NVC staged upcoming, but focussing on Interview. Thoughts on evidence

[NewKid 20]

Good day all.

We received our NOA2 hard copy yesterday ( May 11th ) ( CSC) and we are aware that this now goes to the NVC stage, however, while we are waiting we thought we would prepare for the interview in the mean time.

So we have all the required documents ready, PCC, Birth Cert etc.

My question is only regarding the proof of relationship part. so, as I know many of you we have 100's of photos of us together, I just wanted to know what would be the best way to present these. Would making a photo-book album( like the ones you do for your wedding) be advisable, as this will show everything very neatly?

I am just worried that they take it and don't return it to us?

Otherwise, could anyone give me an indication as to which way you presented your photos and other evidence? Because we have ( up to today) the following already:

1. Chat logs. ( snippets by months) since we started dating

2. Emails

3. Facebook screenshots( of our own post, checkins, with family and friends)

4. Screen shots of video calls( our faces)

5. Video chat logs

6. Iphone screenshots of picture moments( this is where photos get "geotagged" and are displayed by where they were taken)

7. Stamped letters

8.Passport stamps showing visits

9.Flight tickets + boarding passes

10. the photos?? ( thus the post)

• just us
• with family and friends
• at events( sporting/work functions.)
• her holidays with me
• my holidays with her

Are we in Good shape with all this? what is the best way to present all of this?

* off topic, realistically, how long should we expect to wait to hear from the NVC( as the NOA2 hard copy said that the process takes 2-4 weeks) ?

Thank you everyone.

All the best with your journeys

Kid

[Mindy & Raju 11]

There is a page with reviews of the interviews for each embassy on here (the option is in the main navigation at the top of the page "Reviews: Embassy/USCIS/POE"). I read through all the stories for past interviews at my embassy and I found it very enlightening. There were a few reviews saying that the interviewing officer only looked at a few pictures. I also read that the interview happens standing up in front of the glass with only that narrow bin to slide things through. I was planning to put hundreds of photos in a nice album at first, but now I think a compact envelope would make more sense.

[mallafri76 1,012]

Pretty much all the bona fidas evidence should have been added to the petition you sent to USCIS. That will be forwarded to the embassy and they will look at it and most likely make up their mind way before your interview. In my opinion, bringing tons of evidence to the interview is a waste of time, it's better to add them before it gets to the embassy stage.

[usmsbow 796]

Pretty much all the bona fidas evidence should have been added to the petition you sent to USCIS. That will be forwarded to the embassy and they will look at it and most likely make up their mind way before your interview. In my opinion, bringing tons of evidence to the interview is a waste of time, it's better to add them before it gets to the embassy stage.

I have to disagree. We sent one photo in with our initial peition and no chat logs or anything along those lines. My fiancee then brought an album of photos, organized chronologically and with some captions, to the interview. Those along with the associated boarding passes basically "sold our story" to the consular officer. I am pretty sure he was going to approve us anyway (Indonesia is low-risk and our case was straight forward), but that album sealed the deal.

OP- an album worked for us. I think my fiancee put a couple dozen in it. The album and other stuff she brought to the interview was handed back to her after the interview. I really don't think you need all that other documentation (minus proof of visits such as boarding passes), but as mindy & raju suggested, you should read the interview reviews for South Africa. Good luck!

Edited May 12, 2015 by usmsbow

[mallafri76 1,012]

I have to disagree. We sent one photo in with our initial peition and no chat logs or anything along those lines. My fiancee then brought an album of photos, organized chronologically and with some captions, to the interview. Those along with the associated boarding passes basically "sold our story" to the consular officer. I am pretty sure he was going to approve us anyway (Indonesia is low-risk and our case was straight forward), but that album sealed the deal.

OP- an album worked for us. I think my fiancee put a couple dozen in it. The album and other stuff she brought to the interview was handed back to her after the interview. I really don't think you need all that other documentation (minus proof of visits such as boarding passes), but as mindy & raju suggested, you should read the interview reviews for South Africa. Good luck!

The reason for the petition is to prove bona fidas of marriage, hence you should put your bona fida evidence with the petition. Bringing some photos and a couple of additional proof to the interview is one thing but what OP is talking about is a mile long list of bona fidas proof and that, should have been included with the petition. Also remember that some embassies and counselors will not look at additional proof of bona fida marriage brought to the interview, they will base their decision on the packet they have received through UCSIS/NVC and how you answer the questions at the interview. Judging from other Scandinavian posters e.g., Sweden's one of those embassies who very rarely looks at proof brought to the interview.

[Confusedtinybird 41]

Good day all.

We received our NOA2 hard copy yesterday ( May 11th ) ( CSC) and we are aware that this now goes to the NVC stage, however, while we are waiting we thought we would prepare for the interview in the mean time.

So we have all the required documents ready, PCC, Birth Cert etc.

My question is only regarding the proof of relationship part. so, as I know many of you we have 100's of photos of us together, I just wanted to know what would be the best way to present these. Would making a photo-book album( like the ones you do for your wedding) be advisable, as this will show everything very neatly?

I am just worried that they take it and don't return it to us?

Otherwise, could anyone give me an indication as to which way you presented your photos and other evidence? Because we have ( up to today) the following already:

1. Chat logs. ( snippets by months) since we started dating

2. Emails

3. Facebook screenshots( of our own post, checkins, with family and friends)

4. Screen shots of video calls( our faces)

5. Video chat logs

6. Iphone screenshots of picture moments( this is where photos get "geotagged" and are displayed by where they were taken)

7. Stamped letters

8.Passport stamps showing visits

9.Flight tickets + boarding passes

10. the photos?? ( thus the post)

• just us
• with family and friends
• at events( sporting/work functions.)
• her holidays with me
• my holidays with her

Are we in Good shape with all this? what is the best way to present all of this?

* off topic, realistically, how long should we expect to wait to hear from the NVC( as the NOA2 hard copy said that the process takes 2-4 weeks) ?

Thank you everyone.

All the best with your journeys

Kid

NewKid,

When you go to the interview don't bother with a big binder. It wont fit thought the window, and you will be ask to take everything out. Several couples came with these huge photo books and they had to rip everything out.

For the photos during the interview I put the date /location/ and who was in the photo on a sheet of paper under the photo. I had 3 pictures for each piece of paper. Just glue the photo to the piece of paper. I started in the beginning of the relationship. I had some pictures of the wedding. Pictures of my husband with my family.

I had a cover sheet with all my evidence and I listed everything on the cover sheet.

Your evidence looks good!

[NewKid 20]

Thank you everyone!

I think I have a good idea about this now.

I do appreciate all the assistance.

All the best to you all

[mrsbrook 4]

Good day all.

We received our NOA2 hard copy yesterday ( May 11th ) ( CSC) and we are aware that this now goes to the NVC stage, however, while we are waiting we thought we would prepare for the interview in the mean time.

So we have all the required documents ready, PCC, Birth Cert etc.

My question is only regarding the proof of relationship part. so, as I know many of you we have 100's of photos of us together, I just wanted to know what would be the best way to present these. Would making a photo-book album( like the ones you do for your wedding) be advisable, as this will show everything very neatly?

I am just worried that they take it and don't return it to us?

Otherwise, could anyone give me an indication as to which way you presented your photos and other evidence? Because we have ( up to today) the following already:

1. Chat logs. ( snippets by months) since we started dating

2. Emails

3. Facebook screenshots( of our own post, checkins, with family and friends)

4. Screen shots of video calls( our faces)

5. Video chat logs

6. Iphone screenshots of picture moments( this is where photos get "geotagged" and are displayed by where they were taken)

7. Stamped letters

8.Passport stamps showing visits

9.Flight tickets + boarding passes

10. the photos?? ( thus the post)

• just us
• with family and friends
• at events( sporting/work functions.)
• her holidays with me
• my holidays with her

Are we in Good shape with all this? what is the best way to present all of this?

* off topic, realistically, how long should we expect to wait to hear from the NVC( as the NOA2 hard copy said that the process takes 2-4 weeks) ?

Thank you everyone.

All the best with your journeys

Kid

Hi Kid

Nice to meet a fellow Saffa! Just wanted to say good luck with the NVC thing. We have only just received our scan date (12 May) and so now are waiting for the magical CC (case complete) and then hopefully not too long to the interview. Sounds like you are very well prepared for your interview, but echo the advice of some of the other replies - put everything into a ringbinder so you can easily take things out (if they are specifically asked for) and slide them under the window. I've already got my binder ready and waiting with just about everything you've mentioned. Only thing I'm waiting for is my new police clearance certificate as the one I currently have expires on the 26th of June and I'm pretty sure I won't get my interview date before then. Pain in the butt as everything takes so loooooong here in SA (took 3 months for the last one to arrive), but apart from that I'm ready - and sounds like you are too! Good luck to both of us then!

Cheers

Edited May 14, 2015 by mrsbrook

[NewKid 20]

Hi Kid

Nice to meet a fellow Saffa! Just wanted to say good luck with the NVC thing. We have only just received our scan date (12 May) and so now are waiting for the magical CC (case complete) and then hopefully not too long to the interview. Sounds like you are very well prepared for your interview, but echo the advice of some of the other replies - put everything into a ringbinder so you can easily take things out (if they are specifically asked for) and slide them under the window. I've already got my binder ready and waiting with just about everything you've mentioned. Only thing I'm waiting for is my new police clearance certificate as the one I currently have expires on the 26th of June and I'm pretty sure I won't get my interview date before then. Pain in the butt as everything takes so loooooong here in SA (took 3 months for the last one to arrive), but apart from that I'm ready - and sounds like you are too! Good luck to both of us then!

Cheers

Hi Mrsbrook.

Great to see another Saffa indeed!

I will take notice of the advise of the other responders.

As for your PCC, I had mine done last month, waited only 15 days for it. so it is much quicker now than before.

Best of luck with the journey! Keep me posted on how things are going.

All the best

Kid

[mrsbrook 4]

Hi Mrsbrook.

Great to see another Saffa indeed!

I will take notice of the advise of the other responders.

As for your PCC, I had mine done last month, waited only 15 days for it. so it is much quicker now than before.

Best of luck with the journey! Keep me posted on how things are going.

All the best

Kid

15 Days??!! How on earth did you get this right? I sent my application via courier to Pretoria about a week ago, with instructions for them to send me a text message once it was ready so I could send the courier to collect it. Please tell me how you went about getting it so quickly?

[NewKid 20]

15 Days??!! How on earth did you get this right? I sent my application via courier to Pretoria about a week ago, with instructions for them to send me a text message once it was ready so I could send the courier to collect it. Please tell me how you went about getting it so quickly?

HAHA. I am not sure, I had it delivered to HQ got an sms from the police service that it was received, and got an sms from them again 14 days later saying it was completed and I had it couriered back to me the next day, so 15 days in total. What I would suggest doing is going to the police service website, they have a tracking tool, where you put in your ID and it says when it was received and will also tell you when it was finalized, I looked at it everyday till I saw it says finalized, because I heard the horror stories of it taking months to get, but I also heard the same stories about the Unabridged Birth certificate, but got that back in 12 days from submission. Funny story, the home affairs lady asked me the following when I came to collect after 12 days. " Do you work in government( no i dont) do you know anyone in government( no again) Did you speak to the president? ( still no) because I have never seen it completed this quickly" I had a nice laugh at that one.

So you will get an sms saying it was accepted and get another one saying when it is done( usually the SMS is a day or two after it is actually done) Hope that helps? anything else, you are welcome to PM me.

Cheers