What do you mean you have never been lucky? I think all of us on VJ were pretty lucky when we met our spouses.

Well be careful about changing your name. What name did you use when you filed your papers? Your married name or your maiden name? Because your passport needs to match the name you used on your papers. If you used your maiden name on your papers for the visa then you change your name on your passport, there might be problems.

This is why we decided to use my wifes maiden name on the visa papers. She lives in Buenos Aires but she is from Peru. And it is difficult changing her name in her passport through the Embassy of Peru in Buenos Aires. We do not want any problems with the visa process. So we decided we would just wait until she was in the United States to change her name.

Steve,

I got all my forms with my married name. I don't use my maiden name. That's why I need to rush and get me a new passport with the married name. Thing is, as usual, everything involving the Brazilian Government takes ages to be processed - that means, I have to hurry otherwise my passport won't be done in time.

On top of that, I need this special NVC number that allows me to take the background certificates (certificado de antecedentes criminais), exams, vaccines, etc. I can't do any of those things unless I have that number. It will only be here with me in 1-2 weeks. Grrr....

Steve, I am praying for you guys! You are also at the CSC, you'll be the next one to be approved, believe me!

Renata

Yes, that is why we decided to wait for my wifes name change until she gets to the United States. It seems like everything is difficult in South America. It was a nightmare when we were trying to get married in Buenos Aires. And it made it harder because neither of us were Argentinos.

And it will take even longer for her to change her passport through the Peruvian Embassy in Buenos Aires.

I know what you mean, Last night I told my wife about your approval. She was saying she does not want approval so fast because of all of the things we are trying to get done that take time. She is working on getting her police clearance from Lima, Peru and that will take at least a month. And as far as vaccines, she has no record of her vaccines. So she is working with the doctor to figure out what she needs to get. The other day, she got about 6 vaccinations and she needs to wait a few weeks for the rest. So we would need at least another month to be ready.

Yes, I am praying every day for a fast approval also, as I explained to her, it will take time for the paperwork to be transfered to the embassy anyways. And all I want is the approval.

But right now I am so excited because Thursday I will be flying down to Buenos Aires to be with my wife for 5 days. The days are dragging. But I promised her that until the visa process is done that I would go down there every month until she is in the US. But I never look forward to that long flight.

Oh!!! That's good news!!! You really are lucky!! As we said before, we can't tell at all how long this process is going to take. Well, you won't have problems with your passport. I just got mine. It's pretty fast... about one week. You have to go online first and register at the federal police website. Anyway, congratulations!! And good luck for the rest of us! Specially for who is in VSC! hahaha!

Hi Monica!

Guess what?! My I130 has also been approved! On the USCIS website states that both have been approved on the 15th May 2008!! YAAAAAAAY!

I will see what I can do with the passport! I will try to go to the Federal Police only once (for both passport and background check)!!!

I'm sooo happy!

I am praying for you guys!

I'm sooo nervous! I have so little time to do so many things! Aiiii

Renata

Well my I-129F was touched yesterday. Since I can't see a any other reason for it getting touched, because it looks like they are already together, I am thinking that within the next week that I may receive some good news. Well at least that is what I am praying for!!!!

Tomorrow I fly down to Buenos Aires to see mi Hermosa Jessica for 5 days. Maybe while I am down there we will have some good news to celebrate.

Holy Cheese and Crackers!!

That's awesome! Congratulations!

Renatchi,

Did they keep it at the MSC? Or did your I-130 get transferred someplace else?

Hi everyone!!!

I am soooooo happy, my I130 was touched today!!!! but the thing is that i didnt receive an email from CRIS, i thought everytime something changed i would get an email!!!

And about changing my name, how can i change my name when i get to USA, if all my IDs will be from Brazil??

WHOA!! how the heck did that happen?? SOOO JEALOUS!!

can I add some of you guys in the tracker? just tracking APRIL/MAY filers.. and Renatchi will be the inspiration.. 16 DAYS!!!

YAY!

Or courseee you can add us!

Oooh, thanks, I will be inspiration! Actually, I know 3 other people from Brazil (California CS) that were approved on the same day as me and also within 20 days !!!!

thirdsjen, can you send me the link of the thread?

really??? maybe they are partial to BRAZILIANS!!.. the link is in my signature, Renatchi.. just click on APRIL/MAY TRACKER..

what are their names? Maybe I can add them to the tracker too..

Well I don't know what to say!!!! I just received the e-mails that both my I-130 and I-129F were approved on May 29th. That is 29 days!!

I didn't beleive the emails at first, I had to read them over and over a few times. Then I went to the website and saw that it was indeed true. Both of my petitions have been approved.

This is very good news for the people in the CSC, it looks like they are approving them like crazy.

Also, since I sent both of my I-130 and I-129F together to the CSC, it looks like it is again working for sending both petitions together, at least to the CSC.

I know that there will be people that read this and are pissed about it, but nothing can bring me down right now!!!!!!

You onle recieve an email if there is a change in the ststus, such as an approval or RFE, You do not receive an email when it is just touched.

As far as changing your name, you would do it through the consulate or Embassy of Brazil in the US.

CONGRATS!!!! wow... should I be rethinking the K3 now?? oh man..

Yes, thirdsjen, maybe they like brazilians! (?? Nobody likes us!) Oh, and thanks for adding me to the spreadsheet!

The girls that were also approved are not VJ's. I met them somewhere else! Sorry!

K3's are really going fast through CSC! But I don't know how long that will last!





Steve, I am so happy for you guys! Congratulations! (I already said pretty much everything on your thread! lol)

It's a weird feeling, right? I mean, you cannot believe your eyes! It's great!





Nessa_ce, tudo bom?

Where are you at the moment? US or Brazil? If you are in Brazil, it will be much easier for you to change your documents. Go to a "Poupatempo" and have them renewed. I am going to do this today. Also, I am going to request for my background clearance there.

Just remember, you cannot have your GC issued with your maiden name. I called the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro and asked about this, if it was ok for me to go with my maiden name on the passport. She said it was ok, BUT I could not have my GC issued with my maiden name - since the name that appears on the GC must be the same on your passport. That means we are allowed to enter USA with maiden name, but we have to change it ASAP, actually before we have our AOS done.

To change your documents when you are in the USA, you have to go to the Consulate, pay more fees, wait more time. Soooo, I decided to do that right now. Don't worry about your RG, CPF, título de eleitor when you are in the USA! ONLY your passport matters to them! Keep that in mind!



MY UPDATE!
Aaaand about me... my case has not arrived at NVC yet. It's been 2 weeks, I called them and they said I should wait another 2 weeks. I mean, damn! lol

I hope they didn't lose my case!

Renatchi,

Thanks. I am back in the US now, I came back on Tuesday, I was only down in Buenos Aires for 5 days, but it was a GREAT 5 days.

Oooohhhhh Dios Mio!!!!! Yes the feeling is unexplainable!!! Knowing that we are going to be together soon. I could barely sleep last night. This is such a surprise. I joined VJ the end of last year while there was the big backlog of petitions and was reading how long things were taking. So we were thinking that it was going to take a very long time. We were honestly just hoping to be together for Christmas. We were talking this weekend, and I was saying that I felt sorry for her because she was going to have to spend winter down there in Buenos Aires (it was 0 degrees C yesterday) then by the time she got her visa it would be winter here. But now it looks like she will be able to come here in the summer.

And I almost didn't read the e-mail last night. We had just finished talking on the phone for about 2 hours then 2 e-mails came over my blackberry. Because of my job, I get about 50 e-mails a day on my blackberry so I take a quick look at the sender and know what is important. Since I did not recognize the sender I thought I would just wait, but then I decided to read the emails. I could not beleive my eyes. Then had to call Jessica back again.

There are so many things to take care of, WOW!


Nessa ce,

I think the important thing is that your name match on the visa paperwork and your passport. In my situation, My wife is Peruvian but lives in Buenos Aires, so she talked to the Peruvian Consulate in Buenos Aires and they told her that it would take about 8 months to get her new passport, so this is the why we decided to use her maiden name on all of the paperwork and wait to change her name in the US. As far as needing to change your name before AOS, I think that is incorrect information. Because there are many people that do not change their name, they keep there maiden name. But if it is simple to change your passport and your paperwork is in your married name then yes, I would suggest changing it there in Brazil.

Steve, now YOU know how I felt! I still cannot believe that our case was soooo fast! On the night before we got the approval I was talking to my hubby over the phone and we had even airline tickets booked for Xmas! lol We were thinking that he might just come down here for a summer Xmas in Brazil - we were soooo darn sure that our process wouldn't be approved before December.

It's wonderful feeling. I couldn't stand up when I saw that "Approval notice sent" message! My legs failed me! lol

My case hasn't arrived at NVC yet - it's been 2 weeks. I might call them Monday again and see if it's there yet.

And also you know how desperate I was when I was approved so fast!!! I have a lot of things to do, and now, so does Jessica!

I wish you both a greeeat speedy process from now on too!

If I am ever in Seattle (I'll be going to Portland, OR with hubby) I'll visit you and Jessica! lol



Steve, she has to be careful because, take me for instance... when I got married I added my husband's last name to my name and dropped my midlle name. Therefore I have CHANGED my name legally. If she has legally changed her name, she has to change her documents. We also have my married name on my K3 process, that's why I was nervous. But, now that I realize that it's not that hard to change all your documents in Brazil, I just might go and have all my documentation changed.

For you and Jessica it's harder, because she's Peruvian and lives in Argentina. But here in Brazil, it's piece of cake!!!

Actually, I called the US Embassy in Rio de Janeiro and asked that. I haven't changed my name on my "voting card" (título de eleitor) and we had only until May 7th to do that (because 2008 it's a voting year). I thought that without my married name on my voting card I could not request a new passport, but when I asked the Federal Police, they told me I could. In a nutshell, I called the US Embassy and asked if I could travel in the US with my passport having my maiden name and my visa having my married name. Answer: YES!!! She told me to be careful because the name on the Green Card MUST be the same name on your passport and visa! She told me that once I did the AOS, I'd be receiving a GC and I had to have that with my married name.

But for cases that people don't change their name, then it's ok, you don't need to do anything since your name is the same. But like in my case that I added names, I cannot have 2 different names for the same thing. You know?

Renata

OMG i just got approved on my I-129F guys !!!

OOOOOOOOOO MY GOOOOOOD LOOLINETTE!

CONGRATULATIOOOOOOOOOOOOONS!

WOOOOW! That's too much for my heart today! lol

Félicitations from me!!!

Oh, and Loolinette I got my I129F approval notice via email on the 16th May. Then, 4 days later I got my I130 approval notice through email - both now dated back on May 15th.

I guess you will be receiving your I130 approval soon.


Renata

Hehe thank you!
Yes I'm sure my I-130 will get approved soon too...
I just wonder, do u get an email when the case is transferred to the NVC?

Well, I just got the approval notice... I haven't heard anything other than that. On the approval notice (hard copy) it says that the case is being forwarded to NVC...

I tried calling NVC since it's been 2 weeks, but my case is not there yet....

Well that sucks...they need to forward faster than that ! lol I was planning on visiting my hubby in july but i guess i won't have time now
Do u have everything ready for ur interview?

Loolinette,

I know. The part that usually takes longer is now behind us (approving I130 and I129F), it makes no sense for them to take so long to process our forms!

My husband also wanted to come for the interview but he won't make it ($$$ and TIME)... I am verrry sad!

I have almost everything done. I am going to have my documents renewed today. The background clearence (both state and nacional) and passport I need to go to the federal police, which is next week.

After that, I will hopefully have my NVC number and be able to schedule the exams (physicall, blood and X-Ray)

AND on Monday I will start taking the vaccines at a local Health Center here in São Paulo, Brazil.

Do I need to do anything else?

Renata

YOU GUYS!!!!

but seriously, CONGRATS!!!!! if the I-129f gets approved first, you will go the K3 route.. thats 3 of you already!!!

Congrats to those who were recently approved!

that's it!! im going to file for K3!!! grrrr!!..

ok.. maybe not.. i just need some sleep..

It is nice to see that CSC is putting a priority on the K3's, I could never understand why the priority was put on the K1's. But I was very surprised I did not reveive and RFE, I posted in another thread, I was worried that I might get an RFE about my translation of the Marriage Certificate. Now that I received the approval, I can laugh about what I did. I translated the Certificate myself, and my Spanish is in no way perfect, and I said that I was compitent to translate from Spanish to English. However, the Marriage Certificate that I translated stated that I was required to have a certified public translator for the ceremony because my Spanish was not very good. After I sent in the paperwork, I said to myself "Are you Stupid??????" I thought for sure they were going to give me an RFE on the translation. My problem with spanish is having conversations with anyone other than my wife. Because most spanish speakers talk so fast it is difficult for me to undrstand, but I can read Spanish very well because I can go at my own pace. I still can't beleive I did that!!!!

Sometimes I can do some real stupid things.

WOW! You are lucky! I have spent over BR$ 1.000,00 (around US$ 600,00) in translations! If I had only known....

good thing that in the Philippines, there is an English translation right after the native language.. no need for translations.. good grief, Renatchi! you spent that much?!

nway, i really am going to sleep now.. seriously.. i need to turn off this darn computer!!

Well it states, and also in the Guides on this site, that they do not need to be translated by anyone that is certified, it just needs to be someone that knows the language. Also, remember, any documents for the interview in the embassy that are in the countries native language do not need to be translated, because the people in the embassy speak the native language.

Yes.... I spent that much... plus another US$ 400,00 to have my husband's original documents AND translations registered at the General Notary of São Paulo, Brazil - besides the US$ 600,00 of translations). Plus the US$ 200,00 notary fee for weddings. It's a complete joke!




Well, Steve, for me to get married all my husband's paperwork needed to be translated by a certified translator. That alone costed me US$ 500,00. I wasn't sure about not sending certified translations to USCIS so I hired the woman again and she translated my birth and marriage certificate (another US$ 100,00) and I sent them to USCIS.

Oh, and at the notary where we got married, we also had to hire a translator (since the hubby doesn't speak portuguese) who charged us US$ 100,00 to do the wedding. He was late (marriage was scheduled for 7 am and he showed up at 9 am - jerk!).

The most I spend on translations was because of my husband's documents BEFORE the wedding, I mean, to schedule the wedding at the notary.... grrr...

Brazil does nothing, but when it does.... it's hell!

I had to do the same thing when we got married in Argentina, Because, they do require Certified and Leagalized translations. It cost me US$600 for the translations, then when they told me that I needed a translator for the ceremony, it cost another US$300 for the translator. That is why I was so relieved when I read that the US does not require the translations to be from a certified translator.

But on the translations for USCIS I have spent less than US$ 100,00! That's booze money for someone who had already spent US$ 1.500,00 on translations and registrations, dude!

lol

I just received approval of I-130 right after hehe
Renatchi, how do u know ur NVC #? do u call them or they send u a letter?

edited my timeline. didn't know i had the month wrong. got the NOA1 for the I-129F april, not may 28. =)

Renatchi,

By looking at the timelines, it looks like it is taking around 2 weeks for the petitions to get to NVC. So they should be receiving yours any day now, then they are sent the next day to the embassy. And it appears that it takes 4 to 5 days to reach South America. So I would assume that the NVC would have your paperwork in their system early this week and it should be in Brazil early next week. And for Brazil, it appears that they are giving the interviews about 4 to 5 weeks after they arrive in Brazil. So I would guess that you will be having your interview the 3rd week in July.

That's kind of funny, it is taking longer for you paperwork to arrive at the NVC than it did to get approved at USCIS.

I'm estimating that my wife's interview will be the end of July, so I am making plans to be in Buenos Aires at that time to go with her to the interview, and God willing, maybe she will be able to come to the US with me when I return.

hey daisychain.. looks like you are up next to be approved.. do you all think that it's too late for me to send in my I-129f? we were going to stick with CR1 but he's getting impatient now..

*tracker updated*

Jen, file it. Can't hurt too much IMHO.

Too late to edit....

I am hoping both mine get sent on to the NVC....if they are ever approved (COME ON CSC...WE WANT TO SEE MORE APPROVALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) The turn around at the NVC could be 1-2 months. By that time the K3 interview will have been scheduled and maybe the consulate will interview for the CR1 at the scheduled K3 interview. That is what was going to happen the first time I went through this process. But a few things a have changed in the past few years. At AMM, they used to wait for the Packet 3 to be returned before scheduling the K3 interview, now they do it when then SEND the P3 to the agent. For me, AMM received from NVC in Sept. and then mailed P3 to me in the US, I forwarded to my now ex-wife and she got it in mid Nov. They scheduled the intervew end of Jan. for beginning of May. By that time, NVC had forwarded everything to them for the CR1 and they said they would interview for that. I am keeping my fingers crossed they allow that to happen again. I think it depends on NVC on whether they will forward both.

hi LuLu.. my brain is not working right now. can't seem to understand anything you just wrote.. im serious..

but my I-129F is all ready.. but it's too late to send it today, plus it's saturday. this will give me more time to think about it till monday..

hi! of course you can still send in your I-129F =) my husband and i have been pouring over the timelines. i've noticed that statistically, people who filed between feb-april get approved first as opposed to people who filed last year. yeah i know how you feel =( my husband and i had been inseparable for a year. we even worked in the same company together and had never been apart for more than an hour since the day we got married! his sister (who came to philippines for a visit) told me he was inconsolable for weeks. so was i =( i think of him every single second of the day. i'm hoping that we get approved soon. my sister-in-law's friend went through the same thing and she got her visa 6 months after her husband filed for her I-129F. i think there's really no formulaic timeline that would indicate when exactly the I-129F would be approved, except perhaps an "offpeak" season. we noticed that there were more petitions filed at the last quarter of the year. anyway, his sister also filed a petition for her husband and they decided to take the CR1 route because it would save them a lot of trouble when her husband gets to the US (and a lot of money too). but being together the soonest possible time is worth the trouble for me and my husband. anyway, i do hope we get approved soon! i'm praying for all of u guys. i know how it must feel to be thousands of miles apart from someone you love. =(

yeah, i feel bad for those who filed last year.. some are still waiting! i'm going to send the I-129F monday. the difference between the CR1 and the K3 in the manila consulate is about 100 plus days. K3 definitely faster.. send in the same exact thing, right? i have a lot of copying to do still! i thought it was all ready.. forgot about those phone bills.. crap.. we text more than we talk

thirdsjen,

Yes, just send the same things you sent for the CR1, in fact I sent the exact same package for the I-129F as I did for the I-130. Except don't forget to add the copy of your NOA1. As far as evidence, all I sent was our marraige certificate, photos and a couple e-mails from each month, and I had no problems being approved. it is just my opinion, but I think it is more important for lots of evidence of the relationship at the interview. This is where they determine if the relationship is real.
And yes, the K3 is a few months faster. They can get approved in the same amount of time, but the time from NOA2 to the interview is is alot faster with the K3. All i care about is that we are together as soon as possible.

Good Luck

i reread the guide for the filing of I-129F for the spouse of a US citizen, as well as other related websites. apparently, the evidence of a bonafide marriage (pictures and such) is only required for the I-130. correct me if i'm wrong though. but of course it doesn't hurt to provide all the evidence you can to avoid delays. hmm i also read that police records should be included if applicable. i didn't include any police records since i don't have a case or anything. is that really necessary?

Steeeeve!

My case (only the I130) has arrived at NVC. I think I will be forced to go with the IV (CR1), which is a good thing, that way we won't pay for a AOS and it's easier. I am not sure if I am CR1 or K3, but since only the I130 arrived at NVC, I am guessing I am... lol

thirdsjen,
Anyways, I sent some proofs of bonafide marriage for the I129F too. Actually, the same I sent for the I130. Only the copies, because the originals I need to present at the interview!

daisychain, you should include police records ONLY if you were convicted of something. If not, ignore that. You will need federal and state police records for the interview though.

Look at the I129F form, Part C, question 2 and 3:
- Have you ever been convicted by a court of law (civil or criminal) or court martialed by a military tribunal for any of the following crimes:
.......... Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, dating violence, elder abuse or stalking. (Please refer to page 3 of the instructions for the full definition of the term "domestic violence.)
.......... Homicide, murder, manslaughter, rape, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation, incest, torture, trafficking, peonage, holding hostage, involuntary servitude, slave trade, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful criminal restraint, false imprisonment or an attempt to commit any of these crimes, or
.......... Three or more convictions for crimes relating to a controlled substance or alcohol not arising from a single act.
Answering this question is required even if your records were sealed or otherwise cleared or if anyone, including a judge, law enforcement officer, or attorney, told you that you no longer have a record. Using a separate sheet(s) of paper, attach information relating to the conviction(s), such as crime involved, date of conviction and sentence.

Well, that's what they asked for... ONLY if you were convicted... but the police records are not necessary now!

thirdsjen,

it wouldn't hurt for you to file your K3 form! I really think you should do it.... just in case, as a backup plan!

Hope I am helping!

Renata

Renata,

I was reading that when you call the NVC and use the automated system to see if your petitions have arrived, only the I-130 will show as being at the NVC through the automated system. To get the details of the I-129 petition, you need to talk to a person.
But if you end up going with the I-130, it will take another 2-3 months to get to the interview.

Steve