Hi All,

I'm new to this arena.

I'm in the process of what I beleive is a DCF in Serbia & Montenegro. My wife is from the Republic of Montenegro. We had our initial interview together at the embassy on Feb. 17. Our I-130 was approved. They gave my wife "packet 3" and me the "affidavit of support", form 864 I beleive it is. No problems there - I have copies of my last 3 tax returns, got it notarized, and have pay stubs from my employer. She has filled out the necessary forms from that packet, obtained her police certificate, and obtained her new passport (w/ new married last name) and mailed allFeb. 27 (except for the passport). They told her that once they receive everything they will send her a letter with her interview date and medical exam info she needs. Today is March 10 and still no response. I heard that it can take up to 3 weeks for that letter to arrive.

I hope we are doing everything correctly. Any heads up on timelines would be appreciated.

Thanks Much, this is a great forum!

Hey, it looks like everything is going great! Did the Consulate give your wife a checklist-type document with her 'packet 3'? If so, make sure you've got all those documents and the visa application and then you're just waiting on the Consulate for an interview spot.
I've got no idea of the timelines for your Consulate, so you'll just have to hang tough. Make sure you've done whatever *they* require to generate the P4 and the inteview date (return the checklist or whatever way they want you to let them know that you're ready to interview).

PS: meant to say---Don't forget to make photocopies of *everything* you are submitting!

Thanks for the kind words. Yes we did make copies of everything and they did give us a checklist which we followed. Waiting is the hardest now but that's how it is. If we don't hear anything in the next 2-3 weeks do you think calling them and asking if they received everthing is appropriate? perhaps hinting that we are ready...

Waiting is the hardest part!
Especially when you don't know what exactly happens next. I don't know how good the postal mail system is where you are... we were in Greece, on one of the islands and in a tiny village. I didn't have much faith in the mail and the Consulate understood. I had the email address from one of the workers there, and had made phone contact with a helpful soul, so I did have alternate ways to contact them; you might consider those factors.
But, it definately seems reasonable to contact them in a couple of weeks more if you haven't heard back. That covers the "about 3 weeks" that you've heard and gives the Consulate a reasonable amount of time to do what they do. Keep in mind that they might not work on Immigrant Visa cases every day of the week, so it's just a case of playing within their system.

Enjoy your last weeks there, and if you have a house to pack up, you've got plenty to keep you busy! You could also be looking ahead at the instructions for getting a Social Security card, driver's license & stuff like that---there will be a lot to do when you first get back to the States.
Let us know when you hear back!

Hi, I just went through the same thing like you, Diskoman. I got my letter after 7 days. My interview is in couple of days. I had to wait almost a month from the day I received the letter and the interiew.
I'll post everything after it.

Dianna,
Congradulations and best wishes!!!!! I understand the final interview is pretty easy and takes less than 5 minutes. Did you go through the Belgrade Embassy? We were told the consulate in Podgorica does not handle visas. Let me know how it went. One thing that worries us is that Montenegro is holding a referendum on independence on May 21. If they do break away from Serbia what will that do to people from Montenegro waiting for visas? (American Embassy is in Belgrade, Serbia). Hopefully we will be done before then....

Diskoman, Hvala!!!
Yes, I went to Belgrade embassy. I come from Montenegro too, but I will have my interview before elections. Hope it will go so easy like you say, I have one thing which worries me and that is Domicile.
My husband has to proof it.
About your case my opinion is, if you send the letter to the embassy, you will have your interview before May.
Puno srece! See you in USA!

Hi All,

I apologize for not keeping you updated on what has been going on with me, it has been hectic BUT I HAVE WONDERFUL NEWS - My wife arrived in Los Angeles 3 days ago!!!! We are together at last ))))
To recap my timeline - We married Feb. 16 in Montenegro, had our interview the next day, Feb. 17 at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, where the I-130 was approved. They asked how we met, saw pictures of the wedding, etc. They gave me the affidivat of support and my wife packet 3 to fill out (she needed a new passport with her new married name, police certificate, some forms to fill out). I returned to the U.S. alone. I then filled out the affidavit of support and got it notarized, made copies of my last 3 income tax returns, and got a letter from my employer which verified my employment and DHL'd it ASAP to her. She completed everything she needed to on her side ASAP. She mailed it back to the Embassy on Feb. 27. On March 13 she received Packet 4 in the mail, it had her med exam info and interview date of April 6. The med exam went great but she did need 2 vaccines (don't know which). The interview lasted less than 5 minutes, all they asked was how we met, who, if anyone, helped her fill out her forms, and is everything true. They just wanted to see my last year tax return (not all 3) and they took my letter of employment also. She had to come back the next day to get her visa. She arrived in L.A. April 14. We are so happy now!!!! A special thanks to Meaxuna for all his encouragement and putting me at ease, thanks to Dianna too, hope things worked out for you!

Awwww, so nice to hear!

Congratulations disco & Mrs disco!
You've added a valuable report to the DCF group & I'm glad everything went so smoothly. I wish you many years of happiness together!

mo

PS: I'm a 'her'.

Hello Diskoman,
I am so glad you and your Mrs Diskoman are finaly together. I have great news too! I've got my visa! We have some realestate property which want to sell before we move to USA.
So, I've got one more question. May I travel without my husband to USA? I would like to be present on my nephew first birthday and my husband, who is American citizen, would join me after he finaly finishes all realistate thing.