SF2007

I forgot to mention as well as the 2010 tax returns and W2s I also have 3-4 of the most recent paystubs and letters from their employers for both my fiance and our co-sponsor.

Think this is enough?

I'm so tired of freaking out, everything I even start to calm down I find something new to freak out about!!!!

I would expect it to be enough.

I am freaking out as well... my appointment is Monday morning!

YAY! Congrats everyone!

AHHH I just booked an appointment for May 18th ahhhhhhhh YAY!

I've bee calling everyday for almost 2 weeks and they finally told me that pkt 4 was sent out April 8th .......hmmmmm

Excited !

Good luck to all with interviews still to come.

Good job booking it!

And grats to everyone who got approved this week!!!

"herding" is the right word for it! It was a bit of a gong show... I was wearing a blue rain coat, but I was trying really hard to not lose it so I didn't really chat with anyone.

Congratulations both of you on your approval

May you get your visa quickly!

It was just fine Predictably long and nerve-wracking, but I got approved so that was a huge relief!! I hope to post a review tomorrow afternoon!

Cheers!

All the best to you

So I had my interview today and the worst part was that the basement elevator wasn't working so wandering through the building toward another elevator, our order was so mixed up couple #2 got #11 by the time we sat down. That was the worst part.

The best part: I was APPROVED! Woohoo! I'll write a review for y'all tomorrow, but it was really quite like all the other reviews (except for the broken elevator). For now, sweet, sweet sleep!

Oh this is such a cheerful news! I am very happy for you

Please do write a consular review when you do have a few minutes to spare.

Thanks Jill & Jeff!

So how does someone go about volunteering? Do you just show up somewhere with a resume and explain that you'd like to offer your help? Never done it before, but right now, it might be my best option to get my foot in a school (I'm a licensed teacher)...

In my area, there is a French language association. I offered to volunteer through their contactus@email and they replied very quickly. You might offer homework assistance or other skills you have. I feel it would be easier to find employment when people in your community would vouch for you and connect you with the ones hiring.

You might wanna try these websites :

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

http://www.volunteerusafoundation.org/

There is also most likely a community board at your local grocery store with a "Help Needed" section or some kind of community support group you could join.

Hope this works for you

Hey!!! That's great news!!! And no, I wouldn't say a word about it!!! I would just take it -if it's offered -and wait until you can't take it anymore physically and tell them. But that's just me, might not be the most professional thing to do though... Good luck, when is the interview?

Thanks nickbits, and you're probably right, it seems like certain states must be a lot harder than others... I thought the area was alright when I was here on a visit, but I guess there's a HUGE difference between visiting and living somewhere...

Hey Vero,

It's weird to say but it brings me great comfort to read you. I am days away from my K1 interview, hopefully few weeks away from POE, and I have been expecting (read : dreading) all those things you mentioned about moving to the US.

I intend to work as soon as I'm done with AOS and I expect it to be hard. I do hope volunteering for non-profits will help me get some US work experience and will help build a network I can use later to find employment. I also have a recommendation letter from my employer.

I agree taking it a step at a time is the best bet we've got (just like this whole visa process)

I figured I'd share my adventures in the hopes that someone else can laugh over this, cause I just wanna scream.

Government red tape is such a pain, eh? :-)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Within minutes I get the same auto-response I received to my first email to them a month ago back as a response. *sighs*

I agree it's a terribad situation for you

I don't know any way you could reach out to someone in Montreal.

Can you make an extra copy and resubmit your Packet 3? It might not have been delivered at all. I sent mine with Xpresspost and required a signature upon delivery. It was signed for the morning after.

Good luck and hang in there!!!

Good Luck with your interview on Wed. iampatricias.

Keep us posted

Yes, let us know how relieved and happy you are afterwards

I have my interview this week and just freaking out over last minute stuff. I appreciate anyone's advice of the following:

I am concerned about how much to take I have a A-Z expanding file which contains all papers completed and filed: (DS-230, DS260), payment receipts as well as copies of marriage cert, birth certs, income tax submissions, police checks, etc.

But I also have a canvas type folder which is zipped that contains all my evidence, i.e. telephone bills, emails, photos, airline tickets and basically proof of our relationship to present date.

I keep reading that people are turned away from the US embassy by bringing too much, but this is a portfolio of my evidence. Do you think both these folders will be ok???

Also, payments of $404 and $88 were paid months ago. Is there anything else to pay at the interview?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

I have 2 binders and was wondering if that's too big too...

Hi everyone,

I apologize if this isn't the correct spot to post this, but I thought it would probably be best to get answers from other Canadians.

Did everyone here request a copy of the long form birth certificate, or are the small ones sufficient?

If you are from Quebec, it's the 1 pager not the laminated pocket-size version. It will have to be translated as Quebec does not provide English birth certificates.

Thanks teday, no luck yet. I emailed the consulate and CSC services to ask what was the reason for no appointments available. Maybe in a few weeks I'll get an answer

I'm also not able to select a courier location- I've read that this is some kind of known issue.

Did you all pay the visa fee on this website? I don't see any option for that either. Thanks.

I couldn't register with DHL either so I emailed them at : contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com

Make sure you provide those info sot hey can help register your location for you :

Applicant ID # :

Case Number :

Passport number :

Date of birth :

Name in passport :

DHL Location :

If you choose to skip the online payment, you have to pick "Permanently immigrate (Ready to schedule)" when they ask the purpose of your appointment. Should you do so, make sure you have 350$ USD to pay the day of your interview. Otherwise, you will have to pay online before your appointment is confirmed.

Good luck!

Hmm, I thought only IR1/CR1 applicants who filed electronically had to fill out a paper copy...?

I didn't submit it electronically but I made 2 more copies to hand over in case they ask...

I read on several K-1 interview reviews that took place in Montreal that even this April, applicants were asked to hand fill DS-230. I just want to make sure I can skip it and give my extra copy

Hi guys,

Seeking help from anyone who's been through Montreal lately for a K-1.

I read on several consular reviews that K-1 applicants are asked to file DS-230 because again because their computer system is new and they need a paper copy.

I did send out mine with Packet 3 and printed 2 extra copies. Can I hand them one of my copies or is mandatory that you fill it out there on the spot?

Thank you for your time!

Once Montreal sends out your P4 you can go ahead and book your interview and medical.

Theres no need to wait for the P4 in the mail as it can take awhile.

Just keep calling the DOS for updates they can tell you when the P4 is sent.

That's what I did as well. I kept calling DOS every other day to ask if I was eligible to schedule an appointment with the consulate. On March 22, they told me I was a go and I booked it. I received my Packet 4 letter a week later. It was dated March 21... and had been mailed on March 24. It's this letter + your appointment confirmation email you need to take to your medical along with your medical paperwork.

For my case, it took 7 business days between consulate receiving my Packet3 and them logging it and mailing Packet 4. Unless they're anymore backlogged, I would expect the same time frame for you.

Good luck!

Still no appointments available, even though they resolved the shut down issue last night. The website is moving super slow .. at a snails pace, so there must be a lot of people trying to figure out what is happening. I'm sure this whole ordeal has caused problems for a lot of people. My heart goes out to you all. I just hope things can get fixed soon so we can all move on with this process!!!

The agreement was negotiated on Friday night. I highly doubt they would fix the website on weekend. They will most likely get on it Monday.

Hang in there, your wait is almost over. Things are much brighter when your interview will be booked. I was relieved when I finally could book my interview, but now waiting for it is driving me nuts

Oh really, thank God! I been waiting to book my interview since long time and finally got packet 4 today. Thanks for your reply

It will most likely be back to normal Monday

In January and February, I had only heard one or two mentions of earlier dates being available, so I was hoping, but not really expecting anything - throughout the second half of March, the dates moved around a whole lot! The weird thing is that when I log in now, the system tells me there are no dates available according to my purposes. Hehe, maybe I've run out of rescheduling tries? It's probably just a glitch for now, but I changed my interview date 5 times... it's not really a big deal and there's no one you need to contact to confirm. I got one cancellation email and one interview scheduled email for each change I made.

Keep hoping! And let's send concilliatory, friendly, happy thoughts to the States so they can get a new budget in place ASAP!

The rescheduling bug is not due to you rescheduling too much. I tried to see which dates were available this morning and I got the message there were no dates available for my trip purpose. I rescheduled once

HI everyone! Hope it is as nice as day wherever you are as it is here......ah spring!

Just a quick question about interview scheduling. I am still waiting on the " yes" from my calls to DOS about pkt 3 being logged but as I wait I am looking through the consulate websites. I know a lot of you have said you booked an interview and then kept going back to see if any earlier times opened up.... and then when they did you changed the date and time. ...

From what I have been reading it seems quite difficult to do this ( following the website rules ) BUT obviously there is an easier way......

Just checking to see what the experience is from VJ members who have done this. Can you actually just go in and change without sending faxes and emails to request an expediation?

Thanks guys.

You need a pretty good reason for an expedite. Unless your other half is about to be deployed with the military or has a relative in the US with major illness you will likely not get one.

Rescheduling on the CSC website is fairly easy. Once you have booked, log back in, accept the terms of the website and then at the very bottom you will have the following menu :

What would you like to do?

• Reschedule Appointment
  
• Cancel Appointment
  
• Submit Documents to Consular Section
  
• Register for Courier Service
  
• View Visa Information
  
• View Appointment Confirmation Page
  

Clicking on "Reschedule Appointment" will lead you to a page where you will see the next available appointment. It will ask if based on this information you would like to reschedule. You will have to select yes. Then you will be able to click on a date and a new appointment confirmation will be generated to replace the former one.

You can randomly check the website once in a while to try and snag an earlier/more convenient appointment. That's what most of us in April did. We originally booked for mid-July

thanks so much Inky and JeannieL for this, so I don't have to check off each item on the check list, just sign it? and at what point do I have to pay?

As JeannieL said, once your Packet 3 is logged you can schedule your appointment. Lately, it's been taking about 7-10 business days to get DOS's permission to schedule from the moment Montreal receives your Packet 3. You can then start calling them every other day to ask if you are eligible to schedule. Just remember that even if you consider the appointments available are too late or inconvenient, you better just book it and reschedule later hoping for an earlier one. That's what most who have an interview in April did. Back when we booked there were only July ones available and of a sudden, about 15 appointments in April got available.

You can either pay when you schedule your appointment online (credit card) or at the consulate on the day of your interview (cash only). Fees are 350 $ USD.

If you want to skip the online payment, you choose "Permanently Immigrate (Ready to schedule)" option and it will skip it. Just remember then you will have to pay in cash (USD) on the day of your interview.

Good luck!

US Gov shutdown will be decided this Friday.

Would that impact foreign consulates and how far ahead would they announce the shutdown???

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/06/usa-budget-shutdown-idUSN0624084220110406

Hi everyone! I am an American living in Canada with my fiance, waiting for his K1 to go through so we can move to the states. I entered Canada on a 6 month work permit, which I hoped to extend so that I could stay up here longer and not be seperated for so long from my fiance. The extension was denied. I immediately applied to change my status from a worker to a visitor. I was told that I could either go back to the US and then through the border, or mail in a form in order to change my status. I opted to mail in the form, thinking it would be good to have some kind of paperwork in hand. I am hoping to stay here with him for 6 more months, then go back down ahead of him in order to find work. My question is this: I am going down to the US to visit my dad, and I am worried about being denied at the border coming back. I live here and all of my things are here. I spoke with Immigration Canada several times and explained the situation to them, and every person I spoke with told me that I shouldn't have any problem at the border- that US citizens can visit Canada for up to 6 months no problem. The form I mailed in to change my status takes 4 months to process, and at the very least I am here legally until they reach a decision under "implied status." I have my K1 application to show them that I intend to move back to the US, but no job or apartment in the states. Does anyone have experience with this? Should I tell them the whole story right away or just say that I am visiting my boyfriend? I want to look forward to my vacation, but this paranoia about getting back into Canada keeps nagging at me.

It is correct that Americans can visit Canada for up to 6 months at a time. But doesn't being out of the US for over 6 months/year make you a de facto resident of Canada? Should you go through Canadian customs for a long stay as a tourist, you might have to prove you have a home to go back to in the US. Not having an home(or rental) and being unemployed, you will also most likely have to prove you can provide for yourself during your stay. It will be up to the POE officer.

Besides, doesn't the USC have to prove domicile in the US at the interview? I would recommended you read the i-134 Affidavit of Support form to make sure you got that covered.

Good luck

Good Luck! I had mine done on Friday, found out today everything was good :-) Next step the interview in 22 more sleeps.

Cheers!

Hi everyone,

I was just reading over the required documents for the interview. For the evidence of support there seems to be a long list and I'm not really sure what all of them are exactly....

1) most recent U.S. tax return (Is this a specific form with a number???..sorry I don't know a lot about U.S. taxes)

2) Current pay record (like a pay stub??? Don't most people get direct deposit these days? Or would this be a letter form an employer?)

3) Evidence of any assets stated on the affidavit? (A bank letter of savings? assets?)

I know you are all K-1 experts by now, so hopefully someone knows! Thanks in advance.

I am guessing you are referring to I-134 ; it is a form for the USC to file for the beneficiary. The USC will have to mail it to you so you can take it to the interview.

1) most recent U.S. tax return (Is this a specific form with a number???..sorry I don't know a lot about U.S. taxes)

Just like in Canada, your fiance(e) files for tax returns every year. He/she can provide a summary sheet. Not sure about other methods, but my fiance and I used the Turbotax PDF the software provides.

2) Current pay record (like a pay stub??? Don't most people get direct deposit these days? Or would this be a letter form an employer?)

3 last pay stubs are highly recommended. Even if you have direct deposit, your employer provides a pay stub. It is also recommended to join a letter from the employer on company letterhead stating the title, for how long the USC has been employed there, that he/she has a good record and the annual salary.

3) Evidence of any assets stated on the affidavit? (A bank letter of savings? assets?)

Assets : mortage on a home, rental contract, monthly bills to show you maintain a home (gaz, electricity, water, etc), ownership titles for a car, bank letter listing your savings, bonds & investments values, etc. That's where you prove income is over 125% or national poverty line and that he/she can provide for you.

I think it's all listed on the I-134 form.

Good luck!

can a lawyer accompany my wife since i cant go to the consular interview in SDO?

Your local consulate has a list on their website : http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/niv-accompany.html

Answer is no.