pluvka

Thanks so much to both of you, that helps a lot!

My fiance collects disability permanently. His father makes six figures a year, and is co-sponsoring me without a problem. However, we are curious as to what my fiance should give me for the interview in regards to 'supporting documentation'. He is going to bring bank statements showing how much he receives each month, but he has no employer to give any letters, and no pay stubs (he has been on disability for several years) or tax documents. What should we bring aside from all the co-sponsorship documents, and the (two) i-134 forms?

Congrats! We got ours this morning, July 18

I'm receiving very conflicting information in regards to what size the photos must be for the medical and visa interview. In my packet 3 from Montreal, it says the 5 photos I need for the interview and medical must be 50mm x 50mm, which is the same size as American passport photos. The bottom of the sheet states, 'These are the same standards for Canadian passport photos', which isn't true - Canadian passport photos are 50mm x 70mm.

For my medical I was told over the phone that I just need 'passport size photos' and they didn't seem to know if it was Canadian or American passport size.

So I called the consulate and they said it didn't matter what the size was as long as it's passport size. I don't think they understood what I meant when I asked if it was CANADIAN or AMERICAN passport size. How can it not matter? The two are very different sizes.

I am getting the medical very soon, out of town, and the photos are already done (at 50mm x 50mm). Now I am worried that they'll reject them. If the photo size is different for the medical than the interview, how can I have the same photo for both? I am so confused...

1. Did you apply for a name clearance or did you have to do fingerprints? Name clearances take a few business days, fingerprints can take months. Knowing that will help in advising when you should send the checklist back

2. Put none. Never leave anything blank, it will have an answer even if it’s none or n/a

3. They ask for what they want, so city/province is fine

4. TBD will work, check the example forms in the guides as well

5. Mine were also from 2004 and I used them

6. Again, see the example forms.

7. Always be honest, you can offer an explanation at the interview if it comes up

8. Is it a yes/no only question or does it ask for name details?

9. The USC’s updated letter of intent (this will be asked for in your packet 4) will be sufficient as proof of engagement

10. Can’t help you there, sorry.

i got a name clearance, but they take 1-2 months here, not a few business days. i've had one before (for a job involving working with the disabled) and it took about a month, maybe 1.5 months. it's already been three weeks since i filled out the form and paid for it, though.

also, i don't plan on lying about being denied but i don't know if that actually *counts* as being denied a visa, since it wasn't a visa (or does that count as a visitor's visa). i might call them and ask if i have time, but i'd have to call from work or something because i'm not usually home when they're open.

question 8 - it says 'has anyone ever filed for a visa for you' and then it just says 'who'. i'm assuming that means name, but there's nowhere on the form that asks who my fiance is so i just want to make it clear that he is my fiance.

thanks!

okay, so i got the packet from the consulate in montreal. i read over everything already. do i really need to have everything on the checklist before i send it (and the ds-230 pt 1) back? i won't have the police certificate for at least another month. i'm worried that if i send the completed form back in the next week, i might get an interview before i actually have everything. i know it says the average wait is 2-4 months, but everything else in my case so far has gone REALLY quickly (we sent out the first batch of paperwork at the end of january and got the first and second notice of actions within 2 weeks).

the ds-230 is just a general 'k visa' form. so when it asks for the name of my spouse, what do i put? i'm obviously not married yet since i'm doing the k1 visa, not k3. am i supposed to leave it blank, put the name of my fiance (it doesn't ask for that at all) or what?

it asks for an address history but there is only space for the city, province and country (no street or number). don't they want to know my actual address history, or just the city i have lived in my whole life?

it also asks what occupation i intend to work in the US, but i have no idea. i don't have a career (i'm 20) and while most of my jobs have been retail, that doesn't mean that's what i'll be working in the US. any ideas for what i should write down?

i took a look at the ds-156 forms. they have an expiration date of 2004. should i print more recent forms off the internet? i've read that the montreal consulate prefers their own forms but they're expired!

since it's a 'nonimmigrant visa' form there's all sorts of questions i can't really answer. for example, when do i intend to arrive in the US (obviously that depends on the interview date), how long do i intend to stay (uh... forever?), the purpose of my 'trip', who's paying for my 'trip', etc. how do i answer these questions??

last summer i was denied entry to the US because i didn't have sufficient ties to canada (i wasn't engaged yet, but we were dating and the officials accused me of trying to illegally immigrate). apparently they didn't write down an official reason for me being denied. the ds-156 asks if i've ever been denied a visa. i don't need a visitor's visa to enter the US from canada, but i WAS denied entry, so does that count?

also this may seem like a stupid question but i want to get everything right - it asks if anyone has ever filed for a visa for me - do i put my fiance's name, or just 'fiance'?

i noticed at the bottom of the form it says i'll need the birth certificate, etcetc. and ALSO, evidence of engagement. i don't have that - we don't have rings or wedding plans or anything like that, we aren't having a big traditional marriage and the visa process is too expensive to worry about things like rings right now. is this going to be a problem at my interview? i've read on the forums that this isn't a big deal but it actually says it's necessary on the form :\

one last question. for the medical it says i need written certification if i've ever been treated for mental illness. i was treated for depression a few years ago. what kind of certification do i need? do i just ask my doctor (who treated me) for a note stating the type and duration of treatment and that i am okay now?

sorry for so many questions but i really don't want to mess anything up. thanks!

i don't have an interview date yet. we only applied a month ago but already the case is on its way to the embassy, my fiance got the notification already!

so i should have a month or two i think to get a passport and police certificate, and everything else. thanks for the numbers.

thank you so much, you were both very helpful! i looked through the FAQ again and found a lot of stuff i must have missed before. i'm definitely going to get a passport ASAP, as well as the police certificate.

just a few questions, i'd appreciate any advice/answers, thanks!

I moved from southern ontario to Michigan. My husband came with me to the interview. we were approved the same day as the interview, but we had to go back the next day to pick up my passport with the visa in it. You should be able to get the medical done in Toronto, the USCIS should send you a letter with specific doctors on it.

When I moved over here, we packed all my stuff in a U-Haul and we towed my car and they did not give us any problems. The one thing I suggest is making a list of things that you are bringing in to the U.S. with you.

The medical is not covered and it should cost under 200 bucks.

Good Luck

thank you!

did you need the passport for the interview? i don't have one, and i will need to get it within the next week or two if it's necessary.

hmm, okay - i found a list of what i'll get in the package as well as what i'll need to bring to the interview. but i have another question for canadians. i don't need a passport to enter the US so i don't have one, but do i need one to specifically get a k1 visa? this is important - i didn't think i needed one but i just saw in the FAQ that i do! it costs quite a bit of money so i don't want to get one if it isn't even necessary, however if i DO need one i need to go and get that ASAP, since it will take a few weeks to arrive in the mail!!

just a few questions, i'd appreciate any advice/answers, thanks!

1) my fiance is in rhode island and my interview is going to be in montreal (canada). is he allowed to drive up here (i am in toronto) and take me to the interview? this would be much cheaper than flying.

2) for people moving relatively short distances (like from south ontario to northeastern US), how did you move? i don't drive, and it would be quite difficult for me to move via plane/bus. my fiance plans on driving up here, taking me to the interview and then us going back to rhode island together (with all of my belongings in his car) once i get the visa. has anyone else done this, and were there any problems with the US sponsor getting across the border? will there be issues with him needing to 'prove of a life in US' (that will be relatively difficult) or will it be no problem since we have come so far in the visa process?

3) is the visa usually approved AND issued the same day as the interview? or is it approved after the interview, and then mailed? do most people have to wait a while after the interview to find out the results or do they find out immediately? the suspense would kill me!

4) regarding the medical: will this be in the same city as the interview (montreal, for me)? is there any way i can get this done closer to where i live, or at least within the same week as the interview?

5) i know there is probably a fee to get the actual visa, fingerprints, and medical (although i'm in canada - fellow canadians, is that covered?). are there any other 'hidden fees' that the visajourney guides don't mention, just so i can be prepared?

6) i'm having a hard time finding what i'll need to bring to my interview. my case is already on its way to the embassy so i'm expecting a package in the mail soon but i want to be prepared. i see on the guide that i'll need to fill some things out and mail them in. any idea what these forms will be? also, regarding the affidavit of support and co-sponsor forms, do i mail those in or bring them to the interview?

7) once i actually have an interview date, are my chances of approval relatively high? i am slightly worried about financial issues, as my fiance is on permanent disability, and i do not have a university education (does this matter?). we DO have a co-sponsor who makes well over 100k per year (my soon-to-be father in law, who is providing us a home) but i am still a little nervous that they'll say no just because my fiance won't be working, even if we have a guarenteed place to live and other necessities.

thank you!