Hi kim
I believe ours made it to the embassy now,and we will email them tomorrow to find out.
Its nice and sunny here in vermont,have a good day!

Sorry to interupt but you can call the DOS to find out if the embassy have an interview scheduled. I found them most helpful.

Hi Jer, good to know you're still moving in the right direction. It's gorgeous here in MA today too but unfortunately, i've too much work to do and can't enjoy these last days with my pool.

Hi Sal, you're never interupting hon. You're right, DOS can give you any information the Embassy can really. Well...except get your packet 3 sent out early. hehehe

You better hope they do that or they'll start reading the juicy, sexy bits in the file like the other agencies did, and remember that video, and you're stuck with another wait while they all read it.

Hi kids! I'm excited today because my dear fiance made a plane reservation for Sept. 30 to Houston, Texas. Happy me! Now I have something concrete instead of a vague 'sometime in October.'

So Kim you sent in everything before Russ got Packet 3?

If so, that gives me even more confidence that Nich's idea is a great one...even though I knew it was good from the start!! We'll be sending in the papers ASAP. Gareth had to take care of some business that he's been behind on because of his month long visit here, but things are leveling off now and he can start getting things ready and filled out and all the things he needs to do.

My timeline is going to be a little screwy with the whole address situation...but I'll update it the best I can.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Stephanie

I'll send them all the home movies they want if they'd just give my man his visa!!! Now stop it!... it's been so long you're making me crazy!

I'm so happy you finally have a date!!!! Congratulations! Hope that doesnt mean you'll be posting less... i'd hate to lose touch with you.




Stephanie, NVC hasn't even sent our approved petition to the Consulate yet. Russell emailed them with our new case number and alien number (which he got last september when he was booted) and asked that package 3 be sent out. Because he had the information they needed, they agreed. They actually overnighted the packet to him. He also scheduled his medical a week ago and had that (our/US)last Thursday. I sent everything he needed from me (I134..etc) to him last week. It arrived in NZ this morning (NZ time). So, the only thing missing is the approved petition. We're hoping they wont wait for that to schedule the interview but if they do, it should be there this week. Hoping to expedite his interview for next week. Others going through NZ in the past have had much luck in doing that so we're hopeful.

Ok my butt is just killing me and my eyeballs are burning as i've spent the entire day working on a website and writing code. No fun!!!

I hope tomorrow brings wonderful news for all!!!

Hi

Can someone explain what it means to "contact DOS" and how I do that?
Thanks!

Yep. The DOS (Department of State) in Washington can be contacted on 202-663-1225. Basically, they can tell you pretty much everything that your embassy can about your case once it's left NVC.

I guess the girl that I talked to is new and doesn't know what's going on. I called DOS today and tried to do the address change thing and she said "We don't do that here ma'am, you'll have to call the Embassy directly."

Is she right or just dumb? LoL! Not sure if anyone has tried to call DOS about address changes, but like you said Kim they can tell you pretty much everything. But this girl said that if it hasn't left the US then call the NVC, but if it has then I have to call London.

Should I call again and hopefully get someone who knows or do I need to call London? $$$$$$ LoL! If I have to do that I'll get a calling card or see if Gareth has time to do it. He gets nervous and frets about dealing with calling important people he said, lol he says I'm a lot better at handeling this stuff. Not that he doesn't want to help, he's just afraid he'll say the wrong thing or something. He's a worrier, as am I.

Hope I can get this thing sorted out this week! And school started today so I gotta deal with this between classes.

Thanks guys!

Stephanie

Hey guys, a lil quiet today aren't we?

How's everybody doing? I just got my NOA2 hardcopy today, so that's pretty cool. I also requested a letter from my employer and one from my bank. So the only thing left for me to do is the affidavit of support.

On the other hand, Luis is running around like crazy, getting all his police documents ready, his passport, birth certificate drama, etc.

How is everyone else doing?

Question for Kim:

Hi! I just contacted the DOS in DC, and the lady told me that our packet got to the Casablanca consulate on August 12 (according to the NVC it was just sent out on the 12th, arrived the 18th) and that no Packet 3 has been sent out yet.

Boo!!

I feel like all this shuffling papers has taken so long! We are waiting for that Packet 3, because I think mentally everything will feel so much more real once Simo actually has an interview date.

So, we don't need anything special to have the Packet 3 sent out early at all -- I just want it sent out now, especially because Ramadan is starting September 4th, and the pace of life slows down soooo much then, so I am worried! So, I am emailing the Consulate now but I wanted to know if there is anything in particular I should say to get them to be nice to me and speed up this interview process (according to others from Morocco, the time between Packet 3 arriving and Interview date can be very short). What do you say to get them to expedite the interview date? (We don't really have a reason other than our impatience)

Thanks!
Elizabeth

I found this on VJ it has Clarification on the subject : "religious ceremony/marriage"
read 4.11 and 4.12
http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-application.html

stephanie, i'm not sure why dos cant take that info. Hmmmm perhaps they dont do that and it's just been mis-stated on this site as doing so (highly possible ). Just contact the Embassy.

Hi Lizzie, apparently there is an 'electronic' version sent over to the Embassy so perhaps that's the discrepency in the dates. Just be honest with the Embassy and tell them you are trying to expedite things. At some Consulates it works if you already have a date in mind. I would imagine with Ramadan starting that lots of people are trying to expedite things. Russell told them of our long term relationship, that we've been apart for a year after living together for some time and that he wanted to do everything he could to expedite the rest of the process. We had already learned that NZ was quite accomodating and have been in touch with the Embassy since before we even filed.

I know we will feel much better when we have an interview date as well! As of right now NVC still hasn't even sent out our petition to the Consulate. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Not sure they schedule the interview without the hardcopy of the I797 (approval). I guess we'll see.

MnM... this is the same information we all gave you. You must be legally married in the US. Each Country has it's own laws as to what is a legal/not legal ceremony. As stated, many people have non-binding ceremonies in the beneficiary's home Country but, if you do a search here, you will find many people who have had serious issues for doing so....especially at higher fraud posts. It's the interpretation of the ceremony by the CO and unfortunately, not everyone sees it the same. There is a couple here more recently who merely filed for a license before they were to be married and were initially denied at the Consulate simply because of the CO's interpretation. He had to go through hell to get her approved and there was no ceremony of any kind. Just the CO's ignorance held them up for months. Have your non-binding ceremony but I wouldn't tell anyone at the Consulate or POE.

Yea get that, but have decided not to do anything in Pakistan becoz of the risk.
i can always count on you guys her on Vj to help
I appreciated so much
thank God for VJ and helpfull ppl

If it's that imporant to your fiance and her family (understandable in many cultures) it's often advised to have a ceremony of sorts after the K1 is issued from the Consulate. As long as it's non-binding and you dont mention it to poe.

Thanks Kim! I'll email them and see how that goes...and lets just say if I haven't heard anything by the middle of next week I'll call. Gareth still has to do the police records thing so we have some time. We want this to go as fast as possible, but even if we don't get the packet sent out until some time next week then I still think Gareth will be here by Thanksgiving.

Also, should we go ahead and send in the checklist with the things checked even if the police records haven't arrived, but are on the way? I would say so.

Thanks again Kim!!

Thanks Kim!

Simo and I are kind of in the same situation...we've been dating for 4 years, and lived together in Morocco for almost two years, but I had to come back to start my PhD program, but had I know that this process would really take this long, I would have started so much sooner!

I have not heard nearly as good reviews of the Casablanca consulate (in fact, it consistently gets bad reviews) so I don't know if they will be accommodating at all, but I asked...which is really all I can do! With Ramadan actually, no one wants to leave during the whole month, so I feel like we might be a little lucky, if they have only a few visa requests...but I can't be sure.

Thanks for your help though! I will keep you informed!

Just checking in. I received my letter last week saying that the NVC should be forwarding everything soon to the embassy.

Kind of proud of myself for not obssessing over it. The letter was dated the 18th, so I figure I will follow-up late next week, to make sure I have not hit another snag.

Amazing how the reality of everything starts setting in after the NOA2, especially your second one.

Last week it was my SO's purchase of her wedding dress and this week she starts training a new employee to take over her job.

Wishing everybody the best.

I wonder what ever happened to Jerry?

Brian

Brian!

Glad things are moving along for you. Our petion has been at the NVC for a week and a half. Not sure whats up with that. We've recieved two letters from them stating our case was there..one dated the 20th and one dated the 25th and both saying the same thing. The Embassy has all they need from us.

It is quite surreal at this point. Feels so good to know we will be together again very soon...gives me warm fuzzies!

Elizabeth, I hope the Consulate is not as difficult as you've heard. There's been much discussion about Ramadan. Seems you may have a point there if it doesn't effect your situation. Hope so!

Stephanie, I'm not really sure how Consulates handle missing components from a P3. Do they ask it to be returned with the packet or just to have it for your interview? In NZ, the Consulate does the police check for you. Perhaps you could include a letter stating that you are expecting the police report but wanted to try to expedite the process?

So as I stated above, we've received a second letter today from NVC letting us know that our petition was there and that they'd be sending it out in the next week. ...hmm Didn't you say that a week ago??? Still keeping our fingers crossed that they'll issue an interview date even without the entire petition from the NVC. Ummm I sent along a duplicate they're free to look at.

No you just have to have it at the interview, but you have to send in a checklist saying you have everything for the interview. He's going to go a head and check that he has it because we're sure it will be there before the interview.

And Kim I got like four letters saying that! LoL!

The Medical

There is only one place in the UK you can have your medical done. That is Knightsbridge Doctors.

See reviews of recent medicals here.

It's cheaper to have all the necessary vaccinations before your medical examination. Most are available on the NHS.


What is NHS?

Stephanie,

NHS is National Health Service in the UK...the "free" doctors. In other words, the family doctor's office.

Thanks!

Just could not stand the thought of our thread being on the second page.

April RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Brian

Silly!

Good morning April!

Nothing new for us this morning Just didn't want Brian to think we didn't care.

GRAHAM...you're the BOMB! What a service. Hang in their folks the NOA2s are comming.

What number do I need to call for London? The switchboard? Or that $16 1-866 number?

I'm calling DOS again today and see if another person knows more...and I'm going to ask them what I need to do.

If I can't get this thing sorted I wonder if just having his mail forwarded will do? We'll see! There has GOT to be a way to do this, I'm sure it's been done before. Have a good day guys!!

Stephanie

The Embassy would be the best folks to talk to I would imagine. PM mama Nich..she'll know.

I just called DOS again (I had a hunch) and found out that our Packet 3 was sent out today (yay!) but our Interview date was set for October 15th. Simo is really depressed about this! I already called him. He just feels like his whole life is on hold and we both miss each other so much. And for young men from the MENA region, AP after the interview can be really time consuming, 2 weeks min, so he is just upset about the thought of not making it here till November. I had thought the interview date would be more around 4 weeks, looking at other people's recent interview dates in Casa.

Now I am going to try to be really nice to the people at the consulate to try to get our interview date moved up, I don't know if that is possible at all in Casablanca, but I have to try right?

Any advice?

Thanks!
Lizzie

Hey guys how was your day?

Today I found out that the NVC sent the application to Lima. I have to play with that DHL tracking thing!

I'm hoping they take their time with our interview so Luis has more time to sort the whole birth certificate thing out.

I really just don't want ANYTHING to go wrong.

So what's new April people.

And yes Brian.... April ROCKS

Suzy, if it left today 9445009486 is your tracking number. .... I was there when I read your post. I hope all the corrections you needed are done with. Is Lima still real quick with their interviews?

Lizzie, good luck getting that interview moved up!

So we're still waiting for NVC to send our petition... they've had it almost two weeks.

Kim - could they have just cabled an electronic copy?

Suzy - here's to a quick interview date!

Lizzie - with Ramadan literally around the corner and Eid etc etc, that may well be the earliest right now. I know it stinks but maybe you can just send an email and see what happens? The few weeks will fly by. I would do a little background checking on AP for that embassy too. Just to have an idea of what to expect. Have you gotten in touch with your congressman/senators yet? Seems like a good proactive step for those of us expecting AP.

We're waiting for our interview date. Packet 3 has been turned in....

Best of luck...

Lauren

Hi April Rockers~~

I have learned new stuff today that may interest some of you because I was checking out AOS info. It seems that Tuberculin Skin Testing is part of the new medical requirements. You K1 people don't have to get another medical when adjusting status. They use the one in your brown envelope you got as part of the visa process. That's why this info applies to you. One would think having an x-ray for TB would take care of that diagnostic tool. But this Q&A is on the USCIS website.

Q: When did the new TB requirements become effective?
The new TB testing and treatment requirements became effective on May 1, 2008. However, CDC allowed a 30 day grace period. Therefore, any medical exam that takes place on or after June 1, 2008 must be performed in accordance with the new TB testing requirements. (Alas...Nick's was June 3 and London did not do any TB skin test)

Q: Will USCIS accept Form I-693 if the civil surgeon performed a chest x-ray without the TST?
No, the civil surgeon must administer the TST, unless one of the exceptions listed in the Technical Instructions applies. If the civil surgeon performs a chest x-ray without giving the applicant the TST, the reason for omitting the TST must be noted on Form I-693.

Ok, so I'm not too worried about that because if AOS gets held up with a RFE because he needs it, at least he's here in the US waiting with me so who cares?

But what else in interesting about this is this little chart I'm going to try to post as a picture.
Click to view attachment
So if your medical was after Aug. 1 (lots of you)

• Your medical must be on the newly revised (June 5 '08) edition of the form.
• You must meet those new TB requirements (skin test)
• You must have all the newly added vaccines if age appropriate. HPV is one of the new ones. Most are N/A to adults.

If your medical was in June or July (Nick)

• Your medical can be on forms with either of two dates (UK was ok on that)
• You must meet those new TB requirements (UK didn't do)
• You do NOT have to have the new vaccines--HPV!!

If your medical was before June 1

• no new form
• no TB skin test
• NO NEW VACCINES

So that's basically saying if you got a medical prior to Aug 1, you do not have to get HPV. Huh? Think about the posts that have been going on for months about HPV and this chart is indicating that it's okay not to have it if the K1 medical was before Aug 1.??!? Sheeesh!
The new vaccines are: HPV, Rotovirus, Hepatitis A, Zoster, meningococcal and most of those don't apply to people over 18, so don't get into a panic. All the new ones were on the UK's packet 3 list months ago and probably all other countries as well.

This is indeed a screwed up process we are going through. We are caught in that little gap of medicals in June/July.
It's the TB Debate of Summer '08. Can't wait to see how it all plays out.

Ok, get back to your rockin' and rollin'~~~~~~~~

S&D, Ana, and Kim:

I talked to my doctor today about the pappiloma virus vaccine and I'm more comfortable about it now. It has been approved in Brazil over a year ago, it just isn't available for our public health system yet because of how much it costs. She says they have been researching it for a long long time and it's difficult to get a vaccine approved here, so she doesn't think anything will go wrong.

Ok, great, but now, how do I pay for it?!!
It's only given in private hospitals, so they charge pretty much how much they want to, it costs around 800 dollars total here.

Kim, do you remember how much it costs there?

Milo, I remember someone mentioning that the Consulates are notified electronically. Since DOS is aware of everything going on I would imagine it's not too difficult to do so. We're not talking the entire package tho. Who knows really. This whole process is such a nightmare.

Mama Nich... I did read that but figured if Russell would need it they would have given it to him. I guess if he has to get it here..he has to get it here.

Fernanda, i'm glad you are feeling better about HPV. I can't tell you how much it was because it was covered under our insurance plan. It's a series of 3 shots spread out over 6 months and I believe you would have to have a civil surgeon do it. I'm sure they must have 'price lists' for this sort of thing. Perhaps you can find a list of doctor's on the CDC website and could contact them to ask.

So, I broke down and called NVC again. (My love is not so patient.) but shhhh Anyway, I explained that our petition had been there almost two weeks and that i've received 2 letters saying it would be sent out and asked what was the hold up, so she checked it out for me. Apparently we are stuck in AP at the NVC. She couldn't tell me why or say how long it would be (of course) but she did tell me that we could have the Consulate contact them via email and request that it be sent to them. So..that's what I did.

Here's a list of the security checks they do at each level of the process that I thought was interesting.

From other research i've done it seems that some are chosen at random. Just our luck! All I can think is that someone found out that we are trying to expedite it and held it up to be mean.

Oh well, hopefully the Consulate wont need it to schedule the interview and, if they do, there's nothing we can do about it....again. Grrrrrrrrrrr this process!!! I want my man!!!!!

Oh Kim. Dang it! (Is that a Baastan expression ?)
So sorry. I want you to have your man too!!

"Dang it"...not so much.

But i'm wicked mad ! <--- that is

Good one. Never heard that. Oh the new things I learn on VJ.

Ooooo the lessons I could give.

haha I'm wicked mad
yeah that is sooooo Boston, my friend Kristen says that all the time.

How youuuu doin????

You guys don't even wanna know the stuff we say ova' hea' in NY
Fuhgeddaboudit!

Suzy... "how you doin"

Russell always tells me my accent only really comes out when i'm either 'speaking' to my children or bothered by something. There are benefits to being an hour away from the coast.

When i've travelled abroad I always get asked if i'm from New York... just the meanest thing to say to a Boston fan!

Fernanda, thanks for sharing ur doctor's opinion on HPV.

As far as I know, one shot in US is around $125. I did find a clinic in Orlando that is offering free shots to the uninsured through MERK program. I'm not sure it will work for us, but plan to give them a call.

Here's the webpage: http://www.ppgo.org/clinic/hpv-vaccine

hehehehe this is russ, and it WICKED comes out when shes raises her voice, its WICKED funny , shes so adorable, and shes my baby, and i want her WICKED more then she wants me hehehe

i practise my baahston accent alot, but kim just laughs at me when i try, which is ok when she tries to put on her new zealand accent she just sound english so i get my own back.

i hope everyone is holding in there, i hate to say it but it feels like we are slipping back into a holding pattern waiting for USCIS to pull thumb...... soon(ish).

ahhhhh life,
take care guys, off to bed.

Ahhh a Bostonian accent!

Bill doesn't have one for some reason! His parents and everyone around us does though. I find it wicked funny!

And Kim, he says that my English accent comes out when I'm angry too. (...Bill, not Russ!) Other than that, it's a "soft English" accent, until I get annoyed...

Hi Russ!

I am a big fan of the New Zealand accent, as some of you may or may not know already, if I weren't marrying Luis I would be marrying Jemaine from the Flight of the Conchords. (Sorry Luis!). Even before their HBO shows I watched them on youtube and I'm in love. LOL

So if you see them over there in NZ please tell them one of their biggest psycho fans said hi.

HEY! No picking on me when i'm sleeping!

Oh my, I love Jemaine also

hahaha

He's mine girl

@ you girls.

I've got my own kiwi... Now, it could be that my opion is biased but I think my man is much better looking.

Sorry for not having dropped in sooner, but I've been very busy taking care of various things. Just read about your being put in AP, Kim... That sucks big time, after all you've been waiting already ! Really hope they're going to send your file to NZ as soon as possible.

As to me, yesterday I contacted the Naples Consulate, and immediately received an AutoReply informing me I'd get a reply in two weeks' time, since they were flooded with visa applications! Luckily I'll have some time to wait for that birth cert, so the news didn't faze me at all. After waiting a grand total of six months for our petition to be approved, these are peanuts...