Hi Chester...that's great news...now you and Monica can begin your lives together here in the U S . What a great feeling that must be!!! I'm very happy for you guys and I wish you the very best of luck!!!

Scott

PS. Please don't go away cuz I'm sure some of us will need you to lean on...thanks for all of your help and support.

Hey Buck...Hey Diana!!!

You guys have your interviews in 10 days...Is everything ready to go for you guys?

I know it seems repetitive but it's always helpful for both you and us to give a list of the necessary documents that you will be bringing to the interview.

Scott

Great to hear that POE was hassle free for you

Congraulations Chester!!!!!


Rafael, I'm pretty confident that i have most things ready for the interview...i have a couple little things i need like the letter from my employer and copies of my emails...I actually stayed home all weekend putting these things together
1. some receipts of restaurants i took Leidy to when in Colombia glued to a paper with an explanation and a date next to them.
2. 75 pictures put on pages with dates and explanation to each. Will have some more once i meet Leidy in Panama next month.
3. At least 100 page of phone records with the numbers of the calling cards hilighted. On the bottom glued 6 phone cards per page.
4. 3 years of tax transcripts and 3 years of W2 forms.
5. About 4 months of paystubbs.
6. Package with an estimate of a wedding in a wedding place we went to see in Bogota.
7. 3 months of cell phone bills.

Any suggestions from anybody...am i missing anything or is there something suggested i add to the stuff??

I am a little nervous about the estimate for a wedding in Bogota. I assume you probably have a second wedding in mind after you are married in the US and she is free to travel. However, I don't think I would confuse things by introducing evidence that you are considering a wedding in Bogota. Maybe I am being paranoid, but I think it is best to always avoid submitting or saying anything that could possibly be misconstrued.

If you want to introduce that type of evidence, maybe you could get an estimate for a wedding in the US.

Im doing the whole civil wedding thing here but the ceremony we are doing there...My family is traveling there for it and almost all her family is there..If and when we get approved...fingers crossed....i am going to apply for the permit to travel for this reason...The places i waent to see there are beautiful and the price...you CANT beat!!!

I understand all of that, but my point was not to submit anything up front that requires an explanantion or could possibly be misunderstood.

My rule of thumb will be if we don't need it to make our case and it could possibly be misconstrued, it will stay in my briefcase until if and when it turns out we need it.

In the case of the wedding plans, it is probably not a big deal either way.

Point well taken...i hope what i have is enough and maybe your right, i will leave it in the folder unless they ask for more.

Byron,

Here is a list of documents necessary for your interview, put together by Lucho on pg. 111 of this thread...I suggest you check it out, copy his whole post and keep it in a safe place...(THANKS LUCHO!!!)

Packet 4 Contents:
1. Passport
2. Baptism Certificate (Partida de Bautismo)
3. Birth Certificate (Registro Civil)
4. Police Certificate (Certificado Judicial del DAS)
5. Migratory Certificate (Carta del DAS, entradas/salidas)
6. I-134 Affidavit of Support and evidence.
7. DS-156 (2 copies)
8. DS-156K (1 copy)
9. Laboratory/Medical exams/Vaccinations
10. Evidence of your relationship (photos, e-mails, boarding passes, etc.)
11. Four passport style photos, 5cm x 5cm.

Scott

Thanks Scott, i did see that list, what i put together is the stuff thats in my hands, the other stuff Leidy already took care of in Bogota. The only things not done yet is the medical and the migratory. The migratory shouldnt take too long to get, the thing i have to get her moving on is the vaccines!!

Most of the documents we need I alredy sent to the NVC but I'm bringing copies of everything that I've sent to the USCIS and NVC. They're already in a big folder. We also have my husband's baptismal certificate and his parents' marriage certificate. Pictures, phone card receipts, chats, e-mails, letters, all ready to go.

I'm ready for this so... bring it on!!!!

Diana

Leidy's parents were never married? Is the parent's marriage cert. really necessary??

Thanks Scott................Yes I believe we have got it all. We had all but one Document the first time. The embassy still has all of that stuff. I called the embassy, got a new interview date, they gave me a new interview number which Paola will need and then of course the Police Certificate from Panama. Paola has all of our evidence package that we took the first time. I hope there is enough in there to satisfy them. Other then that it is wait and see. It is Deja Vu. I don't like it. I keep having negative vibes about them comming up with some lame thing or another. No matter how much evidence you give them, they can always ask for more. They have the power to mess with you if they want.
I wish I could be there, but can't this time. In another way it may be good I am not there.........no way to cross examine and try to confuse you. Like I said, wait and see.

Good Luck Buck!!! Im sure they messed with you enough!!!!

Wow Chester, that was a long time. Were there many folks in line ahead of you? Did you arrive in Houston on the 12:30pm flight? We will be going thru Houston also. There is a flight that leaves for PDX at 2:30pm. If I take the later flight out of Houston I arrive in home about 2:30am. I guess that would be better then mising my flight though.

My .02 #6, the wedding plans in Bogota, leave that out. One of the questions thry may ask you is when do you plan on getting married. You are appling for a K-1 visa. Getting married in Colombia is not in complience with the visa. Remember, they do not need much of an excuse to postpone your visa. You trying to explain it to them may not go anyplace good for you.
Also IMHO............These are not the most loving and kind people at the embassy. They remind me of thre DMV employee's here in the US.

Oh Great!!!! The beautiful DMV people is the last comparison i wanted.. .....Tanks Buck, i am going to keep that out now...but one question, i didnt know that having a wedding ceremony in Colombia is not in compliance with the K1 visa...why is that?

Diana, I have told Poala that you are going to be there the same day. She is bent on meeting you. You will be in a small area before the interview, windows 2 thu 6. No more the 40 or so people. If you see a 5ft tall (depending on her shoes), may be 5'4" or so, beautiful black babe running around asking who you are, well that will be Paola!!! LOL>LOL.

Byron,
I assume that your civil wedding first in the U.S. when Leidy gets here and "THE" beautiful wedding ceremony later in Colombia. Yenifer and I plan on doing the same probably 6-10 months after she gets here so that all of the other paperwork is in place for her to travel.

All of that is fine as long as it takes place after the U.S. marriage but no need to confuse USCIS...their attention span is limited to say the least!

We will and I suggest for you to do the same is speak to the Priest who will marry you in Colombia to see about the churchs place on a marriage to a couple who is already married in the U.S....let me know what you find out and I will do the same.

Scott

Scott, i will ask Leidy to do that...she has plenty of time...after the unfortunate miscarriage i told her that she didnt have to work and that i would maintain her while she gets here...WOW....its not cheap or easy!!!

Oh, as for the ceremony, muc better pricing andoptions doing it there!

Not needed for K1 visa.

Diana is CR1, so maybe for that type of visa it may be needed. But I think she was just saying that she is SUPER over prepared and ready to go to battle with any CO.

Thanks Lucho!! I am trying to get myself that prepared too...kind of like a boxer who trains for 6 months for a fight...Bring the CO on!!!! ...lol

If the match is for 12 rounds, spar 15 rounds

LOL....Lucho, with yo knowing as much as you do...i posted a couple of posts ago some of what i have ...what do you think?

I think I have this right. A K-1 visa is a non immigrant visa to the US with intent to marry within 90 days. If you get married in another country you need a K-3 visa.
It is possible that you could confuse the CO at the embassy. Who knows what course that could take. I believe we need to be in as much control as we can in this process.

I would toss #6 out the window. K1 visa'ers have to get married in the states. If you plan on having a church ceremony after you get married in the states, thats perfectly fine. However DO NOT mention this at all to the CO.

I would also take all stubs for every leg of all the flights that you have taken to see Leidy. More copies of your passport right before you leave for the interview. That way they see all entry/exit stamps that happened after you sent your I129F.

I'll think of more a bit later. I've got 'writers block'

Got It!! Bck , what i want to do is get married here and just have the ceremony there...but they dont need to know that.

Thanks Lucho ....Im also going to add more pictures from my trip next month to panama where we will be meeting....from what i have read, us taking a trip together to another country looks very good to the CO.

Arrived at 2 pm flight from Cali. We were off the plane and at the end of the line by 2:15. About 30-40 minute wait for the first immigration office, then another 45 minutes or so for her specific visa processing.

There was probably two plane loads ahead of us that were still in line when we arrived.

Chester y Monica....CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! Must be such a good feeling to be together entering the US.

I will be here. In fact a lot busier!!!
Between catching up with work, taking Monica to the SSA office and all the logistics.... I'm busier than ever!!!!

If I don't answer quickly, just send me a PM or send me direct e-mails......




Basic questions , what is the name of your fiance, what do you do, what does he do, where will you live, when do you plan on getting married,

She said that there were about 5-6 persons ahead of her.

Get there around 3:00 to 3:30 pm. It's not about the order of arrival. They "call" the names out and you approach the window. Monica said that there were so many names being called with no one approaching the window to claim it. That tells me that it's not about order of arrival, but more of which visa is on the stack to be given out. They call your name for the visa irregardless if you showed up or not.

Cool, thanks Chester and welcome home!

DIOS MIO!!!!!!!!!! I tried the RFE trick 3 weeks ago and was told that the case was not being reviewed yet and to wait...well i tried again today and they said that the case was with an officer and i should be hearing something soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...I dont know what to do with myself right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bryon, you get to wait and wait and wait. Then when it comes out of the VCS, it is like being shot out of a slingshot, things move very fast!!! There were times I wished it would slow down a bit. Your getting close. Hang in there.



Thanks Chester!!!!! Good luck with the AOS process. I am hoping to join you soon.

I cant wait!! Im prepared thanks to you all!!!!!!

A belated congratulations, Chester!!! That's great news.

I have a question related to the G-325A Biographical Information form. My fiancée does not know her ex-husband's date of birth. However, in this form, there is a section where one has to list previous husband's or wives' date of birth. Thus, my question is: since I don't have this information (her ex-husband's date of birth and she does not want to ask him for his date of birth), what do write in the space where his date of birth should go? Do I write "do not know", "none", "unknown"? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

Byron,

Please...please...please give me the pipeline to the RFE trick? I'm Goin nuts over here!!!

Scott

Maybe it is no big deal, but I am thinking she better find out somehow.

An unanswered question creates the possibility of receiving a RFE and in certain circumstances that can cost a lot of time.

This is not the type of question where you can enter none or non applicable. He obviously has a date of birth and they obviously want to know what it is.

Thanks. I think it is important too. I don't really want to delay the process more than what it actually takes with a RFE.

Orestes,

Does the marriage certificate have his DOB??

RFE Trick

1. Call the USCIS center that applies to you.....CSC or VSC.
2. Tell them that you want to know the status of your RFE.

By doing this you will be tricking the agent to telling you the status of your case. They will look up your case #, and will tell you wether it's still in a pile waiting to be reviewed, or if your case has been approved, or if you really do have an RFE. This trick is essential because we all know that the service centers are slow at mailing out approvals/rfe's. Sometimes even their website doesnt seem to update when your status has change. And their email notifications....same deal. This RFE trick should give you some kind of peace of mind.

Another thing you can do is call NVC (National Visa Center). You will have to skip and bypass all their prompts and reach a live operator. Give that operator your case # and voila, the operator will let lou know the status of your case. USCIS notifies NVC before they do you when you receive your NOA2.

lucho562:

I do not know. I posted the same question in the Spanish only forum so that she understands this.

Does anyone know if the marriage certificate has his DOB in Colombia? Is there any other way to find out without asking him? I think she does not feel comfortable asking him directly. I'd appreciate any help.

Orestes

Hey Scott good luck tomorrow...i hope it works for you!!!!

Forgot to mention, the RFE trick works the same with NVC as well. I would actually try NVC first rather than your service center. It is much easier to get to a live operator at NVC.

But Lucho, is the same reason used...do i still ask about he request for evidence...the reason i ask is because wouldn the petition be approved already?

Thanks Lucho and Byron...you guys are the best...I will try that trick tomorrow and post the outcome.

Scott

Byron...I think Lucho means that if you call the NVC and your case # is already there it is just CSC being slow on the uptake to notify you that your case has already been approved.

OK i get it now...actually VCS is kind of slow right?