Hi StoryAngel.....welcome

I'm so busy with work these days that I don't have a whole lot of time to check in here anymore.....work work work.....busy busy busy.....lol

Still waiting for my AOS to be approved.....the last time they touched it was 10/25 so I am sooooo hoping it will all come to an end soon!

How's everyone else doing?

StoryAngel.....might already be old news since it's a few days after your post, but there is a packet 3 and 4 in NL. I don't know whether you read through this whole thread or not but we yalked about it quite a but when we were all going through it. As far as I can remember package 4 contained the info about your sceduled interview and the doctor stuff and how to pay for the visa. If I am not mistaken package 3 contained a checklist with things you need to get and take with you to the interview. It's been a while for me so if I made any mistakes I hope someone will correct me, but for now that's all I can remember. Do know that you don't have to get the Dutch police thing yourself, it will be taken care of by the Consulate. About the shots I am not so sure. I don't know whether you have an 'inentingsboekje' or not. I don't see why you couldn't get te shots from your huisarts and then have all the stuff he gives you as proof that you did get the shots, but just to be sure you can try calling the Consulate with that question or maybe someone else on here has the answer for that.

I'll try to check in from time in here just to say hi or to up because we have fallen to page 2.....Boo!!!!

Take care all!

Heeeey it's nice to see you Em&Ed! Work, work, I can imagine, that's normal in here Pieter found a job and starts in a week, so he'll be busy busy work work too I hope that you get approved soon, a touch is always a hope!!!

StoryAngel,

Welcome to our NL corner! Like Em said, there is packet 3 + 4 for NL. My now husband received the check list and when he sent it back, he got packet 4 with interview date. That was on December 2006 so I am not sure if they have changed anything. Good luck!

Hi to all, hope everything is going fine and good luck to the ones that are still waiting!

Hugs,

edi

Well today was my medical so here my experience:

When i recieved Packet 4 it gave me the phone numbers of Dr. Schulte and of the Jan van Goyen Clinic in Amsterdam. You need to first call the dr. and then the clinic. So i got my appointments and filled in part of the forms that were in the packet too. Its not much and thet explain it well, just your info and passport number.
I took tram 24 (or you can take 16) to Museumplein which took 15mins. It was easy to find the drs office and so i got there 15 mins early. The assistent was really helpful and nice eventhough the phone was ringing non-stop. She prepared my papers (put stamps and dates) and wend through one of the forms. I cant remember which one it was but basically she wend through all the deseases and addictions possible. Very quick. (Good to know is that if you take any medicine, bring it with you or write down the name, they want to know it).

She then checked my vaccination book and i didnt need any more. MMR i had when i was 9 and DTP boost i did at my own dr. This is really advisable as it saves you lots of money. Also, do not take a vaccination add-on to your insurance, the money you pay extra is not worth it. DTP cost me 15euros. Then she told me to go ahead and go do the xray at the clinic. Im guessing because they were running late and i could come back later and be seen to straight away.

Sooooo i walked to the clinic (about 20mins if that) and there were some people there so i had to wait about 30mins. The xray took all of 5 mins and then I paid the 50 euros and left. They sent the xray once checked to the embassy.

Soooooo i walked aaaaall the way back to the dr. I was indeed seen to straight away. First by his son (also dr), he took blood. Then on to the office to do the examination. He asked some more questions about my medical history. Then he measured me, weighed me (i need to lose some pounds...) checked my blood pressure, eyes and mouth and then made me breath and listened to my heart and did some knocking on my chest and back. That was it. He explained me that if i wouldnt hear anything this week, all would be fine. All documents are being sent to the embassy. Oh yeah... and i paid 155 euros.

All in all it was pleasant and fast. My first appointment was at 10, then xray at 12pm, but somehow i walked to the trainstation at 12pm. Hmm.. Very flexible. The dr was nice and asked me all about my new home and husband.

So now; no news is good news!

UP

How's everyone doing?

I am doing ok, busy working. How are you girl, long time no see on msn.

Hey Jackyyyyyy!

I miss our msn conversations! You need to move to the east coast girl so we are in the same time zone.....lol . It seems when I am online in the morning you are still in bed with the 6 hour time difference and when I get home around 7.30 pm you are at work I guess. (and I admit I don't always go online when coming home.....too tired sometimes). Still we need to catch up soon though!

haha can you get Andrew a good payed job?
No I know a better idea, you guys need to move here. Doesn't Ed love to surf?

Hey!

I arrived in Hampton, Virginia last wednesday on my CR1 visa! Everything is going great so far, busy with the jobhunt and loving time with my husband
I was just curious, anyone living in my area? And anyone else interested in msn contact about our experiences in our new country?
I allready contacted a dutch group in this area, but i figured why not look on this great site that helped me through this visa process withotu strangling somebody

Well I have my medical in A'dam tomorrow. I'll let everyone know how it went afterwards!

Good Luck! The doctor is very nice though, i am sure itll be a piece of cake!

goodluck with your medical.

Thanks all. I got back a short while ago and everything went fine with the medical part of this journey (so far so good!) Here's an account of my morning:

I had my chest x-ray booked for 9am at the Jan Gooyen Clinic. The x-ray place is around the back of the building. I was there a little early and there was another girl waiting (not for a visa x-ray). Nobody else seemed to be around so we stood outside for about 15 minutes till somebody let us in the waiting room. No sooner had I made myself some coffee than I was summoned! The x-ray was painless (if a little cold!) and took only a couple of minutes. I was on my way to Dr Schulte by 9.20am...

I decided to walk as it wasn't far and (for a change at the moment) it wasn't actually raining! It's not very far, and Dr Schulte's surgery is actually just around the corner from the American Consulate. I was there soon after 9.30am and within 10 minutes the son was taking my blood, checking my vaccination booklet and generally being very pleasant and friendly. Incidentally, when I saw the receptionist I thought she looked exactly as she had sounded on the phone! Again, a really nice lady. Then I had to go back into the waiting room, where there were about 4 other people who all seemed to have envelopes that looked suspiciously like packet 4!

I waited till nearly 10.30am (my appointment scheduled for 10am) then the receptionist asked to see my forms, passport, vaccination booklet (again) and asked me to sign various papers. Dr Schulte came in and invited me into his office. We sat talking for quite some time, and I discovered that his wife is a French teacher and when he found out I spoke French (it's my second language, Dutch is my third) we continued the rest of my appointment switching between three languages which was quite fun! He asked me questions about my medical history, weighed and measured me (the stress of being apart from my SO for so long means I've lost weight!), checked my eyes and mouth, then listened to my heart, chest and back. All in all, pretty thorough but not intrusive, and he really is a pleasant guy. He said he didn't find anything abnormal and as long as I don't hear anything before my interview (in one week) then that means the blood tests and x-ray are also normal.

Simple! Another step completed in this process

Hey Dutch folks and the people who love them: I have a friend who lives in the Netherlands and is married to a Dutch guy. She was in a master's program there for 2 years, but now it is ending (and so is her student visa) so she is going to go back to Chicago soon. I'm trying to help her figure out how to bring her husband here, but the information I'm getting from all sorts of places on the internet is really confusing me. Is there DCF there now? What does it require? I searched VJ but found conflicting info too. Does anyone have an accurate link?

Also, if DCF is an option, can they file and then she can move back here while they wait?

I'm really sorry to bother you about this, but thanks for listening!
Cheers!

I was APPROVED at my K1 interview today!!! )))) You can read about it in the review I wrote. Everything went fine... now we wait and pray my passport gets sent quickly so I can spend Christmas with my family!!

congratz.

Hello there.
I noticed that no one's been here for a while, but i have a question. Our case was approved yesterday and the company that's been helping us with out K1 sent us a sheet listing the things I need to take with me to the interview at the cunsulate. This is the list:

Requirements for your fiancé or fiancée’s interview:

1. Valid International Passport with a photocopy of the first page.

2. Original birth certificate with photocopy and translation into English. Original adoption decree (if applicable)


3. Applicants are required to submit police certificate in all names as well as all dates of birth that they have used. Police certificate must contain references to each place in which the applicant lives or has lived for more than six months since reaching the age of 16, regardless of where he/she is officially registered. This includes localities where applicants have lived during university studies. If the applicant was on his military service, he should bring the certificate from the local draft board. If an applicant has lived abroad for more than one year a police certificate must also be submitted from the country in which he/she lived. Military records will be accepted only from local authorities and not from military commissions. Police certificates are only good for six months, wait until the case is close to approval time before applying for the Police certificates.

4. If applicable, evidence of termination of any prior marriage: divorce decrees(s) or death certificate(s) (if applicable) original or photocopy and translation into English.

5. An accompanying child requires a valid passport (or may be included in the parent’s passport) a birth certificate and a medical examination. If a child is 16 years of age or over, police certificates are required.

6. Two photos of passport size black & white full face for visa.

7. Two photos of passport size for medical exam.

8. There is an application fee of $65 per person, payable at the Embassy on the day of the interview. Only U.S. dollars cash or local currency will be accepted. The bills must be clean and in good condition. The Embassy cashier reserves the right to reject dirty or damaged bills. Under no circumstances will credit cards or personal checks be accepted for payment.

9. Documents confirming the relationship: Photos of Petitioner and Beneficiary together, letters to each other, phone bills, emails….

10. Results of Medical Examination in a sealed envelope.

11. Court and prison records. (If applicable)

12. I-134 Affidavit of Support form-notarized, along with past 3 year U.S. tax returns and any other financial documents required.

On the day of your fiancée’s interview, he/she must bring EVERY document listed above that applies to your case, and should be prepared for a long wait. There may be additional forms required. The interview appointment sheet will contain a list of everything you must bring. It will also tell you the payment amount due and the forms of payment accepted.
The interview can last as little as 10 minutes or up to an hour depending upon your specific case. Your fiancée will take an oath under the United States law to tell the truth. It is vital that your fiancée answer every question as truthfully as possible.

It’s recommended that your fiancée bring documentation to prove strong ties and a relationship with you. (Phone bills, letters, emails, cards).


I'm just not sure what item #3 is. I'm not familiar with this. Is this something that other Dutch people have had to bring along to their interview too or is it better for me to wait until I get the actual list of things I need from the consulate itself?

Don't worry, teh consulate will request the police certificate for you and it will be there at your interview. You don't need to do anything about it.

Great, thanks!

I have yet another question
I received packet 3 last week and included are the photo instructions for U.S. immigrant visa applicants. It says the photos must be in color and measure 2x2 inch (51x51mm). Regular passport size photos taken in the Netherlands are smaller than that though. I do have 4 color photos left that I also used for my passport which was issued earlier this year. So I was planning on using them. Will regular size Dutch passport size photos be accepted or do I have to go and have new photos taken that measure exactly 51x51mm?

For as far I know the Dutch size is too small. You better have new pictures taken.

This link might be very usefull:

http://amsterdam.usconsulate.gov/us_photo_instr.html

You really need American style photo's because they won't except something different.
I got them taken at the photographer at the Leidschestraat in Amesterdam in my way to the consulate and they were excepted.

Letty

OK. Thanks to you both
I guess that means I'll go get some new American style photos taken. I definitely don't want to take the risk of my photos not being accepted.

Hi!!

I got package 4 today......the interview will be on the 22nd of May.........Can't wait!! What I was wondering about though........they mention that I have to transfer 89 euro's before the interview, but they say nothing about additional costs at the interview.........and I though that there was a big sum of money that I have to pay then............Can anyone help me on this? I'm probably overlooking something........

Oh, 1 more question......they mention that I need to bring the postage, so that the pp can be send back as 'aangetekende post'.........does that mean that I have to bring that on an envelope and have it all ready to go, or just the stamps????

Thanks!!!

I can't answer your first question since I had to pay the fee to the NVC already.

About the second question: you have to go to the postoffice with a self-addressed envelop (so your name and address) and when you tell them you need to have it send "aangetekend" they know what to do (they put the postage on the envelop, it's kind if a sticker).

Please let me know how the medial goes, I have to go on the 23th and I'm a little nervous about it....... : )

And I, on 2nd June. I am so glad my fiancee will be with me at the Consulate! Do kindly post your experiences at the consulate when you get back!

As for the photos, I remember having had a tough time when I went for my B1/B2 visa back in the day. Had to actually scour for hours to find one who would snap and produce the pix in 2"x2" format. And this on the day of my interview. Oh well, now I always keep a cachet of them handy.

Thanks! Very thorough and informative! Thanks for your review too! Congrats to ya both

Maybe you, imtay, like to know how the medical goes so I decided to post this as soon as I got home because you have to go on Friday I saw. It's all very easy but it took forever. I had an appointment at 11 am and didn't get done there till 12.15 while I was probably really in the doctors office for not even 10 minutes.

You have to bring your passport, sealed envelop which was send to you by the consulate and your vaccination history. I got all the required vacccinations, but needed a BMR-booster (35 euro). They take a bloodsample, measure your length and weight, look in your eyes, take your pulse (polsslag) and measure your bloodpressure, listen to your lungs and heart and belly. That is pretty much what they do for 155 euro......

My vaccination history is:
4 shots DKTP
Mazelen
2 shots DTP (and got the 3th on today)
BMR
Hepatitus B (but is not required!!!!)

To get the x-rays takes was a lot quicker. You walk in, give the paper which you got back from the doctor, have them take the x-ray and pay 50 euro's.

Good luck and I will post my experience at the consulate around the 6th of May. Hopefully it will help others!

Thanks for posting your experience so far, letty. Always nice to see how things went with people from the same country as for a reference for my own stuff when I get at those points.

One question tho, they take a bloodsample, I take it they do this to check on HIV and other things.. do you get the results or something of their findings?

I'm not completely sure where they all check the bloodsample for but one of the things is HIV. I would have liked to know what my Hepatitus B titer is because I never got that checked but since it's not required they won't check for it : ( If the doctor doesn't contact you in about a week after the medical everything is ok (so they only let you know when something is wrong), but you don't get any form or something for it. At the interview they will give the x-rays back to keep for yourself. So as long as everything is ok you don't hear anything.

Letty

Hey Letty,

Thanks a load for posting your experiences at the Medical. That was so nice of you! I am off to Amsterdam tomorrow morning. It is so much easier when you know what to expect. I found I was missing my BMR boost too, so I got it done at the local GGD the other day along with the Hep B vaccine starter.

I wish you guys the best of success on 6th May, and thanks again!

Ok cool.. Was a bit curious about those things

I also just checked my vaccination history, guess I will also need the BMR and the Hep B.. even tho it is not required, I have heard they might ask you to do this when you're in the states and that might cost a bit more, I don't know the prices for sure tho... The third DTP shot I got about 1.5 years ago just before I went to China for a while along with Hep A and typhoid. The others are exactly the same as you had (DKTP, DTP, measles and such).

I'm quite stressy lately because of a lot of things (like the slow CSC, probs at my current job and such) and because of that I am also a bit overworried for my medical exam.. I am constantly thinking 'what if'.. that's basically why I asked you about it.. I'm thinking to go to the GGD before the actual exam to let me check up on things so I know beforehand if I will be ok or not (even tho ppl around me say I shouldn't worry, I still worry lol.. I'm such a worrier).

Hello,

Nice to see this Dutch thread, including someone with my sister's name (Marieke!). I have already met Darkhorse in the February filers thread, but otherwise haven't encountered any Dutchies here on the forums.

So... Does anybody know what the Dutch soccer team is up to these days? I'll probably go watch some Eurocup games with hundreds of other orange-clad countrymates here in NYC but have no idea what to expect from "onze jongens." Oh well, it will be fun, no matter what.

Hi Jeroen en Michelle,

I really wouldn't be worried about the medical. I completely understand where you're talking about, I was more nervous about the medical than I will be about the interview. My bloodpressure is way to high (always have been and all this stress doesn't really make it much better) and I know it's a big issue in the States.

The medical is really not to check if you're healthy or not. It only takes 10 minutes (although I was at the doctor for 1.15 min, mostly waiting time). First they filled out a checklist and one of the questions was if I had high bloodpressure. I lied about it so on the form for the consulate it is filled that I don't have high bloodpressure. After the checklist he measured it and ofcourse found out that it was way to high but he never chanced it on the form : )

I got the Hepatites B through the GGD. I wasn't sure if I needed it and since I work in the medical field it was reimbursed by my employer. It probably would be cheaper to get the shots through the GGD but it takes 6 months total (between the first and last shot). I'm pretty sure you're good with the DTP since you already had your booster 1.5 year ago.

You better get a medical check done at the huisarts instead of the GGD if it makes you feel more comfortable. Just tell him you want him to do: lichamelijk onderzoek en longgeluiden and he knows what to do and it will be the same thing as at the medical. It probably helps you to relax so I don't think it should be a problem, and it will be paid by your health insurance : )

Hi Letty,

Thanks for the head-ups!

The 'huisarts' is indeed cheaper I think.. He also checked me a little while ago on a lot of stuff (mainly because I had some vague complaints which could be a sign of a bad working thyroid and/or bad working liver), he gave me a bloodcheck on those things and a general bloodcheck.. the result was that I was completely ok, didn't have much of a high bloodpressure even and he also checked on my lungs and such. Everything was ok according to him, the complaints that I have about my body were all in my head so to speak.

Like said, I guess I shouldn't worry so much haha. Oh well, I will be glad when we finally get notice for the interview and medical exam so we finally can go on with the whole process

I will let my mind go over the Hepatites B shots, I will be in my country for a couple of more months at least (I think I wont be moving before october or maybe even november :S) so I might be able to get that thing done before I move to the states

I had my medical yesterday, and thanks to everyone here, I knew what to expect. Dr. Schulte was quite nice and friendly, and the whole checkup lasted less than 15 minutes. Most of the time was spent waiting or filling out the forms. I was lacking a DPT booster so was administered that after the quick physical. They did take a vial of blood to check for SOA, etc. I had an abnormally fast heartbeat rate which the doctor commented upon, but told that I needn't worry for it could be due to a number of things (least of all being without my shirt in the examination room heh). I walked quickly to Jan van Goyenkade to get the XRay, and was done within 1,5 hours from the start of the medical examination.
PS Hep B isn't required for adults in my age range (20s), but I did start the immunization process at my local GGD, and took the Reispas to prove it . Cheers!

Hi Jeroen, good to see you here as well ;-)
Good to see some new faces on here, it has been quiet for a while.

Just preparing myself ahead of time... How did you guys move your stuff to the US? Did you employ a movers to do the same? Or ship it to your addy in the states? If so could anyone recommend how to go about the same?
Cheers.

-edit- double post oops

Hi Jacky.. that has been a while since i last talked to you, didn't know you were also registered here.
How's things lately? Did you also have probs on your rock with that nasty vog coming from Kilauea last week? Even tho you're a bit more downwind, I don't know for sure if you had it there also.

I didn't move yet but I will sell most of my belongings on Ebay and/or Marktplaats (been doing that for a bit already but mostly on the stuff that I wont use anyways).

I will wait with the big stuff, like my electronics, furniture and such, until I have the visa in my hands.. imagine they deny it and I sold everything, that'd be a bad situation :S

The only stuff which I take with me is important papers, some books, a few collector item CD's/DVD's, pictures, clothes and such. If I cannot take it with me in suitcases (the plan is to have my fiance here before I move over so she can carry some of my stuff in her suitcases hehe) then I will simply mail it to our address in the States (and maybe I will take it with me a year later or so when I go back for a couple of weeks... it's the plan to go back to my home country at least once a year so in time I should be able to get everything there).

Thing is, shipping is really costly (well, according to what I read on the dutch forums allesinamerika.com (not sure if thats the right url but it should be close)) and since my SO has already everything it'll be a waste to ship the stuff only to have it twice hehe (and what she doesn't have will be bought (which we kinda also did a bit already lol)).

Since a few weeks I start to ship my stuff over by regular mail (TPG) in moving boxes (they are pretty solid). Between 10 and 20 kg you pay about E 55.- whenever you sent it by sea mail and it takes about 4 to 5 week. On the TPG-site you can find all information about it.

I had a few estimates made by international moving companies here but I found it way to expensive. I will move to Texas and this are the prices I was given by all the companies:

500 euro's (2 m3)/850 euro's (4 m3) from my home around Utrecht to loading it into a seacontainer
400 (2 m3)/500 euro's (4 m3) euro's transportation across the ocean
1000 (2 m3)/1200 (4 cm3) euro's from the port (Houston) to my new home about 100 miles away.

Like you can see, it is very expensive to have your items moved from the port of entry to where you live. So I though I was smart to see if there is an option to pick it up myself at the port. I'm glad I read the blue-print (kleine lettertjes) very well, because I found out you have to pay all sort of taxes and other charges.(bijv. douaneheffingen, invoerrechten, X-ray scans, havengeld, loodshuur). At first it looked cheap but probably you end up paying a lot more this way.

that has to be a typo, no?

Yeah we have the vog here as well, but it doesn't really bother me.
I have been kind of busy with building my busyness and work. O yeah and hubby and kid ;-)

I only took some personal items and stuff for my son, so I shipped everything by tpg. I sended it by sea mail. Took forever and except for 1 box everything came the way I had sent it. If you only going to sent small stuff do it by tpg and if you have the money I would do it by air mail.

Ah thats cool.. I was like reading the news about the vog and was like 'oh my, I hope I wont get breathing troubles' lol... Michelle didn't feel so well because of the heat that came along with it.

Yeah been reading about you setting up your own business, that's pretty cool! I hope it will all work out nicely for you

How's the hub and son doing anyways?

they are doing good. Almost summer break a few more weeks. -sigh-
do you guys have a next visit planned?

Are you sighing because of the summer break coming up or because it still takes a couple of weeks before it's there? lol

Unfortunately we don't have a next visit planned.. we would love to be together atm but the tickets are getting too expensive atm, we rather save the money instead at the moment. I think the first time we will see each other again will be in october or maybe even november... it kinda depends when I get the visa and when my sister delivers her baby (she got pregnant and her due date is somewhere at the ending of october so maybe I will wait with going until I saw her baby).

Hope everything with the visa will go smoothly for you guys.

Thanks, we hope so too

Hey guys, Thanks all for your helpful tips and suggestions regarding moving my stuff to the states, incumbent upon the fact that the Interview goes well. I think the TNT is the best route indeed. Letty the container idea did sound enticing but tis expensive methinks and I don't have that much stuff anyways. I looked around in Germany (DHL) as the border is right next to my city, and found the rates to be, on an average, €20-30 more. Oh well, shall have a few weeks to sell stuff off. Marktplaats here I come

One more question I had regarding the postage we need to bring to the embassy on the day of the Interview. For my B1/B2 visa interview in July '07 I took an envelope (Aangetekende brief) from the TNT filial in Amsterdam for the specified amount. It was big enough for my passport to be shipped back to me. I was under the impression I would need to take the same this time around.However I am told that if things go well, the Consulate will be returning the passport and the sealed packet with it, which might not fit the postage paid envelope I bring to the consulate. Any insights on what to ask for at the TNT booth? Cheers!