Scandinavians Part 2

[Scandi 3,970]

On 9/3/2018 at 7:45 PM, Unidentified said:

Is that because they kept breaking? When I did it I got the brown envelope with the paper and passport secured to it with a rubber band. 

No idea, when I got mine in 2016 the sealed envelope came in a white envelope. Inside the white envelope was my passport and a lot of documnets they apparently didn't need for the sealed envelope. 

 

Sounds extremely risky to ship a package with the passport on the OUTSIDE. Never seen that. 🤤

[Locito 85]

Tjaba,

 

a spousal visa applicant here, nervous as...I don’t know what. We were informed by the NVC a couple of weeks ago that we are now documentarily qualified and I am waiting for an interview slot to open up.

 

Does anyone know if it helps for my petitioner (wife) to call NVC to hurry up things up or does this only apply for the K-1 Visa?

 

Also, does anyone have any recent “reviews”/opinions of the clinic performing the medical in Stockholm? I have now browsed through the whole thread, but any posts I found about Sibyllekliniken were from 2017, and even then many preferred Dr. Einar in Gothenburg (except for some vaccination unclarities?).

 

Fortunately I live in Greater Stockholm so doing the medical and the interview don’t mean having to take several days off work. Somehow I don’t thinn I should go for GBG for the medical even if it is cheaper—now matter how cheap MTR train tickets are... 🤔

 

And the nervous waiting continues...

 

Btw, give me a shout out if you need help with finding a hotel in Stockholm. I can see many prefer Villa Källhagen due to its proximity to the embassy, but I work for a hotel chain and we can book rooms with so called Family and Friend rates. These usually go for SEK 700-1,200/room/night (hotels in the outskirts cheaper than the centrally located ones). Albeit these have got pretty strict conditions; the rates don’t qualify for any membership benefits, they can only be booked 60 days in advance and only through our intranet. The availability isn’t that great either (rate closed when the occupancy goes above a certain %) but if needed I can still take a look whenever I am at work 😊

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

1 hour ago, Locito said:

Tjaba,

 

a spousal visa applicant here, nervous as...I don’t know what. We were informed by the NVC a couple of weeks ago that we are now documentarily qualified and I am waiting for an interview slot to open up.

 

Does anyone know if it helps for my petitioner (wife) to call NVC to hurry up things up or does this only apply for the K-1 Visa?

 

Also, does anyone have any recent “reviews”/opinions of the clinic performing the medical in Stockholm? I have now browsed through the whole thread, but any posts I found about Sibyllekliniken were from 2017, and even then many preferred Dr. Einar in Gothenburg (except for some vaccination unclarities?).

 

Fortunately I live in Greater Stockholm so doing the medical and the interview don’t mean having to take several days off work. Somehow I don’t thinn I should go for GBG for the medical even if it is cheaper—now matter how cheap MTR train tickets are... 🤔

 

And the nervous waiting continues...

 

Btw, give me a shout out if you need help with finding a hotel in Stockholm. I can see many prefer Villa Källhagen due to its proximity to the embassy, but I work for a hotel chain and we can book rooms with so called Family and Friend rates. These usually go for SEK 700-1,200/room/night (hotels in the outskirts cheaper than the centrally located ones). Albeit these have got pretty strict conditions; the rates don’t qualify for any membership benefits, they can only be booked 60 days in advance and only through our intranet. The availability isn’t that great either (rate closed when the occupancy goes above a certain %) but if needed I can still take a look whenever I am at work 😊

Hey there! So, I may not have answers to all questions (we were K1, not CR1, so some things may vary), but:

 

- At least from a K1 standpoint, the petitioner calling NVC probably doesn't carry much more weight. Other CR1 applicants may be able to provide more info to confirm or deny that.

 

- My husband (the beneficiary/Swede) saw Dr. Einar for his medical and had no negative reviews of him. We had some minor uncertainties with his vaccination record along the way, once he was stateside, but now that we are on the other side of everything fully, it makes a lot more sense than it did at the time. Paul's embassy interview was one week after his medical with Dr. Einar, and he only had one vaccination not completed at that time (TDAP). We had a time figuring out how to complete things stateside after the fact, and the biggest headache was Paul wished he had questioned it more at the time while still in Sweden. But we later learned that this particular vaccination is given in multiple boosters in Sweden, which spans over a couple of months, which they did not have time for since his interview was only a week later. Here in the states, it's a combined booster (one shot). So, my only recommendation when it comes to that - if there is anything you can't complete during your medical in Sweden, just for your own peace of mind, make sure you understand WHY it can't be completed, and what steps you need to take stateside to complete it.

 

Honestly, Paul went with this doctor because he lived in Gothenburg at the time, so it was just more convenient for him.

 

As for hotels - we stayed at the Radisson right next to the train station (I had a planned trip to Sweden that happened to coincide with Paul's embassy interview, so I was able to travel to Stockholm from GBG with him) and it was really nice! Walking distance from a lot of things, except the embassy of course. The taxi ride there was not too bad, though.

 

Good luck!

 

[Locito 85]

Thank you for your informative post, @Paul & Mallory 😊

 

Browsing VJ has at least given me more confidence in the whole process; especially having read the embassy reviews and medical exam stuff in this thread. I used to stress so much as to if I will be prepared enough for my interview and I have got still some fears.

But at least now it’s mostly anxiety about when everything’s gonna happen getting close(r) as we are and how on Earth can I get rid of all of my stuff... I am probably trying to sublet my apartment for a year or two, but then of course I have come back at some point and sort out the rest in my basement storage unit.

 

The process has been a tad more complicated for us since I wasn’t

born in Sweden, so I have had to chase birth certificates and police certificates in two countries (moved to Sweden when I was 20). 

 

As for Radisson Blu Royal Viking I cannot say much...they used to be one of our main competitors when I was working in downtown Stockholm 😁

 

One thing I am going to have to get used in the States is the different attitude to public transportation. Here everyone does it, over there you see (more of) quite some characters on local buses 🤓 Here I am just happy to get train to T-Centralen and then hop on the #69 bus to the Embassy.

 

Wife will be coming to see me during her thanksgiving break so we shall see if the interview will be taking place around that time (hopefully before, though). Although what I’ve read in this thread, they don’t really allow for outsiders in the Embassy premises (even if the petitioner is a USC).

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

15 hours ago, Locito said:

Thank you for your informative post, @Paul & Mallory 😊

 

Browsing VJ has at least given me more confidence in the whole process; especially having read the embassy reviews and medical exam stuff in this thread. I used to stress so much as to if I will be prepared enough for my interview and I have got still some fears.

But at least now it’s mostly anxiety about when everything’s gonna happen getting close(r) as we are and how on Earth can I get rid of all of my stuff... I am probably trying to sublet my apartment for a year or two, but then of course I have come back at some point and sort out the rest in my basement storage unit.

 

The process has been a tad more complicated for us since I wasn’t

born in Sweden, so I have had to chase birth certificates and police certificates in two countries (moved to Sweden when I was 20). 

 

As for Radisson Blu Royal Viking I cannot say much...they used to be one of our main competitors when I was working in downtown Stockholm 😁

 

One thing I am going to have to get used in the States is the different attitude to public transportation. Here everyone does it, over there you see (more of) quite some characters on local buses 🤓 Here I am just happy to get train to T-Centralen and then hop on the #69 bus to the Embassy.

 

Wife will be coming to see me during her thanksgiving break so we shall see if the interview will be taking place around that time (hopefully before, though). Although what I’ve read in this thread, they don’t really allow for outsiders in the Embassy premises (even if the petitioner is a USC).

You are right about that! I live in a small town in the south, so my husband coming here from a city like Gothenburg was a big culture change for him. Fortunately, we are right by the major city here (Charlotte NC), so we get a little bit of the best of both worlds. He does miss being able to just take public transportation anywhere from the house; that's really the only thing I've heard him mention enough times. But I'm hoping once he gets his license and can get out and about on his own without being so dependent on me, that will go away a little. It would go both ways, if we were to move to Sweden - I'm so dependent on my car and driving everywhere, but over there it just isn't necessary all the time. There's a lot cultural differences, and being able to have visited GBG myself I can see that more. Sweden is a wonderful, beautiful place, and I can understand how much of a change, and how tough of a change, it can be!

 

You are correct about the embassy - they did not allow me inside. I had to take a cab back to the hotel and wait for him (this was in February, so no waiting outside! At least not for my southern bones! lol). The officer mentioned something about a list though, which we knew nothing about, so perhaps there is a list the petitioner can be added to ahead of time...? Worth giving a call and looking into beforehand, if your partner may possibly be there with you. If not - it was still worthwhile to me to at least be in the same city with him. Instead of waiting for him to call me and tell me about it (not to mention it would've been 2am my time if he had), I was able to see him in person immediately after and hear all about it, which was great!

 

The process can be overwhelming, and I don't think we ever felt like we had it 100% along the way. I've learned not to take anything for granted and just being as prepared as possible is the best you can do. This site is one of the best resources - if not THE best - that we have ever come across!

[Reverie 10]

Hey guys, quick question. I just scheduled my interview and when filling out the address for them to mail back the original documents (and hopefully passport with a visa!) it said it had to be a Swedish address. Of course, I just did my Danish address. Do I have to talk to them to make sure I get my documents back? 

[K.and.R 77]

3 hours ago, Reverie said:

Hey guys, quick question. I just scheduled my interview and when filling out the address for them to mail back the original documents (and hopefully passport with a visa!) it said it had to be a Swedish address. Of course, I just did my Danish address. Do I have to talk to them to make sure I get my documents back? 

At the interview they have you write your address on the envelope they’re going to send 

Edited September 24, 2018 by K.and.R

[Reverie 10]

2 hours ago, K.and.R said:

At the interview they have you write your address on the envelope they’re going to send 

Thanks for the quick answer!  

[Locito 85]

YAYYY!! Got my interview appointment for end of October. Now CEAC shows at Stockholm instead of NVC, too. The wait has been excruciating but at least after becoming documentarily qualified it took them less than four weeks to find me an interview appointment 😊

 

Got my medical scheduled, too. They didn’t offer me any alternatives so good thing I am off work that day. I specifically asked for a ballpark figure as to how much the medical costs but they completely ignored my question 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Scandi 3,970]

50 minutes ago, Locito said:

YAYYY!! Got my interview appointment for end of October. Now CEAC shows at Stockholm instead of NVC, too. The wait has been excruciating but at least after becoming documentarily qualified it took them less than four weeks to find me an interview appointment 😊

 

Got my medical scheduled, too. They didn’t offer me any alternatives so good thing I am off work that day. I specifically asked for a ballpark figure as to how much the medical costs but they completely ignored my question 🤷🏼‍♂️

Depends on which clinic you go to and what kinds of "extras" you need (like shots you're missing). 

 

Generally speaking, Göteborg is cheaper than Sthlm.

When I went to schedule an appointment for my medical in 2016, Stockholm told me 3200kr for the medical and an additional 500kr for the x-rays.

 

In Göteborg I only paid 2800kr for everything. I didn't need any extra shots.

[Locito 85]

Got this by e-mail from the clinic per general vaccination requirements:

 

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

14 hours ago, Locito said:

YAYYY!! Got my interview appointment for end of October. Now CEAC shows at Stockholm instead of NVC, too. The wait has been excruciating but at least after becoming documentarily qualified it took them less than four weeks to find me an interview appointment 😊

 

Got my medical scheduled, too. They didn’t offer me any alternatives so good thing I am off work that day. I specifically asked for a ballpark figure as to how much the medical costs but they completely ignored my question 🤷🏼‍♂️

Congrats! Things really feel like they start moving fast once you get to this point

 

Similar to Scandi - my husband had his physical in Gothenburg and it was around $300USD, give or take, for everything. But yeah, it depends on what you need as far as vaccinations and tests.

 

Good luck!!!

[nullaccount234 882]

15 hours ago, Locito said:

YAYYY!! Got my interview appointment for end of October. Now CEAC shows at Stockholm instead of NVC, too. The wait has been excruciating but at least after becoming documentarily qualified it took them less than four weeks to find me an interview appointment 😊

 

Got my medical scheduled, too. They didn’t offer me any alternatives so good thing I am off work that day. I specifically asked for a ballpark figure as to how much the medical costs but they completely ignored my question 🤷🏼‍♂️

Congratulations! I did mine in Stockholm. If I remember correctly it’s 4350kr for the whole thing (of which 550 for X-ray I think). I had to have a tetanus shot which was around 400kr extra.

 

If you have anything less than one tetanus shot within the past ten years, two MMR shots, varicella history (give approximate date), and one annual flu shot (if it’s flu season when you have your interview), make sure you get those at that appointment. Also I recommend to ask them for a copy of the DS-3025 for your own records.

[nullaccount234 882]

@Locito Also, because I saw you had asked earlier, the medical in Stockholm was extremely smooth. Longest wait was to do the blood tests at the clinic on the other side of the street, just because a lot of people were waiting that day.

 

A nurse collects some basic medical information (height, weight, eye sight, etc) for 5mins. Then there’s the pee test. Then the doctor asks a bunch of questions about medical history for about 5-10 mins. He was pretty straight forward and not chatty really. Then you go to do the blood tests and that’s it. Plus of course the x-ray that in my case I did the day before at Sofiahemmet.

[Tylosand 8]

Hej everyone!

 

 

Glad to join the group of knowledgeable Swedish/American couples discussing the K1 visa process  We got our petition approved on the 14th of September, and we are now starting to figure out what to do next. I've got a few questions about the various steps and forms that we are gonna deal with in the near future:

 

• We have a co-sponsor, the petitioner's mom. She makes several times the minimum requirement. Is it enough to state the income and leave the assets/property fields blank?
• How many years of the sponsor's tax returns do we need?
• Will we need proof of the sponsor's citizenship? If yes, will a copy of the birth certificate and/or passport bio page be enough, or are originals required?
• Should I (the beneficiary) wait until I receive packet 3 to schedule my medical? Or should I do it when I've got our case number from the NVC (we're gonna start calling next week)?
• We live together in Sweden and have done so for 2 years. We don't have both our names on the apartment contract, but could a "folkbokföringsutdrag" for each of us, showing that we are registered on the same address, be used as proof of that we live together?
• Should I bring a copy of our approved I-129f? Or is that redundant?
• Is it a bad idea to book the interview before I actually have all the required documents? I'm waiting to receive a police certificate from Taiwan where I lived for a year. But, I'm not sure I will have it when I can book an interview appointment. I might get it in the time between the booking and the interview, or shortly after. But I've also read that someone could not get ahold of police certificates from Timor Leste and that was OK. So I was thinking maybe I can get approved directly or I will have to send it in later. Would you chance it and book an interview slot, or wait for the certificate to arrive?

 

Grateful for any input!