Oli

Life change after 7 years waiting...

I don't want loose my opportunity. But I am working in a good project (money) here maybe till the end of this year.

So I want get my green card but want go to USA in the end of this year.

If its not possible, I gonna go to USA and will stay for living. I won't loose my chance.

I would like to have a reference in embassy web site about get green card, go to activate and than come back.

Pay the US$165 fee beforehand. Your green card will come AUTOMATICALLY within 4 calendar weeks upon your arrival to US with your immigration visa. Note: no extra photo required. The pictures you submitted on the date of interview will be used for green card issuance.

THE ABOVE WAS MY ACTUAL EXPERIENCE DURING THE LAST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

When you land the Port of Entry, officers there (Dept of Homeland Security) will immediately assign you with an alien number. They will write that down next to their blue chop saying Admitted NYC dated ....).

Personal advice only, pay the money 1 week - 2 weeks in advance before landing. You want to give the US sufficient time to process your green card. Good luck!

Does anyone have a link or document about on staying more than six months after approval at the interview?

For your reference,

http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/iv_faq.html#a06

In my case, coming from Hong Kong, a staff at the Consulate General reminded me that the deadline is six months from medical report date.

If you are doing the export yourself, start from here,

- look up India's export procedures of dog

- look up which airline is willing to take your dog from India city to US city.

- most US airlines require a rabbies shot proof and a certificate by a licensed vet saying your dog is in good physical condition to fly.

- there is a time restriction on rabbies shot proof and vet certificate. Check with the airline

- buy an airline approved kennel. I recommend Petmate Vari Kennel. It is sturdy.

- buy the kennel 1 month or 1.5 month ago before departure. Train your dog to get used to it using treats. Don't force your dog to stay in it for 1/2 hour or more in the beginning.

- make sure you have good ventilation and big pot of water for the dog when he is in the plane cargo.

- do not feed him/her several hours before checking in

- DO NOT sedate him/her

If your dog is aged, you may want a second thought bringing him along.

*** WARNING : do not fly your dog when the ground temperature at the departure or arrival is above 25C. Fly it in cool season. This is important. ***

Good luck to you and your dog.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all have a Happy Holiday!

I sat for interview in early August and landed US around mid November. My point of entry was JFK New York. When I got off the plane, I followed the queue for non-US citizen / non-US residents with my packet tightly held in hand. When my turn came, the customs officer briefly looked at my passport and my packet. He then escorted me to a room. I waited there around 60 mins for my fingerprint stamped on a piece of document. That's it.

Green card came within 4 weeks upon landing. Social Security Card did not come automatically although I opted it in the "DS Part II Form" (hope I got the form code correct). I waited 3 weeks upon landing and went to Social Security Card to apply for it. The SS Card eventually came around 6 working days.

The next essential papers I want to get are State ID with my picture on it + a secured credit card.

At the moment, I am enjoying the happy union with my family. And that made all the torturing waiting-for-7-years-or-more worthwhile.

To those awaiting an interview date, please hang in there and your happy union will come along one day.

Thanks for the moral support to those of us still waiting.

Meanwhile, I have a question. Did any of you who've already had his/her interview use a joint sponsor? It turns out my mother's income fell for last year and so we're having a relative sponsor jointly. What was the procedure about this during the interview? Did you just simply give the officer the joint sponsor's affidavit and documents?

Javisakid, what about balance at the bank? My sponsor is a retired person. So, no income at all. At the interview, I provided the Embassy people with IFS (hope I still got the document name correct) and a bank statement giving the petitioner's balance amount.

How is everyone doing? Congratulations in order for all whom received interview letters. Hopefully we will see more than 2 weeks movement.

Also, I got my DHL package yesterday, book my flight, pay my immigrant fee, packed and ready to go. I will keep intouch, good luck everyone!!

Time flies and Westlink finally flies to United States.

Wish you have a nice flight trip and most important of all, a bright future!

Hi Puru144, what about email exchanges / phone bills? Do you think these papers could be sufficient proof?

Other people in this Forum, what do you suggest please? Puru does not have recent pictures of him & his petitioner taken together.

I had done my interview. I was asked the usual questions,

- who was your petitioner

- what did your petitioner do to make a living

- what did you do for a living

- did you intend to work in United States and in what area

- did you ever stay more than 6 months elsewhere after you turned 16

- did you ever get married and give birth to a child

One essential reminder to all people sitting for an interview soon. BRING A FEW PICTURES YOU HAD TAKEN TOGETHER WITH YOUR PETITIONER. When my name was called, the first question I was asked, who was that old lady in these pictures.

Second remark I would like to make, LAND U.S. WITHIN 6 MONTHS YOU DID YOUR HEALTH CHECK (not 6 months you got your immigration visa).

"Closing a number of embassies and consulates over large areas of the Middle East and Africa" could be a factor delaying interview letters for this month. But this situation would be temporary, hopefully. God bless all F1 applicants and their families!

Just to let u guys know something I learnt from the horses mouth yesterday... Well I called the USCIS yesterday to ask them what's going on with my greencard.. Got some good news.. Thank God.. But she went on to tell me that I don't need to be conerned just yet because u should wait for 60 days after arriving at you Port of Entry (POE) in the USA and u haven't gotten ur greencard to query it. I also asked her if I can travel outside the country or get married or get a job and she said yes I can do anything because she said when you enter the POE and your immigrant visa is stamped with and expiry date one year after the date u enter (this is the endorsement of the immigrant visa which is now your temporary greencard or ur I55 stamp) and u use this as u wud ur greencard until u get the actual plastic... But every country is different so find out the rules etc of ur country for entering n leaving etc... Just sharing the information I got because I know some of you may want to know everything that may happen... I don't work with good luck I work with God's blessings so I leave you my family buff blessings for the weekend... Remember share ur experiences with us whatever they maybe if they are not too personal... Always good to share n help... Bless up urselves...

Hi Grace, thank you for this pce of information and all previous ones . You are a very nice person and deserve the best from God. Kind regards to you and your family!

NevermindVz, my interview invitation letter was dated Friday 28th June. It arrived my email inbox 04:53 Saturday 29th June HK time. FYI. :-)

I got my interview letter on the 28th last month. You should be getting yours soon. Fingers crossed.

Hi Nevermindvz, Javisakid,

You are going to be current in September Visa Bulletin . Best of luck to you two! You may considering trimming your hair now so as to get nice pictures. I have done mine.

I remember a member here lately has a concern over his/her lost passport. It looks like that an UNEXPIRED PASSPORT matters more. In my interview letter, I am requested to present an UNEXPIRED passport. I hope this piece of information helps him/her.

Thank you f1junkie, Grace and Nevermind VZ. I managed to enjoy a very good sleep last night. Most important of all, what i experienced yesterday wasn't a dream at all. The notification i got from NVC is still sitting in my email inbox. I double checked just now. Isn't that wonderful? Thank God and you people for walking this journey with me.

Meanwhile, i wish a quick journey to all people in this Forum.

My PD is 29 June 2006. I will be sitting for an interview on 8th Aug. Frankly, I am not sure about my current emotion. I need some time to figure it out.

Thank you Grace and Greencardgo. Although this journey has been unbearable, i am fortunate to have the support of this community.

Thank you Loudoff and Neoyz for your quick kind blessings. I wish you / your family best of luck too.

You guys, VB is out 5 weeks movement. Great news,isn't it!!

This has been such a long and torturing journey. I can see that it is going to end next month for me or at most the month after next. Yet, I feel both pain and happiness in my heart. My tears could roll down at any moment ......

Ladies, Gentlemen in this forum, my PD is 29 June 2006. Wish me luck please. I will keep you people posted of my progress.

Thanks Oli, very good information, thank for the link, I'll check it out more often.

We were given a choice between electronic process and traditional manual process. We chose electronic process then Guangzhou is the only place handles the electronic process in China. Now feels like the electronic process is slow and more inconvenient, am I correct?

Ahzou99, please visit this web page. Some people said that electronic process was far better than manual / paper process.

http://visa01.5d6d.net/thread-55389-1-2.html

Ahzou99,

The letter inviting you to sit for an interview will be sent from local embassy. It is normally sent within a few weeks when your priority date becomes current.

Yet, I observe that it takes US Embassy in Guangzhou China longer time to process such letters. You may visit this website http://visa01.5d6d.net/forum-2-1.html for more advice if you can read Chinese.

On Monday, my second interview, I hope to get a visa ....

Aleksandaraca, anxiety is normal in your case. But I think you are going to get your visa.

Have hope, prepare well and enjoy this weekend!

_{Another happy story by Tania123. Congratulations to your sister, you and your family!}

Grace, how wonderful that you have finished your journey! Wish you and your family a happy reunion and a bright future! Kindest regards

Oh yes. I wrote to them and they sent it via email and I got it about 5 days after email contact via the post...

Patientman I really wonder about it sometimes I would think citizens children would be way ahead.. But it's good that at least one category will work fast...

that 7 year waiting is just ridiculous!

Grace, that's great! Good luck at the interview.