list names, dates, birth places, and addresses of ALL children." But we don't have any children at all. And for question number 31a I will be going with him to the interview and he will be coming back with me to the States. So should he put my name or do they mean as if I was also being the beneficiary/sponsored?

Oh and my second question is, should he say "yes" to the question "43a. Do you want the Social Security Administration to assign you a SSN and issue a card?" The thing about it is that there are many VJers that say that they wait forever and never get their SSN and end up going to the Social Security Admninistration Office to apply for one.

Thanks everybody for your help!

Ellie

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-21 19:01:00

NVC QUESTIONS/ COLOMBIAN BENEFICIARIES

For the translations, you can definitely have them translated in the US and then send them along to NVC. Usually you can scan the documents and email them to the translator so they can go ahead and start working on them while the hard copies arrive to you in the mail, so you can save time. If you want to include the military records, include them. It's better to be over prepared than be missing something.

- Send two passport pictures to NVC. You'll need more for the medical (the amount varies per country), and two or three more for the interview itself.
- You can call to find out about the interview date, or just wait for them to email you from NVC. The email is sent out the same day the date is made, so it's not like you'd be missing any prep time by not calling.
- Send the template as is, but obviously you'll need to fill in all your own specific info.
- NVC will invoice two bills: The AOS/I-864 bill (88$), and the IV/DS230 (230$).

So there will be one cover sheet for each bill from the payment portal, right?

Good luck!

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-29 02:35:00

NVC QUESTIONS/ COLOMBIAN BENEFICIARIES

COLOMBIAN BENEFICIARIES (OR IF ANYBODY KNOWS THE ANSWERS)

Me and my husband (beneficiary) are wondering how you guys translated your Spanish documents because one time my husband needed to get a document translated and he looked every where and couldn't find any place or anyone to translate his documents. Can he send his documents to me and I can have them translated over here in the US and I can send them to NVC once they're translated? Oh and what did you guys do for the military records? Because my husband has the "libreta militar" should we make a copy of it and send it to NVC?

GENERAL NVC QUESTIONS

Do we send all 4 passport photos to NVC? Or does he send two passport photos to NVC and take 2 other passport photos to the medical exams?
How will we find out about the interview date? Do we call them everyday after they close the case?
Can I send a DS-3032 email exactly how the DS-3032 email template that they have here on VJ?
What are the bills that NVC will be invoicing me? Minus the AOS bill. Because I thought that the bills that they were going to be invoicing me was the AOS bill and the IV bill but I heard that they were going to invoice me a DS-230 bill, I thought the IV and DS-230 were the same thing, I thought is was one bill, so it's not?? ?

Thanks everybody!

Ellie

Jeisson&Ellie

Female

Colombia

2013-05-23 14:15:00