LoboMarino30

Excellent! Also: the embassy can email you the packet information (it just includes the letter for the embassy interview appointment, a list of instructions, and a pamphlet on things to look out for with domestic abuse). In our case, it's a good thing they did, since my fiance JUST received his packet (i.e., two weeks AFTER his interview). Good luck!

Hi again,

First, to clarify: I didn't mean to make anyone panic; this is particularly bad for my fiance and me because we were desperately trying to stick to a very constrained timeline so that we could keep our planned wedding date of Sept. 1st, which we now know is not going to happen. For those of you who have a bit more flexibility, it shouldn't be as much of a problem (although of course I understand your anxiety to be with your loved ones again!). I just wanted to warn everyone that it's taking quite a while to first get an appointment, and then to get the results, so that you can plan accordingly.

Second, update: my fiance went back to the doctor's office today to beg and see if there was any way to get faster results, and the answer is no, it absolutely takes 5 days (and in our case, until Monday, since Friday's a national holiday; please forgive me Santa Rosa de Lima for cursing you).

Third, you don't need any of the interview information (case number, etc.) to set up your medical exam appointment; they will ask if you have an interview date though, since they don't want the system flooded for no reason. Again, don't panic. I'm not recommending setting up a medical appointment BEFORE you get your interview date; I'm just advocating for setting it up THE DAY YOU GET YOUR DATE.

However, with that in mind, I also advocate for checking with the embassy if you know you've been approved but haven't heard yet from the embassy. In our case, my fiance (in Peru) never received anything, and had I not emailed the embassy, we wouldn't have known of his appointment date for another two weeks. Here's the automated message from the embassy (limaiv@state.gov, by the way, if you're trying to email them):

**********

Our response time is within five (5) working days. We apologize that it cannot be quicker at this time. Please do not send duplicate inquiries since this will further delay the response time.



We encourage petitioners and applicants to check the status of their immigrant and fiancé(e) visa cases via the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) weblink: https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/ <https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/> .



******************************

Hi everyone,

Just a head's up: Peru seems to be incredibly slow right now for medical exams. There are only TWO certified doctors (both in Lima), and they seem to be swamped right now (plus at least the one my fiance went to only does exams Monday- Wednesday). When my fiance called on July 25th, the earliest appointment he could get from either was for August 26th. He begged for an earlier appointment (to be before his visa interview) so that we could keep our planned wedding date, but to no avail. Today they told him that normally it would take five days before they'd have his results ready, but since this Friday is a holiday, he won't have his results until Monday.

So, lesson of the story: make your medical exam appointments AS SOON AS YOU CAN!

Here's a link to the page for anyone with an upcoming interview:

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/medical/LMA-MED-MULT-0008-1308.pdf

Good luck everyone.

Thanks for confirming!

Thanks for all the great feedback, and congratulations!

Hello everyone,

My fiance just informed me that after repeated begging to both of the medical exam doctors in Peru, he was unable to schedule a medical exam before his K1 visa interview on August 21st. The earliest exam he could get is August 26th, at 3pm, which he scheduled. However, like I said his visa interview is on the 21st. I know it's not an automatic rejection to have the medical exam after the interview, but we are desperately trying to keep our planned wedding date in the States for September 1st. Yes, I know it's crazy to have a wedding date before the visa, and foolish and all of that. If he absolutely cannot come, then of course we still want to get married whenever we can. We were just really hoping to have it with family at my parents' house before I (and my fiance) move to California on Sept. 5th, and that's the only date that will work for us until a year later because of traveling to a new job on the other side of the country. I know this is desperate, and a last resort, but if there is anyone who has a medical exam scheduled in Peru before the 21st (or at least before the 26th) who wouldn't mind swapping dates (if we can arrange it with the doctors), my fiance and I would be FOREVER in your debt. I don't know how to repay you, but I'll be going to Peru on August 19th and would be happy to transport documents to your significant others, or send you cookies, or write you a letter of recommendation for your visa applications... whatever I could do. Please help. I know everyone is desperately waiting, and of course I don't want to jeopardize anyone else's process. I'm only asking (begging) that if anyone has a medical exam schedule but has a later interview date and it wouldn't affect your process to swap... please. I don't know what else to do.

Thank you all for your consideration.

Best,

Lauren

Happy to help! I've gotten loads of information from this site, so I'm especially happy to give back a small amount. It's definitely ok to send the information directly to your fiance; that's actually the standard protocol, for the foreign fiance to bring it to the interview, rather than to have it in the initial application. And yes, petitioners still need to fill out the I-134, since we're primary sponsors, even if there's a co-sponsor. Also, I've seen from some other threads that in our case (graduate students) it might be good to include a note with your I-134, explaining that you don't have the financial support necessary on your own for the past few years because you were a graduate student, since this at least lends itself to the idea that you'll be able to support your fiance in the future, in addition to your co-sponsor's aid.

Is your fiance in Lima? Or do you know someone there who you trust? Since I'm going to Lima before your fiance's visa interview, I'd be happy to take your stuff to him if you could get it to me (in MD) and I could get it to him (or a reasonable alternative) in Lima. I'll only have two full days there, so unfortunately I can't travel much to meet him, but I'd be happy to be a carrier if that helps you at all. It's not actually the USPS that's bad; it's on the Peruvian side that I worry. Though to be fair, my fiance has received everything I've sent him (although one box was stopped in Lima and searched in customs, and held there until the Cusco post office tracked it; he's also never received his interview packet from the embassy).

I debated a LOT about whether to go to the interview or not, mainly because of airfare. I read a lot of the embassy reviews for Lima, and it looks like years ago (around 2004, 2005) they were turning Peruvians away who didn't have their U.S. petitioner present for the interview, even though it wasn't an official policy. More recently, several people have posted that they were just fine alone. I'm mainly going because due to various factors, we're trying for a September 1st wedding here in the States, and given the huge time constraints, I wanted to do everything possible to help it go smoothly. But I think it's fine for you not to go; just make sure your fiance is prepared for a question about why you're not there (since that seems common).

Please feel free to private message me if you're interested in trying to work out getting things to your fiance, or feel free to keep the questions coming here. Team work!

This isn't my personal experience, but I've heard that in cases like yours, it is especially important for the younger partner to demonstrate his/her love and commitment for the older one (even more so than normal). I don't think the age difference cannot be overcome, but it can mean that you (the younger one) need to be prepared for questions about it, and have ready and thoughful answers to things like: why do you love her? How have you addressed and how are you planning to address the age difference with your families, friends, and nosy strangers? etc. In cases where the woman is older, it seems like there's sometimes a presumption that the younger guy is taking advantage, which means the onus is on him to demonstrate that it's legitimate. It also couldn't hurt for her to be with you for the interview, if that's allowed by the embassy and a possibility for you both.

Good luck to you.

Hi McLain,

I love hearing that others are going through the process in Peru, too! Peru definitely accepts co-sponsors; my parents are doing it for my fiance and me, since I will be starting a good job in September but have been a graduate student up until now (i.e., very little to no income). They actually made a USCIS appointment quite a while ago just to discuss everything and make sure they were doing things correctly, and then ended up sending their I-134 and documents to the Vermont Visa Center directly, since they were worried about it getting lost in Peruvian mail. Unfortunately the Embassy in Peru hasn't confirmed whether or not that information was part of the petition that was sent to them, and I haven't gotten confirmation yet either from my request to the NVC. I've finally decided to go to my fiance's interview with him, so I'll be bringing my stuff directly. I'll definitely be adding a summary of the experience to the embassy reviews forum, in case that'll help anyone who comes after me. Otherwise, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you for your interview!

Yep, just got that confirmed by the embassy in Peru, too... thanks! The Peruvian embassy (US in Peru, rather) also said due day of the interview, at the embassy, for anyone else going through there. Thanks, everyone!

Also, for anyone else going through Peru: my fiance's packet appears to have gotten lost in the mail, but I've had really fast responses from sending emails to the embassy. I just sent them an email last night saying I think the packet is missing, and today I got an email with attachments for the letter he'll need day of the interview and his instructions. Really fast responses so far. The letter also mentions that you should choose the DHL office where you want to receive your visa and passport before the interview, and bring confirmation of that to the interview (there's a link for this in the information they send out to the Peruvian fiance(e). Also: according to the letter, there's no cost for that service (the visa and passport sent to a DHL office).

Thanks, and good luck everyone!

Yes, this is why I asked specifically for Peru. The consulate page just says visa fee is due day of the interview, but doesn't give the amount. Old reviews say $350, some newer ones say $240, and that it can be cash, but they prefer by credit card. No easy answers, apparently.

Thanks for your thoughts on the interview! I'd definitely rather be there, but not sure we can afford it at the moment (it's a time of lots of big expenses, all in a row). I'd much rather be there though. Old Peru reviews also said that it was never an "official" requirement, but that people were turned away for the interview if their USC wasn't present (though more recent reviews have said their Peruvian fiance(e) was fine alone). I completely agree with the moral support aspect though.

I'll let you all know soon! I'm still wavering on attending. I'd love to be there, but the plane ticket... As for the visa, I think he'll be fine without me there, but at the same time, I'd hate for him not to get the visa and kick myself for the next 70 years for not going. And I know he's nervous, so I think it would be a huge comfort for him and a good experience for us to share. This will also be his first trip to the U.S., as well as his first flight (plus connections in Miami, so that won't be fun alone). But the cost... we're both just starting up financially, so the cost is a big deal. We'll see. I asked the embassy in an email and they said it's not required (and didn't even seem like it would make much difference). What about you?

Sorry, I should have been more specific: I meant I think you can pick it up at the DHL office in Lima, rather than waiting for it to get to the DHL office in your fiance(e)'s home town (i.e., I think you're right, yachachiq12 (as a teacher should be ))

Some of the older threads also mention that you can request to pick up the visa (once approved) at the Lima DHL office (Callao) rather than having it sent to your Peruvian fiance(e)'s home address, which can save a few days. Good luck!

Of course. Here you go: limaiv@state.gov

Here's the automated response I first received, since that might help you too:

********

THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE IMMIGRANT VISA UNIT OF THE U.S. EMBASSY LIMA.



This is an automated response. Please do not respond to this email.



Our response time is within five (5) working days. We apologize that it cannot be quicker at this time. Please do not send duplicate inquiries since this will further delay the response time.



We encourage petitioners and applicants to check the status of their immigrant and fiancé(e) visa cases via the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) weblink: https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/ <https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/> .



******************************

Hi mariovale,

I second the above suggestions, but can also add this for a fellow newbie going through Lima: Once your petition is approved at your service center, it'll be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) and then on to the Peruvian embassy. Once received in Peru, the embassy will send out an informational packet to the Peruvian fiance(e), including an interview date (assigned by the embassy) and instructions for the medical exam and what papers to bring to the interview. I strongly recommend emailing or calling the Peruvian embassy if the Peruvian half of your couple doesn't get anything soon from the Embassy. I received notification of the petition approval on June 26th, and my fiance in Peru hadn't gotten anything by July 16th (and still hasn't; we're giving it until Friday before I bug them again), so I emailed the embassy to check on it. Just make sure you put your case number in the email heading, and be as specific as possible. They were very quick in getting back to me, although didn't answer all of my questions (they did, however, provide our interview date and said the packet had been mailed). Again, there's great advice on the Embassy's page here. Also, be aware that it looks like Peru has a tendency to lose mail, even from the embassy, so keep checking.

Again, the embassy page here is great, and tells you everything you'll need for the interview, so start preparing now. Good luck!

Dang. Ah well, worth it (and could be worse)! Thank you both!

Hi Everyone,

Could someone who has had a K1 fiance interview at the embassy in Lima, Peru after Feb. 1, 2013 confirm whether or not there's a visa fee charged? I've been seeing a lot of conflicting information. The consulate page here on VJ says there is a fee, due at the time of the interview, but the US embassy in Lima (http://lima.usembassy.gov/iv.html) gives the following information:

"Effective February 1, 2013 all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a US$165.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee. The below USCIS website has more details on the new fee, including contact information for USCIS, if there are further questions: www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee."

I can't tell from the information provided if this is a completely new fee in addition to the old one, or if this one has replaced the old one, and K visas are thus exempt (I'm hoping for the latter). It looks like this one is now due (online) after the interview and approval, but before entering the U.S. (except not for K1 visas from Peru).

Any help from those who have gone through the process since February would be much appreciated. Thanks, and best of luck and love to you all!

Thank you so much for posting all of this great information about your visa process. My fiance will be going through the K1 interview in Lima in August, and your posts have been amazingly helpful. Thank you again, and best wishes for your continued happiness with your amor!

Hi Jen!

It sounds like you and I are in similar boats, but you're sailing a bit ahead (I was a Boren fellow in Peru, and a graduate student before that, so not much money yet either; my parents did an affidavit of support for my fiance). I'm hoping you're through the process now, and that everything worked out well for you both. Any advice for someone coming behind you? Did you go the co-sponsor route? Any trouble at the embassy? Did you send your affidavits to the VSC, or to your fiance?

Thanks!

Best,

Lauren

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear that! At least it's a great testament to your relationship that you're sticking it out through all of this. Best of luck to you.

Hi everyone,

Any updates to this from people who have gotten their K1 visas from the Lima embassy? My fiance's interview is August 21st. Specifically, I'd really appreciate feedback on 1) how long it took you to get the visa in hand after approval, 2) if you know if it's possible to go back to the embassy to pick up the visa rather than having it sent through DHL (to save time), 3) visa fees, and if they can be paid online rather than at the embassy day of the interview, and finally 4) did anyone send I-134s (affidavits of support) to the service center before the interview, and if so, were they forwarded with the petition to the embassy? Thanks everyone, and best of luck and love for your cases!

Hi Dr. Kev,

What was the outcome? I sincerely hope you've gotten your visa by now. My fiance will have his K1 interview in Lima on August 21st, and we're desperately trying to keep our plans for a Sept. 1st wedding (crazy, I know... we've warned everyone it might be a party rather than a wedding). Also, could you confirm for me what the visa fee was for you, and if you can only pay it at the time of the interview (rather than online)? I keep seeing conflicting information. Thank you, and best wishes to you!