Visalessbob

I converted all of the pictures, documents etc into PDF files. Then I was able to label everything as necessary without having to write on them and then scan again. This worked so well for me.

i have used XOOM.com to send money for the last year with no problems at all to my family in Brazil. I send it to a bank account. The first time it took a few days but now it take a couple of hours. I find it reliable and very cost effective.

If you are married then you should have filed as married. My wife and I were married prior to her arrival here in the U.S but I applied and received an ITIN number for her so I could file taxes as married. Once she arrived here in the U.S. we then applied and received her social security number then replaced her ITIN number.

My wife also from Brazil had encountered this same issue as her name would not fit on Florida State ID, Social Security card, Turbo Tax, airline boarding passes etc. The staff at each of these locations were able to find work arounds even if the full name did not fit on the actual document but did fit in their form fields within their software on the computer. But something to consider is that your federal tax return and how you fill it out with your name needs to match identically to your social security name and how that is set up in the system. If not, then the IRS will kick it back very quickly.

I just went through this same process with my stepson. Yes he will need to be present at the interview. They will let him in. Also you will need an affidavit from his father allowing him to immigrate to the US. In addition any other documentation from the United Kingdom in allowing a minor to travel with you should be investigated. Just because the US provides a visa to a minor does not preclude its allowances for the UK to allow him to travel. I would also suggest a power of attorney from your step son's father to allow decision making for his benefit.

I was there back in July for my wife's interview. But there was an administrative issue that needed to be addressed so we were not able to get approved on the spot. But eventually we did.

Here is a link for the US Embassy in Rio and their policy on Visa pick up.

Hope this answers your question.

http://brazil.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/after-the-visa-interview/visa-approved.html

Hello all,

I had run into a snag with my wife's State (not federal) police certificate but we were able to get through it all ok. But there seems to be some confusion from the correct agency with which to retrieve this document as it relates to the State of Alagoas.

We were give guidance this document needed to come from the "Secretaria de Segurança Pública" Even as other states within Brazil have this agency and are able to provide this specific document the State of Alagoas has an agency called "Secretaria de Estado da Defensa Social" which is where we had turned to in order to acquire such a document. This was through the help of a local attorney within the State of Alagoas. He knew exactly where he needed to go to get this and once my wife provided him with the necessary information he was able to obtain the police certificate and sent it to her.

This document was not available online as they are with other states within Brazil so other than taking a very long trip to Alagoas hiring an attorney to get this for us was the most effective means. The cost was about $300 US.

The US Consulate approved this document and then sent my wife her visa.

I just wanted to share this information in case anyone else has the same experience as this set us back almost 2 months.

Bob

Well, my fellow VJ'ers, it happened.

My fiancee lives in Kiev and, because she was in Buenos Aires for nine months in 2000, she has to provide a police certificate from Argentina.

Today she called the Argentinian embassy in Kiev and was told that it takes a year. And she doesn't want to wait any more. We've already been through NOA1, NOA2, NVC....and she is stressed out. And so am I.

It doesnt help that when I turned on the news this morning the lead story was that children of illegal immigrants are lining up to register for their "amnesty" program.

I can't even say how horrible this is.

Hi:

My wife and I needed a document for visa approval that we could not get online and in a different state in Brazil. Instead of traveling there we googled an attorney. He responded and was able to gather this document for us within two weeks. Of course there is a payment involved but having someone or a person there in the neighborhood so to speak to help you obtain the necessary documentation is so beneficial to have.

I hope this helps.

Bob

As a heads up. I (US citizen) went last month to my wife's interview in Rio (Brazil). I had like you limited vacation time. I did anticipate a one week delivery time for the visa so I could accompany her and my stepson back to the US. But there was a glitch in the paperwork and this did not happen. Do not bank on everything working in your favor during the interview process. It could happen or it could not happen. We were missing a single document that we were not aware of prior to the interview. This was brought up at the interview and now we are working towards getting the correct document sent to the embassy. Once this is approved I will return to bring them into the US. You cannot take anything for granted that the interview will all be perfect. In your case it very well could be. But there are circumstances that it also might not be. And totally unanticipated. As and FYI and as a friend.

Not to be negative but I hope this helps!

I am going to Guangzhou China to accompany my spouse's interview. I am the US citizen. I only have limited vacation days for my trip so I have to plan my trip carefully.

The main question is basically how long do we need to stay in Guangzhou? If on the interview day all went well, we can leave on the same day? (and wait for the passport+visa in EMS mail at her home address)? And, god forbid, just in case, what if the interview went bad? Should I stay in Guangzhou few more days and maybe I can manage to talk to the people in the GUZ consular or talk to some local lawyers?

Thanks for any suggestions!

In Brazil, a marriage is not recognized unless this occurs in our version (United States) of the courthouse. This makes it official. If a wedding occurs outside of this and a courthouse official was not invited nor present at the wedding, the wedding is not deemed official. Brazil law is the courthouse wedding or the presence of a Brazil courthouse official at a wedding makes it official. The ceremony at the church is the "family formality" of the wedding ceremony. Nothing is official about this ceremony.

I hope this helps.

Hi we just sent our RFE reply last march3 and it was received march6. how long does it take?.. they asked for addt'l proof of evidence for the last 2years. so we added hotel receipts, photocopy of passport, receipts i had when i was in the Philippines, Receipts of payments we made for a house since 2009-Present, skype photos, fb chats, emails, photocopies of our transcript on the same school we went to in College, pictures of us and our families, letter from my mom and her brother (notarized),+4 other witnesses of our relationship, airline ticket, bus ticket, fast craft tickets, movie tickets... i cant remember it was clearly A LOT... i admit i sent a very few evidence when I first sent our I129F and now its a lot more... How long do you think this waiting game would take? its really frustrating 0_o i wanna be with my fiancee..

The timelines I am sure can differ but I had an RFE that the USCIS confirmed my RFE reply arrived March 12th 2012 and they approved the petition on March 15th, 2012. I had filed two petitions (wife and stepson) and they requested further information for my stepson. But again this was for a I-130.

Yes, you will have to snail-mail the documents you have to sign to your fiancée. You have to submit actual signatures for the letter of intent and G-325A form.

Since I don't know which country you're from...your passport photos should match the criteria for the US (white background, sizing, etc.).

What I did for my wife who lives in Brazil was she emailed me the photos and I took them to Wal-Mart and had them print out US passport size photos of her. Worked quite well.

This is covered in the K-1 guide on the VJ site, but you can use a plastic baggy for containing the photos and clip them (not staple or glue) to the appropriate documents.

Since you're going to have to snail-mail her the other documents, you can always throw in the name change documentation, too.

As has been mentioned, this process can be easily done as long as you (and your fiancée) are ready to embark on the journey. (And it really is a journey.) You can search the forum to see how those who used the services of a lawyer have fared.

I was married to my husband 8/23/11. My parents always take care of my taxes, so I am sort of lost in space about anything that has to do with taxes . My mother has advised me to file single because my husband is still not in the USA living with me. My parents claim me as a dependent, as I still live in their household and I am a full-time student. However, I file my own taxes because I work part-time as well.

Is it okay to file single? Will this somehow look "wrong" at the time of interview or something like that? My mother seems really sure about what she is doing, and I totally trust her but I just want to make sure. Also, it would be a great hassle to file jointly because my husband would have to sign something, which is hard since he's in DR and I will not seeing him until months from now.

PLEASE ANSWER ONLY IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!! thanks!

To put it in perspective, my wife lives in Brazil. I did the math and if I file married/separate I would get a refund of only 1/6th of what I would get back filing married/jointly. It might be more of a hassle to file jointly but from a tax perspective it benefits my situation. He will need to get an ITIN (see the IRS.GOV website on how to apply for one) before you would be able to file jointly.

Om got an email from the officer working on my case at CSC that my case was approved and fowarded to NV! #### yeah.. Sorry if we cant curse here but i have been thru hell and back and i am glad the government sees that my daughter who is a USC needs her treatment which is her right as an born USC. Thank all the people that helped me here. And i hope everybody can get what they need and deserve. 13 days after noa1

Congratulations! I am sure you will be back home very soon and have your daughter well taken care of.

Any August filers still waiting for NOA2?

USCIS-CSC

01-15-2010 met online

04-01-2010 first visit to Brazil to meet

06-22-2010 second visit to Brazil

09-01-2010 third visit to Brazil

04-09-2011 fourth visit to Brazil & married!

08-01-2011 fifth visit to Brazil

08-18-2011 Mailed I-130

08-23-2011 NOA1

11-20-2011 sixth visit to Brazil

xx-xx-2012 NOA2-still waiting

NVC

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