APRIL 2020 K-1 NOA2 to NVC to EMBASSY

[rosa_s 2]

Hi @Greenbaum!

 

Could you provide the P3 packet for Colombia please?

 

Thank you for all the help 😁

[Just Paul 4,591]

6 minutes ago, rosa_s said:

Could you provide the P3 packet for Colombia please?

 

Right there in the VJ consulate portal:

https://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Colombia&cty=Bogota

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

25 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Right there in the VJ consulate portal:

https://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Colombia&cty=Bogota

 

That's an old link with an old P3. 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

32 minutes ago, rosa_s said:

Hi @Greenbaum!

 

Could you provide the P3 packet for Colombia please?

 

Thank you for all the help 😁

I'll give you the P3 link and will also add additional information that I have been able to garner from my travels throughout VJ.

 

After you get your case number from NVC it would be a good idea if you were to connect with the VJ sub forum for all things dealing with the US Embassy in Colombia and they will answer your questions for the processing of your visa from their personal experience. Link:

 

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/96-mexico-latin-south-america/

 

Get the US Embassy Colombian K-1 Packet 3 (P3) at  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Oeg4xYRja1hqUSzF-uEaj1QiyoFnv9X/view?usp=sharing as this is your bible needed to complete and receive your visa. The required documents are included and use the P3 as a check list. Once you have completed or gathered the required documents, you'll be ready for your interview. If it is not on the Embassy letter, it is not needed.

 

Last but not least, READ the pages on the US Embassy website for your country so that you are up to speed.

 

https://co.usembassy.gov/visas/

 

One last place to check for information would be the VJ Wiki found here: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Special:AllPages and here http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Colombia&cty=Bogota

 

Ppl doing their vaccinations in Columbia can do them with anyone not connected to the approved medical center where your exam will take place saving you a lot of money. Be sure to get a receipt that states every single vaccination that you received. See list below that are required vaccinations. Then during your medical present, the receipt for the vaccinations to the Doctor and ask that they be transposed to the DS-3025 and marked COMPLETE! Especially important that they are marked complete. You will use this document once you are married and filing your AOS package.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html#tbl1

 

Good luck and God's speed.

[Brklyn Belle 71]

On 6/5/2020 at 1:02 PM, David and Anna said:

I very, very nice lady finally answered my call to NVC now.  She confirmed that our I-797/I-129F file had been received by NVC and she gave me my case number and invoice number.

 

I asked why I had not received either email nor physical mail about their receipt of the file, and she was surprised to hear that.  We then confirmed that they do have my correct address and email.  So...her guess was that maybe they didn't bother to send me that confirmation of receipt and creation of case number since the file was being held and not sent to the embassy.  She was guessing, but she then said that I *should* get communication when the file does ship to the embassy.  Of course she repeated the phrase we all know about how embassies are not processing yet and they don't know when they will...

 

Anyways, I'm just happy to have the case and invoice numbers.  Now I will go back to waiting...

Hi! which number did you call to get your case number?  I have a friend that received her NOA2 in April and is still trying to get her case number,. when she calls NVC its an automated system telling her to check online. 

[Ju91 1]

Hello,

 

They're no need to rush for your case & invoice numbers as the NVC is not sending cases in the Embassies right now. If for some reason yous till want to call them, check the PDF of the very first post.

[Peach_ 17]

Has anyone considered doing the spouse visa instead and just cancel the K1 visa?

[H and G 2]

29 minutes ago, Peach_ said:

Has anyone considered doing the spouse visa instead and just cancel the K1 visa?

It's crossed my mind... the only thing about that is that we're SO CLOSE to the end (NVC->Embassy) and getting married overseas and filing for the spouse visa would start things all over again... My fiancé has a friend who's married to her US spouse and has been waiting for 2+ years for her visa, and one time they almost didn't let her cross the border on a B1/B2 visa because she mentioned she wanted to see her husband and they thought she was going to stay there... she was pulled aside and grilled like crazy. Finally she said "look, I just want to see my husband, I'm not immigrating, I just want to see him". Finally they let her in.

 

That aside, it's crossed my mind because I want us to be considered family for legal purposes... that 2+ year wait that my fiancé's friend has been through scares me though...

Edited July 1, 2020 by H and G

[Peach_ 17]

6 minutes ago, H and G said:

It's crossed my mind... the only thing about that is that we're SO CLOSE to the end (NVC->Embassy) and getting married overseas and filing for the spouse visa would start things all over again... My fiancé has a friend who's married to her US spouse and has been waiting for 2+ years for her visa, and one time they almost didn't let her cross the border on a B1/B2 visa because she mentioned she wanted to see her husband and they thought she was going to stay there... she was pulled aside and grilled like crazy. Finally she said "look, I just want to see my husband, I'm not immigrating, I just want to see him". Finally they let her in.

 

That aside, it's crossed my mind because I want us to be considered family for legal purposes... that 2+ year wait that my fiancé's friend has been through scares me though...

Thank you for sharing your thought! 😊  I'm just getting a little impatient since we're barely provided with any updates/news regarding when they'll start sending applications to the embassies   But yes, the thought of starting all over again is kind of stressful already lol 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, Peach_ said:

Has anyone considered doing the spouse visa instead and just cancel the K1 visa?

Canceling your K-1 at this stage fool's gold. You go to the back of the line, you have new fees to pay, you have background checks to do over, you have additional wait time for adjudication and interview results, some as long as a year or two depending on country. It's not a good plan. It sounds like many of you are doing this as an emotional decision and not a decision made on research and thoughtful consideration. Here, I did the homework for you.

 

K-1 vs CR-1 Full Analysis

 

K-1

More expensive than CR-1    

Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    

Spouse cannot leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (about 5-6 months)    

Spouse cannot work until she/he receives EAD (about 5-6 months)    

Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    

Spouse will not receive Green Card for 10 to 12 months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

If you have red flags this may be the best place to start in case of denial.

Estimated timeline is approximately 8 to 10 months (NOA1 to Interview) This is officially qquoted as 6 to 12 months.

 

K-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$265 per person - DS-160 (Visa Application)

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$1,225 per person - AOS Fee (Includes EAD/AP if filed together)

$750 per child under 14

$680 per person - ROC Fee

 

 

$2,705 plus medical (K-1)

$2,170 plus medical (K-2 over 14 years old)

$1,695 plus medical (K-2 14 years old and younger)

 

 

CR-1    

Less expensive than K-1    

No Adjustment of Status (I-485, I-131, I-765) required.

No I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency to complete

Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    

Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    

Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    

Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

Spouse has Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to the United States

If denied, a K-1 has no practical options other than to start over from scratch. A denied CR-1 can be reaffirmed. So, if there are red flags and one is concerned about being denied, I would suggest steering away from the K-1.

 

Estimated timeline is 10 to 12 months (NOA1 to Interview) This is officially quoted at 12 to 14 months.

 

CR-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$120 - Affidavit of Support Fee

$325 - DS-260 (Visa Application) 

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$220 - USCIS Immigrant Fee

$680 - ROC (if married less than 2 years at POE)

 

$1,200 plus medical (per person if married more than 2 years when filing)

$1,880 plus medical (per person if married less than 2 years at POE)

Edited July 1, 2020 by Greenbaum

[RiBe 7]

Has any embassy started working (if anyone has seen anything in other groups)? 

Also is it clear if the new proclamation to December includes fiance visas or not, a few places have been saying different things)? 

 

Thank you! 

[A.j. 12]

4 hours ago, RiBe said:

Has any embassy started working (if anyone has seen anything in other groups)? 

Also is it clear if the new proclamation to December includes fiance visas or not, a few places have been saying different things)? 

 

Thank you! 

Someone in the Japan forum doing the ir-1/cr-1

Reported they got an interview email:

 

"

I received interview date email from NVC.

My case was DQed in end of April and I had been waiting to get my interview appointment set.

 

Sharing with you all in case there's others like me out there waiting for the same email :).

 

"

[Greenbaum 12,259]

6 hours ago, RiBe said:

Has any embassy started working (if anyone has seen anything in other groups)? 

Also is it clear if the new proclamation to December includes fiance visas or not, a few places have been saying different things)? 

 

Thank you! 

You should be a part of these conversations.

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/737060-coronavirus-embassy-reopening/page/13/#comments

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/742326-a-summary-of-potus-executive-order-eff-june-24-2020/

 

It's ok to take your seatbelt off and move about the cabin. It's amazing what VJ has to offer. 

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, A.j. said:

Someone in the Japan forum doing the ir-1/cr-1

Reported they got an interview email: 

"I received interview date email from NVC. My case was DQed in end of April and I had been waiting to get my interview appointment set.

 

Sharing with you all in case there's others like me out there waiting for the same email :).

 

We suspect that the embassies will clear the backlog of CR-1 applications at the embassies then move on to the K-1's. That's the word on the street.

Edited July 2, 2020 by Greenbaum

[Peach_ 17]

19 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Canceling your K-1 at this stage fool's gold. You go to the back of the line, you have new fees to pay, you have background checks to do over, you have additional wait time for adjudication and interview results, some as long as a year or two depending on country. It's not a good plan. It sounds like many of you are doing this as an emotional decision and not a decision made on research and thoughtful consideration. Here, I did the homework for you.

 

K-1 vs CR-1 Full Analysis

 

K-1

More expensive than CR-1    

Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    

Spouse cannot leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (about 5-6 months)    

Spouse cannot work until she/he receives EAD (about 5-6 months)    

Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    

Spouse will not receive Green Card for 10 to 12 months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

If you have red flags this may be the best place to start in case of denial.

Estimated timeline is approximately 8 to 10 months (NOA1 to Interview) This is officially qquoted as 6 to 12 months.

 

K-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$265 per person - DS-160 (Visa Application)

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$1,225 per person - AOS Fee (Includes EAD/AP if filed together)

$750 per child under 14

$680 per person - ROC Fee

 

 

$2,705 plus medical (K-1)

$2,170 plus medical (K-2 over 14 years old)

$1,695 plus medical (K-2 14 years old and younger)

 

 

CR-1    

Less expensive than K-1    

No Adjustment of Status (I-485, I-131, I-765) required.

No I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency to complete

Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    

Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    

Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    

Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

Spouse has Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to the United States

If denied, a K-1 has no practical options other than to start over from scratch. A denied CR-1 can be reaffirmed. So, if there are red flags and one is concerned about being denied, I would suggest steering away from the K-1.

 

Estimated timeline is 10 to 12 months (NOA1 to Interview) This is officially quoted at 12 to 14 months.

 

CR-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$120 - Affidavit of Support Fee

$325 - DS-260 (Visa Application) 

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$220 - USCIS Immigrant Fee

$680 - ROC (if married less than 2 years at POE)

 

$1,200 plus medical (per person if married more than 2 years when filing)

$1,880 plus medical (per person if married less than 2 years at POE)

I know it would mean starting all over again  we're just gonna wait it out. Thank you!