fastinjun

Thanks everyone for the advice, karma etc. My wife got her Packet of papers yesterday with her visa etc. What a breeze this has been. I think I put more stress on the situation with 'what ifs' etc.

I thank God for the grace he's had on us and everyone here and family and friends.

Its been roughly 5 weeks since we submitted the paperwork for my wife. We had our interview yesterday and I brought with me the final co sponsors papers and info. After a 5 minute 'interview' she was told her visa would arrive in about a week. This has been so easy and contrary what the immigration attys have told us in order to get our money Im guessing we had no problems

If the cousin has sufficient assets they still may qualify. Given the circumstances it may or may not be the best time to have your cousin going through their financial records.

If you can't secure another joint sponsor prior to the interview it's likely that you will get a blue slip/RFE for the sponsorship. It won't result in a denial. So you will have time to find another sponsor. It just means waiting a bit longer.

That's a tough thing.

My cousin insists in doing this, her husband and I were close and she wants to do this for his memory and of course helping me out. I spoke to her today and told her I can find someone else but she wants to do this if possible. She means well, Im just not sure if it will work.

I'll be completely blunt. I absolutely cannot believe that you're upset that your interview may be in jeopardy because your cousin's husband just died and your cousin alone would not fit the criteria of being a co-sponsor. Talk about being selfish.

WE all did the mourning. I was there taking care of the man as well so dont come into the middle of the movie and claim you know the whole plot. Selfish my ####.

I got a wife and child living overseas. Shes taking care of a one year old by herself and I want to get her back here with me! Selfish, give me a break...

A week to go till our interview and have everything more or less lined up. My Co sponsor is or was my cousin and her husband. Her husband just died leaving only my cousin as the co sponsor. Their combined income was well enough in the range needed for qualification but now with just hers it isnt. I cant believe this. Now Ive got to scramble and try to figure out what to do....

My wife has her medical exam scheduled for this week. What can be expected and what exactly do they do besides xrays? They told her it would take about an hour. Im just trying to get my mind around the 480€ they charge for this exam.

I was checking to see how much authorized doctors charge in different parts of the world. In LA Calif. they charge 115 dollars compared to 480€. In Tallin Estonia they charge 127€. Explain the difference in prices? Avoiding fraud?

Unreal, what a scam IMO. _When I got my residence here in Finland it cost me nothing compared to what the US charges. My son that wss born here in Finland last year requires no medical exam??? At least they didnt tell me anything when I registered him at the Embassy.

Submitted paperwork to the Embassy here in Helsinki. Got back a sheet with info concerning what copies are expected etc and at the very back is a page with information concerning the medical exam. Here in Finland there is National Health but here it says you need to go to specific Doctors and pay 480€ for this exam. What a scam. Has anyone else had the same experience with these over priced exams?

Submitted the forms. I am still waiting on a few other papers but the visit when ok. The first guy was a bit rude, Finnish I think, not American. The other 2 employees were ok, polite etc.

Forgot to add... you have to have lived in Finland for the past 6 months in order to be able to do DCF.

Thanks for the reply. We have our appt tomorrow to submit paperwork etc. I know I dont have everything but should get it soon via fed ex from the states etc.

Stress stress stress. Hope it all goes well tomorrow.

Thanks again.

We are filing here in Finland, wife is finnish national, I am US citizen. We have a son together born here. We are filing for her Green card and my sons US citizenship. Just wanted to know if anyone else here has dealt with the embassy here and if so what their experience was.

Thanks

Anyone else use their house to prove financial stability? If so how did you go about getting it appraised?

No consulate processes greencards, they deal with visa. You get your greencard when you immigrate.

But yes, as of August, only countries with local USCIS offices can do DCF: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=2b2a3e70369ff210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

So this means a longer processing time Im guessing???

I was just told that the American Embassy in Helsinki will no longer process green card as of august of this year. All applications will be done here in the US. Is this with all consulates worldwide or ????? Has anyone else heard this???

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. I was looking under your posting at your personal experience and how quickly the process took for you. Did you go through a lawyer??? Were you married to a US citizen abroad or did you marry once you came here??? Did your husband live abroad with you or was he already living here in the us?

Thanks

I lived overseas with my wife up until march when we both came to the US to visit my relatives and to give my mother a chance to see our son. My wife and son stayed for the three month period and left before the visa was up. My question is this, I stayed behind to do some work here and will be here for a while and will probably settle here. I want my son and wife to come visit again soon and what are the chances of them having any trouble returning on a visitors visa a couple months after they left? We are still trying to decided when and where to file papers for her green card but in the meantime we still have a house in Europe etc. I just dont want her to come here and get turned away at the airport coming.

Anyone have experience with this, got turned away or let in no problem???

Thanks in advance.

how is it the IRS is able to process tax quite efficiently every april but this??? Money talks...

All very good information and I thank all of you for taking the time and giving me your honest opinions, thank you thank you!!!

Thanks everyone for the very useful information. Ive spoken with at least 3 lawyers and get figures anywhere from 2000 to 6500 and thats just their fees. There is no overstays, no criminal history, no bans. My wife is stressed out being back in europe by herself with our son, thanks God shes got friends and family there to help out.

Im shocked at the fees they charge, it really blows my mind, I shouldve been an immigrations attorney!

Anyway, thanks again for the advice.

Need to file for my wife and son, both are living overseas, son was born last year in finland, we were both living there at the time and now decided to move back to the USA because of some family matters etc. My wife and son came here for a few months and are now back in Europe. At this point I need to file for my wife, get US citizenship for my son etc. Should I go through a lawyer? Can a lawyer handle this while Im here in the US and my wife and son are overseas?

Any suggestions???

Thanks in advance

A lot to think about, thanks again for the advice.

Yes it was the visa waiver program. Heres the situation. Husband is from the USA, we have a son together that was born in Europe. Came to the usa to visit and my husband wants to stay for a while to take care of some unfinished business. My 3 months is up soon and either need to file for permanant residence or go back. Not sure what to do at this point. Im here now and have to decide in the next week.

Thanks again for your advice.

my visit was 3 months, Im from Finland. I work here in Finland etc.

Once I leave the USA how much time needs to pass before I can apply for another tourist visa and return to the USA? Is there a set time I need to be out of the country before returning?

Thanks in advance