Some useful Spanish I learned for bars in Mexican bordertowns. Don't know too much else.
Where are the bathrooms?
More ice, please.

And I learned Feliz Navidad from Jose Feliciano. Merry Christmas.

Translation:

Happy New Year Nich

There are no bathrooms.

There's no more Ice... lol

I've got ice Nich!

My love is on his way to his medical! Our package, however, has still not left the NVC.

Oh no! It's happening again. First the USCIS dude couldn't give it up because it was a sexy, suspenseful novel of an application. Now somebody at the NVC can't part with the file until he reads every page.

I've got a question about the medical... Yesterday I spoke on the phone with Giovanni (of La_Giovanni fame), who had just had both medical and interview, and he told me that the doctors at the Istituto Varelli in Naples had told him diseases such as measles, varicella or rubella can come back later in life. I have NEVER heard anything like that in my life, and I'm surely not going to get useless vaccines injected into my body when I have already had those diseases. As I said in an earlier post, I intend getting a titer test in order to show that I don't need anything but a tetanus shot. I don't know if he was told so because he's younger than me (31 to my 47)... What kind of advice can you give me?

Hi, Highwaystar!

In Japan, doctors would say the same things to patients.
I was vaccinated against measles when I was a baby but
I am planning to take another one before the medical.
I have to get vaccinated against measles twice prior to my departure to the US,
so I will take one shot before the medical check, and another one at the medical.

Vaccination against measles is required for any children in Japan
but apparently one vaccination in lifetime is not good enough.
In fact, there has been this crazy measles outbreak
in many of the Japanese colleges in this past 2 years.
Almost every single college in Japan had to warn students and
encourage them to go and get vaccinated against it again.
Several colleges in Tokyo had to shut down schools for about a week
last year due to the sudden measles outbreak. It was called "measles break"!!!!
Then many doctors started to say that people should get vaccinated against it
again after they turn 20 or something because grown-ups are likely to get measles again although
they were vaccinated in childhood. You may not want to underestimate that....

I've heard of people who had polio having symptoms return decades later. I was interested in that when it was news because I had polio when I was 2 years old, but with no lasting effects.
I think the requirement for immigration is having certain immunizations or having the disease. Yes, maybe things could come back but odd things can always happen that aren't the norm. I don't think the US expects everyone to get immunized all over again. You don't have to have the immunization completed until you apply for AOS, so if you don't like what Dr. Italia tells you, then deal with the shots in the US. Some people say having the entire immunization finished and recorded makes it easier for AOS, but if it's a matter of somebody in Italy wanting to give you shots you don't feel you need, then make a choice on which route you feel like taking.

This is a 24 page document from the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) which gives some very good detail about the immigration requirements. Maybe you can find some answers there. CDC is the agency that determines the immunization rules for immigrants.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti_vacc.pdf

Congratulations on your approval Suzy!!!!
My fiance was visiting me in Japan the whole last week and I was away from the computer so I just found out that you got approved!!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo



If you need it... get it. Anyone can get a disease even when vaccinated against it. Our kids are vaccinated against chicken pox here now, yet both of my children still got it. Just how it works. Basically, you're just getting the disease to build immunity when they vaccinate you so it's not like it protects you 100%. I was actually just watching the news last night regarding vaccinations and how so many children in the U.S. are coming up with measles again even some who were vaccinated against it as babies. There's some people (including many of my friends) who choose not to vaccinate their children and they are the highest at risk because of all the folks immigrating or merely travelling here who have not been vaccinated and are carriers. As S&D stated, it's becoming a problem again everywhere. Most of us don't remember what it was like when there were awful outbreaks of these diseases that killed hundreds of thousands. I would get 100 shots if it means being with my man.

S&D.. I hope you had a wonderful visit with your love!

Well my darling had his medical yesterday (just needed the tetanus btw ), paid for his visa and overnighted his information package (p3) back to the Embassy. Yet... our petition still has not left NVC!!!

Thank you Kim! Yes, we had so much fun together with no fights/aruguments!
I am sure that you two will have wonderful times together!!!

A receptionist at one of the hospitals designated by the US Embassy in Tokyo told me
that those people who enter the US on any type of visa are required by the US government
to prove that they got vaccinated against measles twice. I don't want it to come back anyway
so I don't mind getting vaccinated twice but even if I didn't want to get vaccinated,
as long as I am traveling to the US on K1 visa, I would have to get it done anyway.

I don't mean to cut this off, but I have a question as well...
I see people tracking their packages through DHL but I just don't know
how to find out if my package left NVC....
Should I just call NVC and ask the representative if my package left there yet??
or is there something else online where I can find it out?

Again, anyone knows anything about the papiloma virus one? Is a new vaccine, I heard lots of bad things about it, and I´m scared to take it. If it´s not proven safe, I really don´t wanna take it. What happens if I refuse to take it?

If you go here... http://track.dhl-usa.com/TrackByRef.asp?nav=TrackByRef

and enter... EXP 17 AUG 2008A (the date being a day or so before you know or think it would have left NVC) in the reference box

then put a range of dates around the time your petition should have been sent out ...or, if you know the exact date, enter that date in both spots... a list will come up showing all shipments from the NVC. Look for your Country and track that petition.

Note: this does not mean it was 'your' petition sent. When you're looking at the tracking info it shows how many packages were sent to that Embassy. A place like the Philippines or even London or Canada are bound to have many packages being sent but someplace like NZ is only seen now and then. Japan may be like that too as I don't see too many going there.

Point is, if you know the date it left NVC (603-334-0700, 1, 5 to talk to someone and they can tell you) and you enter that you can be assured that was your package going and you can track it all the way to delivery! Oh, they are open until midnight and it's best to call either early in the am or late at night so you dont have to wait too long. They are super friendly!

Our petition was received by NVC last friday (15th) and they usually ship within a couple of days but they seem to like our petition a little too much here in the U.S.

Here is more information regarding HPV.

I'm pretty sure it's only given to girls 11-26. It's suppose to be given to those who are NOT sexually active (which makes sense) but seems CDC wants it for all new immigrants within that age range by the time they adjust status.

We 'older' ladies can get tested for the virus during our annual check-ups.

It's a series of 3 shots that takes 6 months. I researched it. My daughter had her series last year.

Ok! Another question!

So Gareth was living with a friend when our K1 started. His sister wanted him to come stay with her, and it is better iving for him there so he's kind of permanent there now. He's still friends with the guy who's home the Packet 3 is going to, and I'm sure he can get it, but what do we need to do from this point to get his address changed. Surely it won't delay it too long? Should we just put the new address in all the places where it says current address? And maybe send a note with the forms saying "Please be aware of the address change."? Or do we need to do something different? I would just feel so much better with his stuff coming to his sister's instead of him going back and forth to check if things got there.

Also you know how people are sometimes, his friend might lose it or chunk it or something! Goodness I don't wanna think about that...but if it does happen what would we have to do to get them to send another packet three to his new address? This is probably not gonna happen, but just wanna be prepared if it does.

Hopefully just sending a note with the packet will be enough...but I thought I'd ask all of you cause ya'll are good like that! Thanks!

Stephanie

Stephanie, you need to call DOS to let them know of the address change and I would also contact the Embassy (even tho that's what dos sould do) to let them know.

Thanks Kim! Do you know the number to DOS? And I suppose email is the best way to contact London. Also do you have any idea about how long it will take?

Also if I call like today, when Gareth fills out his forms, he should put in the new address correct?

Thanks!! I just want this to go as quickly and smoothly as possible, as I'm sure everyone else does!

Stephanie

(202) 663-1225 Press 1, then Press 0

No idea about London and no clue about how long it takes. I assume once they enter it into the system it's done but who knows.

Yes, I'd put the new address considering that's what you're changing it to.

I have seen others have issues with address changes but contacting DOS is your best option. They deal with the Embassy directly.

Do still make sure where he lived previously keeps an eye out for anything addressed to your fiance.

Thanks! I will do!

Fernanda>>

I am concerned about HPV too. I am 25 so I will have to take it but I really don't want to. My Japanese gynecologist said that it is not proven safe yet in Japan that is why it is not approved in Japan yet...

I am not ignorant about cervical cancer or danger of carrying HPV but it seems pointless for me to have to take it. Requring us to take Gardeseil is almost against the principle of marriage, which is to be faithful and loyal to your husbands. it also seems to me that by requiring all the female immigrants to take it, the government will be able to get more samples of the vaccine to study the possible unknown side-effects....

I might be taking it too personal but I already have so much vaccination to take and I just don't wanna have to load more to it...especially something that was JUST released about 2 years ago.


Kim>>

Thank you so much!! You are really kind, Kim...I've just called NVC and the representative told me that my package was sent out on Aug 19th to Tokyo. I typed "EXP 19 AUG 2008A" and the range "Aug 19"-"Aug 20". Somehow when I typed the same date in two spots, it didn't work. I saw one package picked up on the 20th delivered to Tokyo earlier today on DHL website so it must be it!!!! I am so thrilled!!

Steph--Looking at your timeline, I would guess that P3 could arrive anytime now so probably too late for address change to be effective to re-route the P3. You should put the new address on everything you are mailing to the embassy. They will be sending out your appointment letter and you want it to go to the sister's house. Also the SMS courier will need the address where the visa/passport is to be delivered and signed for, but you fill that out after the interview. DOS can tell you if P3 has been mailed and P4 too and when your visa is printed.

S&D ...I think it is available in some parts of Japan. I remembered reading that somewhere. Anyway, will you be 26 by the time you adjust status??? That might just get you out of it.

I understand all of your concerns but it has been tested here quite a bit...enough for me to give the go ahead for my daughter...and I do not take these things lightly. I discussed this thoroughly with two different physicians.

Besides, when you really think about it... do you know all the effects of the things you're really putting into your body each day??? Perservatives, chemicals...dyes...etc. Even the air you breathe has a more adverse effect on you than some of the vaccines you get. Just my opinion.

Kim>> yeah, I guess I overreact to things like that. My fiance always told me to stop worrying about hypothetical things... I am sure when oral contraceptive just came out, people were so skeptical but then it ended up proven safe to take for long time.

I will turn 26 next May.I am guessing that I should be in the US probably by thanksgiving and
we are planning to get married right after I enter the US.
I am not quite sure of exactly by what time I have to be vaccinated if I have to.
If things go smoothly as I wish, my AOS starts by December but I don't want to wait
for 6 months just because I have to be finished with all the Gardeseil rounds....

Thanks for the link, Nich - bookmarked it after giving it a quick read. I'll ask my cousin, who is a doctor and an expert in the subject of immunization, whether it is advisable for me to have a titer test, or just deal with the shots when doing AOS. As for vaccination records, I don't know if it's worth getting them, since I don't need polio (which I had as a child), and the TD is a different formulation than the one I had as a kid. I'll probably have to have MMR too, since I didn't have mumps. I guess it may be worth having the titer test done just for varicella (the vaccine is not available in Italy anyway), though the .pdf document said a reliable ORAL history of varicella should be enough. Odd as it may sound, I even remember the month and year when I got it, and the circumstances... It was at the end of May 1967,on my grandfather's birthday!

Anyway, Michael finally got our new case number. Our petition is in Naples, and next week I'll email them asking them to send me Packet 3 by email. It seems I will have to wait for that birth cert, though it may well not be the whole 60 days... Well, I can tell you these are the things that make me want to leave Italy and never come back.

Big Time Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

It is nice having that feeling. The next round doesn't seem as stressful, I guess because the timelines are more definitive.

I hope the embassy will send my packet out by mid-Sept. Mexico is an open date which is kind of nice.

Sooooooooooooo do not want to get caught up in the game of tracking/stessing over the NVC package. But, I guess I will be tempted to check in a couple of weeks.


Brian

I am also very concerned with Gardasil and did some extensive research on the topic. While there is no way out of it completely, you only need the first shot to file for AOS. Meaning, u do not have to wait to finish the series. Also, since you are so close to 26 civil surgeon might give you a blanket, that did happen to some ladies who were approaching 26.

Ana&D

I really hope to get the blanket!!! My Japanese gynecologist says that he doubts, in clinical point of view, if it is really necessary for me to take Gardesil as I am getting married and am kind of old for it. Plus, the truth is....I already have HPV. It is one of the low risk types so he says that he doesn't really think it will turn into cervical cancer. I will try to work it out with my civil surgeon. I hope i will be lucky!!!!

Hopefully u'll get out of it!!! I'm almost 23, and I guess I'll have to suck it in and take it

Thanks so much!


BUT we have ran into a small bump in the road. Gareth went to his friend's house yesterday, and it seems he has moved!!! I have no clue what to do now. Surely it's just a small bump and can be fixed with a simple call to DOS. Do ya'll think? When I call DOS I need to tell them this situation and hopefully they can find our packet three and re send it? Or is this going to cause any MAJOR problems? I am ok with a slight delay...I jsut don't want to have to start over! I'm probably over reacting...we just didn't expect his friend to move!!

What would happen if the packet was returned to sender?

Thanks for all your help guys! You're helping me through this!! I just wanna have everything straight when I call DOS Monday! Thanks again!

Stephanie

I'd call DOS today and let them know. I assume they would just get the packet back at the Embassy and resend it when you tell them where.

It's going to have to wait until Monday unfortunatly. They're not open after 5 pm.

And thanks! I'm glad they won't totally disregard our case! I'm sure this has happened before. Thanks Kim and Nich!!

Steph--
You know what I would do? I would print the checklist from the P3 scans I gave you. Fill it in and mail it along with your DS forms. I know they are not going to bat an eye at that. There is nothing you get in P3, except a cover letter that tells you your LND case number, that is specific to you. If you already know that, then you're set. You do not send their cover letter back to them. Nothing official with your name on it goes back except things you have filled out yourself.

Meanwhile you can do the address change or whatever. If you're not in a hurry, then wait a few more weeks for another packet, but I seriously would use the scans with not one moment's hesitation. The scans print better than they look on screen. And London P3 is messy, poor photocopy quality. It's not like you're sending in something crappy when they sent a fine laser printer checklist. They don't. It's messy and crooked on the page.

I'm not much on taking risks unless I think the odds are mucho heavily in my favor, so I wouldn't give you this opinion unless I was real confident that it would be A-OK.

When you send in P3, include a cover letter itemizing what you are sending, then add a paragraph saying please note my new address is _____. That's just another way of making sure they get told your address one more time.

When I say "you" above. I mean Gareth.

Steph ~ Sorry to hear about the address confusion, I'm going through something similar to Raffaela, Luis' birth certificate is spelled wrong & and we are trying to get it fixed ASAP we got a lawyer so we'll see what happens. Always this dumb crap has to happen at the last minute and mess us up!

NVC received my case today! So I guess I just have to wait for it to be forwarded to Lima now. How long does that usually take? The lady said 2-4 weeks, but I noticed for some people it's like 2 days.

Let me know the real deal guys, hehe

You know what that is a great idea!!!! Thanks soooo much!! I wouldn't have thought of that!!!

If you think it will be fine them I'm all for that!!! I have our LND case number the NVC sent me a letter four times! lol Don't know why they sent it so many times.

The only thing I wonder about is if the Embassy gets our packet back will they freak out when they get the forms? I'm still going to do this though! Thanks!!!

Stephanie

Yeah it sucks! Mama Nich has saved the day yet again with her brillant ideas! Good luck with the BC!!


It only took a couple of days for them to forward mine so it should be sometime next week!!

Stephanie

APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!

OMG I CANT BELIEVE THIS.. My baby received the e-mail this morning, I was working and after he called me to tell me the news.. I started to cry finally got our notice #2 Im soooo happyyy... Suzyyy!!! my baby is coming soon.. and u too!!

Thanks everybody for sharing your k-1 visa experience and for the support. You guyz are amazing I dont remember if I told you this before...

Me

Congrats!!!!

Got approval today! We're celebrating on skype now but my sweety woke up with a headache so it's a quiet celebration!

Joe

CONGRATULATIONS


^{congratulations (whispering)}

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

Ana&D>>>
Well, If i am not lucky, then I will have to do the same thing with you...hope the vaccine wouldn't turn out harmful later...

Suzy>>>

I don't know the exact date when NVC received my case, but I got NOA2 dated Aug 13, and
I confirmed that NVC sent out my package on Aug 19. I tracked my package online
and saw that it was delivered to Tokyo yesterday. That is how it went for my case!

Felicidades!!!! I'm so happy for you guys. Quizas nos vemos a ver en Lima

"Congratulations Joe," said I, whispering.

I'm so happy for everybody!

Abe -n- Verito... told ya so! Congratulations!!! Feels great, no?

Joe, replied to you in the other thread but CONGRATULATIONS to you and yours as well my friend!!! <-- hehehe you last night!

Suzy, our case got to the NVC last friday (the 15th) but has yet to leave NVC (as of last night). I got my letter from the NVC dated 8/20 saying it will leave within the week. We'll see.

By Monday the Consulate will have Package 3 returned, the medical and Russell should have my package so he'll be ready for his interview... as soon as the petition gets to the Embassy! We're actually hoping that perhaps they'll send him his appointment letter before they get the petition since they really have all they need.

Damn we're effecient, eh? Think they can tell we're in a rush?

Sorry for chiming in so late...... Congrats to Joe and Wei and Abe and Verito! I'm so very happy on your behalf, especially now that I know how it feels to receive that approval .

Today I got a nice surprise in the post - the Finnish police certificate, which was issued very, very quickly (I requested it less than two weeks ago). Interestingly, it is much cheaper than the Italian one - about half the sum! Tomorrow I'll have to travel down south again because of issues related to my aunt's estate (my brother, my cousin and I are her only heirs), but when I come back home I'll definitely contact the Naples Consulate. In the meantime, I'm trying to sort out everything I have to take with me, as well as get rid of as much clutter as I can. Unfortunately, that won't be easy, since my flat is chock full of things related to almost 40 years of life of a family of four people. I'll do what I can, and leave the rest to my brother. There is only one of me after all!

Hey guys quick update on our case we are waiting for Packet 4.

but i need help yet again.
What happens if k1 visa is granted then u have a religious marriage. Is that okay or no!!!
Please help my fiancée is freaking out!!!

You're treading on a slippery slope when you talk 'religious ceremony/marriage'. Perception and opinion varies greatly and you can easily find yourself in trouble. Especially dealing with a Consulate like Pakistan I would imagine.

If your K1 visa is granted... that's to say you have the visa in the passport and ready to go... a ceremony of some kind in another Country is possible BUT it must not be recognized as a binding and legal marriage and I would not breath a word of it to the CO or POE officer...or anybody for that matter. Do not wear rings or refer to each other as husband and wife until you are comfortably inside US borders.
You must be married in the U.S.

Lots of people have non-binding/legal ceremonies BUT lots of people also have issues after doing so. I'd hate to see that happen to you.

yea i kinda thought the same thing but i wonder if i fly back with her is that also going to cause problems and r there any cases where entry to US is denied on similar bases.

A POE officer can deny you entry even with a valid visa. I remember the story long ago of one couple who had rings on and referred to each other as husband and wife as they were coming through... yup, bad news.

Of course you can come through and travel with her. Going through a post like Pakistan it's probably even advisable to be at, or around, for her interview as well.

If the 'ceremony' is not legally binding and she wants to do it for religious purposes only then just wait until after her visa is granted, sign nothing and say nothing about it.

you guys always so helpfull
thank you

And don't have printed wedding pictures in your luggage in case it should be inspected at US entry. Mail them or any souvenirs of the wedding that might show you in a ceremony or have your names on it like invitations or whatever.

So, April, what's going on with all of you????

it's monday morning in NZ and i'm hoping that very soon they will be opening up Russell's packet 3 and arranging an interview date... even without the approved petition from the NVC. Wishful thinking?