MollyDan
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Posts posted by MollyDan
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I'm going through the London DCF. I have sent out my I-130 and am now waiting for approval. In the meantime I'm starting my next steps (or as much as I can) so I can just be prepared. What I need to know, is on this DS230 form it asks to list the trips my husband has made to the USA... But he has made at least 20 visiting trips. Do we put all of those trips? And when it says to only send in Part 1 of this form, what happens with part 2? When we go to send the ds230 in, do we need supporting documents sent with the forms, or does he only need to take those when he goes to interview? I have one more question, that pertains to the affidavit of support, in which I am having the help of my aunt and uncle as two joint sponsors. I have not been employed for over 5 years, to where I have filed for tax, what and how do I explain to them for why I do not have the forms they are asking?
If possible, you should check with a lawyer to be really sure you're getting the correct answers, but anyway here's my two cents on the questions you've asked.
I had the same issue regarding numerous previous trips to the USA (my husband going with me to visit my family there). My lawyer said that the thing to do is to write a formal statement saying something like: "Over the last (x) years, I (meaning the spouse) have visited the USA many times, probably about 20 times, in order to visit family. These visits were relatively short, none more than about six weeks. I do not remember all of the exact dates." Then sign the statement. That's what I did and you can probably do something like that.
Now about part two of the DS 230 -- DO NOT SIGN IT because your spouse will have to sign it in front of an official when he goes for his interview at the consulate.
I'm doing DCF here in Italy and they do not ask for supporting documents along with the DS 230 part one. Well actually, there is an "Applicant's Statement" to fax in too, but nothing else. All the rest of your supporting documentation is to be brought along with your husband personally when he goes for his interview. The Applicant's Statement, by the way, says something along the lines of "I declare that I will not give up my job, dispose of property etc. until I am actually issued a visa."
About the fact that you haven't worked -- I also have been unemployed (i.e. stay-at-home mom) since 2010, and I had to make a formal statement saying so, with my signature, similar to the first formal statement regarding numerous trips to the USA. Again, I really think you should double check with an immigration lawyer about all this to be sure.
Good luck!
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We have four kids, too. Our youngest is almost two.
I noticed you talking about doing DS 230s for the children too... but if I may ask, why didn't you get US passports for them after their birth? Just curious.
Totally! I can just be logical and dispassionate about it when I am actually focusing on stuff related to our plan but then I wake up in the middle of the night fretting about some detail or making myself anxious about something. A large part of me still thinks we are total wingnuts for even considering moving four kids across the Atlantic and starting so much of life over from scratch after (gulp) 20 years together.
Best wishes
Laura
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Yes -- it is difficult to be in limbo and know that there are so many things that still have to be done. Your idea of trying to remove one's emotions from the process was a good one, but.... easier said than done!
Best wishes and keep us all posted. Thanks for your reply,
Molly
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Hi Laura,
I've seen you on here before and you look like a friendly person. I hope your journey has not led you into any dead ends and that you are continuing on with success!
I looked at a post you wrote back in July, all about the intent to establish domicile. Aaaaarggh!! That is a very tough one. I just learned about it last night, and you said it, despondent is just about the right word to describe the feelings about this issue.
In fact, if you contrast the intent to establish domicile to the Applicant's Statement, it seems almost insane. The applicant's statement (which, at least here in Italy, has to be faxed to the consulate before they will even think about giving you an app't for the interview) says something like "I promise not to give up my job, dispose of property, etc. etc." Well=!!= So to establish domicile I'm supposed to be buying a house in the USA but I shouldn't give up my house here in the meantime?? It's crazy.
I am feeling so dejected. Please, someone tell me that the domicile issue can be resolved in a sensible manner.
Sorry for venting, but anyway Laura I will keep watching to see how your journey progresses... Good luck to you and your family.
Molly
(I posted this originally on the DCF London thread but decided it was best to create a separate post. I apologise for the duplication.)
Our I130 petitions were sent to the London Embassy today. I feel excited but anxious to be officially stepping off the ledge into our own visa journey after months of pondering and waiting.
Anyway, I think it sensible that we start to gather our paperwork for the next stage. What would be the advised order for organising our documents for the next stage based on everyone else's experiences of the time it takes to obtain supporting evidence etc?
Is it wise to fill out our five (4 kids + me) DS230s now so long as we don't sign and date them yet? Do I even need separate ones of these for our sons or do they "piggy-back" on my DS230?
Is it worth applying for the police certificate now or is this a time-sensitive document?
Should our sponsor (husband) and co-sponsor be compiling their documents for the I864 / I134 (five copies, I assume) or should we hold off?
The kids and I are waiting for our GP surgery to have the seasonal flu vaccine in stock and then we will get that shot. I also have to get my second MMR and the kids need to have their final Hep B shot but they cannot get that until February. So the vaccination record thing is ongoing.
We will also be beginning to compile our "intent to domicile" dossier as things progress.
Thanks in advance for any and all responses to my "next steps while waiting" question.
Cheers
Laura
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Hi! Well, I was advised by a US immigration lawyer that family photos were definitely to be included. In fact, we were advised to use ANY AND EVERY POSSIBLE THING we could get our hands on that would serve as proof of the validity of our marriage. I compiled a set of about 21 photos, all of which included my husband and various friends and family members, and did include that set of photos with the I-130 (I sent mine to the Consulate in Rome). Despite all this it sounds like if the London Embassy is specifically telling you that they DON'T want those items, then I would just leave them out and save them until it's time for your interview. Good luck.
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Well, my big surprise today was that the Appointment Package arrived -- in an online format! Nothing arrived by "snail mail" -- there were about a dozen documents in a winzip folder which was emailed to me this afternoon. I hadn't expected the Package to arrive in this way. (It came from the Consulate in Naples, Italy.) So, I hope that many of you who are still waiting for an App't Package will receive one the same way I did. Good luck to all.
Molly
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Same boat here- i-130 approval letter last week but with blank case number....waiting on next letter from consulate with case number so I can book my medical.
Resigned to just waiting, unless anyone knows a way of obtaining a case number quicker? Will they give it by email or phone?
Hi there, thanks for your reply! Well, this very same day I received my Appointment Package. And guess what? It was an online package! Came by email!! So I now have all the instructions etc. for the next step, plus a case number, of course. Hope yours will come soon too!
Hi Molly! I am a DCF filer at the London Embassy. We received our first letter - NOA1 - on August 19 August having filed it on 9 July 2012. There was no case number on that and the letter was sent from the Embassy. Then we received the second letter (NOA2) which was mailed on 7 September from the American Consulate in London and this letter gave us the case number. Once we had the case number, we were able to book me a medical examination appointment and send off the the remaining forms. Hope this helps! It is such a worrying time, this, isn't it?
Hi, thanks for your reply! Yes, there are so many things to remember, and so much at stake if mistakes are made. Good news for me: my appointment package came today in an online format! So I now have a case number and all the materials relevant to the next step! How are things going for you?
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Seems very strange. I would like to check the status of my case -- more specifically, I would like to know whether they have mailed me an
Appointment Package or not. (I received a letter of Approval for my I-130 last week.) But on the letter of Approval, there seems to be no
case number! It only shows: Name of Beneficiary, Classification, File number (with just the letter A), Date Petition Filed, and Date of
Approval of Petition. Why isn't there any case number?
I'm afraid that they might mail me an Appointment Package and the thing might get lost on its way to me!! I read somewhere on these forums that that happened to somebody.
If you can advise, I do thank you very much!
Good luck to everybody on their own visa journeys
Molly
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Thank you for that helpful answer... sounds like that would be the safest way to do things. Thanks again!! -- Molly
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Hello everyone. Here's my situation.
Several days ago we received our Approval Notice for our I-130. I'm the USC and my Italian husband is the beneficiary. We have been living in Italy for nearly 18 years so we're doing DCF.
I suppose soon we will be receiving our Appointment Package in the mail with all the instructions about how to prepare for the Interview in Naples. So, Question: When an applicant is there for the interview, do they have the applicant's I-130 right there on hand to look at? Because, for example, if they say "We want to see your original marriage certificate," my husband could then say "We included one with the I-130 documents -- it should be right there in that file of mine that you have." Or, is the I-130 stuff not on hand at all? And in that case must we come up with another original marriage certificate etc? I could do it, it's not a big deal, but I'd just like to know.
If anyone can help with an answer I'd appreciate it!
And I wish good luck to everyone with their own visa journeys!
Thanks
Molly
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Hi! I'm a new member here and would like to post the cover letter that I included with my I-130. I just want to say that I mailed the whole package in on Monday, Oct. 12, 2012... and I received my Approval Letter nine days later!! Was thrilled to get the Approval, and what a wonderful surprise to get it so fast! I mailed it to Rome from Falconara (which is in the Marche, Italy). Here is the cover letter (but I took out some of the names and places):
Dear Immigration Officers, October 3, 2012
My name is ------; I’m a US citizen by birth. I am submitting for your review the form I-130 along with supporting documentation. The I-130 will benefit my husband, ---------, who is a citizen of Italy.
Please find enclosed the following:
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
Two G-325 A forms, one for my husband and one for myself
A recent passport photo of myself, taken in late Sept. 2012
A recent passport photo of my husband, taken in late Sept. 2012
An original birth certificate for myself
A copy of my own US passport
A copy of my husband’s Italian passport
An original certificate showing my residence in the town of ---------------, Italy
An original marriage certificate
A set of original photos featuring myself, my husband, our children, and other friends and family members
A translated bank statement showing one of our monthly mortgage payments for our shared home. The translation was certified at a court in Ancona, Italy
A bank check for 336 euro, as payment
A notarized affidavit from my aunt, ------------, attesting to the validity of my marriage to my husband
A notarized affidavit from my mother, --------------, attesting to the validity of my marriage to my husband
An original letter from -------------, the justice of the peace who married me and my husband, attesting to the validity of our marriage
An assortment of original envelopes from correspondence between my husband and myself during the 1990’s, as extra evidence of the longevity of our relationship
A copy of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of an American citizen for each of our four children.
I thank you very much in advance for your kind attention, and will contact you within a few weeks to ensure that you have received this mailing.
Sincerely yours,
(name and phone number and email address)
16 days from NOA1 to NOA2 - Now delaying
in Direct Consular Filing (DCF) General Discussion
Posted
Hi, Laura! Funny, I recently asked our immigration lawyer the same thing: whether there was any kind of expiration date or deadline for faxing in the DS 230 (which for us is the next step). The lawyer answered: "Generally, it is one year." So if that's generally true at all embassies, then I would say it's OK for you to stall a bit. We are stalling too (though my parents aren't any too happy about that)!
Take care and keep us posted.
Molly