St&Sv

Sure the process can be daunting and tedious but It's better to be safe than sorry. If you have a scanner I would go ahead and make yourself at least a digital copy of the documents you are sending her. This will give you something to go over with her while you prep for the interview, because remember the information you send her is going to be more questions they can ask at the interview.

As for the originals, I'm not sure if they actually take them or not but the reason you send them is because they could ask for them. If they say, "We'd like to see the original airline tickets used as evidence." and you don't have them, well now you have to send them to her and try again. Now I wouldn't send an original copy of your birth certificate and passport but the rest of it sure.

This is just my 2 cents though, as my Fiancée and I are just at the interview stage now and yes I sent her originals and included a certified copy of my birth certificate just in case.

apparently there is someone on a forum (http://www.zaokeanom.com/forum/) that my fiancee has been reading that was outright rejected (quite dramatically) at Moscow for her interview. this is causing concern for my fiancee.

unfortunately, i have no idea how to read cyrillic, and the google translation my fiancee has sent me has it sounding dramatic.

Paul you beat me to it! Apparently my Fiancée read this too and then freaked out afterward. She couldn't believe they could deny someone for that reason, and now is worried because she feels they can deny us for anything. I told her that there is more to the story than being told, and that when people are upset they tend to leave out the details. Also that the Embassy's job is to look out for the USC and the RUC, and well if his grammar was that bad perhaps they worried about his educational level. Then I told her she has nothing to worry about because I put our paperwork together and then we went over it together, and so it's as solid as a rock. Though the damage was done and we had to talk about it, I didn't mind because I'd rather her have piece of mind. Which is why I recommend she stop reading those posts, and gave her a link to the Embassy Reviews here on VJ

If you haven't already I would use this website to check your status: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx? (using your MNL number). Personally I don't think it will be an issue because your case number is on it and they might just hold it until the case shows up. I've heard that the Embassy gets two copies of your petition, a digital and a physical. It could be they already have a digital confirmation of it, and even then they can probably look up the MNL number in their system and find it. I would contact the embassy to find out exactly how they would handle the medical getting there before the physical petition.

Thanks! I will give it a week or so before I get my fiancé to call regarding funding out the case number. I jumped the gun slightly (due to a misunderstanding with the doctors surgery) regarding booking my medical, but I got it pushed out to the 5th sept thankfully. At least I should have my case number by then and it wasn't a total waste if money!

You are very insightful st&sv - thanks so much for your help!

You are welcome but apparently I need to give my eyes time to adjust when I wake up in the morning, How could I confuse Australia for England! From now it's coffee first and then VJ

What site do you use to check the status of your paperwork once it has left USCIS? I am just curious so I can make a note of it. I have my NOA2 (or my fiance does) and our paperwork has been sent to the NVC. I am going away for 2 1/2 months come September and was hoping to have my case number etc (and potentially my packet 3 - but that might be wishful thinking) before i leave. Our NOA2 was dated 22 July.

** Just found the site to check https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?

I think you might have it all by then, it really depends on when Texas (I take it you were transferred too) gets it mailed out. I hear the London Embassy is one of the quicker ones. Just remember that tracker website will only work with the Case number from the NVC (or when you call DoS). Once you do have the case number just keep an eye on the tracker, because as of today our petition has gone from In Transit to Ready and still no word from NVC.

It should be OK.

The visa payment is valid for a year.

Thank you vbtwo, I thought it was too. Next time I'm in the city I'm going to have to stop by and thank you in person for the great advice you've given me.

Hi St&Sv! Quick question... probably you can help me because I´m a little bit lost here... that number you are giving is the one for the NVC to call and have the new tracking number? What is exactly the DoS??? We got the NOA2, a week ago and we want to check if the papers are already in the NVC.

Many Thanks!!!

Just back from work or else I would have been able to reply to you sooner. The NVC is a part of the Department of State, and I say to contact them first because they are much easier to deal with. When I first received our notification that our petition was being shipped to the NVC, it said call the Dept of State for any questions. I basically ignored that part and just did what the guides said and contacted the NVC. So I did this several times, about 2 weeks after receiving our Noa2, and then again on the 3rd week. Each time I waited 20-30minutes listening to the same 4 or 5 messages repeating in rotation to only hear "Sir we do not have your petition, it is not in our system and you need to give it 8 weeks to reach us." After the first phone call I actually received an email saying that it was shipped to them, and so I waited a week before calling them back. Same thing, annoying wait time and messages about my time being precious (what is this lord of the rings?) and finally the same we don't have it, wait 8 weeks response and that the email is just not true/means nothing. Then I got some good advice from a fellow VJer, that said they called the Dept of State that day and were given their case number. So I did the same thing and wouldn't you know no wait time, no annoying messages. After pressing the correct keys a guy answered the phone right away, asked me a few questions and then said, "O yes sir your petition is at the NVC being proceed now and should be ready soon." Hey great news I said and here the NVC told me they didn't have it, I guess I should be getting my case number soon then. The guy said, you want the case number, here it is and the rest is history.

As for right now there is still no notice from the NVC about our case but with case number in hand I checked our status yesterday. Surprise, Surprise, it's in transit to the Embassy. So this is why I say to contact the DoS over the NVC, and so the number I gave you is for the DoS and not the NVC. You can try to call them now and find out but it will probably take about 3 weeks before it leaves for the NVC, but then again each case is different and I would definitely start calling after 2 weeks. Which is what they recommend on the guides.

You are a star!!! Thank you SO much for your help

Haha, just happy to help. Now off to work I go to kill some time to pass the days. Best of luck in your journey!

Well when you do call them use this number: 202-663-1225 Press 1 for English and then 0 for an operator. Just inform the person why you are calling (Check if NVC has your file, and/or looking to see if you've been assigned a case number). They will ask for the case number or NoA2 receipt number, the beneficiaries's name and birth date. That's all I was asked.

If you experience anything like in our case you will get an email once it has been shipped to the NVC, for us it took about 3 weeks to get that email and then I waited a week before contacting them. Call the department of state visa services over the NVC, as they can tell you if they have received it or not. I used https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx? once i got our case number from the DoS to track it from there. Which took a few more days to say it was in transit to the Embassy.

I hope this helps you get an idea of what to expect next and how to track it.

Such a relief to see Gary-Bone back in the RUBforum!

Only feels natural, if not I think the Rubforum would have imploded.

and since I wish to stay somewhat on topic, best of luck TatieM!

Great to hear another journey coming to the end of this part, and moving onto the next one. I wish you two the best of sailing in this amazing thing we called life, side by side the team reunites to conquer the world...or at least immigration.

Exactly, which will take a week or 2, but then you've got the great divide after that for the NoA2. Welcome to the journey and hope it is smooth sailing for you two.

Definitely a story for the movies, but what you are looking at is:

NoA1: comes in a few weeks. This one just lets you know they have your petition

NoA2: This is the long one and can take as little as 3 months (some very lucky people) to 6 to 8 months. There are quite a few things that can change this timeframe. Like your particular case, or the service center slowing down.

NoA2 to NVC: The guides say 2 weeks, but it's more like 4 weeks from my experience. *If it gets tagged for AP at NVC level it can be stuck there for awhile, but I rarely see this happen*

Once at the embassy it depends how prepared you were and when you can get the interview. Though exact times I'm not sure because my Fiancée and I are at this stage now.

Start checking out a few of our timelines to get a better idea, though I would look mainly at those pertaining to China. As for our case we started in January and believe she will have Visa in hand some time in September.

Hey everyone I just wanted to say check your Visa status @ https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx? and see what it says, I just did mine tonight and saw that it was In Transit to the Embassy. No email about it though yet.

They have a fixed rate it appears: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru_ru/ru-niv-visafeeinfo.asp

Fixed rate, well that's a bummer but thank you now I can let her know.

My Fiancée has asked me how they will come up with the exchange rate for the $240 fee, and I told her I'm sure it's based on the daily exchange rate. Am I correct in these thoughts?

Not sure what country your fiancee is from, but do not forget the gifts to all the family members and friends or the wedding will be off before you get started . At least that would be the case with my wife. To forget the gifts is a very, very bad culture faux pas. So bone up on cultural differences and what is expected of you and do not forget to buy some souvenirs for yourself too. Do not just concentrate on the visa process, though I will say it is good that you are planning ahead.

Good luck,

Dave

Aye this is a big one I brought a few jugs of local maple syrup with me, and before going I sent her parents a few gifts as well. I would say that if there are things you still are not 100% about with her culture to get a book on it. An added bonus would be now you have something else to do on the plane then stare at the little tvs on the back of the chair.

I believe the same thing also. I am not worried about the AOS and green card. I know it will be a long road but I am not that worried about it. I am just worried about getting him here so I can work and he can stay with our daughter. Of course, like every other person here, I want him here for me too. Thank you for the reply. It means a lot to me that I have people here to talk to about this. As you all know, most people don't understand how frustrating it is to deal with the long waits and time apart.

I understand completely. Sometimes people will ask me how it's going and I explain it to them the best I can but by the time I'm done they are surprised with how much there is to do. Many believe you can just hop on a plane and come here, or once you marry a USC you are invited right in to be a citizen off the bat. So it's definitely great to talk to others who understand what's going on and are in a similar situation. Though with you two having the baby involved I'm sure it's going to be a totally different experience.

Well I'm off to bed now, I was able to tell my girl good morning and good night which is how I like to end everyday. Lucky for her it's monday and she has to go to work and I get to sleep . Living in the future sure must be tough, though I keep telling her to get us lottery numbers for the games here so we can win big! haha, if only that were true, but alright I wish you a speedy journey and bid you a good night.

I always say if you put it out there and firmly believe in it the Universe will bring it to you. You two definitely have a tough path ahead of you, but if you tackle it as a team I'm sure you can conquer anything. Though I believe some weight will be lifted when he gets here, but I'd also advise to prepare yourself for his adjustment here in the US. I can only imagine that will be tough in itself too, but at least you two will be together then.

ok well once again thank you to everyone who wrote on this topic. i wish you all well and i hope your relationships go much better than mine. she and her daughter are boarding a plane from houston to colombia right now. yes she went home tonight. i took her to the airport, of course now i miss her alot. but it was just not going to work out. she will be home in bogota in the morning. thanks again all. i really appreciate you all writing. yes you too EAS and i really hope you have a great marriage. God bless all of you!

Glad to hear you have the monkey off your back so to say, and the two of you can start moving forward. Best of luck to any and all of your future endeavors. Chalk this one up as just another learning experience on the road of life and thank you for sharing with us. It's sad to hear stories like this, but it gives us all things to think about.

I realize that it was very fast but we applied for expedite because of our daughter's severe medical illnesses. We were denid the expedite. I am trying to work and care for a very chronically ill child by myself. Time is everything for us. It's not the typical "wanting him here because I miss him" scenario. Even though, I do miss him like crazy. I NEED HIM HERE TO HELP WITH THIS CHILD. Child care is almost impossible because no one else wants to take care of her.

Sorry to hear about the situation you two are in but not surprised about the expedite being denied, as I hear there is none for the K1s. As for your question, it all depends. If you were one of the ones transferred to Texas I would say it will probably be about a month before it leaves the NVC and heads to your embassy. From there it can take a month before you have everything else in order, and also depending on what interview dates are available. I can only base on my current experience, which is still at NVC since our approval date of 6/26 and only recently getting a case number from the NVC through the Dept of State.

To help expedite the process you should, if you haven't already, started to gather all the documents he will need for his Interview and sending them out to him.

Someone else can chime in from CSC or VSC how long it is taking for their approved petitions to get to the NVC and leave to the Embassy.

In a nutshell I would say you still have 2 to 3 months to go.

Hi everybody,

I am going to be mailing the I 129F packet on monday, Sonya and myself are very excited for the first step but I follow the checklist that is provided here and the one thing I am not sure about is the divorce papers from Sonya. Do I put that with her G325A or leave it separate.

Also I put everything together as follows

personal check for $340

G-1145

I129 F cover letter

I 129F Petition

G 325 A US Citizen

G 325 A Foreign Fiance(e)

Fiance letters of intent

Copy of Us Citizen passport

Flight info

emails

Skype log

15 pictures of us together

If somebody could let me know if that is the right order or does it matter. I know I am over thinking this but I am all nervous.

Jimmy

Something I would add as food for thought is that some people like to do what they call Front-Loading their petitions as well. Basically it's loading your petition with files that may not be as helpful at the initial USCIS stage but at the Embassy level. Remember at some point in time they will be looking over this packet as well, and the more they see before the actual interview, the more they have to go on. However on the flip side, that is just more things they can ask (question) your Fiancé or Fiancée about. As I said this is just food for thought, as each one of have different situations we are dealing with.

You can read about front loading here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/331240-down-side-to-front-loading-k-1-petition/

This one gives a good look at pros and cons of doing it.

Apologizes if I gave you the misconception that the passport bio page was required, it's just evidence that she or he is who they are. It's not a requirement but it can't hurt to have it either.

Oh I didn't know I had to copy her passport. I didn't see that in the k1 guide here. I have everything else.. Enjoy your nap

It's a good idea to have her domestic and/or international passport copies in there, and any visas she may have from any trips you two took together. We included my fiancée's international passport in our I129F packet. The order should just be in the order that you have them written on the cover letter but with the check being the very first thing they see. Just like most people they want to see the money first