Tee and Megan

Hi all!

My fiance and I are so, so excited to finally have our interview date!!! October 6th!!! We've waited so long for this news and we couldn't have done it without the incredible support of the VJ community. Thanks for everything, everyone!!!

Now we are letting ourselves dream a little about what it might be like if we get approved. We have one big question though, and cannot seem to find a consistent answer.

When do they issue the visa if the case is approved. We have heard they issue it the next day and we have heard they issue it the following Friday. We've also heard it cane sometimes take weeks.

Any ideas? Thank you all again!!

Akun chaeran, chaeran!!

This is a good question! Mine says the same thing! And when I change to "Immigrant" it says it doesn't even recognize the number. Huh.

Is that the section that asks which countries you've visited or the section that asks "have you ever traveled to the U.S.?"

Woohoo! My fiancé's visa was approved! The consul said it was his simplest case of the day. I really don't know what I would have done without all the help I got from VisaJourney. Thank you all! My fiancé will be traveling to the US with me on 19 July.

Good luck to everyone and thank you again!

This is absolutely wonderful!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

From the USCIS glossary:

And my "Packet 3" letter from the London embassy (K1 visa) dated 26 Feb 2014 says:

My interview is scheduled after my priority date+4 months so I am taking an updated statement of intent from my fiance (petitioner).

I'm not familiar with the procedures for your country, but if your interview is scheduled 4 months past your priority date then you may need an updated statement of intent - you'll need to confirm this with the embassy directly or your recent fellow filers from your country may be able to confirm if it was required for them if their priority date+4 months had passed.

Does the body of your "Packet 3" letter not refer to the priority date at all other than to state the date?

Thank you so much!!! This is so informative!!!!

Nope, it only says we need to go online to download Packet 3 and send it back to the Embassy. (which we've already done) The only mention of the priority date is where it states the date. We should get our date assigned this Friday, so if it's past the four month mark, I'll definitely email them. thank you again!!! This is so, so helpful!!

Hi all!

I finally got our "Packet 3" letter in the mail (for Cambodian/American applicants, you get a letter in the mail which tells you to download Packet 3 from the U.S. Embassy of Phnom Penh website, fill it out and ship it back to the Embassy).

At the end of the letter it says "Your Priority Date: 28 March 2014," which is when we submitted everything to the USCIS. What is a priority date and what does it mean for our application?

Thanks everyone!!

After weeks of 'round-the-clock checking, we finally just got an interview appointment for the embassy in Manila. Next Monday, the 9th, is our big day!

Positive vibes for all!

Did you have to wait to have your date assigned too??? Argh! Feel like I'm going to explode from anxiety until we get that date. Congratulations and sending lots of prayers and support your way!

Thank you so much Savath123 and everyone!!!! Savath123, do you remember how long it takes approximately for them to assign an interview once they receive Packet 3???? I am so anxious/excited to get our interview date!!!

So if the requirement you need to meet is 15,730/yr then you just need to have an income of 125% of that which would be 19662.5 /yr correct?

I've been hassling with this issue as well. I have more than enough income though.

That's what I've been basing it on. A two party household (i.e. myself and my fiance) is approximately 19,960 a year. So, as long as we make that, it seems like we'll be okay. At least,that's what my fiance and I are going with.

did you send packet-3 from the states? Would I have to do my fiancee's ds-160? or would she have to do it? Her english isn't that great... but i love her no less

I kind of did my fiance's DS-160 for him, since 1. his internet isn't great in Cambodia, 2. It is tedious even for native English speakers. I had him look it over afterwards and then submit it himself (it's all online) Then he printed the confirmation page and submitted it with the checklist in packet 3. Thus, I suppose one could say we worked on it together, but I guess I kind of did most of it, since I had all his info.

Packet 3 (according to the U.S. Embassy, Phnom Pehn website) is available on the website. Once you know the Embassy has received your petition from NVC, all my sources tell me we can go online, download it, fill it out and send it back. Basically, it is three things:

1. The check list (Form 169) of things your sweetheart will have to do in Cambodia (i.e. the medical, police cert and so on)

2. Instructions to go online and fill out the DS 160

3. Instructions for you (the USC) to fill out and send form I-134 (the Affidavit of Support) to the Embassy.

Thus, my fiance checked all the boxes on the checklist (the ones that applied to him, anyway (since he didn't serve military time or need court records or divorce decrees)) and sent it in via post in Phnom Penh with the confirmation page from the DS-160.

I sent the Affidavit of Support in on Tuesday, we're still waiting for it to arrive in Phnom Penh. We'll let you know if this strategy works for us! Additionally, all my sources tell me it is okay to check all the related boxes on the checklist, even if you don't have all the documents yet because they typically schedule the interview a few months after they receive everything, giving you plenty of time to get the rest of it together.

Was that too much information? It's all I've been thinking about the last few weeks, so I thought I'd just go ahead and type it out.

Finally!! NOA2 text message received!!! Fiance and I were in between our daily Skype session when I received the text on my phone. I had a hard time catching my breath. Best feeling ever! :D Goodluck to all of you waiting. Sending positive Vibes to all of you!!

This is so wonderful!!!! Congratulations Tania&Ali!!!!!

Thank you all so much. As always, I am so unbelievably grateful and blessed to have this incredible VJ community to talk me through this heart-wrenching process. Thank you all again! Packet 3 was sent off yesterday!!!

I did say I have a little money in savings, but I printed out an online statement for that. It just wasn't from an "officer" of the bank, just through the online system.

Does that sound okay? Thanks somuch for your help!!!!

Hello all,

So I am just about to send off our Affidavit of Support to the Embassy when I notice that in the I-134 instructions it says you need to submit bank account statements from an "officer" showing the date the account was opened, how much was deposited over the year and the present balance.

I called my bank and they said that they just recommend we print off online statements and don't really issue formal/official statements from "officers."

What do I do? I have in our supporting documents:

My pay stubs from the last three months (just graduated from college and began my first teaching job)

An official letter from my employer stating my current income and job description

My taxes from the last three years (Even though I didn't meet the income requirement because I was a dependent in undergrad, I've read on VJ we're still supposed to submit them, right?)

My bank account statements I just printed off from online showing how much I have in the account right now, not since last year. Will this work?

I am desperately hoping to submit this by the end of the week, since the Embassy in PP won't give us an interview date until this is submitted. It's the LAST thing we have to do before we hear about our interview date. Any help or advice is SO appreciated!!!!!

Hi all,

So I'm preparing to send my I-134 Affidavit of Support, with all my related tax returns and pay stubs.I'm just concerned because some of them contain my social security number.

I am sending everything DHL Express certified mail directly to the Embassy, but I'm wondering; did anyone else white-out their SSN? Or am I worrying too much?

Thanks!

Dear Savath123,

Thank you so much!!! I am so grateful for the info! Do I need to wait for Packet 3 to reach me, even though it is all online?? That is my biggest worry. With the Cambodian postal system being the way it is, it could be quite some time before it gets here.

Chum reap sou and hi again!

My fiance and I are so confused. On the U.S. Embassy website, I think it says we have to send them the I-134, the DS-160 cover page and the optional 169. However, they also say don't send them anything.

Here is our question: What does the Embassy need to schedule the interview? Just the DS-160? Or all the above listed documents in Packet 3?

Thanks so much for your help! Akun!

Megan and Tee

Our Embassy said they don't want the police certificate from HK sent to them. I'm confused. Do I write to the HK police to say they need to send it to my fiance or me? Or do I argue with the Embassy? Any advice??

Does the Cambodian embassy sent the petitioner a copy of packet 3? Ireland didn't send me anything, just Johan.

They send us a copy of Packet 3 because the Cambodian postal system stinks so much. If they sent Packet three to the beneficiary, it might not ever reach them. I think it's a practice specific to Cambodia and other countries where the mailing system is still in need of significant development.

P3 should be send it first . You have php case number then he xan get medical check up. For police record can do any thime but should wait about a month before interview also when ask for police record. Have you fiance she he need p r for work over sea if not they ask for more money. And if you going to be at interview bring all paper copy of 129f and everything that you submit before just in case they lose something . Bring all your evidence that you have like engagement pic travel together.

Somnang lo ar poun

Akun midong dee/it Mon413!!!!! Thank you so much!

Chum reap sou! And congratulations on potential marriage in Cambodia!!!

My fiance and I were really seriously thinking about it too, before we thought we'd try the K-1 first.

Did the MOFA give you the checklist of all the things you'll need? that is what we were using. Also, you need to get a criminal background check from the U.S. It's really not too difficult. The difficult part is getting the marriage certificate signed from all the levels of government. "tea money" is just a fact of life in Cambodia. We were planning on it costing around $1000, but my sweetheart says it costs less if you're a good bargainer. If you need help, I could get you in touch with my fiance. He really seems to understand the process well and might be able to help. He even has family in Battambang.

The checklist looks something like this:

Megan try to find someone that going to Cambodia and send the packet with them I dont trust khmer postal

I am actually thinking of going to his interview (I don't trust Khmer postal system either). I've been saving like crazy for the last nine months and I think I can do it if I am really careful.

Do you think I could just bring all of our documents with me when I go? Or does he need them earlier than that? Otherwise I was going to ship it DHL Express.

Do you know if he can do the police record check and the medical with the letter from NVC (again, with the Khmer postal system the way it is, I don't know how long it will take Packet 3 to get to me)

Akun chearan, chearan Mon 413.

Hi all!

Since we VJers have found ways to track almost every step of this process, I just thought I'd check to see if anyone has found a way to track Packet 3 from the Embassy to the States. Cambodia's postal system makes me very nervous; and I know I'm not the only one whose beloved is from a country with a crummy postal system. Can we use the DHL tracking system? Or should I just sit back and twiddle my thumbs some more?

Thanks everyone!!

Congrats to all the recent approvals!

After reading through more posts and getting a bit more active on Visa Journey... It does seem like the CSC are processing faster than TSC. And it really breaks my heart that this little detail can have such an impact on our timelines. Even though I know, now, that I am one of the lucky ones, I didn't know too much information beforehand and fully expected to wait 6-9 months for an approval (which is what the immigration service that I worked with told me).

If statistics were telling me that I would have to wait for months, I would have a hard time being happy for fast approvals without a tinge of disappointment, anger and despair for myself. I feel for everyone....

Those of us that are so grateful for fast approvals but don't want to rain on others' parades, and those settling in for a long wait not wanting to get their hopes up.

But, I do want to say-- no matter what service center, additional paperwork, or luck has dealt us, please remember and think about why we are doing what we are doing! All of us have different stories, timelines, and situations but I'm sure that one thing we have in common is that we have found someone in our life that is worth all this effort!

I won't lie, it has been the toughest thing I have had to do in my life. But I always enjoy coming on Visa Journey knowing that there are others out there who are going through these same kind of feelings, and I feel comforted in that fact. Despite the challenges, I consider us one lucky bunch! We have found love in someone that we will literally jump through hoops with to be together with them. I see my friends here who are in good relationships and they ask me what, how and why would I ever put myself through this-- but I just know that all of these challenges are what make us a stronger couple, and will be soooo worth it in the end!

Can everyone in InternetLand take a moment with me and imagine our first moment with our fiancees on US soil, being able to get that long deserved amazing embrace....

That, ladies and gentleman, is how I keep going!

This is utterly and completely beautiful. And exactly how I feel. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Sorry for bother you but can you tell me since when i have to count the months?

Since i sent the app or since i got my NOA1?

Ty

Start counting using your NOA1 date.

It is true... i came here to find answers and now i feel more and more confused ..

MINE this Tuesday says May 24th to June 27th and today says till July i really sont know if in 2 days more im gonna see till Agosto ...

I felt the exact same way!!! I was so confused and frustrated when we first submitted our application. My only solution was to keep checking the website and to stay busy. which was pretty hard. I also kept a countdown on my calendar at home to our proposed NOA2 date five months out.

Yes, well my fiance told me if the USCIS approve our cases they gonna send an email or txt message but i really dont know is that accurate or not... I just checked 3 times the USCIS website since they accepted our case ...

I did receive both text and email notifications for our NOA2 once I signed up. Seems to be pretty accurate. Stay hopeful!! Your approval will come!!! And if you need someone to listen or talk to, we're here!

Hi all!

My employer agreed to write us a letter to support our fiance visa petition on official letterhead with signatures listing my salary, experience and so on. (For the Affidavit of Support)

However, I don't know who to address it to. Do we address it to the Embassy where we'll be having our interview? Or the USCIS? Or the Department of Homeland Security?

Thank you everyone and thank you for your support.

Prayers for all our journeys.