ourjoy

For those who went through the K-1 Visa process in Ghana, what are your opinions of submitting Moneygram/Western Union money transfer receipts from fiance as part of the evidence of ongoing relationship at the K-1 visa interview? Did anyone submit one and if so, did it help or hurt your case? I am talking specifically about Ghana and K-1 petition. Thanks

Thanks

Yes use new forms and yes you do not need a notary for I-134....

I am guessing the U.S. embassy in Ghana will accepted the more current versions of forms DS-156, DS-156K, DS-230 that are available at the state.gov or one should just fill the outdated versions that the embassy hands out? Also, I know that by signing the current I-134 as it is makes it a binding legal document and so no notarization is necessary. That means we should disregard the instructions in packet 3 that it should be notarized?

For K-1, since you are not married yet and so you do not have a spouse, you put "none" on question 14 and then leave questions 15-18 blank.

How do you intend to deal with questions 14 - 18?

So for the DS-230 form, you can questions 36 to 44 of part 2 (the sworn statement part) and then sign it in front of the consular officer when instructed to do so on the interview day, right?

So for the DS-230 form, are you suppose to fill only part 1 is the biometric information part and then fill part 2, the sworn statement part, in front of the consular officer or you can answer questions 36 to 44 of the pdf form before printing the form out since you will end up filling that part anyway when you get there.

I swear ghana plays by their own rules... but yes DS-230 part 1 is brought at the interview.

This is still correct

Thanks

Specifically answering your question. When I needed a notorized statement from my fiancee in Ghana for the beginning of 1-129 petition my lawyer brother in-law took it to court to be notorized by a judge or something like that. Not sure if that was an over kill or not, but it worked

You have to submit all the DS forms, including DS-230, on the day of your interview and not before.

I have the evidence of relationship proof (photos, few emails, Skype and Rebtel call logs, will get MTN call logs from her, money transfers) to be presented to the embassy on the day of the interview but my worry is that in my reply to USCIS regarding an RFE I received between NOA1 and NOA2, I included a notarized statement from me that said that my family. on my behalf, by custom presented some stuff and I worry they may misconstrue that as traditional marriage but we are not married yet. All I wanted to do is to have a some evidence that they will accept ready at the interview in case they ask about that and wouldn't take our oral explanation. I don't know if any VJ member or someone you know have been in this situation before. Any suggestion is welcome. Thanks

If you have your NOA2 then what you need to present at the embassy is proof of a relationship. This letter is really not going to do that- pictures with the two of you, family, emails, IMs, phone calls, text message proof for the time of your relationship is the best way to do this. They do not care if you had the knocking ceremony or not. You may not have even given her a ring- they just want to see your relationship as a whole.

How many visits to Ghana- if you can show a few different ones that helps as well.

Sworn statement only means the person who signed is the person in front of the notary- it does not mean that the information being presented is the truth- i would focus on gathering the other stuff and steer clear of traditional vs. legal ceremonies and traditions.

As far as I know, in Ghana, all you need for proof of engagement is the letter of intent to marry.

Leave out anything pertaining to the traditional ceremony because the CO may take those as a marriage not engagement.

During the filling state at USCIS, I got an RFE for the two-year meeting requirement since I they couldn't properly seen the entry and/or exit date stamped in my passport onn my last visit to Ghana. The RFE specified some of the things I needed to submit and I submitted s sworn statement by myself detailing how I instructed my family to contact my fiancee's family and officially ask for their daughter's hand-in-marriage and their custom demanded I had to present some stuff as a "knocking" to signify our engagement (not marriage yet by custom). The bride price is totally different which I haven't presented yet (and so I haven't married her yet). Only after the bride price is paid and the traditional ceremony performed will we be considered married. So I don't want the embassy to take that as marriage and so I wanted our two families to write a joint sworn statement to explain that it was only a "knocking" (those from Ghana may understand) and that is why I asked my question. Now with some of the feedback I am kinda of scared they might misinterpret that as marriage which is totally not.

During the filling state at USCIS, I got an RFE for the two-year meeting requirement since I they couldn't properly seen the entry and/or exit date stamped in my passport onn my last visit to Ghana. The RFE specified some of the things I needed to submit and I submitted s sworn statement by myself detailing how I instructed my family to contact my fiancee's family and officially ask for their daughter's hand-in-marriage and their custom demanded I had to present some stuff as a "knocking" to signify our engagement (not marriage yet by custom). The bride price is totally different which I haven't presented yet (and so I haven't married her yet). Only after the bride price is paid and the traditional ceremony performed will we be considered married. So I don't want the embassy to take that as marriage and so I wanted our two families to write a joint sworn statement to explain that it was only a "knocking" (those from Ghana may understand) and that is why I asked my question. Now with some of the feedback I am kinda of scared they might misinterpret that as marriage which is totally not.

Where in Ghana can I get a sworn statement by family members, to be presented to U.S. embassy as evidence of engagement, notarized that the embassy will recognize as valid or legal? Specifically, which notary public does U.S. embassy recognizes in Ghana? Thanks

Interview is on Nov 1, 2012. The embassy received it on Moday July 23. Sent them an E-mail on following day. Got a reply on Friday July 27 to come pick up interview date on any Wednesdays at 7:30am which she did on Aug 1, 2012.

im almost positive that was everything

They are not about a visa. They are about your passport.

My case was updated on May 7 that an RFE has been mailed and I received the hard copy on May 9. The hard copy will tell you want is/are needed and the address to mail them to (usually to the service center that is processing your case).

On average, how long does it take the U.S. embassy in Ghana to send out a notification (either paper-mail or e-mail) to a beneficiary to come for packets 3 and 4? DHL made a delivery from NVC to the embassy today and I am trying to figure out how beneficiary should prepare for the travel to Accra. Thanks.

There is no specific timeline for a decision after receipt of RFE. You can only hope that yours take less than the usual 60 days stated. Mine took 44 days from the day USCIS updated my case to the day I got the decision. While some get a decision in much less than 60 days and even much less than mine, others others get theirs in more than the 60 days. Should yours take more than the 60 days, then I suggest you contact them or your congress representative to assistance.

Just like to know how many weeks does it usually take for USCIS to give a response when they received/review one's RFE submission? (I know max time is about 60 days)

Thanks for your response. I appreciate it.

My case was for my husband and I get K-1 and the other issues mixed up. I did apply for fiancée visa first so some of my experience may still help. Some of this still may be appropriate.

1. My husband never received anything in the mail in Ghana. I did get an email and a letter from the NVC and USCIS regarding appointments. Make sure you establish an email address.

2. For me, I sent everything to the NVC from the US and it was at the embassy when I arrived. We paid for everything, I sent the original police certificate, birth certificate evertthing also, we just had to show up with additional evidence to present to the CO including tax transcripts (transcripts are the only thing that are accepted) order them now. IRS.gov I am told now that was very dangerous because they can lose your stuff, I guess I was lucky.

3. Medicals and police report should be done close to the interview date. I think the police report expires in 30 days and the medicals expire also not sure of when. Make sure when you pick up the police report you check the name and it matches the birth certificate. Very important they make mistakes all the time on the name and the Embassy will not take it. My husband had to have his birth certificate redone because his was recorded with the repeated last name.

4. 10 years is a long time most will need to be updated. Yellow fever expires in 10 years and most are annuals anyway.

5. Not sure if the type of visa matters for entry during the interview. I did attend the interview, I took my passport and had no problem. I recommend going and even if they do not let the petitioner in, the beneficiary should take in the petitioner's passport to prove they are their. It makes an impact.

6. As far as an expedited interview, I say try it. Many have expedited their interviews. Write to the NVC and USCIS and explain the situation. It will only cost you a stamp. This is my opinion others may have a different view.

Good luck!

Thanks buddy for the prompt response and you couldn't have answered my questions any better.

For those K-1 folks who pass through Ghana, can you guys please clear things for me so that I know to proceed from here.

1. I want to know when the U.S. embassy in Ghana contacts a beneficiary about a K-1 visa petition it has received from the NVC, it does so by e-mail or paper mail by post?

Best thing email the embassy with Case number (petitioner/ Ben names and birth dates) and request the appointment letter by email. They say they snail mail it but most of the time no one ever gets it

2. Once beneficiary goes to embassy to collect packets 3 and 4 (I understand that both are given on the same day and please correct me if I am wrong), does he/she has to return any of the forms or required documents before the actual interview date? No everything is brought to interview. Yes both are given that day.

3. Does the beneficiary has to wait close to the interview date (say a month) before going for a police report as you will do with a medical exam? Yes, Accra accept Police no more then a month. Request one month before, take two weeks to get. However medical can be done at any time. Just remember medical is good for a year for AOS, so you may want to wait until about 2 or 3 months before interview

4. With the medical exam, if you have had some of the vaccinations within the last 10 years, for which some of them are valid for, do they still give you an injection of ALL the require vaccines or only those not vaccinated against? Depends on if they accept the proof that your fiance has. They will need documents that are unaltered and seen as acceptable. Be prepared to get all but be happy if they accept! Make sure they transcribe onto the record card the immigrant gets. You will need this card for AOS since vaccines need to get transcribed for that, medical not needed if within one year. Hope this makes sense on timing.

5. Will the embassy allow the petitioner to be at the interview for a K-1 visa? Not until the embassy is open to the US Citizens in general (i think 8:30am- you can not go in with beni at first). Sometimes they will call you in, sometimes they want. With evidence and all papers in order and supporting documents it is not a necessity unless you really want to go. If I had gone my fiance would have been out before I was even let in depending on the day

6. It seems like on average it takes about 5 months from when embassy receives the petition to actual interview date, does anyone has a suggestion (other than on medical or military grounds) as to how to get a much closer date? Very unlikely

Few Hints:

Printed BC not hand written....get new ones if not printed. AN extra is good for when you get to the states too.

Tax Transcripts for I-134- thats all Accra will want to see, I provided all other pieces too but they want Transcript

Police Certificate less then a month old

Evidence- pictures are good, phone, texts, emails, mail and so on. Passport stamps and other travel documents.

Let me know if anything else

Hi guys,

For those K-1 folks who pass through Ghana, can you guys please clear things for me so that I know to proceed from here.

1. I want to know when the U.S. embassy in Ghana contacts a beneficiary about a K-1 visa petition it has received from the NVC, it does so by e-mail or paper mail by post?

2. Once beneficiary goes to embassy to collect packets 3 and 4 (I understand that both are given on the same day and please correct me if I am wrong), does he/she has to return any of the forms or required documents before the actual interview date?

3. Does the beneficiary has to wait close to the interview date (say a month) before going for a police report as you will do with a medical exam?

4. With the medical exam, if you have had some of the vaccinations within the last 10 years, for which some of them are valid for, do they still give you an injection of ALL the require vaccines or only those not vaccinated against?

5. Will the embassy allow the petitioner to be at the interview for a K-1 visa?

6. It seems like on average it takes about 5 months from when embassy receives the petition to actual interview date, does anyone has a suggestion (other than on medical or military grounds) as to how to get a much closer date?

I greatly appreciate your response. Thanks.

Hi guys,

For those K-1 folks who pass through Ghana, can you guys please clear things for me so that I know to proceed from here.

1. I want to know when the U.S. embassy in Ghana contacts a beneficiary about a K-1 visa petition it has received from the NVC, it does so by e-mail or paper mail by post?

2. Once beneficiary goes to embassy to collect packets 3 and 4 (I understand that both are given on the same day and please correct me if I am wrong), does he/she has to return any of the forms or required documents before the actual interview date?

3. Does the beneficiary has to wait close to the interview date (say a month) before going for a police report as you will do with a medical exam?

4. With the medical exam, if you have had some of the vaccinations within the last 10 years, for which some of them are valid for, do they still give you an injection of ALL the require vaccines or only those not vaccinated against?

5. Will the embassy allow the petitioner to be at the interview for a K-1 visa?

6. It seems like on average it takes about 5 months from when embassy receives the petition to actual interview date, does anyone has a suggestion (other than on medical or military grounds) as to how to get a much closer date?

I greatly appreciate your response. Thanks.

After 44 days of waiting since RFE was received by USCIS (petition originally filed at end of December 2011), K-1 petition got approved on July 6. I called NVC tonight and was told case was received on July 13 and they gave me my case number. Now I am waiting for it to be sent to embassy in Ghana and then continue the process from there. Any advice on what to expect next in Ghana in terms of the process, documents, tips, etc. will be greatly appreciated. Thanks and good luck to all VJ members still waiting.

Hi,

For those that went through Ghana, are the following the only things in packet 3 and packet 4? (They are from the Ghana Embassy info site at VJ)

Checklist of things to gather (passport, birth cert, I-134, photos, divorce decrees, etc.).

DS-156 & 156-K

DS 230

Medicals instructions and forms

Appointment letter

Thanks

Hi,

For those that went through Ghana, are the following the only things in packet 3 and packet 4? (They are from the Ghana Embassy info site at VJ)

Checklist of things to gather (passport, birth cert, I-134, photos, divorce decrees, etc.).

DS-156 & 156-K

DS 230

Medicals instructions and forms

Appointment letter

Thanks

Hi Guys,

For those who have gone through the K-1 visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana already or have received an appointment, what do Packets 3 and 4 checklists entail?

Thank you.