September 2014 Interviews

[Marhaba 49]

Hubby Interview tomorrow at Mumbai Consulate

GOOD LUCK!!!

[domwardbound 73]

Ok so it's taken a couple days to cool down to be able to recount the recent events. So to recap where we were in the process: we requested an expedite because my husbands visa was expiring Sept 1st (he's Congolese studying in Russia). The expedite was approved in july 21st i believe and i called and verified our documents were on their way. I was told the packet was on its way and that my last packet which was my IV packet would be forwarded in a separate shipment but would be on its way. ( The IV scan date was June 9th. ). The CEAC site changed to "ready" a week after NVC sent the packet and we scheduled the interview for August 11th in Moscow. I flew to Moscow to be with my husband at the interview as i had emailed the embassy and requested to be able to be there with my husband. The morning of the interview we arrived at the embassy, passports checked and were allowed in. We checked our mobiles at a counter and went to security. In the xray machine they found my cell phone charger which i had forgotten i had stashed there for my flight. Instead of being able to leave it and pick it up with my cell phone i was told my only options were don't come in or go throw it literally in the street with the cars. I couldn't leave it in the flowerbed or anywhere else outside where it might have been hidden enough to still be there on my return. So i threw my charger into oncoming traffic and returned to meet my husband. It seems that everyone working at the embassy only speaks Russian even though its an American Embassy. So when we arrived at some counters there was confusion about where we were to go but they finally decided we were to go upstairs to the 2nd floor waiting area called hall 5. There were some chairs and people waiting but no further instruction. We had to go to a window to make sure we were in the right place and that we hadn't missed a step. The lady said sit down and wait. Finally we were called to the window. She started asking for our original documents which I had already sent to NVC and which I had been guaranteed were forwarded to the embassy. So NVC never sent the documents and we did not have a 2nd set of originals. We had all the copies. We were assured we could have the interview still. We were eventually called to the interview room and met with an extremely nice Vice consul. He basically said "i read your statements and you've had a rough start to your marriage". We laughed and agreed and he started to say i'm giving you the visa just as i said and its still happening. He let me finish and i said NVC didn't send our originals. He furrowed his brow and turned to the checklist page that he has to sign before he can approve the visa and said Oh you're right. Then we spent some time talking about options for getting replacements if NVC couldn't find them. He was very nice. He even gave us his personal email to keep him updated when we called NVC. So we left the embassy without an approval and with documents still pending and feeling like idiots. We spent the next few hours trying to scramble to replace documents from 3 continents. Finally we were able to call NVC in the afternoon due to the time change. I was told by the operator that i had to request the documents be sent to the embassy which wasn't what i was told before so i asked to speak to a supervisor. I was given a "they are all in a meeting" run-around and said i would wait on the line. Finally the operator said he found a supervisor. It was Beth and she said the embassy had to request the documents not us. So i emailed the Vice Consul and gave him the information. The next day he called and said NVC had located my documents and they would be sent to the Embassy and that as soon as he sees them he will issue the visa. So now i'm in Russia waiting this out with my husband. All i can say is if you expedite,contact the embassy and make sure they specifically request any documents that may not have gotten into your file before it was sent. I just want to bring my husband home but i'm so glad i went to the interview because this would have been a bigger mess had i not been there.

Good job handling that - it's true, once you get through security, it's not clear whether you need to stop at that first window, or just follow the immigrant visa signs upstairs.

Very strange with the documents.. but I'm glad you had a good experience with the people. I agree - the American guy we interviewed with was very nice as well.

[Marhaba 49]

Husband got the visa!!

But he said it says

upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year

What does that mean??? Anyone know? Is there something else we need to do?

[BOS_LHR 829]

Husband got the visa!!

But he said it says

upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year

What does that mean??? Anyone know? Is there something else we need to do?

Congrats! The "upon endorsement" line means that when the visa is stamped at POE it becomes his temporary green card, valid for up to one year. That serves as proof of his permanent residency until the real green card arrives in the mail.

[k.dlg 297]

Husband got the visa!!

But he said it says

upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year

What does that mean??? Anyone know? Is there something else we need to do?

Congrats!!! It's basically going to serve as his temporary Green Card (after the CBP officer at POE stamps it?) until the actual card comes in the mail.

EDIT: BOS-LHR beat me to it! lol

Edited August 13, 2014 by k.dlg

[Murf & Reggie 37]

OOOOH! My husband and I will have a layover in Frankfurt for a few hours when we fly home :-D What day will you be making your departure to the States?

Will be leaving in the 25th in the evening

[bdrew612 1,071]

Will be leaving in the 25th in the evening

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!

We fly on the 25th (but we'll be there mid-day)! I'll leave a note for you on the pizza vending machine!

[Marhaba 49]

Congrats! The "upon endorsement" line means that when the visa is stamped at POE it becomes his temporary green card, valid for up to one year. That serves as proof of his permanent residency until the real green card arrives in the mail.

Thank you !!!

Such a relief!!!

[Murf & Reggie 37]

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!

We fly on the 25th (but we'll be there mid-day)! I'll leave a note for you on the pizza vending machine!

Lol that's too funny....sure which one will be running thru terminal 1 looking like a fool in one hand hopefully the visa package with the other one going thru the machines and looking for your note.....again which airline u guys on?

[Marhaba 49]

Congrats!!! It's basically going to serve as his temporary Green Card (after the CBP officer at POE stamps it?) until the actual card comes in the mail.

EDIT: BOS-LHR beat me to it! lol

Thank you for the second opinion. . Lol

EDIT: i forgot to Thank you for the confrarulations. U all r sooooo sweet and kind!!! ???

Edited August 13, 2014 by Marhaba

[bdrew612 1,071]

Lol that's too funny....sure which one will be running thru terminal 1 looking like a fool in one hand hopefully the visa package with the other one going thru the machines and looking for your note.....again which airline u guys on?

My husband said the same thing about the package - that thing is huge (that's what she said)!!

We are flying into Frankfurt on Lufthansa and flying to Minneapolis on Condor. I should probably look up the terminals LOL It's a 2 1/2 hour layover so no time to leave the airport und praktisch meine Deutsch!

[Yhan2x 37]

Congratulations yhan2x!!! Happy for you..

Thank u so much mai_02

[k.dlg 297]

Thank you for the second opinion. . Lol

EDIT: i forgot to Thank you for the confrarulations. U all r sooooo sweet and kind!!! ???

haha, you're welcome! Also, I looked up the meaning of the annotation 212 (g )(2) (B) on the visa, and it's just a waiver stating that some immunizations were not required because they were either not age appropriate or not required (such as the flu vaccination).

Edited August 13, 2014 by k.dlg

[dwheels76 5,463]

Checking in Got my CC last night!

Congratulations. I have added you to the spreadsheet. Welcome to the group.

[Murf & Reggie 37]

My husband said the same thing about the package - that thing is huge (that's what she said)!!

We are flying into Frankfurt on Lufthansa and flying to Minneapolis on Condor. I should probably look up the terminals LOL It's a 2 1/2 hour layover so no time to leave the airport und praktisch meine Deutsch!

Lol yup deutsch is so easy......rofl......not way it is.

Yup You will be in Terminal 1, I will be heading to DC on the late flight with UA

Edited August 13, 2014 by Murf & Reggie