TargetNovember14

Hello Everyone,

Congratulations on getting approved or having set up your interview date.

I had a very naive question, especially for the ones who just crossed the border or are about you... Once your visa is approved and stamped.. and you are getting ready to cross the border, do you need any documents (other than your visa in the passport and the sealed envelope they give you)?

What i mean is, remember for your interview you have those HUGE files you must have prepared with all the documents, Skype calls, photos, etc etc etc..whatever your stuff included and made into those HUGE binders… for the interview and then you realize they don't need anything. LOL. So when you cross the border through immigration do you need this BIG binders or can you put it away in the BIG suitcases… I am just trying to pack, to leave and its becoming a nightmare.

I have 12 days and counting…..woohooo… hopefully crossing the border isn't painful.

Hello Everyone,

Congratulations on getting approved or having set up your interview date.

I had a very naive question, especially for the ones who just crossed the border or are about you... Once your visa is approved and stamped.. and you are getting ready to cross the border, do you need any documents (other than your visa in the passport and the sealed envelope they give you)?

What i mean is, remember for your interview you have those HUGE files you must have prepared with all the documents, Skype calls, photos, etc etc etc..whatever your stuff included and made into those HUGE binders… for the interview and then you realize they don't need anything. LOL. So when you cross the border through immigration do you need this BIG binders or can you put it away in the BIG suitcases… I am just trying to pack, to leave and its becoming a nightmare.

I have 12 days and counting…..woohooo… hopefully crossing the border isn't painful.

Thanks Suzie! What do you mean call them before? I will be doing my POE through montreal airport to NYC. So i call the american customs and immigration and let them know that at the airport??? Hmm interesting … I wonder where i can get the number from...

That sounds reasonable. I've also seen suggestions that you call a few days before and give them a head's up that you'll be doing your POE there so they can be a little prepared

OK in the big scheme of things… a very naive question…specifically pertaining to POE… you can do POE say from any country to USA any day of the week…i am going on saturday…its the weekend…i know. There maybe lesser custom officers, so i will get to the airport (montreal) a few more hours early than usual….I am thinking 4 hours should be enough???????

Any suggestions?

HI, just made my account today and paid it today… Didn't have any issues..

what browser are you using? and what computer?

Maybe its just a compatibility issue?

Hi vj members,

I would like to know anyone who has paid ELIS fee recently,I have been trying to pay since Friday last week without success.Says the website is undergoing maintenance.

Anyone with similar problem.

Thanks

Hello Soloenta,

I know i haven't been on here for a long time., well since Dec 9, 2014 to be exact. I am sorry to hear about your situation.

I finally got my AP clearance (~4 months) , and i got my visa yesterday…. NOW To make it through the border … the last hurdle.

Thank you for keeping this thread …and letting people rant. It has its own healing powers.

I just paid my last fees today and gave me three week notice at work and leave on May 16. I am SOOO ready to begin my new chapter.

AS for the people waiting in AP, i wish you all the best. I know NVC and USCIS can put you through hell, but being in AP is worse than something I had ever imagined (I have to say my lawyer was awesome and he got things moving), so 4 months was hell but it happened.

Take care. I will touch base once again when i cross the US border.

Congratulations I'm so very happy for you, I wish everyone a smooth interview and Visa!

Good luck hope all goes smoothly for you and no bumps in the road.

Oh….this process never ends does it….

sorry for the late reply, i saw your message and thanks. I am just taking a break from it all, i was really depressed. Now that I am in administrative processing after my interview due to my science degree which can last anywhere from 3 weeks to a year , i am actually thinking more and more not to go to usa. I am thinking of staying in canada and get my spouse here . I have an amazing job, good house, and yes there is snow, but then there is south america and the Caribbean to visit.

I sincerely hope you can get to USA soon with your spouse. Fingers crossed. I read that your paperwork was stuck at NVC. They really need to get their act together. I will pray for you.

Yeah my brother isn't helping me out he said that would be wrong and u would never find exact page quality with exact ink print. So it would be a much better option to white it out according to him. And since Nvc said it's ok I don't think it will be problem inshAllah. But still let's see what saylin says. Uptil then I will continue my printer hunt lol

Yes, its because i have a PhD in sciences. Which i got in USA. Apparently since i left and came to canada and got visitors visa so i could go into the country 15 times in the past year and never needed a special check. but now that i applied for an immigrant visa…they are putting me through this. And it can take anywhere between 2 weeks to a YEAR!!! or longer. no way of knowing..department of state has to give me a clearance, I beleive. who knows when this will happen.

Marriage wise and all my civil documents including PCC all certificates...everything is in ORDER!!! everything. no problems.

Oh my god. This is horrible. I don't understand at all. This is because of your education?? wow. Obama waives his magical hand and 8 million illegals get to stay here, but they won't let in a well educated person married to a USC without additional processing. Un-freakin-believable ...

I'm so sorry to hear this. But maybe it will go faster than you think. hang in there!

WORST DAY OF MY LIFE --- i was issued a 221 (g) after my immigrant visa interview. they want more additional processing on me…from MONTREAL CONSULATE>…. and its NOT BECAUSE OF my marriage or validity of it. Its because I have a PhD in sciences. YEAH….apparently I am too educated to be in the USA. funny i got my education there. so more additional processing….strange…i have been going to the USA 15 times….in the last year…they never needed to do it then…and suddenly now they do.

it can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 year. YES!!! so i am giving up on going there. All i can do is get my spouse here. i submitted the paperwork they wanted from me but i don't have any hope it will work at all. i have seen how much time they can make you wait…this is truly disgusting.

LOL how about this...

Interview is tomorrow guys!!!! In full panic mode right now putting out folder together, like so surreal!!!! WHAT WILL I WEAR?!!!!!

it should show a confirmation number on it….somewhere on the page…then you are good...

Hi all

just a quick check...

The ds-260 confirmation that is requested to bring to the interview, is this just the email that i would have got after submitting the ds-260 online? The email says 'immigrant visa and alien registration application confirmation' , it then goes on to give confirmation of receipt of the application and instructions for next steps...at the bottom of the page it states my name and case number etc...

It may sound like a silly question but just want to make sure i'm taking all of the correct documentation...

Thanks

I am thinking this for me... ..

lol…..nervous here too

Interview is tomorrow guys!!!! In full panic mode right now putting out folder together, like so surreal!!!! WHAT WILL I WEAR?!!!!!

It looks about right.. i unfortunately have to take a WHOLE LOT MORE….i did electronic processing so….i have to take ALL THE ORIGINALS>>>. of everything and a photocopy..ugh!!

Oh well small price to pay….

So I think I have everything together in one file.
Interview letter
Passport
Photographs
Medical record
Ds260 confirmation
Receipts of AOS and IV payments
Call logs of one month
Transactions that my husband sent me
Wedding album
And a few other pictures we had
Copies of original documents that we sent them

Am I missing anything? I don't have AOS package copy like transcript or AOS form. Is it important to take it as well? I hope I have not forgotten abythibg.

Any Canadians out there who can help--

I had last year registered for loomis to get a visitors visa (non-immigrant) to the USA which was approved.

So i registered on Loomis today for the courier services for the immigrant visa, and went through the step by step process to get my confirmation letter. On my confirmation it states that trip purpose is to permanently immigrate to US and my consulate is montreal and gives me applicant details..

but below is says MRV fee amount $160.00 and there is a FEE RECEIPT no. I believe this was from my last year.. when i had $160 fees.

did the people who got the loomis confirmation page have any fees (specifically MRV amount listed on their confirmation page???)

Any help on this would be appreciated.

Sorry….didnt mean to make you worry. I was just noticing your time line….I don't think u have anything to worry about. You will progress smoothly… and your consulate is switzerland... it will be great..

Oh lovely - just another thing to get worried about! Hubby is of course the name that everyone loves to red flag! Hopefully with his amount of travels to the US for business sheer luck we'll get through...hopefully!

You should check out the interview thread and read peoples experience. My interview is on MONDAY!!!! everything is ready for me too….but like you i am nervous...

in summary… you go there…enter the embassy after you show you have an appointment (letter) -- show your loomis confirmation --- go through security….take the elevators to 19th floor, stand in the very back… the door opens on the other side, exit go to the visa receptionist, they will check certain things (like passport etc), give you a number then you sit down…..you will be called again to another window (generally number 1), where you will submit a lot of your paperwork, also may be fingerprinted, then you go sit back down, then wait….and then you are called to Window no 7…where you will be interviewed for less than 5-10 min…with questions ranging from how did you meet? what does the petitioner do?etc..then you will get approved…. and then you leave…and your passport with the visa is mailed to you.

apparently it can take upto 2 weeks to get your visa in the passport, though generally most people get it in a week or so.. One you are approved, then you go into Administrative Processing, then you get an ISSUED sign (on the CEAC website) which means your visa has been sent out witht he courier and then you get it.

And no, i have to go through this all myself…. LOL on monday… but this is a summary of what i could get from other peoples experience...

7:40 AM… …. in the montreal COLD weather….well you better bundle up and sit in the car….or go into a restaurant….and sit there until the doors open for the embassy….

And lastly….BEST OF LUCK!!!!!! .. smile be strong and happy. it will all work out… i know the feeling... i am nervous too… LOL

Hey guys!

My K1 visa interview is in 2 days at the MTL Consulate. All documents, medical exam, photos are ready. I'm just nervous and very very anxious as I don't know what to expect when I get there. I have been told to be there at 7:40 am (I'll be going from Ottawa). Anyone got any last minute suggestion for me? What should I expect there at 7:40 am. What happens next. Do I get a serial number or something? Are they going to let people inside right away? (It's supposed to be really cold!) Usually what's the waiting period? Do they usually finish by noon? Any advice, tips, suggestion would be truly appreciated! Thank you so much you guys. Wish me luck!

I am sorry you are going through this…SIX MONTHS>.. ….

could it be the name….i was told that sometimes its common names trigger the FBI/Dept of State and they go into further checking. I am guessing this, no concrete evidence of it. I know this because two of my friends from india one was named Mohammed and the other syed, were put through like 5 months of AP for a work visa…whereas anyone else even other muslim friends that i have, with more uncommon names got their visas immediately. its just a guess. All in all sorry for such nonsense. I real hope thing work out quickly and fast for you.

Bangladesh Embassy....My husband was approved at his interview. He had 2 interviews, the first one was a lady & she took his fingerprints, and sorted through his papers...what they keep, what to give back to him...and gave him a paper to read with me when he gets to USA (how to do adjustment of status before 90 days before 2 yrs are up.) The 2nd interview was 4 hours later with a man, that was about 35 minutes interview...very thorough...looked at pics, looked at relationship proofs...asked lots of questions, took fingerprints again, then before his interview was over my husband saw APPROVED stamped in red and a seal on his papers, when the guy was stapling everything to his file...then the guy said "Ok...(and gave him the green sheet that said "Administrative Processing" in handwriting at the bottom)...everything's done, we will call you soon when your visa is ready...just bring this sheet back and your passport when we call you." and smiled.

So...here we are 6 months later...still waiting on "soon" But i guess it's just part of the process, apparently from reading on here, it happens alot to muslim men...I'm so ashamed USA is like that...I mean if there's no police record, and a couple is legally married, it shouldn't matter race or religion! I think we should protest...this visa thing should be like getting a driver's license...go show your papers, and they do it right there...why the F do we have to wait so long...seriously I got my 10 year no visa required stamp for Bangladesh in a week!

I don't think it makes any difference….you can tell the truth…about working…only if they ask. Just the important point is that you didn't look for employment in USA. the real question is -- is your marriage real or done for a green card… thats it…at least thats my understanding…what you do for employment doesn't make a difference as long as you haven't committed crimes of any kind. . And your employment was after you submitted your DS260 so you didn't give any incorrect information.

When I filled my ds260 I was unemployed. Then for less than 3 months I worked in sept oct and nov. And now I quit again after getting the date Should I mention this at interview. Or should I just not give unnecessary information?

well..msc13 got hers approved….i am so hoping all of us too….in a weeks time it will be all over….somedays i am excited and completely confident....and some days i am filled with doubt….

i cannot wait for monday dec 8 to come here, just waiting..everything is ready paperwork, pictures…medical etc…i am working full time and trying to keep myself busy.. "ideal mind is the devils workshop"..

Omg omg omg!!! My eyes kept opening wider as I continued to read ur post!!! Omg I m sooooo happyyyyy for u msc!!! Congratulations!! U did it u r done!! :joy: now the kids can be with their daddy on Christmas!! Congratulations girl!

Yes that's what I thought that it won't be possible cuz they asked for my passport and ID card copy last time and both r in new name. Plus I have only 4 business days left including today. I can't get it ready even if I want to.

Yes makes sense! I m praying hard that it's a happy happy day for all of us including my friend who was put into AP. I m praying her changes to issued the same day and we both get approved as well! InshAllah.

OMG!!!

I am so happy for you msc13…..even the last step was a whirlwind eh!!! finally you can be back with your kids and then your hubby…and all BEFORe XMAS>…woohoo…..

Congratulatons….this makes me feel so much more happier….

Hi everyone

Sitting at Sydney airport waiting for flight back home so thought I would post with the past 24 hours news.

After receiving email from Consulate last Wednesday saying they had rescheduled interview but giving me my current date of 23rd December I didn't hear back from the until 8.30 am on Monday, yesterday. Guess when the interview was. 10.45 am today. I flew into action. Didn't go to work, booked flights, hotels, babysitters and ran to Post Office to get my 3kgs Express envelope. Two hours later I was at the airport.

Hotel in Sydney CBD upgraded me to a penthouse apartment and after a sleepless night I was at the Consulate by 10.15 am.

Didn't really have to e to get nervous. It all went so quickly. End result

APPROVED!!!!!

On my way home now to my children.

Will catch up on everybody's posts tomorrow.

Love
Xxxxx

Now that my interview is getting closer…on Dec 8 i am starting to OVERTHINK …. about everything/.….i just want this interview to be DONE WITH POSITIVE RESULTS AND NO AP. ..need to learn to LET GO>……and practice some yoga like austin

My two cents worth--- don't get into the hassle of getting a new police certificate. I think you need to give them only what they NEED and ASK. Anything more, especially civil docs will just further cause more questions. Like you said a Police Clearence certificate is not even necessary so why even bother. Ultimately its your choice...

you will be done before i am on the interview…mine is Dec 8 too but you are nearly 10-12 hours ahead of me. I think Teacup is also on Dec 8 from ireland and is 6-8 hours ahead of me. I am sure i will hear the good news… …. for all three of us..ALL APPROVED AND NO AP.

Yup she was married before. She is the same friend from whom they asked about ustraveldocs as well. Maybe Tbilisi embassy is just strict. She is one of my best friends that I made in this process and it was heartbreaking when se told me the reason for AP because this was ridiculous. She was asking me to take another police cert just in case. But I don't even know if it's possible. Plus as far as I know Islamabad embassy doesn't require a police cert either. And I just have 4 business days before interview. So I wanted to know is it worth the hassle. Let's see if anybody has any opinion.

Hey Kanuk,

Did you get your passport back with the visa… congratulations on getting approved….

That is a baldfaced lie.

They do NOT work weekends.

that looks like a very positive sign… as dwheels said, they updated it to ready on 26 nov, the day before thanksgiving….hold on for a couple of days…either they will call you or you can call or email them and find out

Had my interview at 18 novmber since then still says this ###### totaly frustrated and confused ..

.U.S. Department of State

IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION

Ready

Immigrant Visa Case Number: ISLxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Case Creation Date: 15-Apr-2014 Status Updated Date: 26-Nov-2014

Your case is ready for your interview when scheduled at the U.S. Consular section. If you have already scheduled an appointment for an interview, please prepare your documents as directed in your appointment letter and appear at the consulate on the appointed date and time. Otherwise, please wait until you have been notified of your interview appointment. Additional information about how Immigrant Visa interview appointments are scheduled can be found at:

Excellent… enjoy atlanta…nice and sunny…..and warmer… than here in montreal.

Hopefully in a month i will be OUTTA here… too…fingers crossed.

Well I had my POE at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport and the officer that handled me there was the last officer I had talked to when I visited last so he was really excited and happy and friendly. It was a great POE! I'm in Chicacgo for a layover and then I'll be in Atlanta!

Hi samreen,

yes its illogical. Since your friend was already on a work permit (h1B) in USA, when her spouse (a LPR) sponsored her, they can file both the I-130 and the I-485 (extra stuff) at the same time. Think of it as filing your I-130 and the NVC paperwork at the same time Including the interview at the consulate ( all in one). So once they get their I -130 approved which for most people is 5-6 mnths ( i know it can be longer in some cases) they can get all of their paperwork done in 5-6 months.

I now of my friend who went on a student visa and married a US citizen. But before their marriage his student visa expired. We started the process in november of 2013 .. i have waited more than a year and he got everything done by march of 2014..just because he was within the country and i am outside. I know its not fair and is illogical.

To bes honest until 2012 all cases even from the outside the USA were moving along faster less than 8 months. What has happened to you and soloenta is just beyond ridiculous in my mind.

I am feeling pretty furious right now. I just met my best friend who was telling me about her cousin who just got married to a guy in states who is there on h1B visa. And as far as I know her husband sponsored her. Yet she is so sure she is gonna be there in 5 months. I explained to my friend the whole procedure and asked her that does it make sense to u that I being a wife of born citizen is stuck here for 2 years and she will get her visa in 5 months. Unless she do some fraud and takes a shortcut. This immigration is just really unfair and does not make sense to me at all.

I am so happy for you austin….finally….i know i still have to go through this..but seeing you finally done (POE will be a piece of cake)….it makes me feel happy…..have fun in seattle….and enjoy yourself…..hugs to you and mark

Congrats! You're almost done (except for POE)!

Congrats! I knew you would have no problem!

That's exactly what we're doing today! I just got up and need to pack now!

Congrats! Most Oct filers' immigration journeys are coming to an end!

Thanks! Fingers crossed for a smooth POE experience - not in a mood for more drama!