What have you done to prepare yourself while waiting for NOA2?

[rgerardob 0]

So I got my NOA1 on February, according to the uscis page there's an average of 7.5-9.5 months of waiting for I-130 to be approved. What do you guys suggest do to get ready in the meantime? I'm getting my vaccines done during my medical evaluation, but anything else I am not sure what to do.

[AnaidAaron 42]

I think it would be better to get all financial supporting documents after you get your NOA2, so they are as updated as possible. This is also the case for your police certificate(s). For now, you can start gathering the evidence for the interview that proves that you guys are married and your relationship is bonafide, like bills together, passport stamps, boarding passes, pictures, conversations, marriage certificate, etc. I guess now you can also take your passport style pictures.

 

I would say you can file the affidavit now and just update the date right before the interview.  

[Elrona 101]

Don't hurry too much with the police certificates, as if you get them done now, they might expire before you actually need them. But do check up how to get them from respective countries (especially if you have lived in several).

[pushbrk 12,979]

Most members here "study" the process, by reading lots of topics and learning about what others are going through.  

 

As far as petitioner financial documents go, anything done now will be far out of date.  The US Citizen Petitioner, would be wise to become an A-Student of the i-864 instructions AND the NVC wiki, in advance of petition approval.

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

25 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Most members here "study" the process, by reading lots of topics and learning about what others are going through.  

 

As far as petitioner financial documents go, anything done now will be far out of date.  The US Citizen Petitioner, would be wise to become an A-Student of the i-864 instructions AND the NVC wiki, in advance of petition approval.

This the best piece of advice for anyone going through the process.

 

It is very easy to get sidetracked and distracted by the amount of time it takes, reading some of the threads on the forum can bring you more gloom than anything else. Be constructive with your time, both of you should educate yourself on how the process works, there is no need to get all stressed if you understand what's happening.

 

Best of luck on your journey. 

 

[ms_bobdog 501]

Other than the official instructions, I also found it extremely helpful to just read all the threads here just to see what the newest 'developments' are, as well as common checklists. May also be good to find out if there are any particular things you need to note for your consulate and get mentally ready. 

[Andrea&Henry 311]

different visa but same thing... I didn't want to get any birth certificate nor my police records because the apostille expires within 3 months. I did got my vaccines and did my medical as well.

 

I got my NoA 2 on a january, and a few months prior my then fiance and I traveled to europe for the holidays so we made sure to take time and stored every picture and receipt, boarding passes, hotel receipts etc etc. Don't leave that process to the very end because is a lot.

 

I also made sure to get all my school and college certificates, grades, recommendation letters from my previous jobs, I registered my college degree and translate every sensitive document for my new life in the US. Remember you will be moving out of the country, so isn't only about getting the visa but also about making sure you have everything you need.

 

In my case, I was pretty much living by myself in my homecountry as my entire family emigrated to Europe a few years ago (I stayed finishing college and my plan was following them as soon as I was done but I met my now husband) so I was sure that after getting my visa;

1- I would be gone as soon as I get it (left 4 days after getting my passport and my visa)

2- I knew I wouldn't be able to get any documentation from my homecountry once I was gone,  because I didn't have anyone left there to make me the favor. so made sure to bring everything with me.

 

[pushbrk 12,979]

8 hours ago, Andrea&Henry said:

different visa but same thing... I didn't want to get any birth certificate nor my police records because the apostille expires within 3 months. I did got my vaccines and did my medical as well.

Just to be clear for all, absolutely no apostille is required for any part of the US Immigration process.  You will not find any mention of the word "apostille" in any instructions published by the US Government agencies involved unless it is to indicate it is NOT needed.

 

Further, the US does not care about foreign government agencies' expiration date on documents.  They care when the document was issued.

 

*strange exception with Ghana birth certificates which makes no sense at all.

Edited May 23, 2018 by pushbrk

[Andrea&Henry 311]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

Just to be clear for all, absolutely no apostille is required for any part of the US Immigration process.  You will not find any mention of the word "apostille" in any instructions published by the US Government agencies involved unless it is to indicate it is NOT needed.

 

Further, the US does not care about foreign government agencies' expiration date on documents.  They care when the document was issued.

 

*strange exception with Ghana birth certificates which makes no sense at all.

For my homecountry and many latin america countries the “apostillaje de la Haya” (spanish) was a requirement from the US embassy, as well it was required to have valid documentation . (As well, some latin america countries their documents are issued with an experition date) they made very clear it cannot be expired

[Andrea&Henry 311]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

Just to be clear for all, absolutely no apostille is required for any part of the US Immigration process.  You will not find any mention of the word "apostille" in any instructions published by the US Government agencies involved unless it is to indicate it is NOT needed.

 

Further, the US does not care about foreign government agencies' expiration date on documents.  They care when the document was issued.

 

*strange exception with Ghana birth certificates which makes no sense at all.

Not saying that what you are saying is not valid but I think you are generalizing. I’m saying what Im saying because I went through it myself. Trust me! Getting the apostille in my homecountry is a pain in the butt. I wish I could have avoid the hustle. Actually my husband petitioned his biological dad and his step mom 2 years ago and they also had to do get the apostille to all their main documents 

[pushbrk 12,979]

7 minutes ago, Andrea&Henry said:

For my homecountry and many latin america countries the “apostillaje de la Haya” (spanish) was a requirement from the US embassy, as well it was required to have valid documentation . (As well, some latin america countries their documents are issued with an experition date) they made very clear it cannot be expired

Depends on the document whether the "expiration date' is meaningful to the Consulate.

[pushbrk 12,979]

6 minutes ago, Andrea&Henry said:

Not saying that what you are saying is not valid but I think you are generalizing. I’m saying what Im saying because I went through it myself. Trust me! Getting the apostille in my homecountry is a pain in the butt. I wish I could have avoid the hustle. Actually my husband petitioned his biological dad and his step mom 2 years ago and they also had to do get the apostille to all their main documents 

What do you mean by "main documents"?  The official requirements on this page are quite detailed but definitely do not mention Apostile.  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Venezuela.html

[Andrea&Henry 311]

9 hours ago, pushbrk said:

What do you mean by "main documents"?  The official requirements on this page are quite detailed but definitely do not mention Apostile.  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Venezuela.html

https://ve.usembassy.gov/es/u-s-citizen-services-es/servicio-de-notaria/ is in spanish but I think google will allow you to translate. It says that any venezuelan document that is meant to be use in in the US or is intended to be used, must be apostilled. I’m telling you! Is a pain in the butt to get it, I would had been more than happy to skip the hustle of getting it. My father in law and his wife were living in Colombia (not my homecountry) when my husband pentitioned them 2 years ago and they still had to get the apostille on their documents. People pay a lot of money now to have someone doing it for you. Venezuela is going through an immigration crisis due to everything that is going on, I have friends and family coming to the States legally through different routes and the apostille is still an issue and they needed not only for US but also for other countries. My entire family moved to Spain and the requirement was the same

[pushbrk 12,979]

53 minutes ago, Andrea&Henry said:

https://ve.usembassy.gov/es/u-s-citizen-services-es/servicio-de-notaria/ is in spanish but I think google will allow you to translate. It says that any venezuelan document that is meant to be use in in the US or is intended to be used, must be apostilled. I’m telling you! Is a pain in the butt to get it, I would had been more than happy to skip the hustle of getting it. My father in law and his wife were living in Colombia (not my homecountry) when my husband pentitioned them 2 years ago and they still had to get the apostille on their documents. People pay a lot of money now to have someone doing it for you. Venezuela is going through an immigration crisis due to everything that is going on, I have friends and family coming to the States legally through different routes and the apostille is still an issue and they needed not only for US but also for other countries. My entire family moved to Spain and the requirement was the same

The applicable section of that page, translated indicates, "Use of Official Venezuelan Documents in the United States: If you wish to use a Venezuelan public document, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, transcripts. In the United States, you must obtain an "apostille" from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry."  Bold italics added by  me.

 

Since there is NO "US Consulate" ....IN...the United States, this paragraph does not apply to the immigrant visa process.  As such, you've given a link that does NOT apply to documents needed for the National Visa Center...OR... for the Consular Immigrant Visa Unit, in order to obtain a immigrant visa.

 

NOW... whether an Apostille is needed to....USE the document....AFTER ENTERING.... the USA, is a separate question in another context.  Did you have a particular document and purpose for its use in the USA in mind?  If so, purpose is NOT part of the immigrant visa process.  Please don't muddy the waters with out of context (false) assertions.  I gave the applicable link.  You...DID NOT!

 

 

[Ryan H 3,813]

***The proper answer (below) has been given regarding Apostille in regards to the US Immigrant Visa process; that point is not to be belabored any further or Administrative Action may be the result.***

 

10 hours ago, pushbrk said:

The applicable section of that page, translated indicates, "Use of Official Venezuelan Documents in the United States: If you wish to use a Venezuelan public document, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, transcripts. In the United States, you must obtain an "apostille" from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry."  Bold italics added by  me.

 

Since there is NO "US Consulate" ....IN...the United States, this paragraph does not apply to the immigrant visa process.  As such, you've given a link that does NOT apply to documents needed for the National Visa Center...OR... for the Consular Immigrant Visa Unit, in order to obtain a immigrant visa.

 

NOW... whether an Apostille is needed to....USE the document....AFTER ENTERING.... the USA, is a separate question in another context.  Did you have a particular document and purpose for its use in the USA in mind?  If so, purpose is NOT part of the immigrant visa process.  Please don't muddy the waters with out of context (false) assertions.  I gave the applicable link.  You...DID NOT!