evoria

OK, I am having a panic attack. My husband went to Ghana for the interview of his kids and he calls me this morning because he cant find the passports. He and his mom are still looking, but as a back-up how long does it take to get new passports? How much do they cost? Where is the fastest place to get them done?

I just saw that in the interview list!!!!! Congratulations! That IS soon!

boo hoo, now I am lonely on that list, the only end of April approval without a date...

There is sitll the possiblity that you could get an interview date. Lucy just got interview date yesterday. I am thinking positive thoughts.

Thanks Evoria. I can't believe it, feels so surreal. We were just discussing expediting earlier today. We all have to travel to a third country and the medicals have to be done there. So we have to book for at least 3 days before the interview date.

I am sending my husband 3 wks early. He is actually leaving tomorrow for the June 6th interview. He has to get the pictures, and the medicals done. We also as a back-up had custody papers made, just in case. I am praying that they do not ask for DNA. I do not think they will, but I am a person who worries about everything and like to control every situation. The fact that I cant go to this interview and control the situation is making me crazy. When we went for my husbands interview I had so much stuff, they CO's were laughing like you are serious. I just hate promissing a child something and then having to explain, why I cant. I think with Ghana it just scares me because the ínterviewer seems to try to pull anything out their hat to deny a case. For my husbands interview after having already presenting the AOS to the NVC, the CO asked for the tax transcripts. Luckily for me I am a member of visa journey and had it ready. She did not even look at it, she looked defeated and said you are approved.

OMG! Guess what y'all? I just got my email. Yes May 10th and the interview is in pretty much 2 weeks. June 5th. Lord have mercy, be careful what you ask for. How am I gonna plan everything in 2 wks?

Congratulations, That is kinda how I felt.. You can do it, think positive. The main thing is getting the medicals done. Start putting things together, I understand the requirements for evidence is not as much as for a spouse. At lease I hope because I can not think of too much to show evidence.

Ours took a little over 2 months.

Then around 2 months at NVC (1 month for them to receive and generate case and invoice ID numbers, 1 month to get invoices/pay/send forms & documents/approval).

Interview will be scheduled usually 1-2 months after "case complete" at NVC. I've been waiting more than a week to hear when our interview date is...

Keep in mind that if a DNA test is required after the interview, that will add extra time (and expense)

Good luck to you! Join the stepkids thread here - lots and lots of info there...

Serenety,

When do they ask for DNA? I keep seeing DNA and now I have started to worry about that. My husbands name is on the birth certificates, and I have put in pictures of them when they were kids. I do not want to delay these girls again. It is hard to explain to a child and their situation their in Ghana is not the best.

Woo hoo! Such exciting times! What kind of things are you sending for the interview? I am only - so far - sending photographs, and I will include tax transcripts (we filed the I-864W but I would NOT be surprised if our embassy asks for the tax information anyway... better to be prepared, as that would be a total pain to try to get those from abroad).

I noticed you were approved on April 23. lucy4 and I were approved right after that, but are waiting and waiting with no interview date assigned yet. Apparently the cut-off for this month was something between the 23rd and 26th.

lucy4 - did you ever request the expedite for the interview? If not, I say now is the time! If you have been reading over in the June Interview thread, it looks like the only cases assigned interview dates in the middle of the month were expedites - according to recent trends. We are probably going to be waiting until the very end of May/beginning of June for a date to be assigned - which means that we may receive end of July interview dates! Or even August. Of course I hope this is incorrect and we hear something soon...

Serenity - I am sending everything I sent to NVC and USCIS all supporting docuements. I am also sending I-864, I-864A and transcripts from both my husband and myself. I am on workman's comp so, I also asked my brother to do co sponsor forms as a back up. I know at the interview they can determine you need a co signer, even though you already had an approved AOS. But I am also sending pictures, western union receipts thats pretty much all I could think of.

I wanted to thank everyone for their help through this process. The kids interview is on June 6th and my husband heads home May 12th to prepare them for that day. I pray I have put together everything so they go through a smooth interview. Thanks again for the support and answers from everyone here. I pray everyone will get through this process and their families here soon.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the responses. I have sufficient proof of the relationship here; phone logs, emails, chat logs, Snail mail, and money transfer records. It's only Ghana I'm worried about. I had no intention of being engaged so I didn't think to save anything. I've been home for almost a year and I'm ready to submit my petition. I do have copies of frequent flyer miles, return ticket, passport stamps, temporary resident stamp, in addition to the pictures i mentioned all from Ghana.

You might want to check with others, I have read that some people have said that money transfers can cause problems. You might want to leave those out, they say they can cause more harm than good with Ghana. Good Luck.

Hi V’jers

I met my fiancé during my 1 year stay in Ghana. Our relationship began during my first week there and during my last few weeks there we got engaged. Will I have to provide proof of the ongoing relationship while in Ghana or just in America? The only proof I really have are pictures. He didn't live far from me and when we saw each other we stayed at our own residences. I called the phone companies in Ghana and they said they could only provide phone records if there is some sort of legal adjudication. Thanks in advanced for your help.

It would also helpful to get notarized affidavit from whomever is aware of the relationship, cards and letters are also good. Also bank accounts you have together, property owned together, hotel bills, anything that shows that you have an ongoing relationship and planned to build a life together.

I certainly referenced each kid on the others I-130 and the AOS. You would think they would have known from that. I have sent an email asking why I was charged twice. I need the $88 more than they do.

My stepsons cases were sent to nvc around the same time, i paid the AOS bill for Roger and then when i attempted to pay it for Jordan, the system said "PAID".. i had to go to FAQ's to understand there was only one fee for both LOL..

evoria did your petitions hit NVC at the same time?

Also, I wonder why you only had to pay once and I had to pay AOS for both kids separate? That is interesting. They both have different NVC numbers? They both have different I-130 packages? Maybe I will get a refund for one. I had to pay everything twice, like they really reviewed those packages twice. Its just copies with the beneficiary's name changed.

My stepsons cases were sent to nvc around the same time, i paid the AOS bill for Roger and then when i attempted to pay it for Jordan, the system said "PAID".. i had to go to FAQ's to understand there was only one fee for both LOL..

evoria did your petitions hit NVC at the same time?

Dancehallquana my petitions hit NVC almost 3 weeks apart. However, I paid for one IV and AOS and waited for the second one to get through. I sent an email using the template for the Declaration of Choice of Address and Agent for Immigrant Visa applicant using only the USCIS number for the second kid and it worked and was approved. Once the second child's case hit the NVC and I was able to pay the IV and AOS bills I did, printed the separate cover letters and mailed two complete packages in the same envelopes. I did the same for the DS-230 with all the attached documentation and cover sheets. They were both given the same interview dates.

OH NO - Sorry, I thought that was a known thing, I have seen it posted several times that the fee was good for more than one when immigrating together. There was a recent discussion about whether it was good for only two, or more than two... someone else said the portal wouldn't let them pay again when they tried to pay for a second one... so I am surprised to hear that you had to pay twice. Lame. But here is from the DOS website: Says "per case"... So, sorry, Eric-Pris, maybe you have to pay two AOS fees [even though they are both waivers] ... Hopefully someone who has actually done more than one case at a time will weigh in. I don't have any personal knowledge about the situation. But I am eager to hear more - always updating that IR-2 wiki page

Yes the two IR-2 cases cost $88 each. I submitted double I 864. They both received separate covers sheets and although I mailed them in the same envelope I packaged them separately. Same with the IV package..

AOS is good for two people? I had to pay $88 per case!

YAYYYYYY thats wonderful evoria AND it was scheduled for a lil less than 2 mnths.. AWESOME!! It is exciting and scary all at the same time..

its almost over yessss

i havent researched much about the interview yet so im not sure what to bring besides proof of parent/child relationship and support but im sure someone will answer you shortly

CONGRATS

Thanks, I sure hope so because I am about to faint over here.

Case Complete!! So that was the 10th "working day." Not bad. I just called on a whim today, so I haven't received any e-mails yet. No interview date yet....

lucy4 - you are next!

Who else is right behind us?

and evoria - I don't think I sent congratulations to you yet! I wonder how long it will take to get an interview date.

P.S. It looks like VJ changed some things with their website. My Bulgarian donkey avatar has his face cut off now At least on my screen. He was suuuuuuuuch a funny donkey... ran over to get his face in my camera.

Thanks Serenity, we received the interview appointment letter today for June 6th.

We have an interview date! Yippee! June 6th. OMG. I am excited and scared, I guess because I am not going. Now I have a new question, what do we need to present at the interview for the kids? For my husband, we had to prove relationship. For the kids what do we need to prove? Thanks everyone for your help and good luck for some movement on your case this week.

WOW , I love success stories. Happy for you and your family.

Thanks MOMOE I pray your visa journey will end soon.

Our case went through MSC. Two children received approvals at different times. Both cases approved by 2/2020/13. I hope this helps with updating the timeline.

Welcome, and Greensboro is a great city. Good Luck there.

I agree with others here, proving yourself with USCIS is one thing, proving your case at the interview is different. Send a reasonable and varied amount to the USCIS, when you get to the interview give them additional stuff, varied and abundant, more than they care to look at. Also, agreeing with others here, plan to make additional trips, have plenty of pictures, and certified letters from friends and family on both sides of the relationship. Fiancée visa's interviews in Ghana are difficult and the questions asked will be based off what you gave them.

awesome!! smooth sailing from this point on..what a relief to be done with nvc. hope you get an interview soon

the rest of us shouldnt be too far behind you YAYYYYYY

Lets hope it is smooth. I pray everyone will hear something this week. I did the DHL check to see if NVC had sent anything to Ghana, they had sent something on the 19 of April. Wishful thinking it was us, but a girl can dream cant she.

You will be going through a difficult consulate, so a second visit would definitely be a good idea. People have been approved with only one visit, but the more "face time" you have the better. In fact, what can help is when the families meet- so why not invite some of your family along next time you go (it can be after you started the process if you are in a hurry)? Let them get to know her and see how much you two are in love- and take photos!

Agree, more visits will help with approval chances. Our fiancée was denied, so we got married and during our interview (which by then was my third visit) the lady said we were probable denied due to the one visit. I agree the more face time the better for the interview and to determine if you are part of a scam.

Wife fills out I864 mom fills out i864A assuming they live in the same household. Otherwise wife fills out i864 and so does mom.

Can you confirm if this is the same for IR-2. I am applying for two step children. The NVC has completed the application based on my I-864, however in anticipation of the consulate asking for a co sponsor I want to be prepared with a co sponsor for the interview process. I am confused if my brother, who does not live with me should use I-864 or I-864A. Also does he and his wife need to complete the documents or if my brothers income is enough is it just from him. Additionally if their taxes are joint do they have to fill together. I am so confused and excited sorry for so many questions, thanks for your help.

Got an email at 6am stating that "NVC has received enough documentation to complete Pre processing" and an interview date will soon be set. Very happy. Thanks everyone for all your help.